a police official said.Slovakia's capital Bratislava and the Hungarian capital Budapest were both preparing for possible flooding as the River Danube rose.Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter said efforts were focused on keeping the river and its tributaries within their banks and said up to 12,000 soldiers were on standby to help.In Austria the levels of rivers and reservoirs fell overnight as rain eased but officials said they were bracing for a second wave as heavier rain was expected.($1 = 3.8398 zlotys)(This story has been refiled to add a dropped last name in the byline)Reporting by Jason Hovet and Jan Lopatka in Prague Pawel Florkiewicz and Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk in Warsaw Gergely Szakacs and Krisztina Than in Budapest Writing by Jason Hovet and Alan Charlish; Editing by Angus MacSwan Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Study shows extreme rainfall made twice as likely by planet-heating pollution as EU promises €10bn in aid and she was not prepared for the nightmare that would await her once it stopped The authorities told Šišmová to leave her home so she took her children to their grandmother to wait out the storm a neighbour – one of the few on her street who stayed behind – checked the front of the house and saw the sandbags holding firm drenching her belongings in dirty brown water a sales manager and single mother of three People on a flooded road in Maiduguri, Nigeria, last week. Photograph: Ahmed Kingimi/ReutersThe extreme levels of rain in Europe were made twice as likely by planet-heating pollution a rapid attribution study found on Wednesday a climate scientist from the Global Change Research Institute said a 7% average increase may not sound like a lot but can be enough to render a dam useless and there is a relatively small space in between.” In towns along the Czech Republic’s border with Poland residents described how the supercharged torrents of water tore their lives apart the city library said it lost more than 20,000 books to the flood waters and only had enough time to save the most important volumes from its collection said the loss was “negligible” compared with what other people had experienced but “it is sad and painful for anyone who loves books to see something like this.” aggravated by wind patterns in the mountains and the bare slopes on which bark beetles had ravaged spongy spruce forests The sewage system in the city failed and the flood smeared a layer of toxic mud across its streets Streets were inundated in Jesenik Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images“Now it’s dried up people are breathing the dust and getting diarrhoea,” said Adriana Černá an executive board member of People in Need a humanitarian group working with the rescue services “From day to day the situation is getting better Scientists have shown that warm air can hold more moisture – about 7% for each 1C increase in temperature – which allows for more violent rainfall if enough water is available Mountain towns such as Jesenik are particularly vulnerable. A study last year found a 15% increase in extreme rainfall per degree of warming at high altitude – double that expected by the physical relationship between temperature and moisture content Free weekly newsletterThe planet's most important stories Get all the week's environment news - the good estimated the damage would come to 2m Czech crowns (£66,000) said she had cried in recent days because she no longer knew if she wanted to live there “I don’t know if I want to be part of another flood in a few years.” But Michal Žák, a meteorologist at Czech Television, said although more rain fell over the total period in 1997 than in 2024, the one-day maximum amounts were greater in the latest disaster. “The extremity of the precipitation in the models was quite impressive,” said Žák, who had been alarmed by the projections. “I was not so sure it would really happen, but finally it did.” Volunteers have been arriving to help clean up, with authorities asking that they register with aid groups before arrival. Václav Kvapil, a carpenter who runs a guesthouse in a village near Jesenik with his wife, said they hosted 80 volunteers for free after prospective visitors cancelled their reservations. “We were surprised how many people wanted to come,” he said. “In the end, we were forced to refuse some people because the house was so full.” 20242:51 PM UTCIn pictures: Historic flooding hits central EuropeThe death toll from the worst flooding central Europe has seen in at least two decades rose as authorities in some areas counted the cost of the destruction while others prepared for the crisis to reach them [2/50]A man carries out an armchair while tidying up an apartment in the aftermath of flooding by the Biala Ladecka River in Ladek Zdroj [3/50]A woman walks near a destroyed car in the aftermath of flooding by the Biala Ladecka River in Ladek Zdroj [6/50]A woman walks near a destroyed car during the aftermath of flooding by the Biala Ladecka River in Ladek Zdroj [8/50]Soldiers carry sandbags to strengthen the dam along the river Danube in Pilismarot [9/50]Soldiers carry sandbags to strengthen the dam along the river Danube in Pilismarot [10/50]A person looks at floodwaters following heavy rainfalls in Bela pod Pradedem [11/50]A view of a destroyed house in the aftermath of flooding following heavy rainfalls [12/50]A man walks next to a damaged vehicle in the aftermath of flooding following heavy rainfalls [13/50]A general view was taken by drone of a courtyard area flooded by Nysa Klodzka river in Nysa [14/50]A man drinks as he stands next to a house damaged by floods [15/50]Locals and rescuers pull a man through flood water after heavy rain triggered flooding in Slobozia Conachi Inquam Photos/George Calin via REUTERSSLOBOZIA CONACHI [16/50]People rest in an evacuation center [18/50]Firefighters walk between sandbags as authorities prepare for a dam break and severe flooding in Hadersdorf [20/50]A man shovels as he stands in floodwater at a flooded area More in this CollectionSee all picturesItem 21 of 50 A person stands beside an overturned vehicle following heavy rainfalls in Bela pod Pradedem REUTERS/David W Cerny[21/50]A person stands beside an overturned vehicle © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Czech Republic | When the three regional breweries Holba Zubr and Litovel merged in October 2021 and created the joint-stock company Pivovary CZ Group greater efficiency in distribution and logistics which is owned by the businessman Karel Kuropata and his company HSK Invest With an output of 730,000 hl beer in 2021 and revenues of CZK 1.3 billion (USD 53 million) Pivovary CZ Group ranks sixth-largest brewer in the Czech beer market – or perhaps fifth which is controlled by the secretive Chinese company Citic since 2019 But it has not released any annual reports for a number of years and since 2020 has had to close three of its seven breweries Czech commentators have warned against Budějovický Budvar other observers think it is doubtful that Budějovický Budvar They remind us that when the Samson brewery at the other end of town came up for sale in 2013 Budějovický Budvar was not even allowed to bid for it Budějovický Budvar sells most of its beer abroad when it sold a record of 1.8 million hl beer with neighbouring Germany its major destination Budějovický Budvar increased its net profit by some 10 percent Its net profit reached CZK 337 million (USD 14 million) The government expects Budějovice Budvar to contribute CZK 550 million (USD 23 million) to the state’s coffers in 2022 Because of cost pressures from electricity Budějovický Budvar hiked its prices by 10 percent in November sales brewers Czech Republic acquisitions mergers company news Newsletter archive and information Czech Republic (AP) — As vinyl records make a global comeback a company in the Czech Republic called SEV Litovel has increased its production fourfold between 2009 and 2016 “I really can’t see the end (of the growth),” said Managing Director Jiri Mencl who estimates production of 150,000 in three years His firm has opened a new production site worth 180 million koruna ($7.2 million) this year to meet the demand for turntables Established in 1999 as a successor of the Communist era SEV bet on a combination of quality and a reasonable cost the company makes almost all parts that are carefully assembled by hand meaning they are used to listen to records Some 400 employees — a workforce that has doubled in size in the last five years — make a number of types of turntables with prices ranging from as low as $200 to $10,000 Austria’s Pro-Ject Audio Systems distributes the turntables globally under its Pro-Ject brand They are a regular receiver of awards in the hi-fi category by the European Imaging and Sound Association Pro-Ject Audio Systems director Heinz Lichtenegger said part of the secret behind the turntables’ return is that “people search for things that make their life more enjoyable “Turntable means you have to listen to the music relaxed” he said “You have to take time for your music and Australia are among the biggest markets with the best sellers in the $300-$400 bracket “It’s a piece of art that people are buying which is not too expensive,” Lichtenegger said “It’s affordable luxury.” Ludek Motlicek from the Acoustique Quality a firm that sells the Pro-Ject turntables in the Czech Republic said the reason for the comeback is the analog sound that “the digital sound cannot match.” Philipp-Moritz Jenne in Vienna contributed Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser In a strategic effort to foster energy independence and sustainability the Czech Ministry of Environment is set to transform waste from water treatment and agriculture into renewable energy sources The initiative focuses on utilizing biogas and biomethane to reduce reliance on coal and imported fossil fuels Minister of Environment Petr Hladík announced a budget of nearly 500 million crowns (around 19.8 million euros) from the Operational Program Environment to establish new biogas and biomethane facilities across seven locations in the Ústecký The goal is to convert approximately 600 existing biogas plants to biomethane production These facilities will convert agricultural waste and wastewater sludge into energy Hladík emphasized that this initiative improves the utilization of domestic resources thereby increasing the country’s energy security Among the notable projects is a biogas plant at the Litovel Wastewater Treatment Plant set to process about 7,000 tons of biodegradable waste annually generating nearly 5,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy—enough to heat over 500 households Future plans include integrating this facility into the central heating network and local electricity distribution AGRISPOL cooperative will build a biogas plant near Mořice designed to process around 29,000 tons of biodegradable waste with the purified biogas being added to the gas distribution network Other funded projects include the modernization of the Všebořice biogas plant expansion of waste processing facilities in Šumperk the Czech Republic is taking significant steps toward sustainable energy practices and reducing its dependence on fossil fuels Please note: World Bio Market Insights is owned and operated by World Bio Markets Ltd Record rainfall leading to flooding that killed 24 people in Europe earlier this month was twice as likely due to human-caused climate change The flooding took place across central Europe after Storm Boris stalled over the region from Sept the Czech Republic and Germany with the heaviest rainfall ever recorded in some areas and affecting almost 2 million people “Our study has found the fingerprints of climate change in the blasts of rainfall that flooded central Europe,” said Joyce Kimutai a researcher at Imperial College London and one of the contributors to the report by World Weather Attribution (WWA) these floods highlight the devastating results of fossil fuel-driven warming,” Kimutai said Global warming is leading to more intense rainfall because a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture than a cooler one Similar storms will become 50 percent more frequent in central Europe and drop 5 percent more rain if warming reaches 2°C The researchers used weather data and climate models to show the effects of climate change on weather patterns and compared the rainfall’s likelihood and intensity with that of the climate before the current warming trend Earth’s climate is about 1.3°C warmer than the preindustrial period and Europe is warming faster than other parts of the world “We need to prepare for even more heavy rainfall than what is predicted from these models,” Friederike Otto said at a news conference on Tuesday ahead of the report’s release the death toll in central Europe was lower than in previous This is because early forecasting allowed authorities to prepare by creating flood defense walls floods killed 232 people across a similar region the impacts this time were still significant with widespread damage to homes and infrastructure “These floods indicate just how costly climate change is becoming destroyed thousands of homes and saw the European Union pledge 10 billion euros in aid,” Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre technical adviser Maja Vahlberg said central Europe has been hit by torrential rain that has caused significant flooding across the region Soft-drinks manufacturer Kofola CeskoSlovensko has been fighting “wild water” that has impacted production at its plants in the Czech Republic The flooding has affected Kofola’s Czech production facilities in Opava “We have taken maximum measures to minimise damage at all locations for which I would like to thank all our people very much which strongly affected the lives of our employees and did not avoid our production plant and warehouses either,” Kofola CEO Jannis Samaras said “The water level in Krnov reached a higher limit than in the dramatic year 1997 when my father and I were sitting on the roof of the factory.” Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis Kofola is pumping out water from its factory in Krnov The company is trying to start the backup power plant for the site because the energy supply in the town of Krnov has been damaged The group’s site further west in Hanušovice was also “largely under water” during the flood although water did not damage production equipment “It is premature to summarise now the damage caused by the flood to our individual locations we believe that the most dramatic moments are behind us,” Samaras said Kofola has indicated that it is able to cover and ship the “vast majority” of products from another production in Hradiště in the Czech Republic and from Slovakia The company’s portfolio includes its flagship carbonated beverages Kofola and Vinea Kofola has 11 production plants across the Czech Republic Last year, Kofola entered beer with the acquisition of local brewer Pivovary CZ Group for an undisclosed sum The deal allowed the soft drink producer to branch out into the beer market which Kofola has said is a “stable segment” with room for growth in export markets Nominations are now open for the prestigious Just Drinks Excellence Awards - one of the industry's most recognised programmes celebrating innovation This is your chance to showcase your achievements Don't miss the opportunity to be honoured among the best - submit your nomination today Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network Plasteurope.com is a business information platform for the European plastics industry It is part of KI Kunststoff Information and PIE Plastics Information Europe one of the leading content providers for the European plastics industry We offer daily updated business news and reports polymer prices and other services for the international plastics industry News | Polymer Prices | Suppliers Guide | Jobs | Register | Advertising Browsing around the tourist information center in Olomouc last weekend I came across a t-shirt with a face wearing a gas mask printed on it After a brief explanation from two youthful Moravians behind the counter Žeru is a vulgar way of saying “I eat” and tvargle is slang referring to the local cheese that’s not the only famous cheese to come out of this region of the Czech Republic; surprisingly Moravia is home to one of the largest hard-cheese producing factories in the world And now for the double-whammy: they make Gran Moravia an Italian-style grana cheese (more commonly referred to as Parmesan) Though you can find vacuum-packed wedges of Gran Moravia in supermarkets around the city, I suggest stopping by their direct sales shop La Formaggeria Gran Moravia in Wenceslas Square or in Letňany OC—it’s cheaper and their flagship product costs 478 CZK/kg as opposed to 289 CZK/kg in their shop even compared to Billa’s generic brand of grana padano which rings up at 559.60 CZK/kg.) With Czech ingredients and Italian know-how the Italian company Orrero and Brazzale Group set up their cheese factory in Litovel Their dairy diplomacy dates back to 1996 and today they produce over 6,000 tons of Gran Moravia cheese that is sold locally and abroad In 2011 they received an eco-sustainable certification for their Gran Moravia line of products which has a water footprint and is suitable for vegetarians since they use soya rennet to separate the curd and whey If you need an extra incentive to visit their locale in Wenceslas Square a shop assistant stands outside carving up a huge 30kg wheel of cheese and hands out generous samples to passersby the cheese is then transported to Italy where it ripens for 12-14 months They sell anything from cheese soaked in red wine (formaggio umbriago) to Gorgonzola or Asiago and will readily let you try anything If you go around 5pm you’ll see a long queue of Czechs buying fresh butter (139 CZK/kg) on their way home from work They also sell a fresh whey drink (syrovátkový nápoj) in apricot but watch the expiration date–I got a liter at a 50% discount but it expired that same day The only other challenge I faced was getting everything home before it melted Don’t be put off by it’s fancy appearance and location in Wenceslas Square La Formaggeria Gran Moravia isn’t another hoity-toity cheese shop—god knows we don’t need another one of those in Prague—and the cans of Litovel beer adorning the shelves serve as proof I know Gran Moravia is one Czech cheese that will become a permanent fixture in my fridge (with the added bonus that it won’t stink me out of house and home) Shopping list:1L whey drink (23 CZK)290g Gran Moravia cheese (83.81 CZK)234g fresh butter (32.53 CZK)106g formaggio umbriago (51.83 CZK)272g formaggio verena (73.17 CZK)180g jar of Gran Moravia yogurt (23.9 CZK) WHERE:Václavské náměstí 56, Prague 1PUBLIC TRANSPORT:Metro MuzeumOPENING HOURS:Mon-Fri 09:00–19:30, Sat-Sun 10:00–19:30WEBSITE:  http://www.laformaggeria.cz/ View For Foodies in a larger map Your morning coffee deserves a great companion. Why not enjoy it with our daily newsletter? News from Czechia, curated insights, and inspiring stories in English.