Czech news in brief for July 29: Monday's top headlines

Slovak refinery Slovnaft will halt diesel deliveries to Ukraine if Russian oil transit through Ukraine isn’t resumed soon, Slovak PM Robert Fico announced. Ukraine recently stopped oil transit from Russian company Lukoil via the Druzhba pipeline, citing sanctions. Fico proposed a technical solution, while Hungary accused Ukraine of blackmailing. Fico stressed Slovakia’s stance on the war remains unchanged, advocating for an immediate ceasefire.

Czech tennis star Barbora Krejčíková advanced to the round of 16 in singles at the Paris Olympics, defeating China’s Wang Xinyu 6-3, 6-2. Krejčíková, this year’s Wimbledon winner, will next face either Jessica Pegula or Elina Svitolina. In doubles, Karolína Muchová and Linda Nosková, and Tomáš Macháč and Adam Pavlásek won their matches. Muchová and Nosková will play top-seeded Pegula and Coco Gauff next.

The Czech Environment Ministry has initiated the process to designate the Ore Mountains as a protected landscape area (PLA), set to be the country’s largest at 1,200 square kilometers. Expected by mid-2026, the PLA will safeguard extensive wetlands, peat bogs, and natural forests. Municipalities and regions have 90 days to submit objections. The proposal has garnered support from central municipalities and the Karlovy Vary and Ústí nad Labem regions.

Whooping cough cases in the Czech Republic, at their highest since 1958, have slowed, with 850 new weekly infections in July. The State Health Institute (SZÚ) reports 25,560 cases this year, with 3,276 in July. Teenagers are the most affected, and eight deaths, including two recent ones, have been recorded. SZÚ notes the actual incidence is likely higher due to under-reporting. Only 2.4 percent of cases required hospitalization.

Immigration Police spokesman Josef Urban announced that police detained 139 people during transit migration in the first half of this year, 660 fewer than last year. Most detainees were from Syria, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Eritrea, and Turkey, aiming for Germany and other Western European countries. Police attribute the decline to preventive measures and reduced migration pressure along the Western Balkan route. Last year, police detected 14,000 illegal migrants in Czechia, a 52.4 percent decrease from 2022.

The Czech government should focus more on young people’s priorities and assess its ability to communicate and defend these effectively, European Affairs Minister Martin Dvorak said in a CNN Prima News debate. A recent CVVM poll shows improved public satisfaction with democracy in Czechia, though support for authoritarian regimes has risen. Dvorak emphasized the need to address these concerns.

Five Czech medalists from Tokyo will compete in Monday’s Olympic events in Paris. Jiří Lipták, Alexander Choupenitch, and Lukáš Rohan aim to build on their previous successes. Tennis players Barbora Krejčíková and Kateřina Siniaková will also compete, though not together. Swimmer Barbora Seemanová seeks to improve Czechia’s best Olympic ranking. A total of 19 medal sets are in play today.

The global security situation is dire, teetering on the brink of conflict, warned Michal Koudelka, head of Czech counter-intelligence service BIS, on its 30th anniversary. Koudelka cited threats from Russian imperialism, cyber attacks, and terrorism. He emphasized BIS's commitment to Czechia's safety and praised its progress and international respect. Prime Minister Petr Fiala lauded BIS's professionalism, highlighting its role in investigating the 2014 Vrbetice explosions.

 Hundreds gathered this weekend to commemorate the birth anniversaries of Mojmir and František Stránský, designers of the OS-KAR and Velorex tricycles. Dozens of the motor-driven tricycles were on display. The Velorex, initially called OS-KAR, was developed in 1943 and became known for its leather cloth bodywork. Production ceased in 1971, local museum head Jana Voleská told ČTK.

The demand for air conditioners, coolers, and fans remains high due to extreme temperatures. Interest in mobile air conditioners on Heureka.cz has quadrupled in the past 30 days, while air coolers saw a fivefold increase. Some retailers reported out-of-stock items or longer delivery times. The surge in demand also extends to portable refrigerators and ice makers, according to sellers. Cooling products may be temporarily unavailable, but restocking is ongoing.