Czech news in brief for February 10: Tuesday's top morning headlines

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Slovakia after attending the Munich Security Conference this week, Reuters reported. Rubio is set to meet Slovak government leaders in Bratislava on Sunday to discuss regional security, nuclear energy cooperation, energy diversification, military modernization and Slovakia’s NATO commitments, according to the State Department. He will travel to Budapest on Monday to meet Hungarian officials.

Czechia has improved its standing in the annual Corruption Perceptions Index, rising from 46th to 39th place globally. According to Transparency International, the country scored 59 out of 100 points, though it remains slightly below the European Union average of 62. While Czechia’s ranking improved, neighboring Slovakia and Hungary continued to fall, with Hungary remaining among the worst-performing EU nations. Denmark continues to lead the index as the least corrupt country.

The State Institute for Drug Control (SÚKL) is reviewing applications to expand state health insurance coverage for six additional vaccines. New rules prioritize cost-benefit analyses, comparing vaccine expenses against potential savings from prevented hospitalizations. Proposed changes include extending free HPV and tick-borne encephalitis vaccinations to age 26, and offering shingles and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines for seniors and pregnant women at no cost. Decisions are expected within 110 days.

The Czech Republic faces significant weather shifts this week as a warm front brings spring-like conditions, with afternoon highs reaching 12°C by Thursday. However, meteorologists warn that the mild weather will be short-lived. A cold front is expected to arrive over the weekend, causing temperatures to drop and bringing snow back to mid-to-low elevations. Residents should also prepare for occasional rain and potential morning ice in eastern regions

The seventh annual Comic-Con Prague, scheduled for March 13–15 at O2 universum, will feature prominent international actors including Iain Glen (Game of Thrones) and Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad). The festival will also host stars from Netflix’s One Piece and local icon Jiří Lábus. Attendees can expect a diverse program featuring exclusive discussion panels, cosplay competitions, comic book workshops, and thematic exhibitions focusing on global sci-fi and fantasy hits.

Czechs are gradually changing how they drink. Online alcohol sales are rising, beer is losing ground to lighter and non-alcoholic options, and younger consumers are increasingly opting for alcohol-free periods beyond just February.