Czech news in brief for May 26: Monday's top headlines

This spring ranks among the warmest in Czech Republic history, despite May’s below-average temperatures, meteorologists said Monday. March and April were nearly 2 degrees Celsius warmer than the 1991–2020 average. May, however, has seen an unusual number of ice and frosty days, particularly in mountain regions. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute also reported that spring 2024 is on track to be one of the driest, with only about 110 millimeters of rainfall, far below the 1965 record of 266 millimeters.

Austria and Czechia reaffirmed their shared support for Ukraine and firm stance against Russian aggression during a meeting Monday in Prague. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský and Austria’s new top diplomat, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, also aligned on tackling illegal migration. Both stressed the need for coordinated aid and reconstruction efforts in Ukraine, calling for increased pressure on Russia. The ministers highlighted their countries’ historical and economic ties and commitment to European values and a just peace.

A Czech firefighting team will assist in Greece from July 14 to Aug. 17 to help monitor forest fire risks, officials said Monday. Based in Nea Makri near Athens, 22 firefighters will rotate in two groups, equipped with mobile units, trailers, and a drone. The mission aims to survey high-risk areas and plan response routes. Authorities said domestic readiness won’t be affected. Greece, often hit by wildfires, saw 9,500 incidents and 44,500 hectares burned last year.

Confidence in the Czech economy rose 4.3 points to 101 in May, rebounding from April’s decline, the Czech Statistical Office reported Monday. Both business and consumer sentiment improved, with entrepreneur confidence up 4.5 points, driven by gains in industry and services. Consumer confidence climbed three points to 100.7, reaching a six-month high amid easing concerns over the economy and household finances. However, confidence in construction and trade dipped slightly from the previous month.

More than 1,200 U.S. troops and 450 vehicles began moving through the Czech Republic on Monday en route to Romania for the NATO Saber Guardian 2025 exercise. According to Czech military officials, the transit will run through Wednesday via major motorways, with troops spending the night near Jihlava. Movements are scheduled during nighttime and early morning hours. Return transfers are set for June 23–28, with the same route used in reverse.

The Prague High Court will hear an appeal in the Stork’s Nest case involving ANO party leader Andrej Babiš and MEP Jana Nagyová. Both were previously acquitted twice of subsidy fraud by the Municipal Court. The prosecutor seeks a retrial, alleging Babiš masked company ownership to secure a CZK 50 million subsidy. The appellate court can return the case but not issue a guilty verdict.

All Czech primary and secondary schools will offer menstrual hygiene products starting next year, per a new Health Ministry decree. The initiative follows growing demand and supports menstrual education, including school workshops aimed at both girls and boys. The move is part of a broader national effort to destigmatize menstruation and ensure equitable access to hygiene essentials in education.

Czechs Jiří Lehečka, Barbora Krejčíková, and Kateřina Siniaková begin their French Open campaigns today. Lehečka returns after injury to face Jordan Thompson. Krejčíková, a 2021 winner, meets Tatjana Maria, aiming to break a streak of first-round exits. Siniaková faces 17th-seeded Darja Kasatkina. The Grand Slam tournament kicks off with a packed Monday schedule on all main courts in Paris.

Major Czech festivals like Hrady CZ and Pálavské vinobraní are shifting to fully cashless payments using wristbands or cards. Organizers cite transparency and convenience as key benefits. Newcomers like the Banger rap festival and SHOW Strahov are also going digital-only. While some attendees face minor hassles with chips, festivals report improved security, shorter queues, and easier vendor sales tracking.

Josef Čapek’s rediscovered painting Flowering Meadow sold for CZK 16.32 million at the Kodl Gallery, becoming his third most expensive auctioned work. The 1937 piece, missing for decades, resurfaced from a U.S. collection. The auction also set a record for Václav Špála’s Na Otavě, sold for CZK 16.08 million. Overall sales exceeded CZK 222 million, with 95 percent of the 217 lots sold.