Czech news in brief for July 8: Monday's top headlines

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute has published a weekly weather forecast predicting tropical temperatures and thunderstorms in the Czech Republic this week. The Pardubice, Hradec Králové, Olomouc, Zlín, and South Moravian regions will experience highs of 36 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, with high humidity making it uncomfortably stuffy. A cold front will bring about thunderstorms on Wednesday. Temperatures will slightly decrease on Thursday, but will rise again on Friday. 

According to Czech Member of European Parliament (MEP) Alexandr Vondra, French President Emmanuel Macron's decision to call early elections and shun the right wing has opened the door for communists and anti-Semites to rise to power in France. In the recent French elections, the left-wing New Popular Front won the most seats, with far-right National Rally (RN) and centrist government party Ensemble following. Vondra warns that this outcome will only bring chaos and hinder aid to Ukraine.

The Land and Air Transport Trade Union (OSPLD) at Prague's Václav Havel Airport has declared a strike alert, valid until revoked or changed. This is due to poor management of personnel and human resources by the airport, according to OSPLD deputy chairman Marek Sedlák. The airport will address these concerns at a special meeting, says spokesperson Klára Divíšková. Sedlák states that the airport has been understaffed for a long time and relies on overtime. The airport has come under fire recently for mishandling luggage, when last week over 1,000 pieces of luggage were separated from their owners.

Czech President Petr Pavel stated on the social network X that a crackdown on a children's hospital in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities shows Russia's ruthlessness. He anticipates NATO's consensus on Russia being the biggest threat. Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský and other Czech politicians also condemned the large-scale Russian air attack, which killed at least 20 people and injured dozens, including nine deaths in Kyiv, marking one of the worst attacks since the invasion began.

Prague police intervened in two incidents overnight involving men in closed apartments under the influence of drugs, according to a police spokesman. In Prague 4, officers restrained a man who threatened to set himself on fire while shouting "Allahu akbar" after gaining entry through a window. He was hospitalized for suspected drug influence. In Prague 1, firefighters and negotiators rescued a man attempting to jump from a roof. Both men were hospitalized and later tested positive for drugs.

Panic at a Jihlava music festival left several people injured last night when the roof of a giant inflatable tent began to sag. Police reported at least 12 injuries. Seven people were transported to a hospital by paramedics, while ten more went separately. Three people remain in intensive care, with one discharged this morning. The incident followed a power outage caused by a lightning strike and subsequent heavy rain, forcing people to seek shelter in the tent. Police are investigating the incident, and the festival’s program was sped up due to thunderstorms.

The Giant’s Gate, the main entrance to the Castle from Hradčanské náměstí, is closed from July 8 for renovations until the end of August. The traditional guard change ceremony will be replaced by daily musical performances by the Castle Guard Music in the third courtyard from 12 to 12:15 p.m. Access to the castle grounds is still available via the side gate in the first courtyard.

The Czech Department of Health is finalizing a proposal to allow online ordering and home delivery of prescription drugs, excluding addictive substances or those requiring special conditions like cold storage. The move aims to enhance convenience but raises concerns among small pharmacy owners about potential business losses. Currently, prescription drugs are strictly handled through physical pharmacies. Deputy Health Minister Jakub Dvořáček emphasizes that brick-and-mortar pharmacies would still ensure drug safety and interactions. The ministry plans to negotiate with insurance companies to support small pharmacies and consider flexible operating hours.

Four capybara cubs were born at Prague Zoo this morning, though one may not survive, zoo director Miroslav Bobek reported. This marks the zoo’s first capybara birth in a decade after reintroducing the species last fall. The parents, a female from Germany and a male from Denmark left one cub in the enclosure while taking three outside. The zoo revived capybara breeding due to visitor demand after ending it in 2013.