Czech news in brief for November 25: Monday's top headlines

A man was killed after being struck by a tram near the U Elektry stop in Vysočany on Sunday night. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene due to severe injuries. The accident, around 10:30 p.m., halted tram traffic between Libeň and Hloubětín stations. Police are investigating the incident, though details on whether it occurred at a crosswalk remain unclear.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky called on Europe to be ready to compensate for possible cuts in U.S. aid to Ukraine if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump scales back support. During his visit to Kyiv, Lipavsky stressed Europe’s need for self-reliance in security, while Ukrainian officials expressed hope Trump’s presidency could drive stronger backing against Russian aggression.

President Petr Pavel will attend a Czech Philharmonic concert on Dec. 5 at Carnegie Hall, marking Czech Week as part of the Year of Czech Music celebrations. The event, featuring the Czech Philharmonic, Prague Philharmonic Choir, and Pavel Haas Quartet, will also honor the orchestra with the American Dvořák Society's Award for Outstanding Contribution to Czech Music. Pavel will visit New York following a trip to Australia and New Zealand.

Antonín Procházka's 1922 Cubist painting Lady with a Cigarette set a domestic auction record, selling for CZK 26.3 million in Prague. The auction at Municipal House saw a competitive 15-minute bidding session. Another artwork, Paysage by Josef Šíma, fetched nearly CZK 11 million. Procházka, a prominent Czech modernist and member of the Osma group, gained fame for his Cubist and Neoclassical styles, often incorporating folk and mythological themes into his work.

Czech food banks collected a record 640 tons of goods in the autumn food drive, surpassing previous totals, with 572 tons of food and 68 tons of hygiene items donated. Over 2,200 stores and 5,000 volunteers participated, and donations are still accepted online until Dec. 3. Officials said government funds, increased to CZK 104 million for 2025, will support food bank expansion to meet rising demand.

Cases of abuse of shared cars are rising in Czechia, including incidents where users borrow cars on others' accounts and drive without documents. Recent cases include a 15-year-old in Kladno caught driving recklessly and a shared car driver in Prague fleeing a crash. Shared car companies, like Bolt Drive, warn of fines up to CZK 75,000 for fleeing accidents and may add AI identity verification to prevent misuse.