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

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala wants the ruling coalition's composition to be finalized by Wednesday, October 2, and the new government to be fully operational within 14 days. Fiala announced plans to propose dismissing Deputy PM Ivan Bartoš (Pirates) over issues with construction digitization, prompting the Pirates to leave the coalition. Despite the Pirates’ departure, Fiala stated the government will maintain a majority and its agenda remains unchanged.

The Czech Pirate Party will officially leave the government and ruling coalition on Tuesday, following a meeting of their MPs' group, according to outgoing Pirate leader Ivan Bartoš. Pirate ministers Jan Lipavský and Michal Šalomoun are set to resign after the party’s internal vote concludes on Monday. Prime Minister Petr Fiala dismissed Bartoš from the government effective Monday, prompting the Pirates’ decision to exit the coalition over what Bartoš called an irreconcilable move.

Security experts are raising alarms about the dangerous malware Agent.HQS, which has been spreading extensively across the Czech Republic. Over the past four months, the detection rate of this malware has risen sharply, reaching 8.52 percent in August. This malicious code can infiltrate Android devices and deploy additional viruses, often disguised as legitimate applications. Users frequently download it unknowingly from unofficial sources, making them vulnerable.

Czech tennis player Tomáš Macháč has advanced to the semifinals of Japan Open for the first time in his career, defeating American Alex Michelsen this morning in straight sets, 7-6, 6-3. In the semifinals, he will face either Britain's Jack Draper or France's Ugo Humbert. The 23-year-old Czech player previously eliminated Australia's Alexei Popyrin and fifth-seeded Tommy Paul.

The European Union will not provide an announced CZK 50 billion in flood relief to the Czech Republic, leaving the country to find the funds within its existing programs. Prime Minister Petr Fiala initially announced this support during a meeting with EU officials. However, it was later clarified that the funds discussed are reallocated from existing EU cohesion funds, and the exact amount available for flood recovery remains uncertain.

The opposition ANO party won eight Senate seats in the election that culminated this weekend. ANO’s deputy chairman Karel Havlíček announced plans to seek representation in the upper house’s leadership. Candidates from government coalition parties won 15 seats, while other seats went to the Social Democrats, SEN 21, Oath, and an independent candidate. ANO's success follows its earlier victories in the European and regional elections, solidifying its position as a dominant political force.

The Czech government coalition parties are expected to maintain a majority of at least 59 seats in the 81-seat Senate, despite opposition ANO's gains and the weakening of the Civic Democrats (ODS). Although the ODS/TOP 09 group dropped from 36 to 29 senators, it will likely remain the largest faction. ANO’s joint group with the Social Democrats is now the third largest, marking a significant shift in Senate dynamics.

The Buffalo Sabres, fresh from their final exhibition game in Munich, spent a day off at the Oktoberfest beer festival on Saturday before heading to Prague on Sunday. After arriving in the Czech capital, the team will practice at Icerink in Strašnice on Monday morning. Their opponents, the New Jersey Devils, will also arrive in Prague on Sunday ahead of the Global Series matchups that kick off the 2024-25 NHL season on Oct. 4 and 5 at O2 Arena.

Former Czech President Miloš Zeman marked his 80th birthday with prominent political guests at the Stekl Hotel in Hluboká nad Vltavou. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán attended, alongside former Czech President Václav Klaus and opposition leader Andrej Babiš. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent congratulations through the Chinese Ambassador. Zeman, who served two terms as president, remains a notable figure in Czech politics, occasionally weighing in on public affairs.

Jaroslava Skleničková, the last surviving woman from the Nazi massacre of Lidice in 1942, died at 98, her family confirmed. At 16, she was sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp after her father was executed and Lidice was destroyed. Skleničková later documented her experiences in books and remained active in promoting human rights. The obliteration of Lidice remains a symbol of Nazi terror during WWII.