Czech news in brief for August 4: Monday's top headlines

Czech President Petr Pavel has said that the temporary Russian occupation of parts of Ukraine may be the price for preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty. In a BBC interview, he stressed the West should not pressure Ukraine to reclaim all occupied land immediately, given the likely human cost. While rejecting any legal recognition of the seized territories, Pavel emphasized that continued military aid and economic pressure on Russia are key to ending the conflict, which he said cannot be won militarily.

Prague officials donated 15 retired buses Monday to Chernivtsi, Ukraine, to support its strained public transit system amid a population surge from the Russian invasion. The buses, driven by Ukrainian personnel, departed for the southwestern city, which has absorbed 60,000 new residents. Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda said the vehicles remain fully functional. The aid, arranged through People in Need, brings Prague’s total donations to Ukraine’s transit sector to 71 vehicles since the war began.

Prague 5 Council has endorsed a proposal to name a square near Bertramka after singer Karel Gott, who lived nearby for over 40 years. The site, at the intersection of U Mrázovky, U Blaženky and Nad Bertramkou, could become Náměstíčko Karela Gotta. The idea came from Gott’s widow, Ivana, ahead of a planned memorial site in his former villa. The topographic commission will now review the proposal before it goes to Prague’s city council for final approval.

A group of senators has petitioned the Constitutional Court to overturn a law allowing the separate enrollment of Ukrainian refugee children in primary schools. Filed in July, the proposal argues that the measure promotes segregation and breaches education rights and international obligations. The law aims to ease refugee distribution and support school integration. The Education Ministry did not consider special enrolment an appropriate solution because it puts children with temporary protection at a disadvantage.

O2 customers across the Czech Republic faced widespread mobile outages Monday morning, with data, calls, and SMS disrupted. Reports began around 8:30 a.m., peaking near 10 a.m., affecting Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Olomouc, and other cities. The operator confirmed technicians are addressing the issue but gave no timeline for restoration. The outage has left many users unable to access essential mobile services during the busy start of the week. Authorities and the company continue monitoring the situation.

Czechia has adopted its third national action plan to boost women’s representation in peacebuilding and security. The 2026–2030 plan supports female participation in decision-making, promotes gender equality training, and integrates a gender perspective into foreign aid. Women currently hold 14.8 percent of army posts and one-fifth of ambassador roles. The plan follows the UN resolution on women, peace, and security adopted 25 years ago.

Czechia will send CZK 4 million to Gaza through the UN World Food Programme, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský announced. It follows a CZK 2 million donation to the Order of Malta for healthcare efforts. The move comes as famine risks rise. Air drops of food aid have begun by several nations. Over 60,000 people have died since the conflict began in Gaza last October.

An estimated 45,000 people marched in Saturday’s Prague Pride parade, wrapping up the 15th annual LGBTQ+ festival. Organizers said turnout matched last year’s despite poor weather and a new entrance fee at Pride Park on Letná Plain. No incidents were reported. The event included nonprofit booths, concerts, and a performance by singer Aneta Langerová. Diplomats, politicians, and supporters joined the peaceful celebration.

The EU’s AI Act took effect Aug. 3, imposing rules on general AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini. Experts say the late rollout and vague guidelines hinder innovation. A new voluntary Code of Good Practice offers clarity on compliance, transparency, and copyright. While not binding, it may help firms avoid legal risks. Existing models have until 2027 to comply. Some experts demand stricter, enforceable standards.

Prague’s Metro line C is closed between Chodov and Muzeum until Aug. 9 due to modernization work. Over the weekend, the closure will expand to Nádraží Holešovice. Replacement buses marked XC are running between the affected stations. The closure supports the installation of new electronic interlockings. Additional bus lines have been reinforced across the network to accommodate increased demand during the temporary shutdown.

Pavel Řehůřek won Brno’s hot pepper eating contest by consuming 16 Carolina reapers—one of the world’s hottest peppers. The event, hosted at U Čápa restaurant, tested endurance with seven pepper types. Řehůřek, a CNC setter from Vysočina, credits a chili-filled diet and health benefits for his success. Despite vomiting, he reported no issues and says he competes for the adrenaline, not prizes.