Czech news in brief for April 3: Thursday's top headlines

March 2025 was among the warmest 7 percent of Marches recorded in Prague’s Clementinum building since 1775 (when records began), the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute reported. The month’s average temperature of 7.9 degrees Celsius was about 3 degrees above the long-term norm. It ranked between 15th and 18th warmest out of 251 recorded Marches. The warmest March occurred in 2024 at 10 degrees Celsius, while the coldest was in 1785 at -5.5 degrees.

A passenger train that derailed Wednesday near a railway crossing close to the center of Olomouc leaked 400 liters of diesel, authorities have reported. No environmental contamination has been reported. Two passengers suffered minor injuries, and damage is estimated at CZK 16 million. Train and tram services remain disrupted. Authorities suspect a technical fault caused the derailment. Cleanup efforts and track repairs are underway, officials said this afternoon. On Feb. 28, a freight train carrying over 1,000 tonnes of toxic benzene derailed, causing mass damage.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala opened a security conference in Prague on Thursday, the first in a series addressing key national issues before autumn elections. Fiala emphasized the need for NATO unity amid Russia’s threats and pledged increased defense spending. The event featured top politicians and experts. Future conferences will focus on housing and education reforms, key issues in Czech politics. According to him, Russia is aware of the strength of the European Union, but it is equally aware of its weaknesses. 

The Czech-led ammunition initiative for Ukraine has received additional funding from Canada, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands, ensuring artillery deliveries until at least September, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský announced at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Czechia, a strong Ukraine supporter, helped broker 1.5 million rounds last year. Lipavský said the initiative has significantly reduced Russia’s artillery advantage. Czechia plans to supply 125,000 rounds per month in 2024 to support Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala criticized U.S. tariffs on EU imports as "wrong and unfortunate" but said their direct impact on Czechia will be minimal. However, he warned of strong indirect effects through trade with Germany and other EU partners. The U.S., under President Donald Trump, imposed tariffs of at least 10 percent on most imports, with EU goods facing 20 percent. Fiala said Europe is open to talks but prepared to respond. Opposition leaders urge a measured approach without instant retaliation.

 A man died and three others were hospitalized after carbon monoxide poisoning in a family home near Prague on Thursday, authorities said. Emergency crews attempted resuscitation but were unsuccessful. One victim required artificial ventilation and was airlifted to a hospital. The cause of the leak remains unclear. Carbon monoxide exposure often results from faulty heating appliances and poor ventilation. It is a colorless and odorless gas produced by the imperfect combustion of organic substances. When inhaled, it binds to hemoglobin contained in red blood cells instead of oxygen.

The Czech government has placed Belarusian journalist Natallia Sudliankova and Russian GRU officer Alexei Shavrov on the national sanctions list. Sudliankova, granted asylum in Czechia in 2003, is accused of collaborating with Russian intelligence and organizations, including the GRU and oligarch Alisher Usmanov. The sanctions, which include expulsion, target those posing security risks. Sudliankova has 30 days to leave the country.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly announced blanket tariffs on goods from the European Union and China are expected to impact the Czech economy, reducing industrial profitability and investment growth. Tariffs on European products, such as cars and consumer goods, will drive up prices and lower demand in the U.S. Analysts predict the tariffs will slow economic growth, increase inflation, and lead to a decline in Czech exports.

Hundreds of people gathered in Prague to protest low sentences for sexualized violence and the trivialization of violence against women. The demonstrators criticized Czech courts for handing down suspended sentences in high-profile cases, such as the rape of an underage girl by her stepfather. Protesters called for systemic changes, including the adoption of the Istanbul Convention, to improve protection for victims and ensure stricter sentencing.

Dozens of activists protested at CEVRO University during its Open Day, criticizing the university's sponsors, entrepreneurs Pavel Tykač and René Holeček. The protesters, who hung banners and chanted slogans, opposed funding from the coal and arms industries, calling for universities free from such influences. The university dismissed the action as an infiltration by left-wing activists and called the police, who later dispersed the group.

A new installation by artist František Skála, titled Spinne Dreifusschauplatz (Spider Stage on Three Legs), has been unveiled at Prague’s Václav Havel Square. The striking, spider-themed work features a giant invasive trematode spider beneath a Brussels-style flower table. Skála's piece, a metaphor for societal decay with a glimmer of hope, will be on display throughout April.