Czech news in brief for September 8: Monday's top headlines

State healthcare contributions for government-insured people in Czechia (those supported by the state), including children, seniors, and the unemployed, are set to rise to CZK 2,188 per month in 2026 from CZK 2,127 this year. The increase, based on inflation and wage growth, will raise total state contributions by CZK 4.4 billion to CZK 158.4 billion. Around 6 million people are covered within the state healthcare system. The regulation also adjusts the assessment base for minimum insurance premiums.

Czech doctors reported a 10-year peak in tick-borne diseases by the end of August, the State Institute of Health said. Tick-borne encephalitis cases reached 517, up from 490 last year, while Lyme disease surged to 2,646 cases in August alone. Experts expect further rises during autumn’s mushroom season. Vaccination is advised, especially for residents over 50, and public health insurance partially covers costs. Symptoms range from flu-like fatigue to neurological effects.

A couple from South Bohemia has been fined CZK 30,000 for waving a swastika flag during last year’s Freedom Festival, the Pilsen Regional Appeals Court has ruled. The court overturned a March district court verdict that gave the pair a suspended six-month sentence and a CZK 20,000 fine. The regional court’s decision is final, though an appellate review petition is still possible. The incident occurred on May 5, 2024, during the city’s liberation celebration. It was caught on camera and later went viral.

Suicide accounts for 1.11 percent of all deaths in Czechia, a rate above the EU average, experts from the National Institute of Mental Health (NUDZ) and the Czech Institute of Health Information and Statistics (ÚZIS) said Monday. Men take their own lives more often than women; there are more than four male suicides for every one female suicide. It is the third leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds globally. In the long term, men over 70 and women over 80 are most at risk.

Approximately 15,000 Ukrainian refugees in Czechia have met the conditions for special long-term residence, Interior Ministry spokesman Adam Rözler said Monday. Refugees must have lived in the country for two years, be financially self-sufficient, maintain health insurance, and have clean criminal records. Roughly 80,000 people applied, representing 47,000 households. Approved applicants can register and book appointments through year’s end to secure their status, Rözler added in a statement.

Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura said Sunday the government will increase the Transport Ministry’s 2025 budget if needed to keep infrastructure projects on track. The draft budget foresees a 33 billion crown cut, largely due to reduced EU funds, leaving the ministry short by an estimated 60 billion. Transport Minister Martin Kupka insisted motorway expansion plans remain valid, with completion of the core network still targeted for 2033.

Around 150 people marched through central Brno on Sunday in a pro-Palestinian demonstration highlighting Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Protesters carried Palestinian flags, banners such as “Free Palestine,” and banged empty pots to symbolize food shortages. Police monitored but reported no incidents. The rally was organized by Against Dehumanization and Stop the Siege Brno, aligning with international groups calling for an end to Israel’s blockade and war.

The Czech Republic will start the week warm and mostly dry, with highs reaching 26 C, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. Rain and cooler weather are expected from Wednesday through Thursday, with temperatures dipping to around 23 C. Friday and the weekend should bring clearer skies and summerlike highs of 25 C, though occasional rain and isolated thunderstorms are possible, especially in mountain areas.

A two-year study by Save the Food and Mendel University found that households, schools, hospitals, and senior homes in Czechia waste tons of food each year. School cafeterias generate over 30 percent of all food waste, nearly half of which is left uneaten on students’ plates. Prague residents alone discard about 26 kilograms annually. The project has launched pilot efforts in schools to reduce waste, including food donations and new prevention recommendations.

A memorial to Czechoslovak RAF pilot František Hekl, who died in a 1941 Spitfire crash during training, was unveiled Sunday on the shores of Loch Doon, Scotland. Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová and Chamber Speaker Markéta Pekarová Adamová attended alongside about 200 people. The memorial, designed to resemble a Spitfire wing diving into the loch, was funded by the Czech Defence Ministry with support from the Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum.