Thousands of Czechs quarantining at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic were allowed to vote at drive-in polling stations on Wednesday in a regional and upper house election which comes amid a surge in infections in the country. A total of 80 specially-adapted centers have been set up across the country. There are two drive-in centers in Prague. Members of the armed forces are on hand to lend assistance to the poll workers, who will wear protective suits to limit the risk of contagion. In order to cast a vote at a drive-in center, the voter must bring proof of identification as well as the permission slip proving they are in quarantine. This weekend’s regional election could be an early gauge of support for Prime Minister Andrej Babis’s handling of the second wave of the virus. Support for his party in opinion polls has ticked lower amid criticism over his perceived reluctance to bring back tough measures and other policy inconsistencies hurting public trust. While the election for regional governments and a third of seats in parliament’s upper house Senate is likely to draw only weak turnout, it could begin to signal some new alliances forming before a parliamentary election...
A regional court in the Czech town of Novy Jičin has sentenced a man referred to as Lubomir S to two years in prison for stealing a vibrator worth 499 CZK. According to iDNES.cz, such a harsh verdict was delivered because the crime was committed during the state of emergency, a time where liability for committing crimes is greatly increased. In normal times, the 33-year-old man would face a maximum of three years for stealing a sex toy. However, the state of emergency raised the maximum punishment to eight years in prison. Prosecutor Magda Dobrovolná addressed the court: “The defendant took the vibrator from the shelf and hid it under his jacket. At the checkout, he paid only for other small purchases. He knew that he was committing theft and knew that there was a state of emergency in the country.” The court’s decision was also influenced by the criminal history of Lubomir S. He has been previously bought to justice 23 times, mainly for property crimes. The defence did not agree with the verdict. The lawyer argued that the threat of real prison time is excessive since the theft of a vibrator – even during a state of emergency...
In a surprising bit of good news, two of the largest electricity suppliers in the Czech Republic have announced that your electricity bill will be reduced from October. Roman Gazdik, a spokesman for global energy firm CEZ Group, confirmed the price of electricity for households across price lists will fall by an average of nine percent from next month. This means customers will save about 230 crowns for every megawatt-hour (MWh) they use. According to the company, an average household consumes around 3.5 MWh, meaning they would save hundreds of crowns. Meanwhile, rival company E.ON has claimed that people who switch to their ‘green electricity’ products will save ten percent compared to standard price lists. Spokeswoman Martina Slavíková explained the decision to reward those who switch products. “We want to motivate people to buy green energy, which is more environmentally friendly and which we buy primarily from local producers throughout the Czech Republic,” she said. These price reductions have been made possible because of the pandemic. CEZ’s Deputy Chairman and Pavel Cyrani, Director of their Business and Strategy Division Electricity, explained: “Gas prices fell during the COVID epidemic and we were able to buy them more cheaply for our customers....
While exploring the area of Petrske Namesti, you may not expect to discover a slice of Punjabi royalty nestled opposite the gothic shape of St.Peter's Tower.
On Tuesday evening, the Minister of Health Roman Prymula (ANO) revealed further details about the planned restrictive measures aimed at reducing the spread of coronavirus. According to Czech news server iDNES.cz, from Monday, October 5 the attendance limit for events will be reduced to 10 people at indoor venues and 20 people at outdoor venues. The measures will mainly affect culture and sports events. From next week, high schools in regions with a higher risk of infection are also likely to close for 14 days. “The reason we are considering a state of emergency is an “unexpected epidemiological situation”. Without the necessary measures, the capacity of hospitals could be jeopardized at the end of October. Almost 1,700 paramedics are currently infected, (400 doctors and 700 nurses, ed.), said Prymula. Read: Prymula: “I Will Suggest Introducing a New State of Emergency” All professional sporting events will take place behind closed doors. In amateur sports, there can be a maximum of 10 players in each team. Prymula stressed that large music concerts will be canceled. “On the other hand, ordinary theater performances, plays, and ballet can take place regularly,” said the minister. Visitors to theatres and cinemas do not have to keep...
The Covid pandemic and the resulting worldwide lockdowns and travel restrictions hit Prague’s touristy industry hard. Many businesses have been forced to close. Anyone strolling the eerily quiet streets in the city center will be unsurprised to learn that tourism in Prague has dropped by 80%, according to the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ). Despite the restrictions, many countries stay on the low-risk or ‘green’ list for the Czech Republic, meaning the city is still welcoming tourists searching for a holiday in the midst of the pandemic. If you want to escape the city on the edge of lockdown, the Czech Republic has many beautiful spaces to offer that are largely unknown to tourists. Whether you’re looking for an autumnal getaway or planning ahead for the spring, we’ve put together a list of getaway destinations to explore without crossing borders: Czech Canada Nature Reserve Situated in the south of the Czech Republic this beautiful woodland sits on the border intersection of three countries: Bohemia, Moravia and Austria. The reserve got its name from its climate, which is more extreme than the rest of the country with it’s higher precipitation and lower temperatures. You can expect high snowfall in the winter...
Mall.TV’s thriller series #martyisdead, has been nominated for an International Emmy Awards. Winning in the ‘short series’ category would be huge, as this is the first Czech series to be nominated, reports Kinobox. The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences recently announced the 2020 nominations for the Emmy Awards. The winners of each of the eleven categories, which include drama and comedy, will be announced on Monday, November 23 in New York. The series was directed by Pavel Soukup , written by screenwriters Jaroslav T. Miška and Jan Stehlík and produced Vratislav Šlajer, Jakub Košťál and Milan Kuchynka. The protagonist Marty was played by Jakub Nemčok . Šlajer and Košťál say they are ‘very happy’ with the ‘prestigious’ nomination: “We are glad that after the success in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the series is also doing abroad. It’s great that even Czech genre production can succeed in the world,” they continued. Mall.tv. producers Záhoř and Kuchynka add: “We keep our fingers crossed, but the fact that we are in this company gives us energy for further work and shows that it makes sense for Czech to create and invest in online content.” The eight-part online series, available on Mall.tv was inspired by real cases...
For the first time, Le Petit Chef, the smallest chef in the world, will make an appearance in Prague, at The Able Butcher restaurant, Hilton Prague. This little animated character is just 58 mm tall, and he will not grow any taller. Le Petit Chef ‘comes to life’ with technology developed by a Belgian-based company. This innovative dining experience delivers, using 3D projection mapping, the story of a small animated chef onto diners’ plates, where he proceeds to ‘cook’ their food in front of them. With the help of overhead projectors, the dining table transforms into an immersive theatre where the tablecloth, plates, and utensils become backdrops and props for the story’s hero to show off his culinary prowess. Since his creation in 2010, Le Petit Chef has become a viral sensation in restaurants around the world, from London to Singapore, from Dubai to Kuala Lumpur. Now, he will be hosted in Prague by Hilton Prague at The Able Butcher restaurant. “This year, starting October 7, I am delighted that we will be hosting the smallest chef in the world, which has been a tremendous success worldwide. It is an exclusive experience in Prague and I am proud we have sole rights for...
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has called for the resignation of European Commission Vice President Věra Jourová after calling Hungary an “ill democracy.” “Mr. Orbán likes to say that he is building an illiberal democracy,” Jourová told Spiegel in an interview published Friday. “According to the Vice President, in Hungary, a ‘sick democracy’ is being built, and in addition, she insulted EU citizens of Hungarian nationality by saying that they are not in a position to form an independent opinion,” Orban wrote in a letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen published on Tuesday. Jourová “has to resign!” tweeted Varga, a member of Viktor Orbán’s government who holds both the justice and European affairs files. @VeraJourova has to resign! No democratic institution should tolerate a leader who uses such insults as she did in her Spiegel interview. Defining Hungary as a sick democracy humiliates Hungarian people, contradicts European values and brings shame upon the @EU_Commission! — Judit Varga (@JuditVarga_EU) September 28, 2020 Věra Jourová has been the Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency since 1 December 2019 and previously served as the European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers, and Gender Equality from 2014 to 2019. She has also served as...
The Minister of Health Roman Prymula (ANO) will suggest introducing a new state of emergency at the next government meeting
Unlike the stock market, where one entity dictates and controls the prices of stocks, the FX spot trading market is decentralized. The monopolistic nature of the equity market makes it much easier for entities to adjust prices for their benefit. Here the trader is at the mercy of the specialist, whose obligation is to fulfill their client’s orders. This authority can increase the cost of transactions or widen the spread to cut off some sellers from the market. This ease of quote manipulation is not common in the currency exchange markets. Here is how the forex market works. Traders and brokers in the spot FX markets do not trade through a centralized exchange. Bonds and stocks in the US for instance, will trade on the floor of an exchange such as the NYSE, where they gain one price. The forex market does not have an exchange that sets the prices of their assets, so traders will find different prices for a currency every time. The quotes between currency dealers will vary, giving the $5 to $6 trillion market cap bazaar vast choices and opportunities for trade. The currency trading market is not only the largest financial market in the world, but also...
Dozens of breweries and microbreweries across the nation are shaking up their menu to celebrate the ‘Days of Czech Beer festival’. The Union of Breweries and Malt Houses established the Dny českého piva in honour of St. Wenceslas. This year, breweries have organized free tours of their production for guests and meeting with brewers and beer experts. The promotion will last until September 30. St. Wenceslas Day, the 28th of September, is a national holiday, celebrating Václav I’s legacy of helping unify Bohemia. But he is also considered the patron saint of beer. “We believe that Czech Beer Days will help encourage people to go out more often and taste their favorite beer. We know that people’s favourite pubs, especially in smaller towns and villages, are the center of social and cultural life,” František Šámal, chairman of the ČSPS, said in a press release. “Our goal is to support the consumption of draft beer, as well as to remind everyone about the uniqueness of the Czech beer tradition. It is part of the cultural heritage, part of our national identity,” added Šamal. Aside from specialty beers, some venues will serve wild boar with rosehip sauce, a traditional Czech meal that...
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