News

Health authorities have banned swimming at Prague's Džbán reservoir after detecting high levels of blue-green algae and algal bloom. Lower concentrations were also found at the nearby Šeberák pond, where children, allergy sufferers and other vulnerable people are advised not to swim. Water quality has also deteriorated slightly at Motol pond, Hostivař reservoir and the Braník beach on the Vltava River, although swimming remains permitted there. Prague's public health authority regularly monitors bathing sites during the summer, testing for harmful bacteria, blue-green algae and overall water quality.

Czech mountaineer Jaroslav Bánský, 46, has died in Pakistan's Karakoram mountain range while attempting the first recorded ascent of Biarchedi II. He was climbing with fellow Czech alpinists Zdeněk Hák and Radoslav Groh, although the circumstances of the accident remain unknown. The Czech Foreign Ministry confirmed the death, saying the Czech embassy in Islamabad is working with local police. Bánský is the third Czech to die in the mountains abroad this week, following the deaths of two climbers on Mont Blanc. Bánský had previously completed several pioneering ascents in the Karakoram with his teammates.

Czech banks and building societies provided mortgages worth 48.9 billion crowns in June, down seven percent from May but 32 percent higher than a year earlier. New mortgages excluding refinancing fell four percent month-on-month to 36.5 billion crowns, while the average interest rate rose to 4.79 percent from 4.67 percent in May. Despite the monthly slowdown, lending remained strong, with total mortgage volumes reaching 294 billion crowns in the first half of the year, up 59 percent year-on-year. Analysts say tighter central bank rules, higher market interest rates and rising property prices helped cool demand after several exceptionally strong months.

Employment offices in Czechia are set to assist people at risk of homelessness, taking over some responsibilities in this area from municipalities, under an amendment to the Housing Support Act that President Petr Pavel signed on Thursday.

Among other things, employment offices will now decide on applications for support measures. Recipients will include victims of domestic violence, those going through a divorce, or people ending a partnership.