Czech news in brief for June 6: Friday's top headlines

Two aircraft flew over Prague today to honor Czechoslovak RAF airmen and mark the 81st anniversary of the Allied D-Day landings. Defense Minister Jana Černochová emphasized the importance of alliances and support for Ukraine during a memorial at the Winged Lion monument. Officials laid flowers in tribute to the 2,500 Czechoslovaks who served in the RAF during World War II, flying over 40,000 missions. British Ambassador Matt Field praised their courage and lasting legacy.

Tesco has said it will open a full-service store at the Rock for People festival, offering groceries and basic drugs directly on-site for the first time. The 295-square-meter shop, located in a former hangar, will feature fresh food, hygiene products, and self-service checkouts. The move responds to rising demand for affordable, convenient festival essentials. Tesco also removed VAT from select hygiene items to raise awareness of menstrual poverty, the company said. The festival runs several days. It starts June 11.

About 3,500 households in the Czech Republic remained without electricity Friday after severe storms struck parts of the country Wednesday and Thursday and some of today, energy officials said. Most outages are in Central Bohemia, with others in the Moravian-Silesian and Zlín regions. Technicians aim to restore power by the end of the day. The storms brought hail up to seven centimeters wide and wind gusts of 100 kilometers per hour, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute reported. Up to 22,000 homes lost power overnight.

Czech industrial production rose 2 percent year-on-year in April, up from 1.5 percent in March, the Czech Statistical Office reported Friday. Monthly output increased 0.9 percent, driven by foreign demand and growth in electrical equipment and food production. New industrial orders jumped 7.7 percent annually, with foreign orders up 12.7 percent and domestic orders down 0.8 percent. Motor vehicle and computer production declined, while electricity output saw gains due to last year’s low base, officials said.

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute issued a warning for severe thunderstorms Saturday from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. in eastern Moravia near the Slovak border. The storms may bring torrential rain, small hail, and winds up to 70 kilometers per hour. The warning covers most of the Zlín region and parts of the Moravian-Silesian and South Moravian regions. Meteorologists say the strongest storms are likely near the border, while other areas may see only isolated, weaker storms.

Czech opposition party ANO has collected enough signatures to call a no-confidence vote against PM Petr Fiala’s government, leader Alena Schillerová said Wednesday. The move follows a scandal involving a bitcoin donation worth CZK 1 billion to the Justice Ministry from a convicted felon. ANO criticized the government’s handling of the case and the ODS party’s move to block extended debate in parliament.

Czech police are warning WhatsApp users about a new scam where fraudsters pose as friends and send messages with fake links. Clicking the link and entering a code gives the scammer access to your account, chats, and media, allowing the scam to spread further. Police urge the public to avoid suspicious links, never share personal information, and always verify unexpected messages—even from known contacts—to avoid falling victim.

Prague Castle will close to the public at 3 p.m. on June 10 for a large-scale security drill simulating a violent attack, police said. The exercise, involving 300 extras and multiple emergency units, is the first of its kind at the historic site. It’s part of broader national efforts to improve protection of soft targets, such as cultural venues and public spaces.

Czech PM Petr Fiala said Wednesday that Czechia will continue to back Ukraine and push for a tough 18th round of EU sanctions against Russia. He criticized Slovakia’s recent move to reject further sanctions, calling it a threat to European unity and security. Czech leaders, including the foreign minister, emphasized the importance of sustained pressure on Moscow and condemned the Slovak parliament’s stance as politically and morally harmful.

The Prague Planetarium will reopen June 14–15 after a two-year, 300 million crown renovation featuring Europe’s first LED dome. The 22-meter dome, the largest of its kind globally, offers high-resolution, immersive experiences. The upgraded facility will host science shows, concerts, and cultural events. Tickets for the reopening weekend cost 100 CZK and will be available on-site only.

RFE/RL staff remain committed despite U.S. funding cuts, Vice-President Nicola Careem said during a visit by Czech President Pavel and Dutch Queen Maxima. Pavel stressed the station’s role in countering propaganda. The Trump-era cuts and external threats have deepened the journalists’ determination to continue, station leaders said. Dutch and Czech leaders strongly supported press freedom and praised the station’s mission amid global disinformation threats.

Czech energy giant ČEZ was the country’s top corporate taxpayer in 2024, paying CZK 15.5 billion in income tax, followed by Škoda Auto with CZK 7.4 billion, the Financial Administration said. Hyundai ranked third. The 20 highest-paying firms contributed CZK 54.4 billion in total. Several banks also placed high, with Česká spořitelna, J&T Banka, and Komerční banka rounding out the top six.