Czech news in brief for July 21: Sunday's top headlines

High temperatures will persist throughout Czechia until Monday, with the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute issuing warnings for temperatures above 31 degrees in Moravia and Silesia. Strong storms are expected in western Bohemia this evening, bringing up to 30mm of rain, hail, and strong winds. On Monday, thunderstorms will be widespread, with torrential rains of around 40mm and potential hail and strong winds. Storms will cease by Tuesday night.

Barbora Betlachová won gold in the under-23 World Championships in speed canoeing on the 500-meter track in Bulgaria on Sunday, tying with Hungary's Eszter Júlia Rendessyová. Betlachová also won silver in the quadruple kayak earlier in the competition. This adds to her June European Championships success, where she earned gold in the quad kayak and silver in K1 and K2 categories.

In Postřekov, in Czechia's Pilsen region, a fire ignited a pile of tires and spread to nearby buildings, including a family home. The intense blaze has led firefighters to declare a third-level fire alarm. Eighteen units and 30 pieces of equipment are on site. Several firefighters have collapsed due to the heat, with emergency services treating multiple cases of collapse, one injury, and minor burns. The situation remains challenging, and more resources are being mobilized to control the fire.

The Czech National Bank (ČNB) increased its gold reserves by nearly six tons in the second quarter of 2024, bringing its total to 41.49 tons. This marks a significant rise from 30.67 tons at the end of 2023. The value of the ČNB's gold holdings has surged to CZK 71.4 billion. Over the past year, the central bank's gold reserves have more than doubled, with plans to reach 100 tons over the coming years to enhance reserve diversification.

The Czech rock band Lucie is gearing up for a major tour to celebrate four decades in the music industry. The tour will hit Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Pilsen, and Bratislava this autumn, with a grand concert at Prague's O2 Arena on December 9, 2025. The tour will feature a stage show and new songs alongside the band's classic hits. Lucie will also support several charitable projects and release a new album for their anniversary.

On Saturday afternoon in Vysočina, police shot and killed a Staffordshire bull terrier that attacked them at a playground in Mostiště. Police spokeswoman Jana Kroutilová reported that a drunken man with the aggressive dog was present at the scene. Despite attempts to remove the man, he and the dog became confrontational. The man is in custody, and the incident is under investigation. The same dog had previously attacked another officer.

The Prague Open WTA tennis tournament starts today in Prague's Stromovka, serving as an Olympic rehearsal for some players. Sára Bejlek will compete against third-seeded Anhelina Kalininova in singles. Wimbledon winner Barbora Krejčíková has withdrawn from singles due to a busy pre-Olympic schedule but will compete in doubles with Kateřina Siniaková. Siniaková, the Wimbledon doubles champion, will also play in the singles tournament.

Czech police have detained a suspect linked to three ATM robberies in northern Austria, according to the APA Austrian news agency. The suspect, a 32-year-old Dutchman, was arrested near Krotějov in the Klatovy area, based on a European arrest warrant. He is suspected of attempting to break into ATMs in Drosendorf and using explosives to blow up an ATM in Schrattenberg, where €20,000 (about CZK 500,000) was stolen.

Karolína Muchová has reached the final of the Palermo Ladies Open WTA tournament. She defeated Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinals. Muchová, the 35th ranked player, will face top seed Cheng Chin-wen from China in Sunday's final. This marks Muchová's first final since last August and her fifth career final. She won her last title in Seoul in September 2019.

Tomáš Hrdinka from the Research Institute of Water Management TG Masaryk tells Czech News Agency that the Czech Republic's drinking water supply is secure, despite potential climate impacts. He noted that drinking water resources are robust, and consumption has decreased since the 1990s. Future challenges may arise for industrial and energetic water supply, but ongoing measures aim to mitigate these. Hrdinka emphasized the importance of building multifunctional water reservoirs to ensure water availability.

US space agency NASA named a photograph of sunset over Brno, captured by astronomy photographer Pavel Gabzdyl, as its astronomical image of the day on Friday. Gabzdyl photographed anticrepuscular rays during the Festival of Planets on July 11, featuring inflatable objects representing solar system bodies. Gabzdyl becomes the 16th Czech recipient of the prestigious award.