Czech news in brief for September 7: Saturday's top headlines

Firefighters in Český Krumlov continue efforts to extinguish a large fire on the roof of the local swimming stadium. The blaze, which broke out early in the morning, has caused extensive damage, with estimated losses at CZK 10 million. The fire reportedly began during an attempt to remove a wasp nest. Fire crews have declared a third-level alert, with multiple units on site. No injuries have been reported, and authorities are investigating the cause.

On Sunday, temperatures in some areas of the Czech Republic, including southeastern and central Moravia and Ostrava, are forecast to exceed 31 degrees Celsius. However, a significant cooldown is expected next week, accompanied by rain. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute reports that this will reduce the current fire risk across the country. Temperatures will drop by about 10 degrees in Bohemia and 8 degrees in Moravia and Silesia by Monday. The rest of the week will see highs of around 15 degrees Celsius.

From September 7 to 15, European Heritage Days will grant access to over 700 historical sites in the Czech Republic. Many normally closed sites will be open for tours and guided walks. Highlights in Prague include Libeň Castle and various churches and synagogues. The national launch in Klášterec nad Ohří will feature a cultural program and the awarding of Traditional Craft Holder titles by Minister of Culture Martin Baxa.

The average duration of old-age pensions in the Czech Republic reached 24.62 years in 2023, up 25 days from the previous year. Men’s pensions increased by an average of 51 days, while women’s pensions decreased by 5 days. There has been a significant rise over the past fifty years, with the retirement period more than doubling since 1970. Despite a pandemic-related dip in 2021, the trend of increasing pension duration has resumed.

A parliamentary commission investigating last December's shooting at Charles University began questioning witnesses on Friday, focusing on the police response. Commission chairman Pavel Kasník said the questioning process, based on witness testimonies, may continue until the end of September. More discussions are planned, with the next one scheduled for Monday. The investigation aims to clarify the events of the tragic incident.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala participated in a ceremony on Friday to lay Stolpersteine, commemorative brass paving stones, honoring Jewish Holocaust victims from the Tugendhat, Hoze, and Löw-Beer families in Brno. The stones, placed in front of their former homes, commemorate victims who faced Nazi persecution. Some escaped, while others perished in concentration camps. Descendants of the families attended the ceremony.

The Council for Research, Development and Innovations has nominated Tomas Jungwirth from the Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, for the Czech Mind (Česká hlava) award. Jungwirth was recognized for his pioneering research in spintronics, particularly in the discovery of altermagnetism, which combines traditional and latent magnetic properties. His work has elevated the Institute of Physics to a global leader in spintronic research.

Interior Minister Vít Rakušan and football association representatives agreed not to relax pyrotechnics rules in football stadiums. Instead, they suggested professional oversight for any pyrotechnic displays. The current regulations prohibit the use of firecrackers and similar devices by fans. Discussions also covered ways to improve stadium security services, according to the Interior Ministry spokesperson.

A rare brocchinia tatei plant, native to South American table mountains, is now in bloom at the Liberec botanical garden. This is the only time the three-meter-tall plant will flower before dying, says gardener Kateřina Pavlasová. The plant, which arrived from botanist Andreas Wistub, will bloom until the end of September and then propagate via rhizomes to continue its lifecycle.

Recent threats to Czech schools may be part of hybrid actions orchestrated by Russia, Interior Minister Vít Rakušan said on Friday. Hundreds of schools received threatening emails this week, which the police assess as low-risk. Slovakia faces similar issues. A working group formed to manage the crisis is developing guidelines for schools on communication with police and students. Rakušan emphasized the sophisticated, coordinated nature of the attacks, making identification of the perpetrators difficult.