Czech news in brief for August 30: Saturday's top headlines

Czechia has gained a reputation as a constructive EU member able to broker compromises, outgoing Czech ambassador to the EU Political and Security Committee Jitka Latal Znamenáčková said. After five years in the role, she will join the European Commission Secretariat-General on Monday. She credited Czechia’s 2022 EU presidency and its ammunition initiative for Ukraine as key to improving the country’s standing in Brussels.

President Petr Pavel and his wife Eva joined hundreds of Harley-Davidson riders in Prague Friday during the annual Prague Harley Days festival. Pavel, known for his love of motorcycles, wore his signature red-and-black flannel shirt. The two-day event features motorcycle shows, rebuild competitions, American cars, freestyle motocross, and live music. This year’s ride avoided Wenceslas Square due to ongoing construction.

Karel Komárek, head of the Czech embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is in critical condition in a Kinshasa hospital, the Foreign Ministry said Saturday. Officials provided no further details, citing respect for the diplomat’s family. Komárek has served as chargé d’affaires in Kinshasa since October 2023 and previously represented Czechia at UNESCO. Reports suggest he suffered a head injury after a fall.

Russia has threatened countermeasures if the EU limits Russian diplomats’ movement within the Schengen Area, spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Friday. The proposal, initiated by Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, would restrict visas and residence permits to host countries only. Lipavský said any Russian action would trigger reciprocal EU responses. Some EU states, including Germany and Italy, remain opposed due to diplomatic and consular concerns.

Overnight storms crossed central Bohemia Friday, bringing lightning, heavy rain, and a rare arcus cloud east of Prague, meteorologists said. The system intensified as it moved north, dropping more than 40 mm of rain in some areas, with Borová Lada recording 57 mm. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute reported minimal storm impact, as most lightning stayed within clouds and damage potential was low.

Prague brewery Staropramen grew its net profit nearly 10 percent to CZK 929 million in 2024, while revenue grew 6 percent to CZK 4.98 billion, the brewer said Friday. Beer sales fell by 66,000 hectoliters, with weaker domestic demand offset by stronger exports. Staropramen, which markets brands including Braník and Ostravar, also expanded its non-alcoholic range as Czechs increasingly favor low- and no-alcohol options.

Workers have installed all 6,000 pipes of the new organ at Prague’s St. Vitus Cathedral, with tuning set to start Sept. 15 and continue until Christmas, officials said Saturday. The instrument, built by Spain’s Gerhard Grenzing firm, is the third largest in Czechia. Funded largely by a public campaign raising over CZK 106 million, the organ will debut in a concert on June 15, 2026.

Jiří Lehečka advanced to the US Open round of 16 for the first time Friday with a straight-sets win over Belgium’s Raphaël Collignon, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. The 23-year-old Czech, seeded 20th, said he views the quarterfinal as a true milestone and will next face France’s Adrian Mannarino. Lehečka’s best Grand Slam result remains the 2023 Australian Open quarterfinals.

Regional courts have rejected Volt Czechia’s complaints seeking to cancel candidate lists of the Enough! and SPD movements, ruling they are not illegal “latent coalitions.” The Prague Regional Court said Thursday that parties may field candidates from other groups, a practice common for two decades. The verdicts clear the way for October 3–4 elections, though some related cases are still pending before other courts.

The Czech cabinet will review Wednesday the planned acquisition of 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks for CZK 34.25 billion, Defense Ministry officials said. The first deliveries are expected in 2028, with completion by 2031. The purchase includes customized features, training, and spare parts. The deal, part of a German-organized program, could later expand to 77 tanks in multiple variants, replacing the country’s older T-72 models.

Czech hunters shot record numbers of roe deer (137,408) and fallow deer (50,245) in the past hunting season, the Czech Statistical Office said Friday. It was also the second-highest tally for deer and moufflon since records began in 1950. By contrast, wild boar kills dropped 25 percent to 193,554, while hare numbers also fell. Pheasant and mallard figures remained similar to last year, statisticians reported.