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In view of the fires that raged in the south-western parts of Turkey over the weekend, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised Czech tourists already in the country or heading there to register with the ministry’s travel data base Drozd. In the event of emergencies the ministry uses the data base to provide Czech citizens abroad with relevant information and advice or assists them with their return home. According to the Turkish authorities, the fires that broke out in the Izmir area on Saturday have been brought under control and there is currently no immediate danger to citizens, but short-term complications with services may occur in the affected areas. Thousands of Czech tourists travel to Turkey every year.

Meteorologists have issued a severe storm warning for the eastern parts of the country on Sunday afternoon and evening. The eastern parts of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia may experience heavy storms with torrential rain and hailstones in places that may reach 3cm in size. There is a danger of flash floods. Sunday’s night temperatures, which reached 25 degrees in places, are among the warmest on record.

Andrej Babiš' ANO party, Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party and Austria's far-right FPÖ have announced the formation of a joint alliance in the European Parliament called “Patriots of Europe”.  According to Andrej Babiš the emphasis of the new grouping will be on patriotism, sovereignty and tradition.

"We have three main priorities that we share and that unite us - defence of sovereignty, the fight against illegal migration and opposition to the Green Deal," Mr. Babiš said. He stressed it was important to strengthen the sovereignty of each member state, for Brussels' migration policy to change and the protection of the EU's external borders to be strengthened.

The new alliance will need the support of parties from four other European Union states before it can be recognized as a group in the European Parliament.

The Old Catholic Church in Czechia has announced that it is ready to bless same-sex partnerships in a church ceremony. This should be possible as of the beginning of 2025 when an amendment to the Civil Code will come into force allowing same-sex couples to enter into a partnership with most of the rights given to heterosexual couples. The Old Catholic Church, established in 1877, is the first church in the Czech Republic to publicly declare its intention to “marry” same-sex couples in a church ceremony. Last year, in another break with tradition, it ordained two women as priests.

The newly-approved amendment to the law gave same sex partners many new rights, but stopped short of calling same-sex partnerships a marriage.