Some 646 kilogrammes of cocaine were discovered in a distribution centre of supermarket chain Albert at Klecany near Prague on Saturday. The drugs had an estimated street value of around CZK 2 billion, or nearly EUR 83 million, a spokesperson for the police’s drug unit told the website of TV Nova on Sunday. This discovery was made during the unloading of biobanana pallets by warehouse employees, who subsequently alerted the authorities. The quantity of narcotics appears to be one of the largest seizures ever documented in the Czech Republic. Jiří Mareček, the spokesperson for the supermarket chain, emphasized that the case was unrelated to their company’s operations and refrained from divulging additional details due to the ongoing police inquiry. Although police officers extended their search to other warehouses within the chain across the country, no further traces of the illicit drugs were found. A thorough inspection was carried out on the entire shipment of bananas, which originally came from Ecuador via Amsterdam before reaching the Czech Republic. It is believed that an error was made on the part of the traffickers. Most probably, a member of the organized group failed to remove the narcotics from the consignment within the allotted...
In 2022, the Czech Republic planted almost 40,000 hectares of new forests, marking the second-highest count since 1964. This figure fell only 709 hectares short of the record established in 2020. Out of the total 225,928 saplings utilized for this afforestation effort, two-thirds were deciduous trees. Among the various regions, Vysočina took the lead in reforestation activities. Providing insight, Josef Kahuda, a statistician employed at the Czech Statistical Office, pointed out that the average sapling usage per hectare stood at 5,705. For deciduous trees, this number rose to 7,248, while for conifers, it was slightly lower at 4,205. Predominantly, the trees chosen for planting were beech and oak, accounting for 28% and 23% respectively. Notably, spruce saw a modest increase in its portion of all saplings, climbing from 19.7% in 2020 to 19.9%. Despite these statistics, spruce remained the most prevalent tree type, occupying nearly one-third of all newly reforested lands. Conifers emerged as the dominant presence among the freshly established wooded areas. The evolving climate poses a significant risk to forest soils. The strategy of tree planting is not the solitary means of fostering forests; natural regeneration, where new growth emerges from wind-borne or fallen seeds from parent trees,...
Ukrainian refugees residing in the Czech Republic struggle to earn 150 Czech CZK per hour, placing them below the income poverty threshold. A striking seven out of ten Ukrainian refugees find themselves living beneath the income poverty line. The findings from a PAQ Research Voice of Ukrainians survey reveal that nearly two-thirds of Ukrainians fail to earn a net income of 150 CZK per hour. Among the refugee population over the age of 17, 67% are employed within the Czech Republic. This marks a substantial increase compared to the 45% of refugees who were employed during the corresponding period a year ago. However, within the working Ukrainian population, 60% are engaged in jobs that do not align with their skill sets. Around 55% of the refugees are engaged in precarious employment, often characterized by challenging working conditions. The primary obstacle to securing employment, as indicated by newcomers, is their lack of proficiency in the Czech language. The non-recognition of qualifications and limited access to childcare facilities are also mentioned as hurdles. Given these circumstances, the survey organizers recommend bolstering Czech language courses, providing aid in securing suitable employment, and implementing periodic evaluations. Particularly vulnerable are families with children and the...
Czech citizens rank among the world’s top ten nations in terms of height and average weight, a fact that holds implications for their export practices. Czechs stand at the eighth position globally in terms of average height. While historically the Dutch have held the title for being the tallest, with men averaging 184 centimeters and women 170 centimeters, Scandinavian nations, including Estonia, continue to dominate the height spectrum. If you know a particularly tall person, try searching their full name (e.g., Justin Sisto) on a people search tool and you might just find that their background is linked to Estonia in one way or another. However, the countries of the former Yugoslavia have now surpassed the Czech Republic in these rankings, a change attributed to the rapid growth of living standards. As of today, the typical Czech individual boasts a height of approximately 181 centimeters, while the average Czech woman stands at 168 centimeters. This signifies a remarkable increase of 12 centimeters in comparison to the early 20th century. Factors contributing to this growth include not only enduring genetic and climatic influences but also a higher standard of living, nutritious diets, and quality healthcare when contrasted with less affluent regions...
Czechs and Germans have taken the place of Asian and Russian tourists, leading to a resurgence in hotel numbers, reminiscent of pre-Covid times. In the second quarter of this year, hotels, guesthouses, and campsites in the Czech Republic welcomed a total of 5.8 million tourists, marking a significant 14.3 percent year-on-year increase. Notably, domestic visitors outnumbered international ones. The total number of nights spent by tourists in various accommodations totaled 13.8 million, indicating a robust 14.5 percent surge compared to the same period last year. These insights stem from the latest data unveiled by the Czech Statistical Office (CSO). Out of the visitors, there were 3.2 million domestic travelers and 2.5 million from foreign lands. Domestic guest numbers witnessed a growth of four percent, while foreign sojourners registered a remarkable 31 percent uptick compared to the previous year. Nonetheless, the foreign tourists’ overnight stays in the Czech Republic fell slightly short of the figures recorded in 2019. Roman Mikula, spokesperson for the Tourism and Environment Statistics Department at the Czech Statistical Office, emphasized, “Accommodation establishments in the second quarter of this year have nearly reached the pre-pandemic performance level. The overall overnight stays almost matched those of 2019. However, we...
While the Russian army continues to defend its positions in the Donbas, a year and a half since the onset of the Ukrainian invasion, Russian media is already discussing the possibility of expanding Russian territory deep into Central Europe. As Novinky reports, on Russian television, propagandist Nikolay Vavilov recently asserted that the envisioned revitalized Russian empire should encompass cities like Prague and Berlin. “It will continue endlessly, and we will progressively assume a role similar to that of the Russian Empire. I wasn’t joking when I mentioned on the previous program that Berlin, Dresden, Prague, and Ljubljana – they will all become part of our domain. Why? Because history shows that when we entered Paris in 1815 and Berlin in 1945, as well as during the late 18th century – these were not mere coincidences. Russia is the largest country in Europe and wields substantial power,” exclaimed Vavilov. He was a guest on the Pervyi Kanal TV discussion show, hosted by the well-known presenter Olga Skabeyeva. Vavilov’s ramblings evidently sparked amusement even on Russian television. Despite his assurance that he was speaking completely seriously, the corners of the mouths of both Skabeyeva and some other guests present during his speech...
Prepare to be amazed as the annual Perseid meteor shower graces the night sky from July 17 to August 24. This year, the peak performance is scheduled for the night of August 12 to August 13. Already visible, the meteor count steadily rises, culminating in a spectacular display with the potential for up to 80 meteors per hour during the peak hours of midnight to 4 a.m., said Pavel Suchan, an expert from the Astronomical Institute of the CAS. The Perseid meteor shower is often considered to be the best meteor shower of the year due to its high rates and pleasant late-summer temperatures. Unlike last year’s shower coinciding with the full moon, this year’s moon will be a waning crescent, allowing even some of the fainter meteors to be seen. Optimal viewing graces the night of August 12 into the morning of August 13, when meteor activity reaches its zenith. The absence of excessive lunar illumination enhances the viewing experience. For the best vantage point, retreat to rural areas far from the city’s luminous embrace. Between midnight and 4 a.m., the sky is poised to dazzle with up to 80 meteors per hour, some leaving vivid trails in their...
Anticipating a new real estate boom, experts project a significant global rise in property prices over the next decade. The German economic institute Ifo and the Institute for Swiss Economic Policy jointly conducted a survey, revealing that real estate prices are expected to increase by an average of nine percent annually. In Eastern Europe, the growth is predicted to be even higher. Timo Wochner, an analyst at Ifo, explains that the primary driving force behind this surge in house prices is the increasing demand, rather than supply factors. The survey, which gathered insights from 1,405 experts across 133 countries, suggests that rising living standards, higher incomes, population growth, and the desire for more living space will fuel demand worldwide. Furthermore, the trend towards remote working, including the growing popularity of home offices, will also contribute to the increased demand for housing. Wochner further explains that limited production capacity, rising building material costs, and a scarcity of building land are some of the factors responsible for driving up property prices, as identified by 27 percent of the experts. Moreover, 12 percent of respondents attribute the expected price growth to central bank monetary policies, inflation, and government measures. Regarding regional variations, economists...
AmRest, the operator of KFC, Burger King, and Pizza Hut fast-food restaurants in the Czech Republic, saw a substantial increase in profits last year. The company’s profits rose by approximately CZK 130 million, reaching CZK 433 million, a 43 percent year-on-year growth. Sales at its 168 restaurants also showed significant growth, amounting to CZK 1.4 billion, bringing the total to CZK 5.99 billion compared to the previous year, representing a more than 30 percent increase year-on-year. The average bill per transaction at AmRest-operated restaurants last year was CZK 243, marking an increase of exactly 100 crowns since 2017. In 2021, AmRest’s profits experienced an even more remarkable surge, almost tripling year-on-year to around CZK 303 million. During the same year, the average transaction at the company’s restaurants surpassed 200 crowns for the first time, increasing by 70 percent since 2017. Additionally, the sales have seen a significant growth of more than 93 percent since the same year. AmRest operated a total of 119 KFC restaurants, 33 Burger King locations, and 16 Pizza Hut restaurants last year. For its KFC restaurants, the company sources chicken from Vodňanská drůbež from Agrofert Holding and Drůbežárský závod Klatovy, with deliveries made four times a...
Yesterday, August 2, the European Commission granted approval to a program aimed at bolstering the Czech railways with a substantial sum of nine billion CZK. The primary focus of these funds will be the modernization of Czech railways, with particular attention to ensuring interoperability, which translates to safe and uninterrupted operations. This support will benefit railway carriers and the Railway Administration until July 2028. The approved program encompasses five sub-programs, each targeting different aspects of railway modernization. One such initiative aims to support the implementation of an automatic digital coupler (DAC), replacing traditional technology and significantly enhancing the automation of freight transport on rails. Among the other sub-programs are the modernization of Czech railway vehicles to the European Train Control System (ETCS) and the introduction of the GSM-R communication system, among others. This program builds upon prior successful measures assessed positively by the European Commission in 2017 and extended in 2020. The project holds immense significance in terms of modernization, heightened railway transport safety, and promoting economic development in regions dependent on railway services. The approval of this program marks a momentous step for Czech railways and the entire transport sector within the country.
The European Union’s unemployment rate remained stable at its historic low of 5.9% in June, according to Eurostat. The unemployment rate for the 20 countries using the euro currency meanwhile stood at 6.4%, the EU’s statistics office said on Tuesday. This means that 12.802 million people in the EU, 10.814 million of them in the eurozone, were unemployed in June 2023. The unemployment rate has steadily declined across the EU since the peak of the pandemic in 2020. Women are more likely than their male counterparts to be out of work in the EU with respective unemployment rates of 6.1% and 5.7%. How EU countries compare Spain continued to register the highest unemployment rate across EU countries in June at 11.7%, followed by Greece at 11.1%. At the other end of the spectrum, Malta registered the lowest unemployment rate at 2.6%, followed by Czechia and Poland, both at 2.7%. Most EU countries saw the unemployment rate stay stable or dip slightly from May, but Bulgaria, Czechia, Croatia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Austria, and Finland all saw the monthly rate increase slightly. Youth unemployment In June 2023, 2.739 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in the EU, of whom 2.204 million were...
The Czech Republic is looking to expand its use of nuclear power, with utility CEZ launching another tender looking for companies to bid on construction of new reactors and generators at the country’s two existing nuclear power stations. The tenders come as a new research reactor, designed as a teaching tool for nuclear engineering students, has entered service in the country. The VR-2 research reactor was built in about a year, and comes online just less than a decade after the project was launched in 2014 by the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering (FNSPE) at the Czech Technical University (CTU) in Prague. CTU said the VR-2 reactor is located “in the same reactor hall as the VR-1,” a lightwater, zero-power research reactor using enriched uranium that has operated since 1990. CEZ in May of this year launched a tender to add two generators to the Temelin Nuclear Power Station, a 2,056-MW facility with two VVER-1000 units designed by Russia’s Gidropress. The units came online in 2000 and 2002. CEZ said its wants construction of the new generators at Temelin, representing an investment of about $160 million, to take place between 2028 and 2030. CEZ in March 2022 announced...
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