Czech news in brief for August 16: Saturday's top headlines

The Czech Defense Ministry approved the purchase of 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks for CZK 34 billion, Minister Jana Černochová said. The deal will likely be financed through an EU SAFE program loan, which offers tax benefits and supports joint European defense projects. The order includes six tank variants, with possible expansion to 77. At least 11 Czech firms are expected to take part in production.

A young moose nicknamed Emil wandered from Slovakia into Hodonín on Friday night, briefly disrupting rail and road traffic. Police monitored the animal as it passed through the town center and crossed highway I/55 safely. The moose, which has roamed Poland, Czechia, and Slovakia, later moved back toward the forest. Authorities urged the public to keep distance, as the species remains rare in Czechia, with about 15 living near Lipno.

Lower Austria Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner has urged the European Commission to halt Czechia’s planned expansion of the Dukovany nuclear plant, citing safety concerns. The Czech government intends to build two new reactors about 30 kilometers from the Austrian border, with South Korea’s KHNP as contractor. Geological surveys began last week. Austria, which abandoned nuclear power in 1978, generates over three-quarters of its electricity from renewables.

Severe thunderstorms with heavy rain and hail may hit South Bohemia and Moravia on Saturday, meteorologists warned. The Hydrometeorological Institute said up to 40 millimeters of rain could fall in repeated storms. At the same time, high heat and drought are raising fire risks in Central Bohemia, with warnings in effect until Sunday evening. Temperatures Friday reached up to 37 degrees Celsius in some areas.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to halt the Ukraine war but said the root problem is Russian imperialism, not Ukraine’s pursuit of freedom. He warned against Moscow’s push to roll back NATO’s presence to pre-1997 borders. Other Czech officials echoed that Russia, not the U.S. or Ukraine, holds the key to peace, stressing Putin shows no real interest in ending the conflict.

An explosion at the Synthesia chemical plant in Pardubice on Thursday left three workers seriously injured, two of them in life-threatening condition, rescue officials said. The accident occurred during building reconstruction at the site, owned by the Kaprain Group. The company said the incident caused no environmental risks or major damage. Authorities are investigating the cause while two victims remain in burn centers.

Meteorologists lifted the smog warning for Prague and Central Bohemia late Friday after more than two days of elevated ground-level ozone, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute said. The warning, issued Wednesday, was tied to high temperatures and strong sunlight. A similar alert declared Thursday for the Ústí nad Labem Region remains in place. Experts advise limiting outdoor exertion during high ozone, especially for vulnerable groups.

The fossils of human ancestors Lucy and Selam arrived in Prague Thursday from Ethiopia and will go on display at the National Museum from Aug. 25. It marks their first exhibition in Europe. Czech and Ethiopian officials called the loan a historic moment, with Ethiopia citing recent bilateral ties as key. The rare 3.2-million-year-old finds will be shown under high security for 60 days.

Czech police brought Tomáš Jirikovský, linked to the ongoing bitcoin case, in handcuffs to the National Centre Against Organised Crime in Brno on Thursday. He had been detained in Břeclav the night before. Jirikovský, a convicted drug dealer, previously donated bitcoins worth CZK 1 billion to the Justice Ministry. His arrest may affect the scandal that forced ex-minister Pavel Blažek to resign earlier this year.

Nearly 60 percent of Czech weather stations with at least 30 years of records reported new highs for Aug. 15, the Hydrometeorological Institute said. The highest reading was 36.9 degrees Celsius in Dobřichovice near Prague, followed closely by Kopisty and several Prague sites above 36 degrees Celsius. Meteorologists noted the hottest areas were in central and western Bohemia. Overnight tropical conditions also kept temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius at many locations.