The Daily Dozen: 12 things to know about Czechia today

War in Ukraine|Legal experts from the EU and other countries including Ukraine met in Prague yesterday to discuss the possibility of establishing a special tribunal for prosecuting crimes of aggression against Ukraine. The Czech Foreign Ministry hosted the meeting. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský said on Twitter that Czechia fully supports establishing a tribunal. Read more in our story.

Pension increase|The average pension in the Czech Republic increased by CZK 1,377 compared to December 2022 and now stands at CZK 19,438, ČTK reports, citing data from the Czech Social Security Administration (ČSSZ). The increase was due to regular valorization and the addition of educational fees. More than 952,000 men and more than 1.4 million women receive retirement pensions from ČSSZ.

Drug shortages|More than 100,000 more packages of antibiotics should reach Czech pharmacies by the end of this week, ČTK reports, citing a press release from the Czech Ministry of Health. Last week, the government approved the possibility to exceptionally import antibiotics from other EU countries, and sell them in the original, foreign language packaging, but with Czech-language leaflets. 

Czech brand|Manifesto Market opened its first Western location in Berlin on Jan. 25. Manifesto Market Potsdamer Platz is located in Europe’s largest food hub in the heart of Berlin. To honor its Czech roots, the location is complete with a beer tower containing 10 large beer tanks, all done in cooperation with the world-famous Czech beer brand Pilsner Urquell.

Czech recipe|The bread dumpling, made from houska, a Czech bun, is synonymous with Czech cuisine. Made from just a few simple ingredients, ensuring precision when working with them and following the right steps are key to success. If you want to give them a try at home, follow our instructions, and enjoy the results.

Holocaust remembrance|The Czech Republic will honor Czechoslovak victims of the Holocaust on Friday, Jan. 27 with several commemorative events, including exhibitions and dance performances. Among the most poignant remembrances will be the illumination of a Prague building that served as a deportation site for thousands of Czech Jews. Read more in our story.

Famous sight|Charles Bridge has spanned the Vltava River since 1357, but its statues are relatively new. The most famous, a likeness of St. Jan Nepomucký, was put in place in 1683, some 340 years ago. It's not only the oldest of the current array of statues on the bridge but also one of the only originals. Read more in our story.

Olympic legend|The oldest Czech Olympian, Marie Ďurovičová, passed away on Jan. 4 at the age of 95, the Czech Olympic Committee announced. Ďurovičová was part of the Czechoslovak gymnastic team that won the gold medal at the London Olympics in 1948. After her return from London, the Czech Communist Party banned her from participating in professional gymnastic competitions due to her affiliation with the Sokol movement.

Rescue kitten|A video posted on Facebook on Jan. 1 by the Cool Critters animal shelter documented the rescue of a gray kitten found on tram 1, later named Chance in a nod to its origins. The Facebook post accompanying the heart-warming video says that the passenger ran into "two very drunk homeless young guys holding a tiny kitten in their coat" on tram no. 1 on New Year's Day. Read more in our story.