Czech news in brief for November 9: Sunday’s top morning headlines

Czechia saw its first notable snow of the winter season outside the border mountains, with accumulation around 500 meters above sea level. In the Brdy Hills, spanning the Pilsen and Central Bohemia regions, up to five centimeters of snow fell overnight, prompting road salters to operate. The snow is wet and heavy, and temperatures near zero will cause it to melt quickly. Brdy, with peaks above 800 meters, are a unique central Czech mountain habitat.

Newly re-elected Czech Medical Chamber president Milan Kubek said health insurance contributions should rise from the current 13.5 percent of gross wages. He proposed employers pay 10 percent and employees 5 percent, arguing the rate was set 30 years ago without calculation and no longer reflects today’s ageing population and rising medical costs. Kubek also opposed plans by the incoming ANO–SPD–Motorists coalition to replace politicians on insurers’ boards with employer representatives.

Outgoing Interior Minister Vít Rakušan and members of the incoming ANO–SPD–Motorists coalition have condemned a YouTuber’s alleged intrusion into MP Jindřich Rajchl’s privacy. The YouTuber, Mikael Oganesjan (MikeJePan), plans to release a video showing a man resembling Rajchl in a sexual act. Rajchl claims Oganesjan’s team stalked his 16-year-old daughter and plans to file a criminal complaint. Rakušan called the invasion “brutal” despite opposing Rajchl’s politics.

High jumper Jan Štefela won the 2025 Czech Athlete of the Year award, ending four-time winner Jakub Vadlejch’s reign. The 24-year-old claimed bronze at the World Championships in Tokyo — the only Czech medal — and silver at the European Indoors. Stefela’s coach Jaroslav Bába was named Coach of the Year, while 400m hurdler Michal Rada took both the Discovery and Junior of the Year awards.

Czech MEP Tomáš Zdechovský won over CZK 933,000 in the Sportka lottery and announced he will donate all of it to charity. He said half will fund church repairs in Broumov, Krabos and St. Anne’s in Libavá, and the rest will support individuals in need across Czechia. Zdechovský, an MEP since 2014, added he will pay the 15 percent tax on his winnings.