Czech news in brief for November 26: Tuesday's top headlines

The IMF mission to the Czech Republic reported today that GDP will grow by 1 percent in 2024 and accelerate to 2.4 percent in 2025, but structural issues like labor shortages and low productivity hinder long-term growth. Inflation, expected to rise above 3 percent by year-end, should drop to the Czech National Bank’s 2 percent target by mid-2025 due to tight monetary policy. The IMF urged labor market reforms, more skilled immigration, emissions reduction, and renewable energy development.

The Czech Foreign Ministry announced that Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar will visit Czechia on Thursday, marking his first official foreign trip. He will meet Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský to discuss Middle Eastern developments and bilateral cooperation. Sa’ar, leader of the New Hope party and a recent addition to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, will also meet Czech Senate Speaker Miloš Vystrčil. Lipavský visited Israel shortly after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack last year.

Supermarkets Tesco and Billa have announced they will not sell New Year's fireworks this year, citing animal welfare, noise-pollution, and environmental concerns. Meanwhile, Penny, Lidl, and other large retailers will continue offering fireworks in December. Online supermarkets Rohlík.cz and Košík.cz, which have not sold fireworks for years, will only sell sparklers. Municipalities could also gain the power to prohibit the use of pyrotechnics on their territory or part of it; members of parliament will debate the change soon.

International law-enforcement agency Europol announced that Czech police played a key role in capturing a Polish arms dealer supplying weapons across Europe. Acting on Czech-provided intelligence, authorities detained the suspect in Poland while transporting weapon parts bought in Austria. Investigators discovered firearms, ammunition, and weapon-making equipment hidden underground at his home. Exploiting Austrian legal loopholes, he manufactured weapons in Poland and distributed them internationally​.

Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová today emphasized that a 2 percent GDP defence budget is a minimum, not a ceiling, with speculation it could rise to 3 or 3.5 percent. She noted the new U.S. administration will closely monitor NATO commitments to defense spending. The 2025 draft budget allocates CZK 160.8 billion to defense, an increase from this year. General Staff Chief Karel Řehka stressed the need to focus on military capabilities over percentage benchmarks.

The Czech Parliamentary Mandate and Immunity Committee will decide today whether to initiate disciplinary action against ANO leader Andrej Babiš. The move follows an incident in which Babiš called Pirate Party deputy leader Jakub Michálek a “psychopath” and “sociopath” during an October parliamentary session. Michálek submitted a complaint to the committee. The committee has previously handled similar cases, including issuing a fine to SPD chairman Tomio Okamura for inflammatory remarks.

Reported cases of rape and domestic violence in Czechia have risen, with preliminary 2023 data suggesting a record high, said Radan Safarik, head of the government’s gender equality department, on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Evictions for domestic abuse could also reach a record. A Eurobarometer survey found Czechs more tolerant of violence and more likely to blame victims compared to other EU countries.

A Slovak man is among 16 people missing after a tourist boat sank in the Red Sea off Egypt, Slovak media reported. The boat, carrying 44 people, including 31 tourists and 13 Egyptians, sent a distress signal early Monday. Most were rescued, but search efforts continue for the missing, including 12 tourists and four crew. Egyptian authorities noted rough waters and high waves may have contributed to the incident.

Record-breaking temperatures were recorded across parts of Czechia on Nov. 25, with some areas reaching over 18.5 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature, 18.6°C, was observed in Zlaté Hory, Jesenice. Thirteen out of 168 long-term stations exceeded or matched previous records, including Albrechtice and Kašperské Hory. However, temperatures are expected to drop as a cold front moves in, bringing rain and afternoon highs between 3-11°C, according to Czech meteorologists.

A two-year-old therapy dog belonging to a Czech woman escaped from the luggage area at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport on Tuesday, according to Le Parisien. The dog, named Amalka, aids the 29-year-old woman with concentration disorder. Airport staff, firefighters, veterinarians, and a drone are involved in the ongoing search. The woman, en route to Dallas, remains in Paris following the dog’s disappearance.

Oscar-winning musicians Markéta Irglová and Glen Hansard will join Czech singer and actor Vojtěch Dyk for his "Dykuvzdání" concert on November 27 at Prague’s O2 Arena. Known for their Oscar-winning song Falling Slowly from Once, Irglová and Hansard add star power to Dyk’s show, featuring his band DYK. Dyk’s solo career, launched in 2019, includes collaborations with Grammy winner Ondřej Pivec and acclaim in Czech music and film.