Czech news in brief for June 26: Thursday's top headlines

A newly signed amendment allows Czech health insurance companies to invest significantly more in disease prevention—up to CZK 15 billion annually—if financially stable. It also permits funding for foreign care, one type of white dental filling for adults, and optional vaccines. Subsidiaries can now increase share capital, aligning them with commercial firms. The amendment encourages patients to maintain their health through incentives tied to regular preventive checkups, aiming to boost responsibility among the insured and enhance public health outcomes.

President Petr Pavel signed a law extending the deadline for women unlawfully sterilized between 1966 and 2012 to apply for compensation until Jan. 2, 2027, the Presidential Office has announced. The original three-year period expired this January. Former and current justice ministers backed the extension, citing difficulties in proving claims. Eligible women can receive a lump sum of CZK 300,000. Over 2,000 claims have been filed, far exceeding initial estimates of 400.

Václav Havel continues to be regarded as the most respected post-revolutionary president of the Czech Republic, according to a recent survey conducted by the STEM/MARK agency. Former President Václav Klaus was rated second, current President Petr Pavel third, and former President Miloš Zeman came in fourth. The survey indicates that Pavel receives high marks for his public demeanor and for representing Czech interests on the international stage. However, respondents noted room for improvement in his handling of domestic political disputes.

 Czech police will intensify traffic patrols at the start and end of the summer holidays, targeting speeding, improper lane use, phone distractions, and truck overtaking bans, officials said this week. Hundreds of officers will focus on accident-prone highways and major roads using visible and hidden surveillance. Transport Minister Martin Kupka warned of summer traffic complications, including tunnel closures on the D8 and ongoing repairs on the D1. Road workers will pause maintenance during peak travel.

President Petr Pavel has signed a cybersecurity law enabling the exclusion of technologies that pose national security risks, the Presidential Office announced Thursday. The law, effective three months after publication, introduces supply chain screening for critical infrastructure and allows broader bans on suppliers linked to high-risk countries. Under the new rules, the Czech government—not the National Cyber Office—will determine key services and assess both suppliers and their countries of origin.

Czechia will no longer require surgery or castration for legal sex changes starting in July, the Health Ministry announced. The move follows a 2023 Constitutional Court ruling that deemed the prior mandate a violation of human dignity. Under new guidelines, a sexologist’s diagnosis and informed consent will suffice. Trans*Parent Association welcomed the change but criticized lingering legal gaps. Previously, individuals needed ministry-approved surgery to change their sex in official records.

After a day of strong storms and tropical heat, the Czech Republic will cool Friday with rain and highs near 26-29°C. The weekend will see clearer skies and temperatures rising above 30°C. Early next week, tropical heat returns, with highs reaching 34-37°C as warm southern air flows in, warns the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.

Experts warn raising Czech defense spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2035 requires borrowing or tax hikes. Impact on domestic arms industry is debated due to capacity limits. The increase is a geopolitical necessity but a heavy fiscal burden. NATO countries agreed on this goal amid heightened security concerns.

Methamphetamine dominates Czech drug market with about 200 labs yearly, mostly small-scale. Cocaine availability and interest are increasing due to Latin American overproduction. Prices for cocaine are dropping, nearing meth prices. Marijuana cultivation shifts to smaller, high-tech grow operations. Online drug trafficking via social media and crypto payments is rising, police say.

Police report 194 school security incidents this year, many verbal threats, and some involving weapons. Radicalization among youth, including Islamic extremism, is increasing. Authorities stress the importance of family and community in prevention. Five teens were arrested for extremist activities, including plans targeting a synagogue, officials said.

Ticket prices for AC/DC’s upcoming Prague concert surged over 55 percent since 2016, starting at CZK 3,490. The event in Letňany involves extensive infrastructure and security, with street closures planned. The band, famed for hits like Highway to Hell, performs as part of their Power Up tour, organized by Live Nation.