Czech news in brief for June 6: Thursday's top headlines

According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, showers, and thunderstorms are expected in the Czech Republic until the end of the week, with the potential for strong storms on Thursday. Daily temperatures will reach above 20 degrees Celsius, with the southeast region of Moravia experiencing temperatures up to 27 degrees Celsius. The current weather pattern is influenced by a frontal interface, bringing varying temperatures and potential for local storms. The strongest storms are expected in eastern Bohemia, northern Moravia, and Silesia, with potential for hail, strong winds, and heavy rainfall.

After examining the police's handling of the Dec. 21 shooting at Charles University's Faculty of Arts, General Inspection of Security Forces (GIBS) director Vít Hendrych announced that no officers or members of the Czech Republic's police force are suspected of committing a crime. Therefore, no criminal proceedings or investigations will be initiated. GIBS has recommended that the police thoroughly analyze their procedures and methodology for future cases and will provide experts to assist in the evaluation. 

According to the Railway Inspectorate's findings, a passenger express train disregarded a travel restriction in Pardubice on Wednesday night and collided with a freight train on a designated route. The cause of the accident is still under investigation, with the Inspectorate examining both technical malfunctions and human error. The investigation is expected to take several months as all contributing factors are being assessed. The Inspectorate's spokesman Martin Drápal emphasized that no conclusions can be made at this time.

The Regional Court in Hradec Králové sentenced two defendants, Pavel Jireček and Aleksandr Golubnicenko, to 18 and 26 years in prison respectively for the 2022 murder of a 28-year-old man in the Pardubice region. The victim's body was boiled, bones burned, and remains taken away. The defendants, who have dissociative personality disorder, were deemed unlikely to be resocialized. The court ruled that they had planned the murder as revenge for stolen drugs. Jireček was mostly responsible for the victim's torture. 

In a CNN Prima News pre-election debate, ANO leader Andrej Babiš criticized the European Commission, advocating for state leaders to make decisions. Prime Minister Petr Fiala of ODS disagreed, asserting that Prime Ministers and Presidents set the EU's direction. The debate, two days before the European Parliament elections, covered topics including EU sovereignty, the war in Ukraine, and migration policy. Babiš called Fiala "a liar and a fraud," while Fiala emphasized the need for substantive arguments.

Up to 3,500 foreigners are registered to vote in the Czech Republic's European Parliament elections on June 7-8, according to the Interior Ministry. This marks an increase of 1,200 from 2019. Eligible voters include foreigners with permanent or temporary residence. In 2019, around 60 percent of registered foreign voters participated. Interest has grown significantly since 2004, when only 99 foreigners voted.

The Prague city administration will negotiate with the Prague 8 building authority to potentially reopen the Kasárna Karlín cultural center. The center was shut down for using unauthorized premises and structures. Prague councilor Adam Zábranský aims to find a solution before the zoning plan changes. The city acquired the heritage-protected building in January and supports its cultural use despite regulatory challenges.

Support for recognizing Palestine as an independent state has increased slightly among Czechs, with 37 percent now in favor, up from 33 percent last year, according to a Herzl Center and Peace Research Center poll. Despite this, Czechs show more sympathy toward Israelis. The poll reveals 46 percent support a two-state solution, while 42 percent align with Israeli demands. Nearly a third believe both sides are equally responsible for the conflict.

The number of dollar millionaires in the Czech Republic rose by 5.2 percent to 33,900 last year, with their assets increasing by 5.3 percent to USD 82.4 billion, according to Capgemini's World Wealth Report. The growth was driven by a 21 percent rise in stock prices and a reduction in inflation. This trend follows a steady increase in Czech millionaires since 2019.