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The chair of NATO's Military Committee, Rob Bauer, emphasized the need to boost defense industry production capacity. Speaking at the NATO Military Committee meeting in Prague, Bauer noted that while armies win battles, economies win wars. NATO must continue supporting Ukraine while strengthening its own deterrence and defense capabilities, Bauer said. He urged governments to reduce bureaucratic barriers and collaborate with the private sector, comparing the urgency to the rapid vaccine production during the pandemic. The meeting marks the first gathering of NATO chiefs of staff in Czechia, as the country celebrates 25 years in the alliance.

The Czech Army is on standby due to flooding, with all units involved in the Integrated Rescue System ready, including the 15th Engineer Regiment, air force resources, and military fire brigades, said Defense Minister Jana Černochová (Civic Democratic Party. An operations center has been activated to oversee potential rescue efforts. So far, soldiers have only been deployed in Strakonice at the mayor's request. Černochová added that the army is prepared to provide further assistance, including helicopters and engineering teams, if needed.

Persistent heavy rains continue across most of Czechia, with warnings of extreme flooding in dozens of locations. According to meteorologists, the situation is expected to worsen, with strong winds reaching up to 100 km/h. Water management authorities have been releasing water from reservoirs, and sandbags are being prepared across affected areas. Most Czech political parties, both from the ruling coalition and the opposition, are suspending or limiting their election campaigns due to the looming flood threat. Events and meetings with citizens have been canceled, including a planned trip by opposition leader Andrej Babiš and his ANO party. Most political leaders say they aim to focus on managing the crisis rather than campaigning.

President Petr Pavel highlighted today on social media that Czechia now has more accurate models and a much better crisis response system than it did during the major floods of 1997 and 2002. In his post on X (formerly Twitter), Pavel acknowledged the efforts of government officials, rescue services, and other sectors in addressing the ongoing flood situation. He praised the solidarity and dedication shown by all involved in managing the crisis and expressed hope that the country will emerge stronger from this challenge.

According to a survey by investment company Atris, almost 70 percent of adult Czechs are actively saving for retirement. An additional six percent rely on inheritance, while three percent have already saved enough. However, 22 percent do not save at all, believing the state will take care of them. The survey also highlighted that people are saving more than before, driven by changes in supplementary pension savings and tax deductions. The most common method is supplementary pension savings, chosen by 51 percent of respondents, followed by investments in funds or real estate (33 percent).