Czech news in brief for July 25: Thursday's top headlines

According to the Central Bohemian Hygiene station, there has been a significant increase in tick-borne diseases nationwide this year, with 228 cases of Lyme disease recorded from the beginning of the year until Wednesday. This is twice as many as last year, with the increase attributed to higher air humidity creating an ideal environment for ticks. The risk of infection is also high due to the current high tick activity. The director of the anti-epidemic department, Dana Taclová, explained that this July has seen three and a half times more cases than usual.

According to data from consulting firm Deloitte, the average price of apartments in the Czech Republic increased by four percent in the first quarter of this year, with the highest growth recorded in the Liberec, Zlín, Olomouc, and Moravian-Silesian regions. However, the prices fell in the Vysočina and Pardubice regions. Petr Hána, an expert on the real estate market, stated that this quarter marked a growth in demand and an end to the previous downward trend. The prices in the Liberec region rose the most, by 8 percent.

The Czech Senate today approved a government amendment to the Labor Code, which will gradually increase the minimum wage to 47 percent of the average wage by 2029. Currently at 41.1 percent, it has already risen to CZK 18,900 this year. The amendment will also abolish guaranteed wages based on expertise, responsibility, and difficulty in the private sector, while maintaining them in the public sector. Trade unions have criticized this decision, arguing it will lead to wage cuts and the growth of the grey economy.

According to a report published by the Czech Interior Ministry, Russia conducted various hybrid operations in the first half of the year aimed at undermining confidence in the state. The report also states that the extremist and xenophobic scene in the Czech Republic has changed significantly, with Russian security forces gaining a strong and easily influenced base for spreading their influence. The report also mentions that the "anti-systemic movement" on the extremist scene has fragmented and lacks vision, with its main leaders having a short "lifespan."

The Czech Interior Ministry will send CZK 50 million to support Ukraine, focusing on demining and aiding war-affected residents. An additional CZK 25 million will go to Moldova for border protection. Unneeded police equipment, including 11 cars and 66 generators, valued at CZK 5.5 million, will also be sent to Ukraine. Interior Minister Vít Rakušan emphasized support for Ukraine against Russian aggression.

Václav Havel Airport’s main information boards were down for about four and a half hours today. The outage, which began around 11:30 a.m., affected the intranet, website, and internal communications. According to airport officials, information systems were restored by 4 p.m., with full services back an hour later. Staff used handwritten boards to assist passengers who faced issues with departure gate changes. The cause is under investigation.

Czech Television will provide 320 hours of live coverage of the Paris Olympics, with additional recordings and reports. Eurosport will offer 830 hours of live content across multiple channels, while the streaming service Max plans over 3,800 hours and up to 54 simultaneous streams. Czech Radio will cover events live, including from a mobile studio. TV Nova and CNN Prima News will also offer updates and coverage. The Games start July 26.

Senators from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Security held a classified meeting to discuss the Russian Orthodox Church’s activities in Czechia. Intelligence officials Michal Koudelka and Vladimir Posolda attended. Committee chairman Pavel Fischer highlighted concerns about foreign influence, specifically from Russia. Fischer emphasized the church’s ties to Patriarch Kirill, who is on the Czech sanctions list. The Culture Ministry previously decided not to revoke the church’s registration despite supporting Russia’s Ukraine invasion.

Czech Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Sikela has been nominated by the government as the next Czech EU Commissioner. PM Petr Fiala is endorsing him for his proven competence and problem-solving skills demonstrated during the Czech EU Presidency. The STAN movement also proposed MEP Danuše Nerudová, while the Pirates suggested former MEP Marcel Kolaja. Fiala emphasized Sikela’s experience and potential for managing a significant EU portfolio.

A survey by the Perfect Crowd agency for the Association for the Capital Market of the Czech Republic revealed that two-thirds of parents save for their children’s future, while one-third cannot due to financial constraints. Most parents start saving at their child’s birth, with nearly half saving for improvements at adulthood, 46 percent for education, and 45 percent for future housing. AKAT emphasized the benefits of starting early, though many parents’ savings are in low-yield accounts, potentially losing value to inflation.