On the eve of Czechoslovakia’s split, the population of Prague was reported to be around 1.2 million. In 2021, three decades later, the population remained about the same, at 1.28 million. Could that mean the global growth in population is not affecting Czechia’s capital? According to the Prague Institute of Planning and Development, it is estimated to be quite the opposite in the long term. Instead of stagnation as witnessed in the past thirty years, the next thirty will see a significant increase in the number of Prague inhabitants. By 2050, the population is expected to increase to 1.7 million, with about 400,000 more residents. In relation to other European cities, Prague’s growth has been considered to be ‘above-average’ in recent years, and the most progressive out of all the former Eastern bloc cities. “Future development will be influenced primarily by population migration, which applies to cities in general. Every year, nine thousand more people move to Prague than leave. In addition, two and a half thousand more children are born in Prague every year than people that pass away,” said Marek Vácha, spokesperson for the Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) Despite worries regarding global overpopulation given that the...
In exciting news for furniture enthusiasts, IKEA is set to make waves in the Czech Republic yet again. Following their September announcement of price reductions on over three thousand of their most sought-after products, the company is poised to unveil even more wallet-friendly prices this week, according to reports from Seznam Zpravy. Clients have long noted disparities in IKEA’s pricing structures across European countries, with Czech customers often opting to travel to neighboring nations for more affordable options. In response, IKEA took a significant step last September by reducing prices by an impressive average of over 8 percent on a wide selection of items. Remarkably, this move transformed the once-costliest Kallax shelf in Central Europe into the most budget-friendly choice in the Czech Republic. Despite speculation that these changes were prompted by inter-country price discrepancies, David McCabe, the head of IKEA in the Czech Republic, has refuted these claims. While acknowledging the variations in pricing, McCabe explained that these differences stem from diverse local conditions, ranging from market size and transportation expenses to taxes and energy costs. However, regardless of the underlying reasons, Czech shoppers can eagerly anticipate a new round of reductions this week. McCabe emphasized the company’s commitment...
Beer lovers beware: climate change could soon make the world’s most popular alcoholic drink much more bitter. Climate change could soon be altering the quality of hops used to make beer which will then alter the flavor, according to a new study published Tuesday in Nature. European beer-producing regions are projected to experience up to an 18% reduction in their yield of traditional aroma hops by 2050 and up to a 31% reduction in hop acids that are key for bitter flavoring, researchers found. Beer is the world’s third most widely consumed beverage, after water and tea, and is the world’s most popular alcoholic drink, according to the paper. The cultivation of high-quality aroma hops is restricted to a relatively select number of regions with suitable climate and environmental conditions — posing a risk that production could be affected by rising global temperatures. Hops are considered a model crop in these regions, and it is “fairly difficult” to grow them elsewhere, Mirek Trnka, a bio climatologist at the Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences and one of the authors of the paper. The researchers collected data on beer hop yields and alpha content between 1971 and 2018...
Get ready for a mind-blowing musical and visual experience at the Electric Universe show, happening on November 24th at Prague’s O2 Universum. Renowned composer and producer Karel Havlíček will kick off the evening with his classical compositions, reimagined in a modern style. Then, he’ll transition seamlessly into an electrifying live set, all backed by the Stro.My Ensemble symphony orchestra. After this classical-electronic fusion, the night will transform into a full-throttle electronic affair featuring global DJ stars like Fritz Kalkbrenner, Agents of Time, Jerome Isma-ae, and Böhmerwald, among others. Attendees are in for an eight-hour journey through a new universe where classical and electronic music merge. Tickets are available in two categories: “Regular” tickets priced at 1,490 CZK and “Premium” tickets at 2,990 CZK. For a limited time, you can snag two tickets for the special price of CZK 1,250 each. Martin Kučera, CEO of the organizing agency Lavo Events, expresses his excitement about Electric Universe: “This event is the culmination of my twenty years of experience in organizing the biggest electronic events in our country. With the involvement of the symphony orchestra and the unique O2 Universe space, it will offer a sophisticated and breathtaking experience, connecting multiple generations of electronic...
Prague’s grandest Christmas market is just around the corner, set to light up the Old Town Square in six weeks. The highlight? The twenty-seven-meter Christmas tree from the Liberec Region. Chosen from nearly forty contenders, this spruce tree has been growing near the village of Mimoň for 56 years. The landowner entered the competition due to safety concerns, and after inspection by a dendrologist, it was declared fit for the spotlight. Preparations are in full swing, with Prague City Technologies handling the felling and transportation. The tree will be cut down on November 25th and arrive at the Old Town Square on the night of November 27th. If all goes as planned, the tree will be lit up on December 2nd, coinciding with the opening of the markets on Old Town and Wenceslas Squares. “We are upholding a cherished tradition from past years,” remarked Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda (ODS) enthusiastically. “This spruce, which has been gracefully shaping itself for 56 years, will not only adorn the Old Town Square but will also infuse the heart of Prague with a festive spirit during Advent.” Last year, the market was set up with more energy-efficient bulbs to both save money and send...
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...
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...
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...
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.
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...
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...
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...
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