Czech news in brief for October 26: Thursday's top headlines

President Petr Pavel and his wife Eva, as well as their cat Micka, have moved into the Lumbe Villa in Prague's Hradčany neighborhood, near Prague Castle. Pavel announced the move on Facebook. They plan to stay there during the working week. The villa, previously chosen as a residence by former Presidents Václav Klaus and Miloš Zeman, underwent modifications costing CZK 52 million.

The renovations included the construction of a new sandstone driveway and the installation of an elevator to replace the spiral staircase. The villa was made ready for use after ten years and most of the furniture was bought from regular commercial offers.

Renowned Czech conductor Zdeněk Mácal, known for his work with major orchestras worldwide, has passed away at the age of 87. Mácal's career included conducting the Berlin Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Wiener Symphoniker, and the Chicago and Boston Symphony orchestras.

From 2003 to 2007, he served as the chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic. Mácal's return to his homeland in 1996 after years abroad was met with great enthusiasm, and he continued to promote Czech music both domestically and internationally. Throughout his career, he focused on the works of Gustav Mahler, Johannes Brahms, and Antonín Dvořák.

The new stone Hall of Fame of Czech hockey will open in Prague's Nekázanka street in March or April of next year. The move to the center of the city is expected to increase attendance. The original Hall of Fame, which operated for eight years from a location near Prague's O2 arena, was closed due to economic reasons.

The new location in Prague's Palladium will be more modest while still remaining luxurious. The opening is scheduled to coincide with the World Championships in May.

The Czech disinformation scene has shifted its focus from COVID-19 to supporting Russian activities following the Russian military invasion of Ukraine, according to the annual report by the Czech civilian counterintelligence BIS. The report highlights that the disinformation scene has returned to previous themes and mentions opposition to the U.S., the EU, and NATO.

The report also addresses the use of artificial intelligence in creating synthetic media, which may pose a challenge to verifying real events. Despite temporary restrictions, the disinformation scene continues to attract an audience as citizens accept these websites as sources of information.

Škoda Auto's operating profit for the first nine months of this year rose to EUR 1.26 billion (CZK 31.1 billion) from EUR 856 million last year, driven by higher sales volume and prices, according to a press release.

In the same period, sales increased to EUR 19.659 billion from EUR 15.181 billion but were negatively impacted by exchange rate effects, higher costs, and a slowdown in Russian activities.

The public was excluded from the questioning of experts in the case of former MP Dominik Feri, which took place today in a Prague court, in order to protect the sensitive information of the injured girls. Feri is charged with two counts of rape and one attempted rape.

Judge Lenka Hájková stated that the exclusion of the public is justified in order to protect the personal rights of the victims. The public prosecutor and the representatives of the injured girls demanded the exclusion of the public during the witness's interrogation, but the judge ruled that the reasons for exclusion were not met.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced his country's readiness to provide assistance to Israel during his visit to the nation, citing the Czech Republic's robust defense industry. While specifics of the aid remain undisclosed, it was confirmed that Israel had expressed interest in receiving support. Fiala had discussions about potential forms of aid with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The visit, coming in the aftermath of an attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas, aimed to express solidarity with Israel. Fiala underscored Israel's right to self-defense and the need for stability in the Middle East, emphasizing distinguishing between aggressors and victims.

A proposed amendment to the law on public holidays may establish May 1 as a significant day in the Czech Republic to mark the country's EU accession in 2004. The amendment was introduced by European Affairs Minister Martin Dvořák and aims to recognize the 20th anniversary of the Czech Republic's EU membership in 2025.

Dvořák emphasized the importance of commemorating the country's EU and NATO memberships, symbolizing its pro-Western orientation after the Soviet era. The proposal, which would add May 1 to the existing list of 17 significant days, is currently under parliamentary consideration, with the possibility of expedited approval. Similar previous attempts have failed in the past.

A unique portrait of the late Czech ex-president Václav Havel has been unveiled at the Prague airport's Terminal 2. Composed of over 3,000 objects related to Havel's life and legacy. Artist Patrik Proško, the late president's wife Dagmar Havlová, and the president's former spokesman were on hand for the unveiling.  The installation, on loan from the IAM Illusion Art Museum, will be exhibited at the airport for at least a year.

The artwork, visible from a specific angle, is composed of more than 3,000 documents and objects from the 1960s to the 1990s, including multiple typewriters, writing aids, a bookcase, books, model cars, gramophone records, and a radiator with metal handcuffs to commemorate the persecution of Havel by the communist regime. The installation also features a Czech flag made of real velvet in reference to the Velvet Revolution. The Prague-Ruzyně airport was renamed Václav Havel Airport Prague on Oct. 5, 2012

In the initial round of parliamentary discussions, the Czech Chamber approved the state budget for the next year, with notable changes. The government's proposal aims to reduce the budget deficit by CZK 43 billion to CZK 252 billion compared to the current year's plan.

Projected revenues are set to increase by CZK 12 billion to CZK 1.94 trillion while planned expenditures will decrease by CZK 31 billion to CZK 2.19 trillion crowns. The budget parameters are no longer subject to alteration by MPs, who can only suggest budget transfers. The budget approval, criticized by the opposition, is a pivotal step before committee consideration and further debate.

The Czech-Italian co-production Terezín: Love behind the Wall, directed by Italian director Gabriel Guidi, explores the power of music and love within the backdrop of a Jewish ghetto during World War II. It depicts the lives of both fictional and real artists who created art amidst challenging wartime conditions. The film features composer Hans Krása, known for rehearsing the opera Brundibár with young Jewish prisoners in the Terezín ghetto. Despite cast changes due to deportations, the opera was performed 55 times in Terezín.

The story unfolds against real historical events and the lives of prominent individuals from the Terezín ghetto. It will be released in domestic cinemas on Nov. 2, 2023. The film stars Dominika Morávková and Mauro Conte, with contributions from other talented actors portraying key figures from that period.