Czech news in brief for October 8: Tuesday's top headlines

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced today that among the nine flood victims in September in Poland, there is likely one Czech citizen among the deceased. Czech authorities reported five victims in the Czech Republic, with several others still missing. Along with the Czech Republic, Poland was one of the Central European countries in which the floods from mid-September left the greatest damage.

Hodonín Zoo in South Moravia has announced that a Barbary lion cub was born last month – these types of lion are extinct in the wild, and there are only around 100 in private enclosures. The zoo now has three in total, but the exhibit is closed to give the mother and cubs privacy. The male lion is kept separate to mirror natural behaviors. Zoologist Zdenka Vavrysová explained that this isolation helps with social development.

A spokeswoman for Prague's criminal police today announced the arrest of a Czech man accused of being one of the largest distributors of homosexual child pornography in the world. Wanted by the FBI and Europol, he faces up to eight years in prison for producing and distributing child pornography. The suspect, who also holds American citizenship, allegedly committed crimes on the dark net for years, distributing material and providing advice on sexual abuse and pornography distribution.

The Foreign Ministry has said that nine more people from Czechia want to fly from Lebanon to Czechia using Belgian and Ukrainian flights amid current Middle Eastern unrest. Currently, around 100 Czechs are registered in the Drozd online travel system in Lebanon. The Czechs are fleeing due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has killed at least 1,200 people and displaced 1.2 million since mid-September.

President Petr Pavel will appoint Lukáš Vlček (STAN) as Minister of Industry and Trade, replacing Jozef Síkela on Tuesday. Petr Kulhánek (STAN) will replace Ivan Bartoš as Minister of Regional Development. Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) has decided not to fill the vacant Minister for Legislation role, with its duties assigned to Justice Minister Pavel Blažek. Fiala proposed Bartoš's dismissal because of a managerial failure to handle the digitalization of construction management.

Hundreds gathered in Prague’s Old Town Square to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel. Attendees waved Israeli flags, and Israeli Ambassador Anna Azari thanked the Czech Republic for its support. Federation of Jewish Communities chairman Petr Papousek condemned misinformation and called for continued support against terrorism. The event featured speeches, prayers, and the tolling of bells to honor victims. No incidents were reported during the police-supervised event.

Czech President Petr Pavel, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza will attend Prague’s 28th Forum 2000 conference from Oct. 13 to 15. The event, themed “Resilience of Democracy,” will also feature former Polish President Lech Walesa and top Czech politicians. Former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is also expected to speak, despite potential diplomatic sensitivities with China.

Vítkovice Steel, a Czech steelmaker, will change ownership after two decades of operation by its current group. The new buyer is a German investment group, EMERAM Capital Partners, specializing in industrial companies. The deal includes Vítkovice Steel’s two major production sites and is expected to boost its operations and secure the company’s long-term future. The transaction will be finalized in early 2024.

Aggression toward office workers, including threats and physical attacks, is rising in Czech institutions. Employment offices and hospitals are implementing safety measures, such as cooperating with police and using security training. Hospitals are also reporting increased aggression from patients. The measures include enhanced security systems, crisis managers, and employee training to handle violent incidents effectively.