“Ukraine deserves to join NATO as soon as Russia’s war on the country ends,” said the newly elected Czech President Petr Pavel to BBC. The retired NATO general added that Ukraine should be “morally and practically ready” to join the alliance once the conflict is over. “Ukraine deserves to be part of the community of democratic countries,” Pavel said in his first interview with the foreign press. Regarding Western military support to Ukraine, Pavel said that there ought to be almost no limits on what countries could send to the Kyiv government. “We have no alternative,” said the president-elect. “If they lose – we all lose,” added Pavel, who said the handover of fighter jets was not taboo. But he fears the delivery of the warplanes could be too slow. “I am proud of my country being one of the first to provide Ukraine with significant military help,” he told the BBC. The Czech Republic was the first Western country to send tanks and infantry fighting vehicles – Soviet-designed T72s and BMP1s – to Kyiv, part of a series of deliveries of heavy weapons that reportedly began as early as March 2022. “Peace depends entirely on Russia and we would...
Charles Bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks of Prague, attracting millions of visitors every year. The bridge is lined with a series of statues, each one with its own unique history and significance. In this article, we will take a closer look at the history of these statues and the role they have played in the city’s rich cultural heritage. One of the most notable features of the Charles Bridge is the series of 30 statues that line its sides. Today the statues are gradually being replaced by copies for reasons of preservation. These statues were added in the 17th and 18th centuries, and each one represents a different aspect of the city’s religious and cultural heritage. The oldest statue is that of Saint John of Nepomuk, who is considered a patron saint of Bohemia. The statue of St. John of Nepomuk is one of the most recognizable statues on the Charles Bridge. It depicts the saint holding a cross, and it is said to have special powers that protect the city from floods. This statue has become a symbol of hope and protection for the people of Prague, and it is one of the most popular attractions...
Wolt drivers have called a strike for tomorrow, February 1st, to protest against the 20% cut of their bonuses. A new remuneration system introduced by Wolt has angered the majority of drivers. This will be the first similar action by couriers of delivery platforms in the Czech Republic. The new payment system is still rolling out and Wolt clearly intends to address some of the oversights. In a letter to couriers, for example, it says that short-haul orders in future “may be made more attractive”. On Monday, Wolt sent all couriers a form to fill in with their observations on the new system so that “all the findings are in one form and in one place, so they can be reviewed and addressed more quickly”. Wolt promises couriers higher earnings. The current drop in earnings, according to the letter, is also due to the fact that it is January, when courier earnings are traditionally lower. Either way, Wolt admits that the new pay system may still change, and promises changes based on couriers’ feedback. Some drivers are planning a strike and demonstration on Wenceslas Square on Wednesday. Aleš Kranda, one of the main organizers, has written an open letter to...
Plzeňský Prazdroj’s new brewery warehouse launched an automated rail system capable of storing more beer and loading it onto trucks much more efficiently Last week, the beer warehouse of Plzeňský Prazdroj, announced they have installed a new fully automated trolley system. The system has also reduced the CO2 emissions of the warehouse and is part of the firm’s bid to become a sustainability benchmark in the brewing industry. According to the company, the automated system has been able to increase storage space, lower emissions and increase offloading speeds significantly. Additionally, it’s the biggest investment in its production line since 2006 with around 780 million Czech crowns. The warehouse also has three water reservoirs capable of capturing more than 800 cubic metres of rain for recycling. Additionally, according to a statement, the facility will get an upgrade with a solar roof, dropping energy consumption even further. Fully automated sustainable beer storage The automated trolley system in Plzeňský Prazdroj’s factory represented the largest investment since 2006 at around 780 million crowns, roughly equivalent to 32 million euros. The system consists of 28 trolleys that can transport bottles and cans from the bottling to storage along tracks with a total length of over half a kilometre. The trolleys move...
A memorial to victims of the Holocaust of the Roma and Sinti people in South Bohemia will cost almost CZK 100 million. The memorial is set to be built on the site of a World War II concentration camp for Roma and Sinti at Lety in the Písek area, which until recently housed a pig farm. The memorial should be opened in 2024. The Czech and Slovak foreign ministers say the main task in helping Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion is now maintaining the unity of the West and persevering with the present level of support. Jan Lipavský and Rastislav Káčer were speaking after a meeting in the Slovak city of Pezinok on Tuesday. The Czech Republic has been ranked 41st out of 180 countries in the 2022 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), released today by Transparency International (TI). The country scored 56 out of 100 points, two more than last year. Icelandic singer and artist Björk returns to the Czech Republic with her multimedia work ‘Cornucopia’, with a show on 16 September 2023 at Prague’s O2 arena. The number of prisoners in the Czech Republic and the length of time they spend behind bars...
You can find the Triton restaurant in a stalactite cave built under Wenceslas Square in the basement of the Adria Hotel. The restaurant exhibits so-called gastronomic art. The dishes surprise not only with their taste, but also with their visual appearance and interesting story. The kitchen of this exceptional establishment is run by the young and talented chef Tomáš Kohút. Inspiration for his dishes comes from classic Czech cuisine and he transforms them into elegant and ultra-modern versions. Let’s introduce some of them… Original menu One of the appetizers, the unique zavináč, is outstanding. Unlike its pub model, the dish will surprise you with the delicate taste of pike perch marinated in Prosecco vinegar and an impressive accompaniment in the form of cashew nut puree, bacon and fish broth. The colorful combination of flavours is garnished with fish skin chips, red pepper gel, sour kefir, and dill sauce. The second course is a variation of fried cauliflower, which is transformed into a liquid version in the form of cauliflower cream flavoured with apple cider vinegar. The chef serves it with a honey biscuit and duck prosciutto. As the main course, a very imaginative and bold presentation of the dumpling-pork will...
From Wednesday morning, Prague is expecting major traffic restrictions on Evropská street. The reason is the construction of a new tram line to Dědína. One lane will be closed approximately 600 meters from the intersection with Vlastina Street to the intersection with Za Vokovická Street. At the same time, tram traffic will be interrupted between Divoká Šárka and the Vozovna Vokovice stop. The first lane to be closed until 15 April will be the one in the direction from the centre. The works on Evropská are divided into four stages and will last until October. In the next steps, the restrictions for car traffic will be reduced to the section from Vlastina Street to Libocka Street. From the end of May to the end of June, drivers will have to cope with the 1+1 regime again. Tram traffic should not be significantly restricted after 15 April. The Prague City Transport Authority (DPP) advises passengers travelling to the airport to elave at least half an hour earlier. “We recommend passengers travel to Prague Airport with sufficient time in advance or use alternative routes, as the construction works may also affect the smooth operation of public transport. In case of public transport,...
The Czech economy contracted further in the fourth quarter, the statistics office said on Tuesday, pushing the central European country into a technical recession for the first time since 2020 as high inflation hit households at the end of the year. With other central European economies fighting off recession risks, the Czech data on Tuesday was the first in the region to show two quarterly contractions in a row. Czech gross domestic product (GDP) decreased by 0.3% quarter-on-quarter, following a 0.2% drop in the third quarter, but was better than a Reuters poll forecast of a 0.6% fall. It was the first drop in consecutive quarters since the coronavirus pandemic hit in the first half of 2020. On a year-on-year basis, the economy rose 0.4%, also better than expected, but slowing from a 1.5% increase in the previous quarter. Banka Creditas chief economist Petr Dufek said the fourth-quarter figure was decent given the fall in purchasing power. “Weakening domestic demand was compensated by better foreign trade and investments,” he said, adding the economy is expected to remain weak at the start of 2023. For the full year, the Czech economy rose 2.5%, which follows Poland on Monday reporting a 4.9%...
The Czech Republic is a country that is unfortunately still rife with gender inequalities. The new first lady, Eva Pavlova seeks to correct this issue, claiming that she wants to help single mothers and discrimination against women in society. Indeed, statistics make it clear that this is an ongoing issue, within the Czech Republic, only 28.4% of women hold managerial positions compared to the 34.7% EU average. Similarly, women in the Czech Republic earn 16.4% less than their male counterparts compared to the 13% EU average and a far cry from the 0.7% gender pay gap in Luxembourg. Furthermore, this is even though women in the Czech Republic are generally better educated than men, with almost 30% of women possessing tertiary education compared to 23.6% of men. It’s also clear that outside of the system societal discrimination against women in the workforce, there is also an issue regarding single-parent families. According to SocialWatch, 87% single-parent households are made up of single mothers. Therefore, single-parenthood is predominantly an issue that affects women, although single fathers also face similar issues. These issues most notably that single parents are 2.8 times more likely to be threatened by poverty even if employed. Moreover, they...
The Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday it was in touch with Prague over President-elect Petr Pavel’s call with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-Wen. Pavel spoke with Tsai on Monday, a highly unusual move given the lack of formal ties and a diplomatic coup for Taipei that is likely to anger China. The two leaders stressed their countries’ shared values of freedom, democracy and human rights during their 15-minute call, their offices said, and Pavel said he hoped to meet Tsai in the future. China claims the self-ruled island of Taiwan as a province and most countries’ leaders avoid high-level public interactions with Taiwan and its president, not wishing to provoke China, the world’s second-largest economy. In Beijing’s first response to what could become a full-blown diplomatic row with Prague, the Chinese foreign ministry said Pavel had previously said during his election campaign that the One-China Principle should be respected. “The Chinese side…is currently seeking verification with the Czech side, (we) hope the Czech side strictly upholds the One-China Principle,” the foreign ministry said. Beijing views Taiwan as being part of “one China” and demands other countries recognise its sovereignty claims, which Taiwan’s democratically-elected government rejects. The Czech Republic, like most...
Farmers’ markets are very popular in Prague with the locals. The season is finally starting and you can support Czech farmers and producers. On Saturday, February 4, the Naplavka Farmers’ Markets are back at their original location. You will find small producers, farms and organic farms, local and seasonal vegetables, fruits, herbs, baked goods, meat, cold cuts, dairy products, and homemade eggs. Czech bread and baked goods from local family bakeries are not to be missed, and the vegetables found at farmers’ markets are of a significantly higher quality than those typically found at grocery stores. You can meet the farmers and other producers selling their products and ask them personally about their products, and you will see their enthusiasm and feel good knowing you are supporting the farmers and their families as well as doing the local economy and environment a good turn. Your carbon footprint is significantly lower when purchasing from farmers’ markets, and the local economy is significantly benefitted by local buyers. Markets are held from 8 am to 2 pm. The traditional markets are enriched by a wide offer of gastronomy and pleasant live music. Bring your own reusable bag to add to the good karma...
Eva Pavlová, the country’s future First Lady, has said that she intends to devote herself to charity. She wants to focus particularly on gender equality and discrimination against women in society. As a former single mother, she said she would like to draw attention to the problems faced by single parents. Historian, dissident and writer Jaroslav Šedivý who served as Czechia’s second foreign minister has died at the age of 93. Mr. Šedivý was one of the intellectuals who was relegated to manual labour by the communist regime after signing Charter 77 and was only able to return to his work after the Velvet Revolution in 1989. The newly elected Czech president Petr Pavel called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday to assure him of his country’s continued support for Ukraine. Mr. Pavel said President Zelensky had thanked Czechia for its support and invited him to visit Kyiv. Last year, natural gas consumption in the Czech Republic fell by 19 percent. Overall, customers used over 81.5 terawatt hours of gas. The decline in year-on-year consumption was evident in every calendar month of 2022, according to the latest statistics from the Energy and Regulatory Office (ERO). The...
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