Czech news in brief for March 15: Friday's top headlines

Markéta Vondrousová, the current world number seven in women's tennis and Czechia’s top-ranked female player, has this afternoon withdrawn from the upcoming Miami Open due to the recent passing of her grandfather. She had also pulled out of the Indian Wells tournament. The 24-year-old Czech, who won the Wimbledon Grand Slam in 2023, shared a heartfelt tribute to her grandfather on Instagram earlier. Vondrousová has previously credited her grandfather for his role in her successful career.

Chief Public Health Official Pavla Svrčinová has confirmed that no unvaccinated children will be excluded from school classes due to whooping cough. A previous letter from the capital’s Public Health Service suggested otherwise, but was later deemed imprecise and a mistake. No general measures are being considered, with individual steps being taken by health authorities. The director of the Health Ministry's public health department also advised parents not to send children with symptoms of the illness to school.

According to the Ministry of Education, teachers and managers in regional education sectors received average gross monthly salaries of CZK 49,867 in 2023 – an increase of around 3.5 percent. However, due to a 10.7-percent increase in consumer prices last year, wages decreased by 2.9 percent in real terms. This year, teachers are expected to receive 130 percent of the average gross salary in the Czech Republic. Kindergarten teachers had the lowest salaries among teachers last year, at CZK 41,000.

Hundreds of Russian citizens lined up at the Russian Embassy in Prague to participate in the presidential election, with 712 votes cast by 2 p.m.. While some refused to comment on their choice, others said they were voting against President Vladimir Putin. The election takes place from March 17, with Czech polling stations open only today. Due to Russian aggression in Ukraine, the street where the embassy is located has been renamed to Ukrainian Heroes’ Street.

Former Czech President Miloš Zeman was hospitalized at Prague’s Motol University Hospital Thursday due to a blood clot in his leg requiring surgery. Spokeswoman Pavlina Dankova confirmed the complication, stating Zeman’s diabetes also played a role. Zeman, who served from 2013-2023, faced health challenges stemming from neuropathy and lengthy hospitalization before.

Justice Minister Pavel Blažek has officially filed a complaint regarding the case of a young girl who endured prolonged sexual abuse by her stepfather. Blažek argued that the suspended sentence was unjustly light and violated the law. Although the Supreme Court cannot directly reverse the decision, its response could set a precedent for future rulings in similar cases. The incident has sparked widespread public outrage and raised questions about the justice system’s handling of sexual assault cases.

Prague police detained four AC Milan fans for misdemeanors before their Europa League match with Slavia Prague. Three were apprehended for using amateur fireworks, while the fourth faced charges for a disrespectful act towards a police officer. The police riot squad intervened outside the stadium. Heavy security measures were in place, including hundreds of officers and helicopter surveillance. The match commenced as scheduled at the Eden Arena. Slavia lost to Milan 1-3.

A second Czech faculty has canceled its bachelor’s thesis requirement. The Faculty of Economics and Administration at Masaryk University in Brno ends the requirement for bachelor’s theses, replacing them with final projects. This follows a similar move by the Faculty of Business Administration at the University of Economics in Prague. The change reflects the impact of artificial intelligence on education, with experts supporting the shift towards practical skills over traditional theses.

The Czech Ministry of Health plans to phase out amalgam dental fillings by mid-2026, replacing them with white fillings. Currently, amalgam is the only filling reimbursed by health insurance, but patients will bear the full cost of white fillings. The change aims to improve dental health but faces criticism from the Stomatological Chamber, citing concerns about affordability and the complexity of applying white fillings.

The National Sports Agency (NSA) demands that the Czech Tennis Association (CTS) return CZK 29.7 million subsidy due to improper use within 30 days. CTS acknowledges the request. Serious management flaws were uncovered during a 2021 audit, prompting corrective action and administrative proceedings. CTS plans an extraordinary meeting to discuss dismissing detained officials Ivo Kaderka and Vojtěch Flégl, both held on suspicion of subsidy fraud.