Czech news in brief for June 19: Thursday's top headlines

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitová announced Thursday she will retire after competing in the US Open this August and September. The 35-year-old Czech returned to tennis in February following maternity leave after giving birth to her son. Since her return, she has played seven matches, winning one. Kvitova, who owns 31 WTA titles, will also play Wimbledon this summer on a wild card. She cited ongoing injuries in her farewell announcement on social media.

 Chinese luxury carmaker Hongqi will enter the Czech and Slovak markets, Slovak importer Plastonic announced Wednesday. The brand, known for once serving top communist officials, aims to compete globally with Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Two Czech and six Slovak dealerships are under construction. Initial offerings include two electric models, the EH7 sedan and EHS7 SUV, and three combustion-engine vehicles, with prices starting at CZK 939,900. Hongqi was founded in 1959.

A man who falsely reported an armed suspect near Prague’s city center was sentenced to eight months in prison, a district court ruled Thursday. On Dec. 19, police responded to the fabricated threat, searching university buildings near Letenské Sady. The caller later admitted he invented the story, which evoked memories of a deadly 2023 university shooting nearby. He faced up to three years in prison and has appealed the verdict, which is not yet final.

Czech Justice Minister Eva Decroix said tthis afternoon she will remove a master’s degree title from official documents after learning it was never formally recognized under Czech law. Decroix discovered the issue last year and stopped using the title personally but admitted it remained on some records due to oversight. She holds two postgraduate law degrees and expressed regret, calling education central to her career. She pledged to correct all remaining inaccuracies promptly.

One-third of Czech primary school pupils use artificial intelligence to prepare for school and believe memorizing facts is unnecessary, according to a survey by the National Institute SYRI. Researcher Tomáš Lintner said schools have not adequately adapted to AI’s growing role. The study found lower-performing students use AI more frequently but without clear evidence that it improves learning. Experts stress the need for better teacher training on AI to ensure students use the technology effectively and ethically.

The Czech koruna weakened Wednesday, slipping to 21.56 CZK/USD and 24.82 CZK/EUR, according to Patria Online. Analysts say it remains resilient amid Middle East tensions, helped by strong domestic data and interest rates. The Prague Stock Exchange fell for the eighth straight session, with the PX index down 0.57 percent to 2,133.23. Erste Bank led losses, while only a few smaller issues, including Gevorkyan and Primoco UAV, posted gains.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s coalition government survived its fourth no-confidence vote, sparked by a scandal over a bitcoin donation to the Justice Ministry. Only opposition ANO, SPD, and Pirate MPs voted to oust the cabinet. The controversial donation led to the resignation of Justice Minister Pavel Blazek. Opposition leaders accused Finance Minister Zbynek Stanjura of enabling money laundering, which he denied.

PRAGUE — A former Prague tram driver will stand trial June 25 for disorderly conduct after forcibly removing a Ukrainian couple and child from his tram in February, an incident caught on video. Prosecutors seek probation and mandatory reeducation. The man shouted slurs and threatened police. His claims of provocation weren’t supported by evidence. Prague Transport fired him, calling his behavior unacceptable and illegal.

Per a Czech Telecommunications Office directive, mobile operators in Czechia must cover 600 areas without adequate signal by 2030. The initiative targets rural or underserved regions and major rail corridors. Operators will select sites from a list of over 1,600 locations. The state will support the plan through EU funds, while operators may share infrastructure under a new agreement to speed implementation.

Two new Stolpersteine memorial stones were laid in Truhlářská Street to honor Anna and Vilma Sprinzels, Holocaust victims who lived there. Senate Speaker Miloš Vystrčil attended the ceremony. Anna died in the Łódź ghetto; Vilma was murdered in Maly Trostenets after sending her son to safety via Nicholas Winton’s Kindertransport. The Stolpersteine project commemorates Holocaust victims at their last chosen residences.