Czech news in brief for October 12: Sunday's top morning headlines

Czech police are investigating deleted social media posts attributed to Filip Turek, the Motorists’ honorary chairman and proposed foreign minister, after Deník N published an archive of his alleged racist and homophobic comments. Turek denied authorship, calling the affair “disgusting defamation” and political manipulation. Police confirmed they are looking into the case, while ANO leader Andrej Babiš labeled the findings serious and plans to meet Turek Monday.

Prices for older flats in the Czech Republic increased 21 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, reaching CZK 78,978 per square meter. Quarterly growth was 2 percent, with no major city seeing a decline. Prague saw a 12 percent increase, with an 80 m² flat now costing nearly CZK 12 million. Experts say quarterly growth of 1–4 percent indicates market stabilization, while average mortgage rates remain around 4.5 percent.

The Czech army has been introducing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to improve operations, starting with a voicebot in its call center and AI-assisted cybersecurity. Officials stress the need to balance AI use with human oversight to prevent errors and ethical issues. Future plans include coordinating autonomous systems, such as drone swarms, and analyzing data from sensors and open sources, while learning from international military AI projects.

More than 100 volunteers and professional firefighters practiced building flood barriers in Prague’s Holešovice district on Saturday. Teams built roughly 220 meters of barriers up to 5.5 meters high, including in pedestrian underpasses to Stromovka park. The exercise tested logistics, communication, and water pumping equipment. Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda said such drills are essential to ensure Prague is prepared for potential flooding.

After the journey of Emil, a moose tranquilized near an Austrian highway and released in Šumava, conservationists warn similar incidents may recur. The group Česká krajina says Czechia lacks a key biocorridor linking the northeast and southwest. A new “bear bridge” near Jablunkov is planned, but experts say the country’s 25 existing ecoducts are still insufficient for safe animal migration.