Czech news in brief for May 18: Sunday's top headlines

The opposition ANO party would continue the current tender to build two new nuclear reactors at the Dukovany power plant if it returns to power, deputy chairwoman Alena Schillerová said Sunday. She backed the selection of South Korea’s KHNP as the preferred bidder, calling it “the most advantageous.” The tender, worth over CZK 400 billion, has stalled due to a court injunction. ANO leads current polls ahead of the October elections.

Czech Railways will increase ticket prices this December by no more than the rate of inflation, board chairman Michal Krapinec said Sunday. The expected inflation for 2025 is under 3 percent; the company raised fares by nearly 5 percent last year. Krapinec also said the company is addressing winter signal failures and reaffirmed efforts to shift freight from roads to rail, though the 30 percent target will be delayed. Czech Railways employs over 20,000 people.

Czech health officials have lifted a precautionary quarantine for 26 people who had close contact with a patient at Prague’s Bulovka Hospital, after tests ruled out a highly infectious disease. The American patient, recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo, tested negative for Ebola, Marburg, Lassa fever, and other hemorrhagic fevers, the Health Ministry confirmed late Saturday.

At Sunday’s commemoration in Terezín marking 80 years since the end of WWII, Czech PM Petr Fiala warned against ignoring similarities between Nazi-era propaganda and present-day rhetoric, citing Russia’s actions in Ukraine. The event, also attended by President Petr Pavel and survivors, paid tribute to victims of Nazi persecution. Fiala stressed the ongoing duty to confront manipulation, saying, “We must not fall for this game.”

Ahead of October’s general election, Czech parties will target voters abroad—who can now vote by post for the first time—mainly through social media, experts say. While contact campaigns and regional networks may also play a role, digital outreach will dominate due to dispersed locations. Analysts expect parties from the original five-party coalition to have an advantage among the largely educated and affluent Czech diaspora.

Roman Červenka netted three goals in his 100th career World Championship game as Czechia crushed Kazakhstan 8–1 at the 2025 IIHF Worlds in Herning. The 39-year-old captain tied Jaromír Jágr for most Czech goals in the tournament's history and surpassed Ilya Kovalchuk as the tournament's 21st-century points leader. Matěj Stránský and Adam Klapka each added two goals, while David Pastrňák notched two assists. Czechia remains undefeated through five games.

A memorial ceremony takes place today at the National Cemetery in Terezín to honor victims of Nazi persecution on the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala will deliver the main speech, with President Petr Pavel also in attendance. Holocaust survivor Fedor Gál is speaking on behalf of survivors. The event includes prayers and musical performances, including a matinée by Vienna Philharmonic musicians.

Wind gusts of nearly 133 km/h struck Sněžka on Saturday, exceeding hurricane strength. A light snow layer has covered the Krkonoše ridges since Thursday. Due to high winds, the upper section of the Sněžka cable car was closed. A children’s event near Černá hora was also cancelled. Temperatures on Sněžka dropped below freezing, with a wind chill near ten below zero. Snow or sleet is expected in the region through the weekend.

A suspected case of Ebola at Prague’s Bulovka Hospital was ruled out late Friday, Health Minister Vlastimil Válek has confirmed. Tests by Berlin’s Robert Koch Institute found no evidence of Ebola or other hemorrhagic fevers in the American patient recently returned from Congo. He was isolated after showing symptoms, and 26 contacts were placed in precautionary quarantine.

Czech tennis star Barbora Krejčíková will return to the WTA Tour today at the Internationaux de Strasbourg after missing more than six months with a back injury. The 2021 French Open champion will face Poland’s Magda Linette, whom she has beaten in all three previous matches. Krejčíková, 29, is using the clay-court event to prepare for Roland Garros. Linda Nosková also plays today against Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova.

A 48-year-old Czech man died on Saturday after falling into a ravine near Mount Resegone in Italy’s Lecco province, local media reported. He had been hiking with his 20-year-old son and a 49-year-old friend, who were uninjured. Rescue services could only pronounce the man dead at the scene. Earlier that day, a 43-year-old Italian man also died in a separate fall on the same mountain.

Jiří Prskavec won his seventh European title in canoe slalom, taking gold in the K1 event in Vaires-sur-Marne ahead of France’s Titouan Castryck. Gabriela Satková took silver in the women’s K1, her first European medal in that discipline. Prskavec, the Tokyo Olympic champion, delivered a clean final run. Satková, 23, competed aggressively despite two penalties. The women’s title went to Germany’s Ricarda Funková.