Czech news in brief for January 6: Tuesday's top afternoon headlines

The Czech state budget closed 2025 with a deficit of CZK 290.7 billion, exceeding the planned CZK 241 billion, Finance Minister Alena Schillerová said. Revenues reached CZK 2.081 trillion, while expenditures rose to CZK 2.372 trillion. National debt increased to CZK 3.678 trillion, equivalent to CZK 337,519 per citizen. Higher spending on renewable energy and education, as well as lower EU funds, contributed to the gap. Defense spending met NATO’s 2 percent GDP target.

President Petr Pavel will attend the first State Security Council meeting of 2026 on Wednesday, the presidential office said. A key topic will be the continuation of the Czech ammunition initiative, which supplies artillery shells to Ukraine. While some government parties have been cautious or critical, officials stressed the initiative could continue in a form acceptable to allies. Pavel is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Andrej Babiš for a New Year’s lunch.

The Czech Foreign Ministry has urged Czech citizens stranded on Yemen’s Socotra island to evacuate using commercial flights to Jeddah, expected to resume on Wednesday. Authorities are aware of 27 Czechs currently on the island and are providing consular assistance. The long-standing warning against travel to Yemen remains in place. Flights were suspended after clashes between separatist forces and the Yemeni government led to a state of emergency.

Railway accidents in the Czech Republic claimed 221 lives in 2025, up 14 from 2024, while injuries fell to 210, according to the Railway Safety Inspection. A total of 1,073 incidents were recorded, with the majority of accidents occurring in Central Bohemia and Moravia-Silesia. Train-person collisions caused 189 deaths, and level-crossing accidents killed 31. Tram and metro incidents claimed 14 lives, with injuries rising slightly to 666. Investigations into major accidents, including a Zliv collision, are ongoing.

The annual fee for Czech public television and radio must be paid by January 15, 2026, under rules introduced in May 2025. Households and businesses with devices capable of receiving broadcasts—including TVs, radios, computers, and smartphones—are required to register and pay. The total annual fee is CZK 2,460 for both TV and radio. Payments can be made via bank transfer, SIPO, or card, and verification is handled by Czech Television and Czech Radio.