Czech news in brief for October 18: Saturday’s top afternoon headlines

Good afternoon, this is Jason with your Saturday news recap. Here’s a quick rundown of the biggest takeaways from today that add real value to your life in Czechia. Read on to learn more about Czech-Russian relations, an EU initiative to return migrants to Afghanistan, and more.

The revived Czech Centre in Moscow will focus on virtual activities, aiming to reach the broader Russian public. Czech Centres director Jitka Panek Jurkova said the initiative, starting later this year, will feature literature, music, language courses, and cultural content created with Russian partners, without polarizing audiences. No director will be appointed, but a multidisciplinary working group will oversee programming.

Why it matters: With diplomatic ties at a standstill, cultural diplomacy offers a non-political channel to maintain Czech-Russian engagement.

Twenty governments, including the Czech Republic, are urging the EU to coordinate voluntary or forced returns of Afghan migrants without legal residence or facing criminal charges. The initiative, led by Belgium and including Norway, calls for stronger EU coordination, possible EU missions in Afghanistan, and greater involvement of Frontex to streamline reintegration and reduce costs.

Why it matters: The move highlights rising concerns over migration management and security in Europe. Coordinated returns and better EU oversight aim to ensure legal compliance, protect public order, and relieve financial and logistical pressures on member states handling irregular migration.

A police exercise against an active shooter on Thursday in Varnsdorf mistakenly entered a neighboring school whose students were unaware. Officers later moved to the intended location. Authorities have apologized and will review procedures to prevent future errors. While no one was harmed, the incident underscores the need for clear communication and planning to ensure public safety during police exercises.

The Salvation Army’s Nocleženka program begins its 10th winter, offering safe overnight stays, meals, hygiene, and social support for the homeless. Nearly 240,000 vouchers have been distributed since 2016. About 65 percent of participants move on to more stable housing, with Prague, Brno, and Ostrava seeing the highest demand.

Why it matters: The initiative protects vulnerable populations during harsh winters and helps people transition from temporary shelters to more permanent housing, improving public health and social stability.

Dita Krausová, a Prague-born Holocaust survivor who endured Terezín, Auschwitz, Hamburg, and Bergen-Belsen, died early Saturday in Jerusalem at age 96. Her life story inspired the novel Osvětimská knihovnice by Antonio González Iturbe. Krausová emigrated to Israel in 1949, became a teacher, and raised three children. Krausová’s passing marks the loss of one of the last living witnesses of the Holocaust.