Cities across the Czech Republic are preparing for evacuations and reinforcing flood barriers as heavy rains continue, raising the threat of severe flooding. Some residents have already been forced to leave their homes in flood-prone areas. By this afternoon, thousands of households were without electricity due to trees and branches falling on power lines, primarily caused by the rain and strong winds. The most critical conditions are expected to hit over the weekend, with rainfall predicted to intensify. The extreme flood alert covers all of Moravia and Silesia, Vysočina, as well as parts of Bohemia. Even Prague and most of the Central Bohemian Region are bracing for high water levels. Petr Hladík, the Environment Minister, stated after a meeting of the Central Flood Commission that small streams are most at risk, particularly overnight and into Saturday. The town of Jeseník is among the areas at highest risk. Local authorities are drafting plans for the possible evacuation of residents. Temporary shelters have been arranged in local high schools, and some residents may be moved to spa facilities or the town’s theatre. In parts of the Pardubice region, including Chrudim, residents are also being advised to prepare for potential evacuation, with water...
On the morning of Thursday, September 12, the first snow of the autumn-winter season arrived in the Czech Republic. The snow covered Velký Javor, the highest peak in the Šumava National Park, which stands at 1,300 meters above sea level. Overnight, temperatures at Velký Javor dropped to around +2°C, allowing light snowfall to occur in areas above 1,300 meters. The snowfall, however, was light, with no more than one centimeter settling on the ground. Meteorologists predict that today’s snow will melt quickly, but additional snowfall is expected on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. This snowfall comes earlier than in 2023, when the first snow was delayed until October 8 due to an unusually warm autumn. The year before, the first snow arrived on September 18. A video of today’s snowfall: View this post on Instagram A post shared by WeLoveŠumava (@welovesumava) Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more
Woolworth, a well-known German discount retail chain, has announced plans to expand into the Czech and Slovak markets. This development was reported by the financial news portal Peníze on Monday, September 9th. “We can confirm that we are preparing to enter the Slovak and Czech markets,” said Roland Rissel, a representative from Woolworth’s press office. “We are currently in negotiations with property managers in both countries and are working towards finalizing lease agreements.” While details about the specific locations and number of stores remain under wraps, the company aims to open its first outlets in both countries by the end of 2025. Woolworth is recognized for offering a wide range of products, including household items, clothing, electronics, cosmetics, toys, and more, all at prices below the market average. With over 700 stores already established in Germany, the chain is one of the fastest-growing in the country. The management has ambitious plans to increase the number of stores to 1,500 in the medium term. In the Czech Republic, Woolworth will be entering a competitive market, going head-to-head with other popular discount retailers such as Action, Pepco, and Kik. Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more
On Wednesday, September 11, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) issued a third-level, maximum flood danger warning across most regions of the Czech Republic. This alert follows predictions of a significant increase in river levels due to continuous and heavy rainfall forecasted from Thursday to Sunday, September 12-15. According to ČHMÚ, the south-eastern regions and mountainous areas in the north and north-east could receive an average of 150 to 250 mm of rain over the four-day period. In some areas, particularly around the Jeseníky mountains, rainfall may exceed 300 mm. In other parts of the country, except for the western and north-western regions, rainfall levels are expected to range between 100 to 150 mm. Extreme precipitation is also expected in the Vysočina, South Bohemia, Hradec Králové and Liberec regions. In response to the escalating situation, Czech Environment Minister Marek Vyborny has scheduled an emergency briefing for 3:00 PM, where he is expected to provide further details on the measures being taken. “These are really extreme rainfalls that may come to the Czech territory,” Environment Minister Petr Hladik told a news conference. He said strong winds may fell trees, threatening lives and property. “There will be saturation of soil, forests, and flash...
Brno councilors have approved a request for a ban on the entry of electric scooters and unicycles into the pedestrian zone in the city centre. They expect to finalize the ban by the end of the year. Bolt, one of the companies operating the scooters, has suggested alternative measures such as speed limits to address safety issues. “The council approved the proposal unanimously, and we anticipate it could be implemented by the end of the year,” stated Deputy Mayor Machů. “The ban would cover key pedestrian areas like Svobody Square, Masaryk Street, Česká Street, and nearby locations. We believe these vehicles do not belong in these areas, and our decision is based on regulations already adopted in other cities.” He pointed out that cities like Madrid have announced plans to remove electric scooters from streets by the end of October. Deputy Mayor Machů added that the last discussion with representatives of scooter-sharing companies took place during the summer holidays last year, and since then, there has been no noticeable improvement in the situation. Data from Bolt indicates that the city center of Brno is the most popular destination for scooter users. “Banning shared scooters doesn’t make sense. Instead, we should...
Apple’s latest commercial for the iPhone 16 Pro has once again highlighted the Czech Republic’s captivating scenery, even though the tech giant has yet to open an official store in the country. The ad, which showcases the new flagship phone, features an intriguing mix of Prague’s urban landscape and the natural beauty of the Czech countryside. In contrast to previous ads where the Czech setting was immediately apparent, this time it takes about a minute before viewers can clearly recognize the first location. The initial scene is particularly familiar to residents and regular visitors of Prague. It features the escalator shaft at Jiřího z Poděbrad station, recently renovated to eliminate advertising space. The old escalators visible in the commercial were replaced by new ones in January 2023, indicating the footage was likely shot before this upgrade. The ad then shifts to a historic metro train carriage, specifically the Soviet-era 81-71 type. This model was phased out in Prague fifteen years ago and was last used on the B line before being replaced by the modern 81-71M trains. Apple’s commercial doesn’t limit itself to Prague. It also showcases one of the Czech Republic’s natural wonders: the Prachovské Skály. The footage highlights...
Despite having the lowest unemployment rate in the European Union, the Czech Republic struggles to create favorable conditions for its workers. According to the latest Prosperity and Financial Health Index, the country ranks 18th out of 27 EU members, reflecting a range of issues such as low labor market flexibility and a significant gender pay gap. One key factor contributing to this poor ranking is the limited availability of part-time work in the Czech Republic. Many employees lack the option to work flexible hours, a stark contrast to countries like the Netherlands, where 24% of employees can choose when and where they work through options such as flexitime or teleworking. In the Czech Republic, only 14% of employees enjoy such flexibility. The nation also performs poorly regarding gender pay equality, placing among the worst in the EU for the gender pay gap. Three Years of Decline in Labor Market Conditions The Czech labor market has been deteriorating for three consecutive years. In 2022, the country held the 15th position among EU members for labor market conditions. However, the latest analysis shows it has slipped to 18th place. Countries like the Netherlands, Austria, and the Nordic nations, including Denmark, lead in...
The unemployment rate in the Czech Republic remained stable at 3.8 percent in August, unchanged from July. This is slightly higher than last August’s rate of 3.6 percent. However, the number of job vacancies rose for the first time since March, with an increase of 1,221 month-on-month, according to the latest data from the Labour Office of the Czech Republic. The Labour Office notes that a stable unemployment rate is typical for the summer months, as employers tend to avoid major staffing changes during the holiday season. By the end of August, 3,232 people had started new positions in educational institutions, making education the sector with the highest number of new employees. The wholesale trade, catering, and hospitality sectors followed but with a significantly lower number of new hires. “At the end of August and the beginning of September, we always see an influx of recent graduates and young people registering with the employment office. In August, they made up four percent of all job seekers, the same proportion as in 2022 and 2023,” said Daniel Krištof, Director-General of the Labour Office. Krištof emphasized that school leavers and young people who did not get into further education or secure a...
In Česká Lípa, a group of wild boars caused quite a stir when they unexpectedly wandered into a local theatre during a live performance. The seven boars made their way through the historic town centre, seemingly taking in the sights before entering the Jiráskovo Divadlo Theatre, where the opening of the new season was underway. The surprising encounter took place on the evening of Thursday, September 5th. “We were hosting our first performance of the year when the boars suddenly appeared,” joked Mayor Jitka Volfová. “We laughed, saying they came to check out the theatre that’s been nominated for the Building of the Year 2024 award — and perhaps to sample the new bar as well.” Despite the amusement, police were unable to determine where these unexpected theatre enthusiasts had come from. The effort to guide them back to the forest took about an hour. “The boars were initially driven out of the theatre by staff members,” explained a representative from the local law enforcement. “By that time, municipal and national police patrols, along with city forestry staff, were already searching for them. The herd was eventually escorted out of the city and back into the forest.” Fortunately, the unusual...
airBaltic has confirmed that two of its aircraft, named Kunda and Püssi, will be operating on the new direct Prague-Vilnius route starting on March 30, 2025. The announcement was made on Friday, September 6. However, these aircraft will not have a fixed schedule for Prague flights. Instead, their use will vary, depending on the carrier’s operational needs at any given time. “The plan remains unchanged. All airBaltic A220-300 aircraft will be deployed according to operational requirements and will be available on all routes across the airline’s network,” the airBaltic press office told Novinky. In August, airBaltic held an online vote allowing the public to choose names for all 48 of its aircraft, with voters selecting from a list of real Baltic cities. Due to the efforts of Czech internet users, the Estonian city of Kunda won the first place (in Czech, “Kunda” is a vulgar term for female genitalia). The Estonian city of Püssi, whose name can also provoke giggles in Czech, secured the second position. The first of these newly named aircraft are expected to take flight in early 2025. Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more
A girl attacked her classmates with a knife at an elementary school in the western Czech town of Domazlice, injuring two, police said on Tuesday. “At the moment, our forces and resources are at the Komenskeho 17 elementary school in Domazlice, because according to initial information, one of the pupils there attacked her classmates with a knife. Two children were injured and their parents have already been informed. We apprehended the suspected girl within minutes,” the police said on social media X in the morning. The two injured children were not in life-threatening condition and were taken into care by paramedics, the police said, adding that one child who was in shock was also handed over to medics. “Currently there is no danger to anyone and a large number of police and criminal investigators are working on the scene,” the police added. The school said on its website that it suspended classes in the upper grades of the school due to “an extraordinary event.” “Students were instructed to leave school safely. All children are safe. Classes in the lower grades are continuing as scheduled,” it said. Responding to the incident, Education Minister Mikulas Bek said on X that violence in...
The Czech Republic is making a bold move into space exploration, with plans to invest billions of crowns into projects aimed at launching its own satellites and even sending a Czech astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS). Aleš Svoboda, a seasoned military pilot, is poised to become the first Czech to reach the ISS. In just a few years, he will gaze down on Earth from an altitude of 350 kilometers. “Aside from being a childhood dream, this mission is a natural progression in my career,” Svoboda shared. Before reaching orbit, Svoboda will undergo intense endurance training in Germany, including survival courses designed for emergency landings in harsh environments like deserts or mountains. This rigorous preparation will cover everything from winter survival tactics to advanced diving skills. Svoboda’s mission is set to take place within the next five years. Currently, scientists are selecting the research projects he will participate in, which could range from 3D printing to pioneering cancer treatment methods, according to Václav Kobera, the coordinator of the Czech Space Journey project. The cost of sending a Czech astronaut to the ISS is estimated at around two billion crowns. However, Transport Minister Martin Kupka (ODS) argues that the...
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