The Czech government said Wednesday it plans to build up to four nuclear reactors instead of one as the country tries to become more energy-independent and wean itself off fossil fuels. Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the decision to seek more reactors could reduce the price per reactor by up to 25%. The timing and locations are not yet decided. Three companies including U.S. firm Westinghouse, France’s EDF and Korea’s KHNP originally submitted bids to build one reactor at the Dukovany nuclear power station. It should become operational by 2036. As part of their bids, the companies had also submitted unbinding offers to build three more nuclear reactors. In a surprise move, the government announced that Westinghouse’s bid didn’t meet the conditions of the tender, and only EDF and KHNP have been asked to submit new, expanded bids in April. Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Sikela said an assessment of the bids should be completed by the end of May. The Czech Republic already relies on six nuclear reactors to generate more than a third of its electricity. Besides four in Dukovany, state-controlled power company CEZ operates two 1,000-megawatt reactors at the Temelin plant. Unlike its western neighbors Austria and...
By 2030, it’s expected that around 330,000 jobs in the Czech Republic might disappear because of the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI). Labor market expert Tomáš Ervín Dombrovský has pointed out that the way people work in the country is likely to change a lot for about a million Czechs in the next ten years. To help people navigate these changes and avoid losing jobs, Dombrovský shared some advice. Knowing that jobs will change quickly, Dombrovský says it’s important for everyone to adapt to the growing use of AI. While he recognizes that some jobs will disappear, he also sees the possibility of new opportunities emerging, although the details are still uncertain. “It’s important to understand that what I’ve already learned, what I already know, and what I’ve done won’t be enough. I’ll need to learn and improve much more in my work based on what the company needs.” He encourages people not to ignore digital skills, as they play a crucial role in staying good at your job in the future. Besides learning new tools, Dombrovský suggests job seekers should also develop additional skills that companies are looking for. He points out a growing demand for better collaboration...
Just as nature has its more favorable seasons, so the property market is similar. There are months when property sells well and months when the demand is very low. Therefore, it pays to plan ahead when thinking about going to market. A poorly chosen period means a slow sale at a lower price, whereas a well chosen period can result in a quick sale at a higher price. If you plan to sell real estate in the Czech Republic, you can schedule your sale based on the advice I’ll give you in this article. When is the best time to sell a property? Well, in the Czech Republic, the best time for selling homes is during the spring. The next good option is late summer. But remember, it’s not set in stone – other things matter too, like the type of property you are selling. If you’re looking to put your property on the market, March is a great month. That’s when a of potential buyers start actively looking. Usually, there are more people wanting to buy houses than there are houses available, creating a competitive atmosphere that might speed up the selling process and maybe even get you a...
Three people fell from the northern side of Mount Sněžka, on the border of Czechia and Poland, on Tuesday. Two of those involved in the accident died when they slipped on a mountain slope. Ivo Novák, spokesperson for the Hradec Králové Region Rescue Service, reported that three helicopters have been dispatched to the scene. Rescuers called for assistance from helicopters in Liberec and Hradec Králové. “There was a tourist fall on the Polish side of Sněžka, and Mountain Service rescuers are currently intervening,” confirmed Marek Fryš, spokesperson for the Mountain Service of the Czech Republic. Pavel Cingr, head of the Krkonoše Mountain Service, informed news server Novinky.cz that the individuals fell while descending from Sněžka to the valley of the Polish river Lomniczka. The Polish Krkonoše National Park issued a warning on the X network today about icy surfaces. Over the weekend, nine people sustained injuries on the ice, and a Polish tourist fell off a path on the Czech side of Sněžka due to icy conditions. “We received the report at 14:11. Two individuals fell from the Lomniczka cauldron and, unfortunately, lost their lives. The search for a third person, who was likely also present, is ongoing,” stated Sub-Inspector...
The Czech Republic’s government has signed an agreement with the United States to acquire 24 U.S. F-35 fighter jets as part of a deal worth about $6.6 billion, the biggest single purchase for the Czech military Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová and U.S. Ambassador Bijan Sabet signed a memorandum of understanding for the deal. The Czechs also signed a letter of offer and acceptance, the final step in completing a contract between the governments, the Czech Defense Ministry said. “By signing this intergovernmental agreement, our country and also our army enter a new era,” Černochová said. The Czech government approved the deal in September. The first of the 24 fighter jets should be delivered in 2031, with the rest by 2035. The American aircraft will replace the 14 JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets from Sweden that are currently used by the Czech army.
Accessing healthcare as a foreigner in Prague can often be a complex process, marked with long wait times and language barriers. Fortunately, there’s a refreshing alternative in the healthcare landscape for expat communities – Medica Mente Clinic. This clinic is dedicated to providing a welcoming environment for its clients by offering specialized services and multilingual support. We had the chance to discuss with a clinic representative the range of services and advantages available to the expats community. Q: Could you provide an overview of the clinic’s concept? Certainly. Medica Mente Clinic is located near the Andel metro station, offering a comprehensive range of specialized medical services. Our team comprises skilled practitioners, including general practitioners, endocrinologists, urologists, orthopedists, and experts in ultrasound diagnostics, among others. Importantly, we have a team of English-speaking doctors, which greatly eases communication for our international clientele. We go the extra mile by extending our operating hours, from 9 am to 8 pm on weekdays, and we’re open for business on weekends as well. At the heart of our concept is a commitment to being a foreigner-friendly clinic, dedicated to providing tailored services and support for expatriates. It’s important to note that we are a private medical...
A Czech Republic man who earned a Guinness World Record for the largest collection of Lego sets turned his love into a museum with four locations. Miloš Křeček, who received his first Lego set as a Christmas present when he was 5 years old, was verified by Guinness World Records as owning 6,005 different Lego sets. Křeček said his collection became too large to store at his home, leasing him to open the first Museum of Bricks location in Prague. The museum now has three more branches in Kutná Hora, Poděbrady and Špindlerův Mlýn. The collector said his favorite set is the Statue of Liberty, which he received on a sightseeing boat tour to the real Statue of Liberty in New York. “I bought more than 90% of all Lego sets myself,” Křeček told Guinness World Records, “but sometimes I will receive a set for my collection from my customers or acquaintances, which makes me very happy.” Křeček is often asked how much time he has spent building the sets in his lifetime, but he cannot give a precise answer. “Unfortunately, this cannot be calculated in any way,” he says. “But on average, one set will take you about two...
Czechia is planning to attract workers from southern EU countries like Spain and Portugal, which have a higher unemployment rate, in a bid to close its labour shortages. The plans have been revealed by the Minister of Labor Marian Jurečka, who noted that the country will target qualified and expert workers by establishing close cooperation with local institutions in some southern EU countries that mediate employment. “We are taking targeted steps to attract these people to our labor market. There are countries, especially in southern Europe, where the unemployment rate is significantly above the EU average. For young people, it can be as high as 10 to 15 percent. We want to bring in people with high competence, particularly in the fields of IT and research,” says Jurečka. The Minister has revealed his plans while presenting an interactive map of the necessary capacities of the workforce, together with the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Zdeněk Zajíček and the vice president of the Association of Industry and Transport, Milena Jabůrková. Through this model, the Czech authorities intend to identify the necessary measures that need to be taken in order to fill in labour shortages, in particular in key sectors like...
The Czech Parliament’s lower house on Friday approved an amendment to the country’s gun law that tightens requirements for owning a weapon more than a month after the worst mass killing in the nation’s history. The legislation now goes before the Senate and if approved there must then be signed by President Petr Pavel before becoming law. On Dec. 22, a lone shooter killed 14 people and wounded dozens before killing himself at a Charles University building in downtown Prague. The assailant was a 24-year-old student who had a proclivity for firearms, with a license to own eight guns, including two long guns. Authorities said he had no criminal record and therefore did not attract the attention of authorities. Parliamentary debate on the legislation had already begun before that shooting. Interior Minister Vit Rakusan has said it was hard to speculate whether the new rules would have prevented it if they had been in effect before it took place. In the 200-seat lower house, lawmakers approved the changes in a 151-0 vote. If approved by the Senate, where the ruling coalition government has a majority, and signed by President Petr Pavel, it would then be possible for authorities to seize...
A fast train collided with a truck in Karvinsko, killing one person and injuring at least 16 people, officials said. The Czech Railways said the driver of the train was killed. Police said their preliminary information shows dozens could be injured while the Czech Railways 16 people suffered injuries. Emergency services are currently at the scene. The accident occurred early in the morning when a fast train heading for Prague, hit a truck at a crossing near the town of Bohumin. Authorities say an investigation is underway into the cause of the crash. Czech Railways reported the collision on the Ostrava–Žilina line in the Bohumín–Dětmarovice section. The rescue system is fully engaged, and the police have confirmed one fatality, with ongoing emergency response efforts. The Railway Administration expects traffic disruptions throughout the day due to damage to the traction line, derailing of the locomotive, and a wagon. According to firefighters’ spokeswoman Kamila Langerová, 35 people were travelling on the train. Martin Kavka, a spokesman for the Railway Administration (SŽ), said the locomotive and one carriage were derailed after the collision and the overhead wires were damaged. “Traffic may be stopped in the area for the whole day,” he told ČTK....
A new law regulating the entry and stay of internationals has been finalized by Czechia’s Ministry of the Interior, which, by digitalising the residence agenda, will accelerate the residence procedure and contribute to a more transparent legal regulation of the stay of internationals. Confirming that it has revised the existing law related to the entry and stay of internationals in the country, the Ministry of the Interior considered the current law “outdated” and, as a result of frequent amendments, “confusing”. The main change in the law is the digitalization of the residence agenda, while there will not be any substantial changes related to the conditions for granting a residence permit. The Ministry has stressed that in parallel with the preparation of the new law, a new information system is being built. This system will incorporate the creation of an electronic identity and a foreigner’s account designed for non-citizens. “With digitization, we will speed up the residency procedure and reduce the administrative burden. The whole process will be easier and faster. Foreigners will be able to communicate online with the authorities from home and vice versa. This will make it easier not only for our workplaces, which are in charge of...
Candy and confectionery containing psychoactive substances have recently emerged on the Czech market, escaping any legal regulations. This has led to their unregulated sale in various forms, without quality testing, and without restrictions, including to minors. Jindřich Vobořil, the national coordinator for drug policy, has highlighted the potential risks associated with these products. Vobořil draws attention to products containing the new semi-synthetic cannabinoid HHC, which mirrors the effects of THC, the primary natural psychoactive substance in cannabis. He urges vendors to remove these products from the market before the New Psychomodulants Act is enacted. “The consumption of these products, often featuring high concentrations of cannabinoids, poses risks due to potential strong and unexpected intoxication. This can be attributed to the slow absorption of the active substances, their prolonged action, or the difficulty in controlling the course of intoxication after ingestion,” warned Vobořil. He further emphasized that the risk escalates when these products are combined with alcohol, drugs, or other substances with psychoactive effects, particularly in children. Vobořil deems it highly unethical to present these products in an enticing form for children and as food. “I urge manufacturers and sellers of HHC-containing products to reconsider their practices and withdraw such items...
Don’t have an account? Register
[swpm_registration_form level=”6″]
Already have an account? Log In
How Would You Like to Promote Your Business? PR ArticleDisplay bannersVideo productionNewsletter adsJob ListingsInfluencer Marketing
Your Email
We will come back to you within 24 hours with our proporsal
