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Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka is visiting Israel, where he is set to meet his counterpart Gideon Sa'ar, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. Macinka said the trip aims to express solidarity with Israel and deepen economic ties, including cooperation in the defence industry. He will also visit the Yad Vashem memorial in Jerusalem to honour six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. The visit coincides with Yom HaShoah, Israel’s annual day of remembrance.

Researchers from Czech Technical University in Prague are developing advanced drones designed to protect critical infrastructure and mimic the movement of bird flocks. The team, led by Martin Saska, focuses on systems built entirely from European technologies to reduce risks of espionage. One project aims to create secure drones capable of monitoring sites such as power plants or industrial facilities, even in GPS-denied environments. Another explores swarm flight inspired by birds, using artificial intelligence to enable drones to move quickly and avoid collisions. The modular systems could also be used for inspections, search operations, and surveillance over large areas.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) has urged the EU to grant additional free emissions allowances to industries most affected by the ETS 1 system. In a letter sent to European leaders, he argued the measure would help maintain the bloc’s competitiveness while supporting decarbonisation. Babiš proposed that companies receive free allowances on condition they commit to reducing emissions. The European Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, is already considering adjustments to the system to improve stability. The EU’s emissions trading scheme is designed to cut carbon output by making pollution more costly, but critics say it puts heavy pressure on energy-intensive sectors.

The Czech government has approved a draft law allowing it to regulate fuel prices more easily during crises. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (ANO) said the measure would enable future cabinets to act swiftly through government decrees, similar to existing rules for electricity and gas. The proposal responds to sharp fuel price increases following the outbreak of war in Iran. The new system would replace current emergency measures under which the Finance Ministry sets daily maximum prices for petrol and diesel. Schillerová wants the bill fast-tracked in parliament so it can take effect as soon as possible.