Czech news in brief for February 1: Sunday's top morning headlines

Supporters of President Petr Pavel are set to gather on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square in Prague from 3 p.m. on Saturday at demonstrations organized by the Milion chvilek group. The event follows a dispute between Pavel and Foreign Minister Petr Macinka over the failed appointment of Filip Turek as environment minister. Organizers expanded the rally to Wenceslas Square due to high expected turnout.

Prague city inspections uncovered hundreds of violations in the taxi sector last year, including drivers using fake licenses. Authorities checked 1,470 drivers, finding 314 cases of noncompliance, with the most frequent issues in hotel transfers and digital app services. Nine drivers had their licenses revoked, and 18 were fined. The city continues to work with police and immigration authorities, citing language barriers and rising numbers of app-based taxis as ongoing challenges.

Dozens of volunteers gathered at the Travelers’ Club restaurant in Brno to make candles for people in Ukraine facing power and heating outages. The initiative, led by restaurant owner Olena Kutsynova, drew around 50 participants within the first three hours. The handmade candles will be distributed through the Brno for Ukraine network to communities affected by Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, providing basic light and warmth during winter shortages.

Czech prosecutor Petr Klement has assumed leadership of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), formally taking office on Sunday. He will begin running the Brussels-based agency on Monday. OLAF investigates fraud, corruption, and other crimes linked to EU spending but does not conduct prosecutions. Klement, previously a senior official at the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, said he aims to clarify cooperation between OLAF, EPPO, Europol, and Eurojust. His appointment leaves vacant the post of Czech European prosecutor.

Twenty-four people died on Czech roads in January, four fewer than in the same month last year, according to preliminary police data. The deadliest days were Jan. 11 and 29, each with three fatalities. Victims included car drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and truck occupants. The latest fatal crashes occurred on the D1 motorway near Brno and in Čtveřín near Turnov. Police noted that inattention remains the leading cause of fatal accidents nationwide.