Thousands of Czech schools shut their doors on Monday and staged a rare one-day strike to demand higher funding for education, which they say is threatened by the centre-right cabinet’s austerity policies. Unions said the strike was joined by most schools and was supported by other unions in the public and private sectors amid displeasure with the government’s efforts to cut budget deficits. Teachers unions have said the 2024 education budget plan would threaten the quality of schooling due to inadequate resources for teaching languages and other subjects in small groups, and low funding for teachers’ assistants and other support professions, such as cooks. Josef Stredula, chief of the largest union group CMKOS, said the government had ignored the impact of inflation including energy prices on living standards and its package of tax hikes and spending cuts approved by parliament was unacceptable. “The government has been ignoring the tough life it has caused,” he said on Czech Television. Other professions will join the strike, including unions at the largest private manufacturer Skoda Auto, which planned a two-hour work stoppage. Stredula said around 1 million people would support the strike in some form. The government has said the strike was unfounded...
The Czech Republic is grappling with a 34% drought impact, accompanied by a decline in groundwater levels. Over the last decade, the monthly discharge of springs has seen a worrisome 127% decrease, according to data from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. Groundwater, vital for daily life as a key drinking water source and for soil fertility, is facing challenges. However, insights from the Czech Republic in Data journalism project highlight that scientific initiatives like Smart Landscape may offer solutions. Continued water scarcity and extreme weather conditions pose a threat to crops, jeopardizing the country’s food supply. Currently, the Czech Republic’s drought affects 34%, correlating with over 30% agricultural losses. “The primary cause of this decline is the increased evaporation of water from the ground due to rising temperatures. While precipitation during this period was 5% less than the long-term average, the main issue lies in its uneven distribution. Most waterfalls during heavy rains, running off the surface without penetrating the ground,” explains Alexandra Cholevová, an analyst for Czechia in Data. Would an upswing in rainfall positively impact water reserves? One might argue that the groundwater shortage stems from drought and insufficient rainfall. However, the crux lies in the evolving climate, resulting...
On Monday, November 27, hundreds of industrial enterprises will join a strike against the government’s actions, halting production. About a million workers are expected to participate in the protest. The march will lead from Prague’s Rudolfinum to Malostranské náměstí, where a rally will take place starting at 1pm. On the same day, teachers and other educational institution staff will also protest, leading to the closure of many schools in the Czech Republic. Why is the strike happening? Teachers in Czechia are dissatisfied with low pay, earning around CZK 36,000 monthly, below the national average. In 2022, salaries for all school staff (including principals and administrators) saw minimal growth, averaging CZK 48,200, worsened by underfunding in the education sector. Support staff, like cooks and janitors, also express discontent, facing potential wage cuts of 2 percent in the 2024 education budget. Concerns arise about the impact on services like school meals. At the automotive company Škoda Auto, production will be halted at all plants for two hours with union activists expecting at least 8,000 employees to participate in the strike. This was announced on Tuesday at a press conference by the chairman of the KOVO union, Roman Dürch, and the leader of...
Researchers have revealed where and where not to visit if safety and peace are your top priorities, with this year’s publication of the Global Peace Index (GPI). This 17th edition of the index reveals, depressingly, that overall world peacefulness has declined by just under half a percent, which may not seem much but fits in with a 15-year downward trend. How is it measured? The Institute for Economics and Peace uses both qualitative and quantitative criteria in the GPI, a whole 23 of them, and looks at 163 independent states and territories comprising 99.7 per cent of the world’s population. Three main areas are taken into consideration: how safe and secure society is; ongoing domestic and international conflict levels; and to what extent the country in question is militarising. Global Peace Index 2023: The average level of global peacefulness deteriorated for the ninth consecutive year, with 84 countries recording an improvement and 79 a deterioration pic.twitter.com/ZfVmUIj1hU — IEP Global Peace Index (@GlobPeaceIndex) November 22, 2023 The Czech Republic has been ranked 12th in the Global Peace Index 2023. Despite a slight drop of five places over the past twelve months, the country still maintains its position among the...
After an unusually warm October, November brings a sudden drop in temperature, marking the start of winter. Temperatures are expected to plummet to minus four degrees on Wednesday, with ice warnings issued in certain areas. Daytime temperatures ranging between three and minus one degrees are anticipated. Winter is set to make its presence felt from Friday onwards. On Saturday, the Czech National Weather Service predicts snowfall, especially in the mountains. Nevertheless, snow may grace Prague by the weekend. According to Weather.com, temperatures could reach as low as minus three degrees, with a 70 percent chance of snow showers. #pocasi Přijde od pátku zima?? 🙏V tuto chvíli to vypadá pro milovníky zimy velmi slibně! A co víc, zimní teploty by měly vydržet od pátku minimálně do začátku příštího týdne. Na tomto scénáři se aktuálně shodují oba střednědobé modely, GFS a ECMWF a to s poměrně slušnou… pic.twitter.com/KIMlRbYTUd — Český hydrometeorologický ústav (ČHMÚ) (@CHMUCHMI) November 20, 2023 Unfortunately, the joy of snow may be short-lived, as the snow cover is not projected to exceed two centimeters. Additionally, the snow is expected to mix with rain, resulting in potentially muddy streets.
If you’re a fan of draft beer and find the prices in the Czech Republic too high, head to Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, or Romania. While in local pubs in July, the price averaged around 54 crowns, according to data from the Dotykačka cash register system, in the above-mentioned neighbouring countries it ranged from 25 to 40 crowns. It has become almost a tradition that during the summer months, the Czech Republic, especially Prague, is flooded with tourists from the Nordic European countries, not for sightseeing, but for cheap beer. However, if they were to read the comparison of prices for a pint across Europe, compiled by the British tabloid Daily Mail, they would avoid the Czech Republic in the future and find alternatives elsewhere. The UK’s widely read newspaper has come up with a comparative map of pint prices across Europe and has compiled a top ten. The cheapest beer in Europe is offered in Debrecen, Hungary, where a pint of beer costs an average of 92 pence or 25.89 crowns. Moldova’s capital, Chisinau, is second on the list, where you will pay a mere 31.86 crowns. In third place is Szeged, Hungary, where visitors can cool off with a...
Czechs are increasingly choosing Polish swimming pools as their preferred destination, but cultural differences sometimes result in awkward situations. A notable incident occurred in Prudnik, as they opted to change in common areas instead of the designated cabins. Concerns were raised, especially regarding the impact on children sharing the changing rooms. The management of the Sójka swimming pool addressed the issue, emphasizing the need for separate changing spaces for different genders, a practice not adhered to by some Czech swimmers. The incident highlights cultural differences in attitudes toward nudity, with Czech pools often having more liberal policies. “Undressing in front of children is not considered offensive by Czechs,” says a young Czech woman quoted by Nowa Trybuna Opolska. However, this behavior is quite unusual for Poles. “I didn’t witness anyone undressing in the communal shower at the Prudnik swimming pool. People feel embarrassed,” mentioned a Polish visitor to the same source. According to the Polish account, Czechs generally have a more liberal attitude towards nudity, whereas Poles are accustomed to changing behind curtains. When Poles put on their swimsuits, they take their clothes behind the curtain and then proceed to the lockers to store their belongings. Bazén v polském Prudniku...
The Czech town of Žatec received the certificate of inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List on Saturday, two months after the organisation’s committee decided to inaugurate the town and its surrounding hop-growing landscape. Interest in the hop-growing landscape increased this year, with more tourists visiting the information center and the nearby Steknik Castle, located in the middle of the hop-growing area. Žatec and its surrounding landscape represent a centuries-old tradition of hop growing. The new UNESCO site consists of two parts. The first is the landscape, with its hop farms and the villages of Trnovany and Steknik, including the castle. The second part is the historic center of Zatec and its 19th-century industrial quarter, which has the highest concentration of buildings connected with hop processing and trade. The two parts are connected by the Ohre River. It is the first hop-growing landscape in the world to be awarded UNESCO status. “For us, this is a confirmation of the exceptional quality of the hops we grow here,” Michal Kovarik, secretary of the Czech Hop Growers Association, told CTK. The Žatec district is where most of the hops in the country are grown, comprising 3,744 hectares, or 77% of the total...
Did you know that the Czech Republic is one of the most favorable countries to invest in when it comes to taxation? Preceded only by Luxemburg or Switzerland, the Czech Republic offers perks such as no acquisition tax, tax benefits for residents, favourable deductions for rental income, and even no tax to pay on profit if you own the property long enough. One of the most positive parts when it comes to property investments is actually the tax systems. Yes, I do mean positive… I am not mistaken. Speaking to foreigners from all around the world, I often get surprised looks when I explain there are almost no taxes to keep in mind when buying a property here. If we compare to other acquisition costs like solicitor fees in the UK or annual property taxes in the US, here we have really nothing to complain about. Let’s take it step by step: Before 2020, there was a 4% acquisition tax paid to the country’s financial office and which was an obstacle to purchasing property for many people. Luckily this requirement was removed during the Covid pandemic so now you do not need to think of extra 4% to pay from...
The Czech Republic has been elected to the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Paris, and will serve from 2023 to 2027. “The Czech Republic has just been elected to the UNESCO Executive Board,” the Foreign Ministry said on the social network X. Adding that one of the topics the Czech Republic will focus on, during its mandate, will be the transformation of education, and the protection of cultural and natural heritage. The Executive Board, together with the General Conference, is UNESCO’s governing body and is made up of 58 member countries, elected by the Conference according to their respective electoral groups. The last time the Czech Republic was a member of the Executive Board, within the Central and Eastern European Group, was between 2012 and 2015. UNESCO was founded shortly after World War II to develop cooperation in education, science, and culture. In the latter area, it is best known for its World Heritage List, in which the organization includes the world’s most important sites. As for the Czech Republic, its first additions to the UNESCO World Heritage List were the Historic Centre of Prague, the Historic Centre of Český Krumlov, and...
Saying the words “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free” may be considered a criminal offence in certain circumstances, Czech authorities informed on Wednesday. The Czech Interior Ministry, police officers, prosecutors and the Prague city representatives discussed measures to fight anti-semitism during public gatherings at a meeting on Wednesday. “The conclusion of the discussion is that the use of the slogan From the River to the Sea Palestine will be free is problematic in the context of the Hamas attack against Israel on 7 October 2023 and could fulfil the elements of a criminal offence,” Czech Interior Ministry spokeswoman Klára Dlubalová informed. According to the ministry, anyone using such a slogan could potentially be guilty of supporting and promoting terrorism, inciting hatred against a group of people, or denying, questioning, condoning or justifying genocide. “The link to the Hamas movement and other organisations calling for the destruction of the State of Israel is unambiguous, according to the Interior Ministry, and the slogan has historically been used by the majority in conjunction with a clearly stated demand for the destruction of the existence of the State of Israel and the elimination of part of the population by any...
Six banks have launched a service that will enable clients to send payments using only a person’s phone number. The payment-to-contact service aims to simplify transactions and reduce errors. Clients who wish to use the service will have to register their phone number with the bank. Two more banks expect to launch the service within the next year. The banks which have already launched the service are Air Bank, Česká spořitelna, ČSOB, Fio banka, Komerční banka and Raiffeisenbank. “ČSOB enables these payments via the ČSOB Smart app, where it is possible to simply search for the recipient in the directory of mobile contacts. The ČSOB Smart application always first notifies the user whether the recipient is registered and therefore it is possible to make a payment to the contact,” explains Vladimír Vojtíšek, Executive Director for Daily Banking at ČSOB. “Probably few people remember their bank account number off the top of their head, but almost everyone recalls their mobile number. That’s why we believe in its expansion,” says Jiří Suchý, Director of Products and Innovations at Air Bank. “In the modern banking world, it’s crucial to move with the times. Raiffeisenbank is among the first banks to make Payment on...
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