Czech news in brief for July 29: Tuesday's top headlines

The Czech Justice Ministry said lasting improvements in prisons and reduced recidivism require investment in infrastructure, staffing, and development of both the Prison Service and Probation and Mediation Service. The statement responded to a Council of Europe report showing the Czech Republic’s prison population at 180 per 100,000 people, the seventh highest in Europe. The ministry noted recent legal reforms alone cannot solve the systemic issues.

The Czech Republic will provide EUR 80,000 (CZK 1.97 million)  to support the Order of Malta’s humanitarian health program in Gaza, the Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday. Ambassador Pavel Svoboda signed the donation agreement with the Order of Malta. The aid supports medical care and food deliveries to over 25,000 civilians in Gaza, carried out with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. A new medical center is also planned to help the vulnerable local population.

Veterinary inspectors seized nearly 300 kilograms of unsafe meat at an Uzbek restaurant in Prague 3, citing damaged packaging, missing origin documents, and signs of improper freezing. Officials suspect illegal slaughter and uninspected products, which pose health risks including potential mad cow disease. The restaurant operator failed to explain the products’ origin and faces a fine up to CZK 50 million. The State Veterinary Administration conducted over 38,000 inspections last year.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský spoke by phone today with Ukrainian Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Sybiha to discuss continued support for Ukraine, reforms, and anti-corruption efforts. Lipavský emphasized Ukraine’s EU aspirations depend on progress in these areas. Sybiha highlighted the need for stronger air defense amid escalating Russian attacks. He thanked Czechia for its support and invited Lipavský to visit Kyiv to deepen cooperation and boost Czech investment in Ukraine’s reconstruction.

Czech firefighters deployed to North Macedonia on Tuesday to assist with severe wildfires, flying out at 10 a.m. in a Black Hawk helicopter from Melník. The seven-member team includes aerial firefighting experts and a flight crew. Czechia is also aiding Greece and Bulgaria. Fire officials say favorable conditions at home allow resources to be shared abroad. The mission underscores regional cooperation amid rising wildfire threats in southern Europe.

A new EU–U.S. trade deal imposes 15 percent tariffs on EU exports to the U.S., potentially slowing Czech GDP growth by up to 0.4 percent. Key sectors like engineering and pharma are most affected. Some Czech firms, including Linet, may move production stateside. While the deal avoids a tariff war and brings predictability, experts urge Czech exporters to diversify markets amid shifting global trade conditions and rising costs.

The centrist STAN party has called for legalizing assisted suicide in its election platform a first in this year’s campaign. The move stirred fierce backlash after MP Michaela Šebelová mentioned potential access for minors over 14, a comment she later walked back. While public support for euthanasia is high (72 percent), conservative coalition partners like KDU-ČSL have warned they’d walk away from any government pursuing such legislation.

Josef Stava has won a landmark appeal in the UK’s Diag Human case, with the London Court of Appeal upholding his claim for up to CZK 17 billion (EUR 690 million) in damages related to a failed blood plasma deal with the Czech state in the 1990s. The decision follows years of arbitration and legal appeals, with interest accruing daily.

The Supreme Audit Office (SAO) has criticized the Czech Republic’s sluggish innovation performance, despite nearly CZK 30 billion in public support between 2021 and 2023. Patent filings are falling, and Czech research still ranks as only a “moderate innovator” in the EU. The agencies responsible say many metrics are beyond their control and claim recent progress is being overlooked.

The Liberec Region is moving to purchase the Ještěd mountaintop hotel and transmission tower for CZK 181 million, securing public ownership of the 20th-century architectural landmark. Current owner České radiokomunikace, a UK-based fund, said it preferred a public buyer to preserve the building’s cultural value. The deal fits into a larger regional development plan, including a futuristic new cable car and the construction of Czechia’s largest data center.