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Lightning Strike in Czech Republic Injures 18 People

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Eighteen people sustained injuries in the Czech Republic when a tree they were sheltering under was struck by lightning, according to local emergency services. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon in the Liberec-Vratislavice castle park, situated in the northern Liberec region, approximately 55 miles (90 km) northeast of Prague.

Images and videos shared by the fire service show numerous emergency personnel and vehicles at the scene. While officials have not released detailed information about the injured individuals, local media reported that children were among those hospitalized. The park was hosting an event for International Children’s Day at the time.

Czech TV station CT 24 reported that five of the injured were children aged between two and 16, and that five adults required resuscitation at the scene. Vaclav Ricar, a spokesperson for the Liberec regional hospital, told local newspaper Liberecky Denik that the hospital had received 17 conscious patients, confirming that one child was airlifted to a hospital in Prague.

The Czech Republic experienced heavy rain and storms over the weekend, with reports of flooding affecting various parts of the country. Climate change, which has caused the world to warm by approximately 1.1C since the industrial era, contributes to more frequent extreme rainfall events. Temperatures will continue to rise unless significant emissions reductions are made globally.

Experts advise those caught outside in a thunderstorm to seek a low spot away from trees, fences, and poles. If you feel your skin tingle or your hair stand on end, it indicates that lightning is imminent. The recommended action is to crouch down, balancing on the balls of your feet with your hands on your knees and your head between them, to make yourself the smallest target possible and minimize ground contact.

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Czech president injured while racing motorcycle

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Czech President Petr Pavel has been hospitalized following a motorcycle accident, with his office reassuring the public that the injuries are not severe, necessitating only a short observation period. The incident occurred on a closed racing circuit, leading authorities to abstain from launching an investigation. Despite the accident, President Pavel’s love for motorcycles is well-known, particularly his fondness for riding a BMW R1200 GS.

President Pavel’s enthusiasm for motorbikes has occasionally landed him in controversy. Last year, he publicly apologized after being caught riding without a helmet. Nonetheless, his passion for biking remains undeterred, with the president often seen enjoying rides, even to neighboring countries like Germany. Pavel’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties, combined with his love for motorcycles, has made headlines throughout his tenure.

This recent accident marks another addition to President Pavel’s list of extra-curricular mishaps. Just last April, he sustained a minor injury while practicing shooting at a range. Despite these incidents, President Pavel continues to engage actively in both official duties and personal interests, illustrating a dynamic and multifaceted leadership style.

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Czech Republic MPs vote to tighten gun laws

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The Czech Republic has passed an amendment to its gun legislation, following the recent mass shooting at Charles University. The amendment, proposed prior to the incident, still needs approval from the senate and the president and won’t be effective until 2026. Despite being considered insufficiently transformative, the amendment aims to address loopholes that allowed the shooter, a licensed gun user, to amass eight legally-owned weapons, including an AR-10 semi-automatic assault rifle.

The shooter, a 24-year-old graduate student with a history of depression, killed 14 people on campus. The legal changes propose an updated online register of guns and owners accessible to doctors, including psychiatrists. Gun shops will be obligated to report suspicious purchases, and the system will flag individuals acquiring numerous weapons. Police will gain the authority to seize weapons preventatively, especially if the owners make threats on social media, a power currently unavailable to them.

However, mandatory psychological tests for gun licenses, common in other countries, will not be enforced. Czech doctors can request such tests but are not obligated to do so before signing license applications. The legislation may undergo further amendments in parliament, but the fundamental right to bear arms for self-defense, added to the constitution in 2021 amid EU attempts to restrict weapon possession, is unlikely to be altered. With over 300,000 licensed gun owners and a million guns in the country, the Czech Republic, known for hunting and biathlon, has a majority of licenses granted for personal protection rather than sports or hunting purposes. The necessity of such personal protection in cities like Prague and Brno remains unclear in one of Europe’s safest countries.

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Prague shooting: Gunman dead after killing 14 at Charles University

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A tragic incident unfolded at Charles University in Prague, marking the deadliest attack in modern Czech history. A 24-year-old gunman shot and killed 14 people while injuring 25 others in the Faculty of Arts building, located in the historic center of the capital. The assailant, who was later “eliminated” by the police, was revealed to be a student at the university. The motives behind the attack were not immediately known.

The shooting commenced at approximately 15:00 local time, prompting university staff to barricade themselves in rooms for safety. Disturbing footage circulated on social media, showing individuals jumping to safety from the building’s ledges, and the sound of gunshots echoed through the air. Prime Minister Petr Fiala canceled upcoming engagements in response to the tragic events.

Police authorities disclosed that the gunman hailed from a village outside Prague, and his father was found dead earlier on the same day. The police were investigating a possible link between the gunman and two deaths in a forest near Prague the previous week. Preliminary information suggested that no police officers were injured during the university attack.

Witnesses, including a university professor and tourists, recounted the chaos and panic that ensued as people sought refuge from the gunfire. Charles University students reported barricading themselves in classrooms, receiving instructions to stay in place until the situation was under control. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed shock at the senseless violence.

Charles University, founded in 1347, is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic and one of the oldest in Europe. The tragic incident has left the nation in mourning and raised questions about the motives behind the gunman’s actions.

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News Trending War

Israel Gaza: EU calls for ‘corridors and pauses’ for humanitarian aid

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EU leaders have urged the establishment of “corridors and pauses” to ensure the delivery of crucial humanitarian aid to Gaza. Following lengthy discussions in Brussels, the leaders issued a joint statement emphasizing the necessity of safe and unimpeded access. Disagreements among member states had previously centered on the duration and structure of these pauses, with some advocating for a longer, singular cessation of hostilities.

In response to Hamas’s attack that led to significant casualties, Israel initiated airstrikes and imposed blockades on essential supplies, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The health system in Gaza, operated by Hamas, has been strained to the brink, with a large number of casualties and a shortage of functioning medical facilities.

Although the aid reaching Gaza has been limited, the recent statement from the EU leaders represents a compromise among the diverse views of the 27 member states. The use of “humanitarian pauses” as brief intervals aims to allow the EU to work with regional partners to provide essential resources without being exploited by terrorist organizations, as clarified in the statement.

The decision to use the term “pauses” rather than “pause” was a result of delicate negotiations. The former was considered less likely to imply a permanent ceasefire, thereby acknowledging Israel’s right to self-defense. Notably, certain member states, including Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Germany, which holds a strong pro-Israel stance, played a significant role in shaping the statement’s wording.

While some countries expressed disappointment at the absence of a specific call for a ceasefire, there was approval for the addition of a new line supporting the organization of an international peace conference. The proposed conference aligns with the Spanish caretaker Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s earlier call for an international peace summit to address the long-standing conflict in the region.

Given that the EU lacks military authority, its influence is primarily diplomatic, focusing on diplomatic pressure and the provision of aid. Despite the EU’s efforts, Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s war cabinet, asserted that Israel would continue to make autonomous decisions regarding its actions in Gaza, based on its national interests.

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Jakub Jankto: Czech Republic international midfielder comes out as gay

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Jakub Jankto of the Czech Republic says he “no longer wants to hide” as he comes out as gay in public, becoming the first active international player in men’s football.

The 27-year-old midfielder, on loan from Getafe of Spain, announced it on Twitter on Monday. In 45 appearances since making his senior debut for the Czech Republic in 2017, Jankto has four goals to his credit.

Like everybody else, I have my strengths, I have my weaknesses, I have a family, I have my friends,” he said.

“I have a job that I have been doing as best as I can for years with seriousness, with professionalism and passion.”

He added: “Like everybody else, I also want to live my life in freedom without fears, without prejudice, without violence but with love.

“I am homosexual and I no longer want to hide myself.”

In the men’s game in the UK last year, Jake Daniels of Blackpool made history by becoming the first professional athlete to come out while still competing in more than 30 years.

Justin Fashanu, who played for clubs in England and Scotland after coming out as gay in October 1990, was the last active men’s professional football player in the UK to do so before Daniels.

Josh Cavallo, an Adelaide United player who came out in October, was the only active out homosexual top-flight male professional footballer in the world prior to Jankto’s public coming out.

Sparta Prague announced in a statement that Jankto had “some time ago” spoken openly about his sexual orientation with the club’s management, coach, and teammates.

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Petr Pavel: Ex-general beats populist rival in Czech election

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Petr Pavel, a retired NATO commander, defeated populist Andrej Babis to become the new president of the Czech Republic. According to preliminary data made available by the state statistic office, the 61-year-old received 57.6% of the vote.

Shortly after the results were released, Mr. Babis—who was prime minister from 2017 to 2021—admitted defeat in a speech to his supporters. The second term of Milos Zeman, who will be replaced by the ex-general, expires in March.

Mr. Babis and Mr. Pavel’s second-round runoff was presented as a conflict between populist oligarchy and liberal democracy. The results of the elections come after a divisive campaign marked by alleged threats to kill and false information.

Earlier this week, Mr. Pavel was compelled to use Twitter to refute rumours that he had passed away that had been spread via a phoney website and emails that were stored on a Yandex server in Russia.

Mr. Babis, who recently cancelled all of his remaining in-person campaign appearances out of concern for his safety after receiving an anonymous death threat, denounced the misinformation. After the results were made public on Saturday, Mr. Pavel stated that qualities like honesty, decency, respect, and humility had triumphed.

A deliberate echo of the cries of “Havel na Hrad” that filled the streets and squares of Czechoslovakia in November 1989, there were thunderous chanting of “Pavel na Hrad” (Pavel to the Castle). Indeed Mr Pavel, a firm advocate of Czech membership of Nato and the EU, has often invoked the spirit of Vaclav Havel.

And his victory will be interpreted as a confirmation of the nation’s growing Westernization.

Mr. Pavel has come out strongly in favour of more military assistance for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression and has favoured keeping the Czech Republic firmly rooted in the European Union and NATO.

In contrast, Mr. Babis was compelled to retract earlier this week after he implied that he would not uphold the nation’s duty to defend a fellow Nato member in the event of an assault.

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News

ECJ pulls up Poland, Hungary and Czech Republic over refugee issue

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The European Court of Justice has pulled up Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic as It has found these countries have failed to respect the EU law as it has not taken in refugees under an agreement reached by the EU leaders to ease the burden faced by Italy and Greece.

The agreement was supposed to benefit 160,000 refugees – especially those from the embattled country of Syria, and was supposed to bring a huge relief to overcrowded camps in Italy and Greece.

Now, the EU Commission is free to impose fines over these countries for the crimes they have committed by disrespecting the EU law.

The court has declined to accept these countries’ argument that the acceptance of refugees would create huge security issues in their country.

So far, the Czech Republic has accepted not more than 12 of the 2,000 refugees it had been asked to take in, while Hungary and Poland have not taken in a single person yet.


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Crime News

Around six killed in Czeh shooting

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As many as six people have been shot to death in the European country of Czech Republic by a gunman.

The shooting has happened in a hospital waiting room. The motive of the killing is unknown at this moment.

The brutal killing incident has sent shivers to the veins of the nation. The nation has expressed its shock in the incident.

It is the most shocking event the European country of Czech Republic has witnessed in the recent past.

The shooter has shot self after the incident.

In total, at least nine people have suffered the bullet attack. Of the nine, less than three has survived the attack.

An investigation into the incident is on.

Czech Republic is a very peaceful nation. It is the first time that a serious shooting incident has been reported from the country.

As per an eyewitnesses account, the gunman has attacked indiscriminately without any provocation.

At least two women are there in the six people who have been killed in the shooting incident.

The patients and staffs in the hospital have been successfully evacuated from the hospital by the security authority.

Most of them appear to have not been recovered completely from the trauma caused by the attack yet.


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