Czech news in brief for June 9: Monday's top headlines

A Prague court on Monday sentenced Colombian national Andres Alfonso de la Hoz de la Cruz to eight years in prison for a 2023 arson attack on the city’s transport company. The 26-year-old, who confessed, was also expelled from the Czech Republic and ordered to pay damages. He set fire to three buses under instructions from an online contact. Authorities stopped the blaze before it spread. The court found him guilty of terrorism and planning another attack.

Czech President Petr Pavel will open the Globsec Forum in Prague on Thursday, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joining online, organizers said. The international security conference, running through Saturday, will draw over 1,800 guests from nearly 80 countries. Key topics include Ukraine support, European resilience, and energy security. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, EIB President Nadia Calvino, and Ukrainian diplomat Andrii Sybiha are among featured speakers at the forum’s 20th edition.

A chemical leak at Palacký University’s optics lab in Olomouc forced the evacuation of about 20 people, officials said Monday. A 40-liter container holding formic, nitric and phosphoric acids likely burst, spilling the mix used for making optical mirrors. One employee suffered minor injuries. Firefighters in hazmat suits are neutralizing the acids. The building remains closed, though nearby university facilities were not affected. Exams and consultations are continuing in alternative locations.

 Unemployment in the Czech Republic dropped to 4.2 percent in May from 4.3 percent in April, the Labor Office said Monday. Despite the monthly decline, unemployment rose year-on-year from 3.6 percent. Analysts attribute the monthly dip to seasonal hiring, especially in tourism. Registered job seekers fell by 2,480 to 316,060. Vacancies rose slightly month-on-month but remain far below last year’s levels due to a system change. The highest regional jobless rate was in Ústí nad Labem at 6.5 percent.

Czech police announced Monday the arrest of 21 suspects in Slovakia, Austria, and Kosovo in a sweeping international drug operation. Five foreigners, accused of smuggling heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine into Czechia, were charged with large-scale drug crimes. Authorities seized over 10 kilograms of drugs, a meth lab in Kosovo, and nearly seven million crowns. The suspects lived in Prague and central Moravia. The case, led by Operation Dorni, is overseen by the Brno Regional Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Deputy Justice Minister Karel Dvořák is under fire over knowledge of a bitcoin donation from a convicted dealer. Top politicians from ODS and ANO say internal ministry emails show he was aware. Dvořák insists it’s the same email previously disclosed. Minister-in-waiting Eva Decroix (ODS) plans an internal review after her appointment to clarify how the case was handled.

A pricing error on Reebok’s e-shop allowed Czech shoppers to buy items for a fraction of their value due to unconverted euro prices. Customers shared the mistake online, grabbing sneakers worth EUR 513 for CZK 513. It’s unclear if orders will be honored, as Reebok's terms allow cancellation due to pricing errors. The company has not yet issued an official response.

After weeks of storms and cool temperatures, the Czech Republic is set for a warm, sunny turnaround. Rain will taper off early in the week, with daytime highs gradually rising. By the weekend, temperatures will soar past 30°C, prompting a risk of thunderstorms Sunday. Meteorologists credit a high-pressure system for the heat, although uncertainty remains about next week’s forecast.

Prague’s busy Strahov Tunnel is undergoing a major review ahead of a full-scale CZK 6 billion reconstruction set to begin in 2028. The work, expected to last eight years, includes upgrades to lighting, drainage, and safety systems. Officials warn of significant traffic disruptions due to the lack of bypass routes, calling the overhaul essential for long-term infrastructure reliability.

Petr Hanko, owner of MPM Quality, has acquired Czech watchmaker Elton hodinářská from the CSG group, ending a decades-long dispute over the Prim trademark. The iconic Prim brand, long produced by both companies, will now be united under a single owner. Hanko plans to continue production in Nové Město nad Metují. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, the companies said in a joint press release.

Imagine Dragons launch a two-night concert series in Prague Monday, performing at Letňany Airport as part of their Loom world tour. A second show is set for June 11 due to high demand. British singer Declan McKenna will open. Transit is boosted, with no on-site parking. The Grammy-winning band last played Prague in 2022, drawing 120,000 fans across two sold-out shows.