Czech news in brief for October 29: Sunday's top headlines

Charita Czech Republic has launched a fundraiser to aid civilians affected by the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip. This initiative comes in response to Israel's blockade on Gaza following an attack by Hamas militants. The charity emphasized the urgent need for immediate and safe access to basic humanitarian aid, including healthcare, for Gaza's inhabitants.

The region, housing approximately 2.3 million people in a confined space, has witnessed severe Israeli bombardment, resulting in casualties. With dwindling humanitarian supplies, Charita CR aims to provide assistance and support for the affected population. The situation has raised concerns about civil order in the area, as reported by the United Nations Office for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová has proposed that the Czech Republic withdraw from the United Nations (UN) following the organization's resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. Černochová shamed the UN for its stance, claiming it sided with terrorists.

The UN General Assembly adopted the resolution with the support of 120 countries, while 45 abstained and 14, including the Czech Republic, voted against it. Černochová criticized the UN for not condemning Hamas's actions and called for the Czech Republic to leave the organization. The move comes amid heightened tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

On the Czech national holiday at Prague Castle, President Petr Pavel awarded the Medal of Heroism to eight individuals, including military pilots recognized for their combat service during World War II and individuals who saved lives. Additionally, the Medal of Merit was presented to 39 prominent figures from various fields, including actors, athletes, diplomats, scientists, and artists.

The recipients include renowned personalities such as opera singer Magdalena Kožená Czech mezzo-soprano, mountaineer Radek Jaroš, and diplomat Martin Povejšil, among others. The awards recognized exceptional contributions and achievements in their respective domains. The president also presented the highest Czech state decoration, the Order of the White Lion, to politicians, soldiers, and lawyers, including ex-PM and former Senate head Petr Pithart, former Constitutional Court chairman Pavel Rychetsky and former foreign minister Karel Schwarzenberg.

Ticket prices for the upcoming winter season in the Czech Republic have surged by around 15 percent compared to the previous year. While sales are currently on par with last year, many Czech travelers are opting for long-haul flights to destinations like Thailand, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, with London and Paris being popular short-haul options.

Data from Student Agency Travel indicates a 16 percent increase in ticket prices compared to the previous winter, with a 25 percent hike compared to 2019. Some experts advise booking in advance to secure better prices, but overall sales are not expected to surpass the pre-pandemic year of 2019. Popular destinations are shifting, with growing interest in Sri Lanka, Phuket, the Seychelles, and the Maldives, while London, Rome, Paris, and Barcelona remain traditional favorites.

The recently opened bridge connecting Karlín and Holešovice in Prague was vandalized and has been scrubbed of graffiti. Despite the cleanup, remnants of graffiti, mud, and rust persisted on the structure, despite its supposed anti-graffiti coating.

While professionals used a special cleaning agent to remove the damage the bridge still displayed minor stains, with more cleaning scheduled for the future. The bridge, which cost around CZK 352 million and replaced a ferry service, serves as a vital link between the two Prague neighborhoods, spanning the Vltava River via Štvanice Island.

The 27th International Documentary Film Festival Ji.hlava announced its award winners. The Czech documentary Photophobia, directed by Ivan Ostrochovsky and Pavol Pekarcik, which portrays the safety of Kharkiv's metro during Russian attacks, was honored in the Czech or Czech-produced documentary category. In the Opus Bonum international section, The Ship by Elvis Lenic, a film about the decline of a Croatian shipyard, won the main prize.

Hungarian director Bela Tarr received the festival's contribution to world cinema award. The festival featured 357 films, with the audience award going to Is There Any Place for Me, Please? and the student jury award to The World According to My Dad. The festival concluded on Sunday, and some documentaries will be available online until Nov. 12.