Czech news in brief for March 11: Monday's top headlines

According to Karine Jean-Pierre, the spokeswoman for the US Presidential Office, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala will meet with US President Joe Biden at the White House on April 15. The meeting will focus on reaffirming support for Ukraine and discussing common priorities, such as security, economics, and democratic values, in order to strengthen the partnership between the US and Czechia. Fiala and Biden met in February 2023 in Warsaw.

During a visit to a Czech air base this afternoon, Prime Minister Petr Fiala expressed his support for the Czech Republic's decision to purchase American F-35 aircraft, saying it is a worthwhile and correct decision. He also emphasized the importance of NATO for Czech security and the modernization of the Czech army. The Czech Republic currently leases Swedish JAS-39 Gripen aircraft and plans to extend the lease until 2035, when they will be replaced by 24 US F-35s.

The German train union GDL has announced a 24-hour strike starting at 2 a.m. on Tuesday, affecting train connections between Prague and Germany. Trains from Prague to Berlin, Hamburg, Kiel, and Flensburg, as well as regional trains from Cheb to Marktredwitz, will be impacted. Night trains will be cancelled and long-distance trains will terminate in Dresden. Replacement trains with limited services will be provided. Passengers traveling from Prague to Munich will need to transfer to a bus in Pilsen. The strike will also affect trains on the Prague-Pilsen-Domažlice-Řezno-Munich route, requiring a transfer to a bus and then a train.

Czech media outlet Novinky.cz reports that former Prime Minister and ANO opposition leader Andrej Babiš requested sensitive information about Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský's family from his colleagues in an email over the weekend. Lipavský expressed disgust at the content of the email, where Babiš referred to him as a "bastard" and asked for a dossier on him. Babiš has stated that he was only looking for information to respond to Lipavský's statements over the weekend.

According to the National Tuberculosis Surveillance Unit there was a 17-percent increase in tuberculosis cases in Czechia in 2023, with almost half of the 447 cases being foreigners – the majority from Ukraine. It is estimated that up to 500 more cases could be unreported. In the Czech population, the sick are most often people in their 50s, while foreigners are usually diagnosed at a lower age. The sickness rate in Ukraine is roughly 20 times higher than in Czechia, with the current numbers being rather estimated because of the ongoing war.

This morning, the management of Charles University (UK) said it received a mass extortion email threatening to shoot if a ransom was not paid. The email was also sent to five other universities. UK reported it to the police, who stated that there is no immediate danger and no need to evacuate. The police are currently searching for the perpetrator who sent the messages.

A block of unused Penny Black stamps, the world's first from 1840, fetched a record CZK 9.1 million at auction in Prague. The Czech investor and collector selling the block ensured it remained in the country. Auction house owner Richard Burda noted it’s the highest price paid for foreign stamps at a Czech auction. The weekend auction totaled nearly CZK 30 million, with a previous record of CZK 7.8 million in March 2018 for a rare Czech stamp.

The Barrandov Bridge reconstruction’s final phase, which commences today in Prague, integrates two stages, shortening the project by a year. Starting with the right lane repair from Braník to Smíchov, completion is expected by summer, optimizing traffic flow. Despite minor delays, police have reported no accidents so far. Originally a four-year plan, the condensed timeline aims to avoid 2025 traffic disruptions. This is the first comprehensive overhaul of the iconic bridge, crucial to Prague traffic.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton attended an informal event at Prague's Reduta jazz club, joined by Czech President Petr Pavel, officials, and personalities. Clinton reminisced about his 1994 visit with President Havel, highlighting its significance for Czech and U.S. security. The gathering included politicians, artists, and former associates of Havel. Clinton, invited by President Pavel, will address a conference commemorating 25 years of Czech NATO membership at Prague Castle Tuesday.

According to the most recent Kantar poll, the ANO party would secure victory in Czech parliamentary elections with 38.5 percent of the vote, marking its highest share of the vote since 2014. ODS would follow with 14.5 percent, while the Pirates and SPD would receive 9.5 percent and nine percent of the votes, respectively. The Spolu coalition, leading the current government, would only receive a total of 20 percent of the vote. The next Czech parliamentary election will occur in October 2025.

The initial findings from the investigation into the December shooting at Charles University's Faculty of Arts could be available in May, according to Czech Interior Minister Vít Rakušan. He cited Deputy Chief of Police Tomáš Kubík during an interview on TV Nova. Rakušan opposes the establishment of a parliamentary commission of inquiry, arguing that ongoing criminal proceedings restrict the disclosure of complete information to deputies. The shooting claimed 14 lives, with the perpetrator, reportedly a student, committing suicide afterward.

Analysts predict a further slowdown in year-on-year inflation to around two percent in February, nearing the Czech National Bank's target. Food prices are noted to have a positive impact on this trend. While fuel prices increased notably during the month, other sectors like clothing and home furnishings remain subdued due to weak demand. Experts anticipate year-on-year inflation to range between two and three percent in the coming months, with average inflation for the year projected at 2.4 percent.

The popularity of long-distance bus travel among Czechs in Europe is on the rise, with nearly a 50 percent increase in passengers to popular destinations according to data from FlixBus and RegioJet. Prague residents most frequently travel to Vienna, Berlin, and Munich. RegioJet's top destinations also include Budapest, Zurich, and various German cities, while FlixBus reports heightened interest in routes to Berlin, Vienna, Dresden, Munich, and Wrocław. The surge in bus travel is attributed to its eco-friendliness, convenience, and competitive pricing compared to cars.

Employer unions in the Czech Republic surveyed by Czech News Agency say that despite critiques of EU bureaucracy, the benefits of EU membership outweigh the drawbacks. Chief among these benefits is access to the single European market, crucial for Czech exports, which constitute a significant portion of the country's GDP. While the unified market is lauded, criticisms are directed towards bureaucratic hurdles and the impact of subsidy policies on market dynamics.