Czech news in brief for August 8: Thursday's top headlines

According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, this July in Prague's Clementinum was in the top 4 percent of warmest Julys since 1775, with an average temperature of 23.2 degrees Celsius. The institute also reported that the first half of the holiday period had an average temperature of 19.8 degrees Celsius, 1.5 degrees higher than the normal from 1991 to 2020. Globally, this July was the second warmest on record, with an average temperature of 16.9 degrees, according to the EU meteorological service Copernicus.

According to a new poll by the Median research agency, the senior opposition ANO party is projected to win the next general election with 30.5 percent of the vote. The senior government Civic Democrats (ODS) would follow with 12 percent, and the junior ruling Pirates party would come in third with 10.5 percent. In total, seven parties would make it into the Chamber of Deputies. ANO and ODS both lost 2.5 percentage points, while Pirates gained 0.5 percentage points compared to the previous survey. 

A man was killed in the center of Prague today when part of a building fell from a roof at a tram stop on Lazarská Street. The street was closed to cars and trams for several hours due to the accident. The police confirmed that a severe thunderstorm with heavy rain was happening at the time, which likely contributed to the accident. Firefighters removed 100 kilograms of loose materials from the building after the incident.

Martin Fotta from the Institute of Ethnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences discussed the Map of Roma Memory for America, which aims to make the presence and history of the Roma community visible in North and South America. The map includes important locations suggested by members of local Roma communities and evaluated by experts for historical accuracy. Some locations were omitted for ethical reasons. Fotta emphasized the importance of remembering the Roma's presence in South America before their migration to Czechia and Europe.

New political groups aim to make an impact in September’s regional elections. Recent registrants include the ReMeK Foundation Civic-Political Movement from Ostrava and the My Homeland Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia movement from Jihlava. Founded by former members of established parties, these groups are fielding candidates like Štefan Režný, a former KSČM member, and lawyer Luděk Růžička. Other participants include the Jasný Signál Nezávislých, Srdcem pro, and Jistota a Budoucnost movements.

Interest in new apartments in Prague is surging, with prices at historic highs. In the first half of 2024, 3,500 new apartments were sold, more than doubling year-on-year. The average offer price reached CZK 156,780 per square meter, up nearly 3 percent since January. Analysts expect the trend to continue amid high demand and limited supply. Prague ranks as the second least affordable city in Europe for new apartments.

The Czech Republic’s tourist and guest numbers rose by 3.3 percent year-on-year in Q2, with 5.95 million people staying in hotels or guesthouses, according to the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ). Foreign visitors increased by 9.3 percent, while Czech guests decreased by 1.4 percent. Guests spent 0.9 percent more nights in accommodations. Attendance surged in the Moravian-Silesian Region and Prague, boosted by the May World Hockey Championship. Germany provided the most foreign tourists.

Taylor Swift's concerts in Vienna, set for Thursday through Saturday, have been canceled due to a terrorist threat, the Austrian press agency APA reported. Police arrested two individuals suspected of planning attacks during the concerts. The shows at Ernst Happel Stadium were canceled for safety. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer credited police and intelligence services for preventing a tragedy. The primary suspect, a 19-year-old man, had pledged allegiance to ISIS.

Forest crop harvests dropped by 35 percent last year compared to 2022. Mushroom picking remained popular, with 70 percent of households collecting 17,340 tons, valued at CZK 3.67 billion. Blueberries followed, with 5,300 tons picked. Forest visits increased, with nearly three-quarters of Czechs visiting monthly, a 10 percent rise from 2022. Minister of Agriculture Marek Výborný urged citizens to respect the forest and its wildlife.

Secondary school applicants who have not been accepted can apply for the third and subsequent admissions rounds, submitting applications exclusively in paper form. Lists of schools with available places are on the DiPSy system website. Dates for applications and exams vary by school. About 157,000 people applied in the first round, with 82 percent accepted. In the second round, 78 percent of 12,365 applicants were successful.