The city and the City Hall of Prague 11 have accredited the Madonna’s concert in the amphitheatre. There is a petition being signed at the moment. The inhabitants of the soviet-style block apartments at Chodov were supposed to listen to Madonna’s concert, whether they like it or not. Prague City Hall and also representatives of Prague 11 have agreed on allowing Madonna’s concert yesterday. The amphitheatre is about to grow solely for the planned concert.

Construction of the amphitheatre starts on 8th August, the concert itself five days later, which means 15th August 2009. The technique transport carry out tens of trucks. The locals are scared that they won’t be able to sleep because of the concerts, try to defend by the petition. Also, they assume there will be traffic collapse, when those 55-75 thousands visitors try to come there at the same time, and that the organizer’s won’t clean the mess afterwards.

Mucha’s exhibition which has never been seen before, that is what is now available to be seen in Vienna. For example the poster of Women with Marguerite from 1898 to 1899 brought from Paris is one of the art pieces which are, starting today, a part of the huge exhibition of the popular art-nouveau artist Alfons Mucha is to be exhibited in Vienna.

The curator Jean Louis Gailemin advertises: We have gathered over two hundred pieces from pastels to illustrations, jewels and leaflets up to huge linens.” Ten of the Lower Vienna Belveder are going to be filled up with the unique art-pieces of Mucha until 1st June, when the exhibition moves to Munich.

One of the castle halls is going to host two pieces of the famous Alfons Mucha’s paintings, Slavic Epopee (Slovanská Epopej); more than six metres tall and eight metres wide art-pieces reach the ceiling. “We have never had such a large painting here” said the galley speaker.

The foreign minister Sergej Lavrov expressed Moscow still perceives the Czech Republic as a sphere of Russian interest. Why? It happened, again, because of the radar. Karel Schwarzenberg wanted to explain a news reporter, who asked a question where he formulated ‘eastern Europe’. Schwarzenberg replied: “At first, we should make clear the Czech Republic doesn’t lie in the Eastern, but in the Middle Europe.” His comment was nevertheless more for the Russians. “and I want to add” he continued “that the radar is not, in any case, aimed to be targeted against the Russians”

Than, Lavrov took the floor “Unfortunately, I have to remind you, that according to regional groups OSA the Czech Republic and Poland lies in the Eastern, not in the Middle Europe.” He said, clearly devising to what Russians claim the whole time; Czech Republic and Poland have to realise, they are still in Russian sphere of influence. Even when Schwarzenberg laughed at it later, some after-taste remains.

There is no need to make your parent to make you a snack. There is a slot machine snack bar in the school. Surprisingly, the sentence is not instructing how to ruin children’s health, but a new strategy of dietitians experts. Yoghurts, buns with ham or cereal bars, accredited by nutritious therapist were put there, after the fashion of advanced countries. Children like this way of shopping, it is entertaining for them.

Children, who have a snack regularly concentrate much better, but according to data of Vyziva deti office, almost every fifth student misses his snack, and more than a half doesn’t have a breakfast. The snack machines put into Czech schools under the ‘hot’ name ‘Happy snack’ got inspired by those distributing chocolates, chips and sweet sodas, but they do not harm the young health they have.

The Czech population belong to the five least religious nations in the world, it come from the research published by the Gallup company. Religion represents an important part of everyday life only for 21% of CR inhabitants. More unbelieving are only Norse with 20%, Danish with 18% and Swedish with 17% . Religion plays the lowest part in the life of the Estonians, where only 14% of the asked said it is important.

This research brought us the US company Gallup, they carried it out in 143 countries of the world. The most religious countries, on the contrary, are Egypt, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Those numbers are interesting, however from the point of view of an average Czech: If one comes to Moravia, which is the eastern part of the Czech Republic, there still might be some religious people, but in Prague, I personally met only two people who were active Christians in my entire life.

After DJ´s Lafayette return from farther Beijing, where he played for 3000 people in Chinese art club, he comes to play at the new Opera House. Lafayette took inspiration from the legendary Chinese opera and therefore February Opera will be full of references to the Chinese culture. Mecca club will transforms to a Chinese Theatre on that evening and you will be able to enjoy unique atmosphere that doesn’t repeat.

You can look forward on the Chinese decoration, Chinese dancers in kimono and special Chinese choreography. DJ Lafayette had prepared a special Chinese costume and music intro for this occasion and he invited great DJ and producer from Munich – DJ Sebastian Krieg. Sebastian is recognized and respected personality on the DJ scene, some of his last performances include clubs such as Space, or Privilege Amnesia on Ibiza, Ministry of Sound or The End in London.

Entry : 190 czk, for those who come in Chinese Kimono free entry. Prague Club Mecca, Friday 20th February 2009

Every Czech drinks beer. Even when this seems to be a cliche, often researches prove that is a true. The recently published research of CVVM in the Czech Republic reveals that almost all men and half of the women drink it. Quite probably it is not going to change by the economic crisis, people just change for cheaper labels. Share of the people who drink Czech beer doesn’t change, reaches about 90% at men population and 50-60% at women population.

Beside the regulars, there is a decent number of opportunities, when Czechs go to have ‘one’. Men during in the most cases four times a week and drink nine 0,5l glasses in total, women go ‘just’ twice a week, having 2,5 beers a week. Other important difference lies in the education. Regular beer consumption based on education in beer/week; Primary school – 12,7, Secondary School – 9,7, Grammar school equivalent – 6,6, University students – 5,8.

He is a little over a month and does not make any big adventures yet. This little baby of Puma yagouaroundi in Prague Zoo is quite a rarity. “If we could raise him here, it would be only second time in the history of our zoo. The first and last time was in 2000” The speaker Vit Kahle rejoice at the possibility. The new pair of yagouaroundi was put together on probation last year.

Since 4th January, when the mother breed him the little yagouaroundi grown up nicely. “He is nice, big, he is well and examines his surroundings.” Kahle talks enthusiastically about the life of the little beast, which is still being carefully taken care of by his mother. Similarly, the Cape Ground Squirrel mother takes care of her long-expected baby since February.

The Prague Public Transport got into a sticky situation – it appears the hundreds million investment into replacement of railway tracks, which have been taking place in the last years, might have been useless. The problem is the track gets worn away quickly. But why? Because of wrong construction of the track and tramway wheels! The other cities don’t have the problem.

Shortly after the new tramways Skoda 14T called Porsche appeared, speculations aroused its high weight and fixed bogie destroy the track. Now, specialist came with the conclusion, which is not pleasant – the railway, which was originally constructed for a horse-tram (!) is outdated and the modern tramways destroy them.

Prague Public transport company now stands before an important decision – whether to start working on new construction of tramway wheels and change them at all their waggons in the metropolis, plus to replace the whole tramway track, or to resign to repairing the tracks on an on. Both choices are very expensive and cheerless.

Hillary Clinton comes with her wide smile, Czech Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg by her side. And she announces: The new American government turns the streer. The anti-rocket shield is no longer important to it. “We may return to the question” she keeps the back door opened “but now, we are very far from doing it.” They are starting diplomatic relations with Iran, so the country the radar was intended to protect us against could become an ally. The US and Iran have not been communicating for thirty years.

Minister Schwarzenberg didn’t put a surprised expression on the press conference. He already predicted the radar negotiations are going to be delayed. So, how it is possible to explain the rhetoric? One of the explanations is, the US want to save money during the financial crisis. The second, Iran and Russia can really became countries which won’t, by rhetoric, armament or secrecy, make the world fear them.

The chairman of the Social Democrats Jiri Paroubek surprised by unusually sharp critique of Czech Communists. “We have sufficient reasons against any attempts for government partnership of CSSD and KSCM.” Paroubek again confirmed his reputation of a politician unsure in the political spectra. It was him who in 2006 supported the idea of cooperation with the communists.

The leader of Social Democrats writes in this weekend report for his party that the shift to communists would be ‘a political suicide’. But it is him who invited the Communists to government in regions after the win in regional elections. He however wrote: “The Czech Communist party have been insufficiently critical to their part and criminal essence of Stalinism. Any movement of CSSD towards KSCM would be a political suicide for CSSD.” Strange coming from the leader of the party which governs the regions together with the Communists…

This was another case of a bust in Prague underground scene, and it is a third cocaine bust in about 40 days. Police officers from the national anti-drug central (NPC) have seized three members of an organized gang who were producing and selling cocaine in Prague. One of them was caught when he was selling 300g right in front of a MC Donald’s premise.

According to the recently published report of Prague criminality cocaine became a common drug, but we somehow didn’t realize how common until we read almost every two weeks about dealers being busted. According to a doctor from Prague centre Drop-In Jiri Presl the increasing popularity of this deadly substance returns Prague to its First-Republic reputation – “Prague used to be famous for cocaine.”

Schwarzenberg went to the US for an assurance that the new American government under the lead of Barack Obama intends to continue in the program of the anti-rocket shield in the area of Poland and Czech Republic. Today, he is going to talk with Hillary Clinton, who is the leader of American diplomacy since January. It seemed recently, like if the Americans wanted to retreat from the contracts in order of making new ones with Russia, those about disarmament.

Speculations, that the US could avoid the construction were however quite reduced, when on Saturday the American Vice-president said Obama is not giving up on the anti-rocket shield. Schwarzenberg is one of the first Foreign Ministers who meets Clinton in her new function. They haven’t talked together officially for some time, but they did when Schwarzenberg worked for the ex-president Vaclav Havel. As he says “We know each other. Or more precisely, I am one of the million of people she knows.”

The Guinness world record was made in Prague yesterday – the biggest cappuccino in the world. In the metropolis, eighty barmans made it into one huge cup within the Master of Coffee 2008 competition at Prague Exhibition ground on Saturday 7th August. The record-breaking drink contained 10 000 espresso coffees and 1709 litres of milk. The cup itself is two metres in diameter and it is 1,3m tall.

To prepare such a gigantic coffee took three hours and forty five minutes of fast, professional work and cost two hundred thousand czk. The idea was to make a coffee with 2009 litres of goodness, and to beat the record of Italians Ettore Diana and Luca Braguti made in 2002 with their cappuccino of 1250 litres. And who is going to drink it now? Well, pigs, if you want to know.

O2 Arena Looks completely unusual from the typical image of the hockey matches. There is no shining ice, not a tennis court, not even a motocross track. This time, the arena changed into an Athletic ring (the chance took 50 hours) The ice is still beneath the athletic surface Conipur. Olympic Winner Meseret Defar baptized the oval, prepared for the Meeting of World Champions.

Meseret Defar said – About the ring, that it is “… is nicely soft, I like it.”, about the hall: “I was surprised, how huge it is, I have never run is such a big one, not in Birmingham, Stuttgart or Boston.” About Prague: “I am here for the first time, I went to the Old Town yesterday, it is beautiful.” About the meeting, on which she is going to compete: “I am happy that ill be here on its first run. And that I have tried the track in advance.”

If the people living in Prague Jizni Mesto feel on 13th August that they hear the voice of Madonna behind their windows, it won’t be a hallucination. It is almost certain now that Chodov will see the provisional amphitheater, where the star will perform. The site construction manages Live Nation agency. Whether this is going to be the place is not sure, though; five years ago the idea of making a similar concert at the place stopped petition of the locals.

There is nothing going to be build permanently, it is so going to resemble a one–day festival show. The agency have already organized the Prague concert of Rolling Stones, so technically it should be fine. Her guest is the music producer and a DJ Paul Oakenfold. Madonna’s last concerts in O2 Arena Prague were sold out in two hours, so be sure to buy it on 14th February, the day of release.

Prague city court annulled the decision of the Committee for Radio and Television Broadcasting, which delivered each member of the art group Ztohoven to pay a fine of 50 thousands for broadcasting the fictive atomic bomb explosion in the ČT Panorama show last year in June. The court decided it was an art expression and that it didn’t do harm to anyone.

This only supports the widespread opinion, that the Committee for Radio and Television Broadcasting changed from the group which was supposed to protect TV viewers into a group which tries to ban anything that is fun. The most favorite shows and original programmes which were on tv last year, like Vyvoleni, Soukrome Pasti or Kriminalka Adel got into troubles with this comitee, and were loved by viewers.

The luxurious quarter, which to be build starting this summer close to the Konopiste chateau, will get not one, but two jewels, shaped by the architect Kaplicky. The Club Volavka and Vila Kaplicky. How is the design of Jan Kaplicky going to look like? The Developer’s company Resort Living carefully hides the design, as well as its price. The developers say it won’t be relieved until it is finished, and only after it will be on sale. And they also admit people have been calling to buy it from the very beginning.

The heart of the whole area will be the Volavka (a heron) Club. “The club is going to be the heart of the whole quarter. The place, where people can meet. We want people from Prague and around to come there. It is not going to be any closed destination. “ said the director of the developing company.

In the heart of the club is gong to be a café with with an opened fireplace, wellness centre, winery and shops. If you are interested in living close to Prague, the price of the cheapest apartment in the resort is 2,5 mil czk.

The United States and Russia relations, which were ice aged last year, now come to a thaw. The Russian vice-prime minister Sergei Ivanov appreciated the offer of Joe Biden to ‘restart’ the collective cooperation, made on Saturday on 45th security conference in Munchen.

The Russian politician also repeated that Moscow is prepared to negotiate about the anti-rocket shield in Europe. Kremlin offers the White House cooperation with judging the security risks with judging security dangers and united anti-rocket shield instead of anti-rockets in Poland and Czech Radar. And if USA don’t build, Russia reputedly won’t fulfil their threat to put their Iskander rockets by the Polish border.

Biden Promised that the government of the new American President Obama is going to, as the opposite to the G.W. Bush government, cooperate more with their western allies and with Russia.

70 km/hour, 365 m long ice track, 36m degree of incline, 12 jumps, 30 seconds of ride and shouting of 7000 visitors, that’s what tried the athletes, who applied for the Red Bull Crashed on ice competition at Prague Vysehrad.

The winner of the finals became Finnish Miikka Jouhkimainen, but the spectators yell also two Czechs to victory; Lukas Kolec and Lukas Fiala, who fell and hit the finishing tape together. Beside sportsmen, famous personalities and even viewers tried the crazy race as well.

Martin Straka commented for the news, whilst standing under the Vysehrad hill and breathing heavily: “That was the most crazy idea in my life. Now, I am going to stop that” smiling, though, only a few seconds after he ‘survived’ the coast.