Czech news in brief for November 2: Sunday's top morning headlines

Czechs are visiting cemeteries today to honor deceased relatives on All Souls’ Day, known locally as Dušičky. People light candles and lay wreaths, while churches hold masses for the dead. Police are reinforcing patrols near cemeteries due to crowds and traffic. The Catholic commemoration, tracing its roots to Cluny Abbey in the 10th century, follows All Saints’ Day and reflects autumn traditions of remembrance.

Unusually warm weather marked the start of November in Czechia, with 11 of 170 long-term monitoring stations reporting new temperature records, mainly in Moravia and Silesia. The highest reading was 20.7 degrees Celsius in Karviná. Ostrava-Poruba reached a record 20 degrees, surpassing the 2018 mark. According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, temperatures will drop to 9–14 degrees on Sunday and below 12 degrees Monday.

The incoming coalition of ANO, SPD, and the Motorists intends to increase funding for science and make R&D tax deductions more attractive, according to its draft programme statement sent to President Petr Pavel. The government plans to revise the M2017+ research evaluation system, remove the science minister post, and strengthen the Government Council for Science, Research and Innovation under the prime minister’s oversight. Specific spending measures have not yet been detailed.

Vitaly Mansky’s Time to the Target, depicting life in Lviv under the shadow of war, won the Czech Joy competition at the Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival. Polish filmmaker Natalia Koniarz’s Silver, about Bolivian miners, took the top Opus Bonum prize. Bolivian collective Grupo Ukamau received the award for contribution to world cinema. The festival runs through Nov. 2, with films later available online.

Czech Kateřina Siniaková and American Taylor Townsend begin their WTA Finals campaign today in Riyadh, facing Tímea Babos and Luisa Stefani. The second-seeded duo, last year’s finalists, aim for Siniaková’s second career title at the event. The 29-year-old could also reclaim the world No. 1 doubles ranking if she wins at least two matches or if Italian rivals Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini fail to go undefeated.