Czech news in brief for July 21: Monday's top headlines

A man suspected of sending thousands of bomb threats to schools in Czechia, Slovakia, and Latvia was detained last week in Dnipro, Ukraine, Eurojust said July 21. The suspect, a Czech national, was released pending further action. The joint operation involved Czech, Slovak, Latvian, and Ukrainian authorities. The Czech intelligence agency suggested a possible Russian link, which Slovak officials disputed, sparking political tensions.

Authorities said Monday that during a July 17 inspection in Prague, police detained 19 foreigners without valid residence permits. The operation, involving over 100 officers, targeted hostels and restaurants. Nearly 40 people were fined for immigration-related violations, and four accommodation providers also received penalties. Police checked more than 200 individuals, mostly from Central Asia.

The Czech Republic will see unstable weather this week due to two cold fronts. Monday begins with storms and sharp regional temperature contrasts. A brief warm, sunny spell is expected Wednesday before more rain and cooler air arrive Thursday. Showers are forecast to continue into the weekend, with highs ranging from 17°C to 27°C. A return to more stable summer weather may come late next week.

The Livesport Prague Open tennis tournament began earlier today on Stromovka’s hard courts, with 11 Czech players in the singles draw. Top-seeded Czech player Linda Nosková leads the field at the WTA 250 event. Play opened at 11 a.m. with Marie Bouzková facing China’s Kao Sin-ju, followed by Sára Bejlek and Jesika Malečková in early matches. The tournament runs through Saturday, concluding with singles and doubles finals.

Experts confirmed the first sighting of a non-native leafcutter bee in South Moravia in mid-July, the Research Institute of Crop Production announced Monday. Native to East Asia, the bee was found on a Japanese pagoda tree during pest monitoring. Although previously spotted in other European countries, this marks its first recorded appearance in Czechia. The species, not yet named in Czech, is non-aggressive and nests in wood cavities, researchers said.

Czech President Petr Pavel said Friday Japan’s expanded security investment offers opportunities for Czech firms, as he began a visit to Japan lasting through Sunday. Accompanied by a business delegation in defense and technology, Pavel will meet Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. He will attend Expo 2025 events in Osaka, honor Hiroshima bombing victims, lecture at Tokyo University and open a Czech-Japanese business forum.

Czech initiative “Gift for Putin” raised 60 million crowns ($2.84M) to buy six D-30 howitzers for Ukraine. Since 2022, the group has raised over one billion crowns for weapons. A new campaign aims to fund 500 drone kits. The weapons are named after WWII heroes and are expected to reach Ukraine within months.

Police closed Na Maninách Street in Prague Saturday evening after a man threw an airsoft grenade onto a roof following an argument. The street was shut for about an hour before a pyrotechnician identified the object. No explosives were found. The man was detained. It’s the third false alarm incident in Prague this week.

The number of unemployed Czechs over 50 has surged by over 33,000 since 2019, now nearing 110,000, according to CETA. Age bias and hiring reluctance leave many jobless long-term, costing the state over CZK 61 billion annually in lost taxes and benefits. Despite experience, older applicants face rejection and struggle to retrain. Experts warn that the trend threatens both individuals’ livelihoods and national economic stability.

A man with a legal pistol shot and injured two drunk attackers near an ATM late Thursday. Police say the man, who warned them to stop, acted in self-defense. The injuries are not life-threatening. CCTV footage is being reviewed as part of the investigation into whether the use of the weapon was lawful.

Ticket prices for concerts, theater, and cultural events in the Czech Republic have surged due to inflation and a higher VAT rate. Without private or public subsidies, organizers say such events would become unaffordable luxuries. Cinema, museum, and festival admissions have all increased, though book prices have remained stable thanks to a 0% VAT.

Punk icon Patti Smith, 78, returned to Prague’s Forum Karlín with a politically charged, poetry-infused show. She performed classics like Because the Night, honored Radio Free Europe, and called for global peace. Smith, joined by her son and surprise local guests, urged Czechs to “never let any government take away what you value most,” closing with her anthem People Have the Power to a standing ovation.