Czech news in brief for March 9: Sunday's top headlines

The opposition ANO party leads Czech election polls with 35.6 percent support and would secure 93 of the 200 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, a STEM survey for CNN Prima News shows. The governing Together coalition follows with 17.1 percent, while STAN, SPD, Pirates, and Enough! would also enter parliament. The poll, conducted from Feb. 14 to March 4, indicates ANO's broad appeal, especially among older voters and those without university degrees.

A Czech court has placed two foreign nationals in custody after they allegedly blew up an ATM in Šumava early Friday morning. The suspects, aged 22 and 39, were arrested in central Bohemia hours later and charged with property damage and attempted burglary. The targeted ATM, owned by Euronet, was destroyed, but the suspects failed to access any cash.

Czech lawmakers are set to finalize key legislation this week, including the school funding reform, which has sparked debate over shifting non-teaching staff costs to municipalities. Other proposals include stricter gun regulations, funding rules for political parties, and autonomous vehicle laws. MPs will also discuss pension contributions for high-risk professions and funding for postal services. A PET bottle deposit system and public health insurance changes are also on the agenda.

A second critically endangered mountain bongo was born at Dvůr Králové Zoo on Feb. 28, following an earlier birth in January. Only about 90–100 of the antelopes remain in the wild. The zoo has bred 109 bongos since 1975, contributing to conservation efforts. It also supports reintroduction programs in Kenya, working to restore the species to its natural habitat.

Interest in gardening is on the rise in the Czech Republic, with a notable increase in young families taking up the hobby. However, waiting times for available plots in garden colonies can stretch for years. While the number of garden colonies has stabilized after a period of decline, the creation of new ones remains a complex and costly process due to administrative and financial challenges.

Another unseasonably warm day saw temperature records fall at over 80 percent of long-term monitoring stations in Czechia. The highest temperatures were recorded in Dyjákovice and Strážnice, reaching 21.5 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous national record of 19.3 degrees from 1991. The warm weather is expected to continue Sunday, with highs between 16 and 21 degrees, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.

Jiří Mádl’s Waves won Best Feature Film at the 2024 Czech Lion Awards on Saturday. The period drama about the 1968 invasion also earned Best Director, Screenplay, and Supporting Actor and Actress. Year of the Widow's Pavla Beretová and The Gardener's Year’s Oldřich Kaiser won lead acting honors. The Markovič Method: Hojer won Best TV Series, while I'm not Everything I Want to Be was named Best Documentary.

The confrontation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sparked a dramatic rise in Czech donations to Ukraine. Following a public dispute in the White House, donations to Czech organizations supporting Ukraine increased up to tenfold. Donations include symbolic sums of CZK 1,968, referencing the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia.

Czech steelmakers are concerned that new U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum will worsen pressures on Europe's already struggling market. U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff effective March 12, applying to all countries. Local manufacturers urge the European Commission to adopt measures, including a steel action plan to be presented this month, to protect the market from unfair competition, especially from Asia.

Police in Ústí nad Labem have charged a 50-year-old man with 18 offenses, including sexual abuse, after uncovering a child prostitution case in a socially excluded area. Twelve girls, aged 10 to 17, were victims, receiving payments ranging from biscuits to CZK 30,000. The suspect, now in custody, initially approached the girls on the street. Investigators say the crimes span five years.

A study by the SYRI National Institute found 80 percent of Czech teachers feel satisfied and find their work meaningful. Strong relationships with colleagues and school management support contribute to job satisfaction. However, teachers cited student behavior, workload, and excessive paperwork as key challenges. Researchers suggest flexible work arrangements and mental health initiatives to reduce stress and improve work-life balance.

Petr Kramný, convicted of murdering his wife and daughter in Egypt in 2013, has filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights. Kramný, serving a 28-year sentence, has repeatedly denied guilt. Czech courts rejected his appeals, ruling no new evidence warranted a retrial. He was convicted in 2016 based on circumstantial evidence, with investigators citing family disputes as a motive.