Czech news in brief for June 4: Thursday's top afternoon headlines

Police in Prague are investigating the killing of a foreign national found dead on Seifertova Street on Wednesday in the Prague 3 district. Authorities said the victim, born in 1971, was killed by another person, and a murder investigation is underway. Police are searching for a suspect and have released few details. Israeli media have linked the victim to a well-known businessman but Czech authorities have not confirmed the identity.

More to the story: Some Israeli media outlets are writing that the victim may be Israeli businessman Tony Bargig, known as the "king of slot machines." According to the police, the foreign national was born in 1971.

Trade unions at the Czech Government Office at Straka Academy Straka Academy have declared a strike for Friday over plans to transfer human rights, mental health, and addiction policy agendas to individual ministries. Union leaders warn the move could weaken services for vulnerable groups and trigger staff departures. Government officials say the reorganization is a political decision already underway and will improve efficiency, though talks with employees continue amid growing tension.

Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk Novo Nordisk will manufacture active substances for diabetes and obesity drugs at its facility in Bohumil near Jevany in central Czech Republic. The company acquired the site from Novavax for about USD 200 million after years of vaccine production. The plant will support production of GLP-1 treatments, a fast-growing global market. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš Andrej Babiš is expected to attend the official opening.

The Czech Republic’s average hourly wage reached 57 percent of the EU average last year, placing it seventh lowest among member states, according to national statistics. Wages have risen significantly since 2008, but growth has been faster in countries such as Poland, Estonia, and Lithuania. Officials say structural shifts toward services, healthcare, and education are reshaping the labor market, while gender and education gaps continue to influence pay levels.

From September, Prague’s O2 Arena will install walk-through security gates allowing visitors to pass without stopping or removing belongings. The system from US firm Evolv Technology uses sensors and artificial intelligence to detect concealed weapons and prohibited items. Only flagged individuals will be searched by staff. The Czech Republic will be the first country in the region to deploy the technology, which is already used in the UK, France and Germany.