News: Saturday, July 12th, 2025

PM Fiala: US tariffs threaten EU trade

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Saturday that US President Donald Trump’s plan to impose a 30 percent tariff on European Union goods would negatively impact transatlantic trade. He stressed the importance of continuing negotiations to avoid escalating economic tensions.

Fiala pointed out that Czechia, along with other EU members, supports ongoing diplomatic efforts. He emphasized the need for EU unity and a firm approach to protect economic interests and ensure fair treatment for European businesses.

The tariffs are set to take effect on August 1, according to a letter Trump posted on his Truth Social platform addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Von der Leyen said the EU remains open to dialogue until the deadline but did not rule out retaliatory actions. Meanwhile, three anonymous EU officials told Reuters they see the tariff announcement as a negotiating tactic rather than a final decision.

Czech envoy in Damascus holds talks with Syrian foreign minister

Vítězslav Pivoňka, who currently heads Czechia’s embassy in Syria, met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Shibani in Damascus to discuss bilateral relations, Syria’s state agency Sana has reported.

Pivoňka has served as chargé d’affaires since the beginning of the year. Under his leadership, Czechia has continued to support development projects in Syria, focusing on improving access to clean water and restoring cultural heritage sites damaged during the war.

Czechia has maintained an active diplomatic mission in Damascus throughout the conflict, making it one of the few EU countries to do so.

Shibani was appointed foreign minister following the fall of President Assad last December. He was previously affiliated with the Islamist group HTS.

Gender identity diagnoses quadruple over the past decade

The number of newly diagnosed gender identity disorders in Czechia has more than quadrupled over the past decade, rising from 225 cases in 2013 to 989 in 2023, according to data from the National Register of Covered Services provided by the Health Ministry. About 80% of these were diagnosed as transsexualism.

Since July, legal gender change requires only confirmation from a certified sexologist, dropping previous requirements for hormone treatment and surgery, including sterilization—a rule recently struck down by the Constitutional Court.

While both psychiatrists and sexologists can diagnose, only a sexologist’s confirmation is valid for legal gender recognition. In 2023, 296 men and 484 women received this diagnosis, mostly among those aged 15 to 19, followed by 20 to 24 and 25 to 29, with smaller numbers in other age groups.

Czech Film Broken Voices wins Europa Cinemas label at Karlovy Vary

The Czech drama Broken Voices (Sbormistr) has won the Europa Cinemas Label award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Presented by European cinema operators, the award supports the distribution of outstanding European films and helps them reach wider audiences across the continent.

The powerful picture follows a 13-year-old girl as she falls under the sway of her choir’s conductor. It was inspired by a real-life scandal involving the head of a Prague girls’ choir, who was jailed on multiple sexual abuse charges.

Broken Voices is competing for the Crystal Globe in the festival’s main competition. It premiered on July 6 and began screening in Czech cinemas on July 10.

Summer School of Slavonic Studies gets underway in Olomouc

The annual Summer School of Slavonic Studies got underway on Saturday at Palacký University in Olomouc. Over a hundred students from across Europe, as well as Egypt, the US, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand, are taking part in the four-week Czech language program at the university’s Faculty of Arts.

Now in its 39th year, the school welcomes learners of all ages and skill levels—from complete beginners to advanced speakers. The oldest participant this year is likely 79-year-old Antonio from Italy, attending for the third time. The youngest is Jules, a 16-year-old from France, said the school’s director Pavla Poláchová.

After placement tests, students will be divided into ten language groups. Many of them already live in Czechia. Alongside classes, the program includes cultural events and excursions.

Karlovy Vary film festival wraps up on Saturday night

The 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival wraps up this evening with the announcement of the winning films. Awards will be handed out in both the Crystal Globe and Proxima competitions.

Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård will receive the Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema. The President’s Award will go to Czech film editor Jiří Brožek.

On Friday night, Stellan Skarsgård presented Sentimental Value, a new film by Joachim Trier. The film won the Grand Prix at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and is seen as a strong Oscar contender.

Since July 4, the festival has screened more than 130 feature films, including 34 in the Main and Proxima competitions, as well as a range of special screenings.

Czech tourist dies after falling in Italian Dolomites

A Czech tourist died on Friday in the Italian Dolomites, according to the ANSA news agency and public broadcaster Rai. The man, who was hiking with a group, reportedly accidentally strayed off the trail and fell..

The accident happened around 2 p.m. in the Val di Fassa area of Trentino. The group was hiking toward Passo San Nicolò at about 2,400 meters above sea level when the man, aged around 50, fell from the trail onto rocks.

According to reports, the man died on the spot, and his body has since been recovered and brought down to the valley.

Weather forecast

Sunday will be partly cloudy to mostly cloudy, with occasional showers or thunderstorms, especially in the northern half of the country. Highs will range from 22 to 27°C, reaching up to 30°C in the southeast. In the mountains, temperatures will be around 17°C.