The Czech Republic witnessed a spectacular display of the aurora borealis on Friday evening, marking the strongest sighting since 2003. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute confirmed the phenomenon on social media, though the exact intensity remained uncertain. The aurora, also known as the northern lights, was visible without any special equipment in areas with clear skies and a good view north. Faint glimpses were even possible from some locations on the outskirts of cities. Dozens of social media posts captured the awe-inspiring sight, with reports of sightings in Pilsen, Český Krumlov, northern Moravia, Olomouc, Brno, and Blansko, among other locations. Polární záře nad Prahou☺️😍 pic.twitter.com/tEWW56sc9L — Lukas Biba (@bibalukas) May 10, 2024 Druhá vlna silné polární záře v ČR… tohle se nedá popsat slovy. Nestíháme prakticky fotit ! pic.twitter.com/25aSBhUucv — Lukáš Ronge (@RongeLukas) May 10, 2024 Nejsilnější polární záře od roku 2003 nad Českem! To byla noc! Nádhera! Fotky od fanoušků @veda24: Josef Kalous, Ondřej Pukl, Lukáš Šandl a Eliška Nýdlová. Další stovky fotek jsou na facebookové stránce @Vedact24. pic.twitter.com/s8REzdMRFD — Daniel Stach (@DanielStach) May 11, 2024 Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more
Czechs may be able to observe the aurora borealis, or northern lights, this weekend, due to a severe geomagnetic storm. Petr Horálek, astronomer at the Institute of Physics in Opava, said hat the natural phenomenon might be visible on both Friday and Saturday night, with chances increasing in the following days. “There’s a good possibility of capturing or even seeing auroras from mid-latitudes like the Czech Republic and Slovakia this Friday and Saturday nights,” Horálek explained. “This is due to the Sun’s active phase, which has produced ten powerful solar flares in the last 24 hours. These eruptions are expected to send plasma clouds hurtling towards Earth tonight, potentially triggering geomagnetic storms that could last through the weekend.” The celestial event comes as a result of at least four coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the Sun, which will see large amounts of plasma and magnetic flux emitted from our closest star. Auroras witnessed from the Czech Republic are typically faint. Inexperienced observers might confuse them with light pollution or faint reddish glows. However, this weekend presents favorable conditions for observation. “The moon, which can often wash out the phenomenon with its brightness, is currently in a new phase,” Horálek noted....
The 87th Ice Hockey World Championship kicks off in Prague and Ostrava today, May 10, and Czechia will play one of the two opening matches. This year, Czechia is in Group A, which is played in Prague. The Czechs will challenge Austria, Canada, Denmark, Great Britain, Finland, Norway and Switzerland. After nine years, Czechia will again host the Ice Hockey World Championship, bringing 16 top national teams to the center of the action to compete for the title. The organizers are expecting a large turnout of home fans. But it is certain that the fans of foreign teams will not be missing either, whether it is Canada, the United States of America, or the Scandinavian hockey giants, Sweden and Finland. Opening ceremony on Friday 10 May at 20:00 The official start of the 2024 IIHF WM, full of ice hockey history and emotions, will take place 20 minutes before the start of the evening game between Czechia and Finland, in Ostrava before the duel between Slovakia and the United States. “The first part of the opening ceremony consists of a clip accompanied by the voice of world-respected commentator Gord Miller and deals with how ice hockey has evolved over its...
Cars are the most popular way for people to commute to work in the Czech Republic. In fact, nearly 55% of workers rely on cars to get to their jobs. This is based on the latest data available from the Czech Statistical Office. In Prague, over 30%, commute by car. The Karlovy Vary region has the highest proportion of people who drive to work. There, two-thirds of commuters get behind the wheel every day. “In areas with lower population density and limited public transportation options, a car is often the only way for employees to get to work,” says Aleš Polák, CEO of leasing company Arval. The high number of people driving to work creates problems on Czech roads. This leads to more frequent traffic jams and can also negatively impact emissions and safety, as Polák points out. “The heavy reliance on car commuting is an environmental issue in the Czech Republic. The country has one of the oldest car fleets in the EU, with an average age exceeding 16 years last year. Many of these older cars are driven in the regions where people depend on them most to get to work. This results in a higher risk of...
The Czech Republic can expect a mostly cloudy weekend with highs reaching 22°C, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. However, skies will clear significantly compared to the previous week, marking a shift towards more typical spring weather. Thursday and Friday nights will be the last with a chance of frost on the ground, with temperatures dipping as low as 3°C in some areas. Expect highs ranging from 16°C to 20°C, with slightly cooler temperatures in the mountains. Friday will follow a similar pattern, with clear skies in the southeast gradually giving way to cloud cover in the northwest. Light rain showers are possible during the day, but clouds will diminish in the evening. Daytime highs will climb to 17-21°C. Saturday will see the most significant cloud cover, particularly in the northeastern of the country. Scattered showers are also a possibility in this area. Temperatures will remain pleasant, with highs reaching 18-22°C, although slightly cooler in the northeast (16-19°C). Sunday will be very similar to Saturday, with mostly cloudy skies and a chance of isolated showers. The good news is that rain is expected to taper off throughout the day, and clouds will start to break up. Overnight lows will be...
Starting May 3rd, Vachova Street in the heart of Brno became a pedestrian-only zone in the middle of the city centre. Cars have been replaced with comfortable seating areas and new greenery, while a rich cultural program curated by local businesses will animate the street for the next six months. This project is coordinated by designer Veronika Rút from the non-profit organisation Naše kultivovaná města (‘Our cultured cities’). “Inspired by similar projects in Milan and New York, we believe this intervention will be a huge success,” says Rút. “My vision was to unite the businesses on one street and create a shared summer living room,” explains Rút. “We convinced city officials, and Vachova Street was chosen. From May 3rd, it will be closed for six months, offering space for commercial and non-commercial gardens for everyone to enjoy.” Vachova Street was strategically selected for several reasons. Firstly, it’s a dead-end with minimal car traffic, minimizing disruption. Additionally, it had a limited number of parking spaces, with dozens more available in the nearby street. The street also boasts a diverse mix of shops and restaurants, from boutiques to pizza places and pubs. “We want something for everyone,” says Rút. “There will be...
Czechia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged month on month at 2.9% in March, Eurostat, the European Union’s (EU) statistical office, reported on Friday. This is the lowest result in the EU, Eurostat wrote, adding that the same unemployment rate was also recorded in Poland. The number of unemployed decreased to 515,000 in March from 516,000 in February, Eurostat pointed out. The general level of unemployment in the EU lay at 6 percent in March, a decrease by 0.1 percent when compared to February. On the other hand, Greece and Spain maintained the highest unemployment rates; with more than one in ten people who are able registering for employment. Eurostat estimates that 13.258 million persons in the EU, of whom 11.087 million in the euro area, were unemployed in March 2024. Compared with February 2024, unemployment decreased by 74 thousand in the EU and by 94 thousand in the euro area. Unemployment by sex In March 2024, the unemployment rate for women was 6.4% in the EU, stable compared with February 2024, and the unemployment rate for men was 5.7%, down from 5.8% in the previous month. In the euro area, the unemployment rate for women was 7.0%, stable compared with...
E-scooter accidents are becoming a major cause for alarm, with a disturbing trend of riders operating under the influence of alcohol. Statistics released by the Czech police reveal that a staggering 42% of e-scooter accidents in the past year involved riders who were intoxicated. As Novinky.cz reports, last year alone saw 499 scooter-related traffic accidents, with 403 caused by the scooter rider. Tragically, four people lost their lives in these incidents. While this is the first year the police have separated scooter statistics, data from the Prague Emergency Medical Service paints a worrying picture of a rapidly escalating problem. “In 2015, we responded to 30 cases of falls and injuries involving scooters. Last year, that number jumped to over 300,” stated Jana Poštová. “Almost no one wears helmets or protective gear, and alcohol use is extremely common among scooter riders,” she added. Poštová emphasized that only the most severe cases reach emergency services, suggesting the true number of accidents is much higher. “Ten of the 300 cases we treated required intensive care. The most common causes were alcohol intoxication, falls, head injuries, and abrasions. Even low-speed collisions can result in serious injuries, including fractures and life-threatening conditions,” she warned. Children...
Having a free Wednesday in the middle of the week sounds great, but what happens if you need to grab some groceries or do some shopping on a public holiday in the Czech Republic? The big question, though is whether large stores will be open, as there is little logic to the law that passed in 2016. The answer is mixed, with stores open on May 1 (Labor Day) but closed on May 8 (Victory Day). See below for more details. This guide will help you navigate store closures on May 1st and May 8th, which both fall on Wednesdays in 2024, as well as other public holidays throughout the year. Good News for Shoppers on May 1st! While some public holidays mean closed shops, there’s good news for May 1st. Stores are permitted to stay open on this national holiday. Here are other public holidays where shops can operate normally: December 24th (Christmas Eve) – with limited hours (until noon) Good Friday (falling between April 20th and 23rd in 2024) July 5th (Day of the Slavic Saints Cyril and Methodius) July 6th (Jan Hus Day) Plan Ahead for These Closed Shop Holidays May 8th (Victory Day) falls under a...
The Czech Republic is considering a new tax on sugary drinks in an attempt to combat rising obesity rates, particularly among children. Health Minister Vlastimil Válek believes a levy on sugary beverages will discourage consumption and improve public health. Government Divided on Sugar Tax The proposal has garnered support from most coalition parties, including the Mayors and Pirates. They argue that similar taxes in other European Union countries have proven effective in reducing sugar intake and generating revenue for public health initiatives. The National Economic Council (NERV) also backs the plan, suggesting a tax starting at 3.40 CZK per liter for drinks exceeding 50 grams of sugar per liter, with an additional 35 cents for every subsequent 10 grams. However, the opposition, particularly the ODS party, remains skeptical. They argue that the tax would unnecessarily complicate the tax system and unfairly burden consumers, especially after the recent VAT increase on beverages. A Tax on Vice or a Public Health Measure? Minister Válek emphasizes the need to regulate sugary drinks, highlighting their negative impact on children’s health. He believes the tax will incentivize manufacturers to reduce sugar content, ultimately leading to lower consumption. The debate centers on whether sugary drinks warrant...
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Czech Republic’s entry into the European Union, the creators of the popular webcomic “Opráski sčeskí historje” decided to have some fun. They imagined how Czech banknotes might look if the country adopted the euro currency, adding a unique twist. Instead of the usual European figures and monuments, these banknotes would showcase some of the Czech Republic’s most recognizable cultural icons: Forget the stoic faces on traditional euros. Here, the Brno astronomical clock, a beloved local landmark known for its, ahem, “phallic” features, takes center stage. Move over, fashionistas! The Czech euro features a man rocking the iconic socks-and-sandals combo, a guaranteed conversation starter. No Czech list would be complete without beer, and the euro wouldn’t be an exception. A mug of the country’s favorite beverage would be a refreshing addition to any wallet. European banknotes typically feature historical figures, but the Czechs take a different approach. Their euro would be graced by the image of a the Little Mole (Czech: Krtek, Krteček), a series of cartoons as well as the name of their title character, created between 1957 and 2002. Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more
A new memorial opened on Tuesday in the Czech Republic on the site of a former Nazi concentration camp for Roma, after a communist-era pig farm was removed. The official opening capped a process that took decades and was made possible after the Czech government agreed to remove the farm. “It´s very positive news for me that the whole project was completed,” said Jana Horvathova, the director of the Museum of Romani Culture, whose organization is in charge of the memorial. Roma and human rights activists had long demanded the removal of the farm from Lety, 95 kilometers south of Prague, where some 1,300 Czech Roma were sent between August 1942 and August 1943 during the Nazi occupation of what was then Czechoslovakia in World War II. At least 335 people died there, according to the latest research, the museum said, while most of the others were taken to the Nazis´ Auschwitz death camp. “Most of all, we’re here not to forget because to remember the horrors of the past is the best protection against living though them again,” Prime Minister Petr Fiala said at an opening ceremony that he attended together with President Petr Pavel. The government acquired the...
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