• Czech firefighters returned from North Macedonia
    08/05/2024

    Czech firefighters concluded their mission in North Macedonia on Monday and returned home. They had been assisting with large forest fires since early August. The team included a helicopter crew, two rescue pilots, and a mission commander. Operating from Skopje, the Black Hawk helicopter made around 30 water drops daily to control the fires. High temperatures and strong winds exacerbated the fire situation in the Balkans this summer. Czech firefighters also helped combat forest fires in Bulgaria in July.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Czechia has a contact center for extraterrestrials
    08/05/2024

    Czechia has established its first contact center for extraterrestrials at the Brno Observatory and Planetarium. According to the news portal Novinky.cz, this initiative, primarily a humorous effort by astronomers, aims to educate the public about unusual phenomena in the sky and promote science. The center includes email and web resources for reporting sightings. Aleš Svoboda, the Czech backup astronaut for the European Space Agency, serves as the ambassador. The initiative coincides with the Planet Festival in Brno, attracting many sci-fi enthusiasts.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Wasps cause more trouble in Czechia
    08/05/2024

    In July, Czech firefighters dealt with hundreds more insect nests, including wasps and hornets, compared to last year. Despite this increase, experts say wasps are not overpopulated but are more active due to warm, dry weather. Most incidents occur near homes, with nests often found in attics, roofs, and garden sheds. Wasps play a vital role in the ecosystem, serving as predators and pollinators. The Plzeň region saw the highest number of interventions, while Liberec had the fewest.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Weather
    08/05/2024

    Tuesday should be clear and sunny in Czechia, with temperatures between 22 to 25 degrees Celsius.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Czechs pole vaulter Švábíková in Olympic finals
    08/05/2024

    Czech pole vaulter Amálie Švábíková advanced to the Olympic final in Paris, clearing 455 cm. She only needed two successful jumps. British favorites Holly Bradshaw and Molly Caudery failed to advance. Meanwhile, in other field and track disciplines none of the Czechs qualified.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Antisemitic online incidents on the rise in Czechia
    08/05/2024

    The number of antisemitic incidents in the Czech Republic increased by approximately 90% last year. The Federation of Jewish Communities is reporting 4,328 incidents compared to 2,277 the previous year. The majority occurred online, particularly on social media. Although no violent attacks were recorded, antisemitic rhetoric included false, dehumanizing, and vulgar statements, as well as conspiracy theories. The rise in antisemitism was influenced by events such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic, and it surged significantly after a terrorist attack by Hamas last October. Despite this, the Czech Republic remains a safe country for the Jewish community.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Czechia tightening rules for Russian visitors
    08/05/2024

    Czechia has tightened travel rules for Russians, requiring biometric passports to enhance security and prevent espionage. The independent information website Hlidacipes.org reports that this move follows past incidents involving Russian spies using fake documents. In contrast, Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has eased entry for Russians and Belarusians, allowing them to obtain Schengen visas more easily. This divergence in policies highlights differing approaches within the EU regarding Russian nationals amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Czechia struggling to shift transport from road to rail
    08/05/2024

    The Czech railway system is struggling to compete with road transport. The EU wants to shift 50 percent of freight to rail by 2030, but in Czechia, this target seems unrealistic due to several challenges. According to an analysis by web portal Seznam.cz, rail transport faces higher costs and less flexibility compared to road transport. The imbalance is exacerbated by insufficient railway infrastructure and capacity, leading to overburdened routes, especially around major cities like Prague and Brno.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Minister under fire for bungling digitization of construction permits system
    08/05/2024

    Regional Development Minister Ivan Bartoš fom the Pirate Party is under fire for persisting problems with the newly digitized system of construction management which has drawn complaints from civil servants around the country. The opposition parties are calling on him to resign and the minister’s coalition partners have indicated that if the system is not working smoothly by the end of August he should accept political responsibility for the failure.

    The problems have significantly slowed the processing of construction permits with expert saying that the resulting losses could amount to billions of crowns and make newly constructed housing more expensive. Digitization in construction management was expected to reduce the construction permit processes from an average of 5.4 years to 1.25 years.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Prague Pride festival focusing on family and acceptance
    08/05/2024

    The annual Prague Pride festival celebrating LGBT+ culture kicks off in the Czech capital on Monday. The festival, which is in its 14th year, will offer more than 200 events, including debates, film screenings and exhibitions in different parts of the city.

    The theme of the week-long festival, which focuses on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues, is  the importance of unconditional family support and acceptance.

    The festival will culminate with the traditional rainbow parade in the streets of Prague next Saturday.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

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