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

The Czech Chamber of Deputies voted Thursday not to lift the parliamentary immunity of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and chamber speaker Tomio Okamura, blocking criminal prosecution. Of 186 lawmakers present, 104 supported rejecting the request. Opposition parties backed lifting immunity. Babiš faces charges linked to the Stork Nest subsidy case, while Okamura is accused of inciting hatred over campaign posters. Both politicians say the prosecutions are politically motivated.

The U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic warned Thursday that Czechia risks becoming one of NATO’s lowest defense spenders relative to GDP. In a speech at the Our Security Cannot Be Taken For Granted summit at Prague Castle, Ambassador Nicholas Merrick said failing to meet alliance capability targets could affect NATO as a whole. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said defense spending, about 2.1 percent of GDP this year, is at the maximum possible level as the government prioritizes healthcare and social needs. NATO allies aim to reach higher spending levels by 2035.

Flights from the Middle East to Prague have surged in price amid the current military conflict, with one-way tickets from Amman rising to about CZK 25,000 from the usual CZK 2,000, travel platforms said. Longer routes caused by closed airspace are increasing flight times and fuel costs. Prices are expected to fall in coming days. Officials also say rising war-risk insurance premiums are affecting airlines, though their impact on ticket prices remains limited.

Health officials have identified a hepatitis A outbreak linked to a restaurant in Prague 6 that sickened nine people, including the owner. Inspectors found poor personal and operational hygiene during an investigation, and the owner closed the restaurant as a precaution. Authorities are tracing contacts but said the public is not at risk. The Czech Republic has reported 643 hepatitis A cases this year, with experts expecting the recent epidemic to ease.

The international book fair and literary festival Svět knihy Praha (Book World Prague) will hold its 31st edition May 14–17 at the Křižík Pavilions and a hall on Bruselská cesta at the Prague Exhibition Grounds in Holešovice. Organizers said early guests include Irish novelist Paul Murray, Austrian writer Daniel Glattauer and Palestinian author Raja Shehadeh. The program, inspired by a Milan Kundera quote, will explore Europe, history and literature as voice of freedom.