AuthorMartin Hladík

Photo: Danny Bate, Radio Prague International

With three floors and hundreds of exhibits, Identita is a new absorbing and eye-catching exhibition at Museum Kampa – and it is only one part of the overall project. Identita is in fact a multi-genre experience, which also comprises a series on Czech Television’s iVysílání service, a feature-length documentary, and a book that accompanies the exhibition.

“Is graphic design an art or a design?” “Does graphic design have its icons and legends?” “How do you recognise good graphic design?” These are the kind of questions that the new Identita exhibition at Museum Kampa seeks to answer.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Škoda Auto

Skoda Auto has developed a new small SUV for the Indian market. After Kushaq and Slavia, Kylaq is Skoda’s third locally developed and manufactured model in India.

Skoda has scheduled the world premiere of its new model for November 6.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Korea,

H.E. Mr. Youngki  Hong Ambassador of the Republic of Korea

and Mrs. Youngki Hong hosted a reception at the beautiful Zofin Palace.

Mr.Roman Bělor, Chair of the Interparliamentary Friendship Group Czechia-Korea, Chamber of Deputies, Parliament of the Czech Republic, and Prof. Eva Zažímalová, President of the Czech Academy of Sciences were the honored speakers.

Watch the video with the speech of the H.E. Mr. Youngki  Hong Ambassador of the Republic of Korea and of Mr.Roman Bělor, Chair of the Interparliamentary Friendship Group Czechia-Korea, Chamber of Deputies, Parliament of the Czech Republic, and Prof. Eva Zažímalová, President of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

A rich culture program was a part of the event.

Happy National Day, Korea

The Ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia H.E. Mr. Emil Krsteski, and Mrs. Ljiljana Jovanovski Asenov, President of the Czech Macedonian Association of Commerce in the CR host a special event to promote  Business and Trade Cooperation Opportunities between North Macedonia, Czech Republic, and Western Balkan Region, and to mark the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of North Macedonia and the Czech Republic.

The event starts with a greeting from H.E. Mr. Emil Krsteski, the Ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia, and Mr. Martin Pospisil from Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic.

Then Mrs. Ljiljana Jovanovski Asenov, President of the Czech Macedonian Association of Commerce in the CR presented a very interesting presentation about N. Macedonia and the investment opportunities.

The guests were treated with very good wine and food from the Balkans, followed by a FASHION SHOW & ART at Slovanský dům Garden.

Photo :  Nešo Matić

The gates of the World Expo, which will take place next year in Osaka, Japan, will open in exactly half a year, on April 13, 2025. EXPO 2025 will last for six months, and organizers expect up to 30 million people to visit it. One of the iconic buildings to which not only the organizers but also the Japanese and other foreign media are proudly invited, is the Czech National Pavilion. It officially began to be built in mid-May, and the assembly of the wooden structure has been underway since around mid-September. It now gets clear outlines and shapes. We bring you an exclusive photo gallery and comment on the construction progress.

“Construction of the Czech national pavilion at EXPO 2025 formally began in mid-May, a month after we signed the contract with the Japanese construction company Daisue. In May, we also held a jichinsai ceremony on the Czech land on Yumeshima Island in Osaka Bay, where the upcoming EXPO will be held. Subsequently, preparatory work took place and the Japanese builders worked on the foundations of the Czech National Pavilion, which are crucial for the construction – they must be sufficient support for possible earthquakes and typhoons,” says Ondřej Soška, ​​general commissioner of the Czech participation in EXPO 2025, adding: “17. In September, the wooden construction started to be realized. To date, the assembly of the entire basement is complete, the builders completed the installation of the inner core of the building and the floor in the auditorium over the weekend. After less than a month of work on installing the wooden structure, about 40 percent of the rough construction is complete.”

The assembly is carried out by a joint team of the main contractor Daisue Construction and the Czech subcontractor A2 Timber. In Japan, this is a rather unconventional collaboration, as the local market is quite protectionist and usually does not allow foreigners into such projects. Despite significant differences in the way work is organized, the implementation of the national pavilion is nevertheless moving forward quickly. The Japanese can see from the course of cooperation so far that the Czechs are professional and are pleasantly surprised by the speed and efficiency of the construction process.

CLT construction manager Martin Povala from the A2Timber team praises the cooperation with Japanese colleagues: “The Czech national pavilion is not only a good design but also an innovative and technically sophisticated project. When installing in an environment where earthquakes and typhoons are common, the absolute precision of our work is key. The Japanese understand this better than anyone else, and they give us all the cooperation in routine organizational matters, even when something needs to be done quickly.”

A team of approximately 10 people, six Czechs, and four Japanese, operates on the construction site every day. Work starts at six in the morning and ends between five and six in the afternoon. They work six days a week, one day off. The work is very demanding, the temperatures are still high in Japan, but all work is carried out according to the agreed schedule. The construction manager must also plan the work according to the weather. Due to the size of the panels, it cannot be installed when it is raining a lot or the wind is blowing. For work planning, they also use the Czech application Windy, which is very popular in Japan. The progress of the construction is also personally supervised by General Commissioner Soška, ​​who is also on-site to be able to resolve any misunderstandings or problems that may arise operatively.

The Czech National Pavilion will be the first wooden building of its kind without a steel structure in Japan. It is produced mainly from Czech materials – wood from Czech forests and Czech art glass. The Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of the Environment, and the Ministry of Defense participate in the supply of wood, specifically the state enterprise Forests of the Czech Republic, Military Forests and Farms of the Czech Republic, and the Krkonoše National Park. The cooperation at the national pavilion was announced by Minister Marek Výborný, Petr Hladík, and Jana Černochová at a press conference at the Breadwinner’s Land in České Budějovice this August.

The first wooden-framed containers left for Japan on July 1, 2024, and another forty or so containers left during the summer, with the last containers loaded in early September. All wood is transported to Japan by ship. From the Czech Republic, the containers always headed to the largest German port in Hamburg, from where they sailed for about 8-10 weeks to Osaka, Japan.

You can read more about the architecture: https://www.czechleaders.com/insights/a-glass-spiral-in-osaka-the-czech-national-pavilion-for-expo-2025-will-be-a-marvel

About the Czech pavilion at EXPO 2025

In December 2022, after more than twenty years, the Office of the Commissioner General announced an open anonymous architectural competition for the design of the national pavilion for EXPO 2025. 38 competition teams applied for it, from which an expert jury led by the world-renowned architect Eva Jiřična selected the winning design in March 2023 in the shape of a glass spiral by Apropos Architects. The supporting structure of the building will be made up of modern wooden panels, while the facade will be made of art glass, which has a centuries-old tradition in the Czech Republic. The national pavilion will offer a worthy background for the Czech participation in EXPO 2025, which will be held from April to October 2025 on the artificial island of Yumeshima in the Osaka Bay. The pavilion will have a permanent exhibition, a multifunctional auditorium, facilities for business meetings, a restaurant, a VIP lounge, and in front of the pavilion there will be a relaxation area with a view of the sea for visitors.

About Czech participation in EXPO 2025

The Czech Republic will participate as an independent state in the EXPO world exhibition for the sixth time. Ondřej Soška, ​​who won the selection procedure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with his concept and theme “Talent and creativity for life”, holds the position of general commissioner from September 2022. In Osaka, the Czech Republic should be presented not only with what the Japanese know very well and admire for a long time, for example Czech glass and classical music, but also with Czech innovations, nanotechnologies, promising startups and regional talent.

Become a partner of the Czech participation at EXPO 2025:

Become a partner of the Czech participation at EXPO 2025

You can find more information on the website of the Czech participation in the world exhibition EXPO 2025. You can also follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

From January 2023, the Office of the General Commissioner is part of the network of Czech Centers.

The Speaker of the House discussed Czech-Armenian inter-parliamentary and business cooperation with her Armenian counterpart in Prague.

The Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Alen Simonyan was at the head of a Parliamentary delegation and accompanied by H.E. Mr. Ashot Hovakimian, the Ambassador of Armenia to the Czech Republic.

The main topics of the joint meeting were Czech support for Armenia’s pro-European orientation, continued cooperation between the two legislatures, and opportunities for a more intensive Czech-Armenian trade exchange.

“We have long-term cooperation with Armenia and support its pro-European orientation not only within the framework of the Eastern Partnership but also, for example, with bilateral projects to strengthen the role of civil society. I am pleased that the parliamentary contacts between our countries are deepening and I am convinced that this positive trend will continue,” said the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

Last September, a delegation of the House Committee on the Environment visited Armenia. The Speaker made an official visit to Yerevan at the beginning of this year. On the way, she was accompanied by a business delegation focused mainly on the dynamically developing information technology sector.

“In addition to IT, promising areas of Czech-Armenian business cooperation are, for example, healthcare, agriculture, water and waste management. Our country is also well known for its energy tradition. In addition to the modernization of nuclear power plants, we can also provide highly qualified solutions in the field of renewable resources and hydropower,” added the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

New opportunities and impulses for further potential cooperation of Czech companies are also offered in Armenia in the field of construction and modernization of transport infrastructure, supply of mining technologies, or brewing.

Two September cubs of South American squirrel monkeys can be found by visitors in the Water World and Monkey Islands exhibition complex in the lower part of the Prague Zoo. Most of the time, the little curlews cling tightly to the backs of their caring mothers. Their gender is still unknown. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Cubs of energetic squirrel squirrels, graceful Burmese deer, or all three bred species of flamingos. Terezian summer has arrived at the Prague Zoo and the autumn season of births and hatching. The sun’s rays and the captivating shades of the trees beckon to visit the zoo in October – without queues and crowds. In addition, many animals are more active in current temperatures than in summer. The cable car remains in operation every day until the end of the year.

Three young Burmese deer were born in October. These are “replacement cubs” that often rest lying down and mothers come to nurse them regularly. As a tropical species, Burmese deer have estrus in January and February and calving season during the central European autumn. The Prague Zoo is the only one in the Czech Republic that keeps these ungulates, and the last of the three additions is already the 78th cub born here. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

“Our cub year continues into the fall season. In addition to the already well-known ones such as the two small gorillas Mobi and Gaia, the orangutan Harapan, or the female giraffe Johanka, people can come and see completely new additions that are born in the exhibits across the garden,” says the director of the Prague Zoo, Miroslav Bobek.

In the Water Worlds and Monkey Islands exhibition complex, people can see the young of all three bred species of flamingos. American Chilean and Cuban flamingos (pictured) can be found near the capybara tapirs, while old-world pink flamingos can be found next to the island of silver gibbons. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

The just-launched mobile application of the Prague Zoo also encourages you to visit, which offers tickets at a favorable price, makes it easier to move around the premises, and contains several other functions, including medallions of farmed animals or notifications about their feeding.

The young flamingos are gray and group together in some kind of nurseries. They grow into adults in about four to five months. Their transformation can now be watched with your own eyes at the Prague Zoo. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

The Prague Zoo complex is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until the end of October. The popular cable car connecting the lower and upper part of the complex remains exceptionally open this year not only on weekends but also on weekdays, until the end of the calendar year.

Many animals are more active at current temperatures than in the heat. The image shows a female red kangaroo examining fallen leaves. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

The Speaker of the House discussed global security issues and business opportunities for Czech companies in the Philippines

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, visited the Philippines on her way through Southeast Asia. In Manila, she discussed Czech-Philippine political, economic, and security cooperation with Philippine Chief Minister Lucas Bersamino and Senate President Francis Escudero and other high-ranking representatives of the local legislative and executive powers. In the capital and subsequently in the economically key province of Cebu, business forums organized by the Chamber of Commerce to support Czech companies in their search for new business opportunities began.

“Our countries share a deep conviction about the need for an international order based on the observance of fair rules. At the same time, we are also connected by the direct historical experience of living in the vicinity of a strong aggressor with undisguised expansionist ambitions – in our case it is Russia, in the case of the Philippines it is China. And it is Russia and China that are not only obvious violators of international law, but act in a coordinated manner in this regard. Strengthening mutual Czech-Philippine relations and closer cooperation with other trusted democratic partners in the Indo-Pacific are therefore absolutely essential for preserving security and prosperity in the entire region,” said the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

The business mission of the Chamber of Commerce of the Czech Republic accompanies the parliamentary delegation on its way to Asia. The latter, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of the Philippines, organized sector-focused business forums both in the populous Philippine metropolis and in the economically dynamically developing province of Cebu, which is home to a number of successful companies.

“Many promising Czech companies offering solutions in IT, cyber security, logistics, or air transport can apply in the Philippines. Our country, on the other hand, is well known for its advanced manufacturing industry, predictable legal environment, demand for skilled labor, and openness to more intensive cooperation. The result of this is a synergy from which the citizens of both our countries will benefit,” added the speaker of the House of Representatives, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

Photo: Czech Television

After years of problems fighting bark beetle infestation, scientists from the University of South Bohemia and the Biological Centre of the Academy of Sciences in České Budějovice have come up with a major breakthrough. They have developed a probe that detects infested trees accurately and at an early stage.

Protecting Czechia’s deep pine forests from bark beetle has not been easy and there have been a number of calamities in recent decades.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, received the state award for services to the Republic of Austria. She received it from her Austrian counterpart, Wolfgang Sobotka, for her contribution to Czech-Austrian relations in the field of parliamentary diplomacy. The Grand Honorary Medal in gold with a star for services to the Republic of Austria

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, thus included herself among personalities such as former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola or former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“I value this award very much and perceive it as a broader recognition of excellent Czech-Austrian inter-parliamentary relations. However, it would not be possible to successfully develop and deepen these without a great partner, who for the past three years Mr. Sobotka has been for me. And on the occasion of his last official visit to us, I would like to thank him for all the work he has done to build the imaginary bridges that connect our countries,” said the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

The honor is the fourth highest class of its kind. Since 1952, it has been awarded by the Austrian Federal President at the proposal of the relevant member of the government or the chairman of one of the two parliamentary chambers.

“It clearly shows that active parliamentary diplomacy is gaining more and more importance in today’s world, and efforts for more intensive cross-border cooperation contribute not only to the prosperity of the citizens of both our countries, but also to the cohesion of the whole of Central Europe,” added the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

Photo: Jonáš Zbořil, Czech Radio

This weekend, Prague’s Cemetery and Funeral Services are opening their doors to the public for the first time, offering a unique opportunity to explore the city’s cemeteries and funeral facilities. The event will feature guided tours, workshops hosted by gravediggers and undertakers, and a chance to learn more about the often-overlooked world of funeral services. I discussed the details with the organization’s communication manager, Kateřina Pavlitová:

“The purpose of organizing this event was really to let the residents of Prague know that we exist.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Danny Bate, Radio Prague International

The 26-tonne clock tower structure has been restored on top of the Industrial Palace, the centre piece of the Výstaviště area in Bubeneč. Following a fire in 2008, the costs of the repair of the palace, which began in 2022 and will continue until 2026, are estimated to exceed three billion crowns.

The Industrial Palace was built in 1891, and was designed by the Czech architect Münzberger.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Danny Bate, Radio Prague International

A new machine will now present a selection of Czech culture to waiting passengers at Václav Havel Airport. Thanks to the organisation “Pianos on the Street” and the cultural activist Ondřej Kobza, the new ‘poetry jukebox’ freely offers the best of Czech history, legends, poetry, drama and music in a cosy corner of Terminal 2. Danny Bate went along to its unveiling.

Amidst planes taking off and landing, and travellers hurrying to their gates, a peaceful alcove in Prague Airport’s Terminal 2 offers visitors an oasis of calm and Czech culture.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Ruth Fraňková, Radio Prague International

Most visitors to Prague are drawn to its iconic landmarks—Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, the Astronomical Clock—but there’s another side to the city that often goes unnoticed, hidden beyond the main squares and bustling streets. Woven through Prague’s streets is a network of passages and arcades, which allow you to take shortcuts and avoid the crowds. We’ll explore at least some of them with architect Štěpán Beneš, one of the founders of the association Mapamátky, which aims to popularize Prague’s architecture.

Here is a list of passages we visit:.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Petra Štrymplová, Czech Radio

The Baroque cemetery chapel of the Holy Family in Odry, Moravia, was built in 1718-1719. Over the centuries it underwent a number of insensitive reconstructions that hid many aspects of its former beauty. However the most recent reconstruction in 2015 yielded a number of unexpected discoveries.

Under layers of bricks and plaster experts discovered a wooden timbered structure and a painted ceiling from the early Baroque period, and fragments of wall paintings in the nave of the chapel.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Source: Festival Kino Brasil

A rich programme of film, food, dance and music awaits visitors to this year’s Kino Brasil film festival, which begins on October 15th. Barbora Kovářová, one of the team behind the festival, spoke to Danny Bate, about what is included in the programme, and what the team is looking to achieve with the festival.

Could you tell me, what are the goals of the Kino Brasil film festival?.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Gino Schilders moved to Czechia from the Netherlands twenty-seven years ago, and has since been a prominent figure in the world of Czech field hockey. As president of the Czech Field Hockey Federation and trainer for Slavia, he shared his story and impressions of Czech sports with us.

See more here.

Illustration photo: Lenka Žižková, Radio Prague International

Following years of complaints from the public, the Prague authorities have banned the popular “pub crawls” in which organized groups of tourists go from pub to pub in the night hours. The measure is part of a broader effort to make the city “livable” for its inhabitants.

Noise pollution, disturbance of the peace, garbage strewn in the streets, and security concerns –those are the main reasons why Prague districts have fought against pub crawls for years and why Prague councilors finally decided to put an end to the practice.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Kristina Roháčková, iROZHLAS.cz

Czech filmmakers Viktor Horák and Pavel Sýkora won the Student Oscar for their short drama Krajan (Compatriot).

Young Czech filmmakers Viktor Horák and Pavel Sýkora received a Student Oscar tonight in London for their short drama “Krajan” (Compatriot).

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Václav Jabůrek, Czech Radio

In the German state of Brandenburg, a mighty circular fortress, a replica of a Slavic castle from the ninth or tenth century, has been acquired by a Czech owner. Care of the historical attraction has passed into the hands of David Chmelík, who emigrated from Czechoslovakia in the 1990s.

The historical region of Lusatia, part of Germany and Poland, has for centuries been a land with Slavic-speaking inhabitants.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Michal Krumphanzl, ČTK

Edith Pargeter was a writer who achieved fame in Britain for her historical murder mysteries. What is less well known is her career as a (self-taught) translator and promoter of Czech literature.

October 14th marks twenty-nine years since the death of Edith Mary Pargeter, the popular and prolific English novelist, who, under the pen-name of Ellis Peters, created the character of the crime-solving monk Brother Cadfael.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Libor Zavoral, ČTK

Twenty-five years ago, the name Matiční Street in Ústí nad Labem—a 100-meter-long path between family row houses and three apartment buildings where socially disadvantaged Romani people lived—went viral. The fence planned by the town hall was seen as a symbol of racism and the segregation of the Czech Roma population.

The issue of Matiční Street grew throughout the 1990s in Ústí nad Labem.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Moravské zemské muzeum

Eighty years ago, three hugely talented Jewish composers Pavel Haas, Hans Krása and Viktor Ullmann were gassed in Auschwitz. Their music, created during one of the most tragic periods of European history, lives to this day.

Composer, conductor, pianist, writer and music critic Viktor Ullmann was one of the most outstanding and complex artistic personalities of Czech-German cultural life in the years of the First Republic.

See more here.

Source: Jakub Cigler Architekti, CAMP

Prague’s Wenceslas Square is currently undergoing a major renovation, which includes the return of trams to its upper part. An exhibition is now underway at the bottom section of the square, which presents the upcoming changes to the public.

Wenceslas Square in the very centre of Prague currently looks a bit like a building site.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Studio hrdinů

The new director of the Slovak National Theatre (SND), Zuzana Ťapáková, has canceled the performance Moonstone by Prague’s Studio of Heroes, which was scheduled to be part of the Drama Queer festival. The festival’s organizer called the decision discriminatory and accused her of censorship. Studio of Heroes announced on Facebook that they plan to address the situation with a talk at the end of October.

Drama Queer is a theatre festival focused on LGBT+ issues, running from 17 to 28 October.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

On the occasion of the 79^th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia, the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia  H.E. Ms. Kenssy Dwi EKANINGSIH hosted a reception at the Hilton Hotel, Prague.

Mr. David Müller the Director General at the Section of European Union and Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, and Mr. Viktor Vojtko Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic were the honored guests.

Watch the video with the speech of the Ambassador H.E. Ms. Kenssy Dwi EKANINGSIH  and of Mr. David Müller the Director General at the Section of European Union and Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, and Mr. Viktor Vojtko Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic.

A rich culture program was a part of the event.

Happy Independence Day, Indonesia

On the occasion of Spain National Day, The Ambassador of Spain, H.E. Mrs. María Pérez Sánchez-Laulhé hosted a reception at  Kaiserstein Palace, Prague.

Mr. Eduard Hulicius – the deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic was the honored guest.

Watch the video with the speech of the Ambassador of Spain, H.E. Mrs. María Pérez Sánchez-Laulhé, and of Mr. Eduard Hulicius – the deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic.

Viva Espana Viva República Checa

The Ambassador of the Argentine Republic H.E. Mr. Claudio Javier Rozencwaig is very honored to be able to host, together with the Lucerna Palace, the 13th edition of the Argentine Film Week, a cultural event that has already become an obvious symbol of the affinity between Argentine and Czech culture.

A cultural tradition that brings us closer together and reminds us that we are not alone on this journey, no matter where we come from. No kilometers, countries, and oceans are enough to separate us.

The festival will take place from 10.10.- 15.10.2024 at the Beautiful Lucerna Cinema – Vodičkova 36, Praha 1.

The opening evening was attended by many Ambassadors and diplomats and the public who love the Argentine movies.

The Ambassador of the Argentine Republic H.E. Mr. Claudio Javier Rozencwaig and the Edvard Kožušník Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic.

The opening movie was The Extortion  ( 2023 ) – Alejandro is an experienced airline pilot. He loves his profession, but he hides a secret: a medical condition that, if discovered, would lead to his immediate retirement. The Intelligence Service finds out and they start blackmailing him by demanding that, without asking questions, he transport some mysterious suitcases on the Buenos Aires-Madrid route. Intrigued by the enigmatic cargo he is carrying, Alejandro is soon plunged into a universe of intrigue and corruption that will put him and those he loves in danger. His very life is threatened, and he has to fight to survive.

In addition to sucking mother’s milk, Gaia also sucks solid food, especially vegetables, which fall from mother Kijiva’s mouth while eating. Photo by Tereza Mrhálková, Prague Zoo

On Saturday, October 12, six months will pass since the birth of the gorilla Gaia at the Prague Zoo. The daughter of the female Kijivu and goddaughter of the famous primatologist Jane Goodall is thriving and growing literally before the eyes of visitors. She is tasting solid food, exploring the indoor and outdoor areas of the Dja Reserve and increasingly playing with his nine-month-old sister, Mobi. In addition, the first born quickly catches up – this is probably due to Gaia’s more benevolent upbringing and Mobi herself, who sets an example for her.

“For the first time in the history of the Prague Zoo, we have the opportunity to watch two baby gorillas at the same time, which brings us and the visitors a whole range of remarkable stimuli. For example, the younger Gaia is extremely mature for her age. It is thanks to her mother Kijiva, who has already raised four offspring. Thanks to this, she approaches upbringing with experience and calmness, and Gaie thus gives more freedom than first-born Duni to her daughter Mobi, whom Duni, on the other hand, holds quite briefly,” says chief primate breeder Martin Vojáček.

Kijiva’s mother-of-five’s upbringing is relatively benevolent. Visitors can increasingly see little Gaia during exploratory tours of the pavilion. The white spot on the bottom, which is clearly visible in the picture, is a typical sign of baby gorillas. Photo by Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo

However, freer supervision of the cub’s behavior is not the only reason why Gaia is almost as mature as Mobi, who is three and a half months older. “Gaia has a pattern in Mobi. While Mobi has had to figure out how the world around her works – how to stand up, that the ropes swing, that she can swing on them, and so on – Gaia takes it all away from Mobi. The development of Gaia’s motor skills is therefore very fast,” explains Vojáček.

However, not everything can compete with Gaia Mobi. “Gaia already swallows solid food just like Mobi, but she has to wait for harder bites. Gaia has few teeth yet, about eight to ten. You simply cannot speed up some things,” adds Vojáček.

Visitors can find a family of lowland gorillas in the Dja Reserve pavilion in the upper part of the Prague Zoo. The best time to observe them is when they are feeding around 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

On October 8, 2024 – The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, made an official visit to Singapore. With her counterpart Seah Kian Peng and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, she discussed closer bilateral cooperation and opportunities for more intensive economic exchange. The parliamentary delegation is also accompanied by a business mission with the aim of penetrating the promising Singaporean markets and deepening business relations within the Southeast Asian region as well.

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, began her journey through Southeast Asia with an official visit to Singapore – the gateway to Southeast Asia for our businesses. The parliamentary delegation, which also consists of the chairman of the parliamentary security committee, Pavel Žáček, the deputy chairman of the defense committee, Josef Flek, and the chairman of the energy subcommittee, Róbert Teleky, discussed closer interparliamentary cooperation with the chairman of the Singapore legislature, Seah Kian Peng. They also discussed mutual relations between the two countries at a meeting with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

“Czech-Singapore relations have been at a very high level for a long time. Our cooperation is developing in many areas – from advanced technologies, through education, and cyber security, to environmental protection and, recently, artificial intelligence. Our visit is therefore another impetus for even more intensive cooperation and at the same time an invitation for potential Singaporean investors to visit us,” said the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

The parliamentary delegation is also accompanied by a business mission of the Czech Chamber of Commerce specifically focused on the sectors of information technology, cyber security, solutions for smart cities, logistics, and aviation.

“Last year alone, the amount of our mutual trade reached a total amount exceeding 20 billion crowns. We will probably increase this amount even more this year. Singapore is, therefore, our important business partner, representing not only a number of lucrative opportunities for our export-oriented companies and entrepreneurs but also a gateway to perspective markets throughout Southeast Asia,” added the Speaker of the Chamber, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

From Singapore, the delegation moved to the Philippines, where they will discuss inter-parliamentary and economic cooperation with the country’s high political representatives and business leaders.

On October 8, President Petr Pavel and Mrs. Eva Pavlová received 40 scholarship recipients of the Education Fund, which is celebrating 30 years since its foundation this year, at Prague Castle.

The official reception of the students of the scholarship program of the Committee of Good Will – Olga Havelová Foundation took place in the Social Hall. Siblings Antonín, Anežka, Klára and František Koneční, scholarship recipients of the program, played Prelude from Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s Te Deum to the presidential couple.

In his greeting, President Petr Pavel highlighted education as a joint priority of the Pavlov couple and described it as the best investment that can be made. According to him, programs like the Education Fund can help people who do not have the same conditions to make such an investment due to health, social or even geographical disadvantage. ” Just the absence of schools in remote regions can be a form of disadvantage ,” the president explained. He then thanked the scholarship holders for their work and wished them success in the coming years. 

Petr Pavel and Eva Pavlova were greeted by Vojtěch Sedláček, chairman of its board of directors, and Monika Granja, director, on behalf of the Committee of Good Will – Olga Havel Foundation. Barbora Antonovičová, Supreme Court lawyer and UN Young Delegate in 2018/2019, spoke on behalf of all current and former students supported by the program. According to her, the financial support enabled and simplified the education of the scholarship recipients at secondary or university level, but also helped them in their personal development. ” We perceive quality education as a very important basis for subsequently obtaining appropriate employment, through which we can then further contribute to the development of society and thus return that support, ” said the young woman in her speech.

After presenting gifts to the Pavlov couple – flowers and calendars for the year 2025 with illustrations by Olga Havlova from Adély Marie Jirků – all the participants of the meeting sang the song One day we will continue to the president of the republic and the first lady, accompanied by the Konečný siblings. 

The informal part of the meeting of the presidential couple with students, as well as with partners and supporters of the Education Fund, took place in the Music Hall without the participation of the media.

The exceptional program ended with a guided tour of the representative premises of Prague Castle, which are normally inaccessible to the public and are only opened to them on special occasions.

The education fund celebrates 30 years this year. Since its establishment, 1,339 students have received regular support or a one-off contribution for school fees or study aids, in a total amount of more than 42 million crowns. ČSOB is a partner of the Education Fund.

Photo By Eva Šolcová

It’s one of the most important role that represent the Czech Republic all over the world. The first Lady should invest time and efforts performing her duties in the country and with the President at his official visits around the world.

This role should be regulated with a fair salary and social insurance. The new legal regulation in the right step and should be done long time ago.

“The Office of the President of the Republic perceives the proposed legal regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as a comprehensive solution that should facilitate the effective functioning of the First Lady for the first time in history in a way that would correspond to the needs and expectations associated with this position, including the correction of the non-existent pension and health insurance for the years spent fulfilling this demanding and publicly watched tasks.

The role of the wife or husband, or the partner of the President of the Republic has not yet been anchored in the legal system of the Czech Republic, which we perceive in the twenty-first century as a situation that must inevitably be rectified.

The role of the first lady is a position that cannot actually be combined with a job or other gainful activity. Despite this fact, the wife of the President of the Republic has not yet received any compensation for fulfilling this role.

At the same time, it is expected that the wife of the President of the Republic will accompany him at official events in the Czech Republic, when receiving foreign visits, trips to the regions or in a number of other similar situations. It is expected that he will also participate in foreign trips. Last but not least, it is also expected that the wife of the President of the Republic will have and will handle her own agenda, e.g. grant patronage, publicly support non-profit or other projects, handle correspondence addressed to her, or engage in her own charitable activities.

The proposed changes, however, do not only regulate compensations, which are supposed to ensure the functioning of the apparatus of the wife of the president of the republic during the performance of the role of the first lady.

Legal regulations thus bring solutions that the Office of the President of the Republic perceives as necessary in the twenty-first century. We are therefore very happy that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has decided to address the situation.”

On 6 October 2024, Prague’s Hvězda Park hosted the fifth Race for the Cure, a run and walk in support of breast cancer patients organized by the Alliance of Women with Breast Cancer.

Race for the Cure® is Europe’s largest sporting event for women’s health. It helps breast cancer organizations and hospitals raise funds and awareness.

Traditionally, the RFTC is supported by the Prague diplomatic community thanks to the initiative of the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina H.E Mrs. Martina Mlinarevic . This year’s event was supported financially and by the personal presence of US Ambassador H.E Mr. Bijan Sabet, Ambassadors of Japan H.E. Mr. Kansuke NAGAOKA,, Ambassador of Slovenia H.E. Mr. Aleš BALUT, Ambassador of Slovakia H.E. Ms. Ingrid BROCKOVÁ, Ambassador of Estonia H.E. Ms. Gita KALMET, Ambassador of Romania H.E. Ms. Maria-Antoaneta BARTA, Ambassador of United Kingdom H.E. Mr. Matthew Robert FIELD, Ambassador of Kosovo H.E. Ms. Albesjana IBERHYSAJ-KAPITAJ , Ambassador of Tunisia H.E. Ms. Yosra SOUIDEN, Ambassador of Egypt H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Mostafa AFIFI, Ambassador of Spain H.E. Ms. Maria PEREZ SANCHEZ-LAULHE, Ambassador of Malaysia H.E. Ms. SUZILAH BINTI MOHD SIDEK, Ambassador of Pakistan H.E. Ms. Ayesha ALI, Ambassador of Brazil H.E. Ms. Sonia Regina GUIMARAES GOMES, Ambassador of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia H.E. Mr. Abdullah Muteb A. ALRASHEED, Ambassador of Morroco H.E. Ms. Hanane SAADI, Ambassador of Norway H.E. Mr. Victor Conrad RONNEBERG, Ambassador of Albania H.E. Mr. Ilir TEPELENA and UNICEF director Ms. Yulia OLEINIK.

Hundreds of people from the community participate in this event and support this great cause.

A total of €3,343 ( about 84,000 Kc ) was raised, which will go towards the Alliance of Women with Breast Cancer projects.

Congratulations to the winners of the 5km running categories: Women, Men, Kids and Dogs.

We hope that next year more people will participate and we can collect more donations for such an important activity.

The lowland gorilla, one of the flagship species of the Prague Zoo, will not be missing from the exhibition. Source: Garden of Lights

In the lower part of the Prague Zoo area, more and more animals and plants are gradually added. It is a Light Zoo project, which is being prepared by the company Garden of Lights. The light zoo will include lanterns of 33 species of animals for a total number of 110 individuals, as well as plants, projections on the ground, or photo points. The opening is planned for Friday, October 25, but tickets are already on sale.

A similar light installation will be the first ever in a Czech zoo; however, similar projects are common in the world. In addition to revitalizing the grounds outside the main visitor season, they also help promote “flagship species”, such as gorillas or sloths in the case of Prague Zoo. The lanterns depicting them were made especially for Prague.

A family of Madagascar kata lemurs will also light up at the exhibition. Source: Garden of Lights

There will be a separate entrance fee for the Light Zoo. From 25 to 31 October, it will be open from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and subsequently from 1 November to 16 February on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on other weekdays from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. It will remain closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

We believe that the Light Zoo will excite not only for children but for all the family!

Advance ticket sales: https://gardenoflights.com/cs/prague.

The sacred baobab tree will decorate the area near the Education Center. Source: Garden of Lights
The attached photos are illustrative and depict the exhibition held last year at the Wroclaw Zoo.

Source: Signal Festival

Signal Festival, the annual festival of pioneering lightshows across Prague, begins its four-day programme on October 10th. The festival integrates technology and creativity with the grandeur of Prague’s buildings, and it has earned an international reputation for innovation and magnificence. Martin Pošta, one of the festival’s founders, spoke to Radio Prague about what visitors can look forward to this year.

We have now had ten years of Signal Festival, starting in 2013.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Lenka Žižková, Radio Prague International

The Czech Senate has passed new limits on the sale of weaker psychomodulatory substances, including kratom and hexahydrocannabinol (HHC). If signed into law by the president, the substances will only be available to buy by adults and in specific stores from December.

On Wednesday 9th of October, the Czech Senate approved an amendment to the Act on Addictive Substances, responding to concerns that certain psychomodulatory substances are freely available and being consumed by minors.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Czech Television

The Regional Court in Hradec Králové has rehabilitated parish priest Josef Toufar who was arrested and tortured to death by the communist secret police in the hardline 1950s for allegedly faking a miracle.

According to attorney Lubomír Müller, who specializes in defending victims of communist oppression and who drafted the petition for rehabilitation, no one had pursued Toufar’s judicial rehabilitation since there are no living relatives.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Illustrative photo: Tomáš Adamec, Czech Radio

A quarter of Czech psychiatrists are set to retire in five years. Experts are calling for more.

Within five years, one in four psychiatrists in Czechia will reach retirement age, and the country is already facing a shortage of hundreds of professionals in the field.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

German plans to build wind turbines near the Czech border have sparked a backlash, as local communities claim they were ignored and environmental concerns were overlooked.

A German investor is planning to build four massive wind turbines just across the Czech border in the Tachov region, without having consulted the local Czech communities.

See more here.

Author: Ľubomír Smatana, Vít Pohanka

Photo: eSbírky, National Museum in Prague, CC BY 4.0 DEED

A unique songbook marking the upcoming anniversary of the Velvet Revolution has just been released in Czechia. Initiated by the NGO Díky, že můžem or Thanks, that we can, it contains 17 tracks that capture the spirit of their time, from underground and protest songs to communist-era mainstream hits.

Muchomurky bílé, a song by the legendary underground rock musician Milan “Mejla” Hlavsa, is one of the 17 tracks included in the songbook Písničkou ke svobodě (Through a song to freedom), marking the 35th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Czech Police

In an interview with Czech Radio, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, reflects on relations with Russia following the infamous Vrbětice case.

To explain the context: the Vrbětice case refers to the 2014 explosions at a Czech ammunition depot in the village of Vrbětice, which were later linked to Russian military intelligence (GRU) agents.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: X of Press Play Prague

Press Play Prague is uniting journalists, filmmakers, and audiences to highlight and celebrate the impact of storytelling in shaping our collective understanding of the world from 8-12 October 2024. Through screenings of thought-provoking films that explore key social and political issues, the event aims to spark meaningful discussions and inspire social change.

Many envisioned the internet as a tool to democratize both information and art.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Petr Kubát, Czech Radio

The Bellarie Summer House, a Rococo jewel in Český Krumlov reopened to the public in October after undergoing extensive renovation. The palace boasts the best-preserved murals from the Rococo period in the whole of Czechia.

The Rococo garden mansion, the only one of its kind in the Czech Republic, has a lot to offer visitors.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Martin Pykal, Olomouc’s Palacký University

Czech scientists have developed a new generation of antibiotics that are highly effective against a broad range of bacteria but also effectively prevent the development of bacterial resistance. The ground-breaking discovery, made in collaboration with China, has been published in the prestigious journal Advanced Materials.

Increasing bacterial resistance against antibiotics, caused by persistent misuse and overprescription, presents a major threat to public health.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Illustrative photo: memyselfaneye, Pixabay, CC0 1.0 DEED

Disinformation in Czechia has shifted significantly over the last few years. As a result, efforts to counter disinformation are increasingly focusing on targeting its financial backers rather than merely educating the population. I spoke with Project Manager and analyst for the Regional Security Program at Prague Security Studies Institute (PSSI), Kristina Šefčíková, to touch on where the information landscape has changed and what disinformation researchers are doing differently to combat disinformation.

So, how would you describe the current state of disinformation in Czechia, and particularly I’m interested if there’s been a change in the information landscape since the pandemic in 2020, or even with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022?.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Jolana Nováková, Czech Radio

Czechia is not generally associated with winemaking and most of the country’s vineyards are located in the eastern part of the country– in Moravia-Silesia. However, Bohemia, and more surprisingly Prague, has a few fine vineyards as well. The oldest and most famous lies on the slopes of Prague Castle itself.

On the southern slopes of Prague Castle, sandwiched between the buttress wall of the Old Castle Stairs and the upper scenic ridgeway is the St.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Prachi Bari’s story takes us from India to Czechia, where she now studies at Charles University. Prachi stepped out of her career as a journalist to continue her education, motivated by the career challenges caused by the Covid pandemic. She shares her views about the current fight against disinformation and the future of media.

See more here.

Photo: Ruth Fraňková, Radio Prague International

Dozens of glassmakers from all over the world gathered in the north Bohemian town of Nový Bor at the end of last week to attend the International Glass Symposium. Over the weekend, people had a unique chance to visit glassworks and workshops in the area and experience the artistry of glassmakers up close.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Jitka Cibulová Vokatá, Czech Radio

Thousands of Czechs are heading for the country’s thick pine forests these days to pick mushrooms, as the humid and relatively warm weather creates perfect conditions for their growth. This popular Czech pastime has even taken over the social media, where thousands of fungi fans are posting their finds.

Early autumn is traditionally the peak of the mushroom season in Czechia and this year is no exception.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Juan Pablo Bertazza, Radio Prague International

The Troja Bridge across the Vltava River has been serving pedestrians, cyclists, trams, and cars already for a decade. It’s considered one of the most beautiful contemporary structures in Czechia, winning acclaim from architects and industry experts alike. In 2015, the bridge was recognised with the prestigious Award of Excellence by the European Steel Construction Association.

However, this architectural gem came at a high price.

See more here.

Photo: Juan Pablo Bertazza, Radio Prague International

The iconic funicular railway that takes travellers to the top of Petřín Hill is set to close for essential repairs, but the Prague Public Transport Company (DPP) is giving fans of the funicular a chance to say goodbye with guided tours.

On Saturdays in October, guided tours around the funicular railway will take visitors around the upper station, including the engine room and into a driver’s cabin.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

On the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of the Independence of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and the 75^th year of diplomatic relations between the Czech Republic and the People’s Republic of China. The Ambassador of the Republic of the People’s Republic of China H.E. Mr. Biao FENG , and Mrs. Cai Jingli Hosted a reception at the beautiful building and garden of the Embassy.

Mr. Eduard Hulicius – the deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic and Mr. Vaclav Klaus – the previous President of the Czech Republic were the honored guest.

Watch the video with the speech of the Ambassador of the Republic of the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Mr. Biao FENG ( in Chinese ) the English translation is attached, of Mr. Eduard Hulicius – the deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic, and Mr. Vaclav Klaus – the previous President of the Czech Republic

Happy Birthday China !

Remarks by Ambassador Feng Biao  at the Reception in Celebration of  the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 75th Anniversary of  the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between PRC and the Czech Republic

(September 27, 2024)

Your Excellency former President Klaus, former Prime Minister Paroubek,

Your Excellency deputy minister Hulicius, director-general Piecha,

Your Excellencies ambassadors, members of the diplomatic corps,

Ladies and Gentlemen：

Good evening!

It is a great pleasure to gather with you to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and also the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and the Czech Republic. At the outset, I would like to convey warm welcome and sincere gratitude to all of you!

The past 75 years since the founding of New China have been the most glorious and magnificent chapter in the history of the development of the Chinese nation. China has made historic achievements and undergone historic changes, and its economic strength,scientific and technological capabilities and composite national strength have increased significantly. It is also worth mentioning that, China has become the world’s second largest economy,has historically resolved the problem of absolute poverty and has built a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Thereby the Chinese nation has achieved the tremendous transformation from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong.

At present, the Chinese people of all ethnic groups are joining hands to advance China’s modernization drive, making great strides toward the goal of building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation. In July this year, the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China made systematic plans for further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization, which will provide institutional guarantee for and inject strong impetus into the Chinese modernization.

Ladies and Gentlemen！

Over the past 75 years since the founding of New China, China remains firm in pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace and adheres to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in pursuing friendship and cooperation with other countries. China has always been a builder of world peace, a defender of international order, and a contributor to global development. China has injected valuable stability and positive energy into the world and made great contributions to upholding world peace and promoting common development. Today, China is ever closer to the center stage of the world, and has established the building of a community with a shared future for mankind as its noble goal and main task in conducting  major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. China stands ready to work with all the countries to deliver a brighter future for the world.

Ladies and Gentlemen!

The Czech Republic is one of the first countries to recognize and establish diplomatic ties with New China. For the 75 years since the establishment of the China-Czech diplomatic relations, despite the evolving international situation and great changes of our national conditions,friendship and cooperation remain the mainstream of bilateral relations, benefiting the two countries and peoples. In particular,President Xi Jinping made historic state visit to the Czech Republic in 2016,and during the visit bilateral relations were elevated to strategic partnership. These have further promoted exchanges in various fields between our two countries. China has become the Czech Republic’s largest trading partner outside the EU, while the Czech Republic is China’s second largest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe. Bilateral trade has grown at an average annual rate of 14.3% in the past decade, reaching 21.51 billion US dollars (about 483.6 billion koruna) in 2023. China’s total investment in the Czech Republic has reached 1.7 billion US dollars (about 38.2 billion koruna), and more than 50 Chinese enterprises are doing business in the Czech Republic. People-to-people exchanges between the two countries have strengthened with mutual understanding deepened, and China has become one of the main sources of tourists to the Czech Republic. More and more Chinese tourists are visiting the Czech Republic by taking the resumed direct flights. All these facts show that, although our two countries differ in social system,  history, culture,and size etc., we can surely build a relationship of mutual trust, friendship and cooperation.

Ladies and Gentlemen!

The Chinese modernization is the modernization of peaceful development, and China will continue to create development opportunities for other countries with its own accomplishments in the modernization drive. As a friend and partner, China stands ready to work with the Czech side,uphold the principles of mutual respect, equal treatment and mutual benefit, and deepen friendly cooperation in various fields,so as to promote the sound, steady and sustainable development of bilateral relations, and bring more benefits to both countries and peoples.

On this note, I would like to propose a toast to the prosperity of China and the Czech Republic, to the healthy and steady growth of China-Czech relations, and to the health of all friends present, cheers!

Thank you.

On the occasion of the Independence of the Republic of Armenia,

H.E. Mr. Ashot HOVAKIMIAN and Mrs. Anahit HOVAKIMIAN host a reception at the beautiful Strahov Monastery.

Mr. Jan Marian– the deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic was the honored guest.

Watch the video with the speech of the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia H.E. Mr. Ashot HOVAKIMIAN and of Mr. Jan Marian – the deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic.

Happy Birthday Armenia

35 years have passed since the great events of 1989. On that occasion H.E. Mr. Andreas KÜNNE, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, organized an event commemorating them in the beautiful Lobkowicz Palace, the seat of the German Embassy, which was at the center of the event at that time.

The guest of honor was Mr. Petr Pavel the President of the Czech Republic.

Happy Unity Day

The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan H.E. Ms. Ayesha ALI, Hosted a cultural event at her beautiful residence a lecture by the world-renowned Pakistani artist Mrs. Faiza Butt.

Mrs. Faiza Butt. work has been extensively shown in Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and the United States and exhibited at various art fairs, including the India Art Fair, Art Dubai, Colombo Art Biennale, and the Hong Kong Art Fair. Her work can also be found in private and public collections, including the British Museum, London; the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi; and the Burger Collection, Hong Kong, to name a few. The biography, an artist statement, and some of the works of Mrs. Faiza Butt are appended herein.

Watch the speech of H.E. Ms. Ayesha ALI – the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Czech Republic and a small part of Mrs. Faiza Butt’s lecture.

It was amazing and interesting. We hope to bring you a full article in our next printed issue.

The French Embassy in the Czech Republic, the Embassy of Armenia in the Czech Republic, and the French Institute in Prague organized an evening event on the occasion of the centenary of the birth of Charles Aznavour. Screening of the documentary film Aznavour and his world

The guests were welcomed by the French Ambassador to the Czech Republic H.E. Mr. Stéphane CROUZAT, the Armenian Ambassador to the Czech Republic H.E. Mr. Ashot HOVAKIMIAN, and, the director of the French Institute in Prague Mr. Stephane Schorderet.

Aznavour and his world offers a selection of personal film footage that the singer has shot over the years, offering a view not only of the artist’s career but also of an entire era.

The documentary is accompanied by the voice of Romain Duris and songs by Charles Aznavour.

The film is in French, with Czech and English subtitles, length 75 min.

After this very interesting film, the guests enjoyed a concert by the singer Richard Ihuel and the pianist Tomáš Jochmann who present the famous songs of Charles Aznavour.

Tbilisi, Georgia, 28 September 2024 – Tourism has committed to embracing its unique role as a pillar of peace and understanding. On World Tourism Day 2024, UN Tourism brought sector leaders from every global region together around a common vision and commitment to building a “peace-sensitive sector”, recognizing its potential to build bridges and foster understanding. 

The official celebrations in Tbilisi, Georgia, welcomed almost 500 participants from 51 different countries, including 13 Ministers of Tourism. Reflecting its firm commitment to the day and its theme of “Peace and Tourism”, the host country was represented by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze as well as seven other Ministers, showcasing tourism’s cross-sectoral importance.

Welcoming delegates, UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, stressed that “without peace, there is no tourism”. He said: “I call on all of you to help build a –‘peace-sensitive tourism sector‘, one that plays a key role in building peace and ending conflicts, provides tourism stakeholders with tools to realize this potential, promotes tourism education as peace education, and links tourism to other peacebuilding initiatives”.

Read more: https://www.unwto.org/news/world-tourism-day-2024-a-global-message-of-tourism-for-peace?utm_source=news&utm_medium=crm

On Saturday, October 5, visitors will have the opportunity to visit the normally inaccessible Liechtenstein Palace in Prague’s Kampa. Guided tours start at 9 a.m. and the last members of the public enter the palace at 4 p.m. Along the route, they will see the blue lounge with a chapel, the golden hall, Masaryk’s lounge, the courtyard, and the garden. Entry to the building is free and without prior registration. The last opportunity this year to visit this palace as part of the Open Days will be on November 17.

The Liechtenstein Palace was built in a six-sided plan in 1697-1698 to the design of the Italian architect Giovanni Battista Alliprandi for the Kaiserstein noble family. The palace changed hands several times, and the last noble owners included the Lichtensteins, who owned the palace between 1831 and 1864. It was then bought by miller František Odkolek and rebuilt into its current form. In the years 1979–1991, the palace was modified according to the project of architect Kamil Fuchs for the needs of the Prime Minister’s Office.

At present, the palace is used for representative purposes of the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic, for negotiations with foreign visitors and for business meetings. Important state visits can be accommodated here, as happened, for example, in the case of the British Queen Elizabeth II, the Spanish King Juan Carlos or the Japanese Emperor Akihito.

The Government Office will also open the gates of the Straka Academy garden from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., as every Saturday in the season. This year’s novelty is the possibility of using the audio guide via an application that can be downloaded to a mobile phone. The entrance to the public will be open from Kosárkova nábřeží. The garden will be opened to the public for the last time this year on Saturday, October 12.

Saturday, October 5, 2024

Liechtenstein Palace, U Sovových mlýnů 506/4, Prague 1

Program

09.00 – opening of the Open Day at the Liechtenstein Palace

16.00 – start of the last guided tour

• UN Tourism and the TUI Care Foundation invite artisans in rural destinations across Africa to apply to the Colourful Cultures small grants initiative.
• Applications can now be submitted for projects in Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, The Gambia, Tunisia, and Zambia

Berlin/Madrid,2nd October 2024 – UN Tourism and the TUI Care Foundation launch ‘Colourful Cultures’, a call for proposals focused on supporting the creative talent of a continent. The initiative aims to empower local artists and artisans, particularly women and youth, in rural tourism destinations across selected African countries. These projects will enhance the benefits of tourism for local artists and artisans, progressing sustainable economic opportunities while safeguarding cultural heritage and enhancing community empowerment and engagement.

UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “Tourism has the potential to deliver significant socio-economic benefits in rural areas, preserving cultural heritage and creating jobs. We are proud to launch the first-ever Tourism for Rural Development Small Grants Programme at UN Tourism. ‘Colourful Cultures’, enabled by the TUI Care Foundation, exemplifies our commitment to sustainable development and the empowerment of local communities.”

Read more: https://www.unwto.org/news/un-tourism-and-tui-care-foundation-announce-grants-for-rural-artisans-in-africa?utm_source=news&utm_medium=crm

Photo: public domain

On 26 September 1879, 145 years ago, the village of Royal Vinohrady (Královské Vinohrady) was promoted to a town. It grew and developed at a pace unprecedented in its time. Vinohrady soon became the second-largest city in the Czech Kingdom. With the creation of Greater Prague in 1922, it became part of the city, with the name Prague XII. New exhibition celebrates its history in Peace Square.

A new exhibition on Peace Square (Náměstí Míru) celebrates the history of Vinohrady with 20 informational panels.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Andrea Skalická, Czech Radio

Approximately 2,400 people develop pancreatic cancer in Czechia annually and almost 2,200 succumb to it over the same period. It can now be detected by regular pancreatic MRI and endoscopic ultrasonography. However researchers at the University of Pardubice say they have found a simpler and equally effective method. If confirmed, Czechia could become the first country in the world to require only a few milliliters of blood for testing.

Nurse Světluše Fyšarová of the Lipidica Study at the 2nd Internal Gastroenterology and Geriatrics Clinic at Olomouc University Hospital described the researchers‘ unique method of discovering pancreatic cancer to Czech Radio:.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Magdalena Kadula, Radio Prague International

André Amalio is an actor and director who specializes in documentary theater. He and his wife, Tereza Havličkova, co-founded a documentary theater company called Hotel Europa, based in Portugal. Magdalena Kadula caught up with them on their recent working visit to Prague.

Recently in Prague, there was a documentary theater festival organized by Tante Horse Theater Group, in which your company, Hotel Europa, participated and performed, along with local artists and international artists.

See more here.

Photo: Petra Hajská, The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

The winners of this year’s Gramophone awards, perhaps the most prestigious in classical music, include the Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša. Currently the chief conductor of the Bamberg Symphony, Hrůša won in the two categories of opera and concerto.

Launched in 1977, the annual Gramophone awards are widely considered to be the world’s most prestigious awards for the classical music recording industry.

See more here.

Photo: Škoda Group

The longest tram in the world, produced by Czechia’s Škoda Group, is set to go into operation in the German Rhine-Neckar region in the south-west of the country. Measuring nearly 60 meters, the tram features a unique modular design, which allows it to be shortened and lengthened like a train.

The giant tram, produced in Škoda Group’s factory in Plzeň, measures exactly 58.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Martin Faltejsek, Designblok

The annual Designblok, the biggest festival of its kind in Central Europe, has just got underway at a number of venues in Prague. This year, the festival centre – the so-called Superstudio – is located at the historical building of Prague City Museum, which opens to the public for the first time since its reconstruction. I discussed the event with Jana Zielinski, the director of Designblok, and first asked her about the choice of this year’s main topic, which is Youth:

“We decided to choose the topic Youth because we believe that if you have high quality work, it contains longevity and eternal youth.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Hana Slavická, Radio Prague International

Join us on a trip to Prague, “The City of a Hundred Spires”. Our drone video will show you some of the Czech capital’ most famous landmarks from a bird’s eye view.

See more here.

Photo: Tomáš Černý, Czech Radio

Her life story is a story of courage and survival. Jaroslava Skleničková was just 16 when she was sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp by the Nazis with her mother and older sister. Her father was executed, along with the other men from Lidice. Despite this terrible experience, which haunted her for the rest of her life, she found the strength to live a fulfilled life, marry, have children and help anyone in need. She died on September 27 at the age of 98, surrounded by her family.

It was a tragedy that resounded the world over.

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Author: David Vaughan, Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Anna Matuštíková, Czech Radio

A Plzeň building partly designed by the modernist architect Adolf Loos, in which the surrender of the German garrison occurred on May 6th 1945, is set to be renovated and repurposed. The dilapidated building is set to become a new museum all about the events of that fateful year in Plzeň.

As you walk down Plzeň’s wide Klatovská Avenue towards the city centre, you might easily ignore the large building at no.

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Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International

September 30 marks eighty-six years since the signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938, by which Czechoslovakia was compelled to surrender the large region of the Sudetenland to Nazi Germany. To commemorate the event, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared official documents and private correspondence from the week leading up to the infamous agreement.

In the early hours of September 30th 1938, a document was signed by the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Italy.

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Photo: Pavel Novak, Czech Radio Radiožurnál

The town of Cedar Rapids in Iowa now boasts the only astronomical clock in North America. The Buresh Immigration Clock Tower, which honours the Czech and Slovak immigrants who settled in the United States in the late 19th century, was launched on Friday by President Petr Pavel and his Slovak counterpart, Peter Pellegrini.

Hundreds of people, mostly members of the Czech and Slovak community, gathered outside the Czech and Slovak National Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids on Friday to watch the unveiling of the Astronomical Clock, which was jointly launched by the presidents of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

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Photo: Hana Slavická, Radio Prague International

Visitors to Prague’s Troja Chateau could admire an exhibition of FIAT model from 1920 to the present day.

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Photo: Antonín Erich Nový, Velvyslanectví SRN v Praze

35 years ago tomorrow, one of the most significant events of the end of the Cold War took place in the garden of the West German Embassy in Prague. The German Foreign Minister at the time, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, stepped onto the balcony of the Lobkowicz Palace and announced to around four thousand East German refugees that they were allowed to travel west to the Federal Republic of Germany.

The news caused a huge wave of joy and relief among the refugees who had been waiting in the embassy garden for weeks in the hope of freedom.

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Illustrative photo: ghcassel, Pixabay, Pixabay License

New data from the World Health Organisation’s European Section shows a sharp increase in problematic social media use among adolescents. This, coupled with the finding that 12% of adolescents are at risk of problematic gaming, raises urgent concerns about the impact of digital technologies on the mental health and well-being of European youth.

The findings emerged from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, which surveyed nearly 280,000 young people aged 11, 13, and 15 in 44 countries and regions in Europe, Central Asia, and Canada in 2022.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

The highlight of the 2024 Prague Zoo Annual Celebration will be the celebration of 65 years of the International Stud Book of the Převalské horse, which the Prague Zoo was entrusted with managing in 1959. This photo is also from the same year. Source archive Prague Zoo

On Saturday, September 28, the Prague Zoo will celebrate the 93rd anniversary of its opening. This time, the all-day program in the presence of special guests will be in the style of the 50s.

The central theme will be the celebration of 65 years of the International Stud Book of the Převalský horse, whose management the Prague Zoo was entrusted in 1959.

Together with the exhibition of historical photographs, the opening of the exhibition Return of the Wild Horses – Kazakhstan will take place at 2:30 p.m., which will present the first ever transport of Převalský’s horses to the Golden Steppe in central Kazakhstan. Photo by Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo

The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the Education Center with the launch of the new book by the director of the Prague Zoo, Miroslav Bobek, Breakfast with His Excellency, which will be tackled jointly by the British ambassador to the Czech Republic, Matt Field, and the president of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Eva Zažímalová.

The main celebrations will take place from 1 p.m. in front of the Gobi exhibition with the participation of the mayor of the capital city of Prague, Bohuslav Svoboda, the ambassadors of Mongolia and Kazakhstan in the Czech Republic, as well as well-known faces from the field of culture or sports. There will also be witnesses from among the employees of the Prague Zoo who connected their lives with the “rollers”. The last point of the day will be the revealing of the names of the capybara triplets at 3 p.m.

Throughout the day, live period music will be played in the area, and visitors will be able to comb their hair in the style of the 50s or have a photo booth, for example.

Framework program of the annual celebrations of the Prague Zoo 2024

11.00 Baptism and autograph signing of Miroslav Bobek’s new book Breakfast with His Excellency – terrace of the Education Center

13.00 93rd anniversary of the opening of the Prague Zoo and 65 years of the studbook of the Převalský horse – Gobi exhibition

14.30 Vernissage of the photographic exhibition Return of the Wild Horses – Kazakhstan – terrace of the Educational Center

15.00 Baptism of capybara – exhibition of capybaras and anteaters in the lower part of the zoo

Capybara cubs are very popular with visitors at the Prague Zoo. Their parents Kapík and Bára already have names, but the zoo will only reveal the names of this year’s triplets during the annual celebration on September 28 at 3 p.m. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Prime Minister Fiala discussed with Korean President Jun Sok-jol about the involvement of Czech industry in the completion of Dukovan and the development of economic cooperation

On Friday, September 20, 2024, Prime Minister Petr Fiala met with the President of the Republic of Korea, Jun Sok-yol, with whom he discussed in particular the expansion of cooperation in nuclear energy, including the involvement of the Czech industry in the construction of new nuclear units, the deepening of economic relations and the development of scientific and technical cooperation. The leaders jointly visited the plants of Doosan Škoda Power and Škoda Jaderné strojírenství in Pilsen. The foreign ministers of both countries signed the Action Plan for the implementation of the Strategic Partnership for the years 2025-2027, and a number of memoranda on cooperation were also signed.

The Korean president arrived in the Czech Republic at the head of a large business delegation not long after the selection of the Korean company KHNP as the preferred supplier in the tender for the completion of the nuclear power plant in Dukovany. The meeting began in Pilsen with a visit to the companies Doosan Škoda Power and Škoda JS, which should participate in the completion of the new nuclear units. “The experience and results of these companies are among the clear advantages of the Czech nuclear ecosystem. And it is precisely the involvement of Czech companies in the tender for the completion of Dukovan that we pay great attention to. In its offer, the Korean side declared that it would involve up to 60% of Czech companies in the preparation and construction of new nuclear units, which would mean contracts worth more than 240 billion crowns for them. I believe that we will be able to achieve this common goal,” said the Prime Minister.

The Czech Prime Minister emphasized that relations between the Czech Republic and the Republic of Korea have been more intense than ever in recent years, which opens the door to new projects. The involvement of Czech companies in the construction of new blocks and the development of economic cooperation, especially in sectors with high added value, represents a huge opportunity for citizens and companies in both countries.

“Prospective areas are small modular reactors, hydrogen technologies, energy engineering, health care or the defense, aviation and space industries. A model example is the cooperation between the Czech Škoda Transportation and the Korean company Hyundai Rotem on the supply of locomotives to Africa and Asia,” said Prime Minister Fiala.

The turnover of mutual trade is steadily growing and exceeds 5 billion dollars (more than 100 billion CZK)

During the visit, the following agreements and memoranda were signed at the Government Office:

Action plan for the implementation of the Strategic Partnership between the Czech Republic and the Republic of Korea for the period 2025-2027

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Korea regarding the EIPP program to support economic and innovation cooperation

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea regarding the framework for trade and investment support

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea regarding dialogue to support cooperation in supply chains and energy

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea regarding cooperation in the field of high-tech industry “Vltava”

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea regarding cooperation in the field of the battery industry

Memorandum on cooperation between the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Republic of Korea in the field of rail transport, including high-speed rail connections

Memorandum on cooperation between the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Republic of Korea in the field of railway transport on cooperation in the reconstruction of Ukraine

Memorandum on mutual cooperation between the National Development Bank, the Czech Export Bank, the Export Guarantee and Insurance Company, the Korean Export-Import Bank (KEXIM) and the Korean Commercial Insurance Company (K-SURE).

Trucks from Slovenia carrying 300 dehumidifiers set off for the Czech Republic, intended for the victims of the recent widespread floods.

This truck, like the one sent last week, is headed to the warehouse of the Rescue Unit of the Fire and Rescue Service of the Czech Republic in Drahanovice.

With this shipment, the total number of dehumidifiers donated by the Republic of Slovenia as aid to the Czech Republic will rise to 560.

The Slovenian Red Cross and Slovenian Caritas continue to collect aid for the victims in the affected areas.

Photo: © Bruce Weber, GHMP

An exhibition of the legendary US photographer Bruce Weber, known mainly for his work with fashion brands and magazines, is currently underway at the Stone Bell House on Prague’s Old Town Square. Called Bruce Weber: My Education, it is his first ever major European retrospective, mapping more than five decades of his career.

The 78-year-old photography legend Bruce Weber is probably best-known for his ad campaigns for famous fashion brands, such as Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren, as well as his work for Vogue, Elle, Vanity Fair and other fashion magazines.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Zuzana Jarolímková, iROZHLAS.cz

Nine months after the terrible attack at Charles University’s Faculty of Arts, a group of students, academics and family members of victims have launched an official petition. Entitled “To all who care”, the petition aims to push for tighter legal restrictions on the ownership of firearms in Czechia.

Czechia has a long history with the use of firearms, and is one of a handful of countries around the world with the right to bear such weapons enshrined in its constitution.

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Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

Today’s edition of Sunday Music Show is dedicated to Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 5 in F Major, which represents a milestone in the composer’s work. Written in 1885 in just six weeks, the piece is a culmination of his early symphonies. It also marks the beginning of the series which would eventually be recognised as Dvořák’s symphonic masterpieces.

In his Symphony No.

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Photo: Ludmila Opltová, Czech Radio

The seventh Serial Killer festival, dedicated to TV and internet production, kicks off in Brno on Wednesday. Over the next five days, visitors will have a chance to see some of the best Czech and foreign shows at a number of cinemas in the Moravian capital. The event will open with the premiere of The Well, a prequel to an infamous Czechoslovak communist propaganda series. I asked the festival’s director Kamila Zlatušková to tell me more:

“We are very excited to open our festival with this series, because the director, Tereza Kopáčová, was the one who closed last year’s event with Czech television series called The Sense of Tumour, originally a Belgian production.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Západočeská Galerie Plzeň

Josef Váchal, born September 23, 1884, was a graphic artist, woodcarver, writer, and philosopher, one of the most original Czech artists and thinkers of the 20th century .

He spent most of his life in poverty and relative obscurity.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Archive of Jana Přikryl

Jana Prikryl was five, and called Jana Přikrylová, when her parents fled communist Czechoslovakia in the early 1980s and built a new life in the West. She has since gone on to become a successful poet and a top editor at the highly respected New York Review of Books. But how much did initially speaking Czech shape the writer’s approach to language? I discussed that question and many more with Prikryl, who was speaking from her home in New York.

Please tell us something about your background.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Technologie hlavního města Prahy

The company Technology of the Capital City of Prague is working on a considerable increase in the number of charging stations for electric cars around Prague. Their target is to have over a thousand such stations operational by 2026.

Drivers in Prague might well think twice about switching to an electric car, given the limited possibilities for charging one up around the city.

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Photo: Tereza Pešoutová, Czech Radio

This year’s floods are the second-largest natural disaster in Czechia’s modern history, with only the August 2002 floods causing more damage. As communities grapple with the destruction, NGOs have ramped-up efforts to provide critical support. I interviewed Marek Štys, Head of Emergency Programs for People in Need, the country’s biggest charity, to find out what they are doing to help.

With the rivers beginning to recede, can you first update us on whether you and other organizations assisting those affected most by floods are able to help those in the most heavily stricken areas, such as Krnov and Jeseník?.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Elpida Foundation

This week sees the return of the annual Old’s Cool festival, put on by the non-profit organisation Elpida. Their mission is to change how people see old age, and to help the elderly continue to live life to the full.

Starting tomorrow at 4 pm, young and old alike can enjoy a programme of arts, crafts, music and quizzes, laid on by the charitable organisation Elpida.

See more here.

Photo: Ruth Fraňková, Radio Prague International

The biggest Czech festival of illustration and comics, LUSTR, kicks off on Friday at Prague’s Holešovice market. Over the next eight days, people will have a chance to visit exhibitions, presentations, and also meet some of the most interesting illustrators and comic creators in person.

LUSTR was established back in 2014 as a community-based event aimed mostly at illustrators and comic creators.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Ľubomír Smatana, Czech Radio

A new study, carried out by an international team of scientists, shows that the devastating floods that hit Czechia and other central European countries were made much worse by man-made climate change. The fossil fuel driven warming also increases the likelihood of such events happening in the future.

According to the study carried out by the World Weather Attribution Initiative in the immediate aftermath of the flooding, the four-day rainfall from Storm Boris was the heaviest ever recorded in Central Europe, surpassing previous records by a wide margin.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková, Jan Kaliba

Photo: Martin Hurin, ČTK

The Bílá hora 1620 and the Knights of the Czech Crown associations organize a reenactment of the Battle of White Mountain every year. Soldiers, artillerymen and horsemen regularly fight each other in Prague’s Vypich area to commemorate the fateful clash between Habsburg and Estates troops. A rich accompanying program, with a historical market, is put on for spectators.

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Photo: Twitter/ Office of the President of the Republic

At the 79th session of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Czech President Petr Pavel called for reform of the Security Council, which he said must be more effective and inclusive to better reflect the voices of underrepresented regions. At the same time, he applauded African efforts for peace and security even beyond their borders and called for global cooperation in areas such as Russia’s war on Ukraine, cybersecurity, AI, quantum technologies, and more.

“To start with, let me recall that the United Nations was created to protect humanity from war and destruction and to promote peace, justice, and a better quality of life for all humankind.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Miloš Turek, Radio Prague International

A region without a regional city, rich in cultural and natural monuments, surrounding Prague on all sides and. Check out its sights in our photo gallery.

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Photo: Barbora Kvapilová, Czech Radio

Father Adolf Kajpr spent 13 years of his life in concentration camps and prisons. He was persecuted by both the Nazis and the Communists for his journalism and opposition to the regimes. He dedicated his life to faith, the Church, and civil truth. He did not live to see the presidential amnesty in 1960 and died in Leopoldov prison.

Fr.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Štěpánka Budková, Radio Prague International

The annual Architecture Day festival gets underway on Friday in more than a hundred cities and towns across Czechia and Slovakia. The week-long event will offer free guided tours of both famous and lesser known buildings, which are usually inaccessible to the public, as well as lectures, film screenings and family workshops.

The 14th edition of Architecture Day, organised by the association KRUH, takes place under the subtitle “Trial of Transformation”, which refers, among other things, to the 100th anniversary of Franz Kafka’s death.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

On the Occasion of The Constitution Day of the Slovak Republic and The Day of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic, H.E Mrs. Ingrid Brockova hosted an official reception at the beautiful garden of the Embassy.

Constitution Day of the Slovak Republic ( September 1^st) is a National Day when the Slovak Republic commemorates the adoption of the Constitution as the fundamental law of the Slovak Republic by the Slovak National Council in 1992. The constitution of the Slovak Republic entered into force in full on 1^st January 1993,and jointfy with the constitutional act of the Federal Assembly of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic iv constituted the Slovak Republic as a sovereign, democratic state governed by the rule of law.

Day of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic ( September 22^nd) has been celebrated since 1998, based on the order of the President of the Republic and the commander in chief of the armed forces, in honor of the victory of the Slovak Volunteer Corps over the imperial army in Brezova Pod Bradlom in 1848. This uprising was led by the first Slovak National Council headed by Ludovit Stur, Jozef M. Hurban and Michal M. Hodz. Almost 4000 volunteers fought for the freedom of Slovaks and the right to use the Slovak Language.

The honored speakers were RNDr. Miloš Vystrčil – President of the Senate of the Czech Republic and Ing. Jaroslav Zajicek, director of the Department of Foreign Affairs at the president’s office bring the greetings from the president, Mr. Pavel Petr, that at the last moment, need to visit the part of CR that was devastated by the recent floods.

Watch the video with the speech of H.E Mrs. Ingrid Brockova, the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic, RNDr. Miloš Vystrčil – President of the Senate of the Czech Republic and Ing. Jaroslav Zajicek, director of the Department of Foreign Affairs at the president’s office

Happy Constitution Day and Day of the Armed Forces Slovakia!

On the occasion of the 214th Anniversary of the Independence of Mexico, H.E. Ambassador Mrs. Berenice Díaz Ceballos hosted an official reception at the beautiful Kaiserštejnský Palác.

Mr. Jiri Kozak – the first deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic, was the honored speaker.

Here are selected sections of the speech of H.E. Ambassador Mrs. Berenice Díaz Ceballos and Mr. Jiri Kozak at the event:

Viva Mexico, Viva Czech Republic

At the invitation of the President of the Republic Petr Pavel, the President of the Republic of Korea Jun Sok-yol and Mrs. Kim Keon-hee arrived to the Czech Republic on an official visit from September 19 to 21, 2024.

Watch the video from the official reception and pictures from the first meeting at Prague Castle.

Welcome Mr. President!

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Nadace Olgy Havlové has announced a collection to help with the relief efforts.

It is intended to support organizations helping flood victims repair the damage caused by the floods (e.g. purchase of necessary materials, transport, provision of humanitarian aid).

Prague Castle, as well as its protected area which also includes archaeological findings, are No. 1 recognized parts of the Czech cultural heritage.

The Bohemian Crown Jewels rank second to this national bequest. The Crown Jewels are permanently safely kept at Prague Castle and may be displayed exclusively in its area. But this occurs only on quite exceptional occasions.

Nowadays, the Jewels are usually displayed once every five years. The President of the Republic has the exclusive right to decide on the display of the Crown Jewels.

Date and place

17–30 September 2024, daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vladislav Hall – Old Royal Palace

Thursday, 19 September: The exhibition is reserved for pre-registered school groups all day and closed to the public.

Thursday, 26 September: The exhibition is reserved for pre-registered school groups from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will be open to the public from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Free admission

You can read more here: https://www.hrad.cz/en/culture-at-the-castle/program/bohemian-crown-jewels-12981

LMF – Brick House Ostrava

Ostrava hosted the Leading Minds Forum, an international conference of experts on the theme of Divided Energy Revolution. The prestigious event was held under the auspices of the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala, the Minister of the Environment, Petr Hladík, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Energy Regulatory Office and the Moravia-Silesia Region.

The discussion, which was attended by the Minister of the Environment Petr Hladík, Members of the European Parliament Alexander Vondra and Ondřej Krutílek, and Jan Dusík, Deputy Director-General for Climate Action at the European Commission, inevitably turned to the question of how “green” European energy will still be. Although no major changes to the targets are expected, it was clear that the protection of European industry is coming to the fore. This could be good news for the Czech Republic as a country with a highly energy-intensive industry.

The next session focused on investments and parameters for affordable and sustainable energy. They were discussed against the background of the update of the State Energy Concept, pending legislation and expected key developments. Interesting speeches were given by Tomáš Varcop, Chairman of the Board and CEO of innogy Czech Republic and CEO of innogy Energie, René Neděla, Chief Director of the Energy at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Martin Durčák, Chairman of the Board of ČEPS, and Zuzana Krejčiříková, Head of Public Affairs at ČEZ Group.

Community energy attracts attention

The third session was dedicated to community energy and legal regulations in the field of electricity storage, aggregation and flexibility. Claudia Viohl, CEO of the E.ON Czech Group, spoke about new opportunities but also obligations for energy suppliers and distribution system operators and followed up on the reflection on the first month of the Electricity Data Centre operation. This was presented by Petr Kusý, Chairman of the Board and CEO of EDC. The closing session was dedicated to international comparison and the upcoming revolution in flexibility, which was presented by Dries Ecke, Deputy CEO of SolarPower Europe.

Representatives of the state and public administration as well as representatives of more than 50 industrial and energy companies participated in an open discussion on current and future resource needs, planned measures and new business challenges.

The successful event was held under the auspices of Cylinders Holding and innogy Czech Republic. The main partners of this year’s edition were ČEPS Group, ČEZ, E.ON, EP Holding and the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, followed by partners Anacot Capital, Centropol, Gas Storage CZ, Pražská plynárenská, Siemens, Ško-Energo and UCED.

LMF – Brick House Ostrava

LMF – Brick House Ostrava

LMF – Brick House Ostrava

LMF – Brick House Ostrava

LMF – Elektra Ostrava

LMF – Brick House Ostrava

LMF – Brick House Ostrava

LMF – Brick House Ostrava

LMF – Brick House Ostrava

LMF – Brick House Ostrava

LMF – Brick House Ostrava

Photo: Archive of Veronika Novotná

The Czech UN Youth Delegates Programme connects the youth in Czechia with the United Nations. It provides a platform for the Czech youth to be represented within the organization, while also raising awareness about the UN through the activities of the youth delegates across the country they represent. I spoke with Veronika Novotná, who is one of the three Czech UN Youth Delegates for the 2024/2025 period, about her agenda, what topics she considers most pressing, and why the youth should be more involved in politics.

So let’s start with a more personal question.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík