incident Czech teen found dead in Austrian mountains
A 14-year-old Czech boy living in Vienna died in the Schneeberg area of Lower Austria. After skipping a hotel staff trip due to tiredness, he was reported missing the next morning. A search involving police, mountain rescuers, and a helicopter found his body with fatal injuries in steep terrain near a hiking trail. Authorities found no signs of foul play. The boy lacked proper mountain equipment and experience, and the exact cause of the accident remains unclear.
diplomacy Pavel unveils Japan visit
Czech President Petr Pavel will travel to Japan on July 21 for a four-day visit, his office announced Friday. He will visit Himeji, Hiroshima, and Osaka, where he will attend Czech National Day at Expo 2025. Pavel will also meet Japanese officials and Czech expatriates in Tokyo and join a security seminar. A business delegation will accompany him for a forum with Japanese partners. The Czech Republic’s national pavilion in Osaka was designed by Apropos Architects and opened in April by Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský.
ELECTIONS 2025 Czech bishops encourage people to vote
The Czech Bishops’ Conference today urged citizens to participate in the upcoming autumn parliamentary elections. In a statement, the bishops outlined key values to guide voters: freedom, rule of law, just peace, compassion for the vulnerable, and adherence to Gospel values. Citing Pope Leo XIII, they emphasized bridge-building and dialogue. They also stressed evaluating candidates’ sincerity, consistency with Christian values, and support for democratic cooperation and justice at home and abroad.
BLACKOUT Police rule out terrorism after power outage
Czech authorities said there is no indication that a cyberattack or terrorism caused Friday’s widespread power outage, which hit parts of Prague, Central Bohemia, Liberec, Ústí, and eastern Bohemia. The national cyber security office and police confirmed ongoing investigations. Interior Minister Vít Rakušan activated the Central Crisis Staff, set to meet at 4 p.m. Firefighters responded to people trapped in elevators, and traffic disruptions were reported. Prime Minister Petr Fiala called the situation serious, with power restoration the top priority.
incident FlixBus crash injures several Czechs
A FlixBus crash in northern Germany early Friday injured 31 people, six seriously, but none of the five Czech passengers were hurt, Czech officials said. The bus, traveling from Copenhagen to Vienna with a stop in Prague, overturned near Röbel around 2:40 a.m. on the A19 motorway. Police said the cause remains unknown. Czech Foreign Ministry spokesman Daniel Drake confirmed Czechs were aboard. The route regularly serves Czechia, and the accident involved passengers from 23 countries, including Slovakia and Germany.
incident Well-known mountaineer dies in Pakistan
Klara Kolouchová, the first Czech woman to summit Everest, K2, and Kangchenjunga, died while attempting to climb Pakistan’s Nanga Parbat, officials confirmed Thursday. She was 46. Kolouchová reportedly fell between Camp I and Camp II after an oxygen cylinder explosion. Her body remains at the site as authorities plan a helicopter recovery. Kolouchová, a renowned mountaineer, arrived in Pakistan on June 15. She made history in 2007 by becoming the first Czech woman to summit Mount Everest.
legal Senate passes strict laws for sex offenders
The Czech Senate on Thursday approved a bill requiring lifelong registration for sex offenders and violent criminals, barring them from working with children. Part of broader criminal law reforms, the “child certificate” aims to reduce repeat offenses. Offenders sentenced to at least five years will face 100-year records; lesser offenses carry a 20-year bar. Courts may rule on inclusion for other crimes. The bill now awaits President Petr Pavel’s signature to become law.
legislation Crime victims to get enhanced protection
The Czech Senate has approved a bill increasing financial aid for crime victims and funding for NGOs supporting them. The amendment to court and judicial laws ties assistance to the average wage, ensuring future indexation. Victims of sexual assault and coercion will be deemed especially vulnerable. The law, unchanged for over a decade, also expands eligibility to partners in non-marital unions. The bill, which raises state costs, now awaits President Petr Pavel’s signature.
Crime Police complete investigation into SPD leader
Czech police have completed their investigation into alleged hate speech by opposition leader Tomio Okamura and his Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party during last year’s election campaign, Novinky.cz reported Thursday. Okamura and the SPD are accused of incitement to hatred, a charge carrying up to three years in prison. The case remains on hold until SPD’s new attorney reviews the file. The previous attorney resigned after being brought in for questioning despite reporting illness.
law State agrees to try reducing prison numbers
The government on Thursday passed a criminal code amendment aimed at reducing prison numbers and repeat offenses while cutting state costs. The reform expands alternative punishments, eases penalties for repeated theft and online terrorism support, and decriminalizes minor offenses like unpaid child support. It also loosens cannabis rules and explicitly bans Nazi and Communist movements. Courts may now impose fines for most offenses, except the most serious. The bill now awaits President Petr Pavel’s signature.