The Daily Dozen: 12 things to know about Czechia today

The interest in cultural events such as concerts, festivals, theatre and cinema performances in the Czech Republic dropped by 30 percent compared to 2019, ČTK reports, citing data released by the smsticket online ticket selling service. This year, cinemas attracted less than half the number of moviegoers in 2019.

Oldrich Brzobohaty from smsticket said that, in addition to declining numbers, "we can see the declining willingness of Czechs to spend money not only on tickets but also other expenses during cultural events, such as refreshment and souvenirs." 

Czech police arrested one person accused of assaulting an official at last Sunday's football game between Slavia Praha and Sparta Praha, ČTK reports, citing police spokesman Jan Daněk. A hundred police officers, which ensured the security in the streets around the Fortuna Arena stadium in Prague 10, broke up several brawls between the fans of the teams, which led to 12 misdemeanors. Slavia won the Sunday game with a score of 4-0.

The Czech police identified the perpetrator of a rape that took place in 2019 thanks to a comparison of DNA samples, ČTK reports. The unidentified man, who is a foreigner, raped a woman in September 2019 in Vítězná Street in Prague 1, and left biological material at the scene. Police spokesperson Richard Hrdina said that the man was connected to the case after being apprehended in another case of disorderly conduct, which led to a DNA match in the police system.

České dráhy (ČD) are currently investing CZK 246 million in the modernization of sleeper and couchette cars, ČTK reports. ČD head Michal Krapinec said that the changes are "not just a new image, a logo and a few colorful pictures, but also tangible, concrete changes," such as changed bed parts, new lighting, wall coverings, sanitary facilities, showers, and internet access for couchette cars. The upgrades will be completed during winter.

Deputy Prime Minister Vlastimil Válek announced on Twitter that he would not attend a state ceremony held this coming Friday because the presidential administration had not invited some officials, iDnes reports. These include the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová and Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavský. Health Minister Válek said he would skip the ceremony to protest the "undignified way in which the president chooses whom to put on the guest list for official events.

In related news, Ivanka Trump, the daughter of Czech-born socialite Ivana Trump and former U.S. President Donald Trump, will be in Prague this week to accept a state award honoring her late mother. Ivana Trump is one of the personalities whom Czech President Miloš Zeman will honor with state awards on Oct. 28, together with former professional tennis player Ivan Lendl, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, among others. Read more here.

Older apartments in the Czech Republic saw a 4.5 decrease in price between the second and third quarter of the year, ČTK reports, using data from a study by the European Housing Services real estate group, which uses data from its founding members, real estate services Bezrealitka and Maxima Reality. At the same time, rent prices rose by 18 percent year-on-year, the largest increases being in the cities of Prague and Ostrava, an increase that is likely to continue.

Jo Nesbø will meet Czech readers this afternoon  afternoon at the Edison Filmhub cinema to present his new book, "Rat Island," iDnes reports. The Norwegian writer is best known for his book thrillers whose main character is detective Harry Hole, a "cynical, alcoholic detective in the Oslo police department," according to The New Yorker.

His books have sold more than 50 millions copies worldwide, have been translated into 35 languages ​​and published in 140 countries, making him the most successful Norwegian writer of all times.

The number of Roma people in the Czech Republic facing the threat of poverty increased from 58 percent in 2016 to 77 percent in 2021, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) says in its latest report covering 10 European countries. The percentage is slightly lower than the average for the 10 countries, which stood at 80 percent. Additionally, 20 percent on the Roma in Czechia live in severe poverty, a number that is the lowest among the countries mentioned in the report.

Starting today, Russians with valid Schengen visas for tourism, sport, and culture will no longer be allowed entry into the territory of Czechia. Czech Minister for EU Affairs Mikuláš Bek said yesterday that European countries should look for ways to enable the arrival of opponents of the Russian status quo for whom remaining in Russia could potentially be dangerous. Read more here.

A regional court in Ostrava sentenced Jaroslav Spáčil to five years in prison for extorting two women, one of them an employee in his company, the other his half-sister, Aktuálně.cz reports. Spáčil's logistics company EGT Express contributed a total of CZK 1.77 million to former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš's ANO political movement between 2013 and 2017.

The 26th edition of the Ji.hlava International Festival of Documentary will bring almost 100 world premieres and several retrospectives to its viewers, Czech Radio reports. The gala opening of the festival takes place tonight with a screening of "8th Day of the War," a documentary about the war in Ukraine.

The film was "shot with Ukrainian people who are living in the Czech Republic and shot only during 24 hours, at the very beginning of the war between Russia and Ukraine," festival founder Marek Hovorka told Czech Radio.