Czech news in brief for March 14: Saturday's top morning headlines

A wavy cold front will affect Czechia this weekend, causing strong regional contrasts. Western areas will remain cool, while temperatures in the east may reach nearly 20 degrees Celsius. Precipitation will be light overall, but snow may return to Czech mountains above 800 m, especially in the Krušné and Krkonoše ranges, with up to 5 cm possible. The front will weaken slowly, ending a period of above-average warmth.

A young girl died after being struck by a tram Friday afternoon in Prague’s Břevnov district. The accident occurred near the Drinopol tram stop on Bělohorská Street. She became trapped under the vehicle and suffered fatal injuries. Firefighters and a crane were used to free her, while paramedics and police responded on site. Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the collision, and the street was temporarily closed to traffic and pedestrians.

The Czech government is set to classify the cannabinoid HHC as a banned substance, making possession illegal, while adding three synthetic THC derivatives and mitragyna plants—sources of kratom—to a list of substances under study. Officials cite health risks and insufficient research. The ban faces opposition from the government’s drug policy office and the Chamber of Commerce, which argue it may criminalize minor users and hinder research into potential therapeutic effects.

A 32-year-old Czech paraglider died after crashing into a rock during a flight in eastern Switzerland’s Graubünden canton. The accident occurred Wednesday in the Plessur Alps after he took off from Weisshorn and headed toward the Carmenna pass. He struck a rock face and fell about 100 meters down a steep slope. Rescuers airlifted him to a hospital in Chur, where he later died of severe injuries.

A German court in Leipzig sentenced a Czech FlixBus driver to a two-year suspended prison term for a 2024 highway crash that killed four passengers. The bus carrying 54 people veered off the A9 near Leipzig and overturned after the driver lost control at about 100 km/h. Prosecutors said he was briefly distracted while driving. The 64-year-old admitted his mistake in court. Alcohol, drugs, and technical faults were ruled out.