Czech news in brief for November 12: Tuesday's top headlines

Merchants have expanded their Black Friday discount events this year, with many extending them for an entire month due to growing consumer interest. Perfumery Notino expects a 30 percent increase in Black Friday sales, with the event contributing 15 percent to its annual revenue. Bambule toy stores will start sales on Nov. 25, offering discounts of up to 70 percent. Online retailer Alza notes early interest in toys and games, expecting continued strong demand during the Christmas season.

Czech President Petr Pavel has said this afternoon that the 2024 U.S. election demonstrated how vulnerable democracy can be, even in long-established countries. He emphasized that lower public interest and awareness make people more susceptible to manipulation. While Pavel holds personal (negative) views about Trump, he highlighted that it’s crucial for Czechia to maintain strong relations with the U.S. and prioritize cooperation over personal opinions or tensions between the two nations.

Prague Airport reported a 14.5-percent year-on-year increase in passenger numbers for summer 2024, reaching 10.9 million travelers from April to October, reflecting a strong recovery in Czech tourism. The resurgence brings the airport close to its 2019 record of over 12 million summer passengers and expressed optimism for reaching this (similar) target next year. Foreign travelers accounted for over 2.8 million passengers during the season, representing 53 percent of total arrivals.

Czech authorities have confirmed that a domestic immigration police officer faces up to 10 years in prison and property forfeiture for unauthorized access to over 180 individuals in a police database. The officer, along with a colleague who allegedly requested accessing the data from September 2020 to September 2021, also accepted bribes. A civilian ostensibly handed the officer in question CZK 4,000 during a routine check.

The Olomouc High Court has upheld a two-year prison sentence for an underage girl who supported a shooting at Charles University’s Faculty of Arts and prepared to murder her classmates. Although she argued she only contemplated the crime, the court determined she took concrete steps, including seeking a firearm and later planning to use a knife. The police have continued to fight such acts almost a year after the tragic event. In early October, they arrested an 18-year-old student who they say threatened his classmates with shooting at a school in Prague.

Legendary singer-songwriter Patti Smith and her band will perform at Prague's Forum Karlín on July 19, 2025, as part of their tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic album Horses. Tickets go on sale Nov. 13th at 11 a.m. Smith first found fame in New York’s club scene in the early 1970s, forming a band with, among other people, Czech expatriate guitarist Ivan Král. She last performed in Prague in July 2020.

Former Czech MP Dominik Feri was transferred from the Teplice remand prison to Prague's Pankrác hospital last week after reportedly cutting himself with a razor previously used by someone infected with HIV. Feri, serving a three-year sentence for multiple rapes, required urgent medical treatment within three days. The Teplice prison declined to confirm the transfer, citing privacy concerns, while Feri's transfer was reportedly conducted discreetly.

ANO would lead October’s Czech parliamentary elections with 33.5 percent support, followed by ODS at 12 percent and STAN at 11 percent, according to a Median poll. Motorists and KSČM would also enter the lower house, while Pirates and SPD saw declines in support. The SPOLU coalition parties, TOP 09 and KDU-ČSL, remain below the 5 percent threshold. Voter turnout interest has risen to 59.5 percent, likely driven by increased political polarization.

The Czech Republic’s inflation rate rose to 2.8 percent year-on-year in October, placing it 15th highest among 41 European countries monitored. While this is an improvement from September’s 17th position, the country still faces significant inflationary pressures. Ukraine recorded the highest inflation rate in Europe at 9.7 percent, followed by Russia at 8.6 percent. Among neighboring countries, Poland and Slovakia had higher inflation rates, while Austria and Germany experienced lower rates.

Hundreds of people gathered in Brno’s Freedom Square for the largest St. Martin’s wine tasting in the Czech Republic. The event featured over 100 varieties of wine from 75 wineries, with a focus on the traditional St. Martin’s wine. The festivities included a costumed procession, a blessing of the wine, and a festive atmosphere. Despite a smaller harvest this year, the event was a huge success, with attendees enjoying a variety of wines and celebrating the start of the winter season.

Czech President Petr Pavel hosted U.S. astronaut Andrew Feustel and his wife, Indira Devi Bhatnagar, at Prague Castle. The two discussed space exploration, including the repair of the Hubble Space Telescope and the challenges of space travel. Feustel, who has visited space four times, has taken Czech cultural symbols, such as the Czech flag and characters from Zdeněk Miler’s cartoons, into orbit. The meeting highlights the growing interest in space exploration in the Czech Republic, as the country prepares to send its second astronaut, Aleš Svoboda, into space.

The Brno Municipal Museum will hand over the probable remains of a U.S. pilot, William L. Kiggins, to the U.S. ambassador on Wednesday. Kiggins was killed during a WWII combat mission over Brno in 1944. Archaeologists discovered the pilot’s remains and aircraft wreckage in 2020. The U.S. will conduct further analysis to confirm the identity of the remains. Kiggins is the only American soldier who lost his life in the war combat actions in Brno. He died on Oct. 11, 1944 during an attack on a train carrying aviation gasoline when his P-51B Mustang fighter was shot down by Germans.