Czech news in brief for August 9: Friday's top headlines

According to the Czech Health Ministry, the government has paid over CZK 188 million Czech in compensation to 629 women since January 2022 relating to illegal sterilizations that predominantly targeted Roma women between 1966 and 2012. The ministry spokesperson, Ondřej Jakob, revealed that another 616 claims are still pending, and some 30 are being dealt with in court. Between 1966 and 2012, thousands of predominantly Roma women were forced by Czechoslovak and then Czech authorities to sign consent to sterilization.

A 27-year-old man residing in Czechia died in an Israeli hospital in the last 24 hours after being seriously injured in a Hezbollah air attack on northern Israel. The man, who studied chemistry in the Czech Republic and was visiting his family for the summer, succumbed to injuries caused by an Israeli air defense missile that missed its target during the attack, which also injured 19 others, including six soldiers. The man had planned to return to the Czech Republic on the day of the incident.

According to local media websites, Zimbabwean police in the town of Masvingo have arrested a Czech tourist for filming a video in English that described the country's poor economic situation and long power and water outages. The authorities arrested him for allegedly spreading untruths after overhearing his comments while investigating a traffic accident nearby. The judge rejected his bail request, citing the risk of him fleeing the country, and reclassified the charges as spreading falsehoods with intent to incite the public.

Zuzana Hejnová, a former Czech athlete, had her bronze medal from the 400 meters women’s hurdles in the 2012 London Olympics upgraded to a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics after the winner of that race was retroactively disqualified. Russian athlete Natalya Antyukh lost her gold medal due to doping; she is currently retired. Hejnová, a two-time world champion, learned of her new medal in late 2022. The retroactive medal ceremony took place this afternoon in Paris.

The Czech Foreign Ministry has advised citizens in Austria to exercise caution, particularly in crowded areas, following a terror alert that led to the cancellation of three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna. While the immediate threat has subsided, Austrian authorities maintain a serious security posture. Czechs are urged to follow local news, heed security advice, and contact the Czech Embassy in Vienna if necessary.

Prague’s Václav Havel Airport briefly suspended operations after suspicious luggage emitting a ticking sound was found on a Ryanair flight to London. Police evacuated the plane and the surrounding area but found nothing dangerous. Check-in at Terminal 2 was temporarily halted and later resumed. The airport convened a crisis committee, and some flights were delayed. The incident caused brief disruptions but no significant threats.

The Czech coalition is divided over Health Minister Vlastimil Válek's proposal to introduce an excise tax on sugary drinks, supported by the Mayors and Pirates but opposed by other government members and the opposition. A non-political expert group evaluates international approaches, with discussions to follow based on their recommendations. Supported by WHO and NERV, the tax would be tied to the sugar content to reduce excessive sugar consumption.

The Czech Banking Association (ČBA) lowered its 2024 GDP growth forecast for the Czech economy to 0.9 percent, down from 1.4 percent predicted in May, citing weak growth in the first half of the year and negative global developments. The ČBA maintained its inflation forecast at 2.3 percent and expects unemployment to rise to 3.8 percent. Interest rates are projected to drop, with further economic recovery anticipated in 2025.

The Prague 1 building authority ordered safety measures for a building on Lazarská Street after a cornice partially collapsed, killing a man at a nearby tram stop during a storm today. The Prague 1 spokesperson, Karolína Šnejdarová, stated that building owners are legally responsible for maintenance, with inspections by building authorities conducted only upon request.