On 21 June 2021, the Integration Center Prague (ICP), a non-profit organization, launches Adaptation and Integration Courses for foreign nationals. As of the 1st of January 2021, the courses are compulsory for selected groups of immigrants from countries outside the EU who have acquired a long-term residence or a permanent residence permit in the Czech Republic since the above date (or will acquire it from now on) pursuant to Sections 66 and 67 of the Residence Act. Adaptation and Integration Courses are the results of the successful project Welcome to the Czech Republic, which has been implemented since 2012 by the non-governmental non-profit organization Slovo 21 in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic. What are the first steps to take after arriving in the Czech Republic? Where to find the right information about residence and employment? How do Czech education and healthcare work? Participants in the Adaptation and Integration Courses will learn this and other information regarding functioning of the Czech society and the obligations and rights of immigrants. The courses aim to help foreigners to orient themselves in the new environment and administrative matters, so that they can, among other things, more easily deal...
A coalition of civil society organizations samples paper food packaging articles from major fast-food chains and supermarkets across six European countries. Chemical analysis finds 32 articles were intentionally treated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); differences identified among countries, results show the currently few national regulations on PFAS are effective where they are in place On May 21, 2021, a coalition of European civil society organizations announced the release of a report finding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) present in a range of food packaging articles (burger packaging, french fries bags, pizza boxes, etc.) collected from major international fast-food chain restaurants. The study collected 99 samples from takeaway restaurants, supermarkets, and online shops in six European countries (the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom). 42 of the samples were sent for closer analysis, and 32 showed evidence of intentional treatment with PFAS based on total organic fluorine levels. The report provides a full set of analysis results for all samples, and variation was found across countries. For example, none of the McDonald’s french fries paper bags bought in Denmark had signs of PFAS treatment, whereas this same item, when sampled in the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom, did. As...
Whether you’re moving to a different flat, or upgrading your current furniture, Prague has many home decor and antique stores from which to choose. Nanovo – Online Warehouse If you’re in the market for vintage furniture, the Nanovo team specializes in finding and refurbishing high-end furniture from the 1950s-2000, with an emphasis on Czechoslovak-made pieces. For those that are handier with tools, their “before renovation” section has items that may need a bit of love first. New items go up for sale all the time, so be sure to check in often. Nostalgic – Online Store Feeling nostalgic? This online store buys and sells mid-century modern home decor items. Instead of traveling to the edge of the city for build-it-yourself furniture identical to your neighbor’s, take advantage of Nostalgic’s delivery options. By salvaging lost parts of the past and giving them a new life, their inventory is always rotating and a unique piece is sure to catch your eye and be the center of attention in your home. KARE If you’re looking for higher-end items, you may want to take a look here. Couches, beds, screens, mirrors, lamps, clocks, rugs, wall decorations, bookcases, fireplaces, and more are available here. The...
Prague City wants to enrich its architecture with a new building for the Czech Philharmonic and Prague Symphony Orchestra. This August, Prague will hold an international architecture competition for the building which will house the Czech Philharmonic and Prague Symphony Orchestra. After the contest begins in August, the jury will evaluate the candidates and select those who will work on proposals in October. Three separate halls are envisioned for the building: a concert hall that will accommodate an audience of 1,800 people, a smaller hall for 700 spectators, and a multi-purpose hall with a 500-seat capacity. Representative of the capital Jan Čižinský commented on the project, noting that it will completely transform the area. Furthermore, he stressed how crucial it is for designs to take the surroundings into consideration. In other words, designs must ensure that the building is easily accessible to pedestrians and is connected to both urban and suburban public transport. Discussing the upcoming architecture competition, Mayor of Prague Zdeněk Hřib shared: “The world’s leading studios will be approached and important Czech architectural studios will also get a chance to get involved […] The interest in competing was preliminarily confirmed by 23 foreign studios as well as a number of domestic...
The Czech health ministry recommended on Wednesday that only people over 60 years old should receive COVID-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca and Johnson&Johnson due to a potential risk of blood clots. Scientists and U.S. and European drug regulators have been searching for an explanation for what is causing rare but potentially deadly clots accompanied by low blood platelet counts, which have led some countries to halt or limit the use of the AstraZeneca and J&J vaccines. The Czech health ministry said it made the decision after responding to recommendations from the country’s drug regulator SUKL and the Czech Vaccination Society. U.S., EU, and other regulators have said the benefits of receiving the AstraZeneca or J&J shots outweigh any risks. Vaccinations in the Czech Republic have accelerated in recent weeks with Pfizer’s two-dose jab making up the majority of supply in the central European nation. The number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered has exceeded six million, according to data released by the health ministry. On Tuesday, 111,024 people were vaccinated, which was some 7,300 more than a week ago. So far, medical professionals administered more than 110,000 vaccine doses a day five times. In total, 6,099,710 doses have been administered, while two...
As the world continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic, the metropolitan city of Auckland in New Zealand has been named the most livable city globally by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). That’s largely due to the country’s successful handling of Covid-19 which allowed schools, theaters, restaurants and other cultural attractions to remain open during the survey period from Feb. 22 to March 21, 2021, according to the EIU. New Zealand implemented a strict nationwide lockdown for several weeks last year to slow the spread of the virus. It also shut its international borders to most travelers. Asia-Pacific cities dominated the top 10 rankings this year, even as the pandemic caused overall livability around the world to decline. The top 10 most livable cities in the world, and their scores according to The Global Liveability Index 2021, are: Auckland, New Zealand (96.0) Osaka, Japan (94.2) Adelaide, Australia (94.0) Wellington, New Zealand (93.7) Tokyo, Japan (93.7) Perth, Australia (93.3) Zurich, Switzerland (92.8) Geneva, Switzerland (92.5) Melbourne, Australia (92.5) Brisbane, Australia (92.4) The livability index ranks cities based on more than 30 qualitative and quantitative factors across five broad categories: stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. Due to the pandemic,...
European Union lawmakers on Wednesday endorsed a new travel certificate that will allow people to move between European countries without having to quarantine or undergo extra coronavirus tests, paving the way for the pass to start in time for summer. The widely awaited certificate is aimed at saving Europe’s travel industry and prime tourist sites from another disastrous vacation season. Key travel destinations like Greece have led the drive to have the certificate, which will have both paper and digital forms, rapidly introduced. Several EU countries have already begun using the system, including Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, and Poland. Right now, traveling in the EU’s 27 nations is a trial for tourists and airlines alike. Countries have various COVID-19 traffic-light systems, where those in green are considered safe and those in red to be avoided. But each nation is applying different rules and standards, making travel confusing for all. The new regulations governing the vaccine certificates were adopted in two votes at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Rules for EU citizens were passed 546 to 93, with 51 abstentions. Those for people from outside the bloc passed 553 to 91, with 46 abstentions. The vote...
Can you spare some change, like a few hundred? I’d like to buy some gold from a vending machine. It sounds like a tacky casino attraction, but a gold vending machine that’s been set up at Nový Smíchov shopping mall real thing. The gold vending machine dispenses bars and coins, making it the first place to boast a permanent ATM for bullion. Called “Au-tomat”, it is owned by Gold.plus and offers small bars of one, ten, or 31.1 grams (troy ounce) locally. The firm plans to create a whole network of such devices. “The vending machine is really unique. Several retailers around the world have tried something similar, for example in Dubai, but have never achieved our technological qualities and user comfort,” says Gold.plus director Martin Stránský. “With the Gold.plus application, users will be able to manage their assets in gold on their mobile phones and at the same time have the precious metal sent to them by post,” he added. Users navigate menu choices via a 19-inch touch screen and can pay for their gold with cash or credit card. Security features include a camera and an ID scanner to prevent money laundering. The company says the prices are...
Despite the fact that fried carp is the Christmas meal, the Czechs do not consume much fish. However, in recent years, restaurants and online companies have started offering more local freshwater and imported seafood dishes. Fish lovers Praha It is a venue that offers you fresh seafood dishes every week from Tuesday to Saturday from 10.00 until 19.00. The pickup point is located in Wenceslas Square where you can either buy raw products for cooking at home, vacuumed fish, or ready-to-eat fish. Fish Lovers Praha has a unique Telegram channel where they share updates about the cafe and any changes in the menu. You can join it here. As for the fresh food, the selection includes clams, mussels, sea bass, and sea bream, turbot, shrimps, prawns, and even lobsters. The list is quite… endless! Food Republic Opened on the 1st of March, this new location in Prague 7 is both a bistro and gourmet shop. Anchovies and sardines come directly from a farm in Croatia, the same with our oysters. But the list of seafood is almost endless: Calvisius Caviar, king crab, tuna, salmon, mussels, shrimps. Additionally, in the bistro, they have a diverse collection of Italian and French cheeses,...
As a foreigner in Prague, you may feel alone in your struggles and find it hard to reach out for help. The language might be an obstacle for you and you don’t know where to look for much-needed advice. These organizations provide a variety of services, including social consulting, interpreting and translating, or legal services. Most services are provided free of charge or for a symbolic fee only. Integration Centre Prague The Integration Centre Prague (ICP) is a public service company that was founded by the city of Prague. This non-profit organisation offers consultancy services for all kinds of problems facing expats in Prague, including professional counselling in difficult life situations by trained social workers. They offer legal and social counselling, Czech language courses, interpreting and accompaniment, and moreover, organize various online and offline community events, such as workshops about life in Prague or language clubs in a number of world languages. CIC – Center for the Integration of Foreigners The Centre for the Integration of Foreigners helps immigrants integrate into Czech society by connecting newcomers with the “old residents”. They encourage the social engagement of expats, help them understand the language, local customs, Czech society and its functioning. Moreover,...
Very popular with international visitors, the city has seen most of its hotels close as the pandemic has kept tourists away. But we often forget that hotels are not just for tourists but also offer a great experience for locals. Hotel Maximilian is one of the great examples of why locals should visit city hotels more often. Hotel Maximilian is located in the heart of the historical center of Prague opposite the Haštal church – just 5 minutes walk from Prague’s leading monuments and famous places: Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square, Charles Bridge, Powder Tower, and more. The four-star Hotel Maximilian underwent a complete renovation – you may have visited the hotel some time ago, but today you would not recognize it anymore. The design of all interior spaces is the responsibility of the London design studio, Conran & Partners. Maximilian combines sophisticated strategy with luxurious comfort and impeccable but friendly service, attracting travelers worldwide, whether they come for a business trip or to relax with family and friends. Part of the hotel is the Brasserie Maximilian – the place proves that even in the hotel restaurant, you can find creative cuisine with excellent service at a reasonable price, to which...
The Czech Republic will reopen its borders to EU and Serbian citizens on June 21, the government announced Monday as the country recovers after being hit hard by the Covid pandemic. Those arriving will have to show proof of vaccination or of past coronavirus infection (in the last six months) or provide a negative coronavirus test result. Those who have received just one vaccine shot will be considered vaccinated for entry purposes starting 22 days after the jab is received. A similar regime is already in place for citizens of EU members Austria, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia on a bilateral basis. “Moreover, we expect that from 1 July only European Union certificates, the so-called green passes, will be recognized,” added Vojtěch. The Czech government also raised the limit on audiences at cultural events to 1,000 people indoors and 2,000 people outdoors. In schools, children and teachers will be allowed to stop wearing face masks in the classroom in most regions. The tourism industry in the Czech Republic has suffered greatly from the coronavirus pandemic. The number of foreign hotel guests in 2020 fell by almost 75% compared to the previous year. Czech shops, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, and concert halls...
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