Czech news in brief for May 25: Monday's top afternoon headlines

Good afternoon/evening, it's a hot start of the week, with tropical temperatures expected to persist until at least Thursday. Meanwhile, Prague peers are debating the future of Letná's Stalin cultural space as organizers announced a restricted new season. Almost seems like every summer, another popular Prague cultural landmark must face an existential battle for survival. Now, to today's top news.

Speaking this morning during a conference on current security threats, Czechia's army chief Karel Řehka argued in favor of "some form of military training" to be reintroduced in the Czech Republic. According to Řehka, Czechia is lacking military resources, personnel and reservists to be able to face future threats, and introducing a three-month basic military training for the wider population - separate from the active reserve - would go some way in addressing these shortages.

What do Czechs think? According to an Ipsos poll from last year, just about 52 percent of Czechs would be open to reintroducing compulsory military service. But another survey earlier this month also found that 55 percent of respondents say that the defense of the homeland is a matter for professional soldiers.

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) announced that a new weather warning system will be introduced from July 1. According the meteorologists, the change aims to reform the more rigid set of criteria now used to define certain weather phenomena to better highlight the human and social impacts of specific meteorological conditions.

More to the point. "The system is simpler, there will be fewer groups of phenomena... It will be more focused on human health," explained Josef Hanzlík, head of the central forecast department at ČHMÚ.

After having its launch party yesterday, the annual World Roma Festival officially started today in venues across Prague. Concerts, discussions, exhibitions and plays will run throughout the week to culminate this Friday with the traditional Khamoro parade in the city center.

What's on? Head to Jazz Dock both today and tomorrow evening for two concerts of gypsy jazz, or don't miss the theater production staged at the Goethe Institute about 1930s boxer Johann "Rukeli" Trollmann.

Prague’s iconic Petřín Lookout Tower will glow blue from 9:15 p.m. tonight as the Czech capital joins cities across Europe in marking International Missing Children’s Day and raising awareness of violence prevention and child safety. Organized by Missing Children Europe, the campaign also highlights the 24-hour crisis line 116 000 for children, parents, and teachers.

Important to know: The event comes amid renewed scrutiny of Czech child protection systems after 107 unnatural child deaths in monitored cases went unexamined.

Czechia faces off against Norway tonight in the 2026 IIHF World Championship in Fribourg. In honor of tonight's match, test your Czech sports trivia: