Czech morning news in brief: Top headlines for September 14, 2021

Pirates + STAN narrow down post-election coalition possibilities

The Pirates + STAN electoral coalition has ruled out any post-election cooperation with the Communists, Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD), and the ruling ANO party led by Andrej Babiš, even if Babiš is no longer the leader of the party. The Pirates + STAN called on other parties to make a similar commitment.

Pirate leader Ivan Bartoš said the commitment is what voters would expect of their parties, coming as part of the group’s stance against parties and people associated with a corrupt past and conflicts of interest, and those that seek to undermine democratic values. Pirates + STAN said the priorities of the future government should be ending the country’s indebtedness, cutting out chaotic decision-making, and encouraging an educated society.

Czech participation in Expo 2020 to bring business opportunities

The Czech Republic’s participation in Expo 2020 in Dubai, the first Expo in the Arab world to be held from October to March, will generate opportunities for Czech companies and science enterprises, said Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhánek after a visit to the Czech Expo pavilion. Visitors to the Czech pavilion will see the Solar Air Water Earth Resource (S.A.W.E.R) system producing water from air using solar energy.

Kulhánek said this system is his favorite thing about the Czech pavilion, showing the kinds of advanced technologies that the Czech Republic can produce. Expo 2020 was postponed due to the Covid pandemic and will start on October 1. The organizers have prepared a virtual tour of the Expo, which will include the Czech pavilion.

Time to keep switching in the Czech Republic for next five years

The Czech Republic will switch to summer time on the last Sunday of March and back to winter time on the last Sunday of October for the next five years, Labor Minister Jana Maláčová said. The time switch system was set to end in 2019 and then this year, but EU member states have not been able to agree on whether summer or winter time should be chosen when switching stops.

Summer time was originally implemented to contribute to energy savings, but analyses from some countries have shown that the savings are minimal. Health experts meanwhile point out the negative influences of the time switch on human health.

Government unveils climate change action plan

Measures to be taken within the national action plan for combatting climate change until 2025 are estimated to cost CZK 139 billion, with three-fifths funded by domestic sources and CZK 52 billion coming from the EU. The Czech cabinet approved the updated climate change strategy today, as well as a longer-term strategy until 2030. While earmarking funds for the climate strategy, the cabinet also set out the expected climate developments in the Czech Republic and the world.

It mentioned long-lasting droughts, floods, heavy rain, increased temperatures, extreme winds, and wildfires as potential symptoms of climate change in the Czech Republic. The sectors most endangered are forest management, agriculture, water management, biodiversity and ecosystem services, health services, the urban landscape, tourism, and industry.

UPS expands European network with Prague facility

UPS has expanded its presence in Europe by opening a sorting and delivery facility in Tuchoměřice, Prague. The facility, covering an area of 8,500 square meters, is fitted with the latest package sorting technology enabling it to sort 5,000 packages per hour: five times more than the company’s previous facility in Ruzyně. The Tuchoměřice facility will serve as headquarters for UPS in Eastern Europe, providing freight and supply chain services in addition to sorting shipments.

The new facility is part of the company’s multi-year, $2 billion European investment plan. Small- and medium-sized business near the new hub is set to benefit from greater shipping flexibility thanks to later cut-off times and daily flights reaching key domestic and global markets including neighboring Germany.

Czech dog turns its paw to archaeology in Zlín region

A dog named Máša, taken for a walk by her owner near the town of Vsetín in the Zlín region, found a clay pot full of coins in a local wood. The pot was taken by the dog’s owner to officials of the Valašsko Regional Museum, before being opened and examined using a tomography device. The examinations confirmed that the 374 coins in the pot were made of Prague groschen silver, dated to the 14th century.

Máša’s proud owner said that the pot was buried only around 10 cm deep. A local archaeologist said that the surrounding area was subsequently searched, but no more treasure was found. Museum director Tomáš Vitásek said, “the treasure brought to our museum is one of the most important historical artifacts in the region.” “Máša is an archaeologist now,” declared her owner.