Czech news in brief for May 24: Saturday's top headlines

Czech canoeist Martin Fuksa won the 1000m at the World Cup in Poznań, extending his unbeaten streak in the season’s third event. Josef Dostál finished second in the kayak 1000m, marking his third podium of the year. Both athletes are preparing for the European Championships in Račice. Fuksa also won the non-Olympic 500m event in Poznań on Friday.

Czechia recorded a very cold night, with about one-third of long-term stations logging record-low temperatures for May 24. The coldest spot was Březník in Šumava, where it reached minus 7.2 degrees Celsius. Many locations saw overnight lows around minus 1 to minus 4, while some areas, like Lázně Bělohrad, Stříbro, and Rýmařov, dipped to around minus 3 degrees Celsius. Weather officials reported 52 stations broke records, including three with over 100 years of data.

The Prague High Court will begin hearings on the Stork's Nest (Čapí hnízdo) subsidy case on Monday, reviewing a previous acquittal of ANO leader Andrej Babiš and MEP Jana Nagyová. Prosecutors claim Babiš transferred Čapí hnízdo from Agrofert to family members to secure an EU subsidy. The lower court acquitted them twice, but the prosecution seeks to overturn the verdict, alleging fraud. Hearings will continue into June.

The Czech Army is set to receive its first two Caesar self-propelled howitzers in April 2026, with the full delivery of 62 units expected by August 2027. The schedule shifted from 2026 due to technical updates and an increased order. The guns, replacing the outdated DANA models, are part of a CZK 10.3 billion contract signed with French company Nexter Systems.

A historic military convoy will travel through Prague on Saturday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Czechoslovakia’s liberation and the return of the Czechoslovak Independent Armored Brigade from World War II. Starting at 2 p.m. from Vypich, the convoy of vintage military vehicles will follow a route that recalls the May 1945 parade led by General Alois Liška. The event includes a full-day program with military history displays and invites the public to contribute archival photos.

Parents in Czechia can expect to pay around 5 percent more for summer camps this year, according to the Czech Children and Youth Council. Prices vary based on camp type, location, and amenities, with a typical two-week camp costing between CZK 3,500 and CZK 16,000. Rising costs, including staff shortages, have contributed to the price hikes. Interest in camps remains strong, though more families are choosing shorter stays or camps abroad.

Europe’s future is tied to other continents, European Commissioner Jozef Sikela said Friday at Prague’s National Development Days. Šikela urged the EU to tackle climate change impacts in regions like Africa and address root causes of migration. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský highlighted Czech development aid projects in Zambia, Georgia, and Ukraine, stressing the importance of European-level cooperation in delivering sustainable assistance worldwide.

Prague’s Tyršův dům hosted 100th anniversary celebrations Friday, attended by President Petr Pavel and Senate President Miloš Vystrčil. The program featured a circus show by Cirk La Putyka, unveiling a plaque with a message for future generations, and a concert by Original Vintage Orchestra. Opened in 1925, Tyršův dům has served as the home of the Sokol movement and has a history marked by wartime and communist-era restrictions.

Former Czech national football team captain Vladimír Darida, 34, will join Hradec Králové for next season, the club announced Thursday. Darida returns to the Czech league after 12 years, following stints with Viktoria Plzeň, Freiburg, Hertha Berlin, and Aris Thessaloniki. The midfielder, who earned 76 caps and played in three European championships, said he wanted to return home to Czechia.

The Czech Army will switch to a new camouflage pattern, MAD21, over the next two years. The design, developed over four years, is tailored for both woodland and urban environments, reflecting lessons from modern warfare. The change replaces the 30-year-old vzor 95 pattern. Updated uniforms and backpacks will also roll out, with MAD21 officially introduced soon, defense officials said.

Former political prisoners gathered in Horní Slavkov on Thursday to honor victims of communist forced labor camps in Czechoslovakia. Culture Minister Martin Baxa announced the Red Tower of Death in Vykmanov will transfer to state ownership this year, enabling preservation efforts. Survivors like 92-year-old Leo Zídek stressed the need to educate younger generations about the brutal repression in 1950s uranium mines.