Czech news in brief for September 11: Thursday's top headlines

Czech soldiers with three Mi-171S helicopters could be sent to Poland within three days, Defense Minister Jana Černochová said Thursday, after the Defense Ministry said Poland requested a special operations helicopter unit following a Russian drone attack that hit Polish territory this week. The helicopters will help the Polish army protect against low-altitude drones, the ministry said. Černochová praised NATO’s united response and said Prague reiterates its support for Poland while chiefs of general staffs finalize tasks.

Rents for older apartments rose 7 percent quarter-on-quarter in the second quarter, with year-on-year increases of 3 to 12 percent across all 14 regions, an analysis by house-search website Sreality.cz found. On average, a square meter rented for around CZK 270; Prague averaged CZK 404 per square meter, and Karlovy Vary CZK 184. The most sought-after layout of rental apartments was the 2+kk. The prices of renting small apartments means that many people can no longer afford independent living, Sreality noted.

Criminal investigators have charged Martin Dvořák, the former head of the Prague Transport Company (DPP), with accepting a bribe in a corruption case. The charge relates to the Dosimeter corruption lawsuit, which involves a corruption ring unfairly influencing Prague transit contracts for financial gain. The organized criminal group involved in the case is said to have been accepting bribes, laundering money, and engaging in drug trafficking. Police allege the group occupied important positions in DPP.

Finding a suitable partner is increasingly difficult, according to a STEM/MARK survey released today, with more than 80 percent of people in Czechia saying so. Most current relationships began through friends or work, while online dating is common but not widely trusted. Women aged 18–29 were the most pessimistic, with 96 percent saying finding a partner is hard. Zuzana Švalbová said social settings like trips and weddings help people meet potential partners.

Confirmed Covid-19 cases in the Czech Republic have risen sharply in early September, with more than 1,600 patients in the first week and nearly 1,500 in the first three days of this week, the Ministry of Health reported. Barbora Macková, director of the State Institute of Public Health, said the rise mirrors last year and follows the autumn flu epidemic. Hospitalizations remain low, with about 50 patients and three in intensive care. Experts expect cases to grow as colder weather favors respiratory illnesses.

Studio Marvil won the design competition for Prague Castle, the Presidential Office, and the Lány manor, Milan Vášina, head of the Presidential Office, said Thursday. The new visual identity features a custom new font called Hrad Display, reflecting Gothic and Plečnik-inspired styles. The redesign, replacing an outdated 1990s look, will appear across presentations, social media, and the information system. President Petr Pavel endorsed the experts’ choice. The competition drew 55 entries, with Marvil receiving CZK 1.5 million for implementation.

The ANO movement holds a strong lead in September’s NMS Market Research poll with 31 percent support, followed by the Spolu coalition at 19.9 percent and STAN at 12.6 percent. All three gained since August, while SPD slipped to 12.3 percent and Stačilo! fell to the 5 percent threshold. Pirates remain steady at 9 percent. Up to seven parties could enter parliament, with turnout estimated at 61.7 percent, slightly below 2021 levels.

The Czech Republic will send three Mi-171S helicopters and up to 150 troops to Poland after Russian drones violated Polish airspace, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday. The deployment, requested by Warsaw, aims to bolster low-altitude defense. Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the aid demonstrates European unity against Moscow. “Poland is our close and reliable ally,” he said, adding the unit could arrive within days under an existing NATO mandate.

Prague has enough land to house 400,000 additional residents, but restrictive regulations block needed construction, city planning chief Ondřej Boháč said Wednesday. He told a business conference that denser development would lower infrastructure costs and support services, noting districts like Vinohrady already thrive at higher density. Despite demand for 10,000 new apartments annually, only half are built. Boháč urged easing Czech building rules to address the capital’s housing crisis.

Obesity is a chronic disease that requires medical treatment, Czech experts said Wednesday, urging patients to consult doctors rather than attempt weight loss alone. A survey found 81 percent of overweight or obese Czechs never discuss the issue with their physician. More than 60 percent of Czechs are overweight, a quarter obese. Doctors warn that obesity fuels diabetes and heart disease, now the nation’s leading killer, and increasingly affects children.

Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša begins his tenure as music director of London’s Royal Opera House on Thursday with a new staging of Puccini’s Tosca. Hrůša, 44, is only the second Czech to hold the post, following Rafael Kubelík in the 1950s. His inaugural concert on Sept. 20 will feature works by Dvořák and Bartók, with Czech and Slovak soloists. The season also includes Janáček’s The Makropulos Affair.