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Extreme rains continue to battle Czechia, raising water levels in the country's rivers and streams. By 6am on Saturday, a total of 145 locations reached some flood activity level. The highest, extreme, flood alert was declared at 27 places. The fastest rising streams were in the Jizera Mountains and Jeseníky in the north-east of the country.

Jeseníky and Krkonoše mountains saw the heaviest rainfall over the last 24 hours, with precipitation reaching over 160 litres per square metre in some places. Extreme rainfall was also recorded in the regions of Liberec, South Bohemia and North Moravia.

The world is no longer based on the competition between the West and the East, but increasingly on the competition between democracy and various kinds of autocracy, President Petr Pavel said in his speech at the NATO Military Committee meeting in Prague today on Saturday. The Czech head of state has also urged the chiefs of staff of NATO countries to be bold and open in making their conclusions and recommendations so that they are understood at the political level.

Also addressing the meeting was Chief of the Czech General Staff Karel Řehka, who said the allies must provide Ukraine with all the necessary assistance, whether it concerns training or the supply of weapons and other military equipment.

It is the first time the chiefs of general staff from NATO member countries have met in the Czech Republic, with around 350 foreign delegates attending. On the agenda is the current security situation in Europe, defense plans, and implementing decisions from NATO's July summit in Washington.

Due to heavy rainfall and the threat of floods, three games in the Czech first hockey league scheduled for Saturday have been postponed. These include matches between Vsetín and Frýdek-Místek, Zlín and Slavia Prague, and Přerov and Jihlava. Clubs agreed on the postponement to free up emergency services, such as police and firefighters, who are critical during such extreme weather. Vsetín club official Petr Neumann emphasized the need for these services to focus on potential flood emergencies. Other scheduled matches will proceed as planned depending on local conditions.

Bird flu has been confirmed in a poultry farm in Martinice u Březnice, central Bohemia. Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný stated that 700 geese and 300 hens will need to be culled due to the outbreak. The Veterinary Administration will establish a three-kilometer protection zone and a ten-kilometer surveillance zone around the farm. This development means that the Czech Republic will lose its bird flu-free status, which may affect trade with non-EU countries. Bird flu outbreaks have been recorded previously, with the most significant occurring in late 2022.