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

Ukraine should not back down from its demands in potential ceasefire talks, Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová said Friday after speaking with Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov. They discussed Ukraine’s military needs, ammunition supplies, and training efforts. Czechia has trained over 7,000 Ukrainian soldiers and provided CZK 7.3 crowns in military aid. Umerov praised Czechia’s ongoing support, calling it vital for Ukraine’s defense.

Brno’s iconic Škoda 21Tr trolleybuses made their final public rides Saturday, marking the end of 25 years in service. Introduced in 1999 as the city’s first low-floor trolleybuses, they symbolized public transport modernization. With their retirement, 20 will be donated to Kharkiv for continued use or spare parts. One vehicle will join Brno’s retro fleet, and another will go to the city’s technical museum.

Czechia will require up to 35,700 additional care beds by 2040 due to an aging population, the Ministry of Labor said on Friday. Three-quarters of the new capacity will be for those over 80. The number of seniors in care homes has risen 17 percent since 2014. Officials warn of staff shortages, with 16,000 more caregivers needed by 2035.

A widespread failure of railway signaling systems is causing delays across Czechia’s main rail corridors this morning, affecting both regional and long-distance services, Czech Railways reports. Some trains are delayed by up to an hour, while others have been canceled. Infrastructure operator Správa železnic is working to resolve the issue. Passengers are advised to check the Czech Railways website or the Můj vlak app for updates.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov arrived in Prague Saturday morning for a meeting with Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová. The meeting, expected to last about an hour, will be followed by a press conference. Umerov’s visit comes after earlier talks in February regarding new defense projects between the two countries, including rifle production and continued coordination on military aid.

The Million Moments group will urge democratic parties to unite against populists and authoritarians in this year’s elections, it announced on X. The group has met with leaders of the Together coalition and plans further talks by March’s end. Prime Minister Petr Fiala acknowledged the group's past role in mobilizing pro-democracy voters. Parliamentary elections are expected in September, but the date has yet to be set.

The Prague Stock Exchange closed the week at a new all-time high, with the PX index rising nearly 2 percent on Friday to 2,069.88 points. Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) led gains, surging 7.12 percent to CZK 963, while ČEZ climbed 4.56 percent to CZK 1,078, buoyed by better-than-expected earnings. Conversely, Photon Energy saw the sharpest drop, falling 5.79 percent to CZK 21.95, continuing a seven-week decline.

The Czech Ministry of the Environment will allocate CZK 20 million crowns to combat mosquito overpopulation in Czech floodplain forests, launching a subsidy program from March 17 to July 14. The funds will support monitoring and prevention projects in areas prone to mosquito swarms. The initiative builds on a pilot program using sensor networks and 3D modeling to minimize chemical interventions.

More than 130 people have been scammed out of over CZK 20 million in recent weeks by fraudsters impersonating police and central bank officials, Czech police warn. Victims were pressured into transferring savings or handing over cash, believing their bank accounts had been compromised. Authorities stress they would never request such transactions and urge the public to report similar scams.

The Czech Chamber of Deputies has rejected a proposed ban on silencers for pistols and revolvers, despite police recommendations. Interior Minister Vít Rakušan argued that their availability poses a security risk. MPs did approve a requirement for doctors to check if patients hold a firearms license, however. The amendment, prompted by the 2023 Charles University shooting, now moves to the Senate.

ANO has expelled Prague 7 assembly leader Martin Suchánek after he left a firearm in a Chamber of Deputies restroom. The gun, later found in another restroom, prompted a security alert. Suchánek, an adviser to MP Helena Válková, has also lost his parliamentary access. Prague ANO officials say he will be removed from the party’s assembly group if he does not resign.