Czech morning news in brief: Top headlines for September 10, 2021

Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán to visit the Czech Republic

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will pay a one-day official visit to the Czech Republic on Sept. 29. The Hungarian leader’s press team confirmed the visit after reports of the planned trip emerged in Prague. Orbán will hold talks with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš on a range of topics including European integration and the European Union’s pandemic recovery fund. Orbán will be accompanied by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, who is expected to discuss investment opportunities and a possible high-speed rail link between Hungary and the Czech Republic with Czech Minister of Industry, Trade and Transport Karel Havlíček.

Sports biopic sets pandemic record at Czech box office

"Zátopek," a sports biopic about four-time Olympic champion Emil Zátopek, has emerged victorious at the Czech cinema box office as it continues to dominate ticket sales two weeks after its release. Directed by David Ondříček, the film had its premiere on Aug. 26, and had the biggest opening weekend for any film in the Czech Republic since the start of the pandemic. It was also one of the top five highest-grossing opening weekends of all time for a Czech film. The film had its premiere at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it was played during the coveted opening night slot. It went on to win the KVIFF Audience Award, selected from 109 contenders. The film takes viewers through the key moments in Zátopek’s life, including his sports successes and his tumultuous personal life.

Czech glassmakers win award for best project at Venice festival

The jury at the Venice Glass Week festival bestowed the award for best project on the Czech Artlines glassmaking company. The Czech glass artists won the prize with their “Quo Vadis?!” exhibition, beating 200 other projects by competitors from around the world. The Czech project included works from 10 artists aged between 28 and 68. Most of the pieces were created last year, specifically for the Venice festival. Members of Artlines said the award shows that Czech glassmaking still has a great deal to offer to the world. Venice, and in particular, the Murano Island, has long been reputed for its glass workshops. This year’s glass festival runs until Sept. 12, although the Czech exhibition will remain open to the public until Oct. 3.

Pensions to rise more than expected due to higher indexation

Pensions in the Czech Republic will rise by at least CZK 650 a month, and CZK 805 on average as of January. This is a greater increase than was expected, thanks to the higher mandatory indexation of pensions, according to the Labor and Social Affairs Ministry. All pensioners will see an additional sum of at least CZK 650, while many will get more depending on their number of years in work and the sums they paid into the pension system. Previous estimates from the Ministry had suggested the old-age pension would rise by CZK 458, based on the latest indexation rules. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová had previously said pensions would rise by nearly CZK 500. The greater-than-expected increase, which still requires cabinet approval, will be accompanied by a new CZK 300 monthly bonus as of next year.

Unexploded World War II bomb defused in Ostrava

Bomb disposal experts defused an unexploded World War II bomb found in the Ostrava-Poruba district. Local residents had to be evacuated from homes and schools over the incident. The bomb weighed around 100 kilograms. The bomb disposal team successfully removed the detonator, before laying the rest of the bomb on a special carriage to be taken for complete and safe disposal. The weapon, with a length of 90 centimeters, was found when excavation was undertaken to install a gas connection between local houses. Around 1,000 people in the area had to be evacuated in a 600-meter perimeter around the site. Bomb finds are relatively frequent in Opava and Ostrava, as the areas saw heavy fighting in the spring of 1945.