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Summary for: Czech news in brief for October 23: Thursday's top afternoon headlines
Fiala meets Zelenskyy in Brussels
diplomacy Outgoing Czech PM pledges continued support to Ukraine
Outgoing Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the EU summit in Brussels today. Fiala pledged continued support for Ukraine from opposition ranks and gifted Zelenskiy a crochet brooch. Zelenskyy thanked the Czech people for solidarity and discussed energy resilience, joint defense projects, and sanctions targeting Russia to strengthen Ukraine’s protection.
environment Fiala slams EU emission cuts by 2040 'unrealistic'
Prime Minister Petr Fiala said Czechia does not agree with the EU’s 2040 climate target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent. He described the goal as “unrealistic” and highlighted the need to assess economic and social impacts. Fiala emphasized support measures, postponing ETS2 implementation, and requested impact studies for individual sectors before any EU-wide decisions.
weather Wild winds force cable car closure on Czech mountains
Sněžka in the Krkonoše Mountains was struck by hurricane-force winds today, reaching 123 km/h above the hurricane threshold. Cable car operations on the upper section were suspended, while lower routes remain open. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute forecasts continued strong winds in lowlands through the weekend. Temperatures feel below zero at high altitudes despite six-degree readings, creating extreme conditions.
culture National monuments welcome 3.8 million visitors through September
Czech National Institute of Monuments sites welcomed 3.8 million visitors by the end of September, up 7 percent from last year. Lednice Chateau remained the most popular destination. The visitor season runs until Nov. 2, with extended autumn hours. Ticket prices for 2026 will increase due to rising maintenance costs, though existing discounts will remain. The largest year-on-year increase in attendance, by 93 percent, was recorded at Zákupy Castle.
tech Email bots now open most messages
The share of email messages opened by automated systems rather than humans has risen to 65 percent this year, up 15 percent from 2024, according to Czech company Mailkit. Security scans, AI content detection, and anti-spam filters create false opens and clicks. Experts warn companies and e-shops to track inbox placement, clicks, and conversions for an accurate picture of engagement.
📊 POLL OF THE DAY
Czechia is now very strongly resisting EU plans requiring a 90 percent emissions cut by 2040, while the ETS2 from 2027 will charge fuel suppliers for heating and transport emissions to reduce CO2 by 42 percent by 2030.
