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The public paid their final respects to prominent Czech artist, musician and educator Milan Knížák at his funeral in Prague on Friday. The ceremony was held with state honours, including the Czech flag, the national anthem and three ceremonial volleys.

Former president Václav Klaus, a longtime friend of Knížák's, and Culture Minister Oto Klempíř (Motorists) delivered funeral speeches. Klaus described Knížák as a symbol of freedom and intellectual independence, praising his uncompromising character and his contributions to Czech art, music and literature.

Knížák, who died on July 26 at the age of 86, was part of the international Fluxus art movement and was active in the Czechoslovak underground before heading Prague's Academy of Fine Arts and the National Gallery in the post-1989 period.

Czech industry has continued to perform strongly in recent months despite Germany's weak economy and ongoing geopolitical tensions, according to analysts. Industrial output rose by four percent year-on-year in June, while new orders increased by more than 13 percent, reflecting solid demand. Analysts say the growth has been driven by strong order books, although some companies may have brought purchases forward because of uncertainty over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. They expect the sector to continue expanding in the coming months, but at a gradual pace, with high energy costs, labour shortages and inflation still posing risks.   

Škoda Auto has started series production of its new fully electric seven-seat SUV, the Peaq, at its main plant in Mladá Boleslav. The model is the largest vehicle in the company's current line-up and had attracted nearly 8,500 orders by the end of July. Customer deliveries are expected to begin around the end of the year. The Peaq is built on the same production line as the electric Enyaq and Elroq, as well as the petrol-powered Octavia Combi, allowing Škoda to adjust output according to demand. The flagship model offers a driving range of more than 640 kilometres in its top version and is the first Škoda to feature bidirectional charging, enabling it to supply electricity back to a home or the power grid.

The Maraton hudby festival opens in Brno on Thursday, turning the city into a stage for more than 100 performances across over 20 venues through Sunday. The programme ranges from world music and jazz to folk, with French-Vietnamese guitarist Nguyen Le serving as this year's resident artist. Festivalgoers can enjoy concerts in clubs, concert halls and public spaces, while street musicians perform in creative installations designed by artist Kateřina Šedá. The weekend programme also includes a sold-out Balkan Night at Špilberk Castle and a light and music show celebrating the 25th anniversary of Villa Tugendhat's inscription on UNESCO's World Heritage List.