UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) was founded on November 16, 1945, as a result of the Second World War, which had just ended. The organization’s main goal was to strive to maintain international peace by fostering cooperation in the fields of education, science, and culture and by advocating respect for human rights. UNESCO is based in Paris and today has 195 member countries and 9 affiliated members. The Czech Republic became a member state on February 22, 1993. In July 2021, UNESCO decided on new sites to be inscribed on the World Heritage List. The Czech Spa Triangle and the Primeval Beech Forests of Jizerské hory became new successfully nominated Czech Republic sites. At present, there are 15 Czech sites in total on the list: Historic Centre of Český Krumlov Český Krumlov is a city in the South Bohemia region, situated on the banks of the Vltava river. Its historic centre was added to the UNESCO List in 1992. The city is most famous for its castle complex built in the 13th century which boasts Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque elements. Český Krumlov is a beautiful example of a Central European small town originating in the Middle...
A new policy aimed at the mitigation of light pollution will be introduced later this year. The Czech Republic will introduce new light pollution legislation in March 2023. These policies will apply to newly-built public and private infrastructure and will outline the maximum and minimum lumens for light sources. Outlined in the EU’s official publication on the matter, these new measures were “composed based on desktop research by a team at the Ministry of Environment of the Czech Republic”, and were designed to be in accordance with the EU’s Light Pollution Reduction Measures in Europe, which were set forth during the Czech Republic’s presidency of the EU. These regulations will take effect in March 2023, and all new private and public construction projects will be obliged to conform to the maximum and minimum brightnesses set out in the law. Not retroactively enforced, all current and existing infrastructure will be exempt. This isn’t the first time the Czech government has introduced legislation with the goal of mitigating light pollution. 2002 saw the enactment of the ‘Dark Sky Law’, which was one of the first laws in Europe that recognized this issue. I t was included in an Act which regulated air...
The Czech tourist board is changing its branding and website from Visit Czech Republic to Visit Czechia, as part of a wider rebranding across the central European country. The new branding and #VisitCzechia will be seen online, in publications and at travel trade events. A statement from the tourist board said Czechia and the Czech Republic are synonymous and are both official names. “The decision on whether to use the shorter or longer version depends on the area and whether there is an obligation attached to the state designation,” it said. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the longer name, Czech Republic, must be used only in official government documents, in the names of embassies, and other legal documents. “The Czechia brand will be used in all other cases. It is more practical and less formal,” added the statement. Czechia will also be seen when people represent the state in culture, science, sports and other spheres. For example, the Czech Olympic Committee has already switched to Czechia.
The “European Starlink” called IRIS² will be based in Prague, writes Hospodářské noviny. It plans to send 170 satellites, starting next year. The Czech Republic will thus expand its activities in this area, as the EUSPA space agency already operates in the capital. The multi-orbital constellation, IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnection and Security by Satellite), is projected to be operational in 2024 and will be focused on providing secure satellite communications to EU governmental users. “IRIS² establishes space as a vector of our European autonomy, a vector of connectivity and resilience. It heightens Europe’s role as a true space power”, Internal Market Commissioner and the real driver of the initiative, Thierry Breton, said. Allowing the private sector to facilitate the rollout of high-speed broadband to “dead zones” that currently lack connectivity is also listed as a critical goal of the project. “IRIS² will provide connectivity to the whole of Europe”, said Breton, “including areas that do not currently benefit from broadband Internet, as well as to the whole of Africa, using the constellation’s North-South orbits.” The system is also set to contribute to the EU’s broader goal of heightened strategic autonomy, outlined as a key motivation at the project’s announcement earlier this year....
Purchasing an e-car in the near future is completely unimaginable for most Czechs as the high cost of e-cars and misunderstandings on emissions rules ensure they remain skeptical about e-mobility, said Czech expert Helena Truchlá. According to Ekovozy.cz, which monitors the number of e-vehicles in the Czech Republic, around 12,000 electric cars were in the country by mid-2022. “The Czech public perception of electromobility is still negative. This is related to the fact that electric cars are still simply too expensive for a large part of the population, and a bit too sci-fi for everyday life,” added Truchlá, an analyst at sociologist agency STEM. “For more than a third of the (Czech) public, such a purchase is completely unimaginable,” Truchlá pointed out. The Czech public is also opposed to plans to restrict the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines from 2035. According to the expert, people’s attitude towards restricting the sale of conventional cars is often linked to a misunderstanding of the regulation. “Only 27% of people in our survey last year correctly said that after that date (2035), everyone can still drive whatever they want in Europe,” Truchlá said. Half of those surveyed also believed the change...
The Czech Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has recently put forward two draft bills that could bring significant amendments to employment law in the republic. These proposed changes have been designed to address a variety of issues and concerns within the current system and aim to improve the overall conditions for both employees and employers. A Year of Change for Czech Employers The proposed changes to employment law in the Czech Republic are wide-ranging and significant. They are designed to provide better protection to whistleblowers, increase the rights of on-call workers and employees requesting flexible working arrangements, and simplify the exchange of employment-related documentation in electronic form. If approved, the proposed draft Bills will bring a new level of flexibility to the labor market and could have a positive impact on the economy as a whole. It is an exciting time for the Czech Republic as they move towards creating a more modern and dynamic workforce. The Czech Republic offers mandatory employment benefits that refer to those covered by Social Security Insurance, which is financed through contributions from employers and employees during their employment. Czech Employers should begin preparing for upcoming changes as the new regulations will take effect...
Beginning next year, Czech Universities may be required to issue new diplomas to people who have undergone a gender transition. This policy marks significant progress for transgender and LGBTQ+ rights in the Czech Republic. Starting from January 2024, anyone who has undergone gender reassignment surgery is eligible to apply for a new diploma which contains their new name and preferred pronouns. The proposal was created as a joint effort between The Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports – led by Vladimír Balas, and the Minister of Science, Helena Langšádlová. There are currently no stipulations in Czech Law which lay out the procedure to modify one’s diploma, and subsequently, Czech Universities are reluctant to issue new diplomas. This issue was noted by former ombudsman Anna Šabatová in an open letter addressed to the Minister of Education at the time, Robert Plaga. A proposed amendment to the Higher Education Act could change this though, contributing to equal treatment of students and graduates, as well as minimising discrimination against transgender people when they present their original diplomas. “The amendment responds to the difficult situation of persons who have undergone gender reassignment in proving their educational qualifications through educational documents obtained before gender reassignment,”...
Sparta Prague midfielder Jakub Jankto recently revealed his sexual orientation online, and Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar has extended his support to the player. Jankto’s admission makes him one of the few footballers who have had the courage to come out as homosexual while playing at the highest level. The talented Czech international player has made 45 appearances for his country’s national team. The 27-year-old loanee from Getafe bravely decided to share his personal life and sexual orientation with the world, stating: “Like everyone else, I have my strengths, I have my weaknesses, I have a family, I have friends, I have a job that I have been doing to the best of my ability for years, with seriousness, professionalism, and passion. Like everyone else. I also want to live my life in complete freedom. Without fear. Without prejudice. Without violence. BUT with love. I am homosexual and I no longer want to hide myself.” pic.twitter.com/PZNSAteOch — Jakub Jankto (@jakubjanktojr) February 13, 2023 Following his announcement, PSG forward Neymar responded by spreading the message of acceptance at a press conference: “It’s an important day. Everyone is free, and prejudices must be less important, whether it’s homophobia, racism, any form of discrimination. But...
Czechia will now be the name that the Czech Republic will compete under at the Eurovision Song Contest. Ahmad Halloun the Head of International Press for Czechia at the Eurovision Song Contest has confirmed that the nation will no longer compete as the “Czech Republic” at Eurovision but now as “Czechia”. The change can already be seen on the official music video clip for Czechia’s 2023 entry on the Eurovision YouTube channel and the country profile on the Eurovision.tv website. Czechia was first announced in 2016 as the revised English language name for the country, however, it has taken a number of years for the revised name to be adopted. In 2022 Czechia was adopted as the revised name for the Czech Republic at the United Nations, UEFA and the International Olympic Committee. Vesna who recently won ESCZ 2023 will be the first act that will represent the nation under the new name of Czechia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool with the song “My Sister’s Crown”. Vesna will perform in the second half of the first semi-final on May 9.
The Ukrainian army’s armored vehicles will be repaired in the Czech Republic as part of Prague’s military help against Russia’s aggression, the Czech Defence Ministry said. State-owned company VOP CZ signed a memorandum of understanding with Ukraine’s government arms manufacturer Ukroboronprom on the repairs on Monday, the ministry said, without giving further details. The news was announced on the website of the Czech Army, which controls VOP CZ. Neither side has released further details about the nature of the cooperation. “The memorandum … contains a specific plan and timetable for the repairs or securing of spare parts,” said Ales Vytecka, director of Czech government’s AMOS agency for military cooperation, who co-signed the memorandum. The Czech Republic has been one of the top weapons providers to Kyiv among NATO alliance allies since Russia invaded Ukraine last February, supplying Ukraine with armored personnel carriers, tanks or howitzers.
On 23 February, Kaufland and Lidl retail chains will launch a test project for the take-back of beverage bottles and cans. Each chain will allow customers to return packaging in three of its stores. Spokespeople for both companies, which are part of the Schwarz Group, announced the news in a press release. In the Czech Republic, PET bottles and cans are not yet backed up. However, the Ministry of the Environment is preparing a legislative proposal for possible introduction. Customers who use the service will receive discount coupons for their purchases in shops. Lidl spokesman Tomáš Myler said that the pilot project in stores is intended to support the idea of introducing the backup of PET bottles and cans in the Czech Republic. “Since customers will primarily return beverage containers to retailers if the system is introduced, it is important for us that the setup of the entire system is as customer-friendly as possible,” he added. The chains have not yet indicated in which stores people will be able to try out returning bottles. According to David Surý, director of the environmental protection section of the Ministry of the Environment, the chains’ test project can verify whether people in the...
Czechs spent an average of CZK 178 for lunch in a restaurant in January, 20 cents more than in December. The price growth has slowed down significantly, according to the latest survey by Edenred. Year-on-year, lunches are 16 percent more expensive. The most expensive city is still Prague, where a lunch meal costs about CZK 201. On the other hand, residents of Jihlava paid the least, around CZK 161. Lunch prices rose the most month-on-month in Liberec, Ostrava and Jihlava, by about 1 crown. The smallest increase was expected in České Budějovice and Brno, where lunches were about ten cents more expensive than in December, according to Edenred. 92 percent of the people interviewed, preferred restaurant lunches over delivery services in January, the most since August 2020. The value of the tax-advantaged meal voucher rose by CZK 15 to CZK 195 at the beginning of this January due to inflation. Under the Income Tax Act, companies can deduct a maximum of 55 per cent of the value of a meal voucher, with the remainder usually paid by employees. According to Edenred, prices in public catering rose by 27 percent year-on-year last November.
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