News in brief for Oct. 17: Top headlines for Czechia on Tueday

The strengthening Polish zloty, driven by the recent parliamentary election results, has raised the costs for Czechs buying goods like food and fuel in Poland. The exchange rate now stands at CZK 5.56 per zloty, with a stronger zloty making things more expensive for Czech visitors, compared to before the election results. Analysts believe foreign investors view the election outcome favorably, and the zloty has appreciated against the euro by two percent.

The zloty's performance in the medium term is expected to depend on inflation developments and decisions made by the Polish central bank on interest rates. The likely formation of a new government in Poland by the opposition is predicted to lead to a calmer relationship with the European Commission and improved prospects for European subsidies and euro adoption.

Hundreds of students, academics, and university staff gathered outside Prague's Charles University's Faculty of Arts to protest the underfunding of Czech universities. The demonstration aimed to draw attention to the inadequate budget for higher education and low wages for some university employees. Organized by the Hour of Truth initiative and university workers' unions, the protest called for increased education funding in 2024 and beyond to reach OECD standards.

Public spending on tertiary education in the Czech Republic is 0.86 percent of GDP, compared to the EU average of 1.27 percent. The government's draft budget for 2024 allocates CZK 30.9 billion Czech to public universities, with university representatives highlighting a shortfall of around CZK 11 billion. Protests may continue if their demands are not met.

Polish elections will impact the Visegrad Group (V4) format, say political scientists. They suggest V4 could practically split into two pairs—Slovakia and Hungary and Poland and the Czech Republic—leading to paralysis. The likely government under the Civic Platform is expected to be ambivalent about the V4 format and focus more on relations with the EU's great powers.

While the ruling conservative PiS party won Sunday's Polish elections with 35.38 percent of the vote, it may not secure a government. Analysts believe the outcome reflects a desire for a change in power and could lead to improved relations with the EU.

After Germany, Austria will also introduce random checks on the border with the Czech Republic for migration, Minister of the Interior Vít Rakušan announced today on social network X. The Austrian procedure is a reaction to German measures and is in line with Central European strategies to fight smugglers and protect the EU's borders.

Germany started random checks on the border with the Czech Republic on Monday evening, and the Czech Republic has been checking cars at the border with Slovakia since October. Austria and Poland also introduced controls at their borders with Slovakia.

Jaroslav Šilhavý remains the coach of the Czech national football team after an emergency meeting held by the Football Association of the Czech Republic. The committee decided to keep Šilhavý for the team's upcoming matches in November against Poland and Moldova. The coach's contract has been extended until Nov. 30 with a two-way option.

Despite the team's recent 0:3 loss to Albania in the European qualifiers, the Czech team is still in the game for qualifying for next year's championship in Germany. The executive committee considered various options but ultimately decided not to replace Šilhavý due to time constraints for announcing a new nomination.

The Czech Republic plans to become independent from Russian oil in a few months and to reduce its dependence on Russian nuclear fuel, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said today while speaking at the SH!FTS conference. Fiala emphasized the importance of energy security and sovereignty for national security.

The government has already taken steps to cut off dependence on Russia, such as securing a stake in liquefied natural gas terminals and buying the gas pipeline operator Net4Gas. The country is also preparing to build new nuclear reactors. Fiala believes that strengthening the economy and developing transport infrastructure are also crucial for national security.

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs is urging Czech citizens in Lebanon to consider leaving the country due to tensions on the border with Israel. As of Monday evening, there were approximately 100 Czechs registered in the Drozd travel system, which assists with departures during periods of unrest.

The Israeli Ministry of Defense has announced the evacuation of 28 villages in the north of the country near the Lebanon border. To seek assistance during an emergency, individuals should contact the Czech Embassy in Beirut or its consular emergency line outside of working hours.

Passenger car production in the Czech Republic increased by 11.5 percent to 1.018 million in the first nine months of this year, reaching the million mark earlier than last year. Over 92 percent of production was destined for foreign markets, with exports increasing by 10.7 percent year-on-year. Domestic sales also rose by more than a fifth.

Electric vehicle production totaled 134,324, accounting for 13.2 percent of domestic car production. Škoda Auto, the largest domestic car manufacturer, produced 633,995 passenger cars, a 23.5 percent increase. Bus manufacturers saw a 5.5 percent decrease in production, while Tatra Trucks produced 959 vehicles.

Emergency services in Olomouc responded to a traffic accident at a railway crossing in the Bělidlo area on Tuesday morning. The collision, involving a Czech Railways train, a truck, and a passenger car, resulted in flames and black smoke. Fortunately, the train driver's quick reaction allowed the evacuation of all passengers, though it's unclear if there were any injuries.

The crossing had flashing red warning lights but lacked barriers. Paramedics and the police are at the scene, and further details about the incident are pending.

Long queues and delays were reported on the D8 highway near Petrovice in the Ústí nad Labem region as checks for migrants at the border with Germany began. Drivers experienced waits lasting several tens of minutes. German police officers were spotted at a rest area near the border crossing, inspecting vans and buses and requesting documents from vehicle crews.

These checks may also extend to railway connections, particularly the Prague to Dresden route. Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser announced the resumption of inspections, which will initially last ten days, with a potential two-month extension, responding flexibly to the situation.

The Czech opposition has called for a third vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Petr Fiala's government, primarily over Interior Minister Vít Rakušan's encrypted phone, raising suspicions of involvement in the Dosimeter case. Despite these challenges, the government is expected to survive the vote due to its parliamentary majority.

The vote of no confidence will take place on Oct. 17. Rakušan claims he had the phone due to wiretapping concerns after the last parliamentary elections but denied any connection to the alleged organized group in question. The government has dismissed the allegations as an opposition attempt to revive old issues.

Members of the Czech stunt group Filmka Stunt Team were honored with a Taurus award in the Best Special Stunt Action category for their work on the film All Quite on the Western Front directed by Edward Berger. The award ceremony took place in Hollywood, though personal awards presentations were postponed due to the ongoing strike.

The winning scene involved tanks and soldiers with flamethrowers in a trench warfare scenario, showcasing impressive practical effects and minimal post-production editing. Filmka Stunt Team has a history of international recognition and success in Hollywood productions, earning praise from renowned director James Cameron and contributing to numerous films. The team, formed in 1962, comprises over a hundred members with diverse skills and equipment.

A recent attack in eastern Ukraine has obliterated the storage facility of the Czech non-profit organization People in Need, which housed construction materials for rebuilding homes for 200 families. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The attack targeted a cultural center in Novoselivka in the Donetsk region, leaving local residents without essential support for winter home repairs.

People in Need, committed to aiding Ukraine since 2014, is determined to continue providing humanitarian assistance despite this setback. The organization also supports Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic. It has helped over one million individuals impacted by the war, thanks to donations exceeding CZK 2.1 billion.

In Brno, speakers at a demonstration expressed solidarity with Israel, condemning Hamas's recent attack, which they likened to medieval pogroms and the Holocaust. Jachym Kanarek, Chairman of the Jewish Community of Brno, highlighted the shock and devastation felt by Jews worldwide due to the Oct. 7 attack.

Hamas fired rockets at Israel and launched attacks, resulting in casualties on both sides. The conflict has caused significant loss of life and injuries, with ongoing efforts to locate missing individuals amid the destruction in Gaza. Hamas reports 2,808 Palestinians dead, 10,850 injured, and 1,000 missing in Gaza due to Israeli attacks since Oct. 7.

Russian dissident priest Andrei Kuraev, who was defrocked by the Moscow Patriarch Kirill, has emigrated to the Czech Republic, his childhood home, after a year and a half of contemplation. Kuraev, known for defending members of the feminist group Pussy Riot, left Russia due to the increasing difficulty of writing and preaching in the country.

He plans to continue his work in Prague, emphasizing it as a "seasonal" emigration, not a permanent move. The defrocking resulted from Kuraev's critical blog posts and his refusal to show repentance, according to the Patriarch. His departure signifies a break from Putin's Russia.