Czech police said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Andrej Babis and others should stand trial for alleged fraud involving the handling of a 2 million euro European Union subsidy – charges that could see him jailed for up to 10 years. The probe against Babiš focuses another spotlight on the EU’s eastern wing, a region that’s been rocked by scandal. Babis rejected the allegations on Wednesday, denouncing them as “an organized plot” designed to ruin his political career. The case involves a farm that received EU subsidies after its ownership was transferred from the Babis-owned Agrofert conglomerate of some 250 companies to Babis’ family members. The subsidies were meant for medium and small businesses and Agrofert would not have been eligible for them. Later, Agrofert again took ownership of the farm. Babiš denies any wrongdoing. Author: red
Following the terrible Notre Dame’s fire in Paris, Prague’s Petřín Tower – which was modeled after, and strongly resembles, the Eiffel Tower – will lit up in blue, white, and red in a show of solidarity. Yesterday, a major fire has engulfed the medieval cathedral, one of France’s most famous landmarks. The 850-year-old Gothic building’s spire and roof have collapsed but the main structure, including the two bell towers, has been saved. The cause of the fire is not yet clear. The special lighting was not a first-time event. On public holidays and other important dates, the tower has also been lit up in red, white, and blue after the Czech Republic flag. During the past two years, the tower has been lit in green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, which will occur again on March 17, 2016. However, not everyone agrees with the lighting. The Prague Conservation Reserve issued a statement asserting that the illumination should only be granted for national holidays and “extraordinarily” important days. Author: red
Croatia has strengthened its position as a favourite holiday destination for the Czechs. According to data released by the Czech statistical office, more than 810.000 Czech holidaymakers spent at least four days in Croatia last year (nearly 40.000 less than in 2017), mostly on the seaside and in coastal resorts. Slovakia was the second most popular destination for Czechs in 2018, with over 720.000 tourists +90.000 compared to 2017, surpassing Italy (over 600.000 people). While Croatia has been the number one holiday destination for Czechs over the last six years (with the exception of 2015, when it was beaten in that regard by Slovakia), the Czech Republic is for Croatia the fourth largest source of tourists after Germany, Italy and Slovenia, and Czechs are the third largest group in terms of overnight stays. During the communist period, Czechs could not travel to the Croatian coast so easily, because of the travel restrictions imposed upon them by the Czechoslovak communist regime. For those who could travel, Croatia – then part of Yugoslavia – was still a very desirable destination. After all, in the 1970s and 1980s, it had become a popular vacation spot for West Europeans. Interest in Bulgaria, Egypt, and Greece...
Employers with a higher number of employees should be obliged to make public the information on the pay-gap between their male and female employees, Czech ombudswoman Anna Šabatová has said, adding that if they did not comply, they could be banned from public tenders. Women in the Czech Republic receive on average 22 percent less pay than men. Šabatová explains why: “One reason is that women never find out about certain [lucrative] jobs. Not only is it customary not to talk about money: in many companies it’s forbidden. Whereas in the past equal pay for equal work was what protests were all about, today that’s impossible because of the confidentiality clause. Companies oblige workers not to tell anyone how much they earn. Everyone is expected to negotiate their salary for themselves. As statistics show, that systematically puts women at a disadvantage. But women also need decent wages. Flowers they can buy for themselves.” Women in the Czech Republic earn on average 80,000 crowns less per year than men do and the gap is wider in the Czech private sector than in the public sector. In the EU, on average women are paid 16 percent less than men, according to Eurostat....
What do you think about nudity? Are you offended by women who display their naked bodies, or do you perceive nudity as a natural part of life? And what do you think about an exhibition of naked women? Following the first exhibition in Spring 2017, VOAYER organizers have opened a permanent space, where gallery goers can see, touch and photograph real-life nudes on a daily basis. The faces of the naked models at the exhibition are often covered with masks. Some of them wear leather dog-collars. “Nudity is today more common in the online world than in reality,” the official site states. “That’s why VOAYER’s sole and essential goal is to provide an exciting real-life experience.” Visitors to the show must follow strict rules. They are allowed to take pictures, but must not use video-cameras. VOAYER Gallery opened on the fourth floor of Dum Mody on Wenceslas Square last week. Closed on Mondays, it is open daily from 11:30-21:30. For more details visit the official website Author: red Photo: Martin Šimral
Streetfood Festival Holešovice will be held as always at Cross Club and promises to be a cross-continental celebration of international street food. Professionals, as well as amateurs, will offer the best of street food specialties. Vendors will offer galettes and pancakes, minced meat, burgers, pizza, tacos, falafel, sandwiches, soups, but also sushi or Pho, as well as domestic street food specialties. This festival takes place twice a year (spring, autumn) and approx. 10 000 people visit this event. Entry is free and the myriad vendors have more-than-reasonable prices. Grab your food and chill out on the steam-punk-apocalypse terrace with an easy-access beer bar for your convenience. More information here
Three Chelsea fans were stopped from entering Slavia Prague’s Eden Arena for Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first leg after an alleged racist chant about Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah was posted on social media, Sky Sports reported. A video, apparently filmed by the fans themselves, was broadcast on social media on Thursday, surfacing before the first leg of the quarter-final against Slavia Prague. The 19-second clip showed a small group of fans gathered in a bar in Prague singing the derogatory chant. Chelsea issued a statement on their website condemning any form of discriminatory behavior. “Chelsea FC finds all forms of discriminatory behavior abhorrent and where there is clear evidence of Chelsea season ticket holders or members involved in such behavior, we will take the strongest possible action against them. “Such individuals are an embarrassment to the vast majority of Chelsea supporters who won’t tolerate them in their club.” Former Chelsea player Salah is of Muslim faith. The anti-discrimination organization Kick It Out tweeted: “It’s not on the terraces, but it’s still a disgrace. We don’t want fans like that anywhere near our game. “We will be liaising with @ChelseaFC to ensure those involved are identified and punished swiftly and effectively.” Liverpool also issued a...
CineStar locations throughout the Czech Republic will screen the season 8 premiere of Game of Thrones from 20:00 Monday, April 15 for free. How does it work? Tickets must be picked up personally at the box office of the cinemas and only with a valid CineStar Club loyalty card. Each CineStar Club member is entitled to two free tickets. Opening hours of CineStar multiplexes: CineStar Andel 11:30 CineStar Černý most 11:30 CineStar Hradec Kralove 12:30 CineStar Pardubice 12:30 CineStar Olomouc 12:30 CineStar Liberec 12:30 CineStar Jihlava 12:30 CineStar Ostrava 12:30 CineStar Opava 12:30 CineStar Ctyrny Dvory 12:30 CineStar IGY Center 12:30 CineStar Plzeň 12:30 CineStar Mlada Boleslav 12:30 Season 8 will be shorter than previous seasons, consisting of six episodes, due to the smaller amount of story content remaining, as well as the increased production values and time required to film episodes involving larger set pieces than in previous seasons. Filming for season 8 began on October 23, 2017, and ended on July 6, 2018. It will premiere on April 14, 2019, and end on May 19, 2019. Like the sixth and seventh seasons, Season 8 will be based on an outline of the two final, presently-unpublished novels in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of...
If you have some time and you want to try something more “sporty” try this cycle path Cyklostezka A2. I presume you don’t travel with a bicycle, but don’t worry, in Prague there are a lot of bike rentals. In Prague (and the Czech Republic) there are lots of paths you can ride, but I personally like this one, Cyklostezka – this path follows the right bank of the river from the city center (from National theatre) all the way to the suburbs and further on to the countryside. Along the way are lots of stands with refreshments and places to relax. The length of the path to Vrané nad Vltavou is about 20 kilometres (12.4 miles), and if you feel tired when arriving there, you can always take a train back to Prague’s Main station. One tip – don’t forget to take your swimsuit, because during hot summer days there’s nothing more refreshing than jumping into the river. Author: Martin Kozel You can find the original article here Spotted by Locals Prague is a blog (and iPhone & Android app) by locals who live & love their city.
The business started in the living room as an inconspicuous project to help homeless people. When Pavla Klečková and Manu Chilaud built their first emergency shelter a year ago, which they called Iglou, they probably had no idea what to expect. The easily portable and foldable shelter has taken over very quickly throughout the Czech Republic, and this year it should also reach beyond past its borders. The current form of the Iglou is the sixth improved version. The concept itself, however, attracted great attention from the onset, whether by local authorities or field workers from domestic organizations that help homeless people. This alternative roof for homeless people was originally to appear only in the three cities of the Moravian-Silesian region where the designers live. However, the plan to make 10 such shelters became a larger matter. Klečková and Chilaud, together with the inventor of the first prototype, Frenchman Geoffroy de Reynal, will launch production in bulk. Iglou will also travel abroad for the first time. “Last week we came back from France to discuss the details. The plan is to create between 300 and 600 pieces for the next winter, for example for Slovakia, England or Belgium,” Chilaud reveals. In addition, the...
Vietnam’s start-up airline Bamboo Airways is expected to launch direct flights to the Czech Republic within 2020. “All parties are very interested in launching the line, wanting to open it as soon as possible,” Pham Huu Uyen told E15. Prague Airport director Václav Řehoř said an initial meeting with Bamboo Airways representatives took place in March but declined to provide details. Although no further details have been provided, initial flights are more likely to link Prague to Ho Chi Minh City (former Saigon), rather than to Vietnam’s capital Hanoi in the north, according to local reports. “Our long-term goal is to connect Vietnam with key markets in Asia, Europe, and North America, and Dreamliners will allow us to open these long-haul routes,” FLC Group chairman Trinh Van Quyet, who became Vietnam’s second dollar billionaire last year. The Czech Republic counts one of the biggest Vietnamese communities in Europe, with over 100.000 Vietnamese people currently residing in the country. No details were given on frequency other than to say it would be served by a Boeing Dreamliner. Vietnam Airlines is the only Vietnamese carrier serving Europe. Bamboo Airways said it plans to fly to the U.S. later this year or early 2020, according to...
The number of Czechs believing that too many foreigners live in the Czech Republic increased by 5 percent to the current 40 percent as against last year, according to a poll conducted by the CVVM polling institute and released today. However, the views of foreigners’ long-term stay have not changed. Three-quarters of Czechs are of the opinion that foreigners should only stay in the Czech Republic on certain conditions, while one-sixth say long-term stay should not be allowed to them at all. Some 5 percent are ready to offer residence to foreigners without any limitations. Half of the Czech population considers the number of foreigners living in the Czech Republic to be reasonable. Czechs still consider study and practice (82 percent) and family reunification (61 percent) to be the most acceptable reason for their acceptance. Roughly the same number of people added that immigrants should be allowed to stay in the Czech Republic for business purposes. Compared to last year, the public’s view of adapting to foreigners in the Czech Republic has not changed either. According to three-quarters of Czechs, foreigners should adapt to them as much as possible. The opinion that they should be allowed to live in the...
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