News: Sunday, November 24th, 2024

Lipavský discusses ammunition initiative and cooperation with Ukrainian president in Kyiv

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Saturday, following the conclusion of a food security summit. Their discussions focused primarily on the Czech initiative to supply ammunition and the enhancement of bilateral cooperation. President Zelensky hosted the third summit of the Grain from Ukraine initiative in Kyiv, a program he launched in 2022 to support humanitarian grain shipments to vulnerable countries while also bolstering Ukraine's agricultural sector.

State Department spokesperson Drake informed reporters that Lipavský and Zelensky discussed the potential for future negotiations in more integrated formats, the continuation of Czech-led efforts to supply artillery ammunition through both EU and non-EU sources, and ways to strengthen Ukrainian civil society. After meeting with his counterparts Andriy Sybiha and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Friday, Lipavský noted that the Ukrainian representatives expressed appreciation for the Czech ammunition initiative and expressed a desire for its continuation in the coming year.

President Pavel visits Czech and Slovak diaspora in Australia

Maintaining traditions, customs, language, and a sense of community over such a distance is no easy task, Czech President Petr Pavel remarked during his visit with Czech and Slovak compatriots in Australia. He began his official trip to Australia and New Zealand, which runs until December 5, at the Czechoslovak Country Club.

According to the presidential office, this visit represents a significant gesture of support for expatriate communities and aims to strengthen their connection to their homeland. The Czech community in both countries has been steadily growing and now represents one of the largest Czech diasporas globally, numbering in the tens of thousands.

Fire breaks out near Litvínov chemical plant, damage at 20 million

The fire was reported to the operations center on Saturday evening, shortly before 8:00 PM on Saturday, and was fully extinguished by approximately 12:30 AM on Sunday. Following consultations with the company’s technologists, firefighters allowed the remaining product to burn off while using water from 14 water cannons to cool the equipment. As a precaution, they also surrounded the affected area with heavy foam.

Unipetrol spokesperson Pavel Kaidl described the incident as a localized fire in the ethylene unit. According to Milan Rudolf, spokesperson for the Ústí nad Labem Region Fire and Rescue Service, investigators have revised the estimated damage caused by the fire at the Orlen Unipetrol chemical plant in Litvínov from CZK 50 million to CZK 20 million. The response effort saved property valued at half a billion crowns.

While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, a fish kill has been discovered in the nearby Bílina River. The exact scale of the environmental impact is still being assessed.

Record 640 tons of goods collected in stores in autumn food collection

During the autumn round of the nationwide food collection on Saturday, 640 tonnes of goods were donated in stores across the country—a record in the event’s 11-year history, surpassing last autumn’s total by several dozen tonnes. Of this, 572 tonnes were food items, and 68 tonnes were toiletries. Additionally, donations can continue via online shopping platforms until December 3.

The event involved 2,250 physical stores and over 5,000 volunteers. Donations are also being accepted through six e-shops. The collection, held biannually in spring and autumn, previously gathered 565 tonnes this past spring and approximately 624 tonnes in the autumn of 2023.

The primary goal of the charity initiative is not only to assist those in need but also to encourage solidarity with individuals struggling to afford basic durable food and hygiene products. The most frequently donated items included canned goods, baby food, instant soups, long-life milk, cooking oil, rice, pulses, pasta, as well as essential and children’s hygiene products.

Number of email cyber threats in Czechia increased by 73 percent

Email-based cyber threats surged by 73% in Czechia during the third quarter, marking the second-largest global increase after Turkey's 80%. Colombia ranked third with a 59% rise, according to antivirus company Gen Digital's quarterly report.

Gen analysts attributed this sharp increase to cybercriminals' improved ability to evade spam filters. Additionally, attacks aimed at stealing sensitive information, known as infostealers, grew in Czechia, alongside a proliferation of traditional dating scams.

In mobile communications, a new spyware called NGate surfaced in Czechia. This malware accesses sensitive data and can clone NFC information from credit cards, enabling theft during ATM withdrawals or contactless payments.

Meteorologists warn of strong winds up to 70 kilometers per hour in Frýdlant and Silesia

Extreme winds are forecasted in the Frýdlant region and Silesia from Sunday through Monday, with gusts potentially reaching up to 70 kilometers per hour, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ). The warning remains in effect until 7:00 PM on Monday.

Meteorologists recommend securing loose objects, as well as ensuring windows and doors are firmly closed in affected areas. There is a possibility of tree damage, minor building damage, and disruptions to traffic.

Šíma's monumental painting Země sold at auction for nearly CZK 60.5 million

Josef Šíma's painting Země (Earth) was sold today at an auction held at Žofín Palace in Prague for CZK 60.48 million, including the auction surcharge, setting a new world auction record for the artist. Markéta Horešovská from Galerie Kodl confirmed the milestone. The monumental work from 1960 is now among the ten most expensive paintings ever auctioned in Czechia.

Země is Šíma's (1891–1971) largest painting. It began the auction with a starting price of CZK 10 million and ultimately sold for CZK 50.4 million before the auction surcharge was added.

The painting is considered the pinnacle of Šíma's second creative phase, which began in the 1950s after a break from artistic production. It embodies the hallmarks of his post-war work: muted colors, abstracted forms, and profound metaphysical undertones. Originally, the painting was part of the collection of Parisian art collector and gallerist Paul Facchetti.

Weather forecast

Monday should be mostly sunny with temperatures reaching up to 8 °C. Extreme winds of up to 70 kilometers per hour are expected in the Frýdlant region and Silesia.