Czech news in brief for September 24: Wednesday's top headlines

Director Agnieszka Holland's Franz, a Czech-German-Polish film portraying Franz Kafka as a fragile yet powerful creator, premiered today at Prague’s Lucerna cinema. The film debuted in Toronto, competes in San Sebastian, and is Poland’s Oscar nominee. Hollandová said she avoided stereotypes to capture Kafka’s outsider identity. German actor Idan Weiss stars in the two-hour pseudo-documentary. Screenwriter Mark Epstein said finding the right dramatic form, especially for scenes with Milena Jesenská, was the biggest challenge.

The Czech Senate on Thursday rejected an EU plan to cut CO2 emissions by 90 percent by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, calling it unrealistic. Senators warned the goal could harm competitiveness and social cohesion, with 52 of 63 present backing the motion. They argued that, amid current geopolitical tensions, the plan is too ambitious and relies on technologies not yet proven, aligning with the Czech government’s stance. Czechia has a high reliance on the automotive industry for its economy, and this partly explains its opposition to some EU ideas.

Teachers in the Czech Republic will receive a 7-percent increase in base pay from January, and teaching assistants will gain an additional CZK 2,000, Education Minister Mikuláš Bek and the education workers’ union announced today. The agreement is part of ongoing talks to ensure teachers earn at least 130 percent of the national average salary. Teachers' unions have repeatedly complained about poor pay, and also seek a 9 percent raise for non-teaching staff, with further negotiations planned.

Poor posture among Czech children is rising, with about half not meeting the recommended hour of daily exercise, the General Health Insurance Company (VZP) reported. Some 30,000 children now receive treatment for posture-related problems, a one-third increase over five years. Costs for physiotherapy topped CZK 77 million last year. Experts link the trend to sedentary lifestyles, electronics use, and insufficient exercise. Parents should watch for spine misalignment, pain, or breathing issues in their children, experts note.

Experts said July’s nationwide power outage highlights the need to modernize the Czech energy network. At the Green Network conference, specialists noted the century-old grid struggles to integrate renewables and new technologies. State operator ČEPS plans over 80 billion crowns in upgrades over the next decade, including doubling lines, building substations, and enhancing smart management. Experts stressed that renewable growth and battery storage must be paired with substantial investment to ensure grid stability.