News: Saturday, June 29th, 2024

Viggo Mortensen receives festival president’s award at Karlovy Vary

The 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival opened on Friday night with a screening of the Western The Dead Don’t Hurt, written and directed by Viggo Mortensen.

Mortensen, who is one of the big international celebrities at the festival this year, received the festival’s President’s Award at the gala opening on Friday night.

Other big names at the festival are Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh, Hollywood actor Clive Owen and Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush, who is on the jury of the main competition.

Over the next seven days the festival will screen 136 films in 12 cinemas.

2024 Dance World Cup competition kicks off in Prague

A parade of close to 10,000 dancers from 54 countries passed through the centre of Prague on Friday evening, symbolically opening the 2024 Dance World Cup competition. The week-long event is being held in Czechia for the very first time and according to Prague City Hall it has attracted around 20,000 foreign visitors to the capital. The Dance World Cup is the largest dance competition in the world and the second largest sports and cultural competition after the Summer Olympics. This year's event is the 14th in a row. Last year it took place in Portugal.

Bahna Day showcasing military technology for the broad public

The 34th edition of Bahna Day organized by the Czech Army is taking place on Saturday at the military  training ground Zadní Bahna in the Rokycany region. The display of military technology is one of the largest domestic military events for the public. It includes static and dynamic demonstrations of combat equipment and small arms, flyovers of air force aircraft, paratroopers' in action, a demonstration of the use of reconnaissance drones, and a great deal else. Units from Germany, Austria and Slovakia are also taking part. The event is extremely popular with military enthusiasts and has attracted around 50,000 people in recent years. Entry is free of charge.

Czechia to sign security agreement with Ukraine

The Czech Republic and Ukraine will sign a bilateral security agreement at the European Political Community summit in London on July 18, Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced on the network X.  Kyiv has already signed 19 such bilateral agreements among others with the United States, Britain, Germany, France and Italy. The agreement pledges continued military support for Ukraine and also covers the training of Ukrainian soldiers, cooperation in the defence industry and assistance with demining. A similar agreement was also signed between Ukraine and the EU.

Construction work has begun on new tram lines in upper part of Wenceslas Square

Construction work has begun in the upper part of Prague's Wenceslas Square, to enable the return of trams to the square after a break of more than 40 years. The laying of 550 meters of new tracks will take three years and cost around 1.24 billion crowns. The new lines will connect the National Museum with Jindřišská and Vodičkova streets which cut across the square. The lower half should be pedestrian.  Work is also underway on the reconstruction of the existing tram tracks in Vodičkova and Jindřišská street, where tram traffic will be renewed at the end of September.

Heatwave and storm warning in place over the weekend

Meteorologists have issued a heatwave warning for the weekend, when temperatures are expected to reach 34 degrees Celsius in places. There is also a warning of severe heat-related thunderstorms on Sunday, especially in eastern Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia. People have been advised to stay out of the sun, particularly in the afternoon hours, and increase their intake of liquids.

Weather forecast

Sunday should be clear to partly cloudy with day temperatures between 27 and 32 degrees, possibly 34 in the eastern parts of the country. Meteorologists have issued a heat storm warning for the afternoon and evening hours.