News

Germany to Reintroduce Fixed Controls on Czech Border

Germany is expected to notify the EU about plans to introduce fixed border checks on the Polish, Czech Republic and Swiss borders. Previously, this had only been possible at the Austrian frontier. The German Interior Ministry is expected to register fixed border controls with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland with the European Commission in light of a high number of refugees entering Germany. The intention of the checks is to more effectively fight against people smugglers and to detect and stop unauthorized entries. What we know so far According to government sources, the necessary notification in Brussels was being prepared on Monday. The plan is an extension of police checks directly at the border in place at the border with Austria since 2015. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser had long rejected permanent fixed contro points, citing, among other things, the effects on commuters and freight transport. The norm in the EU’s Schengen Zone is for open borders but with police reserving the right to check anybody crossing at random, but not at set checkpoints. Interior ministers of the eastern German states of Brandenburg and Saxony have pressed Faeser to implement fixed checks. Germany had introduced additional controls at border...

 by Prague Morning Oct 16, 2023

Drumming For Bubny Marks 82 Years Since First Transport of Jews From Prague

Between October 16 and November 3, 1941, five transports left Prague to the ghetto in Łódž, Poland, and on November 16, a transport went from Brno to the ghetto in Minsk, Belarus. The first transport of Czech Jews left the Bubny railway station in Holešovice on October 16, while the Terezín ghetto was established on Nov. 24, 1941. After that, the occupying German authorities decided that the Jews would be sent to a ghetto in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The former military fortress town of Terezín was chosen. A total of 140,000 people arrived in Terezín in transports, and over 15,000 came in forced marches at the end of World War II. The largest group of deportees, more than 70,000, were Jews from Bohemia and Moravia. Today’s commemoration The annual commemoration Bubnování pro Bubny (“Drumming for Bubny Station”) will start today at 17:00. Traditionally, descendants of deported citizens will also take part. The organizers will distribute cardboard drums to the guests, which they will have to beat to the rhythm set by the drummers of the Tam Tam Batucada band. Entrance is free, and everyone is welcome to attend. You can also bring your own drums. In this...

 by Prague Morning Oct 16, 2023

Government’s Austerity Package: Czechs to Pay More for Beer and Medicine

The Czech parliament’s lower house has approved dozens of measures proposed by the government designed to keep the ballooning budget deficit under control. Czech citizens are a step closer to paying more for beer and medicine while businesses will face higher corporate taxes. In the 200-seat house, 108 MPs from the ruling coalition voted in favour of the plan, while 86 opposition members were against. When the government introduced the package in May, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the proposed cuts, tax increases and austerity measures are necessary because the pace of the debt rise is “threatening.” Fiala said Friday the measures should reduce the budget deficit by 97 billion Czech crowns next year and by 150 billion in 2025. As a result, the deficit of 3.5% of the GDP expected for this year should drop to 1.8% next year and to 1.2% in 2025. The package still needs approval from the upper house, the Senate, where the coalition government has a majority, and presidential approval before becoming effective next year. Rising beer tax Corporation tax will go up by two points to 21% while property tax for individuals will be also increased, as well the tax on alcohol, tobacco...

 by Prague Morning Oct 14, 2023

A New Tram Section Was Opened in Prague

On Friday, 13 October, a new tram section connecting the districts of Holyně and Slivenec was officially opened in Prague. The opening ceremony was attended by First Deputy Mayor Zdenek Hříb and other municipal officials. In April 2022, the Prague Transport Company opened the Sídliště Barrandov – Holyně tram line. A new half-kilometer section extended it to the Slivenec stop. The construction of the section started in February this year, lasted 36 weeks and cost 231 million CZK excluding VAT. Trams 4, 5 and 94 now run to the new stop.

 by Prague Morning Oct 14, 2023

Public Gathering for Peace Between Israel and Palestine to Take Place in Prague

The Association Friends of PALESTINE cordially invite everyone to a solemn gathering on Sunday, October 15, at 4 pm on Wenceslas Square. The event is a commemoration dedicated to all victims, irrespective of their origins, caught in the tragic crossfire of the Palestine-Israel conflict and seek to express solidarity with the innocent lives lost, transcending the divisive lines of nationality, religion, and age. “We kindly urge all attendees to refrain from using any aggressive slogans or symbols associated with the ideologies of Hamas or Israel during this event. Let our collective voice be a symbol of peace and unity,” state the organizers. In Israel, there are more than 1,300 dead (257 soldiers) and more than 3,000 injured. Among Palestinians, according to the local health ministry, there are at least 1,900 dead with 6,388 injured. “It’s crucial to recognize that this cycle of violence is not new; every year, countless lives are needlessly lost, primarily among Palestinians living under occupation or in the unbearable conditions of the Israeli blockade,” added the Association Friends of PALESTINE. “Our shared objective should be to halt the aerial bombardment, establish a bilateral ceasefire, facilitate a prisoner exchange, and pave the way for a just settlement...

 by Prague Morning Oct 14, 2023

Prague Launches 1.95 Billion CZK Tender for Future EUSPA Agency Headquarters

Prague City Hall has recently announced a significant step in its plans for the future headquarters of the European Union Space Programme Agency (EUSPA). The municipal authorities have issued a public tender worth 1.95 billion CZK for the completion of the Nová Palmovka building. The goal is to adapt this structure to serve as the headquarters for the EUSPA, a move scheduled for 2027. Originally started in 2014 by Prague 8 district, the Palmovka Street building was intended to house the City Hall and a business center. However, construction work on this ambitious project, valued at over 1 billion CZK, was halted a year later and has yet to resume. After extensive negotiations, the municipality took control of the building in 2021. Initial discussions involved the possibility of using the site for emergency services headquarters. Eventually, an agreement was reached with the state and EUSPA, whose current premises in Holešovice have become inadequate for their expanding operations. EUSPA relocated from Brussels to Prague on 6th September 2012, operating under the name European Global Navigation Satellite System Agency. The agency oversees the operational management of various EU space programs, including satellite and navigation initiatives like Galileo, EGNOS, and Copernicus. The current...

 by Prague Morning Oct 13, 2023

Prague Ranking 12th World’s Best City

The City of Prague has ranked 12th in the World’s Best Cities Report of 2023. The city ranked exceptionally high in attractions and nightlife whilst offering much more. Resonance Consultancy’s annual ranking has just been announced. Each year, the company analyses more than 270 cities, which are home to at least one million people, to determine the top 100. They combined data and qualitative evaluations along with recommendations by locals and visitors on platforms like TripAdvisor and Facebook, to evaluate three core, overarching factors — ‘liveability’, ‘lovability’ and ‘prosperity’. Liveability incorporates how walkable a place is, airport connectivity and the number of parks, among other factors. Lovability relates to culture — the number of nightlife and restaurant spots, as well as Google and Facebook check-ins. Prosperity includes analysis of the poverty rate, educational attainment and GDP per capita. So where is the best city in the world? Well, for an impressive eighth year in a row, the answer is London, aptly dubbed the ‘capital of capitals.’ The sprawling metropolis of the UK capital comes out on top for culture, meaning it has the highest number of performing arts and cultural spaces recommended on TripAdvisor. In second place, it’s Paris, conveniently...

 by Prague Morning Oct 12, 2023

IN PICTURES: Luxury Prague Villa Goes Up for Sale

If you’re in the market for a luxury villa, you might be in luck as one of the country’s most expensive properties has gone up for sale. The luxury villa, owned by investor and mathematician Karel Janeček, is located in Prague’s Smichov district. According to the real estate agent Jan Bareš of NRG International Realty it boasts six bedrooms, four bathrooms, two studies, a pool, a hot tub, a wine cellar, a home theatre, and a rooftop terrace with stunning views of the city. It also has a garden area, multi-car garage, and guest and nanny accommodation. Janeček bought the villa in 2016 for 48 million CZK and worked with architect Radovan Mačák to renovate it to a high standard. He is selling it because he is moving to a larger property outside Prague. “I decided to sell the property mainly because of the need for a bigger garden around the house,” he recently told Forbes. The villa has a usable area of ​​719 square meters and the entire plot is 983 square meters. The price tag is 137 million CZK. If you look at the price per m2, it is really not that bad, at roughly 190k / m2....

 by Robin Petrasek Oct 12, 2023

Czech Populists Would Win Elections if Held Now: Poll

The Czech opposition ANO party of former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš would win the Czech general election with 33.5% of the vote if elections were held now, according to a new opinion poll. The current Kantar election model for Czech Television also shows that the Pirates (Greens/EFA), STAN and TOP 09 (EPP) would still make it into the Czech Chamber of Deputies. At the same time, the Christian democrats (KDU-ČSL, EPP) would not pass the 5% threshold. By a wide margin, the currently governing ODS (ECR) would get 12%, with its support falling by 5% since the spring of 2023. The far-right party of Freedom and Direct Democracy (ID) would finish third with 9.5% of the vote. The current Czech government was formed in 2021, consisting of five parties – ODS, KDU-ČSL, TOP 09, Pirates and STAN. All the parties are significantly lagging behind the populist ANO party. The most noticeable outflow is from ODS towards ANO or Freedom and Direct Democracy. “The most frequently mentioned reasons for the shift are incompetence, inconceptiveness, chaotic, failure to fulfil promises, but there are also economic reasons such as high inflation, falling real wages and related reasons such as inaction, poor communication,” the...

 by Prague Morning Oct 12, 2023

Signal Festival is Starting Today! Everything You Need to Know

The Signal Festival starts today and we have information ready for you to answer your questions about the festival.   WHAT DO I NEED A TICKET FOR? With a ticket, you will get the opportunity to see 7 unique installations that you will not see otherwise. The ticket is not time-limited, so you can come any day, any time from 19:00- 24:00. SIGNAL PLUS A SIGNAL VIP Two types of tickets can be purchased for the Signal Festival. Signal Plus includes entry to 7 exclusive installations within the gallery zone. Signal VIP also includes the gallery zone, but without queuing and with a welcome drink at selected venues. WHERE CAN I BUY TICKETS? Online tickets can be purchased on the Signal Festival website or the GoOut portal. Tickets can also be purchased at the venue. Cash and credit cards are accepted at the festival. VIP UPGRADE Signal VIP Upgrade brings the exclusive opportunity to upgrade your Signal Plus ticket to Signal VIP at any time during the festival and enjoy the Signal Festival in peace and privacy. Simply fill in a simple form and pay the pro-rated amount. WHERE CAN I PICK UP MY FESTIVAL RIBBON? After purchasing your ticket...

 by Prague Morning Oct 11, 2023

Czech Public Support For Presence of Ukrainian Refugees is Falling

Czechs’ support for the temporary stay of Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic has declined in recent months, according to research by the STEM agency. 51% of respondents considered it right for the Czech Republic to continue giving refuge to Ukrainians who fled the Russian invasion, 5% less than in June. The number of people who think the Ukrainian refugees are an asset to the Czech Republic has not changed. As in the summer, around a quarter of citizens hold this view, and similarly, those thinking that Ukrainian refugees should be given the opportunity to stay in the Czech Republic after the end of the war remain at two-fifths. Some 54% of respondents said their attitudes towards Ukrainian refugees have remained basically unchanged since the start of the war in February 2022. On the contrary, 43% stated that their attitudes towards them had become more negative. Almost no-one said their attitudes had improved, the researchers added. The survey also assessed how the Czech state has dealt with the arrival of people fleeing Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion. Authorities and institutions in the Czech Republic were given an average grade of 3.2, with a quarter of people giving...

 by Prague Morning Oct 11, 2023

30 Years of Rammstein: Legendary German Rock Band to Perform in Prague Next Year

Legendary German rock band Rammstein, renowned for their jaw-dropping stage performances and stunning pyrotechnics, is gearing up for a global tour in 2024. Taking center stage at Letňany Airport in Prague on May 11, 2024, the band is set to deliver a show that will leave audiences awestruck. Official ticket sales will kick off on October 18, 2023, at 11 am CET. Detailed information and ticket purchase links can be found exclusively on the official Rammstein website. A special pre-sale opportunity is being extended to members of the Rammstein fan club “LIFAD.” Starting from October 16, 2023, at 11 am CET, and concluding on October 17, 2023, at 11 am CET, LIFAD members will have the chance to secure their seats before the general public. Each LIFAD member is eligible to purchase a maximum of six tickets per concert. However, due to limited ticket availability, successful purchase cannot be guaranteed for all members. Rammstein emphasizes the importance of purchasing tickets exclusively from authorized outlets to avoid potential scams. The band released their eight studio album Zeit (Universal) on April 29. The record peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums chart....

 by Prague Morning Oct 11, 2023