Czech billionaire Michal Strnad has offered €30 billion to acquire Delfin, the investment vehicle of Italy’s Del Vecchio family and the key shareholder in eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica. News of the offer, which was first reported by Italian newspaper Il Domani, comes amid growing tensions within Delfin, whose investment portfolio includes also large holdings in Italy’s financial sector. Il Domani published a copy of a letter dated October 20 outlining the offer. “I am looking for long-term investment opportunities in companies operating in, or investing in, businesses positioned at the top of their value chain,” Strnad said in the letter said, according to the newspaper. Delfin “perfectly fits my investment approach and strategy,” the letter added. Jan Osuch, a spokesperson for AKIPIA, which oversees some of Strnad’s investment activities outside the defence sector, said the group did not comment “on market speculation or potential business negotiations.” Strnad earlier this year bought a 14% stake in Italian tyre maker Pirelli, opens new tab from China’s Sinochem. Strnad, 34, heads the family’s defence company Czechoslovak Group (CSG) which listed in Amsterdam earlier this year. Delfin shareholder Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, one of the six children of the late Ray-Ban billionaire Leonardo Del Vecchio,...
Don’t leave your Christmas shopping until the last minute this year. On the weekend of 28–29 November, head to Hall 13 at Holešovice Market and discover original gifts directly from the people who made them. MINT Market will bring together more than a hundred carefully selected brands from across the Czech Republic, offering a relaxed alternative to the pre-Christmas rush in shopping centres. On Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm, visitors can look forward to independent fashion, designer jewellery, ceramics, natural cosmetics, illustrations, original accessories and plenty of Christmas gift inspiration. And, of course, there will be the relaxed and friendly atmosphere that has become an essential part of MINT Market. The event is suitable for all generations and admission is free. The youngest MINT Market visitors and their families can enjoy the beautiful NOOK Family Lounge, featuring high-quality wooden toys, a creative play area, a quiet zone with books and space to relax, as well as facilities for babies and parents, including a changing table and a peaceful place for breastfeeding. There will also be Christmas-themed creative workshops. MINT Market has been active for sixteen years. During that time, it...
People in the Czech Republic could soon be allowed to decide whether they want to pay television and radio licence fees under a new funding model being prepared by the government. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said the Finance Ministry is working on a system that would make contributions to Czech Television (ČT) and Czech Radio (ČRo) voluntary while ensuring the two public broadcasters receive a guaranteed level of funding. The proposal is expected to be discussed by the coalition council on Monday. For now, however, the existing system will remain in place. Although the government had initially hoped to introduce changes at the beginning of 2027, Babiš said the legislative timetable makes that unlikely. Under parliamentary rules, the bill requires a 60-day review period before moving forward. That means its second reading would fall during the Christmas period, delaying further debate until at least January 2027. The proposed changes have already sparked political and public opposition. On October 24, the Chamber of Deputies approved in its first reading a proposal to abolish television and radio licence fees. The governing coalition, made up of ANO, SPD and the Motorists party, added the measure to its priority legislative agenda. The vote took...
Prague will host a week of Polish cinema and culture from November 9 to 15, as the 3Kino – Polish Film Festival Prague returns for its 13th edition. The festival will screen 13 feature films representing contemporary Polish cinema, with a program that also includes theater, stand-up comedy, exhibitions, music and events for children. This year’s festival opens with The Doll (Lalka), directed by Maciej Kawalski. Based on the classic novel by Bolesław Prus, the film is among the most expensive Polish productions ever made and takes audiences to 19th-century Warsaw. The story explores love, ambition and social divisions, with Marcin Dorociński, one of Poland’s best-known contemporary actors, in a leading role. Freedom will be the central theme of this year’s edition. The festival will explore the idea through historical events as well as everyday life, personal relationships and decisions that can alter a person’s future. The program extends beyond the cinema. Visitors can attend theatrical performances, stand-up shows and exhibitions, while this year’s edition will also put a special focus on Poland’s Lower Silesia region. Among the accompanying events is the opening of photographer Rafał Pawłowski’s exhibition Shadows of Sounds. Another exhibition will mark the 100th anniversary of the...
Explore how modern consumer brands are elevating their aesthetic appeal by investing in highly customized and visually striking product hardware. Discover how deliberate styling and tactile materials redefine daily customer routines. You probably remember when health tools hid inside bathroom cabinets, kept out of sight because their clunky plastic shells felt purely clinical. Today, wellness tools serve as personal fashion statements that you proudly display on living room tables and office desks. Modern customers want daily items that mirror their curated tastes and fit their personal spaces. When your brand treats hardware design as an artistic craft, you turn simple wellness routines into meaningful daily rituals. Why Are Wellness Tools Becoming Lifestyle Statements? Your customers no longer separate wellness routines from their broader aesthetic choices. They curate their living rooms, nightstands, and carry bags with items that express their taste. When you produce clean hardware with balanced silhouettes, you invite buyers to keep your products in plain view. Visibility drives regular daily use. A handsome object sitting on a counter prompts natural engagement, while an awkward gadget gets shoved into a dark drawer. By focusing on intentional shapes, you build products that seamlessly merge into home decor. Thoughtful design also...
A Czech citizen has been confirmed among the victims of a deadly train collision in Spain, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday. Spanish authorities identified the victim as a young Czech national who had been travelling on one of the trains involved in the accident near Toledo. The Czech Embassy in Madrid is in contact with the person’s family and is providing consular assistance, the ministry said. The collision occurred on Wednesday shortly before 9 a.m. near the town of Urda, in the province of Toledo. Two high-speed trains were involved in the crash, with about 540 people on board. Sixty-nine people died and around 100 others were taken to hospital, according to the information available from Spanish authorities. Local media reported on Friday that about 40 people remained hospitalized. Investigators are still examining the circumstances of the crash. According to local reports, one of the trains struck another train that was stationary and may have been travelling at between 160 and 200 kilometres per hour. The Spanish Foreign Ministry said that more than 40 foreign nationals from at least seven countries were among those killed or injured. The victims included citizens of Mexico, Italy and Japan....
Prague will begin its annual winter road maintenance programme on November 1. Until the end of March, the Technical Administration of Communications (TSK) will be responsible for keeping roads, sidewalks and other public routes accessible to vehicles and pedestrians. Maintenance priorities are determined by the importance of individual routes for traffic and local residents. Roads and pedestrian areas are divided into several categories, each with specific deadlines for snow and ice clearance. Residents can check the designated maintenance routes and the type of work planned for each area through the city’s online Winter Maintenance application (Zimní údržba). Road maintenance is divided into three priority categories. The first covers 1,399 kilometres of the city’s busiest roads, which must be treated within two to four hours of maintenance crews being deployed. The second category includes 519 kilometres of roads, with a clearance deadline of 12 hours. The third covers another 346 kilometres, where maintenance must be completed within 48 hours after the first- and second-priority routes have been treated. Sidewalks, cycle paths and other pedestrian routes follow a separate schedule. The first category includes 1,063 kilometres, which must be serviced within 12 hours. The second covers a further 693 kilometres, with work...
Prague has once again provided the backdrop for an Apple advertising campaign. The American technology company has released a new commercial promoting its latest MacBook Pro, featuring several recognisable locations across the Czech capital. The two-minute video centres on the Prague Congress Centre, with additional scenes filmed around Vyšehrad and Karlovo náměstí. Although Apple does not identify the locations in the commercial, viewers familiar with Prague will recognise several of the city’s landmarks. The Congress Centre plays the largest role in the production. Its glass-walled entrance hall, with views of the Nusle Bridge, features in several sequences. The commercial also shows people working on laptops at long rows of tables on an upper floor, alongside an overhead view of the building’s spiral staircase and its metal sculpture The Sun, created by Czech artist Vladimír Procházka. The production also moved outdoors, using the historic fortifications of Vyšehrad as a setting. Another location is the park at Karlovo náměstí, where the monument to Czech physician and naturalist Jan Evangelista Purkyně can be seen. Not all the Prague scenery in the advertisement is entirely authentic. In some sequences, Apple has used computer-generated imagery to modify the views through the Congress Centre’s windows, replacing...
Legendary guitarist Carlos Santana will return to the Czech Republic on July 22, 2027, for an outdoor concert in the Castle Gardens of Slavkov u Brna, near Brno. The ten-time Grammy Award winner will perform as part of his Planet of Free Will Global Tour 2027, bringing more than five decades of music to the Czech audience. Known for blending rock, blues, jazz and Latin rhythms, Santana has built a distinctive sound that has influenced generations of musicians and listeners. His performance at the 1969 Woodstock festival helped establish him as an international star, while early albums such as Santana*(1969) and Abraxas (1970) produced classics including “Evil Ways,” “Black Magic Woman” and “Oye Como Va.” Santana reached another career milestone with the 1999 album Supernatural, which featured collaborations with artists including Rob Thomas. The record became a global hit, spawning the singles “Smooth” and “Maria Maria” and winning nine Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. Over his career, Santana has received ten Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, received the Kennedy Center Honors and was ranked 11th on *Rolling Stone* magazine’s list of the 100...
Prague’s Metronome is taking on a charitable role through a new initiative that allows people to pay for a minute of illumination while supporting one of six nonprofit organizations. The project, called Puls města (City Pulse), was launched by real estate company PSN, which operates the landmark on Letná Hill. Donations start at 50 Czech crowns, and participants can choose which organization they want to support. The new initiative connects its lighting system with fundraising, allowing members of the public to contribute through the project’s website. Six Colors, Six Charitable Causes Each participating organization is represented by a different color. Red supports the Tereza Maxová Foundation for Children, while light blue represents the Kapka naděje (Drop of Hope) Endowment Fund. Yellow is associated with Díky, že můžem, an initiative focused on civic engagement and democratic values. Pink represents Pink Crocodile, dark blue supports the AutTalk Endowment Fund, founded by Kateřina Sokolová, and green is dedicated to the Fund for Endangered Children. Visitors can select a cause and make a contribution directly through the project’s website. Donations Start at 50 CZK Contributions range from 50 to 9,999 CZK. Regardless of the amount donated, each payment purchases exactly one minute of illumination....
Prague’s Golden Eye bar at Fairmont Hotel is hosting a Japanese-inspired brunch combining traditional ceremonies, live sushi preparation, premium food and signature cocktails. The afternoon will begin with Kagami Biraki, a traditional Japanese sake barrel-opening ceremony often associated with celebrations and new beginnings. Guests will then be able to watch a live tuna carving, one of the event’s main attractions. The programme will also include omakase bites, with chefs preparing sushi at a live station. Guests can pair the food with signature cocktails and a curated selection of wines throughout the afternoon. A live DJ will provide the soundtrack, adding music to the Japanese-inspired dining experience. The event is designed exclusively for adults, with tickets priced at CZK 7,900 per person. Full prepayment is required to secure a booking. Reservations can be made through Golden Eye’s online booking page. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fairmont Golden Prague (@fairmontgoldenprague) Promote your business to thousands of expats in Prague Find out how.
West Coast rap legend Xzibit will perform at Prague’s ROXY on November 17, bringing his show featuring tracks from his latest album and some of his best-known hits. Presented by Gotobeat and Enjoy Events, the show will feature music from *Kingmaker*, alongside career highlights including “X,” “Multiply,” “Paparazzi” and “What’s the Difference.” Xzibit returns with new album Kingmaker A major name in West Coast hip-hop since the 1990s, Xzibit built his reputation through his distinctive deep voice, forceful delivery and collaborations with some of the genre’s biggest artists. His albums Restless, Man vs. Machine and Weapons of Mass Destruction helped establish him as one of the defining rappers of his generation. His work with Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube further cemented his place in hip-hop, while his television career brought him to a wider audience as the host of MTV’s Pimp My Ride. Released on May 16, 2025, Kingmaker marked Xzibit’s first solo studio album since 2012. The 20-track record brings together established names and newer voices, with guest appearances from Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Busta Rhymes, Ty Dolla $ign, Royce da 5’9”, Redman and B-Real. The album combines the sound that made Xzibit famous with a...
Don’t have an account? Register
Already have an account? Log In
How Would You Like to Promote Your Business? PR ArticleDisplay bannersVideo productionNewsletter adsJob ListingsInfluencer Marketing
Your Email
We will come back to you within 24 hours with our proporsal
