Czech news in brief for June 13: Saturday's top afternoon headlines

Lidice remembers a somber anniversary today as hundreds gathered to mark 84 years since the Nazi massacre of the village, while in Prague, a new political move sees opera singer Dagmar Pecková entering the Senate race under the ODS banner.

On the policy front, the government is preparing to push forward a revised media funding bill that would replace license fees with state budget financing, drawing criticism over media independence concerns. Here are your Saturday afternoon headlines:

Hundreds of people gathered in Lidice on Saturday to commemorate the 84th anniversary of the village’s destruction by Nazi forces during World War II. Survivors, public officials, and representatives of organizations attended a memorial ceremony honoring the 340 residents who were killed.

Somber anniversary: The event included a mass and the laying of flowers at the grave of the murdered Lidice men. Memorial director Eduard Stehlík said the tragedy remains relevant today, noting that war crimes against civilians and children continue to occur in Europe and beyond.

The Czech government will review a revised draft law on public service media funding on Monday, after Culture Minister Oto Klempíř prepared a new version of the proposal without sending it through inter-ministerial consultation. The bill would replace license fees with state budget funding.

No further review: Officials say the updated draft responds to earlier objections but will not undergo another formal review process, as it is considered a continuation of the legislative procedure. The proposal has faced criticism from opposition parties and media experts, who warn that shifting funding to the state budget could weaken media independence.

Internationally acclaimed Czech mezzo-soprano Dagmar Pecková will run as a candidate for the opposition Civic Democratic Party (ODS) in October’s Senate elections. The 65-year-old singer announced her candidacy at the party’s campaign launch in Prague and will compete in the Prague 9 district.

Political aria: Pecková will challenge incumbent Senator David Smoljak of the Mayors and Independents (STAN) party. Voters will elect 27 senators, or one-third of the upper chamber’s 81 seats, during elections scheduled for Oct. 9–10.

A Finnish anti-bullying program now operates in 111 Czech primary schools, with 22 more set to join for the 2026–27 school year. The KiVa program focuses on preventing bullying through classroom lessons, intervention strategies, and ongoing monitoring of school environments. The program was introduced in Czechia in 2020 and includes monthly sessions on emotions, respect, online safety, and recognizing harmful behavior.

Finnish inspiration: Research in Finland found significant reductions in bullying at participating schools, while Czech educators report improvements in school climate and student relationships.

The Festival of Planets in Brno will feature a new 12-meter-wide model of Jupiter, the largest inflatable exhibit created by the Brno Observatory and Planetarium to date. The installation will be displayed at Kraví hora alongside models of Earth and a black hole during events scheduled for July and August.

When to see it: Organizers said the giant Jupiter will be shown with its four largest moons and requires extensive logistics to install and secure. The festival runs July 6–12 and Aug. 3–9, though operation of the inflatable models will depend on weather conditions.