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08/19/2024
In the first half of 2024, electricity production in the Czech Republic dropped by 5.6% year-on-year to around 36 TWh. Traditional energy sources, including nuclear and coal-fired plants, saw declines, while production from solar and wind energy increased. Solar power, particularly from small rooftop installations, grew by 28.4%. Concurrently, electricity consumption fell by 2.3%, with households reducing usage the most. Gas consumption also decreased by 7.9%, influenced by warmer weather and more efficient energy use. These trends reflect ongoing changes in energy production and consumption patterns in the country.
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08/19/2024
Researchers from the Institute of Experimental Botany in Olomouc have discovered unique properties in sorghum pollen, a plant widely used for flour production and animal feed. In collaboration with German colleagues, the Czech scientists published a study revealing that B chromosomes in sorghum significantly influence pollen development. This results in pollen with more than three nuclei that is both viable and germinates faster. This breakthrough could aid in breeding more resilient crops, which is particularly important in the context of climate change. The research may lead to the development of plant varieties better adapted to environmental stress.
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08/19/2024
The Czech government coalition is finalizing amendments to the presidential election law, aiming to modernize and clarify the rules. News website Echo 24 informs that key changes include limiting each parliament member to supporting only one candidate and introducing electronic petitions for collecting signatures. These reforms, supported by the Senate's constitutional committee, are intended to prevent legal ambiguities and streamline the nomination process. Additionally, the proposal addresses concerns over personal data collection in electronic petitions. If passed, the new rules will apply to the 2028 presidential election. The Senate will vote on the amendments this week.
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08/19/2024
Czech firefighters handled 878 incidents during weekend storms, with the most significant impact in the Central Bohemian Region, where they responded to 289 cases. The storms, marked by heavy rain and strong winds, caused widespread flooding, particularly on Sunday and early Monday. Firefighters mainly focused on pumping water from flooded areas and removing fallen trees from roads. Notably, they also assisted with vehicle rescues from flooded areas and monitored river levels. The storms disrupted transportation and caused significant damage, particularly in Prachatice, Rokycany, and parts of Prague.
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08/19/2024
In 2023, the Czech Republic provided approximately CZK 15 billion in official development aid. The aid has increased significantly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with much of the funding directed to assist Ukrainian refugees. According to Petr Gandalovič, Director of Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, development projects, administered by the Czech Development Agency, continue to focus on six priority countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Moldova, and Zambia.
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08/19/2024
Defence Minister Jana Černochová wants a record CZK 169 billion for her ministry next year, she told Czech Television. The main reason, she said, is the ongoing modernisation of the army and the need for Czechia to meet its commitment to NATO to spend two percent of GDP on defence. The ministry wants to invest in the purchase of supersonic aircraft, infantry fighting vehicles and missiles to secure the country’s air defence.
Other sectors have also requested an increase in funding. The State Office for Nuclear Safety (SÚJB) has asked for more money from state coffers next year in view of the planned expansion of the nuclear power sector. The finance ministry is expected to publish the first draft of the state budget for 2025 by the end of August.
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08/19/2024
A clean-up operation is underway in the south-western parts of the country which were hit by severe storms on Sunday afternoon. The Strakonice and Prachatice regions were particularly hard hit, with flash floods reported in the town of Stachy and its surroundings.
Rain water and mudslides from fields made a number of smaller roads impassable and train traffic was suspended between Dačice and Slavonice in the Jindřichův Hradec region due to suspected erosion beneath a section of the railway line. The extent of the damage is being investigated.
Trains on the line from České Budějovice to Linz in Austria were also suspended due to fallen trees on the tracks, resulting in delays.
Prague’s international airport had 60 mm of rainfall in an hour and had to suspended check-ins until the storm abated.
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08/18/2024
The State Office for Nuclear Safety (SÚJB) has asked for more money from state coffers next year in view of the planned expansion of the nuclear power sector. The Office said its agenda would grow in the coming years due to the planned construction of two new units at the Dukovany power plant, and it needs to increase the number of its employees by a quarter. The Office moreover pointed out that they may not be easy to find since there is a shortage of experts, and state institutions are often unable to compete with wages in the private sector. The finance ministry is expected to publish the first draft of the state budget for 2025 by the end of August.
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08/18/2024
The government has agreed to waive the demand for regular license renewal tests for forensic experts that threatened to bring about a collapse the judicial system. Only a minimum number of experts have so far been examined under the new law, meaning that their license as forensic experts would expire at the end of next year. The number of experts has been declining for a long time and has almost halved in the past ten years. Only around 300 out of almost 6,000 forensic experts have applied for a new license.
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08/18/2024
Monday should bring overcast skies and rain around most of the country with day temperatures between 18 and 23 degrees Celsius.
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