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

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute has issued a warning for strong storms across large parts of Czechia over the weekend, with the risk of hail, heavy rain, and wind gusts of up to 72 km/h. The most affected areas include western and southern Bohemia on Saturday and a broader region including Prague on Sunday.

What to know: Meteorologists said storms could bring up to 30 mm of rainfall locally, raising the risk of flash flooding and disrupting transport due to fallen branches and strong winds. The warning applies in stages from Saturday afternoon through Sunday night, with the highest intensity expected on Sunday.

Hackers on darknet forums are reportedly offering a database said to contain personal data of around 437,000 Alza.cz customers, including contact details and purchase histories. The Czech e-commerce company, however, says it has found no evidence of a breach and disputes the authenticity of the data.

Is the claim legit? Alza said it has not detected any unauthorized access to its systems and is treating similar claims as unverified. Experts note inconsistencies in the leaked dataset, suggesting it may be outdated or fabricated, and warn that such claims are often used for phishing or scam attempts.

The Czech government will not proceed with a draft law on public service media funding submitted by Culture Minister Oto Klempíř, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said on Saturday. The proposal, which the government will still pursue through other means, will replace license fees for Czech Television and Czech Radio with direct state budget funding.

Why the change? Officials cited around 400 interdepartmental objections as the reason for shelving the bill. Instead, the government plans to pursue changes through amendments to the existing media law, with some ministries calling for a complete rewrite of the original proposal.

An American doctor isolated at Prague’s Bulovka Hospital after contact with an Ebola-infected patient is now one-third through a 21-day quarantine period and has not developed any symptoms, hospital officials said. The case is being monitored as part of standard public health procedures following exposure risks linked to travel from Uganda.

What we know so far: The doctor remains in isolation despite showing no signs of illness, with monitoring continuing until the end of the incubation period. US authorities are reportedly seeking suitable locations for similar quarantines.

On this date in 1434, the Battle of Lipany marked a decisive clash between radical and moderate Hussite factions and a key turning point in the Hussite Wars.