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The Senate will vote next week on the government’s pension reform bill which aims to reduce the growing deficit in the pension system. Under the proposal, the retirement age will gradually increase by one month a year over the age of 65 after 2030 and will be capped at 67. About 15,000 people employed in high risk professions will be able to retire early without losing money. The original proposal was for the high-risk professions to encompass more than 127,000 people but that was abandoned in favour of a slower increase in the retirement age. Among the professions that will be able to retire early are foundry workers, welders, grinders and metallurgists.
Although some senators from the ruling parties have voiced reservations to certain aspects of the reform, it is expected to pass smoothly through the upper chamber thanks to ruling coalition’s majority in the Senate.
Singer Ewa Farna was proclaimed the country’s most popular female singer and overall winner of the 62nd Czech Nightingale awards, handed out at a gala ceremony in Prague’s Forum Karlin on Friday night. The top men’s prize went to Marek Ztracený, while the heavy metal band Kabát picked up the Best Band award. Singer Sofian Medjmedj won the Newcomer of the Year award. singer Marta Kubišová, one of the icons of the Velvet Revolution, entered the Czech Nightingale Hall of Fame. The annual competition is decided by a public poll.
The traditional Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Old Town Square will take place on Saturday afternoon, on the first weekend of Advent. The 20-metres tall spruce is decorated in yellow and red, the colours of Prague. Visitors to the square will be able to see a special light and audio show every half hour from 4.30 pm to 9.30 pm. The light animation will be accompanied by a selection from Bedřich Smetana's Vltava, marking the 200th anniversary of Smetana's birth. The tree-lighting ceremony will also launch the city`s annual Christmas markets.
Food consumption in the Czech Republic fell to 788 kilograms per capita last year, down by about 12 kilograms year-on-year, according to data released by the Czech Statistics Office. People consumed less milk, pork, pulses, fruit and vegetables, while they ate more bread, pasta, beef and poultry meat.
The Office also calculated the country’s food self-sufficiency. While in 1989 the Czech Republic was almost self-sufficient in all basic food products, last year the self-sufficiency rate was 78 percent.
The ski resorts Černá hora and Šerlišský Mlýn in the Krkonoše Mountains have officially opened for the winter skiing season, welcoming their first visitors. Due to heavy snowfall in the mountain regions over the past few days, other resorts are expected to follow suit. Ski resorts in the Krkonoše and Jizera mountains have over 1 metre 20 cms of snow with fresh snow expected over the weekend. At Černá hora the price for a ski pass for adults is CZK 570 per day, a children's ski pass costs CZK 350.
Three-time Olympic champion Ester Ledecká has won the opening race of the Snowboard World Cup in the parallel giant slalom in Mylin, China. Ledecká dominated the qualification and then had the opportunity to choose the course for every run, which she used to the maximum benefit and scored her 25th World Cup triumph in snowboarding. In the final she beat Aleksandra Krol-Walas of Poland by 1.67 seconds. Japan's Cubaki Miki finished third.
Sunday should be clear to partly cloudy, with more clouds in the western parts of the country, and day temperatures between 3 and 7 degrees Celsius.
“I really enjoy everything I do, but agents sometimes find it difficult to sell my work” says pianist, singer and songwriter Beata Hlavenková. What is her big professional wish? And why she does not enjoy songs around the campfire so much? Listen to the latest episode of Faces of Czech Music.
We’re diving into the world of Czech scientists working abroad and the fascinating journey of one man who’s helping them connect and thrive on the global stage.
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