News in brief for July 23: Top headlines for Czechia on Sunday

The 2023 Colours of Ostrava music festival came to a close on Saturday evening with a performance by American rapper Macklemore followed by a DJ set from Purple Disco Machine. The festival was celebrating its 20th anniversary, and an eventful edition was marred by two unfortunate cancellations.

British singer Ellie Goulding canceled her appearance at this year's festival due to illness, and Nigerian singer Burna Boy's concert was disrupted by a plane malfunction. Macklemore, the star of Saturday night, arrived on time and put on a well-received show, ensuring this year's festival ended on a high note.

Tomáš Satoranský and Julia Reisingerová have been named the best Czech basketball players of the 2022-23 season. Satoranský, who plays with the Spanish club Barcelona, secured the top spot among men, while Reisingerová, playing with Spain's Salamanca, claimed the title among women for the second consecutive year.

His eighth victory in the poll places Satoranský ahead of last year's winner and Barcelona teammate Jan Veselý. Ondřej Balvín, who plays with Ukraine's BC Prometey, secured third place among men. Petr Czudek was named the best coach for leading Opava to their first Czech league championship title since 2003.

Authorities have implemented a ban on boating on the Teplá Vltava river in the Šumava National Park, as the water level has reached a critical low. The measuring station at Soumarské Most in Prachatice recorded a water level of only 47.5 centimeters, indicating ongoing drought conditions.

This is not an isolated incident, as boating was permitted for only two days in July due to water scarcity caused by the drought. The section of Teplá Vltava between Soumarský Most and Pěkna, measuring 16 kilometers, is under strict protection to preserve the freshwater pearl mussel population. The boating ban goes into effect when water levels drop below 50 centimeters.

In response to the perilous forest fires approaching the tourist resorts of Kiotari and Lardos in Rhodes, Greece, a large-scale evacuation of several thousand tourists and local residents was conducted on Saturday. According to the Greek daily Kathimerini, the Coast Guard and police collaborated to ferry people to safety, employing buses, Coast Guard boats, and approximately 30 private boats.

Among those seeking refuge are Czech tourists, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed. Concerned individuals can reach out to Greek emergency lines and the Czech Embassy in Athens for assistance. The situation remains dynamic as firefighting efforts and evacuations continue, prioritizing the safety of all residents and tourists in the area.

Petra Kvitová, two-time Wimbledon champion and one of Czech Republic's most successful tennis players, surprised the world by marrying her long-time coach, Jiří Vaňek over the weekend. The couple managed to keep the wedding entirely confidential until the last moment.

With an illustrious career boasting numerous triumphs, 33-year-old Kvitová is revered as one of the greatest tennis players of her generation. Her husband, Jiří Vaněk, is a former professional tennis player turned coach, and he has been a constant presence during many of Kvitova's greatest achievements.

The Czech women's beach volleyball team of Barbora Hermannová and Mariá-Sára Štochlova has secured a spot in the semi-finals of the Edmonton Pro Tour tournament. They triumphed over Olympic champion Laura Ludwig and Louisa Lippmann of Germany with a 2-1 set victory on Saturday.

After a closely contested first set loss of 24-26, Hermannová and Štochlova dominated the next two sets, winning 21-15 and 15-10. The pair has won five matches since entering the qualification rounds. The Czech beach volleyball players are in the semifinals for the first time since last October, when they won the tournament in Dubai. 

A procession of several hundred members of folklore groups from European and Asian countries took part in the 18th annual Prague Folklore Days parade through the city center on Saturday. The procession included Taiwanese dancers in red and golden dresses, a Swiss group with big cowbells, Polish girls with wreaths of flowers, and much more.

More than 600 members of about thirty music and dance groups from 13 countries performed during the Prague Folklore Days festival this year. Participating groups included performers from Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland and Taiwan. The festival was held under auspices of Czech President Petr Pavel.

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute have eased warnings indicating a risk for fire in some Czech areas following recent rainfall. The territory from Olomouc to Třinec is now considered risk-free, while the northwest of the Czech Republic, central Bohemia, Vysočina, and southern Moravia still face a high risk of fires.

Prague and its surrounding areas, along with the entire South Bohemian Region and part of the Highlands, now have a lower level of warning. In northeastern Moravia, the fire risk warning has been completely canceled, but it has been tightened in the southern part of the Central Bohemian Region. While some parts of the country received rain on Friday, more is expected on Tuesday for most areas.

The Czech Republic has officially achieved a bird flu-free status, as confirmed by the World Organization for Animal Health. This development marks a significant milestone for the country, paving the way for the resumption of poultry and poultry product trade with non-European Union nations. The last bird flu outbreak occurred in Central Bohemia in mid-May; since then, the situation has stabilized, allowing the Czech Republic to restore normalcy in its poultry farming sector.

Bird flu, a highly contagious virus affecting various bird species, has historically caused substantial economic losses in the country. The absence of bird flu opens up new opportunities for Czech poultry farmers, with the potential for significant economic benefits through expanded international trade in poultry products.

New CEO of Czech Television, Jan Souček, plans to reassess the possibility of reintroducing ČT3, an archive channel that ceased broadcasting last year. The program's return was supported by Czech Television's program director, Milan Fridrich, during a recent council meeting in Ostrava.

ČT3, known for its archival content, concluded its broadcast on New Year's Eve 2022. With Jan Souček's interest in quality television and archive programs, his assumption of the CEO position in October is anticipated to bring potential changes to the program lineup. The proposal for ČT3's revival will be evaluated by the Council of Czech Television, with hopes of enriching television offerings and rekindling viewers' interest in beloved archive shows.

An investigation is underway by Brno police into a recent fight that occurred on Cejl Street, a location known for its troubled reputation and often referred to as "The Bronx." The altercation resulted in one foreigner sustaining injuries and being subsequently hospitalized, while three other individuals involved were detained.

A video of the incident circulated on social media, leading to speculation that it was an attack by Roma on Ukrainians. Nevertheless, the police have refuted these claims. The incident has sparked extensive discussions on social media, with many users expressing the need for increased police presence to address safety concerns in the area.

The Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports has announced a significant change in rules for pupils studying outside traditional Czech schools. The amendment impacts students educated abroad, in foreign schools on Czech territory, or undergoing home schooling. Previously, despite fulfilling compulsory schooling elsewhere, these students were expected to enroll in Czech schools.

However, the amended decree mandates that Czech schools will now have to place such pupils in specific grades and classes, effective September 1, 2023. The alteration also impacts the financing of Czech schools, with funding to be allocated only for students currently studying with them. The ministry aims to bring transparency to the school financing system while motivating schools to provide high-quality education for all pupils.