Czech news in brief for March 3: Monday's top headlines

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala plans to present a strategy for increasing defense spending to 3 percent of GDP in the coming weeks. Speaking in Pardubice, he proposed a gradual 0.2 percent annual increase. He emphasized the need for a modern professional army without mandatory service. Fiala also highlighted the importance of NATO and EU coordination and underscored security commitments following a key London meeting on Ukraine’s defense.

The Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine said today that Czechia will introduce a national plan to tackle rising obesity rates in both adults and children. The plan, expected within months, will focus on treatment, prevention, and education. Health Minister Vlastimil Válek called obesity a global epidemic requiring urgent action. Recent data shows rising BMI levels, with nearly half of Czech men and over a third of women classified as overweight.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský warned Europe must strengthen its own security as Transatlantic unity weakens following a tense meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. The meeting ended abruptly after Trump criticized Zelenskyy’s gratitude and readiness for peace. Lipavský emphasized limiting Russia’s influence in Europe, calling the U.S.-Ukraine rift a “reality of our days.”

Czech real estate prices continued to climb at the end of 2024, with apartment prices rising seven percent year-on-year in Q4, houses up 6.4 percent, and land increasing 4.8 percent, according to the ČSOB housing index. Quarter-on-quarter, apartments saw the largest jump at 3.4 percent. Strong demand, particularly for smaller units, and limited supply are driving the surge. The average rent also rose 15 percent year-on-year, with the highest increase in Olomouc.

The environmental damage from Friday’s benzene tanker crash in Hustopeče nad Bečvou (in Olomouc) is estimated at over CZK 100 million, with infrastructure damage at CZK 75 million and train damage at CZK 50 million, officials said Monday. The crash, which involved a train carrying 1,000 tonnes of toxic benzene, is under investigation for technical faults or human error. Police are probing it as a case of negligence. Nobody was seriously hurt on the scene.

The Kellner Family Foundation, owned by Czechia’s richest person Renáta Kellnerová, has withdrawn its CZK 500 million donation for a planned oncology center at Motol University Hospital due to a public procurement scandal. Former hospital director Miloslav Ludvík is in custody, facing bribery and fraud charges. The foundation remains open to resuming support if the situation stabilizes. The project, partly funded by EU subsidies, risks losing financial backing if fraud is confirmed.

European leaders at a London summit reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine, aiming for a just and lasting peace, Czech Deputy PM Vít Rakušan said Sunday. The meeting, hosted by British PM Keir Starmer, followed failed U.S.-Ukraine deal talks. Rakušan emphasized continued support without trade conditions, calling it crucial to halting Russian expansion. Czech PM Petr Fiala joined leaders from over a dozen countries and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The ANO movement leads Czech election polls with 33.6 percent, followed by Spolu at 16.2 percent and STAN at 12.9 percent, according to a STEM model for CNN Prima News. Spolu's support dropped 2.3 points, possibly due to TOP 09’s leader opting out. The SPD, Pirates, Stačilo!, and Motoristé Sobě would enter parliament, while smaller parties remain below the threshold.

Firefighters continue to pump toxic benzene from derailed freight train tankers that caught fire Friday near Hustopeče nad Bečvou. The fire is under control but not fully extinguished. Investigators are probing the cause of the crash, which caused damages exceeding CZK 120 million. Authorities are monitoring environmental risks. Train traffic remains disrupted, and cleanup efforts are expected to take weeks.

Škoda Auto plans to cut its workforce by 15 percent by 2028 through natural attrition, Chairman Klaus Zellmer told Automobilwoche. The reductions, affecting indirect employees, are part of the Next Level Efficiency+ program. The company, which employs 37,000 in Czechia, aims to maintain competitiveness. Škoda is also considering an electric Octavia but notes EVs remain less profitable than combustion models, potentially impacting future pricing.

News Brief: PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute warns of a sharp drop in ozone levels over Czechia on March 4-5, reaching 30% below average. The UV index may hit 3.5, posing higher risks in mountainous areas. Experts advise limiting sun exposure, wearing protective clothing, and using sunscreen. The weakened ozone layer allows more harmful UV radiation, which can cause sunburn and skin damage.

With rising pressure on public health services, experts call for increased adult vaccination to ease the burden. Only 8 percent of Czech adults get flu shots, far below Denmark and the U.K.'s 80 percent. Skepticism about vaccines has grown since COVID-19, with 13 percent of Czechs expressing doubts. Experts suggest workplace incentives and pharmacy vaccinations to boost uptake and reduce preventable deaths and healthcare costs.