Czech news in brief for August 17: Saturday's top headlines

Meteorologists are warning of strong storms with torrential rain and hail across most of the Czech Republic this evening and continuing into Sunday. These storms may be particularly severe in the southeastern regions of the country, with heavy rain expected. Storm activity may weaken overnight but is expected to return on Sunday. Residents are urged to monitor weather warnings via the website of the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.

Czech water rescue teams have seen a significant increase in operations this year, with 1,050 emergency responses at 17 Czech reservoirs, up from 836 last season. The warm weather, compared to last year’s rainy summer, is a major factor, according to David Smejkal, president of the Czech Red Cross Water Rescue Service. Along with rescuing drowning victims, teams are also responding to injuries, sudden illnesses, dehydration, and alcohol-related incidents. Notably, allergic reactions to insect stings have also risen.

The 25th annual Cihelna military history event in Králíky showcased the "Bloody Spring of 1945" with over 300 participants reenacting Czech WWII uprisings through five staged scenes. Thousands of spectators watched as historical events from Přerov and the Prague Uprising to the battle in Slivice unfolded. The event featured 40 pieces of military equipment, including three planes representing Soviet, German, and American forces.

The Czech government is set to review a labor code reform aimed at increasing flexibility in the job market next week. Key changes include extending the probationary period from three to four months, and altering termination rules so that notice periods begin from delivery of the notice, not the start of the next month. The reform faces opposition from unions concerned about potential impacts on worker rights. The new rules are expected to take effect in January 2025.

Czech tennis star Markéta Vondroušová will miss the US Open following her withdrawal from the Olympic Games due to a hand injury. The 25-year-old, who won Wimbledon last year, announced her absence from the final Grand Slam of the season after struggling with the injury. Vondroušová last competed at Wimbledon on July 2, where she lost in the first round. Her spot in singles at the Olympics has been taken by Kateřina Siniaková, while Linda Nosková will partner Karolína Muchová in doubles.

Eva Mudrová, a renowned broadcaster and reporter for Czechoslovak Radio and Television in Ostrava, has passed away at the age of 91. Mudrová, born Kunertová, was a pioneering figure in Ostrava's television scene, hosting its first live broadcast in 1955. She began her career in Czechoslovak Radio in 1952 and later joined Czech Television. Her work was interrupted by the 1968 invasion but she returned to broadcasting after 1989. She passed away at St. Luke’s Hospice in Ostrava.

Temperature records were broken at 21 of the 170 stations monitored by the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute on Friday. In Strážnice, temperatures reached 35.3 degrees Celsius, exceeding the previous 2007 record by 0.7 degrees. Průhonice, Troubsko, Přerov, and Opava also saw record-breaking or record-matching heat. Dukovany reached 33.8 degrees Celsius, surpassing its previous 2007 high. On Saturday, heat should dissipate with storms in the forecast across much of the country.

The Brno for Ukraine association is sending 37 electric beds, 16 wheelchairs, and dozens of crutches to support wounded soldiers and civilians in Ukraine. The shipment, valued at over 758,000 crowns, leaves for Dnipro today, committee member David Konečný told Czech News Agency. The association also raised CZK 250,000 in a public fundraiser for medical tools. In the past, the group has supplied camouflage nets and medical equipment to frontline hospitals and soldiers.

Chemistry professor Andreas Fath launched the Pure Elbe project in Smiřice on Friday, aiming to raise awareness about water pollution. Fath will swim 1,083 kilometers from Smiřice, Czechia, to Hamburg, Germany, testing water quality along the way. This 23-day swim highlights issues such as microplastic pollution and river barriers that disrupt aquatic life. Fath has previously undertaken similar initiatives in the Danube, Tennessee, and Rhine rivers.

The Slavonic Europe foundation, established by Czech-German citizen David Chmelík, has taken over management of Slawenburg, a replica of a ninth-century Slavic fortress in Brandenburg, Germany. The castle, which attracts up to 50,000 visitors annually, now hosts exhibitions and a restaurant. The foundation plans to expand the site with a Slavic village and zoo to illustrate historical Slavic life.

A conference and concerts marked the 30th anniversary of the Pilgrimage Church of St. John of Nepomuk at Zelená hora being added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Mayor Martin Mrkos and castle owner Constantin Kinský expressed gratitude to those involved in the 1994 listing. The church, designed by Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel and consecrated in 1722, remains a key pilgrimage and tourist site. A special video mapping show projected the church's history.