Prague 9 will soon have a modern city district that combines opportunities for living, working, and entertainment. On 19 October, the Mayor of Prague 9 Tomáš Portlík revealed this news, sharing that the city will acquire land from Howden ČKD Compressors to create a brand-new neighbourhood in Vysočany. As TheMayor.eu reports, The modern district will offer houses, offices, shops, and public buildings such as schools. More specifically, it will feature 3,500 apartments and numerous services on an area of approximately 10 hectares. In addition to this, the city will establish the Emil Kolben square in the heart of the district. The name of the square will allude to Prague 9’s industrial past and honour the late 19th and early 20th century industrialist, Emil Kolben. An interesting strategy Wanting full control of the development, Prague 9 will buy the land and create urban planning for it. After this, it will sell it to developers once the urban planning study is complete. In this way, the city will have the opportunity to fully manage the development of the district. It is interesting to note that Portlík has reportedly drawn inspiration for this strategy from Hamburg, where the local mayor purchased land to create HafenCity....
According to the recently published results of the already ninth edition of The Global Food Security Index (GFSI) of The Economist – the British weekly periodical, the Czech Republic placed fifth in the ranking of food availability, quality or safety. In addition, the ranking, which compared 113 countries this year based on a set of 59 unique indicators, also focused on natural resources, their status or impacts and risks related to climate change. It was the state of natural resources in the Czech Republic that was evaluated very positively in the index. While the proportion of degraded land in the world is around 20% on average, in our country it is only 6% of the land that is degraded, e.g. eroded or contaminated. The mild climate of our territory or politicians’ interest in the topic of food safety are examples of factors that contributed to the high ranking. Diversity in local dishes was also evaluated above average. Other strengths (i.e., indicators in which the Czech Republic scored higher than 75 points) included, for example, a very low percentage of people living below the poverty line, agricultural advancement including investment in research and development, or the availability of financial resources and services for farmers. Four European countries came ahead of the Czech Republic, which had...
The anniversary of the Velvet Revolution takes place on November 17, with street exhibitions, light installations and audiovisual projections gracing Národní třída. The organizers behind the celebration are planning a cultural program, with theater performances and debates, at the site of the police violence against students in 1989. In accordance with last year’s example, the event will also be transferred to an online environment. The eighth year of the celebrations of freedom known as Korzo Národní will return to the public after pandemic safety measures. Given the changing situation around COVID-19, the organizers compiled the program so that visitors did not gather in large crowds for individual activities. “This year is a promise for us to return to normal. People will be able to enjoy the program directly on Národní třída during November 17, just as they were used to in the past. We will also offer several ways to celebrate the anniversary from a distance,” organizer Lucie Bílková said. The event planners involved intend to transform Národní třída into a living gallery space for the anniversary. Their agenda includes an outdoor projection regarding the current political situation in Belarus. Visitors can visit street exhibitions or take part in educational...
Two special flights are focused mainly on the Korean community in the Czech Republic. At the turn of the year, Korean Air will return to Prague with two flights. Prior to the pandemic, the carrier offered up to four flights a week from Václav Havel Airport. At the moment, the airline does not plan to return to these regular operations. “The flights are intended mainly for the Korean community in the Czech Republic and neighboring countries,” said Michal Ohnesorg of Korean Air. These will be overnight flights, landing December 16 and flying back on December 17. Similarly, the second flight departs on January 2nd, returning on January 3. The departure from Prague will be at 18:30. Not everyone can get on the flights. These two flights are intended for holders of Korean passports, holders of passports with diplomatic visas, permanent residence visas or visas proving marriage to a Korean citizen. The flight to Seoul was one of the first long-distance connections in Prague, and it remains unclear as to when it will return. “We firmly believe in the renewal of the line during the year 2022, although we cannot count on the deployment of four frequencies immediately, as we were...
If your day doesn’t start until you’re up to speed on the latest headlines, then let us introduce you to our new morning fix. CZECH REPUBLIC Constitutional lawyers consider it appropriate to postpone the traditional awarding of state honours on October 28, Czechoslovak Independence Day, due to failing of health of President Miloš Zeman, who is in hospital and has been deemed incapable of fulling the duties of office. The novel coronavirus infection is spreading twice as fast as last week in the Czech Republic where 3,246 new cases were confirmed on Tuesday, 1,739 more than a week ago and the highest daily rise since April 20. The number of the COVID hospitalised is on the rise, too, increasing by two-fifths to 620 since last Tuesday, and about 100 of them are in a serious condition. Czech police will probe whether a crime against the republic was committed by the office of Czech President Miloš Zeman, as his office did not inform the public and other officials about him Zeman is unable to fulfill his duties, despite being aware of the situation. WORLD Ireland will allow nightclubs to reopen for the first time since March 2020 but stepped back on Tuesday from...
The rate of Covid-19 infections is rapidly accelerating in the Czech Republic, and there is great concern amongst experts that the situation will not be improving any time soon. In fact, the statistics are worryingly like those of last September, which eventually ended in a lockdown for the country. The Czech government today afternoon approved further tightening of measures. Starting November 1, restaurants and cafes in the Czech Republic can only admit customers who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, recovered from the coronavirus or can produce a negative test. “We are on the risk curve. Measures must be taken,” he warned. Moreover, from October 25, it will be mandatory to wear respirators in all indoor areas, including workplaces. According to recent predictions, the current number of hospitalizations were not expected to reach the current numbers until next week. The head of the Institute of Health Information and Statistics, Ladislav Dušek, explained that some regions already have a community spread of a highly contagious form of the virus. “It’s almost déja-vu,” he added. According to him, the only thing that will reduce the cases is at least a partial vaccination coverage of the Czech population. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has repeated...
Czech acting Supreme Public Prosecutor Jaroslav Šaroch will ask the lower house of parliament to lift the immunity from prosecution of Prime Minister Andrej Babis (ANO) so he can be tried in the Stork’s Nest case, where he is alleged to have committed fraud with EU subsidies. This vote will take place after the constituent session of the new Chamber of Deputies on November 8, confirmed Ales Cimbala, a spokesperson for the Prague City Prosecutor’s Office, to the Czech News Agency. “The public prosecutor’s office is bound only by the Criminal Procedure Code in its activities, and for that reason it must now respect the fact that one of the accused persons has regained his parliamentary mandate and the immunity that goes with it. No criminal proceedings can currently be taken against this person,” Cimbala explained. Šaroch was originally supposed to make a decision on the police’s motion to file charges by October 20, but given that Babis regained his seat in the house after the general election with an MP´s immunity, his prosecution is now again suspended. Today’s decision to move to lift Babis’ immunity does not necessarily mean that Saroch agrees that there is now enough evidence to go to...
Prague’s LÁHVE wine shop recently revealed the third step in its month-long promotional event. Until October 23, customers can indulge in the “Try Before You Buy” sale, in which visitors can taste wines for free and purchase the ones they like with a 30 percent discount. Six French wines are participating in this week’s promotion; once in the store, customers can peruse the specific brands involved, as they will be marked with a corresponding red sticker. Domaine de la Provenquiere Muscat sec Intense fruity wine with delicate aromas of lychee, mango and passionfruit. The taste is fresh, slightly sour, reminiscent of sweet peaches and apricots. Type: white, dry To Pair with: snacks and desserts Price: 179 CZK / 125 CZK Dopff & Irion Sylvaner Cuvée René Dopff White wine of golden color with silvery shades. The aroma is dominated by white fruits such as apples and pears, while the taste is dominated by mineral notes of elder flowers, gray pepper and lemon on the finish. Type: white, dry To pair with: grilled dishes, seafood (fish, oysters, squid, crustaceans) Price: 225 CZK / 159 CZK Vignerons de Mancey Bourgogne Aligoté Dry, fruity and mineral wine reminiscent of...
The Three Kings, comprised of three brave members called Josef Mašín, Václav Morávek, and Josef Balabán, was a group which risked their lives for the resistance movement when Czechoslovakia was annexed by Nazi Germany. All three of the men would eventually die at the hand of the Nazis, but from the years of 1939 to 1942, they played an enormous part in the contributions to the Czechoslovakian cause through their heroic acts. They spent their time relaying important information to the Czechoslovak government-in-exile in London through radio transmitters- sending news and information about both economic and political developments, as well as sharing vital information about German transports. The Three Kings were also renowned for two bomb assassinations in Berlin which they had carried out against the Germans. One assassination saw a suitcase of explosives successfully placed in police headquarters and at the Ministry of Air Travel. Another saw the successful bombing of German soldier’s transport after they added an explosive to coal. They were also responsible for other bomb attacks in Leipzig and Munich. Further acts of sabotage they were behind included setting fire to factories, collecting weapons for the resistance and helping other resistance agents escape from the Nazis....
On Monday, the Czech government authorized Minister of Finance Alena Schillerová to waive the Value Added Tax (VAT) on energy for November and December because of the rising energy prices. Schillerová announced the decision at a press conference after a government meeting on the issue, adding that it will cost the state budget 1 billion CZK a month. The VAT rate on energy is now 21 percent. With this step, the government is responding to rising electricity and gas prices, which are affecting all of Europe. The typical Czech household, which pays 1,000 CZK a month for electricity, will save about 350 CZK on their bill for November and December, said Schillerová. The tax waiver is made possible by a provision in the Czech tax code that allows the Minister of Finance to collectively waive the payment of tax in the event of extraordinary events, especially natural disasters. According to the minister, this step should be followed by an amendment to the VAT Act effective from Jan. 1, which will extend zero VAT for a necessary period of time. The government should discuss the situation at a special meeting on Wednesday. According to Schillerová, waiving the VAT is an unusual act,...
European finals of the global startup competition Startup World Cup were a part of Prague’s event Startup World Cup & Summit. This SWCSummit was entirely conquered by the Czech projects Tatum and Readmio. The first offers a platform that revolutionizes blockchain creation. The second project makes reading more attractive to children through a mobile application by complementing storytelling with sound effects in real-time. Startup Tatum won the main prize of the jury and the title of European champion with it. Readmio stole the hearts of the spectators and won the audience prize. Both projects continued their successful journey from the previous day when they also dominated the regional competition of the Visegrad Four region. During the continental finals, nine startups from all over Europe fought their way out of other regional rounds and associated startup competitions. Each project had four minutes for its presentation, followed by another four minutes of questions from the jurors. This time, a five-member jury admits to having a hard time determining the winner. “In the regional round of V4, the victory of the Tatum project was unequivocal. In the continental final, however, we considered other candidates until the last second – for example, in the...
According to the Association of Transport Companies, the cost of energy rising significantly by hundreds of millions next year, meaning that the increase in transport fares is possible. They also say that the operations of urban public transport are also at risk due to these higher energy prices. The association says that there is a risk the energy supplies could terminate the current contracts. Therefore the cost of transport in larger cities, mostly Prague, will be increasing in the following years. “Next year, we will pay about 60 percent more for electricity than this year, but with our volumes, this means an additional 560 million crowns. Another negative impact is the rise in oil prices,” says Petr Witowski, the head of the Prague Transport Company (DPP). This is although DPP secures electricity from the Prague Energy Exchange in the form of ongoing purchases of smaller volumes.” Thanks to this purchasing policy, we can compensate for smaller and predictable fluctuations in electricity prices in the markets. However, since August, the electricity market has been completely unpredictable,” says Witowski. Trying to find a solution for the situation on the energy market the largest alternative energy supplier Bohemia Energy has already ended in...
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