Czech news in brief for September 25: Wednesday's top headlines

Pirates party leader Ivan Bartoš, proposed to be dismissed by Prime Minister Petr Fiala Tuesday, will not urge the Mayors and Independents (STAN) minority coalition party to leave the government. Bartoš, in a post on the X network, stated that the motto "Together in Government, Together in Opposition" no longer applies due to current circumstances. Fiala plans to remove Bartoš from the cabinet for issues with digitalizing construction procedures. Bartoš will meet with STAN leader Vít Rakušan to discuss the situation.

Czech police have proposed to press charges against three companies and seven individuals for a massive tax evasion scheme involving imports from China to the EU. According to National Center against Organized Crime (NCOZ) spokesperson Jaroslav Ibehej, the group is accused of evading CZK 1.2 billion in value-added tax. The investigation began last November and involves three foreigners and four Czech citizens who allegedly imported untaxed goods, such as electronics and clothing, and falsified invoices and documents to conceal their origin and value.

The Czech Railway Administration has said that recent flooding in Czechia has damaged railway lines in the Olomouc and Moravian-Silesian regions by over CZK 1 billion. The repairs are estimated to take several months, and some damaged tracks will not be fixed until the second half of next year. In some regions, replacement bus transport has not yet been introduced, as the floods in mountainous regions also damaged roads.

Czech President Petr Pavel addressed the UN General Assembly, stating that stronger pressure must be exerted on Russia as their cynical policies and lack of interest in peace talks have global consequences. He called for reform of the UN Security Council, making it more inclusive and reflective of current reality. President Pavel also urged countries to add their signature to a declaration supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression. "No one has the right to abuse power and bully other members of the international community,” he said.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský said he would resign if the Pirate Party leaves the government. Speaking in New York, Lipavský expressed disagreement with the party’s recent statements in the Chamber of Deputies. Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced plans to dismiss Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Bartoš, leading Bartoš to criticize the move as a “dirty trick.” Lipavský suggested he may also leave the Pirates.

Czech President Petr Pavel stated that Russia's aggression against Ukraine undermines the foundations of a global system based on rules, speaking at the "Securing the Digital Future" panel during the UN General Assembly. He emphasized the importance of preventing Russia's victory to discourage similar regimes. Pavel also acknowledged growing war fatigue but stressed the need for continued support for Ukraine.

Climate change has doubled the likelihood of severe floods in Central Europe, according to a new study by the World Weather Attribution team. The study, conducted with the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, found that storms like Boris, which caused record rainfall in mid-September, are becoming more frequent and intense. If global warming reaches 2 degrees Celsius by 2050, such events will increase by 50 percent.

The Czech series Studna premiered at Brno's Serial Killer international festival, exploring a 1968 family tragedy in Vonoklasy. Directed by Tereza Kopáčová, the six-part series follows five decades of a family's history, examining the motives behind a murder. The festival, showcasing 40 screenings until Sunday, also features other Czech productions and includes a conference on television journalism in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Rising obesity rates could cost the Czech Republic over 300 billion crowns annually in a decade, according to economist Richard Hindls' models presented at a children's movement conference. The projected expenses—similar to the nation's Covid-19 costs—include healthcare, lost work opportunities, and premature deaths. Currently, 70 percent of adult men and over half of women in the country are overweight, with childhood obesity rising sharply.