Czech news in brief for October 4: Friday's top headlines

The Czech Chamber of Deputies this afternoon approved the government's pension reform after a 30-hour debate and the opposition's attempts to reject it. The amendment proposes a gradual increase of the retirement age from 65 to 67 (though not older), which trade unions fiercely oppose. During the approval process, ruling coalition members of parliament presented slight changes, while the opposition criticized the bill's drafting. The government pointed out that change was necessary to protect public finances.

Czech tennis player Karolína Muchová advanced to the semi-finals of the Beijing tournament after defeating world number two Aryna Sabalenková 7:6, 2:6, 6:4, breaking Sabalenková's 15-match winning streak, according to the WTA website. Muchová, 28, secured the first set in a tie-break, struggled in the second, but staged a comeback in the final set, winning four consecutive games. She will face the winner of the match between Mirra Andrejevová and Cheng Chin-wen.

Czech police announced today that they arrested two men for trafficking high-quality methamphetamine, worth millions of crowns, which they bought from abroad, modified, and sold to local dealers nationwide. One suspect was caught with 100 grams of the substance, while the other was arrested at their residence with nearly a kilogram. The arrested men, with previous drug-related convictions, were using the profits for travel and evading prison after previously being arrested. 

The Czech Ministry of Education has proposed merging or shutting down 1,895 municipal schools (including kindergartens) nationwide with fewer than 200 pupils to improve the efficiency of education management. Experts agree that the education system is overly fragmented, with half of the municipal schools having less than 100 students. Some politicians say that the new proposal is discriminatory because it only affects municipal schools, and not private schools.

Prague police have today detained an 18-year-old student for allegedly threatening to shoot up a classroom in Prague 8. During a home search, officers found airsoft and air guns, along with knives. The student had also publicly expressed interest in obtaining a firearms license and praised the December shooting at Charles University's Faculty of Arts. He faces charges of dangerous threats and approving a crime, with a possible three-year prison sentence. 

Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan will perform the first of three concerts in Prague tonight, as part of his worldwide tour promoting his latest album Rough and Rowdy Ways. The concert will take place at the O2 arena, marking Dylan’s first return to the Czech capital since 2019. The artist, known for classics like Blowin’ in the Wind, has been touring extensively since the album's release in 2020. Additional performances are scheduled for the following days.

The Czech Chamber of Deputies continues its intense debate on pension reform, a critical government initiative to address long-term sustainability concerns. The reform includes gradual retirement age increases and changes to pension calculation formulas. Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Marian Jurečka defended the proposal, emphasizing the need to prevent a future financial crisis. Opposition parties expressed concerns about the fairness of these changes for older workers.

A secret meeting between a Russian oligarch and FBI representatives took place in Prague two years ago, facilitated by a Czech police officer under investigation for his involvement. The meeting aimed to negotiate terms regarding the oligarch's legal issues, reports Deník N. Details remain undisclosed, but the incident highlights ongoing scrutiny of politically influential Russian figures and ramifications for international law enforcement.

The Czech Republic is seeing an uptick in Covid-19 infections alongside an increase in flu cases, according to public health officials. As colder months approach, healthcare professionals are urging citizens to take preventive measures, such as vaccination, to curb the spread of both illnesses. Hospitals are preparing for a potential surge in patients, with medical experts emphasizing the importance of hygiene, mask-wearing, and self-isolation when symptoms arise.

A Eurobarometer survey released this week revealed that rising prices and the cost of living are the foremost concerns for European Union citizens as the new parliamentary term begins. In the Czech Republic, nearly half of respondents (48 percent) cited these issues as motivation for voting in the recent European Parliament elections, while 47 percent expressed concern over the international situation and 40 percent mentioned economic conditions. The survey included over 26,000 interviews across all 27 EU member states.

A manuscript titled Experiments with Plant Hybrids, authored by Gregor Johann Mendel in 1865, is set to be nominated for inclusion in UNESCO's Memory of the World program. Together group director Jakub Carda announced that the 12-page document, which records Mendel's pioneering experiments with peas and establishes the laws of inheritance, took five years to prepare for nomination. If successful, it would enhance the visibility of important Czech documents; currently, the Czech Republic has ten entries in the register.