Czech news in brief for October 26: Saturday’s top headlines

The final Czech Airlines (ČSA) flight under its historic OK code lands in Prague tonight from Paris, marking a shift as ČSA operations move under Smartwings. Departing from Charles de Gaulle at 8:15 p.m., the plane will arrive at Václav Havel Airport at 9:55 p.m. Smartwings flights will use the QS code but retain ČSA’s branding. Smartwings, the majority shareholder, will operate ČSA’s two Airbus A320s and later four Airbus A220-300s in ČSA livery. Founded in 1923, ČSA is one of the world’s oldest airlines but faced financial troubles, leading to restructuring under Smartwings.

The 28th Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival opened with The President, a film on former Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová. Directed by Marek Šulík, the documentary captures her five-year term and premiered to a full house. Šulík, who knew Čaputová through her work as a lawyer, filmed over 350 hours of footage, narrowing it to a 109-minute film. The President will premiere in Czech and Slovak cinemas on Nov. 14.

Czechoslovak Group (CSG) has donated essential equipment, including power stations, diesel generators, and reconnaissance drones, to Ukrainian villages Staryi Martyniv and Zborov. The items were presented by Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová, who valued the donation at approximately three million crowns. Černochová highlighted the importance of aiding these regions before winter, given their historical ties to Czechoslovakia.

Employee unions at the Czech Ministry of Justice plan to protest in November to demand better pay, union chairwoman Eliška Hronová announced. This will be the first protest of its kind in the ministry’s history. Union leaders support a potential week-long strike, pending budget talks in the Chamber of Deputies. They argue that average ministry salaries are misleading, as they include management pay, with lower-level positions earning significantly less than similar roles in other ministries.

European Broadcasting Union Director General Noel Curran warns that technology platforms like Google and Meta are the biggest threat to both public and commercial media, citing their vast influence and financial power. Speaking in Prague, Curran stressed the need for media sectors to collaborate rather than compete. His comments follow debate over a Czech government amendment to increase TV and radio license fees, aimed at strengthening public media amid rising misinformation driven by artificial intelligence.

The Council for Research, Development and Innovation has nominated Milan Jirsa as the new chairman of the Czech Science Foundation. Jirsa, a leading expert in liver disease genetics, currently heads the Laboratory of Experimental Hepatology and serves at IKEM. The nomination follows the end of current chairman Petr Baldrian’s term. The council also approved an extension of the SIGMA program for applied research and innovation, supporting technology projects until 2035.