Czech news in brief for July 20: Monday's top morning headlines

Good morning, the week starts with the end of the regulated price caps on fuel, and drivers are expected to feel an immediate sting as prices start to rise again. Meanwhile, this weekend saw the wrap-up of two of Czechia's most popular music festivals, and of course of the FIFA World Cup - which is the topic of our daily poll. Let's look at the main news driving the day.

The price for gasoline and diesel is expected to increase in the coming days after the government ended its regulated fuel price caps on Sunday. Diesel in particular could see its price suddenly rise due to the end of the reduced excise tax rate, analysts say, by up to CZK 3 per liter. Introduced to mitigate the rise in global energy prices caused by the war in Iran, the regulated fuel prices had been in place since the middle of April.

The government is holding one of its last weekly cabinet meetings today before the summer holidays. One of the key items on the agenda will be the possible introduction of a ban on the use of mobile phones in schools - a divisive measure that's been dividing teachers, parents and educators at large over the past several months.

More than 26,000 household were left without electricity on Sunday due to the strong storms that battered across Czechia over the weekend. Dozens of power lines and points of consumption were cut, mostly due to fallen trees and branches, according to distributors ČEZ and E.ON Group. Many of those who were left without power were around Vizovice, in the Zlín region, and other eastern parts of the country.

Talking about Vizovice, the 22nd edition of the Masters of Rock festival held in the Moravian city ended yesterday night with a concert of 57-year-old American provocateur Marilyn Manson, his first appearance at the hard rock and metal fest. Other headliners of this year's edition included German metal band Helloween or Finland's The Rasmus.

Summer fests. Festival season is in full swing, with Colours of Ostrava also closing its 2026 edition on Saturday. Its artistic director Filip Košťálek dismissed speculation that the fest could change location in the future, assuring the festival was and will remain tied to the city of Ostrava and its Dolni Vítkovice industrial area.

The first half of the week will be mostly cloudy with moderate temperatures of up to 25 degrees, according to the latest forecast by the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ). Thursday will be the coldest day of the week and rain is expected in large parts of the country, with temperatures set to rise again over the coming weekend.