The Daily Dozen: 12 things to know about Czechia today

Farewell visit|President Miloš Zeman met with President Zuzana Čaputová yesterday for their last official meeting before Zeman leaves office next month, Seznam Zprávy reports. The two heads of state met for 13 times during their time in office. While praising the "humanity" of President Čaputová, he also said he rejected her "green fanaticism," a reference to her views on environmental protection.

A tank for Ukraine|“Tank Tomáš ” – the tank purchased through a Czech fundraising campaign and donated to Ukraine – has already been deployed against Russian troops. Donations amassed for the tank, which were over CZK 33 million, were organized by the Gift for Putin charity towards the end of 2022. Read more in our article.

Food prices|Current prices in a number of Austrian supermarkets are lower for the same products sold across the border in Czechia, Seznam Zprávy reports. The items that were cheaper last weekend included Milka chocolate, organic eggs, toilet paper, and cabbage. On the other hand, potatoes, tangerines, onions and whole milk were cheaper in Czech supermarkets.

Czech high schools|Available places in Czech gymnasiums aren't growing in proportion to the number of incoming students. New findings from the non-profit organization EDUin show that by 2030, Czech classrooms could face overcrowding, particularly in high schools. Read more in our article.

Office spaces|A new report by real estate consultancy firm Jones Lang LaSalle found that the total amount of office space in Prague grew in the fourth quarter of 2022. A total of 151,800 square meters of office space was leased, the largest quarterly volume for concluded leases in the real estate market since 2018. Read more in our article.

Havel's schedule|The Václav Havel Library is gradually releasing online the daily schedule of Václav Havel during his time in office as the last president of Czechoslovakia, and the first president of the Czech Republic, ČTK reports. The project covers the time frame of 1989 to 2003 and is estimated to take ten years to complete. The calendar starts with Dec. 29, 1989, when Havel was elected president. 

Comedy shows|A run of English-friendly stand-up shows by some of the genre's biggest acts kicks off this week with a comedy showcase at Lucerna Music Bar and goes out with a bang at Forum Karlín later this year, with performances from Ricky Gervais, Dylan Moran, Tenacious D, as well as several Comedy Store shows. Read more in our article.

Out of the mouths of students|Czech high school students are increasingly wary of media, fake news, and manipulation via social networks, according to ČTK, citing a study done by the People in Need NGO. Additionally, more than 60 percent of those interviewed believe that media prioritizes financial profit over quality, while half of them believe that large media outlets distort or hide important information.

Light pollution|A regulation to limit light pollution or light smog, meant to lower the negative impacts on the health of people and wildlife, will take effect in Czechia on March 1. When installing new lighting points, both a minimum and maximum extent of illumination will be set for both the public and non-public sectors. Read more in our article.