Czech news in brief for June 3: Monday's top headlines

According to Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura, the state budget deficit at the end of May was CZK 210.4 billion, increasing from CZK 153.1 billion in April. This is the third-largest deficit since the early 1990s. However, thanks to stronger tax revenues and lower expenses in the energy sector, the deficit is CZK 61 billion lower compared to the same period last year. Analysts predict the government will stick to the planned deficit of CZK 252 billion. 

Four foreigners have been detained by police at Prague airport for their involvement in a scuffle on Old Town Square in Prague. The incident, which was filmed and shared on social media, involved Russian and German-speaking individuals attacking volunteers who were collecting money for aid to Ukraine. Police are investigating the case, which occurred at a stand set up by the Prague Maidan organization. All those arrested are suspected of several criminal offences.

A survey by the Central European Digital Media Observatory found that four out of 10 Czechs believe that the information war is a Western government's excuse to restrict freedom of speech. This belief is more prevalent in Czechia and Hungary than in Slovakia and Poland. Additionally, 39 percent of Czechs see their country as a battleground for Russia's information war against the West, while in Hungary, about one-third of the population holds this view. In Slovakia and Poland, more people believe that Russia is waging an information war against the West than in the Czech Republic. 

Director of Prague Zoo Miroslav Bobek announced that three out of four planned Przewalski's horses were flown from Prague's Kbely military airport to Kazakhstan this afternoon. The goal is to reintroduce the species to the wild. One horse stayed in Prague due to restlessness, while four more from Berlin were delayed by 48 hours due to a plane malfunction. The project aims to restore a population of wild horses in the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, with Prague Zoo planning to transport 40 horses over the next five years.

Eighteen people, including children, were injured Sunday after lightning struck a tree in a park during Children’s Day celebrations in Liberec, North Bohemia. Thirteen people were left unconscious, and five required brief resuscitation. Most injuries were minor. Seven adults and eight children were taken to Liberec Hospital, two to Jablonec nad Nisou, and one to Prague’s Motol Hospital.

Czech Chamber of Deputies head Markéta Pekarová Adamová (TOP 09) considers the case of drugs found in a lower house restroom closed after her office head, Petr Pelc, passed a drug test. The issue arose when a paper with cocaine residue was found in late 2022. Adamová noted the restroom’s high traffic and the inability to identify the owner. The security service commander apologized for not informing the leadership.

The Ice Hockey World Championships boosted Prague’s retail sales by 5.4 percent from May 10-12, with restaurants and pubs seeing a 33 percent rise, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse. Accommodation sales increased by 18.2 percent, grocery store sales by 10.5 percent, and clothing sales by 23 percent. The May 10-26 championship saw the Czech team win gold, attracting significant tourism and enhancing sales across various sectors.

With summer holidays approaching, many Czechs plan to spend time by the sea, driving up demand for transportation, reports Czech Television. Czech carriers, including RegioJet, have nearly sold out bus and train routes to popular destinations like Croatia and Italy. The first summer train to Florence departed Friday, while buses now replace some train services to Croatia. Carriers are prepared to reinforce routes to meet the high demand.

Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský’s EP Group will acquire Royal Mail's owner, International Distribution Services (IDS), for 370 pence per share, reports The Financial Times. Royal Mail, beset by strikes and losses, delivered only 75 percent of first-class mail on time in the past year. Křetínský plans to modernize Royal Mail, focusing on automation and parcel delivery services to compete with European peers. Analysts foresee challenges but potential improvements.