Czech news in brief for May 30: Friday's top headlines

After a month of tightened border controls, Czech Interior Minister Vít Rakušan and German counterpart Alexander Dobrindt announced they will jointly evaluate the regime’s future. The controls, introduced in October 2023 to curb illegal migration, currently affect the Czech-German border. Both ministers emphasized the importance of preserving the Schengen area and agreed the measures should be temporary. Germany reported a 45 percent rise in entry refusals over seven days amid ongoing migration challenges.

Fraudsters posing as police and bank employees stole 13 million crowns from a 65-year-old woman in Prague, police reported Saturday. The scammers falsely claimed her bank account was compromised and convinced her to transfer the funds to a so-called safe account. The suspects face up to 10 years in prison if caught. Police warn that similar scams are spreading across the Czech Republic and urge the public to verify such claims directly with banks and report suspected fraud to emergency line 158.

Strong thunderstorms are expected to strike most of the Czech Republic on Saturday afternoon and evening, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute warned. The storms may bring torrential rain, hail up to two centimeters, and wind gusts reaching 70 kilometers per hour. Meteorologists also cautioned about potential flooding of small streams, underpasses, and basements, as well as falling tree branches. The storms are fueled by warm, humid air moving in from the south to southwest, with rainfall possibly reaching 30 liters per square meter.

The Czech Republic climbed from 14th to 12th place in EU education and research quality, despite a drop in education spending, according to the Prosperity and Financial Health Index. The improvement is linked to better digital skills, though adult participation in further education remains low. In 2023, Czech education spending fell to 4.5 percent of GDP, below the EU average of 4.9 percent. The government aims to match OECD spending levels, which were last reported at 4.9 percent in 2021.

A Czech court acquitted three men Friday of charges related to organizing a major cocaine shipment hidden in banana boxes, citing insufficient evidence. The Prague Metropolitan Court’s verdict is not final, as prosecutor Ivona Horská immediately appealed. The defendants denied guilt throughout. One man was convicted only of illegal arms possession and fined CZK 100,000. The men removed electronic tags after the decision.

Twenty-five people were injured, three seriously, in a collision between a small bus and a truck in Ústí's Předlice district on Thursday. The truck driver fled but was later found and tested positive for drugs, police said. Ten emergency teams responded and activated a trauma plan. The crash follows a recent hit-and-run in the region, raising concerns over reckless driving.

Stricter U.S. visa conditions may discourage Czech students from studying in the U.S., a leading education official said. Michal Uhl, head of the Czech National Agency for International Education, warned the uncertainty could shift interest toward other countries. He cited a recent move by the Trump administration to suspend student visas and target universities like Harvard as harmful to international academic cooperation, including for Czech applicants.

Bear meat from Slovakia’s planned cull will be allowed in restaurants, Deputy Environment Minister Stefan Kuffa said. Once certified under CITES, meat from legally hunted bears can be sold and served. Slovakia approved the culling of 350 bears after recent attacks on people. So far, 23 bears have been killed, with military support, in a bid to manage the estimated 1,200-strong bear population.

Czechia may ease its health worker shortage by recruiting professionals from Vietnam, officials said. A Charles University-Chamber of Commerce pilot will bring 100 trained Vietnamese workers under a government program. With 2,500 nurse vacancies and an aging workforce, demand is high. Participants will complete language and vocational training in Vietnam before joining the Czech health system once their qualifications are officially recognized.

This year’s Brno Pride Week will focus on LGBT+ rights in Slovakia, where officials increasingly target sexual minorities, organizers said. The June 15–22 festival will host 50+ events, including a parade and a panel on queer life in Slovakia. Themes include respect and equality, with added attention to menstrual poverty and global human rights challenges. Slovak participation will feature heavily throughout the program.

A 17-meter mural of executed politician Milada Horáková was unveiled in Prague by artist Toy_Box to mark 75 years since her death. Horakova, a democratic leader, was sentenced in a 1950 communist show trial. Painted on Milada Horakova Street, the mural depicts her fragmented portrait and serves as a reminder of the dangers of totalitarianism and the enduring value of civic courage in Czech history.