Czech news in brief for March 18: Tuesday's top headlines

President Petr Pavel, Prime Minister Petr Fiala, and Ukrainian advisor Oleksandr Kamyshin will speak today at the “Our Security is Not a Matter of Course” conference at Prague Castle. Defense Minister Jana Černochová, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, and Interior Minister Vít Rakušan will also address panels on defense spending and the defense industry’s economic importance. The event, organized by Jagello 2000, includes speeches and discussions on European security.

Ukrainian Ambassador to Prague, Vasyl Zvarych, expressed gratitude to Czech activists and NGOs for their support in Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression. Speaking at a meeting at the embassy, he thanked those contributing to Ukraine's victory and highlighted Czech solidarity, including visits to Ukraine and local events. Zvarych also commended organizations like Post Bellum and People in Need for their ongoing efforts.

Memorial plaques honoring Jan Palach, who self-immolated in 1969, and priest Josef Toufar, who died from communist torture in 1950, were unveiled today at a former sanatorium in central Prague. The building now houses a hotel, with a café and exhibition dedicated to their legacies on the ground floor. Palach’s self-sacrifice protested the Soviet occupation, while Toufar’s death followed torture over the “Cihost miracle.”

Schools near Prague and Brno are facing severe overcrowding due to a growing population from young families moving to the area. Municipalities like Lety u Dobřichovice and Slavkov u Brna are working to increase school capacity, but funding is a major issue. The Ministry of Education has not provided subsidies for expansion since 2022, with no new funding expected until 2026. This shortage is expected to worsen in coming years.

The Primoco UAV company’s One 150 drone has become the first in its category to receive NATO certification. The medium-heavy drone, weighing up to 150 kilograms, now meets NATO’s STANAG 4703 standard, easing its export and inclusion in NATO armaments. The certification follows five years of development, including 200 test verifications and 170 test flights. Primoco has already sold over 200 drones to 15 countries.