Czech news in brief for September 12: Friday's top headlines

Crime among children and juveniles in Czechia rose by one-third from 2021 to 2024, while suicide is now the second leading cause of death for people under 24, according to newly released statistics. Presenting the Safe Childhood project at the Salzburg Forum, Czech Interior Minister Vít Rakušan called for greater mental health awareness and early prevention measures. Rakušan said creating safe environments, tackling violence, and protecting “soft targets” are key to preventing further tragedies in Czechia and beyond.

The EU’s Migration Pact alone will not solve Europe’s migration issues, Czech Interior Minister Vít Rakušan said Friday after Salzburg Forum talks. He called for return centres, faster repatriations, and closer cooperation with third countries. While Czechia reports its lowest illegal migration numbers in five years, Rakušan said stricter laws and new strategies are needed. He urged building return hubs even outside the EU and addressing migration’s root causes abroad.

Nearly half of the 157 child psychiatrists in the Czech Republic could retire within five years, health officials warned Friday. Pediatric psychiatric care is under strain as the number of children with mental health problems rises, while outpatient clinics have declined over the past decade. Currently, 559 beds and five day care centers are available, short of the roughly 860 beds and two day care centers needed per region. Officials urged parents to contact pediatricians first and noted crisis lines are available.

The generational trauma of Roma Holocaust survivors and victims’ families was the focus of two documentaries opening a three-day Czech-German conference Thursday evening at the Ponrepo cinema. Co-organized by the Czech Academy of Sciences, the event marks the 80th anniversary of World War II’s end and aims to preserve survivors’ memories, highlight the challenges faced by current Roma and Sinti generations, and foster understanding of this history in both the Czech Republic and Germany.

The Czech Constitutional Court rejected former Czech Member of Parliament Dominik Feri’s complaint Friday, calling it clearly unfounded. Feri, serving a three-year sentence for raping two girls and another attempted rape, had challenged evidence evaluation, his presumption of innocence, and fair trial rights. Judges ruled he presented no violations of fundamental rights. The court said lower courts had ample opportunity to consider objections and found the offenses proven based on the evidence. Feri's next actions are not clear.

Former Prague Transport Company (DPP) head Martin Dvořák has been accused of accepting a five-million-crown bribe linked to the Nádraží Holešovice metro project, police say. Dvořák denies wrongdoing and plans to file a complaint. The accusation is part of the broader Dozimetr corruption case involving multiple officials and businessmen. The main trial in the case is scheduled to begin September 22, authorities report.

Covid-19 cases are climbing again in the Czech Republic, with 3,100 infections recorded in the first ten days of September, the Health Ministry reports. Hospitalizations remain low, with about 50 patients and three in intensive care. Experts warn the rise is seasonal and may worsen with colder weather. Updated vaccines are available starting Sept. 12, and high-risk individuals are advised to get tested and consider antiviral treatment.

A memorial mass for U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk will be held Tuesday, Sept. 16, at the Chapel of Our Lady, Old Town Hall. Cardinal Dominik Duka will lead the service. Kirk, 31, was fatally shot at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. The memorial has sparked controversy due to Kirk’s divisive rhetoric on topics such as gun violence, civil rights, and the LGBTQ community. Critics argue that honoring him may endorse harmful ideologies.

The city council approved changes to the zoning plan to allow Trigema’s Top Tower, set to become the Czech Republic’s tallest building at 135 meters, near Nové Butovice metro station. The skyscraper will house apartments, offices, shops, and a cultural center, with a 10-meter shipwreck sculpture by David Černý and Tomáš Císař. The developer will contribute 75.7 million crowns to Prague 13 and public improvements. Construction could take three years.

Prague Castle, the Presidential Office, and Lány have a new visual identity designed by graphic studio Marvil. The logo features a custom font, Hrad Display, reflecting the castle’s thousand-year history and modernizing its presentation. The design will be rolled out across signage, social media, and official communications. The competition drew 55 entries, with the winner receiving 1.5 million crowns, and the process cost about 500,000 crowns.