Czech news in brief for August 17: Sunday's top headlines

After the year’s hottest days, cooler air will move across Central Europe this week. Wednesday will be the warmest with highs up to 31 degrees Celsius, but temperatures will drop to around 20 degrees from Thursday as an incoming cold front brings rain. Early mornings will be chilly, with Tuesday lows near 8 degrees Celsius, and as low as 5 degrees in some areas. Rainfall remains uneven, leaving some regions still dry despite recent storms.

The latest STEM poll for the upcoming Czech parliamentary election shows opposition ANO party leading with 32.2 percent support, followed by the governing Together coalition at 20.1 percent and SPD at 12.1 percent. STAN polls at 10.8 percent and the Pirates at 9.2 percent, while the new Stačilo! movement reaches 7.1 percent. If converted to seats, ANO would hold 75, Spolu 45, SPD 25, STAN 22, Pirates 19, and Stačilo! 14. Voter turnout ahead of the October election is projected at 63 percent.

The Czech government will discuss a law aimed at curbing “greenwashing” and promoting sustainable consumption. The proposal bans presenting products as environmentally friendly without evidence, limits planned obsolescence, and requires clearer information on repair options. It aligns national law with EU directives. Enforcement could include fines up to CZK 5 million. The law is expected to take effect gradually next year.

The Czech housing support law, currently aimed at households earning up to 1.43 times the minimum subsistence level, may expand to 1.6 times to include more residents at risk of housing insecurity. The change would cover working households, seniors, and people with disabilities. The proposal, however, is unlikely to be debated in parliament before October elections. Officials say the adjustment would modestly increase eligible households, with limited budget impact.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala will represent Czechia at Sunday’s videoconference of the “coalition of the willing,” an informal group of states backing Ukraine, government spokesman Jakub Tomek said. The meeting, chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, comes ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington on Monday for talks with US President Donald Trump.

Prague police are investigating a group behind fake charitable foundations that has defrauded more than 42,000 people through aggressive phone solicitations since 2020. Victims were pressured into buying overpriced “donation packages,” with funds pocketed by the suspects, police said. Losses exceed CZK 64 million. Some victims only recently learned they were targeted. Ten suspects, including three women, face charges. Police urge additional victims to come forward as the case continues.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský said Friday he coordinated with counterparts from the Netherlands, Britain, Finland and Poland ahead of Monday’s meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He also spoke with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, stressing that Russia shows no sign of preparing for a ceasefire.

Brno is commemorating the 380th anniversary of its successful 1645 defense against Swedish forces during the Thirty Years’ War. Hundreds gathered Saturday for a historical parade from Denis Gardens to St. James’s Church, honoring commander Raduit de Souches with a salute. The Day of Brno program features battle reenactments, falconry, jousting, theater, and concerts, with highlights including afternoon and evening mock battles on Kraví hora depicting the siege and Swedish campaigns.

A car fire near the Stodůlky exit toward the airport brought traffic on the Prague Ring Road to a standstill Saturday afternoon. Police said the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames before firefighters extinguished the blaze. Traffic was stopped for several dozen minutes, with congestion also forming in the opposite direction. By 3:30 p.m., after the fire was contained, one lane was reopened to vehicles.

Police have charged Tomáš Jirikovský with two counts of money laundering linked to bitcoin transactions in 2015 and 2025, prosecutors in Olomouc said. Authorities allege he concealed the criminal origin of bitcoins tied to darknet trading, including a donation made to the Justice Ministry this year. Jirikovský, previously arrested in connection with the bitcoin case, faces prosecution for two continuing offenses of legalizing crime proceeds.

Czech beach volleyball world champions Ondřej Perušič and David Schweiner advanced to the semifinals of the Pro Tour Elite in Montreal after defeating Australians Izac Carracher and Mark Nicolaidis 21-13, 21-16. They will face top seeds and European champions Anders Mol and Christian Sørum of Norway on Sunday. The Czech pair, seeded fifth, last reached a Pro Tour Elite podium in Ostrava in June, finishing third.