Czech news in brief for Oct. 19: Thursday's top headlines

Twenty-two people were injured when two trams collided in Pilsen today, with most of them suffering light injuries. The tram driver was moderately injured. The Integrated Rescue System and police are investigating the causes of the collision.

About 30 ambulances and an evacuation bus were at the scene. Initially, it was reported that 30 to 35 people were injured, but the number was later reduced to around 20. None of the injuries are serious, according to Pilsen Governor Rudolf Špoták.

The District Court for Prague 1 has issued a preliminary injunction that prevents Prague from entering into a lease agreement with Crestyl for the space on Wenceslas Square where Alfons Mucha's Slavic epic is to be temporarily placed. The painter's granddaughter, Jarmila Mucha Plocková, appealed to the court, arguing that the city's actions are wasteful and driven by commercial interests.

Prague plans to appeal against the preliminary measure. The ownership of the epic has been disputed for years, with ongoing lawsuits between relatives of Mucha. Prague aims to negotiate a lease agreement once the ownership issue is resolved. The cycle consists of 20 large canvases, which Mucha painted for 18 years starting in 1910.

Interest in winter tires has surged by 40 percent compared to last year, as a result of the colder October weather. Currently, 30 percent of drivers have already switched to winter or all-season tires, a five percentage point increase from last year. According to Pneumatiky.cz director Vojtěch Schwangmaier, tire prices have remained steady, with some brands even becoming more affordable.

Premium tire sales are growing faster than middle and economy-class tires. Legislation in the Czech Republic requires the use of winter tires from Nov. 1 to March 31 when there is snow, ice, or freezing conditions on the roads.

The Czech Ministry of Health is failing to process requests for compensation for illegal sterilizations within the legal deadline, according to the findings of Ombudsman Stanislav Křeček. He also criticized the ministry for poor communication with applicants, lack of education about their rights, and failure to adequately prepare for deciding on compensation requests.

The ombudsman recommended that the ministry make adjustments to the instructions for compensation applicants, including prioritizing the processing of applications for older individuals or those with serious health conditions. Additionally, the ombudsman advised adding information about reapplying for compensation if applications are rejected.

The Czech Republic will experience warmer temperatures over the weekend, with afternoon highs on Saturday potentially reaching over 20 degrees Celsius. However, it will be mostly cloudy or overcast with occasional rain or drizzle. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute issued a warning for strong winds in the eastern and northeastern parts of the country from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning.

The highest temperatures for today will range from 12 to 16 degrees Celsius, with occasional precipitation in certain areas. Tomorrow and Saturday, the sky will remain mostly cloudy with light rain or drizzle in some regions. Sunday will bring rain in most areas, with temperatures reaching 17 degrees Celsius.

The Regional Court in Brno confirmed the decision of the court in Břeclav, stating that the Lichtenstein family does not have to return property in the Břeclav region, including castles in Lednice and Valtice, back to the state.

The Prince of Liechtenstein Foundation filed lawsuits in 26 Czech district courts demanding the return of the property, which it claims was illegally being used by the state. The Liechtenstein family lost this property in 1945 following the Beneš decrees.  The court rejected the lawsuit, and the foundation plans to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Supporters of Palestine gathered in Prague's Old Town Square last evening, with an estimated 100-200 participants, although police did not provide an official count. The event involved a peaceful march to the Government Office on the Edvard Beneš embankment, which was supervised by police. Demonstrators carried Palestinian flags, banners with messages such as "Occupation is not peace," and photos illustrating the Israel-Palestine conflict's consequences.

The event was organized by the "Not in Our Name! - Initiative for a Just Peace in the Middle East" and aimed at highlighting Czech political representation's responsibility regarding the Palestinian issue, criticizing media for parroting Israeli positions. Recent conflicts between Israel and Hamas were discussed, with differing casualty figures mentioned.

An initiative by the Ministry of Health is urging senators to eliminate the 12 percent VAT on fruits and vegetables as part of the government's tax package discussions. The move aims to improve the population's health by making these essential foods more affordable. The initiative, comprised of health, legal, economic, and innovation experts, seeks to extend the healthy life expectancy of citizens by five years before 2030.

It highlights that over 20 percent of premature deaths in the Czech Republic result from poor nutrition and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption. The tax changes are set to be debated in the upper house in early November as part of the government's budget consolidation package.

An exhibition featuring cars and equipment from James Bond films, celebrating the iconic 007 agent, will take place in Prague's Holešovice at the Křižík Pavilions, beginning with a gala evening on Dec. 7 and opening to the public two days later. Bond in Motion will showcase famous vehicles, boats, motorcycles, helicopters, and planes featured in Bond movies, such as the Aston Martin DBS from Casino Royale, shot in the Czech Republic, and the BMW Z8 from The World is Not Enough.

The exhibition also includes props, technological devices, and photos of film sets, categorized by the four elements: water, air, fire, and earth. Online ticket sales have already begun, offering a unique experience for both Bond enthusiasts and those who appreciate cars and cinema. The exhibit previously attracted over 100,000 visitors in Brussels' Heysel neighborhood in Belgium.

The Czech coalition government led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala successfully withstood a third vote of no confidence in the House of Representatives. The result was largely anticipated, with MPs from all five government parties voting against the motion, while it was supported solely by opposition movements ANO and SPD. A minimum of 101 votes was needed for the cabinet to fall, but it received just 85 votes from the opposition.

Despite the result, ANO and SPD expressed dissatisfaction and pledged to continue their efforts to challenge the government, with the ANO movement criticizing the process and the SPD leader asserting that the government lacked the trust of citizens. This marked the third attempt by the opposition to pass a vote of no confidence in the current government, with previous attempts also failing.

The Czech Senate has strongly condemned the forced deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia, labeling it a grave crime resulting from Russian aggression. They have urged the government to aid in repatriating these children promptly. Additionally, the Senate called for the inclusion of those responsible for the children's removal and re-education on EU sanctions lists or a national sanctions mechanism.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) had previously issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian children's rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova over these deportations. The Senate insists on safeguarding the rights of Ukrainian children and calls for their reunion with their families, endorsing the investigation and prosecution of these international law violations by the ICC and national courts. They also seek the rapid establishment of a model mechanism for convicting those guilty of crimes of aggression.