Czech news in brief for March 7: Saturday's top afternoon headlines

Czech Senate Deputy Speaker Jiří Drahoš commemorated the 176th birth anniversary of Czechoslovakia’s first president, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, at a ceremony in Prague on Saturday. Drahoš recalled Masaryk’s view that democracy is not only a political system but also a way of thinking in everyday life. The event at the Senate included laying a wreath at Masaryk’s bust and a discussion with students. Separate commemorations were also held at Masaryk’s grave in Lány.

Hundreds of Czech citizens are returning home Saturday on repatriation and commercial flights from the Middle East amid ongoing regional conflict. Planes from Dubai, Riyadh, and Sharm el-Sheikh are expected to arrive in Prague, following two flights that brought about 380 people on Friday night. The evacuations come after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered attacks across the Gulf. Around 4,900 Czechs are currently registered in the Foreign Ministry’s traveler registry.

The U.S. ambassador to Czechia has criticized the government for not committing to higher defense spending agreed within NATO. Ambassador Nicholas Merrick said allies are expected to move toward allocating 3.5 percent of GDP to defense and 1.5 percent to related investments. Experts warn that failing to meet the pledge could strain relations with the United States and other allies. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has indicated the government is not currently planning such increases.

Czech farmers are likely to reduce the area planted with table potatoes this year, as they are losing money on last season’s harvest due to oversupply on the European market. According to the Czech Potato Association, the cultivated area could fall by about 10 percent after reaching over 24,000 hectares last year. While demand remains stable for processing potatoes, producer prices for table potatoes remain below production costs.

Nearly half of couples in Czechia keep completely separate bank accounts, while 34 percent combine a joint account with individual ones, according to a survey by investment firm XTB. Only about one-fifth rely solely on a shared account. The poll of 1,500 people also found that nearly 20 percent keep a secret financial reserve from their partner. Major expenses are usually decided jointly, while women more often handle everyday household spending.