The Czech Republic is a country that is unfortunately still rife with gender inequalities. The new first lady, Eva Pavlova seeks to correct this issue, claiming that she wants to help single mothers and discrimination against women in society.
Indeed, statistics make it clear that this is an ongoing issue, within the Czech Republic, only 28.4% of women hold managerial positions compared to the 34.7% EU average.
Similarly, women in the Czech Republic earn 16.4% less than their male counterparts compared to the 13% EU average and a far cry from the 0.7% gender pay gap in Luxembourg. Furthermore, this is even though women in the Czech Republic are generally better educated than men, with almost 30% of women possessing tertiary education compared to 23.6% of men.
It’s also clear that outside of the system societal discrimination against women in the workforce, there is also an issue regarding single-parent families.
According to SocialWatch, 87% single-parent households are made up of single mothers.
Therefore, single-parenthood is predominantly an issue that affects women, although single fathers also face similar issues. These issues most notably that single parents are 2.8 times more likely to be threatened by poverty even if employed.
Moreover, they are at significantly higher risk of unemployment than complete families and benefit from limited social assistance by EU standards.
Ms. Pavlova comes from Šumperk where she graduated from high school in 1983, and eventually entered the Military Pedagogical College in Bratislava.
In 1985, she met her future husband Petr Pavel at the military base in Prostějov. Like Petr Pavel, Eva Pavlova was a member of the communist party of Czechoslovakia prior to 1989.
They got married in 2004 while Pavel was the Chief of the General Staff, and Pavlova oversaw communication with foreign military and air force attaches in the Czech Republic.
“Not much has changed since I was in that situation. This surprised and troubled me in relation to those women, that it is not at all easy even today. I went through a divorce. The divorce rate is increasing, single mothers are worse off today than we once were. I would
love to work in this area, to show these women places where they can get help and where that help works,” she said.
The Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday it was in touch with Prague over President-elect Petr Pavel’s call with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-Wen.
Pavel spoke with Tsai on Monday, a highly unusual move given the lack of formal ties and a diplomatic coup for Taipei that is likely to anger China.
The two leaders stressed their countries’ shared values of freedom, democracy and human rights during their 15-minute call, their offices said, and Pavel said he hoped to meet Tsai in the future.
China claims the self-ruled island of Taiwan as a province and most countries’ leaders avoid high-level public interactions with Taiwan and its president, not wishing to provoke China, the world’s second-largest economy.
In Beijing’s first response to what could become a full-blown diplomatic row with Prague, the Chinese foreign ministry said Pavel had previously said during his election campaign that the One-China Principle should be respected.
“The Chinese side…is currently seeking verification with the Czech side, (we) hope the Czech side strictly upholds the One-China Principle,” the foreign ministry said.
Beijing views Taiwan as being part of “one China” and demands other countries recognise its sovereignty claims, which Taiwan’s democratically-elected government rejects.
The Czech Republic, like most countries, has no official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but the two sides have moved closer as Beijing ratchets up military threats against the island and Taipei seeks new friends in Eastern and Central Europe.
Farmers’ markets are very popular in Prague with the locals. The season is finally starting and you can support Czech farmers and producers.
On Saturday, February 4, the Naplavka Farmers’ Markets are back at their original location.
You will find small producers, farms and organic farms, local and seasonal vegetables, fruits, herbs, baked goods, meat, cold cuts, dairy products, and homemade eggs.
Czech bread and baked goods from local family bakeries are not to be missed, and the vegetables found at farmers’ markets are of a significantly higher quality than those typically found at grocery stores.
You can meet the farmers and other producers selling their products and ask them personally about their products, and you will see their enthusiasm and feel good knowing you are supporting the farmers and their families as well as doing the local economy and environment a good turn.
Your carbon footprint is significantly lower when purchasing from farmers’ markets, and the local economy is significantly benefitted by local buyers.
Markets are held from 8 am to 2 pm.
The traditional markets are enriched by a wide offer of gastronomy and pleasant live music.
Bring your own reusable bag to add to the good karma of the day; go green, and buy local at your favorite farmers’ markets in Prague!
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Eva Pavlová, the country’s future First Lady, has said that she intends to devote herself to charity. She wants to focus particularly on gender equality and discrimination against women in society. As a former single mother, she said she would like to draw attention to the problems faced by single parents.
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Historian, dissident and writer Jaroslav Šedivý who served as Czechia’s second foreign minister has died at the age of 93. Mr. Šedivý was one of the intellectuals who was relegated to manual labour by the communist regime after signing Charter 77 and was only able to return to his work after the Velvet Revolution in 1989.
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The newly elected Czech president Petr Pavel called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday to assure him of his country’s continued support for Ukraine. Mr. Pavel said President Zelensky had thanked Czechia for its support and invited him to visit Kyiv.
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Last year, natural gas consumption in the Czech Republic fell by 19 percent. Overall, customers used over 81.5 terawatt hours of gas. The decline in year-on-year consumption was evident in every calendar month of 2022, according to the latest statistics from the Energy and Regulatory Office (ERO).
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The newly-elected president, Petr Pavel on Monday met with Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky. They discussed the current security situation, foreign policy issues and future cooperation. Foreign Minister Lipavsky told the ctk news agency it had been a pleasant and constructive debate.
Czech Carnival is incomplete without the traditional sweet treat “Angel Wings” (Boží milosti). This delicate, crisp, and light pastry has been a staple at carnivals for centuries and is a symbol of good luck and joy.
These pastries used to be prepared by Czech grandmothers and great-grandmothers and are today mostly made in Moravia.
Angel Wings are made of paper-thin layers of buttery dough, which are then shaped into crescent shapes and deep-fried to perfection. The crispy exterior gives way to a soft and fluffy interior that melts in your mouth.
They are often sprinkled with powdered sugar or drizzled with honey to add a touch of sweetness.
The origins of Angel Wings are said to date back to the 16th century when the pastry was first made in the monasteries of Bohemia and Moravia. At the time, the nuns used the crescent shape to symbolize the “wings of angels” and served the sweets to the poor as a symbol of charity.
Making Angel Wings is a labor-intensive process that requires skill and patience. The dough is made by mixing butter, flour, sugar, and eggs, and then rolling it out into thin sheets.
The sheets are then cut into crescent shapes, deep-fried until golden brown, and finally, sprinkled with powdered sugar or drizzled with honey.
In recent years, Angel Wings have become popular outside of the Czech Republic, with many bakeries and confectionaries around the world now offering their own versions of the treat.
However, nothing beats the traditional recipe made by Czech bakers, who have been perfecting the art of making Angel Wings for centuries.
Ingredients: 300 g all-purpose flour, a pinch of salt, 50 g butter, 20 g lard, 40 g caster sugar, 3 egg yolks, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, zest of 1 lemon, 7 tablespoons of sour cream, 1 tablespoon of rum, ghee for frying.
Recipe: Make crumble from the flour and cold butter with lard. Mix the cream with the sugar, salt, lemon juice, lemon zest, rum and egg yolks, mix and add to the crumble. Work out a smooth dough, wrap it in cling wrap and let it rest in the fridge for at least an hour. Roll out the resting dough into a thin layer, about 3 mm.
Cut out traditional rectangular shapes with a cross in the middle. Heat the fat in a tall saucepan and gradually fry the angel wings on both sides until golden. Let them rest on a paper towel to drain away the fat for about a minute and then coat them with vanilla sugar.
This weekend, the 4th and 5th of February, four branches of the National Gallery in Prague will be completely free of charge.
Staří Mistři I (Schwarzenberský palác)
Staří Mistři II (Šternberský palác)
The first-floor exhibition halls further house the famous works of 14th – 16th-century art that come from the Konopište Castle collection of Archduke Franz Ferdinand d’Este. It contains the works of older Tuscan masters (B. Daddi, Lorenzo Monaco), the works of the Venetian school (Vivarini workshop), and the masterpieces of Florentine Mannerism (A. Bronzino, A. Allori).
The second floor of the palace hosts an exhibition of the works of Italian, Spanish, French, and Netherlandish masters from the 16th to the 18th century, such as Tintoretto, Ribera, Tiepolo, El Greco, Goya, Rubens, and van Dyck.
Středověké umění v Čechách a střední Evropa 1200-1550 (Convent of St. Agnes)
Not many people know about this hidden gem. Housed within one of the city’s oldest gothic buildings, this gallery offers a well-thought-out tour of medieval and early renaissance Czech art.
There is also an exhibition on the architectural history of the building itself and in the convent’s gardens you will find a sculpture tour, containing contemporary pieces by leading Czech artists.
Veletržní palác
This huge building currently contains 5 temporary and 2 permanent exhibitions and is a must-visit for connoisseurs of modern art. You can take a stroll through the development of Czech art from the mid-19th century to modern day.
You can also explore the international art scene of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. This collection contains work by Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cezanne and Pablo Picasso amongst others. Some of the temporary exhibits are a bit more eccentric but there really is something for everybody in this massive 4 story building.
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Eva Pavlová, the country’s future First Lady, has said that she intends to devote herself to charity. She wants to focus particularly on gender equality and discrimination against women in society. As a former single mother, she said she would like to draw attention to the problems faced by single parents.
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Until the end of March, trams will not run in Prague between Újezd and Malostranská Street, where the transport company will change the tracks. The passage through Mala Strana will also be restricted.
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The average old-age pension in the Czech Republic reached CZK 19,438 in January after indexation and a pension bonus of CZK 500 per dependent child, CZK 1,377 more than in December, according to data and estimates from the Czech Social Security Administration (CSSZ) provided to CTK.
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The newly-elected president, Petr Pavel, has said he wants to reduce the support network and staff that the head of state enjoys at the expense of taxpayers. Citing an example, Pavel said he saw no reason for a large motorcade to accompany him on trips.
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The Creditas investment group of financier Pavel Hubáček has bought a 100% stake in the British part of the energy group InterGen. The group was previously owned by Sev.en Global Investments of billionaire Pavel Tykač together with Chinese partners.
The newly-elected Czech president, Petr Pavel said he would be a president for all citizens and would work hard to deliver on his promises.
The future president, who will be sworn in on March 9, will be meeting with political leaders in the coming days as he prepares to take office.
Pavel’s experience in military diplomacy would be a clear asset as he held a very different presidency than his predecessor.
“We know that his contacts at NATO, as well as with peers from NATO member states… are very strong, and foreign policy will be his domain,” said Pavel Havlicek, a scientist at the Association for International Affairs in Prague.
“I think he will be a proficient president if we realise the war in Ukraine is one of the key problems Europe is facing,” added Havlicek.
He also called for more aid to Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in February last year.
“He is very much in favour of Ukraine, he has repeatedly voiced his support, and he’s very critical towards Russia,” said Jiri Pehe, a political analyst at New York University Prague.
“His stance will entail strong support to Ukraine without any conditions,” Pehe said.
Pavel had already discussed a possible joint trip to Kyiv with Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová.
What are his political views?
Pavel ran as an independent and was the strongest of the three candidates backed by the liberal-conservative coalition SPOLU of now-former President Miloš Zeman.
He has argued for better redistribution of wealth and greater taxation of the rich while supporting progressive policies on issues such as same-sex marriage and euthanasia.
“The main issue at stake is whether chaos and populism will continue to rein or we return to observing rules… and we will be a reliable country for our allies,” he said after narrowly winning the first election round.
Often sporting jeans and a leather jacket, Pavel is a polyglot, speaking Czech, English, French and Russian, and loves motorcycling.
Defending champions Barbora Krejčíková and Katerina Siniaková continued their exceptional Grand Slam winning streak in women’s doubles by capturing the 2023 Australian Open title in Rod Laver Arena on Sunday.
No.1 seeds Krejčíková and Siniaková of the Czech Republic won their second straight title in Melbourne, and their seventh major title as a duo overall, by holding off No.10 seeds Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara of Japan 6-4, 6-3.
“I’m really excited to have this trophy again,” Siniaková said in the champions’ press conference. “To look back, what we achieved last few months, it’s amazing. I’m really proud and we’re playing great. The team spirit is working, because it’s tough.”
Krejčíková and Siniaková are up to 24 consecutive match-wins in women’s doubles at Grand Slam events. They have not lost a Grand Slam women’s doubles match since 2021, having won all three of the majors they contested last year (the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open).
The Czechs are also the first team to defend the Australian Open women’s doubles title since Italy’s Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci went back-to-back in 2013 and 2014.
Krejčíková and Siniaková have won 21 of their last 23 matches at Melbourne Park. Before their title run last year, they made the semifinals in 2020 and were runners-up in 2021.
Signing off in style ✍️💙
Ahoj 👋🇨🇿 @BKrejcikova @K_Siniakova#AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/UDZULu5Q5a
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2023
“I have to say it’s a lot of hard work behind it,” Krejcikova said. “So many practices. I remember many matches that we got really close. Couple times we were to the semifinals at other slams, and we weren’t just able to get through.
Match breakdown
Even after a career-best week at a major, the Japanese duo were the latest team to fall to the currently unstoppable force that is Krejcikova and Siniakova. In 89 minutes, under a closed roof, the Czech pair fired 26 winners to their opponents’ 12 and converted four of their six break points.
The Czechs kicked off the match by grabbing the only service break of the first set in the opening game. Krejcikova faced two break points on her serve in the following game, but thanks to her forehand and Siniakova’s volleys, the No.1 seeds held for 2-0, and they were not threatened on serve for the rest of the set.
After falling behind another early break in the second set, Aoyama and Shibahara found solid returns to break Siniakova and pull back level at 2-2. However, a Krejcikova forehand winner gave the Czechs a love break and a 4-3 lead, and they swept to another major championship from there.
Retired army general, Petr Pavel, has been elected the next president of the Czech Republic.
Mr. Pavel won the runoff against former prime minister Andrej Babiš, by the biggest margin ever in the history of Czech presidential elections.
With over to 90 percent of the votes counted Petr Pavel got over 57 percent of the vote, his contestant received 42.9 percent.
The retired NATO general said on Friday, as he cast his vote, that he wanted to be “a dignified president” for the country.
Pavel and Andrej Babiš, a former prime minister, advanced to a second round of voting because none of the eight initial candidates received an absolute majority in the first round two weeks ago.
The polls had favored Pavel, an independent candidate who came a narrow first in the opening round. Three other candidates pledged their support for Pavel ahead of the voting that started Friday.
Pavel, 61, a former chairman of NATO’s military committee, is a political newcomer. He has fully endorsed the country’s military and humanitarian support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
In the first round of the presidential elections, Pavel and Babiš received 35.4 and 34.99 percent of the vote respectively.
Miloš Zeman’s second term in office ends on March 8.
Zeman was the first president elected by popular vote. His second and final five-year term expires in March. Lawmakers elected the previous two presidents, Vaclav Havel and Vaclav Klaus.
Starting from June 12, 2023, Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air will start operating two flights a week between Armenia’s capital Yerevan and Prague.
The flight will operate on Mondays and Fridays. The flight will take about four hours.
Tickets are already on sale. Round-trip fares start at CZK 4,300.
Armenia International Airports runs Armenia’s Zvartnots airport in Yerevan and Shirak in Gyumri.
Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air founded in 2003 is headquartered in Veces. Wizz Air operates mainly in Central Europe with bases in the airports in Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Georgia, the Republic of Macedonia and Moldova.
Its fleet consists of over 110 aircraft.
About Yerevan
Yerevan is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, dating back to the 8th century and thought to have been founded shortly before Rome.
The city really came to prominence however during the Caucasian country’s years as part of the Soviet Union, and many of the buildings and structures from this period have been rendered in the volcanic tuff stone that sees them glow an appealing pink colour at sunset.
Among the most prominent of Yerevan’s monuments is the 22m-high Mother Armenia, looking down on the city from Victory Park.
The capital is the most cosmopolitan part of Armenia, a great city for families to explore, and of course a perfect base from which to take day trips to other key locations including Lake Sevan.
On clear days you can see all the way across the Ararat Plain to the silhouette of Mt. Ararat (Armenia’s most sacred mountain and reputed to be the resting place of Noah’s Ark, but actually just over the border in Turkey).
To discover Armenia’s spirituality, visit some of its many monasteries. For an insight into its history and culture, nowhere beats the capital.
A significant increase in irregular migrants has been reported in the Czech Republic during the past year. Most of the migrants who tried to enter the country illegally in 2022 were Syrian citizens.
According to InfoMigrants, last year, the number of irregular migrants entering the Czech Republic almost tripled to 29,235, while in 2021, the country had reported 11,170 irregular migrants.
In addition, Interior Ministry figures reveal that in 2022, almost 21,000 of the arrivals were Syrians seeking to travel to Western Europe. Meanwhile, only 694 migrants, including 50 Syrians, applied for asylum in the Czech Republic itself.
Last year, police also arrested 277 suspected human traffickers, which is more than four times the number od those arrested in 2021.
At the end of last August, Czech authorities reported that a total of 3,651 people had crossed the border through Slovakia.
Further data from the Ministry also show that the number of illegal border crossings was 1,300 more people than in 2021 and much higher than in 2020, when about 100 people entered this country illegally.
Later in September, the Czech government decided to reintroduce internal border controls with Slovakia in an effort to prevent illegal migrants from using its territory to transit into Germany.
According to the government, border controls were introduced from midnight on September 28 until September 29.
At the time, commenting on this decision, the Minister of Interior of the Czech Republic said that as regards the number of illegal migrants, it has increased by 1,200 per cent in 2022, where most of the migrants were Syrian. He also added that the number of migrants detected by the Czech police was 11,000.
A month later, the country decided again to extend the current border controls on the border with Slovakia.
In addition, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland have been among the main destinations for Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war.
The Czech governmenthas recently announced that Ukrainian refugees can continue to live in its territory under the status of temporary protection until March 31 of the next year.