In June 2024, over 1,500 new electric cars were registered in the Czech Republic, capturing nearly 7% of the market share. This milestone signals a larger trend within the country. This is the second time in history that more than 1,000 new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have been registered in the Czech Republic in a single month. To understand the rise in popularity of BEVs, we can look back to May 2019 when the Ministry of Transport launched a grant program for alternative fuel infrastructure. The program allocated CZK 146 million to create additional charging stations, showing the government’s commitment to promoting BEVs. This support has directly contributed to the recent increase in their use. Currently, there are more than 27,600 BEVs in the M1 passenger vehicle category in the Czech Republic, reflecting an increase of over 5,000 in the first half of this year. The infrastructure to support these vehicles has also expanded, with more than 5,200 public charging points now available. Data from the Clean Transport website, based on information from the Ministry of Transport, highlights these developments. In 2023, global automotive markets rebounded significantly after a downturn caused by COVID-19 and other factors, marking a historic milestone....
Austria’s Freedom Party (FPÖ), Czechia’s ANO, and Hungary’s Fidesz have formed a new right-wing coalition, the parties’ respective leaders announced at a joint press conference in Vienna on Sunday. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, and Austrian opposition leader Herbert Kickl said the new alliance would hopefully entice others to join and become the largest nationalist political group in the European Parliament. “Today we are creating a political formation that will ‘forge ahead’ and very quickly become the strongest grouping and largest faction of the European right,” Orbán said. The Hungarian prime minister expects this to happen within days, and then the “sky will be the limit.” Orbán pointed out that the situation in Europe is clear, that European politics must change and change is needed in Europe. He underlined that in 20 of the 27 EU member states, parties that promised change to the citizens won the European Parliament elections. The Hungarian leader revealed the parties had adopted the Patriots’ manifesto, which summarizes the ideals and goals around which they are organizing their work. According to Orbán, the European economy is in crisis, its weight is diminishing and the threat of terrorism and migration...
The summer heat in Prague is intensifying, making public transportation trips quite challenging. For those who struggle with hot and stuffy conditions, the city’s transportation authorities have provided a guide to identify trams equipped with air conditioning. All Škoda 15T4 trams come with onboard climate control. These trams are easily recognized by the yellow plastic inserts in the front section. Currently, 127 of these air-conditioned trams operate on Prague’s streets, and air conditioning is a standard feature. However, the older Škoda 15T trams only have air conditioning in the driver’s cabin, leaving the passenger compartment without this comfort. These trams have a front section designed in gray and red and do not include the yellow inserts. However, there is an exception – two gray Škoda 15T trams do have air conditioning in the passenger compartment (they were installed as an experiment). These trams can be identified by their registration numbers 9243 and 9285, which are displayed on the front section of the tram. Another way to find out in advance when a tram or bus with air conditioning will arrive at a stop is by using the official online map of the Prague public transportation system, which shows the real-time...
In just a few weeks, Czech Olympians will debut their modern collection at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris. This year, however, their outfits will feature unique details on their coats, shoes, and scarves, which the president of the Czech Olympic Committee, Jiří Kejval, praises highly. “Even in the crowd, no one will miss us. This is what we want to achieve in the heart of Paris, the capital of fashion,” said Kejval. The most striking element of the distinctive and modern collection is a blue and white trench coat, also inspired by the Czech “baloňák” coat, which the head of the Czech Olympic Committee, Jiří Kejval, said in a press release was meant to honour the host country due to the clothing item’s popularity in France. This item was created in collaboration between the Czech Olympic Team, ALPINE PRO, and designer Jan Černý. “My generation may be surprised by the design of the Opening Ceremony collection, but it will be worn mainly by young people who appreciate Jan Černý’s work. If the athletes feel comfortable in the clothes, they will have the confidence needed for their sporting performance, which we are all looking forward to,” added Kejval. The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will take...
In the middle of Old Town Square stands a large and imposing statue of one of Bohemia’s most important religious reformers and martyrs, Jan Hus (c.1370-1415). In the Czech Republic, July 6th is still celebrated every year as a public holiday in commemoration of the life and work of this great religious leader and advanced thinker who died for his beliefs more than 600 years ago. He advocated church reforms, such as using Czech as the liturgical language, aligning the church’s practices with teachings contained in the Bible, limiting the power of the church to spiritual matters, and stopping the sale of indulgences. Sometime around 1490, he enrolled in the University of Prague (known as Charles University today) where he eventually earned a master’s degree and began teaching, and then earned the position of dean of the philosophical faculty in 1401. During this period, the university was undergoing a time of strife and disagreement between two factions. On the one hand were the German masters who were staunch supporters of the Catholic Church, and who were regarded as standing against any sort of Church reform, and on the other were the Czech masters who were strongly nationalistic, who were...
From January 1, 2025, the Old Catholic Church in the Czech Republic will recognize same-sex partnerships with church ceremonies. As Blesk.cz reports, the Old Catholic Church is the first church in the country to formally declare its intention to officiate same-sex partnerships with legal standing through church ceremonies. The Synod Council of the Old Catholic Church has already notified state authorities, seeking clarification on the administrative procedures required for these church ceremonies. The Civil Code Amendment introduces civil partnerships as a permanent union between two people of the same sex, similar to marriage. “This legislation allows for such partnerships to be concluded with a church ceremony if the church, which holds relevant special rights, decides to do so according to its internal regulations,” stated the Old Catholic Church. In 2022, the church already allowed blessings for couples, including same-sex couples, who could not marry. Previously, couples had to enter into a civil registered partnership separately from the church ceremony. “There are people in same-sex partnerships in our parishes, and the Church feels the need to care for them pastorally,” said Old Catholic Bishop Pavel Benedikt Stránský. He noted that this step confirms the permanence and seriousness of such partnerships and...
Prague Airport will be the first airport worldwide to feature a Poesiomat for its passengers. Reminiscent of a submarine periscope, this unique installation activates when you turn its crank, sharing poems, songs, and stories about Czech cultural icons. Poesiomats have been enriching public spaces since 2015, thanks to the Piána na ulici association led by café owner Ondřej Kobza. Starting July 2, travelers at Prague’s Airport can enjoy this new experience. “Airports are gateways to and from the country and modern squares where people have time to stop and reflect. We thought it would be wonderful if people could spend this time listening to a Dvořák symphony or a Seifert poem,” explains Kobza, the project’s creator. The Poesiomat will feature 20 recordings, introducing passengers to notable Czech figures from various fields, including culture, politics, and sports. Visitors will learn about luminaries like Václav Havel, Milan Kundera, Karel Čapek, and Eliška Junková. “English will be the primary language, but the Poesiomat will also recite or sing in French, German, and Spanish. Our goal is to familiarize foreign visitors with Czech culture,” adds Kobza. The poetry machines are made of steel and are about 180 cm tall, consisting of three assembled parts....
After more than thirteen years of activity, the British band Royal Blood will finally visit the Czech Republic to play their first solo concert! It will take place on July 11, 2024, in Ledárny Braník. The duo will bring to Prague not only their latest album, Back To The Water Below, which was very well received by critics, but also a cross-section of their entire work. The band from Worthing, UK was formed in 2011 and almost from the very beginning was based on the long-term friendship of musicians Mike Kerr (vocals, bass guitar) and Ben Thatcher (drums). After the release of their debut album, the until then unknown project reached the top of the British charts almost overnight, played on the stages of festivals such as Glastonbury or Rock Werchter and, last but not least, received a nomination for the prestigious Mercury Prize and the Brit Awards for Best British Band of 2015. Their sound can be compared to bands like The White Stripes, The Black Keys or Muse, with whom they played the Royal Blood tour last year. The combination of bass guitar and drums is originally emphasized by Kerr’s typical style, where his bass guitar sounds like...
On Friday, July 5th, Smetana Hall at the Municipal House in Prague will resonate with the melodies of a special classical music concert dedicated to Ukraine. The event, set to begin at 7:30 PM, promises an evening of musical artistry and cultural solidarity, featuring an exceptional lineup of performers and compositions. The concert will open with the world premiere of “Go where the wind takes you…,” a composition by the acclaimed Ukrainian composer Iryna Aleksiychuk. Known for her multiple international competition wins and national creative awards, Aleksiychuk’s latest work is inspired by the evocative poem of Olena Stepanenko (Prylutska). This piece was commissioned by Classical Movements for the Taki-Alsop Conducting Fellowship, as part of the Eric Daniel Helms New Music Program, highlighting the intersection of poetry and music in a unique creative expression. Following this premiere, the audience will be treated to the Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 2, performed by the highly lauded Ukrainian-American pianist Anna Dmytrenko. A laureate of numerous international piano competitions, Dmytrenko’s career has been marked by her technical mastery, earning her performances at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall. The evening will culminate with a performance of Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World” by...
The Czech Republic has the largest number of small methamphetamine labs in Europe. Police prosecuted 3,415 people for drug-related offences last year. Methamphetamine and marijuana remain the most commonly used drugs in the Czech Republic. Last year, the police prosecuted 3,415 people for drug-related offences, a number similar to 2022 when 3,418 people were charged. “Classic Czech-made methamphetamine is typically produced in small domestic labs, while foreigners are significantly involved in the illegal trade,” stated officers from the National Drug Control Centre. Part of the methamphetamine produced is for personal consumption, with the rest sold to regular customers, mostly within the Czech Republic and occasionally to neighboring countries. According to the report, small labs produce about 50 grams of the drug per cycle. Methamphetamine from Mexico In recent years, large quantities of methamphetamine have been imported into European ports from Mexico, as well as from some African and Middle Eastern countries. “Hundreds of kilograms of Mexican methamphetamine are produced by criminal groups in laboratories in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands and Belgium,” according to the National Drug Control Centre. Cheaper “Mexican methamphetamine” is increasingly found along the German border. However, in the Czech Republic, this methamphetamine has not gained much...
A train traveling from Prague to Budapest collided with a local bus in southern Slovakia on Thursday, leaving at least seven people dead and five injured, officials said. Some 200 people were aboard the Eurocity train when the accident took place shortly after 5 p.m. (1500 GMT) near the town of Nove Zamky, police and the Slovak railway company ZSSK said. The deaths and injuries were confirmed by Slovakia´s rescue service, and ZSSK said none of the deaths were aboard the train. Video footage showed that the engine of the train was on fire, and railway officials said the bus was badly damaged in the crash and broken into two parts. Interior Minister Matus Sutai Estok visited the scene of the accident. He said the dead were not immediately identified. The major train track linking Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, with Budapest was to remain closed until at least 4 a.m. (0200 GMT). The stranded passengers aboard the stricken train were being transported by buses to the town of Sturovo on the Hungarian border, ZSSK said. The bus driver survived the crash. The injured were transported to hospitals in nearby towns and cities because the local one was closed Thursday after some...
The 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival kicks off in the West Bohemian spa town on Friday evening. The festival will open with a screening of the western The Dead Don’t Hurt, written and directed by Viggo Mortensen, who also stars in the film. Themes of “fragile family bonds and explorations of love driven by complex female characters,” Kočárník says, will feature prominently in many of the fest’s films, such as Norway’s “Loveable.” In addition, there are a few period dramas with a contemporary touch, such as Margarida Cardoso’s “Banzo,” Bruno Anković’s “Celebration,” about young men seduced by right-wing ideology, and Iveta Grófová’s 1940s-set “Hungarian Dressmaker.” The festival it’s keeping an eye on a new generation of local directors. One such helmer is Adam Martinec, who is about to make his feature debut with “Our Lovely Pig Slaughter.” “The world is waiting for this film, if I may exaggerate a little,” says KVIFF’s artistic director Karel Och. “You don’t get to see Czech films at the biggest festivals that often, which I hope will change, but I am very confident about this new generation. Unlike some of their older colleagues, they work on themselves. They go to festivals, watch films...
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