The Daily Dozen: 12 things to know about Czechia today

Cross-border cooperation|Czechia and the UK signed a joint declaration Monday that pledges to strengthen efforts to fight terrorism, crime, and illegal immigration. Interior Minister of Czechia Vít Rakušan and his British counterpart Suella Braverman vowed to intensify the exchange of information between the two countries. 

Pension reform|A bill passed by parliament in a state of legislative emergency and subsequently approved by the Senate earlier this month, despite objections from the upper house’s legal committee, will see a significant cut to mandatory pension increases scheduled for June. Read our article to find out what this means for expats.

Czech brands|The footwear company Vasky from Zlín is negotiating the purchase of the iconic Botas shoe brand, ČTK reports. Originally called Botana, the Botas brand of footwear is in danger of disappearing after the company behind it went into liquidation last year due to rising energy costs and a lack of skilled labor.

Secondary schools|The proportion of secondary school students in Czechia enrolled in general education is lower than the EU average. Despite the fact that experts have pointed out the growing advantages of general education, the capacities of gymnasiums are not growing in proportion to the number of applicants. Many students therefore end up enrolling in vocational or technical schools.

Barrandov repairs|The second stage of renovations on Prague’s Barrandov Bridge (Barrandovský most) will start in the middle of May. Traffic will be restricted to three temporary lanes in each direction. Two lanes in the southern half of the bridge and the ramp leading from K Barrandovu street to the bridge will be repaired. Read more in our article.

Sustainable tourism|Prague City Hall approved an increase in the budget to support sustainable tourism and attract more visitors looking for cultural events who will spend an above-average amount of time in the city. The campaigns will also aim at countering the negative effects of tourists on everyday life in Prague.

Monuments and castles|The National Monument Institute (NPÚ) announced that it will not increase the entrance fees for the more than a hundred state castles, chateaux, and buildings it manages, iDnes reports. NPÚ director Naďa Goryczková said today that the entrance fees for children aged 6 to 17 might even decrease. The main tourist season will start on April 1.

Electronic music|German DJ Boris Brejcha will perform at the Fortuna Arena in Prague on Oct. 28, according to iDnes. Famous for his style of music, which he describes as "high-tech minimal," Brejcha will be joined on stage by his colleagues from the Fckng Serious label, Denis Bul and Moritz Hofbauer, in a three-hour set accompanied by a special visual show.