Czech news in brief for August 19: Monday's top headlines

Tonight will be the third of four full moons of the astronomical summer, commonly referred to as a "blue moon." This term is linked with the English phrase "once in a blue moon," which signifies a rare occurrence. This year, the astronomical summer began on June 20 and will end on Sept. 22, with full moons occurring on June 22, July 21, and Sept. 18. According to astronomer Petr Horálek from the Institute of Physics in Opava, a "blue" moon can appear in the sky "when the atmosphere is saturated or polluted with specific particles."

Czech police have detained a Ukrainian man in Karlovy Vary on suspicion of financially supporting Islamic terrorists. The Pilsen Regional Court will decide on his extradition to Belgium, where he is being prosecuted for preparing a terrorist attack, participating in terrorist activities, and financing terrorism. If convicted, he could face 10 years in prison under Belgian law. The foreigner, on his part, said he was doing nothing wrong and asserted that he was in Karlovy Vary for a medical stay, Czech media outlet Novinky.cz writes.

Opposition party ANO leader and former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has announced on his Facebook page that he has contracted Covid-19 for a second time. He stated that he has had three vaccinations and is experiencing a high fever of 38.7 degrees. Babiš was previously infected with the virus in October 2022. Due to his illness, ANO Deputy Chairman Karel Havlíček will be attending meetings with citizens this week. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, most European countries are seeing an increase in Covid-19 cases this summer.

A recent survey by the Centre for Public Opinion Research found over 50 percent of people believe they have to be careful about what they say in public to avoid getting into trouble with the police. When it comes to national issues, over three-quarters of respondents believe that voicing their views in public has no impact on future policy. While 44 percent of people view the current state of freedom of speech positively, 38 percent believe it has not changed in the last decade.

Prague police are searching for a man who has harassed multiple women in the city’s subway system. The suspect, who has exposed himself and masturbated in front of women, committed similar acts four times in one day. Seven victims have reported incidents. The police are urging the public to help identify the man, who used a specially created slit in his clothing to carry out the acts.

Severe storms swept through Bohemia and Moravia on Sunday, causing widespread damage and disruptions. In Brno, a storm halted the Špilberk Festival after just 15 minutes. Torrential rains led to flooding, particularly in Zbiroh, where up to 100 mm of rainfall was recorded, inundating a gas station. Firefighters responded to fallen trees and flooded basements, while heavy rains also caused traffic disruptions, including a temporary halt at Prague’s airport.

Czech firefighters will leave Greece on Monday after assisting in combating a massive forest fire near Athens last week. The 75-member team and 31 vehicles helped protect high-risk areas north of the Greek capital. The fire destroyed 104 square kilometers and forced evacuations. With the danger now reduced, international aid teams, including the Czechs, are concluding their operations.

By Aug. 20, Czech companies must report contract employees’ income to the Social Security Administration for the first time, a task to be completed monthly. This new requirement increases the workload for accountants. Although some see it as preparation for upcoming insurance changes in January, others question its current value. Since Aug. 1, over 400,000 income statements have been submitted electronically. Employers are considering the impact on part-time employment and potential shifts to self-employment.

Rental prices in the Czech Republic reached record highs in July, increasing by 4.5 percent year-on-year, with the highest growth in small apartments in very good condition. Prague and the Zlín region saw significant rent hikes of 5.8 percent and 5.6 percent, respectively. Despite a 1.2 percent rise in rents over the past three months, apartment prices remain 1.9 percent cheaper year-on-year. Family house prices also rose but are down 11 percent from 2022 peaks.

On Sunday, a 60-year-old man suffered a serious heart attack while hiking in the rugged Bruntál region. Paramedics and an air rescue team from Ostrava responded to the emergency in the wooded terrain near Zelený kopec. The man’s wife performed CPR before the helicopter arrived. The patient, in critical condition, was airlifted to Ostrava University Hospital for emergency care, according to a regional rescue service spokesperson.