Daily news summary
Summer drought could be worst in years, climatologist says
Since 2012, the Czech Republic has experienced a severe drought every year, but this summer’s could prove the worst, as the air temperature has since April been far above average, climatologist Pavel Zahradníček told Aktuálně.cz.
Most rainstorms have short and local rather than nationwide. Groundwater reserves have become steadily lower in recent decades Zahradníček said with mild winters, in terms of snowfall, a contributing factor.
Universities note drop in applications
Many Czech universities continue to accept applicants in some fields, particularly in technical disciplines, but also some philosophical, theological or natural sciences, as the number of applicants has dipped in line with demographic trends.
Charles University has registered around 60,260 students this academic year, down from 62,384 a year ago. At the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen applications were down by about 1,000 applications and the Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem recorded 300 fewer applicants than last year.
Czech students finish fourth at Int'l Chemical Olympiad
Czech students won three gold medals and one silver medal at the International Chemical Olympiad to finish in fourth place overall, the country’s best showing in history.
Some 300 participants from 76 countries to part in the event. Jan Obořil, a Brno-Bystrc grammar school student, finished in eighth place. He was previously a member of a three-person team that won the European Science Olympiad.
UAE doctors study blood supply technique at Prague military hospital
A group of United Arab Emirates (UAE) medical staff has arrived at the Central Military Hospital in Prague to study special procedures in maintaining blood supplies also in times of emergency.
The hospital’s Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion is a world leader in the cryopreservation of blood, erythrocytes and thrombocytes.
Charles University Summer School of Slavonic Studies begins
The 62nd annual Summer School of Slavonic Studies (LŠSS) organised by Charles University in Prague gets underway on Saturday.
Over the next four weeks, some 140 students from 40 countries will attend Czech language classes and seminars on the nation’s history, literature and traditions. They will also go on walking tours of Prague and attend various cultural events.
Bonnie Tyler sings ‘Total Eclipse’ under blood moon at Liberec festival
Bonnie Tyler sang her 1983 hit “Total Eclipse of the Heart” at the ongoing Benátská! music festival in Liberec on Friday night, against the background of the century’s longest blood moon.
The Welsh singer’s trademark pop ballad, known as “Zatmění” in the Czech version, often surges in popularity around lunar and solar eclipses, as seen in Spotify charts and views of the official music video on YouTube.
Weather
Sunday should be partly cloudy in Bohemia with isolated rain and thunderstorms in Vysočina and Moravia, where skies should clear partly in the evening. Daytime temperatures should be between 27 and 31 degrees Celsius.
