Czech news in brief for December 26: Friday's top afternoon headlines

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said he spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday to discuss the war in Ukraine, migration, Europe, and cooperation within the Visegrad Four, highlighting renewed Czech-U.S. ties. Babiš said the call, held during the Christmas holiday, underscored Washington’s interest in Prague as his new government prepares its policy agenda and seeks closer regional coordination with U.S. support.

Czechia faces a shortage of foster and adoptive parents, with roughly 3,000 children awaiting placement and only about 1,000 people interested each year, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs reported. Research by the Sirius Foundation found potential caregivers fear handling children with behavioral challenges and are deterred by complex bureaucracy. Experts stress that misconceptions about foster care exist, noting that families can choose suitable children and receive financial support for both long-term and temporary placements. Foreigners are eligible to foster.

The European Union will ban products containing so-called “forever chemicals” (PFAS) starting in 2026 due to health risks, officials said. The ban will affect food packaging, waterproof clothing, impregnating sprays, and other items that resist grease and water. PFAS accumulate in the human body, potentially impacting immunity, organs, and fertility. Firefighting foams will be restricted as early as April 2026, with broader product limits set for fall 2026.

About 330 winter swimmers braved icy waters of the Vltava River in Prague on Thursday during the 79th annual Alfred Nikodem Memorial, a traditional Christmas event. Competitors ranging in age from 13 to 83 swam courses of up to 750 meters in water measuring 3.6 degrees Celsius. Hundreds of spectators watched as Lenka Pavlacka won the main race, securing her 11th overall victory.

Train operations at Prague’s central railway station were disrupted this morning after a damaged traction line halted service to Libeň, Vysočany, and Holešovice for about 30 minutes, with limited traffic toward Vršovice and Smíchov, Railways Emergency Management Agency spokesman Martin Kavka said. Service was fully restored by 2:30 p.m., though passenger trains experienced delays of up to 30 minutes. Authorities are investigating the cause. Last week, the theft of cables in a railway tunnel led to lengthy delays.