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Czech people collected the first two million crowns for a Premysl rocket launcher in the record-short time of four hours yesterday, which is the quickest start of a Czech public campaign of raising money to buy weapons for the Ukrainian military, the Gift for Putin project’s co-author Martin Ondracek has told CTK.
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War in Europe is not impossible and there will not be enough time to react unless Czechia prepares for it in the long-term also during peacetime, the Chief of the Czech Army’s General Staff Karel Řehka said at a meeting of commanders at the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday, adding that membership in NATO is the best possible deterrent that lowers the possibility of such threats occurring in the first place.
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President-elect and former high-ranking army and NATO official Petr Pavel has been definitively acknowledged the winner of the presidential election as the Supreme Administrative Court (NSS) decided on all election complaints, the court announced in a press release today.
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The regional governor of Moravia-Silesia, Ivo Vondrák, has left the ANO party’s club in the Chamber of Deputies, the head of the grouping, Alena Schillerová, announced at a press conference on Tuesday. The vote was unanimous.
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A special paper for Ukrainian refugees, issued by the National Institute of Mental Health (NUDZ), that is to help with their psychological support will be available online on the website www.nudz.cz as of Thursday, NUDZ spokesman Jan Cervenka told journalists today. The readers can also find the paper in assistance centres, branches of state institutions and other organisations working with refugees
The French Alps – Introduction
With several majestic mountains, verdant forests, and crystal-clear lakes, the French Alps are one of the best holiday locations in France for those who enjoy being in nature. Europe’s largest mountain chain has a surface area of 35,000 square kilometers, extending just about 1000 km.
Being a part of the larger Alps mountain range, the French Alps span seven nations—Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, and France — stretching 700 miles or 1,200 kilometers from Nice to Vienna.
The French Alps are popular among travelers for their breathtaking natural splendor and alpine lakes. The major alpine lakes in the region are Lac d’Annecy, Lake Geneva, and Lac du Bourget. These lakes are popular tourist destinations all year round due to their beauty and abundance of water sports opportunities.
Image Resource: unsplash.com
In the French Alps, some of the most popular resort towns are St. Gervais, Chamonix, Grenoble, Albertville, and Annecy. Mont Blanc, the Alps’ tallest mountain at 4808 meters, is also an attraction here.
There are several airlines offering flights to the French Alps. You can find Air France Airlines offering flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Paris on leading travel websites, which help you check the best deals for an AirFrance booking in First Class, La Premiere, Business Class, or Economy Class. These sites help you find low airfares and make one-touch bookings to Paris from the UAE.
Best Time to Visit the French Alps
The best time for a tour of Mont Blanc is between June and September. However, attractive and desirable places are mostly visited by tourists in July and August. September is ideal because the trails are vacant and the weather is still warm. The mountain huts are open from June to September, when the majority of Mont Blanc summit tours take place.
Temperatures during this period range from 5 to 15 degrees Celsius on higher passes, 15 to 25 degrees Celsius in the valleys, and -20 degrees Celsius at the peak. The Alps often have a white covering from December to March, but temperatures can drop below -10 degrees centigrade.
Popular Destinations Within the French Alps
Some of the best places to visit in the French Alps are the cities situated between beautiful lakes and magnificent mountains. The nature around is stunningly beautiful, as is the architecture of the cities.
- Scenic Annecy Town
The largest city in France’s Haute-Savoie is Annecy. It has been dubbed the “Pearl of the French Alps.” Beautiful Annecy is a lakeside city with stunning vistas and a quaint ancient town.
- Saint-Gervais-Mont- Blanc, a Thermal Park Village
Saint-Gervais-Mont-Blanc is a popular place to go on vacation since the early 1900s. It is in the French Alps, in the Haute-Savoie region. This picturesque mountain village is easily accessible in both winter and summer from Annecy and Chamonix.
- Grenoble City
The city of Grenoble is near the magnificent French Alps in southeast France. Despite having a rich and lengthy history, Grenoble is now known as the “city of sports.” The city is split into two distinct sections. The oldest part is found between the snow-capped mountains and the river.
Today, this city is teeming with activity and is unquestionably one to visit. Grenoble is a city of sport as well as culture and art, owing to its vibrant cultural life.
Outdoor Activities in the French Alps
1. Hiking and Trekking
When it comes to a lengthy Alpine journey, the Haute Route is one that any serious walker should have on their bucket list. It is a traditional long-distance hike that calls for a lot of effort and determination. Throughout this trek, you will encounter glaciers and cold temperatures.
Several of France’s most stunning Alpine pathways will be available for you to walk. These are the locations that provide the body and spirit with true delight. In the summer, you can go on a hike to explore the national parks because the scenery is so beautiful and lush.
2. Mountain Climbing
Some mountaineering locations in the French Alps are Mont Blanc, Chamonix, La Meije, and Ecrins. In these beautiful mountaineering areas, you can go on an amazing mountain climbing expedition led by trained guides to see the most amazing peaks.
3. Winter Sports (Skiing and Snowboarding)
Image Resource: unsplash.com
There are numerous world-class resorts located throughout the French Alps that are renowned throughout the world for skiing and snowboarding. As snowboarding has become more popular over the years, resorts and ski towns are making changes so that both skiers and snowboarders can enjoy their time there.
Cultural experiences in the French Alps
The French Alps have a plethora of historical and cultural treasures. The culture is intricately linked to farming practiced by the people in villages for centuries.
- Exploring the local villages
You can find some of the world’s loveliest villages in the French Alps. These historic towns are hidden from typical tourist attractions and hence, you can enjoy calmness, peace, and beauty there. Some of them to mention are:
- Route du Galibier
The location is ideal for those searching for the best panoramic views possible because it provides the most magnificent panoramas imaginable. The place looks very attractive during summer.
- Megève
Image Resource: unsplash.com
This authentic village is one of the oldest in the French Alps and it offers stunningly beautiful views. It has cobblestone streets, a major plaza with a historic French church, and the appearance of a typical mountain village.
- Thonon-les-Bains
It is believed to be the best spa destination, especially in the summer, and its main draw is a 17th-century chateau that offers magnificent panoramic views.
Tasting the traditional cuisine
The Savoie region of the French Alps is where some of the most well-known meals referred to as Alpine Cuisine originate! These Savoie specialties are a must-try while visiting the French Alps.
Tartiflette – Tartiflette is a delicious gratinated potato dish that is one of the most well-known meals from the Alps.
Image Resource: en.wikipedia.org
Croziflette – A classic French meal called Gratin de Crozets is cooked with a mixture of lardons, onions, chicken stock, crème fraîche, and shredded cheese like Gruyere.
Fondue Savoyarde – One of the most well-known dishes is fondue savoyarde, which is cooked using a mixture of melted cheeses—typically Beaufort, Gruyére, Comté, and Emmental.
Accommodation options in the French Alps
You need first-rate lodging that will give you comfort and rest if you want your trip to the French Alps to be ideal and complete. Here are some best hotels to try with:
- Hôtel Vauban Briançon Serre Chevalier
- Western Plus Excelsior Chamonix Hôtel
- Mercure Chamonix Centre
- Le Chamoniard Volant
- Allobroges Park Hôtel
Conclusion
It is time that you should pack your bags, do your Air France booking in advance for the best deals, book your accommodation and carry the best ski equipment to visit the French Alps, which is waiting for you.
Vltava Day is a young tradition in Prague. This year at its ninth anniversary, the celebration is an occasion for tourists and locals alike to explore the Old Town from the river, as boat rides will be free.
Sunday, March 19, local residents and tourists alike will have the chance to enjoy a free boat ride on the Vltava River in Prague.
Boats leave from Dock Na Františku, Prague’s redeveloped waterfront along the Dvořák Embankment (Dvořákovo nábřeží). The official schedule of the rides features six different boat tours from six locations:
- Slapy – Dock Na Františku – platform no. 11, departure: 9, 10, 11 a.m. (duration of the cruise: 45 minutes)
- Classic River – Dock Na Františku – platform no. 17, departure: 10, 11 a.m.; 1, 2 p.m. (duration of the cruise: 45 minutes)
- Czech Boat – Dock Na Františku – platform no. 16, departure: 9.30, 10.30, 11.30 a.m., 12.30, 1.30 p.m. (duration of the cruise: 45 minutes)
- Saloon Speedship Nepomuk – Dock Four Seasons – Platnéřská 191/2, departure: 10, 11, a.m.12.00, 1, 2 p.m. (duration of the cruise: 45 minutes)
- Fidelio – Dock Výtoň – Platnéřská 191/4, departure: 10 a.m. (duration of the cruise: 120 minutes)
– Dock Four Seasons – Platnéřská 191/4, departure: 12.30, 1.30 p.m. (duration of the cruise: 45 minutes)
– Dock Four Seasons departure: 2.30 p.m. (duration of the cruise: 120 minutes), reservation: 727 957 602 - Maria – Dock Na Františku, Platform no. 16, departure: 10 a.m., 2 p.m. (duration of the cruise: 45 minutes)
Besides free boat tours on the river, Vltava Day will also be marked with an artistic and cultural program featuring a free live sailing songs concert by Matilda Band at the Dock Hergetova cihelna.
During cruises, at Saloon Speedship Nepomuk you can attend a boat knots workshops with the captain of the vessel. There will also be demonstrations of diving equipment at Dock Hergetova cihelna, and even swimming in the river at U Karlova mostu at midday.
Last, but not least, the Charles Bridge Museum can be visited free of charge too from 10:00 to 15:00.
From 23 to 25 February, the NGO People in Need will hold a series of events in Prague to commemorate one year of war and humanitarian aid in Ukraine and the Czech Republic.
These events will include light installations on the Ministry of the Interior building on Letná, special screenings at the Světozor cinema, and an exhibition that maps the war month by month.
“We wanted to bring the everyday life of people in the midst of the Russian invasion of Ukraine to life. We will give viewers a space to stop, reflect, and let the motifs and symbols associated with life in war resonate within them,” says People in Need’s media coordinator, Petr Štefan.
On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, visitors to Letná plain will be able to watch two screenings.
The first one, on the facade of the Ministry of the Interior, will offer a story based on the feelings and emotions of people in Ukraine living in the midst of the war and will capture the atmosphere of life in an occupied country.
The second projection, which will take place among the trees, will present a time loop that will show the misery, destruction, and devastation that the people of Ukraine have been facing for a year.
“We chose Letna for the projection because it is a symbolic place for key moments in Czech history, and people are used to coming here for important moments in modern history,” Štefan adds.
🇺🇦 Blíží se smutné roční výročí války v #Ukraine. Při této příležitosti vás zveme ke sledování živého vysílání debaty:
👉 Josef Pazderka
👉 Šimon Pánek
👉 role moderátorky se místo Jany Peroutkové zhostí Karolína Koubová.
Více info ve FB události 👉 https://t.co/ZLp2hzgEvj pic.twitter.com/sCM7KFVvTM— Člověk v tísni (@CLOVEKVTISNI) February 20, 2023
Other programs will take place at the Světozor cinema, where two documentaries will be screened on Thursday – A House Made of Splinters, which was nominated for an Oscar, and the new film Jaro v Buči. Additionally, the cinema will also host several debates.
People in Need also invites you to an exhibition by photographer Albert Loress, entitled When War Comes to Your Home.
On Thursday afternoon at the Langhans Centre on Vodičkova street, visitors will be able to take a virtual reality look directly into the scene of the fighting in Ukraine.
Czech President-elect Petr Pavel has irritated the Ukrainian government by calling for realism in the country’s ongoing conflict with Russia and warning against pushing for a result that could see the collapse of Russia and lead to greater problems for the region.
Pavel offered his thoughts on the war during the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. He said an attempt to liberate some parts of Ukraine from occupied Russian forces would inevitably lead to “unbearable loss of life” and Ukraine and its allies should “prepare for the worst.”
“We need to be careful about pushing Ukraine to a certain result. Maybe at some point, Ukraine will change its vision,” the former NATO general added.
Pavel, who will succeed outgoing Czech President Miloš Zeman on March 9, argued that a resounding Ukrainian victory that resulted in the collapse of the Russian Federation could be catastrophic for the region, and the West should avoid advocating for such a result.
“It is possible that this will lead to the collapse of Russia,” Pavel said, referring to a Ukrainian victory that sees the country liberate and retain the entirety of its territory. “If Russia collapses, then we may have more problems, we have no one to negotiate disarmament with,” he stressed.
He said such a situation would be undesirable for stability in Europe, and a collapsed Russia would become a huge security risk.
His comments were met with criticism by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who responded by claiming, “We must trust Ukraine, not prepare for the worst.” Kuleba reiterated that any concessions are considered unacceptable by the Ukrainian government and equated the response suggested by Pavel as akin to surrender.
Kuleba found support among Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who argued that “to be realistic is to be short-sighted.”
Pavel took to social media following the event to clarify his position.
“My remarks on the Ukraine panel at the Munich Security Conference in no way questioned aid by all means until Russia is defeated. But as an ex-soldier, I don’t want to be guided by hope or faith. I prefer a realistic view and fact-based analyses,” he tweeted.
At the conference, Pavel insisted support for Ukraine by Western allies was not in danger and said his country would continue to support Ukraine during his presidency. He did, however, warn that NATO’s minimum requirement for members to spend at least 2 percent of its GDP on defense may not be sufficient in the future.
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Some 94,400 refugees from Ukraine had jobs in Czechia at the end of January, the Czech News Agency reported on Sunday, citing an official from the national labour authority.
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President-elect Petr Pavel has asked the Ukrainian administration to propose a date for his planned trip to Kyiv. He made the announcement at a press conference in Prague on Monday, adding that he expected the visit to take place in the near future.
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Czechia has so far donated about CZK 4.8 billion in unused military materiel from the stocks of the Czech Army to Ukraine, a spokesperson for the Czech Ministry of Defence told the Czech News Agency on Sunday.
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Czech sound engineer Viktor Prasil received the British film award BAFTA for the best sound for his work on the German film All Quiet on the Western Front, the BAFTA has tweeted.
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A 41-year-old record held by Czech runner Jarmila Kratochvílová has been broken. On Sunday the Dutch athlete Femke Bol set a new indoor world record in the women’s 400 metres at the Dutch national championships in Apeldoorn in a time of 49.26 seconds, taking 0.33 of a second off the Czech’s long-standing record.
Replicas of the most famous works by Renaissance masters, including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Raffaello, and Sandro Botticelli, will occupy the space of Mánes in Prague for three months.
This exhibition has already been visited by over half a million people in Austria and Germany.
The most challenging work for the organizers was transporting the nine-meter-high sculpture of David, which was the first work to be installed in the gallery.
Covering the glass ceiling of the gallery was as well a technical challenge because the parameters of the exhibition require dim light.
The exhibition will also feature replicas of other famous works, including da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, seen by over ten million visitors each year at the Louvre in Paris, the Sistine Madonna by Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, the ceiling frescoes of the Sistine Chapel, and Botticelli’s Birth of Venus.
“The painting The Birth of Venus is considered a milestone in the history of art. Visitors to the exhibition will be impressed by its original size of 278 x 175 cm. The monumental painting was created at the end of the fifteenth century and has been exhibited in the famous Uffizi Gallery in Florence since the beginning of the twentieth century. The work has been admired and analyzed for centuries. Today, Venus is considered one of the major works of the Renaissance, along with the Mona Lisa and the Sistine Chapel,” the organizers said.
The exhibition brings together works from twelve of the world’s leading galleries and museums in European capitals such as Madrid, London, Paris, Florence, Venice, and Vienna.
It will be open from March 1 to May 30.
Delta Airlines will resume direct flights between Prague and New York (JFK) on May 8, 2023.
The carrier will once again fly between the two cities on a daily basis until October 28. The destination will be served by Boeing 767-300 aircraft.
The tickets are already on sale. The cost of a one-way flight at basic fare is CZK 13,000. Travel time is 9 hours and 20 minutes.
“We are pleased to return to the Czech market with direct flights, able to offer passengers a comfortable and fast connection from Prague to New York and to further-away destinations on the American continent,” Guido Hackel, Air France, KLM and Delta Air Lines Country Manager for Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, noted.
Delta operates more flights to Europe out of JFK than any other US carrier, with its flight to Prague operating in conjunction with its joint venture partners Air France, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic.
Delta Air Lines is one of the major airlines of the United States and a legacy carrier. One of the world’s oldest airlines in operation, Delta is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
The airline, along with its subsidiaries and regional affiliates, including Delta Connection, operates over 5,400 flights daily and serves 325 destinations in 52 countries on six continents. As of the end of 2022, it had 90,000 employees.
Delta is ranked second among the world’s largest airlines by number of passengers carried, passenger-miles flown, and fleet size. It is ranked 69th on the Fortune 500.
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Some 94,400 refugees from Ukraine had jobs in Czechia at the end of January, the Czech News Agency reported on Sunday, citing an official from the national labour authority.
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Czechia plans to terminate long-term contracts with Russia on the free rental of land on which buildings owned by the Moscow government stand, Czech Television reported. A draft proposal to that end should be discussed by Czech ministers next week.
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Imports of gas from Russia to Czechia fell to zero last month, the Czech minister of industry and trade, Jozef Síkela, said on Twitter. The state replaced Russian imports with liquefied natural gas from the Netherlands and Belgium.
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Former football international Ladislav Vízek has questioned the wisdom of current national team player Jakub Jankto coming out publicly this week. The 27-year-old is the highest profile current player to have revealed their homosexuality.
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Czech Post will raise tariff wages by an average of 5% beginning April 1. At the same time, postal employees will receive more valuable 100-crown meal vouchers without contributing more. The company will spend CZK 397.3 million on the wage increase and higher meal vouchers by December, company spokesman Matyáš Vitík said on Wednesday.
The Czech tourist board is changing its branding and website from Visit Czech Republic to Visit Czechia, as part of a wider rebranding across the central European country.
The new branding and #VisitCzechia will be seen online, in publications and at travel trade events.
A statement from the tourist board said Czechia and the Czech Republic are synonymous and are both official names.
“The decision on whether to use the shorter or longer version depends on the area and whether there is an obligation attached to the state designation,” it said.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the longer name, Czech Republic, must be used only in official government documents, in the names of embassies, and other legal documents.
“The Czechia brand will be used in all other cases. It is more practical and less formal,” added the statement.
Czechia will also be seen when people represent the state in culture, science, sports and other spheres. For example, the Czech Olympic Committee has already switched to Czechia.
The “European Starlink” called IRIS² will be based in Prague, writes Hospodářské noviny. It plans to send 170 satellites, starting next year.
The Czech Republic will thus expand its activities in this area, as the EUSPA space agency already operates in the capital.
The multi-orbital constellation, IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnection and Security by Satellite), is projected to be operational in 2024 and will be focused on providing secure satellite communications to EU governmental users.
“IRIS² establishes space as a vector of our European autonomy, a vector of connectivity and resilience. It heightens Europe’s role as a true space power”, Internal Market Commissioner and the real driver of the initiative, Thierry Breton, said.
Allowing the private sector to facilitate the rollout of high-speed broadband to “dead zones” that currently lack connectivity is also listed as a critical goal of the project.
“IRIS² will provide connectivity to the whole of Europe”, said Breton, “including areas that do not currently benefit from broadband Internet, as well as to the whole of Africa, using the constellation’s North-South orbits.”
The system is also set to contribute to the EU’s broader goal of heightened strategic autonomy, outlined as a key motivation at the project’s announcement earlier this year.
Renew Europe MEP Christophe Grudler (Mouvement Démocrate, France), Rapporteur on the EU secure connectivity program, declared:
« With the war, Ukraine needed satellite telecommunications, but the EU didn’t have something to offer. Ukraine should not have to rely on the whims of Elon Musk to defend their people. With IRIS², the EU will have its own telecommunication constellation, able to offer secure communications to European governments and allies.
I’m proud that this constellation will also set a worldwide example in terms of sustainability, as we requested. Now it is time to build these new European satellites, and prepare them for launch!».
Starbucks has opened its first Reserve Store in Central Europe in Prague, offering unique coffee and preparation methods.
The coffee shop chain has reopened a branch on Jungmannovo náměstí, bringing the Reserve store concept, a completely new format of Starbucks coffee shops.
Starbucks Reserve is a series of premium Starbucks cafes that serve rare blends of coffee worldwide.
The coffees served at Reserve are carefully selected after a lengthy tasting process by company members and coffee professionals.
“We are opening the first Central European Reserve store in the Czech Republic because Czech customers are extremely receptive to novelty,” says Grzegorz Kazmierczak, Starbucks Regional Director for the Czech Republic and Slovakia. “We believe that the coffee and the exceptional environment will attract even the most demanding coffee enthusiasts to Starbucks.”
The core of Prague Reserve store is a first-class hi-tech Black Eagle coffee machine, which allows baristas to individually adjust and control the individual preparation stages, such as the amount and ratio of beans, the preparation time, or the water temperature.
Customers can also fine a special offer of desserts that are suitable for the local coffee specialties. Likewise, the café will offer a selection of packaged coffee beans and original merchandising.
The 100+ seat establishment offers a designer interior, but above all rare coffees from small growing regions and carefully prepared blends exclusively for Reserve cafés, such as Microblend No.10 or Microblend No.21.