Czech news in brief for April 2: Thursday's top morning headlines

President Petr Pavel criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls for NATO involvement in Iran, saying the alliance was founded as a defensive pact and American participation there “makes no sense.” Analysts warn that Trump’s statements, including a possible U.S. withdrawal, are undermining trust and cohesion in NATO. Former leaders, including Petr Fiala and Jana Černochová, said such rhetoric threatens security and stability, stressing Europe’s ongoing dependence on U.S. defense capabilities.

Czech police have collected 2,200 firearms, nearly 65,000 rounds of ammunition, 680 other munitions, and 3.5 kg of explosives in the first three months of a nationwide weapon amnesty, officials reported on X. Experts will check the arms for links to crime; legally eligible owners may reclaim them after obtaining a license. The amnesty, running until June, marks the sixth such program, following 2021’s collection of 3,700 firearms.

Interest in flights to World Cup venues surged immediately after the Czech national football team defeated Denmark 3-1 on penalties Tuesday, securing a spot in the tournament for the first time in 20 years. Searches for flights to Mexico, the U.S., and Canada spiked, with Guadalajara seeing a 21-fold increase. Travel portals report rising demand, particularly for matches in Atlanta and Mexico City, while agencies consider arranging themed fan tours.

Tennis star Petra Kvitová and husband Jiří Vanek welcomed twins, two daughters named Emma and Ella, on Monday, joining their one-year-old son, Petr. The 36-year-old two-time Wimbledon champion announced her second pregnancy last October after retiring from competitive tennis following the US Open. Kvitová’s decorated career includes 31 WTA titles, six Fed Cup and Billie Jean King Cup wins, a 2016 Olympic bronze, and a career-high world No. 2 ranking.

The Tomas Bata Foundation unveiled the renovated study of shoe empire founder Tomáš Baťa in his Zlín villa Wednesday, marking the 150th anniversary of his birth. Visitors can see personal items, including his ring, tie clip, travel documents, and plane debris from his 1932 death, alongside exhibits on his business and key collaborators. The foundation plans year-long events, exhibitions, and lectures celebrating Baťa’s legacy and philosophy.