News

Czech judoka Lukáš Krpálek won silver at the European Championships in Tbilisi after losing in the final of the heavyweight category to Georgia’s Guram Tushishvili. The two-time Olympic champion secured his eighth European medal and improved on last year’s bronze. It is his second silver at the continental level, following Baku 2015. Krpálek reached the final with strong performances, including a semifinal victory over Poland’s Grzegorz Teresiński. In the gold medal bout, however, Tushishvili scored early and maintained control, denying the Czech a fourth European title.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO Party) says Czechia should join a proposed European nuclear deterrence initiative outlined by French President Emmanuel Macron. Babiš did not specify how the country would take part but described France as an ideal ally. His comments contrast with more cautious reactions from other government figures. Foreign Minister Petr Macinka has noted that Czechia does not possess nuclear weapons, while ANO deputy leader Radek Vondráček has expressed preference for the US nuclear umbrella. Meanwhile, President Petr Pavel and former foreign minister Jan Lipavský have called for consultations with France on the proposal.

Police in Brno are investigating whether potentially contaminated baby food products by HiPP have reached the Czech market. Authorities say the level of risk is currently considered low. The probe follows a warning from Austrian police, who reported finding jars containing a toxic substance, possibly linked to an extortion attempt. Czech officials, including the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic and the public health service, are monitoring the situation and advising caution, especially for those shopping in Austria. Consumers are urged to watch for signs of tampering, such as damaged lids or unusual smells, and to avoid consuming suspicious products.

Fears circulating online about a supposed “catastrophe” linked to US nuclear fuel in Czech power plants have been dismissed by experts and officials as disinformation. The state-owned energy company ČEZ says the claims are unfounded. According to the State Office for Nuclear Safety, new fuel suppliers including Westinghouse Electric Company and Framatome are well-established and their products are widely used worldwide. Experts acknowledge minor technical issues during early testing at the Temelín Nuclear Power Station, but say these were resolved long ago. Authorities stress that all fuel must meet strict safety standards before use.