Czech news in brief for March 11: Wednesday's top afternoon headlines

The government repealed a 25-year-old resolution that stated that the flight plans of the President and the heads of the two houses of parliament cannot be restricted. The Prime Minister should now have final say on air transport priorities. The change comes after the head of the Senate Miloš Vystrčil faced criticism for using a government plane to attend the Paralympics in Italy amidst repatriations flights being organized for Czech citizens from the Middle East.

Hundreds of art students and members of the cultural community gathered on Prague's Malostranské Square to protest against the budget cuts planned by the Culture Ministry. Demonstrators called for the resignation of Culture Minister Oto Klempíř (for the Motorists), who said that while he understands their concerns, the budget is "the maximum possible." The department is set to receive CZK 17.6 billion this year, more than CZK 1 billion less than what the previous government had originally planned.

Allowances for new parents could rise to CZK 400,000 for any child born from January 1, 2027, according to a proposal by the Ministry of Labor, up from the current CZK 350,000. In response to the Czech Republic's fast-declining birth rate, the government has vowed to increase financial support for families, although experts are divided on how much of an impact such measures can have in the long-term.

A series of events, conferences, lectures and exhibitions will mark the 150-year-anniversary of the birth of Tomáš Baťa, the Czechoslovak founder of the famous global shoe empire. Founded in Zlin, south Moravia, in 1894, Baťa, has grown to become a major multinational apparel and shoeware company with a presence across continents.

Czechs are mostly annoyed by the lack of parking spaces, according to an Ipsos survey for Seznam Zprávy, looking at what gives locals the biggest headaches. Interestingly, this opinion is shared in both large cities and smaller towns. The lack of access to doctors and health services comes second, and the high cost of housing completes the top three daily annoyances.