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This year's Freedom Week in Prague, celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, will run from November 11 to 17 along Národní Street. The event, involving over 40 cultural and educational organizations, will showcase freedom, democracy, and human rights through performances, exhibitions, debates, and educational activities. Organized by the 'Díky, že můžem' (Thanks That We Can) Association, the week will feature more than 100 events focusing on modern history and the global state of freedom today.
A total of 177 individuals have had their pensions reduced due to their roles or functions under the former Communist regime. On average, these prominent figures from the pre-1989 era saw a decrease of CZK 1,473 in their pension payments. Meanwhile, the Czech Social Security Administration has granted increased pensions to 430 dissidents, who faced lower pensions due to imprisonment, emigration, or restrictions on their ability to work. On average, their pensions were increased by CZK 4,400, as announced by Labour Minister Marian Jurečka at a press conference.
The annual COP29 climate conference began today in the Azerbaijani capital Baku, with representatives of some 200 countries, including Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala. Delegates will discuss ways to limit climate change and how to prepare for it.
A key conference topic is securing $100 billion annually to help developing countries combat climate change and transition from fossil fuels. These nations seek trillions, preferring grants over loans. Wealthy countries, including the US, Japan, and the EU, had pledged this funding by 2020, first achieving the target in 2022. However, much of the support has come as high-interest loans, drawing criticism. Meanwhile, the EU and US are urging China and Gulf nations to join as donors.
The Ústí nad Labem office has dismissed a criminal complaint submitted by the Presidential Office, which sought an investigation into payments made for legal services by the Castle during Miloš Zeman's presidency. According to the police, no crime was found, as confirmed to iROZHLAS.cz by both the Castle office and Jaroslav Ibehej, spokesperson for the National Center Against Organized Crime (NCOZ). The elite investigators also reviewed payments related to a criminal complaint filed by Vratislav Mynář against Džamila Stehlíková.
The Czech Journalists’ Union has urged politicians to support the financial independence of public broadcasters Czech Television (ČT) and Czech Radio (ČRo), citing its importance for their continued operation. The call comes amid parliamentary debates over a new bill proposing an increase in public broadcasting fees starting January, raising the monthly ČT fee by CZK 15 and the ČRo fee by CZK 10. The union emphasized that financial independence is vital for media freedom, noting that radio fees haven’t been adjusted in 20 years, and TV fees in 17. The proposed legislation also broadens the scope of who must pay, extending fees to households with internet-capable devices, and simplifies fees for businesses by basing them on employee numbers.
Consumer prices in the Czech Republic rose by 2.8% year-on-year in October, up from September's 2.6%, according to the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ). The increase was driven mainly by higher housing costs and rising prices of items like butter and chocolate, while fuel prices dropped. Month-on-month, prices were up by 0.3%. “Consumer prices continued to accelerate year-on-year growth in October, though this was moderated by fuel prices, which have declined for three consecutive months,” said Pavla Šedivá, head of the ČSÚ’s consumer price statistics department. Analysts had anticipated this trend.
At first foggy. For the rest of the day, it will be mostly cloudy with isolated drizzles. Temperatures will range between 1 °C during the night and 5 °C during the day.
The company behind the popular annual Signal Festival is currently the only applicant for the lease of the Old Town Market (Staroměstská Tržnice), a grand indoor marketplace in the centre of Prague that currently stands empty.
November 11th is the feast day of St. Martin in the Christian calendar, a day that brings with it a variety of traditions in Czechia. Most notable among these is a particularly hearty meal, consisting of roast goose, cabbage and dumplings. Danny Bate paid a visit to one Prague pub especially renowned for its St. Martin’s goose, and spoke to some of the diners there.
On the occasion of the 404th anniversary of the Battle of Rakovník and the Battle of the White Mountain, the Bohemian troops set out again this year to meet their crushing defeat. The fifty-kilometer march significantly impacted the motivation and combat readiness of the soldiers in the fateful clash between Habsburgs and Estates troops.
Englishman Adam Stewart is the founder and artistic director of the Prague Youth Theatre, a thriving company bring together around 200 children and teenagers from dozens of different nations in the Czech capital. He is also a leading member of the Cimrman English Theatre; it performs plays “by” the much-loved Czech comedic character Jára Cimrman to English-speaking audiences and recently celebrated 10 years of existence. I spoke to Stewart at the PYT’s offices in the Vršovice district.
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