The Daily Dozen: 12 things to know about Czechia today

More banner waving by interior minister|The Czech Ministry of the Interior has unfurled a new banner bearing the symbols of a heart, Czech flag, and peace sign. The installation replaces a previous controversial banner featuring the Czech and Ukrainian flags on either side of an image of Russian President Vladimir Putin in a body bag and was created by the Dekomunizace group, ČTK reports. Interior Minister Vít Rakušan, who received criticism for his support of the Putin banner, shared a video of the new banner's installation on Twitter.

European Commission head praises Czechia|Czechs are “an excellent example of solidarity with Ukraine," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a conference in Prague today. Von der Leyen thanked the Czech EU presidency’s competence during its role. Over 400,000 refugees from Ukraine have been accepted in the country. According to her, the Czech Republic was one of the biggest donors to the attacked country, such as in the sphere of military equipment. Czechia has taken in the highest amount of Ukrainian refugees per capita.

Electricity savings for low-income households|The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has launched a new subsidy program for electricity savings. The state will provide money to reduce energy consumption to people with housing benefits or pensioners. They can get up to CZK 150,000. According to the site devoted to the program, it is intended to provide funds to owners and co-owners of family houses for partial insulation as well as renovations of low-income households, which are most at risk of energy poverty.

Mortgage rates at 20-year high|The average interest rate for a mortgage in Czechia is at one of the highest levels in 20 years. The interest rate for newly granted mortgages rose slightly to 5.86 percent in October, up from September's 5.83 percent, according to the Czech Banking Association (ČBA). Interest rates were also at similar levels in 2008 and 2009. Banks and building societies last month provided mortgages worth CZK 7.2 billion. This was a slight increase month on month, but compared to the year-earlier level it represented a drop of 82 percent, similar to September.

Czechs slashing their "fun" budget|Due to rising prices, almost half of Czechs intend to shrink their budgets most often in the areas of entertainment, eating out, and other leisure time activities said a study cited by ČTK. Roughly a quarter of people want to find another job and a tenth wants to change workplace, according to a survey for the company Patron GO among users of its application aged 18 to 50 years. Only 5 percent of respondents plan to use their savings.

Students want change...just not climate change|Today marks the first day of a multi-day environment protest this week planned by students around the country. Discussions, workshops, and lectures will be given inside and outside of universities to inform people of the worsening climate situation. Some faculties at the nation’s universities will cease normal operations during the protest; students plan to spend at least one night at certain faculties. Students came to the Faculty of Social Studies at Masaryk University earlier today with banners reading "Withdraw from the Energy Charter" or "Mr. Fiala, gas, coal, oil are evil." 

German cinema in your living room free| After a successful tour of cinemas in Prague, Brno, and Olomouc, the 16th edition of the German-speaking film festival Das Filmfest is coming to living rooms from Nov. 16 to Nov. 20. You will be able to stream – for free – two dozen selected feature films and documentaries, as well as a number of other films that did not make it to cinemas in the fall. The festival will include films from the renowned director Rainer Werner Fassbinder.

Scientists from the National Institute of Mental Health (NUDZ) in Klecany near Prague are launching another international study on the treatment of depression with psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic medicine. Researchers are searching for volunteers. The results of the first study were published in The New England Journal of Medicine. In the planned third phase, the researchers will examine the effects after a repeated dose.

Czechia lost in the final of the 2022 Men’s Floorball World Championship yesterday. Sweden emerged victorious in the showdown, winning 9:3. It is the second time in Czechia’s history that it has made the world floorball final. Floorball is a kind of floor hockey, invented by Sweden in the 1960s. The Czech Republic is currently ranked fourth in the world.