Czech news in brief for June 27: Thursday's top headlines

In an interview with CNN Prima News, ANO leader Andrej Babiš announced that his party will establish a new group in the European Parliament (EP), with details to be revealed next week. The group will focus on sovereignty, security, fighting illegal migration, and promoting changes to the Green Deal for Europe. Each political group in the EP must have at least 23 members of European Parliament (MEPs) from seven EU countries; ANO, which won the European elections in the Czech Republic, will have seven of the country's 21 MEPs.

Czech police have searched the apartment of Petr Bystron, a Czech-born German member of parliament, in Prague's Old Town following a German request. Bystron is suspected of accepting bribes from the pro-Russian Voice of Europe website. He denies any wrongdoing, stating that the apartments were rented on a long-term basis. The police in Germany previously raided various properties of Bystron, including his office. In the near future, police investigators will have to suspend their work because Bystron has elected in the June European Parliament elections and will therefore gain immunity.

Non-profit organizations and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MPSV) presented a survey to journalists, showing that 1.3 million people in the Czech Republic struggled to pay for energy last year, a 400,000 increase from 2022 due to rising prices caused by the war in Ukraine. Energy poverty primarily affects single women, low-income families, and elderly women living alone. According to the study, about 700,000 households in the Czech Republic experience energy poverty.

The Czech Republic, along with Denmark, Canada, Belgium, and the Netherlands has some of the highest financial literacy among schoolchildren according to the Program for International Student Assessment done by the OECD. Other top performers include Austria, Poland, and the US, while Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia were among the worst. However, 15 percent of Czech 15-year-olds still lack basic financial literacy – 5 percent more than a decade ago. In mid-June, the OECD also presented the results of tests on creative thinking, in which Czechs ranked slightly above the OECD average.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has this afternoon announced that Czechia will contribute CZK 866 million to buy artillery ammunition for Ukraine, in efforts to support their resistance against Russian aggression. The funds will be used to purchase ammunition from Czech company STV Group, with 18 countries and 15 pledging their support. So far, 50,000 rounds have been delivered with a goal of 500,000 by the end of the year, partially funded by Germany. 

Slovak President Peter Pellegrini announced that Slovak factories will refurbish or produce much of the artillery ammunition acquired for Ukraine by a Czech initiative. During his visit to Prague, Pellegrini met with Czech President Petr Pavel and other officials. He honored victims of the December shooting at Charles University and visited former President Miloš Zeman, who supported him during his campaign and will celebrate his 80th birthday in September.

A security equipment malfunction halted part of Prague's metro line B for about two hours Wednesday afternoon. Trains were suspended between Florenc and Nové Butovice stations from 3:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Passengers used bus line XB and surface transport, particularly trams, as alternatives. The disruption was caused by a breakdown at Smíchovské nádraží station.

Criminal proceedings against individuals in the Czech Republic dropped by 700 to 197,000 last year, according to the Supreme State Attorney's Office (NSZ) annual report. Prosecutors initiated actions against 70,500 people and brought 65,000 to trial. Over 200 companies were also prosecuted. The report highlighted the ongoing impact of international conflicts and a rise in serious crimes, particularly online fraud and violent offenses, including murder and sexual violence.

Dozens gathered at Prague's Vyšehrad to honor politician Milada Horáková, executed 74 years ago after a fabricated trial by communists. Horáková's niece, Věra Kovářová (STAN), attended the event. Horáková, a lawyer and National Socialist politician, was executed in 1950, symbolizing political persecution in communist Czechoslovakia. Participants laid flowers at her symbolic grave and a memorial for victims of Nazism and communism at Vyšehrad Cemetery.

Schools participating in the JINAK Report Card project will issue new report cards on Friday, featuring a four-point scale and verbal assessments instead of traditional grades. Subjects like music, art, and physical education will receive only verbal evaluations. The project, involving about 150 teachers from ten schools, aims to highlight students' strengths and areas for improvement, fostering personalized feedback and motivation for lifelong learning, according to project manager Jana Kratochvílová.