Czech news in brief for October 30: Wednesday's top headlines

The Colours of Ostrava festival has announced it will feature American punk-rock singer Iggy Pop, returning to the event after 15 years. Other performers include the French duo Justice, who will present a new audiovisual show, as well as Czech artists Calin and Dan Bárta. The festival will also showcase Spanish singer Álvaro Soler, marking his debut in the Moravian-Silesian region. Colours of Ostrava will take place from July 16 to 19, 2025.

Datea company Eset reports that Andreed, a pervasive adware threat, has surged in the Czech Republic, posing significant risks for Android users. Although it doesn’t steal sensitive data, Andreed aggressively displays ads and directs users to malicious sites, helping attackers profit. Eset’s head of analytics, Martin Jirkal, cautions that through deceptive ads, Andreed can expose users to fraudulent messages and malware. Despite appearing to decline over the summer, Andreed saw a major resurgence in September.

According to a survey by the STEM research agency, 58 percent of Czechs view the government’s response to the September floods positively, with satisfaction levels varying by political affiliation. While 88 percent of Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s supporters approve of the response, 57 percent of opposition backers express anger. Most respondents believe recovery costs should be covered by insurance and savings rather than tax hikes, indicating low public support for increased taxation to fund flood damage recovery.

The Czech Statistical Office (CZSO) reported that the economy grew by 1.3 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, with a 0.3 percent increase from the previous quarter. Analysts had anticipated slightly higher growth. The GDP rise was driven by increasing household consumption, supported by government expenditures, while foreign demand stagnated. Although the manufacturing and construction sectors contributed positively, the overall industrial sector continued to decline, as indicated by the CZSO.

The Czech Foreign Ministry has announced it has donated CZK 3.5 million for urgent humanitarian aid in Lebanon, joining the UN's appeal. This contribution will assist individuals affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The funds will be directed to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, a long-time partner of the ministry. The UN aims to raise approximately USD 425.7 million (almost CZK 10 billion) to support 1 million affected people in Lebanon and neighboring areas.

According to the non-profit organization People in Need, over 60 Czech schools will offer free menstrual pads and additional hygiene supplies in girls' restrooms after the autumn holidays. Schools like ZŠ Mojžíř in Ústí nad Labem piloted this initiative to combat menstrual poverty, improve attendance, and foster a safe environment. The project, supported by drugstore chain dm, will supply pads to schools for at least a year, with both parents and students appreciating the increased accessibility.

The Czech Ministry of Education reports that Roma pupils still face exclusion in some Czech localities and schools, despite measures to improve educational access. Following a 2007 European Court of Human Rights ruling against Czechia for educational discrimination, international bodies like the European Commission and Amnesty International have continued to monitor the issue. Today, the Ministry of Regional Development signed a document to combat segregation, requiring municipal cooperation.

According to Interior Minister Vít Rakušan, Czech deputies discussed stricter gun possession rules, requiring doctors to verify their patients' firearm licenses in a central registry if health conditions could impair weapon handling. Rakušan, alongside five deputies, also proposed new restrictions on firearm suppressors, including a full ban on suppressors for smaller guns like pistols and revolvers, with only limited ownership for current suppressor holders. The new law aims to enhance public safety and monitoring of firearm access.

Czech Radio has alerted the public to fraudulent emails impersonating official messages that falsely allege intellectual property infringements. These emails, marked with theCzech Radio logo, prompt recipients to click on a disguised link that appears to be a PDF but leads to malware through a URL shortener. Czech Radio has clarified that these emails do not originate from its domain and advises users to check email headers and approach unexpected emails with caution. 

According to state authorities, September floods caused nearly CZK 6.1 billion in damage to streams and water bodies managed by the Odra Basin. Repairs are expected to span at least a decade, with CZK 200 million allocated this year for essential repairs and safety work. Flooding affected all major waterways, with ongoing heavy equipment work clearing debris, repairing dams, removing damaged trees, and restoring gravel beds along the Odra and other areas.