Czech news in brief for November 3: Sunday's top headlines

A 53-year-old hunter was seriously injured after being attacked by a wild boar on Saturday afternoon near the village of Oprechtice in Domažlice. Emergency responders stabilized the man, who suffered severe injuries to his arms and legs, and airlifted him to a hospital in Pilsen. Police assisted with initial treatment and confirmed that the hunter had not consumed alcohol before the incident.

The Czech Republic and Italy plan to call on the European Union at next week's informal summit to refrain from imposing sanctions on car manufacturers for insufficient electric vehicle sales in 2025. Transport Minister Martin Kupka stated that achieving sales targets is unlikely due to decreased demand for electric vehicles in Europe. Germany is reportedly also aligned with this request.

The Czech National Bank (ČNB) will decide this Thursday whether to lower its key interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4.25 percent or maintain the current level. Analysts largely predict further monetary easing, despite rising inflation, which reached 2.6 percent in September. Economic concerns, including weak domestic demand and adverse foreign conditions, are driving expectations for a rate cut. However, some experts warn against unnecessary risks to monetary stability in light of the current economic climate.

Police are investigating a suspected murder of a newborn in Dobruška, where the mother is currently hospitalized in serious condition. The lifeless infant was discovered after several hours of searching in the family's home, suggesting a possible concealed birth. Authorities have ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death. The police received reports of a suspected home birth early Saturday and swiftly initiated a search involving over 30 officers.

A recent Ipsos survey for energy provider epet shows that nearly 37 percent of Czechs are reducing their home heating due to high energy costs, lowering temperatures by around two degrees, with 11 percent cutting as much as four degrees. The average indoor temperature now ranges from 20–22 degrees Celsius. Experts warn that overly low temperatures could impact health, advocating a daily range of 18–24 degrees Celsius.

The documentary The President, detailing Zuzana Čaputová’s time as Slovak president, won the top award at the Ji.hlava Documentary Film Festival. House With No Exit was named the best Czech film for its focus on the poverty trade. The festival also awarded Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-liang for his global contributions. This year’s expanded festival showcased 340 films over ten days, with many premieres, and will continue online until November 17.

Firefighters are working to contain and extinguish a blaze at a waste landfill near Litvínov in the Ústí nad Labem Region, which started Saturday afternoon. The fire ignited tires and railway ties, prompting a special alert level and support from neighboring regions. No injuries have been reported, and air quality tests detected no harmful emissions. Currently, ten units remain on-site, while investigators are set to determine the fire's cause. Nearby roads remain closed due to the emergency response.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico criticized British Ambassador Nigel Baker for his public objections to Fico’s interview on Russian state TV. Fico dismissed Baker’s remarks as interference, stating that Slovakia is not a British colony. Ambassador Baker had expressed concern over Fico’s appearance alongside sanctioned Russian presenter Olga Skabayeva. Fico argued that Western media often promote “crude propaganda” on Ukraine and reiterated his stance against military aid to Kyiv.

The Czech Greens’ future political influence likely hinges on alliances with other progressive parties, political analysts say. Newly elected co-chairs Gabriela Svarovská and Matěj Pomahač emphasized partnerships with like-minded groups during the party congress. With voter support around 2%, analysts agree that cooperation is essential for the Greens to gain relevance.

A rare 18th-century Torah scroll that survived WWII and communist-era neglect was ceremonially placed in Liberec’s synagogue on Saturday. The scroll, from the Memorial Scrolls Trust in London, was handed over by the Trust's chairman, Jeffrey Ohrenstein. Originally used by the Jewish community in Nymburk until 1942, the scroll needs restoration. Rabbi David Maxa praised the scroll as a testament to Jewish resilience and a reminder of Czech heritage.