News in brief for Sept. 2: Top headlines for Czechia on Saturday

The Lešan military museum hosted its 19th annual Tank Day event on Saturday, September 2, attracting thousands of military history enthusiasts. Attendees had the opportunity to explore historical military equipment and witness dramatic reenactments of World War II battles. Distinguished guests included Czech President Petr Pavel and Minister of Defense Jana Černochová.

The highlight of this year's Tank Day was the unveiling of the newly acquired Leopard 2A4 tank, destined for the Czech army. Organized by the leadership of the 73rd tank battalion, the public demonstration of the Leopard 2A4, renowned as one of the world's premier modern battle tanks, drew considerable attention and attendance.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated that effective management of key and long-term projects could bring Czech salaries closer to those in Germany in a video posted to social media this morning. Fiala emphasized the importance of focusing on education, ensuring energy security, and investing in transportation infrastructure.

He also stressed the need for private companies to participate in these endeavors alongside the government. Fiala's outlook for the future highlights ongoing projects designed to propel the Czech Republic forward. Improvements in transport infrastructure and addressing energy security issues are key priorities in the pursuit of economic development.

Epidemiologist Roman Prymula has raised concerns about the presence of Legionella bacteria in the Czech Republic, similar to the outbreak in neighboring Poland that has claimed fourteen lives, primarily among elderly individuals with underlying health issues. The bacteria can be found in soil, water, and ventilation filters cooled by water, posing a risk of widespread infection.

While less severe cases may resemble common flu symptoms, Legionella pneumonia can be fatal, with a mortality rate of around 15% for the elderly. Unlike person-to-person transmission, infection occurs through inhaling infected aerosols (e.g., from air conditioning) or consuming contaminated water.

The debate on the expansion of the European Union has gained momentum recently, according to Edita Hrdá, head of the Czech Republic's Permanent Representation to the EU. Hrdá stated that the expansion is in the Czech interest and that the country contributed to it during its EU Council presidency.

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said the EU must be prepared to accept new members by 2030. However, Hrdá noted that member states are divided on the issue, with some supporting enlargement and others raising concerns about how the EU would function with more members.

Czech tennis players Marie Bouzková and Markéta Vondroušová will fight for a place in the US Open round of 16 on Saturday night. 31-seed Bouzková will face last year's finalist, Anastasia Potapova, on Arthur Ashe court at 1:00 a.m. Prague time during an evening match in New York.

Wimbledon champion Vondroušová will close the day's program on Louis Armstrong court against Ekaterina Alexandrova from Russia. Bouzková aims to avenge her defeat against Potapova in last year's Wimbledon quarterfinal. Vondroušová, on the other hand, aims for her tenth consecutive win in a Grand Slam tournament after winning at Wimbledon earlier this year. She has not lost a set in New York so far.

Four children were injured at a fairground attraction in Písek after a small roller coaster unexpectedly stopped and they fell out of their cart. According to South Bohemian police spokesperson Martina Joklová, the children's injuries are minor.

Criminal investigators are currently looking into the incident, which likely occurred during a power outage that caused the track to stop. Joklová stated that police officers are on the scene, but further details about the case are not yet available.

A fatal accident involving a truck and a car closed the main road between Brno and Vienna on Friday evening near Mikulov in South Moravia. The car driver died at the scene, while an elderly man suffered life-threatening injuries and later died. The truck driver tested negative for alcohol.

The road was impassable in both directions, causing traffic complications during the holiday weekend. Czech police wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that alternative travel routes were available through Dolní Dunajovice and Březí.

Another group of Czech firefighters and rescue workers has been sent to Greece to replace their colleagues who have been helping to extinguish large fires in the country. The firefighters who served in Greece returned to the Czech Republic on Friday night, while the new group arrived earlier in the day.

The fires in Greece have been ongoing for almost two weeks and are still not fully under control. In the Dadia National Park near the Turkish border, the fires have intensified, leading to the evacuation of villages. The Czech firefighters, along with a Slovak expedition, also faced difficulties in the area on Thursday.

Czech tennis player Karolína Muchová advanced to the round of 16 at the U.S. Open for the second time in her career. She defeated Taylor Townsend in a 7:6, 6:3 victory and will face China's Wang Xinyu in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Barbora Strýcová, in her farewell tour, reached the round of 16 with Markéta Vondroušová after defeating reigning champions Barbora Krejčíková and Kateřina Siniaková in the so-called "Czech derby."

During the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance for China (IPAC) summit in Prague yesterday, which saw democratic countries rally support for Ukraine amid Russia's military invasion, IPAC chairwoman Markéta Pekarová Adamová emphasized that backing Ukraine is also a message to China to respect international rules. She also described China as a sophisticated adversary and stressed the importance of unified action by democratic countries.

Pekarová Adamová highlighted previous successful campaigns against Chinese companies in the Czech Republic and emphasized the need for value-based politics. The summit convened lawmakers from over 20 countries to discuss various topics related to China.