Czech news in brief for October 27: Friday's top headlines

The area around Prague's Spanish Synagogue was cordoned off by police Friday afternoon due to an abandoned piece of luggage outside its premises. A bomb squad was dispatched to inspect the bag, but no suspicious items were found, and the area was reopened. 

Such strict security measures come in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by terrorist group Hamas, prompting heightened vigilance at Jewish sites and cultural landmarks. The Old Town Square in Prague has also been evacuated in recent days due to similar concerns. Additionally, the entrance to the Můstek metro station on Wenceslas Square was temporarily closed due to a reported suspicious object, causing disruptions to trams and cars.

In a press release published today, the Ministry of Health had advised wearing masks in public when displaying cold or respiratory symptoms, and underscores the importance of hand hygiene and disinfectants. For international travel, masks or respirators are recommended, especially in airports and train stations.

Covid-19 cases have risen since mid-August, coinciding with the onset of flu, respiratory syncytial virus, and rhinovirus outbreaks. The ministry urges people to get vaccinated against both flu and Covid-19 to prevent further spread. In the Czech Republic, over 14,600 people tested positive for Covid-19 in the past month. The government made no mention, however, of self-isolation.

Czech police have charged a 35-year-old foreign resident in the Czech Republic, originally from Turkey, for defaming a nation, race, or ethnic group for displaying an anti-Jewish poster in a Pilsen fast food restaurant. The poster expressed negative views about Israel, particularly its conflict with Hamas. 

The individual, who has a Czech wife, could face up to two years in prison if found guilty. The police removed the poster after launching an investigation. The man defended his actions, claiming that he was expressing the truth as he saw it in the news, blaming Israel for the conflict.

According to a survey by the Center for Public Opinion Research, Czechs' overall satisfaction with their environment decreased compared to the previous year, with 79 percent of people expressing contentment with their local surroundings, down by 5 percent. The main concern for citizens was the density of road traffic near their homes, while their greatest satisfaction stemmed from the accessibility of natural spaces. 

Regional disparities were evident, with residents of Vysočina, Prague, and Pilsen expressing more satisfaction, and those in Central Bohemia and mid-sized cities (5,000 to 19,999 inhabitants) displaying more discontent. Compared to the previous year’s survey, the number of people saying that light pollution around their homes was not too high increased significantly, by 12 percentage points. 

Czech travel agency Čedok is evacuating 500 tourists from the Egyptian Red Sea resort Taba after a rocket hit a medical facility. No Czech nationals were injured. Čedok will send charter flights to bring back the tourists.

The Czech embassy advises caution in Taba and to follow security instructions. According to Egyptian media, the explosion is believed to be connected to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Taba is located over 200 kilometers away from the Gaza Strip.

The Czech Chamber of Deputies passed an amendment to the Constitution that sets a fixed election date for regional, local, and Senate elections at the end of the first week of October starting from 2026. The amendment aims to prevent elections from being held closer to the summer.

The amendment also sets a limit on changing the boundaries of the Senate districts, allowing changes only once every 12 years. The Chamber of Deputies also passed a bill on electoral administration to unify general election rules and introduce new measures like electronic submission of nomination lists.

A Czech climber died in the Himalayas in Nepal after reportedly slipping and falling, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Daniel Drake. CNN Prima News reported that the local police notified the consulate in Kathmandu about the death of the Czech citizen, which was then forwarded to the embassy in Delhi.

The Czech side was informed of the climber's death on Thursday, and the embassy is currently conducting further investigations into the incident.

Chinese intelligence officers have continued to forge connections with politicians from various political backgrounds in the Czech Republic in 2022, according to the Security Information Service (BIS) annual report. They primarily aim to shape public opinion in favor of China and increased their cyber espionage efforts following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Czechia, as the Council of the European Union presidency, was a specific target for cyberattacks.

The report also highlighted China's influence in political, military, and media spheres and noted their opposition to Czech-Taiwan relations. Chinese efforts to engage with the Czech academic community and trade in sensitive items were flagged as concerns. Additionally, the BIS noted the operation of "foreign police stations" used to monitor Chinese community leaders abroad, potentially for forced repatriation. No illegal activities were detected yet.

Czech President Petr Pavel has signed a bill extending substitute alimony payments for defaulters from two to four years, addressing difficulties in recovering alimony within the legal system. The government estimates the annual cost of this extension to exceed CZK 200 million. Presently, the state provides a maximum of CZK 3,000 in substitute alimony, contingent on the debtor's payment recovery through legal proceedings.

Dependent children also qualify for retroactive payment extensions. Last year, the state disbursed approximately CZK 159.3 million in substitute alimony, with projected future annual costs ranging between CZK 204 and 228 million. Substitute alimony supports dependent children when a parent, obligated by court decision, fails to meet maintenance obligations. This may involve non-payment or underpayment of alimony.

This weekend, the Czech Republic and the entire European Union will revert to Central European Time (CET) as clocks are set back 60 minutes from 3 a.m. Central European Summer Time (CEST) to 2 a.m. From Sunday, Oct. 29. CET will be in effect for five months until the last Sunday in March, when CEST returns. This change will impact night public transport, long-distance buses, and trains, with Czech Railways waiting for an hour at stations.

The European Commission proposed abolishing the time switch in 2018, but EU member states have yet to reach a consensus. Czechs also hold varying opinions on the matter. In 2021, the Czech government approved a regulation to continue summer time for the next five years, aligning with the EU directive.

The Czech Ministry of Regional Development aims to combat the gray economy in tourism by introducing the e-Turista system, similar to the previously scrapped electronic record of sales (EET). This program, under Ivan Bartoš' leadership, will register mass accommodation facility operators, including Airbnb hosts, and their guests. The move aims to level the market environment, simplify obligations, and enhance security.

The e-Turista system, scheduled for a trial run in early 2025, will officially launch in July the same year. The system's cost will be covered by the National Recovery Plan, with pricing details to be revealed later. While opinions on the system vary, the accommodation industry generally supports its potential to reduce administrative burdens and promote fair conditions. Czech tourism is rebounding after pandemic challenges, with growing guest numbers and increased income.

The new film Brothers, the story of the Czech Mašín brothers' escape to West Germany, opened in theaters Thursday. The story continues to stir debate in Czech society. The film explores the actions of the Mašín brothers and their group, with a focus on the controversial and daring aspects of the story.

Directed by Tomáš Mašín, a distant relative, the film presents a vivid portrayal of this significant chapter in Czechoslovak history. The Mašín brothers' escape, which involved harming a warden and stealing a car, remain contentious, leaving society divided over whether their actions were heroic or reprehensible.