Thousands of fish die in South Moravian river due to heat-related oxygen loss

An estimated 250 kilograms of dead fish were pulled from the Dyje river in the Břeclav district in South Moravia. The fish include carp, zander, catfish, grass carp, and bream. The fish died due to a loss of oxygen connected to the overgrowth of cyanobacteria that was caused by hot weather in combination with an excess of phosphorous from wastewater. Fishermen and firefighters will participate in the removal, which is expected to take a week.

The Czech military air force is to be equipped with the U.S. made F-35 Lightning combat fighters in the future. The government decided that the Defense Ministry would launch talks on their purchase with the United States. The government has decided so on the basis of a recommendation of the military, Defense Minister Jana Černochová said. The Defense Ministry plans to acquire 24 aircraft, so far, the military has 14 fighter planes. The American fighters will replace Swedish-made Gripens. The Czech Republic has a contract for their use until 2027 with a two-year option. The F-35 Lightning II is usually described as the most modern fighter plane with a potential lifespan of 30 to 40 years. It has stealth technology that maximally prevents the chance of the planes being detected by radar.  

A new poll conducted by the CVVM agency found that the Czech people's trust in constitutional institutions has declined since the spring, mainly public trust in the president, which fell from 38 to 28 percent. The Senate is currently trusted by one-third of the Czech people. The cabinet is trusted by the same share of people as the president, and the Chamber of Deputies fares the worst of all, trusted by just 26 percent of Czechs.

Ambassador Hynek Kmoníček and Consul General Arnošt Kareš paid tribute yesterday to the late Ivana Trump whose funeral services were held at the St. Vincent Ferrer Roman Catholic Church in Manhattan. The consulate called Trump "a Czech-American business mogul, an outstanding sportswoman, a strong proponent of Czech-US ties, and a mother of 3 children Donald Jr., Eric, and Ivanka." The ambassador delivered the condolences of the president of the Czech Republic, Miloš Zeman.

Seven stations in the Czech Republic measured a temperature higher than 36 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. The warmest was in Husinc-Řež in Central Bohemia, where temps hit 36.9 degrees. Records for July 20 were set at about three dozen stations out of about 160 that have been in operation for at least 30 years says the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. An extreme heat warning is in place in the Czech Republic until Friday. Thunderstorms may occur on Thursday. Due to the high temperatures, all 21 sprinkler cars were in operation in Prague Wednesday. 

Late Wednesday night, an explosion rang out from the Orlen Unipetrol chemical plant in Litvínov. Firefighters and paramedics arrived at the scene, according to reports from CNN Prima news, later confirmed by the company, four people were seriously injured but the injuries were not life-threatening. Residents from nearby towns heard a massive explosion around 11 p.m. Massive flames were visible in the area immediately afterward.

The City of Prague is looking for photographs of the demolished stained glass from the gable of the burnt-out left wing of the now reconstructed Industrial Palace at Výstaviště. The photos will be used to create a replica. Praguers who have photos of the artwork can send them until the end of the year. The reconstruction and completion of the palace began in February and should be completed in 2025. It will cost an estimated CZK 2.64 billion.

The Czech Republic is one of the world's most peaceful countries, ranking eighth among the 163 assessed countries, according to the Global Peace Index (GPI) released by the British Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). Czechia, which has always fared well in the GPI positions, placed ninth last year.

Iceland keeps its position as the most peaceful country, while Afghanistan keeps being the least peaceful. The global index has slightly deteriorated, for the 11th time in the past 14 years. Up to 90 countries see their result improved, 71 saw it worsened, and in two countries, the situation has remained stable year on year.

In the top positions, Iceland is followed by New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark, and Austria. At the bottom, Afghanistan is preceded by Yemen, Syria, Russia, and South Sudan. The biggest regional decline is faced by Russia and Eurasia, followed by North America.

The Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the Czech parliament, approved the bill banning the production and sale of single-use plastic cutlery, plates, drinking straws, and other products in harmony with the EU regulations. Now the Senate, the upper house, is to approve the bill, and then President Miloš Zeman is to sign it into law.

The legislation is a transposition of a European directive approved in 2019, aiming to reduce plastic waste in seas and oceans. It is another step in supporting a circular economy within the EU. Besides, the bill sets down the deadline by which the products may be put into circulation. Thanks to this, the manufacturers can sell the rest of their reserves.

A woman called the police after she noticed a six-month-old child alone in a car, which was parked in direct sunlight. The police arrived within 10 minutes and broke the window to save the crying infant. The little girl was sweaty and red-faced. When the mother returned, she said she had to run an errand and "had no idea what was going to happen."

"We would like to appeal to all mothers and fathers to not underestimate the possible danger in the current heat and, if at all possible, to think about the possible consequences," urged the Prague police spokesman.

Nine days before the start, the Summer Film School in Uherské Hradiště announced another star guest. Irish director and screenwriter Jim Sheridan, winner of five Oscar nominations, will attend its 48th edition. Sheridan will receive the Annual Award of the Association of Czech Film Clubs in Hradiště. The festival, which runs from July 29 to Aug. 4, will screen four of Sheridan's films as well as works by local filmmakers.