Czech news in brief for July 28: Sunday's top headlines

Barbora Krejčíková has advanced to the second round of the Olympic tennis tournament in Paris after defeating Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo in a nearly three-hour match, winning 4-6, 6-0, 7-6. Krejčíková, the 2021 Wimbledon and 2024 French Open champion, will next face China's Wang Xinyu, who defeated Czech Linda Nosková in the first round. Other Czech players, including Kateřina Siniaková, Karolína Muchová, Tomáš Macháč, and Jakub Menšík, will compete for second-round spots later today.

World champion hockey player David Pastrňák received honorary citizenship in his hometown of Havířov today. During a two-hour program in Republic Square, Pastrňák, who plays for the Boston Bruins, commented on a youth hockey exhibition and showcased the World Championship trophy. He expressed gratitude to fans and received a special commemorative book with messages from the community.

Czech swimmers Barbora Seemanová and Miroslav Knedla have advanced in their respective events at the Summer Olympics. Seemanová, a two-time European champion, progressed to the semi-finals in the 200m freestyle, while Knedla advanced to the semi-finals in the 100m freestyle. Kristýna Horská finished 28th in the 100m breaststroke, failing to advance. The semi-finals will begin at 8:30 p.m. this evening.

The Olympic Festival area at Lake Most was temporarily closed this morning due to strong winds. The site is expected to reopen this afternoon after safety inspections. While all sports facilities will be operational, some partner stalls will remain closed. Visitors can use their tickets on any other day or request a refund. Despite the morning closure, the festival will continue its program as planned.

The Czech National Bank is expected to slow down the reduction of its key interest rate, lowering it by a quarter percentage point to 4.5 percent on Thursday, according to analysts. Despite June inflation dropping to 2 percent, some experts believe a larger cut might be considered. Vice Governor Jan Frait hinted at this possibility, though most board members favor a cautious approach due to the weaker Czech koruna and ongoing inflation in service prices.

Cyclist Mathias Vacek secured 11th place in the men's time trial at the Paris Olympics, matching the best-ever Czech result in this category. Swimmer Barbora Seemanová also achieved an 11th-place finish in the 100-meter butterfly, setting a new Czech record in the process. In water slalom events, canoeist Lukáš Rohan and kayaker Antonie Galušková both advanced to semi-finals. Due to rain, Czech tennis players did not play on Saturday, with six Czechs slated to open the Olympic tournament on Sunday.

Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová visited Ukraine to honor Czechoslovak legionaries and soldiers from World War II, as well as those from the Czech lands who served in the Austro-Hungarian army. Her visit included a commemorative event at the Zboriv Cairn, remembering the Czechoslovak legions on WWI's Eastern Front. Černochová also paid tribute to Ukrainian soldiers, discussed humanitarian aid, and explored the restoration of war memorials.

Czech President Petr Pavel highlighted the core values of the Olympics, including friendship, respect, and tolerance, in a message to Czech athletes at the Paris Olympics. Pavel praised the athletes' hard work and dedication. He emphasized the importance of participation and sportsmanship, wishing athletes success and fair play. Pavel will attend the opening of the Paralympic Games in August. The Olympic opening ceremony featured Czech flag bearers Marie Horáčková and Lukáš Krpálek.

In Czechia, approximately 15 percent of discarded clothes are reused or recycled, according to Andrea Veselá, an analyst at the Institute of Circular Economy. The country currently has around 10,000 clothing collection containers. Starting next year, municipalities will be required to sort clothing waste. Despite efforts to recycle, the Environment Ministry estimates that 180,000 tons of clothes are thrown away annually in Czechia.

On August 17, Přibyslav will host a medieval day to commemorate the 600th anniversary of Hussite leader Jan Žižka's death. The event will feature warriors in period armor simulating the conquest of Ronov Castle and siege of Přibyslav, where a medieval fair will take place. A parade of costumed participants with horses and an church service will also be held, marking the largest event in a series of commemorations for Žižka this year.

The Partnership Foundation has awarded nearly CZK 1.7 million crowns in its Planting for the Future grant call to support tree planting and well restoration projects. Six municipalities and six non-profit organizations received funding. This initiative, now in its third round, aims to enhance landscape and urban resilience to climate change. Previously, the grant helped plant 1,748 trees. The latest grant round saw 39 applications requesting over 5.6 million crowns, with most applicants from Central Bohemia and South Moravia.