Czech news in brief for March 22: Saturday's top headlines

Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová asserted that the ongoing war in Ukraine has contributed to an increase in the number of soldiers leaving the army. In the past three years, 40 percent more Czech soldiers have resigned each year. Many entered the armed forces during peacetime but left due to fears of being deployed to Ukraine. The ministry is considering measures to address recruitment issues and reduce attrition.

Seismic tremors were recorded overnight near Luby in the Cheb region, with the strongest reaching just above magnitude 2 after 6 a.m., according to the Czech Academy of Sciences. The tremors originated about 10 kilometers deep and were mostly too weak to be felt. The area is known for frequent minor earthquake swarms. The strongest recorded quake in the region occurred in 1985 with a magnitude of 4.6.

Recent departures from the Czech Pirate Party reflect disagreements with new leader Zdeněk Hřib’s direction and past election losses, political analysts told Czech News Agency. Some members oppose the party’s centrist shift, while others cite ideological divides. Analysts suggest the party must refocus on young progressive voters and explore new topics like AI.

Starting in April, Czech pensioners will receive their pensions 10 days earlier. This change applies to both bank account recipients and those who receive their payments through postal delivery. The Czech Social Security Administration aims to ensure all pensions are paid within the first half of the month, benefiting approximately 1.16 million retirees, including 210,000 who receive their payments by post.

Czech President Petr Pavel symbolically handed Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy a Black Hawk helicopter funded by Czech and Slovak citizens on Friday. Over 20,600 donors raised CZK 72.6 million through the Gift for Putin initiative. The fundraiser, launched last November, marks the first public campaign worldwide to buy a military helicopter for Ukraine.

Czech UNICEF volunteers painted a large blue water drop on Wenceslas Square in Prague on Thursday to mark World Water Day. The event highlights water’s vital role and this year focuses on glacier protection and the global water cycle. A volunteer stand offers information about water scarcity, while schools joined remotely with themed activities. World Water Day is celebrated annually on March 22.

The Czech national football team kicks off its 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Saturday night against the Faroe Islands in Hradec Králové. Coach Ivan Hašek’s squad aims for a strong start in Group L, where they also face Montenegro and the loser of Croatia vs. France. Captain Tomáš Souček stressed the team’s motivation to reach the World Cup for the first time since 2006.

The Czech Chamber of Deputies may expand a proposed ban on selling energy drinks to children under 15 to include all energy products, such as candies, gum, and bars containing stimulants. The amendment will be debated in the bill’s second reading. The proposal cites hidden caffeine content in some products, posing risks similar to energy drinks. Further changes could raise the age limit to 16.

The Pilsen Regional Court on Thursday rehabilitated nine Roman Catholic priests arrested by the communist regime in 1949 for possessing anti-state documents. None lived to see their names cleared. Lawyer Lubomír Müller said the court found the state had no right to interfere in church matters or punish clergy for rejecting salaries. The case highlights ongoing redress for communist-era injustices.

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute issued a record 369 weather warnings last year, officials said. The total includes 192 forecasts and 177 urgent alerts, mainly due to September’s severe floods and frequent winter flooding. The institute reported an 88.5 percent accuracy in its warnings, with temperature and frost alerts scoring best. Missed phenomena outnumbered false alarms in less accurate cases.

Former MEP Jan Zahradil is leaving the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) after nearly 34 years, citing growing differences with party leadership. In a letter to PM and ODS head Petr Fiala, Zahradil said he won’t back the Together coalition in upcoming elections. Zahradil, a longtime ODS official and European lawmaker, will formally exit by month’s end after not paying membership fees.