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A large-scale power outage struck much of Czechia on Friday, affecting major cities and several regions, including Prague, Central Bohemia, Ústí nad Labem, Liberec, and Hradec Králové. The outage disrupted public transport, including metro, trams, and rail services, and left parts of the capital without electricity for over half an hour. Interior Minister Vít Rakušan activated the Central Crisis Staff in response, saying that the government was working to determine the scope and cause of the disruption. Firefighters were dispatched across Prague to rescue people trapped in elevators and respond to reports of smoke caused by backup diesel generators.
According to ČEPS, the national grid operator, the outage was caused by a fallen phase conductor that affected eight substations. Five of them were restored quickly. Despite the blackout, hospitals and prisons switched to backup power systems and continued to operate without major issues. Transport Minister Martin Kupka asked the public for patience, and Prime Minister Petr Fiala called the situation “exceptional,” assuring citizens that restoring electricity remained a top priority. The national cybersecurity agency ruled out a cyberattack as the cause of the failure. Power supply has been gradually returning across the affected areas.
The Spolu (Together) governing coalition remained stable in June polls despite the bitcoin donation scandal, holding around 20–21% support. While it briefly lost momentum, recent surveys show a modest recovery. However, the opposition ANO Party still holds a strong lead with more than 33 percent support. Meanwhile, extreme right wing Freedom and Direct Democracy Party surged to double digits after forming a joint list with smaller parties. Pirates also benefited from an alliance with the Greens, reaching up to 7.8%. The left-wing Stačilo! (Enough!) movement risks falling below 5%, but talks with SOCDEM (Social Democrats) may help. Another government Mayors and Independents Party remains steady at 10–12% but hasn’t gained from Spolu’s troubles.
Czech mountaineer Klára Kolouchová has died while attempting to climb Nanga Parbat in Pakistan. She was the first Czech woman to summit Mount Everest, K2, and Kanchenjunga and was widely known and popular also as an author. According to local sources cited by the Pamir Times, she fell from a great height early in the morning. Initial reports of an exploding oxygen tank were later questioned by other climbers. Kolouchová was 46 years old and had arrived in Pakistan in mid-June. Her body remains on the mountain as authorities prepare a recovery operation using a helicopter.
Czech and Slovak health ministers signed a framework agreement enabling paramedics to assist across their shared border. Emergency teams from either country will now be able to respond to incidents and transport patients in border regions if they are closer to the scene. The deal covers land and air rescue services in several regional areas, including South Moravia, Zlín and Moravian-Silesia on the Czech side, and Bratislava, Trnava, Trenčín and Žilina on the Slovak side. Czech Health Minister Vlastimil Válek emphasized faster care in emergencies like strokes or mass accidents, while Slovak minister Kamil Šaško praised the move as deepening cooperation.
The 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival opens today with heartfelt tributes to its late longtime president Jiří Bartoška. A photo exhibition titled Jiří Bartoška – KVIFF President featuring 60 black-and-white portraits is on display outdoors between the Thermal and Pupp hotels. The opening film, We Have to Frame This!, is an informal 2021 conversation between Bartoška and producer Milan Kuchynka, directed by Jakub Jurásek.
Actors Vicky Krieps and Peter Sarsgaard will receive the Festival President’s Award at the gala. Other guests include Michael Douglas, Dakota Johnson, and Stellan Skarsgaard. The festival runs through July 12.
People are streaming to Velehrad, in South Moravia, for the annual Days of People of Goodwill that traditionally accompany celebrations of the legacy of Cyril and Methodius, missionaries from Thessalonica who brought Christianity to the Czech lands in the 9th century.
Organizers expect over 20,000 pilgrims to attend, with participants arriving from across the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and beyond.
The two-day event features a rich tapestry of activities, including concerts, workshops, children’s programs, sporting competitions, and opportunities for spiritual reflection.
A highlight of the celebration is the Evening of People of Goodwill, a benefit concert scheduled for Friday at 7:30 p.m., to be broadcast live by Czech Television and Czech Radio.
Skies over Czechia will be mostly clear to partly cloudy on Saturday, with temperature highs between 27 and 31 °C,
Barbora Krejčíková and Jakub Menšík advanced to the third round at Wimbledon, while Tomáš Macháč exited in a dramatic five-set defeat. Defending champion Krejčíková beat American Caroline Dolehide 6–4, 3–6, 6–2, and will next face Emma Navarro, who eliminated Petra Kvitová in the opening round. Menšík, 19, claimed his second win with a four-set victory over Marcos Giron and continues to improve on his Grand Slam best. Tomáš Macháč, seeded 21st, lost a marathon to Denmark’s August Holmgren after nearly four and a half hours and despite holding three match points. "He hit two lines on match point. I wouldn’t change anything," Macháč said.
A massive electricity outage brought parts of the Czech Republic to a halt on Friday afternoon. The blackout affected large sections of Prague and several regions, disrupting transportation and hospital operations. Prime Minister Petr Fiala called a meeting of the Central Crisis Staff as efforts to restore power continued.
A unique collection of children’s drawings from the Terezín Ghetto, housed at the Jewish Museum in Prague since the end of the war, has been added to the prestigious UNESCO Memory of the World Register. Created between 1942 and 1944 by children imprisoned in the ghetto, many of whom were later deported to Auschwitz, the collection includes around 4,500 drawings. I spoke with the museum’s curator, Michaela Sidenberg, about its significance.
The Prague Planetarium, an astronomically popular Czech attraction, now boasts a state-of-the-art LED dome, the first in Europe. Newly reopened after the biggest modernisation in its history, the planetarium is again transporting audiences to the skies above another planet – or above Prague city centre, as Jan Veselý, its Programme Specialist, explained to Danny Bate:
Klára Kolouchová, a pioneer of Czech high-altitude mountaineering, has died while attempting to climb Nanga Parbat in Pakistan. The 46-year-old became the first Czech woman to reach the summits of Mount Everest, K2, and Kangchenjunga, among other Himalayan giants. Her tragic fall between camps on the so-called “Killer Mountain” ends a climbing career marked by determination, resilience, and groundbreaking achievements.
“Czech humour is legendarily dry, operating through deadpan delivery and subtle verbal jabs that can sometimes catch you off guard,” lauds the ranking, published by Remitly. In a questionnaire of over 6,000 participants, Czechs came out on top with 72.33 points out of a possible 112.
Pavel Bittner will be the sole Czech cyclist at this year’s Tour de France, the world’s most watched annual sports event. The young sprinter is making his debut at the iconic race, starting on Saturday in Lille, with a stage that could very well suit his strengths.
Live action role-play, or LARP, has carved out a vivid niche in Czechia, where castles, forests, and centuries-old villages provide the perfect backdrop for immersive storytelling. The Czech LARP community is known for its craftsmanship, world-building, and a sense of camaraderie that makes these events feel like stepping into a parallel world.
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