General News selection of the 41st week (7-13 October)

* The Nobel Peace Prize for 2024 has been awarded to the Japanese organisation Nihon Hidankyo

This grassroots movement of survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, also known as Hibakusha, wins the Peace Prize for its efforts to achieve a world without nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through testimonies that nuclear weapons must never be used again. (more here)

* A genius healer or a charlatan? Vincenz Priessnitz healed patients with hydrotherapy and by changing his mind in accordance with the laws of nature

"Water Doctor" Vincenz Priessnitz, the founder of the world's first hydrotherapeutic baths, was so well known in the first half of the 19th century that he received a letter from South America, which on the envelope read: Vincenz Priessnitz - Europe. (more here)

* Donald Trump rejects another round of debates with Kamala Harris

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has refused to participate in the next round of debates with his Democratic opponent, US Vice President Kamala Harris. (more here)

* Czech Republic re-elected to the UN Human Rights Council

The UN General Assembly today elected the Czech Republic for the period 2025-2027 by a majority of 166 votes. The Czech membership of the Council ended in 2023. The renewed membership, which will begin on 1 January 2025, will be the fifth in a row.(more here)

* Unemployment rose slightly to 3.9 %. As of 30 September, the ÚP registered a total of 290,905 job seekers, 4,585 more than in August

The most significant factor influencing the labour market in September is the arrival of fresh school graduates, with 3,023 of them in September alone. The Labour Office records a total of 14,217 graduates, including 13 % university graduates. (more here)

* Two applications for membership in BRICS: Cuba and Syria

"Cuba has already sent an official request to become a BRICS partner," Russian Ambassador to Havana Viktor Coronelli told a TASS correspondent. "Syria has applied to join BRICS," said the country's ambassador to Russia, Bashar Jaafari. (more here)