Czech news in brief for July 14: Sunday's top headlines

Parts of Czechia will experience hot temperatures on Monday and Tuesday, with highs exceeding 31 degrees Celsius in southern and southeastern Moravia as well as the Central Bohemia and Ústí regions. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute warns of continued high temperatures across most of Moravia and Silesia on Tuesday. Despite recent heavy rains and elevated river levels, conditions are expected to stabilize by Monday.

A historic passenger train derailed today near Lednice on the track between Břeclav and Lednice, a popular route during the tourist season. The derailment involved two trailer cars carrying 11 passengers, while the locomotive remained on the tracks. Czech Railways spokesman Filip Medelský confirmed that no injuries were reported. Railway restrictions are expected to last until 11 p.m.

Czech climbers Zdeněk Hák, Radoslav Groh, and Jaroslav Bánský became the first to summit Muchu Chhish (7,480 m) in Pakistan’s Karakoram Range on July 5. Despite facing severe challenges, including high altitude and extreme weather, the team succeeded where over twenty elite expeditions had previously failed. Groh, the expedition leader, reported their triumph to Czech News Agency.

Czech politicians have condemned the attack on US presidential candidate Donald Trump. "In a democracy, we are supposed to express our opinions and attitudes by participating in elections and verbally, we have a number of options for this, but not by using a weapon, by using violence," writes Markéta Pekarová Adamová, speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies. The attack at Trump’s campaign rally on Saturday resulted in two deaths, including the shooter, and left Trump with an ear injury.

About fifty people protested in Prague on Saturday, demanding that Ukraine be allowed to target military sites in Russia. Organized by the Czech-Ukrainian group Voice of Ukraine, the demonstration followed a Russian rocket attack on a children's hospital in Kyiv and the recent NATO summit. Protesters, chanting "Let Ukraine strike back" and "Russia is a terrorist state," gathered outside the embassies of France, the USA, and Germany in the Czech capital.

President Petr Pavel, Prime Minister Petr Fiala, and other Czech politicians congratulated Barbora Krejčíková on winning the Wimbledon women’s singles tennis tournament. "Wonderful news. I think that when such a world success is more or less unexpected, it will raise us all in national pride again," Pavel told Czech News Agency. Fiala called her victory a huge success, while Health Minister Vlastimil Válek noted the Venus Rosewater Dish remains in Czech hands.

The Czech Ministry of Defence has proposed an amendment to ensure that crucial military premises are state-owned. This includes land under ammunition depots, which is currently privately owned due to restitution. The ministry can offer higher prices to landowners or, in extreme cases, expropriate the land. The move aims to address security risks and ensure effective development and modernization of these sites.

A severe storm at Slovakia's Pohoda music festival led to the collapse of a large tent, injuring 15 people, including three Czechs. The festival, initially set to run through Saturday, was prematurely ended. Two women suffered serious injuries, including bone fractures. The storm caused significant damage, prompting organizers to prioritize safety. The injured were treated on-site, with some taken to hospitals in Trenčín and Považská Bystrica for head and limb injuries.

The Czech Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has proposed adjusting the allowance for refugees, coinciding with the cancellation of free emergency accommodation starting in September. The government will decide between two options to increase humanitarian benefits, aimed at helping refugees afford housing. This change follows concerns from aid organizations and the ombudsman about the low support levels. As of now, 362,100 refugees are in the country, with 97,000 receiving humanitarian benefits.

The inaugural 7° Art Festival combined modern conceptual art with the unique environment of the Sloup-Šošův caves in Blansko, near Brno. On Saturday, 60 spectators experienced a two-hour tour featuring improvised performances by artists, including a dialogue by Thomas Geiger and a musical act by vibraphonist Kryštof Krása and opera singer Lenka Pecharová. Organizer Hynek Skoták noted that the festival's future depends on feedback from this experimental event.

Starting Monday, the construction of a roundabout on the main road between Jihlava and Havlíčkový Brod will close the northeastern ramp of highway exit 112 by Jihlava. Drivers from Brno will not be able to exit the highway here, nor will drivers be able to enter the D1 towards Prague. The construction is scheduled to finish in October.