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 Polls: Ruling party ANO maintained its poll lead before next month’s election in two separate surveys. ANO held 32.4% in a STEM poll done for CNN Prima News, ahead of the two opposition coalitions of Spolu, with 20%, and the Pirates-Mayors’ parties, with 18%. In a Data Collect poll for Czech TV, ANO held 25% and Spolu trailed with 22% and the Pirates-Mayors had 21%. Online Retail: Billa, part of the REWE International grocery group, wants to launch online grocery sales next year and aims to become the leader on the market. Inflation: Czech headline inflation accelerated to over 4% last month and reached its highest rate since 2008, data showed on Friday, adding to debate in the central bank over whether a bigger interest rate hike was needed amid policy tightening. WORLD FBI releases first declassified 9/11 document after Biden order: The FBI on Saturday released a newly declassified document related to its investigation of Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States and allegations of Saudi government support for the hijackers, following...
Zátopek, a biopic about four-time Olympic champion Emil Zátopek, has become a box office champ in the Czech Republic as it continues to dominate turnstiles after two weeks in release. From director David Ondricek, the movie originally debuted on August 26, scoring over CZL 17 million crowns in its first frame to record the biggest opening weekend in the market since the start of the pandemic. It also was one of the five highest-grossing opening weekends of all time for a Czech title. In its second session, the film held the top spot (despite the arrival of Shang-Chi) and reached more than 200K admissions. Produced by Kryštof Mucha and Ondříček, Zátopek had its world premiere at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it was the opening-night film and went on to win the KVIFF Audience Award among 109 competing titles in the official selection. The story sees Australian runner Ron Clarke, after suffering a serious collapse during a major race, pay a visit to legendary Czech runner Emil Zátopek, who he believes might help him become a champion again. Over the course of Clarke’s visit, the film takes viewers back through the key moments in Zátopeks life, including his tumultuous and passionate marriage...
Citizens of the Visegrád Group, which is an alliance between the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland, have different views on their countries’ membership in the European Union, with the least favorable opinion being expressed by the Czechs. The public in all four countries also differs in attitudes towards the United States and Russia, notes the public opinion poll conducted by Bratislava’s Institute for Public Affairs (IVO). Only 41 percent of Czechs described their country’s membership in the EU as a good thing, in Slovakia 57 percent expressed the same opinion, in Hungary 59 percent, and in Poland up to 68 percent of the population. “The Czech public also stands out from the overall Visegrád picture with a high proportion of explicitly negative opinions on EU membership – almost 30 percent of respondents consider it a bad thing,” said the authors of the study. The V4 countries also differ in their attitudes towards the US and Russia. The US enjoys the highest confidence among the population in Poland, while Slovakia ended up on the opposite side of the scale. On the contrary, Russia is perceived best by Slovaks and worst by Poles. The survey confirmed the high mutual trust of...
For all English-speaking theatergoers, the National Theatre has prepared a special offer of drama performances with English subtitles. You can be looking forward to four different performances by the Drama ensemble in September and soon, dates for October, November and December will be announced! Lunch at Wittgenstein – 11. 9. 2021, 19:00 – The Estates Theatre A TRIO OF SIBLINGS’ LOVE Three siblings epitomise the essence of the entire world, bringing to light their minor private hells, past injustices, shadows of the dead ancestors. The compelling psychological drama for three superb actors by Thomas Bernhard, one of the major Austrian authors. The Misanthrope – 21.9. 2021 19:00 – The Estates Theatre WHAT DO YOU CARE WHAT THE SOCIETY THINK! Is it true that Alceste despises hypocrisy in society, in which flattery is followed by slander and everyone pursues nothing but his or her own benefit? On the other hand, Alceste loves Célimène, who is the very personification of the false morals he scorns. “And you don’t find pretty creatures repulsive?” his friend Philinte asks. Is it possible, or desirable even, to tell truth and nothing but? Does not sincerity sometimes turn into insolence? And is Alceste capable of living in...
The largest COVID-19 vaccination centre in the Czech Republic started its operations on May 3, 2021. The contract to rent the premises of the O2 Universum was valid until 31. 7. 2021, with the possibility of an extension. The O2 Universum was repurposed from a concert and sport hall into a vaccination centre over the span of several weeks, with 24 stations set up across 13,000 square meters. The country, which was one of the hardest hit by the pandemic in earlier waves, has seen low infection rates since the summer months. In the past two weeks, it has reported 25 cases per 100,000 people, compared with 137 in Germany, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said on Tuesday the government was not planning a return to broad lockdown measures – which had been eased going into the summer months – and ministers say local measures could be used in some instances. Babiš added that the government will also have to prepare its vaccination strategy for the years 2022 and 2023 by October this year, in order to be ready for future mutations of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The Czech Republic registered...
If you stepped outside without your wallet or purse 10 years ago, it might have been a disaster. But today, fintech innovations — from mobile wallets to QR payments — mean all you need to buy things is a phone in your pocket. The long-predicted cashless society, where cash is abandoned altogether, seems closer to reality. According to a GlobalData report, some markets, including Sweden, the UK and several countries in Asia, have adopted cashless payments quite swiftly over the past few years. “You have the phone on you at all times, you live on digital platforms, you have social media,” says Johan Strand, CEO of payment platform Zimpler. “That’s where you are and that’s how you want to pay as well.” However, no country has completely killed old-fashioned cash — yet. According to the European Payments Council, Czechs are frontrunners. Contactless payments have increased in number and quickly become the norm in the market since their introduction in 2011 and nowadays represent approximately seventy percent of all expenditures paid by cards in the Czech Republic. Furthermore, according to the European Central Bank (ECB), the relative importance of credit transfers in the Czech Republic is sixty-five and a half percent of the total number of payments (vs....
The 26th year of the international festival of contemporary art 4+4 Days in Motion started on September 9 with a vernissage of contemporary art, performance, music and a program for children. The festival will take place in the building of Nová strašnická škola in Prague 10 and Vzlet in Vršovice until September 26. This year’s festival theme Reality do you need me? – an examination of reality, its forms and our grasp on it – became an inspiration for two dozen exhibition curators. The festival will also host several premieres such as “Sentimetal – Noc, kdy na Kavčím plácku umřel Michael Jackson a Orestés se na to jenom díval“ (Sentimetal – The Night when Michael Jackson Died on Kavčí Plácek and Orestes Only Watched) by the VOSTO5 company, Zuzana Šklíbová, Antonie Formanová and Karin Vápeníčková will present Papagen to the public, Veronika Knytlová will offer “Možnosti spříznění“ (Possibilities of Affinity). Other performers will include Divadlo Continuo, Kolektiv Nesladim, Michal Nikodem, Tomáš Janypka and Die Früchte. From abroad the 4 + 4 Days in Motion will welcome collectives Motus, Superamas, Debris, L. Bobalik, M. Hriešik or Diederik Peeters. The music program offers Zatrestband, WWW Neurobeat, Shizzle Orchestra, Dukla, Petra Ernyei, František...
Bill Gates’ Cascade Investment LLC is taking control of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts by buying about half of Saudi Arabian Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s stake for $2.21 billion, the hotel operator said on Wednesday. Cascade will acquire half of the billionaire prince’s stake in Four Seasons, raising its ownership to 71.3% and valuing the hotel chain at $10 billion on an enterprise basis. Founded in 1960 by Isadore Sharp, Four Seasons now has 121 hotels and resorts, and 46 residential properties in 47 countries. The company entered public markets in 1997 but undertook a transaction to go private in 2007 under an agreement between Cascade, KHC and Sharp, who now holds five percent of the company. Cascade declined to comment beyond the press release. The firm first invested in Four Seasons in 1997. Gates has been in the spotlight after he and Melinda French Gates announced in May they were divorcing after 27 years. After announcing their divorce, Cascade transferred about $6bn worth of stocks, including shares of consumer group Coca-Cola, railway giant Canadian National and manufacturer John Deere, to Melinda French Gates as part of a financial settlement. Michael Larson, who runs Cascade, has played a crucial role...
The best day of the week is here and no doubt you’re all getting ready for another stonkingly good weekend in Prague! Zažít Americkou Jinak 2021 WHEN: 11 September WHERE: Americká and Záhřebská streets PRICE: Free Meet the neighbours, taste traditional Mexican cuisine, listen to Czech and expat DJs and bands. Between 11 am and 10 pm Americká and Záhřebská streets will turn into a carnival alive with music, dance, theatre, activities for kids and great food. Free entry. Dyzajn Reborn WHEN: 11-12 September WHERE: náměstí Václava Havla, Prague 1 PRICE: Free The event comprises 150+ local designers and culinary artists. You will get a chance to see and buy jewellery, accessories, handbags and backpacks, art objects, porcelain, decoration, fashion toys or stationery. Troja Wine Festival WHEN: 11 September WHERE: U Trojského zámku 1, Prague 7 PRICE: 90-200 czk Prague’s Troja district is known for its vineyards and winemaking has a long tradition there. Since 1999 the City District Prague-Troja in cooperation with the Prague City Gallery has organized here the traditional celebrations of wine and young wine. Nomad Beer Festival WHEN: 10-11 September WHERE: Bubenské nábřeží 306/13, Prague 7 PRICE: Free. For beer tasting it is necessary to buy a beer festival glass for...
Manifesto is revamping the Sustainability Festival from September 10-12 to continue the momentum built from last year’s event at Smíchov. Manifesto Anděl’s 3-day Sustainability Festival will boast a rich array of twenty panelists, including leaders from Reknihy + Knihobot, Yord, GreeenTech, Noseno, Kokoza, who will discuss how visitors can integrate sustainability into their everyday lives. The festival will be moderated by eco-ambassador and NOSENE founder Katarína Hutyrová, who was recently featured in Forbes’ “30 under 30” ranking. The festival is free to attend and will provide diverse cultural experiences for visitors to enjoy; including yoga, a film screening, pop-ups, workshops, and DJs throughout the three-day event. “We are all constantly searching for new ways we can position our lifestyle towards more sustainability. Thus, we decided to bring some of the most inspiring examples from the Czech community across diverse disciplines and professions to inspire each other towards brighter, more sustainable ways of living and doing business,” said Šárka Tošnarová, Marketing Director, Manifesto. What to expect “Sustainability is the sum of our day-to-day decisions. Decisions made by brands, manufacturers, suppliers and consumers. It’s a collective responsibility.” – Katarína Hutyrová, Nosene. Visitors attending the Sustainability festival on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th...
A dog is a good companion in its own right and walking a dog regularly can give you plenty of opportunities to socialise. It’s also a great excuse to get out and get some exercise. No wonder more and more Expats decide to adopt a furry friend. However, being a responsible dog owner requires knowing your obligations. We promise they come with great benefits as Prague is the true capital of dog lovers! Let’s take a look together at the greatest joys and challenges of adopting a dog in Prague. Adopting a dog is where it all starts You know the drill, “Adopt, not shop”. There are plenty of animal shelters in Prague and the Czech Republic and those fluffers are ready to be given another chance for a good life! In fact, there are so many of them, many shelters have to resort to placing pets in foster homes where they wait for their new owners. Be careful though, it often doesn’t work on a first-come, first-served basis. Shelters usually select the most suitable candidate for a new pet placement based on adoption questionnaires. It is sort of a match-making system, where shelters are not just looking for a...
With Open House Praha you are invited to explore one of the world’s biggest stadiums ever built, Strahov stadium The special commented tour in English will be held on September 25 at 2 p.m. and will take you to the presidential lounge, west grandstand, or amazing walkaways. You will find out about the long history of this concrete giant which was built for displays of synchronized gymnastics called Spartakiada but also hosted concerts or military parades. Since 2003 the stadium has been listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. At the end of the tour, you will have an opportunity to climb up 130 stairs into the original Gate of Champions, where they can enjoy amazing views of the whole stadium. Practical information – The meeting place is in front of the entrance of the Great Strahov Stadium, which is located at the connecting bridge with the Evžen Rošický Stadium. The address is Zátopkova 100/2, Praha 6. Entry by car to the parking lot in front of the entrance (and under the bridge) is possible, parking is free. The telephone contact for the guide will be indicated on the ticket in case of emergency. – The expected duration of the event is approx. 90 minutes....
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