Film awards presented in Karlovy Vary

The prizes were awarded at the famous International Film Festival in Karlovy Vary last weekend. The main prize, the Crystal Globe, went to the film "Raději zešílet v divočině" ("Better to go mad in the wilderness") by Slovakian director Miro Remo, a documentary about a pair of twin brothers who live as dropouts on a lonely farm in the Bohemian Forest. Or rather, one should say: lived. Because one of the two 62-year-old brothers, František Klišík, died the night after the award ceremony, which they had both attended. The exact circumstances of his death have not yet been revealed, except that his body was found in a pond in a village near Prague.

The director visited the two brothers Ondřej and František Klišík repeatedly over the course of five years and followed their lives. He did not spare the conflicts between them. Incidentally, we intend to show the film next year during the Czech-German Culture Days.

Other prizes went to the Norwegian Pia Tjelta as best leading actress for her role in the romantic drama "Don't Call Me Mama" and to the German-Spanish actor Alex Brendemühl as best leading actor for his role in the film "When a River Becomes the Sea".The Special Jury Prize went to the Iranian film "Bidad" ("Injustice") by director Soheil Beiraghi about a young singer who fights against the fact that women are not allowed to perform in public in Iran. A special award also went to 15-year-old Kateřina Falbrová for her role in the film "Sbormistr" ("The Choirmaster").

What next for the goat track?

The Czech railroad administration Správa železnic has presented a list of lines for which a number of parameters would justify closure. This is not yet a decision, but a basis for negotiations with local authorities.

This list also includes a section of the so-called Goat Railway between Oldřichov u Duchcova and Krupka město. The goat train was out of service for years until operations between Děčín and Krupka were resumed as tourist line T11 (information and timetables here). The rest of the line from Krupka to Oldřichov u Duchcova is now under consideration, as its repair would probably cost around CZK 200 to 300 million. The railroad administration considers this uneconomical, but the Ústí district would like to use the line as an extended tourist route. Now both have to negotiate with each other.

Czech Republic relaxes drug policy

A reform of criminal law approved by the Czech Senate at the beginning of July, which will come into force in January 2026, also includes new regulations regarding the possession and consumption of cannabis. In future, the cultivation of up to three cannabis plants per person will be legal, as will the possession of up to 100 grams of cannabis at home and the carrying of up to 25 grams on the road. In addition, minor violations of these limits will no longer automatically be treated as a criminal offense, but as an administrative offense. In future, a clearer distinction will be made between offenses committed with or without the intention to sell.

Until now, drug policy in the Czech Republic has been relatively relaxed with regard to cannabis, but possession was still not legal. Anyone caught with up to 15 grams was not prosecuted, but treated as an administrative offense (and often not prosecuted at all).

New nuclear power plant units cost CZK 407 billion

The website e15.cz has calculated from the recently published contracts between the South Korean company KHNP and the majority state-owned operating company Elektrárna Dukovany II that the new nuclear power plant in Dukovany will cost around CZK 407 billion (approx. EUR 16 billion). The website emphasizes that many sections of the contracts have been blacked out and that the total sum had to be calculated from various individual figures.

Jackals detected in the Czech Republic

There have been individual reports of jackal sightings in the Czech Republic for several years, but now it has become known that their presence has been confirmed for the first time using wildlife camera footage. As reported by the Agency for Nature and Landscape Conservation of the Czech Republic, this was achieved at the beginning of April in the Tabulová nature reserve near Břeclav in the south-east of the Czech Republic.

The jackal spreads naturally from the Balkans. It arrived in the Czech Republic via Hungary, where it is already relatively common, and Slovakia. It has been suggested that one of the possible reasons for the current spread of the jackal into new areas is climate change and the shortening of permanent snow cover in the areas it inhabits. The absence of predators such as the wolf also favors the spread. In terms of behavior (including towards humans) and diet, the jackal is said to be comparable to the fox.

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Edmundsklamm gorge open again from July 19

The municipal council of Hřensko decided yesterday to reopen the Edmundsklamm Gorge from next week. However, this is associated with a number of restrictions.

The Edmundsklamm will be open to the general public from June 19, before which it will be open to the residents of Hřensko on June 15 and 16 and to a closed group on June 17.

For the time being, only 50 people are allowed to enter the gorge per day. This is only possible as part of a guided tour. The boats turn back at the end, so it is not possible to walk on to the Wilde Klamm. Tickets can only be purchased at the tourist information office at the municipal office in Hřensko. The price has not yet been set, but it is speculated to be around CZK 400. In the event of bad weather, access will be suspended, which will be decided on a day-to-day basis. Visitors with baby carriages, dogs, small children or people with reduced mobility are not allowed to visit for the time being.

Lignite mining in Bílina will end by 2033 at the latest

The last Czech lignite mine in Bílina will cease operations on December 31, 2033 at the latest. This was announced yesterday by the Czech Mining Authority. The operating company Severočeské doly, which belongs to the semi-state-owned energy group ČEZ, had agreed on this date with the Czech government in May and applied for the operating license itself. However, ČEZ also has plans to become climate-neutral by 2030. It is therefore uncertain whether the operation of the Bílina mine will continue at all until 2033.

Ten years ago, the limits for possible lignite mining were extended beyond the limits set in the 1990s, which was highly controversial at the time. ČEZ has not yet claimed this extension and is unlikely to do so again. Two years ago, the company applied for an operating license until 2035, having even indicated a long-term mining perspective until 2050 five years earlier. However, the Czech government was already pursuing a plan to phase out coal by 2033 at the time and appears to have achieved this goal through negotiations.

Government approves state treaty on the Ore Mountains tunnel

The Czech government has approved the draft contract for the construction of the railroad tunnel through the Ore Mountains as part of the Dresden-Prague high-speed rail line. The tunnel will be just over 30 km long, of which almost 12 km will be in the Czech Republic. The construction costs are currently estimated at around 1.8 billion euros. According to the contract, the Czech Republic will bear around 39 percent of these costs. Passenger trains will be able to travel at 200 km/h in the tunnel, thus helping to reduce the travel time from Dresden to Prague to one hour.

DB InfraGO AG and DB Energie GmbH will be responsible for operation on the German side, while the Czech state railroad administration Správa železnic will be responsible for operation on the Czech side. The contract still has to be ratified by the parliaments in Prague and Berlin.

EU sees progress in the rule of law

In its annual report on the state of the rule of law in the EU member states, the European Commission on Tuesday acknowledged that the Czech Republic has made progress in areas such as shortening the duration of proceedings and the remuneration of judges and public prosecutors. Deficits were still noted in investigations into corruption at the highest level and in the transparency of media ownership.

According to the Commission, the Czech judicial system works efficiently, but there are still gaps. It therefore recommends that further measures be taken to shorten the duration of proceedings and ensure the independence of investigations and prosecutions in high-level corruption cases, as well as to resume the review of legislation on conflicts of interest.

According to the European Commission, transparency of media ownership remains a problem area where no positive developments can be reported. "Police are stepping up efforts to tackle attacks on journalists, but harassment of journalists online remains a problem," the report states.

Moose in Zlín

A young moose has applied for the role of the animal that will fill this year's summer slump in the Czech Republic. It has already been spotted several times in the area around Zlín in the past two weeks, feasting on greenery in gardens, swimming in lakes, running around on roads and showing little fear of people or cars. There are therefore also several videos of him, e.g. here or here. Occasionally the police accompany him and try to lure him away from traffic routes.

It is thought to have migrated from Poland. There are said to be around 20 moose in the Czech Republic, 15 of them in Šumava. It is speculated that the moose is on its way there from Poland.

 

(This is an automatic translation by DeepL Translator.)

No trespassing in Bohemian Switzerland at night

The administration of the Bohemian Switzerland National Park has issued a ban on entering the area of the national park at night. The reason for this is the high risk of fire due to drought and heat. The ban applies daily from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. as long as there is at least a medium risk of fire. If the fire risk increases further, you are only allowed to walk on marked paths. You can find the current regulations on the website of the National Park Administration (in Czech, but this can be solved technically).

Firefighters and park rangers had their first major operation near Jetřichovice on Monday when a fire broke out at Rudolfův kámen (Rudolf's Stone). Eleven fire department units and a helicopter helped to extinguish the fire, which covered an area of around 8,000 square meters.

Yesterday morning, numerous people in northern Bohemia called the fire department to report a possible forest fire due to the smell of smoke. However, this smoke came from the large fire in the Gohrischheide north of Zeithain and even extended as far as Liberec. The Czech media were therefore reassured and advised to keep the windows closed.

Blackout throughout the Czech Republic

Today, Friday, the Czech Republic was hit by a widespread blackout around midday, most severely in Prague and the north of the country. The blackout had a major impact on public transport, mobile communications and simple things like electronic payments. The fire department had to be called out in many cities to rescue people from stuck elevators.

The failed substations were all back in operation in the afternoon and the power supply was gradually being switched back on. The cause of the large-scale power outage has not yet been clarified. According to a company that operates the power grid, a top-level line that supplies the north and east of the country failed. According to the National Cyber and Information Security Agency, the power outage is not the result of a cyber attack.

D8 highway completely closed

As in April, the D8 highway just over the border has been completely closed for a week since Wednesday. The reason is the renovation of the tunnels on this stretch. Two different detour routes have been signposted. You can find all the details in our report from Tuesday. Another complete closure for a week will take place at the beginning of October.

Czech Republic experiences driest six months since 1961

The first half of the year has not been as dry as this year for 64 years. According to preliminary data, only 222 millimetres of precipitation have fallen since January, which corresponds to around 66 percent of the normal value from 1991 to 2020, reports the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. Even though it rained the most in the north and west, the regions did not differ greatly. February was the driest month, with only around a third of the usual amount of precipitation. The best month was June, but even then it was only 76 percent of the normal amount.

As a result, according to the Intersucho project, the Czech Republic is currently experiencing very high soil dryness. Over 80% of the country suffers from severe to extreme drought, while only a negligible part is not affected by drought. The few areas with low to moderate drought are mainly located in the north and west of the Czech Republic.

Czech Republic particularly climate change skeptical

According to a recent Eurobarometer survey, the Czech Republic is one of the three countries in the EU where climate change is seen as the least problematic. While an EU average of 85% of respondents think that climate change is a serious problem, only 67% in the Czech Republic, followed only by Romania (65%) and Estonia (60%). In Germany, 84% of respondents said the same. When it comes to support for the EU's goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2050, the Czech Republic is in second-last place with only 51% (ahead of Estonia with 46%). In Germany, 80% are in favor of this.

Small holidays in the Czech Republic

Tomorrow, July 5, is a public holiday in the Czech Republic, as is July 6. The former celebrates the arrival of the missionaries Cyril and Methodius in Moravia in 863, while the latter is dedicated - slightly macabrely - to the burning of Jan Hus at the stake in Constance in 1415. As both days fall on the weekend, our neighbors unfortunately cannot look forward to additional days off. As both are also so-called minor public holidays, on which all larger stores are also allowed to open, they are practically unnoticeable this year.

 

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New ridge path in the Ore Mountains

From Petrovice to Keilberg: the ridge trail on the Bohemian side of the Ore Mountains is now complete. The missing 143-kilometer section was opened this week. The section connects to the existing Ore Mountain Ridge Trail in the Karlovy Vary district. The ridge trail is also already signposted from the east, so that hikers can now use it in the Ore Mountains and Bohemian Switzerland as far as the Šébr Pass.

The historic ridge trail in the Ore Mountains was opened in 1902 and was established by the German-Bohemian Ore Mountains Association. Based on the historic ridge path, the new one can also be recognized by the typical blue ridge.

Dresden researcher: better public transport services in the Czech Republic

Dresden researcher Steffen Dutsch believes that local public transport services in the Czech Republic are better than in Germany. In an interview for Radio Prague, Dutsch considers the Czech Republic to be ahead in terms of network density, frequency of journeys and operating times, which are better in regional transport in particular. A not insignificant factor is also the attractive pricing. The interest of the media and politicians in public transport is also higher in the Czech Republic, which he himself feels. In Germany, there are no interviews with him on this topic. As a result, public transport is also used much more in the Czech Republic. At the same time, there are significantly more means of transport available to passengers in the Czech Republic. While Leipzig has an average of 2,500 passengers per means of public transport at peak times, Brno has only 750. The comparison is similar for smaller cities: Pirna has an average of 2,200 passengers, while Děčín has only 1,500.

Steffen Dutsch heads the Public Transport Research Group at the Faculty of Transport at the Technical University of Dresden. He is particularly interested in local public transport in the Czech Republic and cross-border transport to and from Germany. He is currently working with Czech colleagues on a better cross-border transport service for Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland.

New environmental assessment for Děčín barrage

The Czech Waterway Directorate RVC has launched a new environmental assessment procedure for the planned Elbe barrage at Děčín. The last procedure was aborted years ago without success because the client was unable to present any compensation measures for the vegetation near the banks of the river that would disappear during the construction of a barrage. The new procedure should now also make appropriate compensation measures possible.

The barrage is to be built unchanged in the area of the Loubí district downstream of the Elbe and will raise the Elbe by up to 3.5 meters. The barrage is to extend to the southern end of the city near Nebočady. RVC wants the barrage to enable stable year-round freight shipping, which is currently not possible for up to six months of the year due to low water levels.

However, the structure is highly controversial. Environmental associations and the Bohemian Switzerland National Park are against it. The city of Děčín itself is positive about the project. The environmental assessment is expected to take two years. It is expected that the Saxon neighbors will also be allowed to have their say. The last environmental assessments were also cross-border.

Court overturns Babiš acquittal

The Supreme Court in Prague has overturned the acquittal of former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš in the "Stork's Nest" case and returned it to the Municipal Court of Prague for a new trial. This is the second time that the acquittal has been overturned. After the Municipal Court acquitted Babiš at the beginning of 2023, the same decision followed again in the previous year after the Supreme Court had already called for a retrial in the fall of 2023.

Babiš is accused of subsidy fraud. He and his company Agrofert are alleged to have illegally collected EU funding for the construction of the "Stork's Nest" vacation resort south of Prague. In its new reasoning, the Supreme Court now leaves little room for an acquittal. This could have consequences for the upcoming parliamentary elections in the fall. According to opinion polls, Babiš's ANO party is clearly in the lead and he has a good chance of becoming prime minister again. The Pirates have already called for Babiš to step down as lead candidate. Babiš himself considers the proceedings to be politically motivated. The former entrepreneur was also one of the richest people in the Czech Republic for a long time.

(This is an automatic translation by DeepL Translator.)

The steering committee for the small project fund in the Elbe/Labe Euroregion met today in Modlany. With 27 project applications, it received more applications for decision than ever before in this funding period. Funding amounting to €212,937.20 was approved for 24 applications. Two applications were rejected and one was deferred for revision.

Sports projects made up a large proportion of the applications this time, while the areas of culture and education were also well represented.

13 of the approved applications with a funding volume of €98,831.60 came from German applicants, ten applications with a funding volume of €114,105.60 came from Czech applicants.

All information on the individual projects (including those rejected) can be found in the list of projects.

To the list of projects

(This is an automatic translation by DeepL Translator.)