Czech news in brief for July 14: Monday's top headlines

A bus carrying about 30 children collided with a tanker truck near Ruzyně Airport on Monday, injuring three people, authorities said. One child was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while two others received treatment at the scene. The crash occurred on the D7 motorway near the Prague Ring Road, causing major delays to airport traffic. Police are investigating the cause of the accident.

Nearly two-thirds of Czechs support tougher alcohol regulations, a new survey from the Health Ministry's think tank shows. Most favor banning alcohol ads at youth events, restricting sales at petrol stations, and ending tax breaks for still wine. The study also found strong public concern over health and social harms. Czechia reportedly loses up to 50 billion crowns annually due to alcohol-related issues.

Europe must brace for a potential breakdown in U.S. tariff negotiations while continuing efforts for a favorable deal, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said Sunday before meeting British PM Keir Starmer. Fiala warned that new U.S. tariffs could cost the Czech economy fractions of a percent in GDP. He called for continued EU-U.S. talks and praised the U.K. as a key partner in trade and European security.

Two-fifths of Czechs believe Russia or the European Union may attempt to influence the country’s October parliamentary elections, a new CEDMO survey shows. About 29 percent also expect interference from the United States. The findings, based on a June poll of 2,856 respondents, mirror attitudes in Poland but differ from Slovakia, where EU influence is seen as most likely. The Czech elections are scheduled for October 3–4.

Czech PM Petr Fiala asked Slovak PM Robert Fico not to block the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia, citing a shared history with Moscow’s aggression and Ukraine’s worsening situation. Slovakia’s support hinges on gas supply assurances, as the EU plans to cut Russian gas imports by 2027. Fiala warned Slovakia risks isolation, while Germany and other allies urged Fico to stop delaying the vote, which requires unanimous approval.

Renovation of the Prague-Bubny railway station, once used to deport 50,000 Jews during WWII, began Sunday. The site will become the Bubny Centre for Memory and Dialogue, featuring exhibitions, a café, and a public space. The Aleš Veselý sculpture Gate of No Return remains the memorial’s centerpiece. The Ministry of Culture backs the project. A new Bubny train station is also expected to open nearby in August.

Prague police arrested four men aged 17 to 23 for the brutal rape of a 33-year-old woman in Vrchlického Sady park on June 28. The woman, who had just arrived in the city seeking work, was lured by the suspects with promises of a job and housing. After consuming alcohol with them, they violently assaulted and raped her despite her resistance. All four suspects were arrested in early July at a Prague 3 hostel. They face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Police are asking witnesses who may have been near Vrchlického Sady around 7 p.m. that day to come forward.

An artillery shell discovered floating in the Vltava River near Prague 4 briefly closed a section of the riverside cycle path Saturday evening. Police and bomb disposal experts secured and removed the shell for safe disposal. The closure, which affected both cycling and boating traffic, lasted about an hour. Authorities confirmed the shell’s identity but provided no details about its origin. The path has since reopened.

The Colours of Ostrava music festival kicks off Wednesday in the city’s Dolní Vítkovice area. Headliners include Sting, Iggy Pop, The Chainsmokers, and Snow Patrol. The 22nd edition will also feature Czech and Slovak acts like Dan Bárta, Calin, and Jana Kirschner. This will be the final year under founder Zlata Holušová’s leadership. The Guardian ranks the event among Europe’s top 35 music festivals.

František Klisik, one of the twin brothers featured in Better Go Mad in the Wild, winner of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival’s Grand Prix, has died. The 62-year-old dissident figure was found dead in a pond near Prague, Czech Radio reported. Known for his reclusive life in Šumava, Klisik was a central figure in the documentary about estranged siblings living off-grid in post-Communist Czechia.