The Daily Dozen: 12 things to know about Czechia today

Foreign press fetes Pavel|The foreign press has covered the victory of the pro-European and pro-Western candidate Petr Pavel and the defeat of populist former prime minister Andrej Babiš in the Czech presidential election. Pavel in Saturday's runoff defeated Babiš in a landslide victory with 58.32 percent of the vote. Many outlets placed Babiš's defeat into the context of the defeat of other populist figures, including former president Donald Trump. Others remarked on Pavel's newly gained moral authority. Read more in our story here. 

Pub fare price jump |The cost of a Czech fried cheese "smažený sýr" and other traditional dishes reflect the current surge in food inflation in Czechia. The price of fried cheese has gone up 30 percent over the past years, reaching an average price of CZK 170 with some eateries charging over CZK 200. A classic pork schnitzel (řízek) will set you back CZK 200, up by about 35 percent. Read more in our story here.

Pay rises|From the beginning of 2023, almost half (43 percent) of Czechs reported a wage increase, according to a press release by payment solutions company Edenred cited by ČTK. The majority of respondents who received a raise reported the total increase as being under 5 percent. Just 4 percent of people reported a salary increase of more than one-tenth.

A country of entrepreneurs|The number of entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic who actually earn money through self-employment increased by 26,000 to 1.104 million last year, according to data released by the Czech Social Security Administration (ČSSZ). 

The year before last, the number of entrepreneurs increased by 27,000. ČTK reports that in no other EU country do entrepreneurs have as much influence on the country's economy as in the Czech Republic. Companies that employ one to nine people account for more than 95 percent of the total number of businesses in the Czech Republic and are the largest employer.

Björk coming to Prague|Icelandic pop icon Björk has announced her Cornucopia tour, which will kick off this September in Lisbon, Portugal. Building on Björk's latest album, Utopia, the Cornucopia tour debuted as a residency show at New York's The Shed to stellar reviews, with Rolling Stone describing it as "a spectacle full of world-class sound and visuals." The singer has one Prague show on her set, slated to take place on Sept. 16 at O2 arena.

Czechia decides Eurovision singer| This evening, five contestants will battle it out on Czech Television to represent Czechia in Eurovision 2023. The nominees are singers Markéta Irglová, Pam Rabbit, Maella, Rodan, and girl band Vesna. The public will choose who Czechia's contestant will be: voting starts directly after this evening's broadcast and is open until Feb. 6. This year's Eurovision will be held in the U.K., and takes place from May 9-13.

 Žižkov Tunnel reopens|The Žižkov Tunnel, which connects the Karlín and Žižkov districts in Prague, has today reopened after a two-week closure. It was closed due to repairs on the southern part of the tunnel.

Tachovské náměstí, which is on the Žižkov side of the tunnel, has been under maintenance since October 2021. Work will continue in the area for another eight months. When work is finished, the square will have new trees, a new pavement, benches, and a more accessible entrance.

Hurricane hits Czechia's highest peak|On Monday morning, the highest mountain in the Czech Republic, Sněžka, was hit by a hurricane with a speed of over 141 km/h the Czech Hyrdometeorlogical Association (ČHMÚ) reports. Winds that surpass 117.7 km/h are recorded as hurricanes. Stronger winds hit Sněžka several times in January. With a height of 1,603 meters, Sněžka is unparalleled in Central Europe. The ČHMÚ continues to warn of strong winds across the country with regions in the Krkonoše and Jizera Mountains among the windiest.

Making it count|A group calling itself "a progressive think tank that aims to find answers to the burning questions of today from a regional perspective" has published a countdown clock ticking off the minutes until "the expiration of Miloš Zeman's second presidential mandate."

Zeman held private talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade today and told Vucic that Serbia and Israel have been his favorite countries for having the courage to face any enemy. After he visits Belgrade, Zeman will go on just one more trip abroad, to Slovakia, before leaving office in early March.