Czech news in brief for August 11: Sunday's top headlines

Another heatwave is expected to spread across the Czech Republic this week, with temperatures potentially reaching up to 35 degrees Celsius. According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, South Moravia will see highs of around 32 degrees on Sunday and Monday, with high temperatures spreading to other regions starting Tuesday. Strong storms with heavy rain are anticipated to arrive from the west and southwest of later in the week.

The Czech Republic saw its lowest Olympic medal tally in history at the Paris 2024 Games, winning three golds and two bronzes. Despite this, Czech Olympic Committee President Jiří Kejval and mission head Martin Doktor remained optimistic, praising the three gold medals as the primary success. While the medal count fell short of expectations, the officials highlighted the athletes' efforts and the positive atmosphere in Paris.

A recent survey by Enehano reveals that 36 percent of Czechs have used ChatGPT. Among younger Czech, more than half regularly use it, often as a work assistant. Around 25% of Czechs aged 18 to 65 regularly use ChatGPT, with the figure rising to 52% among those under 26. The survey highlights the growing reliance on conversational AI among the younger generation. Despite this, broader adoption of AI in workplaces is still lagging.

Year-on-year inflation in July is estimated to have remained at two percent, consistent with June's level, according to analysts. Consumer prices rose by 0.5 percent compared to the previous month. The Czech National Bank also predicts a two percent inflation rate for July. Analysts noted increases in fuel and food prices, along with slight rises in housing and services. The Czech Statistical Office will release official data on Monday.

Celebrations for Haruka Kitaguchi’s javelin gold medal at the Paris Olympics extend to Domažlice, Czech Republic, where she trains under coach David Sekerák. Kitaguchi, who threw 65.80 meters to secure victory, has trained for years in the Czech Republic and even speaks Czech. Despite a challenging season and minor injuries, her focus on the Olympics paid off. Czech native Nikola Ogrodníková took the bronze in the javelin throw, and looks forward to the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo with Kitaguchi.

From September, using non-ecological boilers will be banned due to their impact on air pollution, with fines up to CZK 50,000 for violations. Authorities will conduct inspections, but there are concerns about insufficient staffing and incomplete data on boiler replacements. May estimates pegged 150,000 boilers in need of replacement. Regions like Moravia-Silesia and Prague have been active in replacing old boilers, with varying degrees of success.

Martin Fuksa and Nikola Ogrodníková will carry the Czech Republic's flag at the Paris Olympics closing ceremony, the Czech Olympic Committee has announced, marking the first time that two athletes have shared the honor at the closing ceremony. Fuksa, who won gold in the 1000m canoe race, and Ogrodníková, who earned bronze in the javelin throw, take over from judoka Lukáš Krpálek and world archery champion Marie Horáčková, who carried the flag at the opening ceremony.

Tens of thousands of people took part in the Prague Pride parade, the highlight of the week-long LGBT+ festival promoting equal rights, on Saturday afternoon. Departing from Wenceslas Square and ending in Letná Park, the parade attracted an estimated 60,000 participants, around the same as last year. Police reported no major incidents despite increased security due to concerns over potential threats.

On Sunday in Paris, the last 13 of 329 sets of medals will be awarded before the Olympic Games conclude with a closing ceremony at 21:00. Just three Czech athletes participate in the final day of games, with Lucie Hlaváčková in the pentathlon, and marathon runners Tereza Hrochová and Moira Stewartová. Czechia added two medals to its tally on Saturday, bringing its total to three golds and two bronzes.

Hundreds of hikers, including local mayors and former Czech President Václav Klaus, participated in the annual St. Lawrence Pilgrimage to Sněžka, the Czech Republic's highest peak, on Saturday. The event featured an open-air mass at the St. Lawrence Chapel, celebrated by Archbishop Jan Graubner. Despite partly cloudy weather and cool temperatures temperatures, the pilgrimage drew a significant crowd from both the Czech and Polish sides, continuing this cherished cross-border tradition.

A forest fire near Bělčice, South Bohemia, burned five hectares of forest on Saturday. Firefighters, aided by a helicopter and drone, managed to contain the blaze after over five hours of effort. The preliminary damage exceeds CZK 3 million. The fire, reported around 4 p.m., was managed with help from neighboring regions. Though the blaze is under control and poses no threat to nearby settlements, efforts to fully extinguish it are ongoing.

Several hundred melon enthusiasts flocked to a 1.5-hectare field in Vojnice, Olomouc, for an annual watermelon-picking event on Saturday. Farmer Ladislav Kašpar, who has grown watermelons for 30 years and started selling them seven years ago, reported an excellent harvest this year, expecting a yield of 20-25 tons. The popularity of the event was unexpected, with some visitors traveling from far distances. Participants eagerly filled their containers, enjoying the unique flavor of freshly-picked watermelons.