Czech news in brief for July 27: Saturday's top headlines

Barbora Seemanová advanced to the Olympic semifinals in the 100m butterfly, setting a new Czech record with a time of 57.50 seconds. She finished fourth in her heat and secured ninth position overall among the 16 semifinalists. The 24-year-old swimmer, who specializes in the 200m freestyle, improved on her previous record by 0.25 seconds. The semifinals will take place tonight at 8:30 p.m.

An amendment to the law on water will come into force on August 1, aimed at reducing the risk of polluting rivers. Accidents on waterways must be reported to firefighters, and major polluters will need to monitor water quality continuously. The law responds to the September 2020 Bečva River cyanide leak. The government plans to map high-risk river sections by 2025 and create a water discharge register.

The Paris Summer Olympics opening ceremony attracted 938,000 viewers on Czech Television, achieving a 37.92 percent audience share, the highest since the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. The viewership surpasses the 2021 Tokyo Olympics opening, which had 409,000 viewers, and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, with 171,000 viewers. Czech TV plans 320 hours of live broadcasts for the Paris Olympics, with Eurosport and Max providing extensive coverage.

The Czech government plans to invest over CZK 3.6 billion in security enhancements following last year’s shooting at Charles University’s Faculty of Arts, which resulted in 14 deaths. The measures, spanning three years, include acquiring weapons and ballistic protection for police and firefighters, virtual reality training, and crisis communication apps. Additional measures are planned until 2031, focusing on modernizing police infrastructure, enhancing cybersecurity, and supporting victim services.

British pop star Ed Sheeran will perform at Hradec Králové's Park 360 airport today and Sunday. Today’s concert is sold out, with limited tickets remaining for Sunday. Up to 100,000 attendees are expected, causing expected traffic disruptions. Roads around the airport will have speed limits and closures. Shuttle buses and special trains will assist concertgoers. The event will feature Czech singer Ewa Farna and English singer-songwriter Calum Scott as opening acts.

An 83-meter-high skip mining tower at the defunct Lazy Mine in Orlová was demolished today using approximately 80 kilograms of explosives and over 1,000 charges. The blast, watched by hundreds, was executed by a specialized company, marking the second such demolition in Czech history. Post-demolition, the site will undergo sorting and reclamation, concluding by 2026. The Lazy Mine, active for 130 years, ceased operations five years ago.

High temperatures will sweep across much of Czechia on Saturday, peaking at 35 degrees Celsius in southern Moravia, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. A warning, excluding western and northern Bohemia, has been issued for most of the country from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday. Cooler weather with showers and thunderstorms is expected on Sunday, with temperatures rising again from Tuesday.

Several hundred visitors, mainly Czechs along with French locals, attended the opening of the Czech House in Paris's La Villette Park on Friday evening. The event featured artistic performances, including dancers, acrobats, and the Czech national anthem by the South Bohemian Philharmonic Orchestra. The Czech House, serving as an official fan zone, offers sports broadcasts, cultural events, and Czech cuisine daily throughout the Games.

The Roklan chalet in Šumava National Park will not be demolished and its authentic 1930s parts will be preserved, Environment Minister Petr Hladík has announced. Public opposition halted the planned demolition last year. Studies confirmed the chalet's historical significance as housing for forest guards. Hladík stated that structural preservation could begin in August 2026, after necessary construction procedures are completed.

Researchers at Palacký University in Olomouc have created a temperature sensor using a graphene derivative, suitable for industrial and protective applications. The sensor, developed with universities in Plzeň and Ostrava, offers high accuracy and sensitivity, outperforming conventional platinum thermometers. It effectively reduces humidity interference, a common issue with similar devices, according to co-author Petr Jakubec.

Herrnhut, a town in Saxony founded by Moravian exiles in 1722, has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. Established by the Unity of the Brethren fleeing Catholic persecution, Herrnhut joins Christiansfeld in Denmark, Bethlehem in Pennsylvania, and Gracehill in Northern Ireland, all noted for their unique urban designs inspired by evangelical teachings. Conrad Clemens, head of the Saxony Minister-President's Office, expressed delight at the recognition, anticipating increased visitor interest.