Czech news in brief for September 10: Thursday's top afternoon headlines recap

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš is in Slovakia today to attend a summit between the Visegrad Group, the grouping of Central European states, plus Ireland. In Bratislava, the Czech PM welcomed what he described as the V4 regaining a strong voice within the European Union. "This region is the safest in Europe, it has solved illegal migration," Babiš claimed, taking a swing at other EU states on the issue of migration. "They didn't listen to us. Now, after ten years, they have woken up, but for some it is already too late," he argued.

Gasoline prices in Czechia have risen to their highest level since August 2022, according to CSS, a company that tracks fuel costs. The average price of Natural 95 has increased to more than CZK 44 per liter, while diesel is nearing CZK 50 a liter. Petrol and diesel cost CZK 10.50 and CZK 15.50 more than a year ago, respectively. Despite the record increase, the government on Monday decided not to cap retailers' profit margins for the time being.

The Petřín cable car will once again open start carrying passengers on Tuesday, September 22, after extensive two-year renovation works, the Prague public transport company announced. Designed by the Czech studio of Anna Marešová, the new cars will run every day at intervals of roughly 10 minutes, between 7 a.m. and 10.15 p.m. Single tickets for the funicular, one of the most popular attractions for tourists in Prague, will increase from CZK 60 to CZK 100.

The Václav Havel Library, dedicated to promoting the ideas and legacy of the late president, will be renamed as the 1st Presidential Library, its board of directors chairman David Dušek announced today. The move follows months of crisis and infighting within the institution, which led to the president's widow Dagmar Havlová disallowing the library to use Havel's name. The institution will however remain at its current address, on Ostrovní street, in Prague's city center.

Czech tennis player Kateřina Siniaková and Taylor Townsend have reached the doubles final at the U.S. Open, and will face the American pair of Robin Montgomery and Ashlyn Krueger for the title - the last Gran Slam still eluding their grasp. One game away from a career Grand Slam, the Czech-U.S. duo have already won the French Open earlier this year, the Australian Open last year and Wimbledon two years ago.