News

Putin: Sending Soviet Tanks Into Czechoslovakia was a Mistake

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that the Soviet Union’s decision to send tanks into Hungary and Czechoslovakia to crush mass protests during the Cold War was a mistake. “It was a mistake,” Putin said when asked about perceptions of Russia as a colonial power due to Moscow’s decision to send tanks into Budapest in 1956 and into Prague in 1968. “It is not right to do anything in foreign policy that harms the interests of other peoples,” said Putin, who in 2022 sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine, triggering the biggest land war in Europe since World War Two. Putin said the United States was making the same mistakes as the Soviet Union. He said Washington had “no friends, only interests”. The 1956 Hungarian Uprising was crushed by Soviet tanks and troops. At least 2,600 Hungarians and 600 Soviet troops were killed in the fighting. The 1968 Prague Spring was ended when Soviet-led Warsaw Pact forces invaded the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. Around 137 Czechs and Slovaks died as a result of the invasion, according to Czech historians. The Kremlin chief, whose decision to send tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in 2022 unleashed the biggest...

 by Cara McErlean Sep 12, 2023

Prague’s Tram Network Expanding: Two New Lines Planned

Prague City has unveiled plans for two new tram lines to enhance the city’s public transportation system. The first tram line, Dvorce – Budějovická – Michle, will connect the southern part of the tram network, incorporating the Dvorecký Bridge. This line is estimated to be approximately 4.8 kilometers long. It will provide connections to metro line D at the Olbrachtova stop and metro line C at the Budějovická stop. The construction cost is estimated at around CZK 1.7 billion, with efforts to secure co-financing from EU funds or other subsidy programs. The second line, Podbaba – Troja – Bohnice, located in the northern part of the tram circuit, will undergo a comprehensive study before proceeding with the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process. The implementation of both lines will expand Prague’s tram network by approximately 8 kilometers. Zdeněk Hřib, Deputy Mayor for Transport, emphasized the significance of these lines, stating, “Both lines are essential components of the southern and northern parts of the Prague tram circuit, enabling new, efficient public transport connections without overburdening the city center. By introducing the Dvorecký Bridge and the tram line Dvorce – Budějovická – Michle, we will establish a convenient, high-capacity, and eco-friendly connection between...

 by Cara Stevenson Sep 12, 2023

Czech Republic Imports of Russian Oil Grow Despite EU Ban

Russia’s share of total Czech oil imports grew in the first half of this year despite EU restrictions, an oil transit company said today. “The share of Russian oil imports via the Druzhba pipeline versus imports from other countries via the IKL pipeline reached about 65/35 per cent in the first half,” Barbora Putzova, spokeswoman for the state-owned Mero company, told AFP. In 2022, the share was 56 versus 44 per cent in favour of Druzhba, she added. Industry and trade ministry data have shown this year’s share of oil transported by Druzhba into the EU member state was the highest since at least 2016. The EU slapped a ban on most oil imports from Russia in May 2022, three months after Russia invaded Ukraine, but the Druzhba pipeline was exempted. Jiri Gavor, head of the Czech Association of Independent Energy Suppliers, said Poland’s PKN Orlen, which runs Czech refineries, was probably driven by economic reasons to stick to Russian oil. “I’d say PKN Orlen… benefits from the fact that oil transit via Druzhba is not banned here so far, it’s legal and it’s cheaper than oil from other sources,” he told AFP. In May, Mero said it had signed...

 by Melissa Santoyo Sep 11, 2023

Crumbs! Here’s a List of New Bakeries in Prague

Flavors from far and wide, and tastes you’ve never known before. This is also the characteristic of the new bakeries that have sprung up in Prague in recent months. Will you first try goodies from Korea, Italy, or perhaps Denmark?   Joy Bakery Owned by expats Peter and Liudmila, Joy Bakery focuses on artisanal, hand-crafted bread and pastry. Their products are made from the locally-sourced ingredients. Here you can find classic bread and baguettes, croissants and cookies, special bread with seeds and cumin, etc. Liudmila frequently experiments with new products, such as different “cakes of the week” and adds Danish and French influences into her baking. She also plans on adjusting her menu according to each season.     Visualizza questo post su Instagram   Un post condiviso da Joy Bakery (@joybakerycz)   Arte Bianca A new gem in Vinohrady. Owner and head baker Giacomo Candido always admired his grandmother, who baked bread for the whole village and the wider area in a wood-fired oven. And so here, too, they focus on handmade bread and other pastries. The selection includes ciabatta and focaccia, but also pane di Pompei. Legend has it that the latter began to be baked in 79...

 by Sarah Duchêne Sep 08, 2023

Czechs Will Be Able to Enroll in Driving School at the Age of 15

In 2024, aspiring Czech drivers will be able to commence their driving school courses at the age of 15 years and six months. Once they reach 17 years of age, they will be permitted to drive a car under the supervision of a mentor for a year. Transport Minister Martin Kupka (ODS) announced this development during a press conference, expressing his hope that these changes will lead to improvements in road safety. The Czech Republic currently experiences 50 road deaths per million inhabitants annually, and Kupka aspires to reduce this number to below 40. The amendment, scheduled to take effect next year, also includes modifications to the penalty points system for drivers, along with certain increases in fines. Kupka emphasized that these changes reflect the seriousness and risk levels associated with various driving offenses. Penalties will now be categorized into two, four, or six penalty points for different offenses. For instance, driving under the influence of alcohol will now result in six penalty points, down from the previous seven, but with an administrative fine increased to CZK 25,000, up from the existing CZK 20,000. Refusing an alcohol test, driving without a license, or driving while banned will all incur a...

 by Prague Morning Sep 07, 2023

Photo Exhibition “Images of Another Europe 1985-1989” to Open on September 14

In the last few years of the Cold War, from 1985 to 1989, an inspired young man decided to prove to the world that Europe, despite the political differences that kept it divided in two, was and remains one entity. With a small camera that he keeps close to his heart, Constantin Pittas will scan the then-divided Europe, capturing countless hundreds of films the true face of the European citizen. It records raw emotions of everyday people in Western and Eastern countries, as they are reflected through their gaze, eventually managing to record history itself. The fall of the Berlin Wall will find him to be a witness in the city of Berlin and there, he will make the mindless decision to drop his project and leave the material of the photographs for a whole 25 years in a storage room. Today, in Prague, we have the unique opportunity to see history in its human form unfolding before our eyes, and during this troubled period we live, to ask ourselves again: Is Europe, after all, a unique entity? Looking at some of the photos, 1989 seems surprisingly long ago. And it must seem even more so for the young generation...

 by Thomas Lane Sep 07, 2023

Sixt-Six Czech Companies Call on PM to Support Same Sex Marriage Bill

Sixty-six Czech companies have collectively signed an open letter, urging Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) to endorse a law that would enable “marriage for all.” This law was presented by Vodafone CEO Petr Dvorak and representatives from various other firms and organizations. In the letter, they emphasize that the unequal conditions faced by LGBT+ citizens result in costs for employers and economic losses amounting to billions of euros. Since July 2006, gay and lesbian couples have had the option to enter into registered partnerships in the Czech Republic. Discussions about legislation to equalize marriage rights began in 2016, with the most recent proposal being submitted to the Chamber of Deputies during the current electoral term. Lawmakers are deliberating a counterproposal aimed at defining marriage in the constitution as a union exclusively between a man and a woman. President Petr Pavel recently expressed in a speech to the Senate that the rights of a segment of society should not be restricted based on their sexual orientation. He further added that legalizing same-sex marriage should be seen not as a revolution but as a fair legal framework. The signatories draw attention to the economic costs and losses resulting from inequality, referencing an...

 by Prague Morning Sep 07, 2023

Program of This Year’s Signal Festival is Revealed

This year’s edition will offer the largest gallery zone in its history, featuring 7 unique installations by Czech and international artists. Another 13 freely accessible artworks, including 2 videomappings, will be on display on two festival routes – Centrum and Karlín / Holešovice. But that’s just the beginning. WHAT IS THERE TO SEE IN THE GALLERY ZONE? The foreign star will be the aforementioned Canadian-Mexican artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer with his interactive work Thermal Drift on Lyčkovo náměstí. In Hall 13 of the Holešovice Market Hall, the Spanish duo Playmodes will present the largest installation of this year’s edition called Horizon. The Polish collective Ksawery Komputery will prepare an interactive light installation Flux for the space of the baroque Invalidovna. Other unique artworks will take you to the Church of Salvator, Kunsthalle Praha, the Hybernská Campus and the Museum of the City of Prague. You can visit the gallery zone with a Signal Plus or Signal VIP ticket. Purchase them for a better price now and enjoy the entire festival to the fullest and in even greater comfort. AND WHAT ELSE HAVE WE PREPARED FOR YOU? The significant portion of the Signal Festival still remains free and this year will bring...

 by Prague Morning Sep 07, 2023

Ecstasy, When Czech Cinema Scandalized the World

“In the garden of the Excelsior that evening, you could hear the breath of the extremely attentive spectators, you felt a thrill running through the audience”. These words, written by the young Michelangelo Antonioni as a critic at the second Venice Film Festival, in 1934, give us a hint of the tremendous impact of Extase (Ecstasy), written and directed by Prague-born director Gustav Machatý, during that historic premiere. Dubbed a “pornographic film” by the Osservatore Romano (the daily newspaper of Vatican City State), it even aroused Mussolini’s attention, to the extent that Il Duce actually requested a private screening. Despite the Pope’s attempts to block it, it was screened on 7 August 1934 and the Czechoslovak director was rewarded with the Venice City Cup. According to a public survey, Extase was considered the best foreign film and Machatý the best director. A scandalous film, now considered a turning point in the direction of international cinema, which also marked the beginning of the career of the leading lady, Hedy Lamarr, later launched in Hollywood under the label of “the most beautiful woman in the world”. Lamarr said the director tricked her into the nude scenes. Here’s how the “tricking” happened, as recounted...

 by Prague Morning Sep 07, 2023

Czech Republic Pledges Support for Ukraine’s 2024 Elections

The Czech Republic is ready to help Ukraine hold parliamentary and presidential elections in 2024 after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that they would need help from Western allies, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Daniel Drake. “The organization of elections in the conditions of Russia’s war aggression against Ukraine is governed by Ukrainian law and, however complicated it may be, we believe that it will be possible to organize them next year,” added Drake. “The Czech Republic is ready to support Ukraine in this regard, but the exact form of this assistance can only be discussed on the basis of a specific request from the Ukrainian side,” Drake said, adding that the country has not yet received any specific requests. Zelenskyy recently said that voting could take place during wartime, but Ukraine needs to change laws and get partners from the EU and NATO on board when it comes to sharing election costs. Czech Interior Minister Vít Rakušan confirmed the country’s readiness to provide help, adding that the requirements put forth by Ukraine will shape the specifics of Czech assistance. However, EU Commission spokesman Peter Stano said that Ukraine has not yet contacted the institution on the matter. “In general, the...

 by Prague Morning Sep 06, 2023

Rare Places Published a Printed Pocket Guide With 136 Tips for Unusual Architecture

Founded by 14-year-old Ondrej Filgas and his team, Rare Places has been operating in the Czech and Slovak markets since 2020, continuously bringing the best of the local architecture and design scene through its activities. Rare Places aims to map quality architecture and show it to the general public. The launch of the Rare Places pocket guide On March 23, 2023, the launch of the new Rare Places Pocket Guide took place at CAMP in Prague. The godfather of this guide was Jan Vondrák, the architect of the Mjölk studio, whose works contributed significantly to the guide’s content. In addition to the book launch, visitors could also take part in a discussion with the authors of the guide about the way this unique project, which combines modern architecture and travel, was created was described. The graphic side of the book was prepared by the renowned STUDIO KOSATKO, whose representative, Jan Košátko, significantly enriched the discussion. The highlight of the evening was a discussion on the topic of walking through architecture with the guide’s godfather Jan Vondrák and landscape architect Jakub Finger. Visitors learned interesting facts from behind the scenes of designing public buildings. Rare Places Pocket Guide A compact guide, Rare Places fits in the pocket of...

 by Prague Morning Sep 06, 2023

First Official Pokémon Store Opens in Prague

The only official Pokémon store in Central Europe will open in Prague on Saturday, September 10, 2023. So, where exactly can you find all kinds of Pokémon toys, books, and collectible cards? At the Palace of Books Luxor on Wenceslas Square in Prague! As part of the grand opening on September 10, starting at 10:00 am, you can look forward to an accompanying children’s program and opportunities to purchase small gifts. “The diverse program will commence at 10 a.m., and visitors can anticipate collectible gifts and an autograph session with the Pokémon TCG World Champion, Ondrej Škubala,” said Klára Unzeitigová, Senior Marketing Manager at Luxor. The Pokémon store will operate within the Palace of Books Luxor as a so-called shop-in-shop. This represents the first officially licensed project of this kind in cooperation with The Pokémon Company in the Czech Republic. The Pokémon Company is a Japanese company responsible for brand management, production, publishing, marketing, and licensing of the Pokémon franchise, which consists of video game software, a trading card game, anime television series, films, manga, home entertainment products, merchandise, and other ventures. It was established through a joint investment by the three companies holding the copyright of Pokémon: Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures in April 1998. The first official Pokémon Center opened on April 25, 1998, in Nihonbashi, Tokyo....

 by Prague Morning Sep 06, 2023