Czech news in brief for February 17: Tuesday's top morning headlines

Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka is traveling to the United States on Wednesday to attend the inaugural meeting of President Donald Trump’s newly formed Board of Peace. Macinka will participate as an observer in Washington, acting as a representative for Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. While the Czech government has not yet committed to full membership, the visit is seen as a strategic move to maintain high-level ties with the U.S. administration. Read the full story here.

Prague 9 will implement significant traffic and parking restrictions from March 24 to 29 due to the World Figure Skating Championships at the O2 Arena. Residents and local businesses in the designated zone must apply for entry permits starting Feb. 16, though those with existing long-term parking permits will receive them automatically. The measures aim to prevent unauthorized parking and ensure smooth transit for participants and local residents during the international event.

Intensive snowfall caused widespread travel complications across the Vysočina, Olomouc, and Pardubice regions on Monday. Up to 15 centimeters of snow fell in some areas, leading to stuck trucks and multiple minor accidents. Maintenance crews remained active overnight to clear slush and ice from main arteries. Authorities have urged motorists to exercise extreme caution and expect significant delays, as freezing rain and fog continue to impact visibility and road safety.

The Prague Public Transit Company (DPP) has released graphic security footage of pedestrians being struck by trams to warn against inattention. Last year, tram collisions resulted in two deaths and 70 injuries in the capital. Officials highlighted that the most frequent causes of these accidents are pedestrians wearing headphones, using mobile phones, or wearing hoods that obstruct peripheral vision. The campaign aims to shock the public into prioritizing safety around city tracks.

The Czech national hockey team is set to face Denmark in the qualifying playoff round at the Milan Winter Olympics on Tuesday at 4:40 p.m. Following a 3-4 overtime loss to Switzerland, the Czechs finished third in their group, missing out on direct quarterfinal qualification. A victory against Denmark would advance them to a quarterfinal matchup against top-seeded Canada. The game will be held at the Santa Giulia Arena.