Czech news in brief for November 14: Thursday's top headlines

Czech President Petr Pavel is not planning a phone call with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Pavel’s spokesperson Filip Platos announced Monday. Following Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s recent call with Trump, Pavel sees no immediate need for direct contact. Pavel emphasized maintaining strong Czech-U.S. relations, regardless of personal opinions, and commented on the vulnerability of democratic systems in light of recent U.S. election outcomes.

The Czech government approved a Criminal Code amendment to increase penalties for crimes motivated by sexual orientation, gender, or disability. Offenders in such cases may face one to five years in prison, up from six months to three years. The amendment also expands protections to include monetary penalties, limited cannabis possession legalization, and a proposed certificate to prevent convicted individuals from working with children.

University climate strikes kicked off today in Prague, Brno, and Olomouc, organized by the University for the Climate initiative. Events include lectures, debates, and a protest march titled "The End of Oligarchy in Bohemia" on Nov. 17 in Prague. Students aim to highlight climate and housing crises, criticizing wealth inequality and fossil fuel profits, and calling for systemic changes for social and environmental justice.

Brno-Tuřany Airport will introduce regular flights to Malaga, Spain, beginning March 31. Operated by Ryanair, flights will run twice weekly on Mondays and Thursdays. This addition aims to meet rising demand for international travel, with other potential routes under consideration. Brno Airport has seen a record year, with a 10 percent increase in passenger traffic, largely driven by Mediterranean-bound charter flights.

Google announced a test program with EU publishers to assess the impact of displaying European news content in search results. For one percent of users in nine EU countries, Google will exclude European news content in Google Search, News, and Discover. The company says the test, which won't affect current publisher payments, aims to address EU copyright compliance and follows calls from media organizations.