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

Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka has recalled Ambassador Vítězslav Grepl from Tehran for consultations in Prague following what officials described as hostile Iranian actions in the Gulf region. The Foreign Ministry said the move signals dissatisfaction with bilateral relations but does not sever diplomatic ties. The Czech embassy in Tehran will continue operating under a chargé d’affaires. The step comes amid escalating conflict after recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

The 2026 Winter Paralympics opened Friday in Verona, launching the Milan–Cortina Games that run through March 15. Czechia has a record delegation of 24 athletes competing in six sports. The Czech team boycotted the opening ceremony alongside several other countries in protest of Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under their national flags during Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. In total, 611 athletes from more than 50 national teams are participating.

A large cloud of Saharan dust is moving across Europe and is expected to reach Czechia over the weekend. The dust is already affecting air quality in parts of Western Europe, where authorities have issued health advisories due to elevated PM10 particle levels. In Czechia, it is likely to cause hazier skies and more colorful sunrises and sunsets, but should remain high in the atmosphere without significantly impacting ground-level air quality.

Czech police have charged three individuals and one company in connection with a large-scale VAT fraud involving luxury car sales, with potential sentences up to ten years. The scheme, linked to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office investigation, involved moving cars between Germany and Czechia to claim unlawful VAT exemptions of CZK 320 million. Authorities seized assets worth around CZK 50 million, including real estate, vehicles, watches, and precious metals, as part of the cross-border operation.

Ostrava is hosting a 12-day winter camp in the Beskydy Mountains for 40 children aged 11–15 from Dnipro, Ukraine, following a request from the city’s mayor. The program includes sports, educational, and creative activities. The city has also launched a fundraising campaign with the Diocesan Charity of Ostrava-Opava to buy power generators and charging stations for Dnipro. Ostrava and Dnipro established their partnership in 2024.