Czech news in brief for July 6: Sunday's top headlines

The European premiere of All That’s Left of You took place today at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Directed by Cherien Dabis, the film had its world premiere at Sundance in January. It chronicles the life of a Palestinian family across generations. Dabis, joined by her family from around the world, called the film “a story about love, family, and survival” that overcame war, exile, and occupation to share the Palestinian experience.

The number of last-minute summer tour bookings in the Czech Republic has risen by around 12 percent year-on-year, driven by lower pre-sale demand and expanded travel agency capacity, according to the Association of Czech Travel Agencies. These trips are typically 30 percent cheaper than regular bookings. While they’re often chosen by couples and flexible travelers, more families are now opting for them due to financial constraints. Travel agents warn that accommodation options and available dates are limited during the last-minute booking window.

The ANO movement fell by 1 percentage point to 30.9 percent in research agency STEM’s latest poll for CNN Prima News. The Spolu coalition slipped to 20.5 percent, while the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy party rose to 13.9 percent. STAN gained 1.7 percentage points to reach 12.3 percent, marking its strongest result in months. The Pirates polled at 7.9 percent, and Stačilo! met the 5 percent threshold. Despite leading, ANO would need a coalition to govern. Spolu appears to be weathering the ongoing bitcoin scandal.

The Czech crown, having strengthened 2 percent against the euro and 14 percent against the dollar in the first half of 2025, may see slight gains this year, analysts have said. The currency recently hit CZK 24.60/EUR 1 and CZK 20.90/USD 1. However, looming U.S. tariffs and geopolitical risks could trigger corrections. Financial institution ČSOB’s Dominik Rusinko cites a hawkish Czech National Bank and weak dollar as key supports. Analysts expect the crown to remain between CZK 24.50–25.00/EUR 1 by year-end.

Czechia observes its second public holiday in a row this weekend: Jan Hus Day. He was a Czech reformer who challenged church corruption and promoted Bible access for all. Executed in 1415, his legacy inspired the Hussite movement and the Protestant Reformation. Stores will generally remain open as usual. Today, the public will have one last opportunity to visit the historic Liechtenstein Palace (located on Kampa Island) for this year. Guided tours, running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will showcase the 17th-century palace’s rich history.

An investigation into Friday’s massive blackout in the Czech Republic is underway and should conclude within weeks, Industry Minister Lukáš Vlček has confirmed. The outage was caused by a ruptured phase conductor on the V411 high-voltage line, disrupting electricity flow across several regions. Vlcek emphasized the failure was technical and unrelated to EU climate policy. The incident revealed weaknesses in the power grid, prompting calls for system upgrades and greater investment in energy infrastructure.

 The Czech men’s volleyball team defeated Israel 3–0 in Saturday’s European League semifinal, advancing to the final against Finland. The Czechs dominated the first set and edged out tight wins in the next two, led by Lukáš Vašina’s 17 points. The victory avenged an earlier loss to Israel and secured the team’s sixth medal in the competition. Sunday's final in Brno begins at 7 p.m. local time. Finland beat Greece 3–0 in the other semifinal.

Joseph Tater, a U.S.-Czech citizen previously detained in Russia, is now in Prague and does not plan to return, Russian state agency TASS reported Saturday. Tater faced charges in Moscow for allegedly assaulting a police officer and was ordered into psychiatric treatment. He reportedly left Russia via Turkey over a month ago. Tater was among the Americans that Washington sought in a possible prisoner exchange. His departure follows questions over his court-ordered psychiatric detention.

Firefighters extinguished a small fire on a reconstruction escalator at Staroměstská metro station Saturday evening, officials said. About 80 people were evacuated, and one transport company employee was treated for smoke inhalation. No serious injuries were reported. Units from four fire stations and the Prague Transport Company responded, using extinguishers and ventilation to clear the smoke. Metro trains continued to pass through the station. Authorities are inspecting the escalator for hidden fire sources using thermal cameras.

Prices of most fruits and vegetables in the Czech Republic are expected to be slightly lower this year due to higher domestic and foreign harvests, analysts said Saturday. Apricots, apples, and onions should see the biggest price drops. Although fruit prices rose 15 percent year-on-year in May, seasonal harvests are now beginning, which typically stabilizes costs. The Czech Republic remains only partly self-sufficient in produce, relying heavily on imports ahead of the local harvest season.