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Six Czech Army tanks took part in a motorway driving drill on the D35 in the Olomouc Region on Tuesday. The Leopard 2A4 tanks reached speeds of up to 60 kilometres an hour and were fitted with rubber pads on their tracks to prevent damage to the motorway, Tomáš Suchý, commander of the 73rd Tank Battalion in Přáslavice, told Czech Television.

He said Czechia was a transit country for NATO troop movements and the country’s armed forces needed to train for such operations.

The convoy of tanks were spaced around nine kilometres apart and travelled a set route repeatedly, giving a turn to the 30 or so drivers trained to use them.

Czechia will once again boost its consular services in Croatia, Bulgaria and Greece this summer, the minister of foreign affairs, Petr Macinka, said on Tuesday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also preparing a special rapid response consular team to deal with potential emergency situations in the three countries, which are popular destinations for Czech tourists.

Czech police officers will also take part in patrols alongside colleagues in Croatia and Bulgaria, Mr. Macinka told reporters.

International addiction specialists and academics from European, American and Australian universities have called on the Czech government to preserve the country's current drug policy model, describing it as one of the most successful in Europe and an example for others to follow.

In an open letter to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO), the experts expressed concern over discussions about moving from regulation to repression and bringing the drug agenda under a single ministry. "The Czech approach has earned global respect precisely because it has never reduced drug policy solely to healthcare or criminal justice," the signatories wrote.

The letter was signed by 35 academics, physicians, researchers and experts in addiction and mental health. It highlights the Czech Republic's low rates of infectious diseases, relatively few drug-related deaths and extensive network of support services.

Czech Television and Czech Radio have confirmed strike action next Monday to protest against a government proposed amendment to the law which would abolish license fees and leave the national broadcasters dependent on funding from state coffers. Under the proposal, which the cabinet approved on Monday, Czech Television would lose a billion crowns annually, Czech Radio roughly 350 million.

The heads of the two institutions have warned of far-reaching consequences of the funding overhaul, saying they would be forced to cut up to 700 jobs and significantly restrict operations.

The head of Czech television Hynek Chudárek  described the plan as unacceptable and "almost destructive" for public-service broadcasting, while adding that there is still room for negotiations.

Czech Radio is also striving to maintain the status quo, saying that the system of license fees is the best guarantee of media independence.