Czech news in brief for June 24: Tuesday's top headlines

Starting July 1, Czech drivers can have their licenses delivered to 10,000 dispensing boxes nationwide instead of visiting municipal offices, Transport Minister Martin Kupka announced. The digital service allows users to request replacements online through the Transport Portal using secure login methods. Previously, licenses had to be collected at one of 206 offices. Delivery for first-time and renewal applicants will start in January 2026. Licenses remain mandatory but no longer need to be carried physically.

More than 40 percent of Czech families plan to send children to summer camps this year, spending between CZK 5,000 and CZK 10,000, a survey from finance firm Home Credit. Families with higher incomes, four members, and parents aged 36-53 are more likely to invest in camps. Meanwhile, younger parents, smaller households, and divorced mothers are less inclined to participate. About 16 percent remain undecided on summer camp plans.

African swine fever has resurfaced in the Liberec region after a 10-month gap, officials said Tuesday. The State Veterinary Administration confirmed the virus in the remains of a wild boar found in the Frýdlantský výběžek village during a joint search with forestry students. Although domestic pig farms remain unaffected, expanded control zones and strict veterinary measures continue to help prevent further spread of the deadly disease. The viral disease is not transmissible to humans.

Czech President Petr Pavel said Tuesday that neither Israel nor Iran seeks prolonged conflict and that enforcing ceasefire terms will be key. Speaking before the NATO summit in The Hague, Pavel commented on recent U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Iran’s retaliation. A ceasefire took effect this morning, though both sides have alleged violations. Pavel called for NATO allies to support stability, warning that renewed conflict would harm global security, the economy, and supply chains.

A Prague court ruled that the Interior Ministry violated the rights of the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party by including it in a 2022 extremism report. However, the court said the interference was not serious enough to warrant an apology. The SPD sought a formal apology for being labeled a xenophobic populist group. A ministry representative said the office would appeal. The verdict is not final and may be reviewed by a higher court.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said today he believes the ceasefire between Israel and Iran will be respected and hopes it marks the start of a more peaceful phase in the Middle East. The truce, which began at this morning, was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Iranian state media also confirmed the ceasefire. Fiala praised the “decisive action” by Israel and the U.S. against Iran’s nuclear program, saying it created conditions for dialogue.

President Petr Pavel will represent Czechia at the NATO summit in The Hague on June 24–25. Key topics include Ukraine, the Middle East, and boosting defense spending. The Czech Republic, which currently spends 2.08 percent of GDP on defense, supports raising commitments up to 5 percent. Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s government has pledged to increase defense spending to 3 percent of GDP by 2030.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and other political leaders are calling on former PM Andrej Babiš not to run in October’s elections following a court decision to reopen the Čapí hnízdo subsidy fraud case. Fiala urged Babiš to resign from all elected posts, citing the court’s finding that he deceived the state for EU subsidies. Other parties echoed the call, with the opposition Pirates branding the case a symbol of power abuse. Babiš remains a defendant, and critics say the long-running case reflects flaws in the justice system.

The Czech Republic is among over 30 embassies supporting LGBT+ rights and the upcoming Budapest Pride march, despite a police ban. A joint statement coordinated by the Dutch embassy reaffirms support for freedom of assembly and non-discrimination. Organizers and Budapest’s mayor still plan to hold the march on June 28, challenging Hungary’s new law restricting events deemed harmful to children. The U.S. did not join the statement, which some link to President Trump’s alignment with Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán on diversity issues.

The Czech Foreign Ministry says 63 Czech citizens are registered in Qatar, and some have contacted the embassy in Doha following regional hostilities. The embassy issued a safety advisory after Iran launched a missile strike on a U.S. base in Qatar in retaliation for earlier U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. The strike, which caused no casualties, comes amid ongoing Israeli attacks on Iran. Czechs in Qatar are advised to stay in safe locations, monitor news, and stock up on essentials.

A woman was fatally stabbed Monday at a primary school in eastern Slovakia in an attack reportedly carried out by her husband in front of their young son, police said. The incident took place at an evangelical school in Roznava. The suspect fled the scene but was detained shortly after by local police and residents. Education Minister Tomáš Drucker condemned the attack, calling schools “symbols of safety and trust.”

The Czech Republic will begin construction on an AI gigafactory near Prague next week, part of the EU’s €20 billion initiative to boost AI infrastructure. Expected to house up to 2,500 server racks and eventually consume as much energy as Brno, the center aims to strengthen Central Europe’s tech capabilities. Officials say the project signals the country’s serious commitment to AI despite concerns over its massive environmental and energy demands.

A gas pipe burst during repairs on Dittrichova Street in Prague late Monday afternoon, prompting evacuations and warnings for residents to stay indoors. Three café guests were evacuated, but no injuries were reported, and no gas was detected in nearby homes, officials said. The leak was fixed before 6 p.m., though traffic remains restricted. Firefighters and police responded, and no ambulance was needed, according to the fire department spokeswoman.