Czech news in brief for December 12: Tuesday's top headlines

The European Commission has introduced its inaugural list of crucial medicines, aiming to help member states prevent shortages. The move, the most significant alteration to drug laws in two decades, is part of a broader strategy to tackle medicine scarcities. Published by the European Medicines Agency, the list includes vital medications like antibiotics, painkillers, insulin, and vaccines against measles, hepatitis B, and tetanus.

The European Commission clarified that inclusion doesn't predict imminent shortages but highlights the importance of averting scarcities for these drugs. The list will undergo continuous review and expansion throughout 2024. A proposed solidarity mechanism for drug stock exchange among states is also under consideration.

Strání's Květná glass factory, operating for 230 years, will cease production by January 2024 due to surging energy prices. Cerva Bohemia, the factory's owner, faced a loss exceeding CZK 28 million last year, and the factory's competitiveness eroded amid the energy cost spike, expecting a CZK 14 million increase from 2022.

Director Marek Mikláš announced the closure, impacting 85 of 87 employees. The glassworks, Strání's major employer, faced closure concerns two decades ago and may retain glass production but shift to automated lines. The mayor anticipates challenges for the laid-off workforce in finding replacements.

The ČEZ energy company will receive a subsidy of EUR 308 million (CZK 7.53 billion) to transition the coal-fired power plant in Mělník to a new gas source. This subsidy, the largest from the modernization fund so far, will be used to replace the current coal blocks with a new steam gas source.

The power plant, which has been using brown coal since 1960, plans to switch to other commodities as part of its shift away from burning coal. The reconstruction of the power plant is planned in three stages, with completion expected in 2026, 2029, and 2030.

The Czech Republic's state budget allocation for research and development remained relatively stable at CZK 38.5 billion in 2022, a marginal increase of 0.2 billion compared to the previous year, according to the Czech Statistical Office. This marks one of the lowest absolute increases since 2010, particularly compared to the 2017-2020 period. Adjusted for inflation, funding for research and development has declined for the second consecutive year.

The country is falling short of the strategic target of 1 percent of such spending relative to the economy. The Ministry of Education remains a key contributor, allocating CZK 15.2 billion last year, comprising 40 percent of state budget expenditure on research and development.

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute has issued a flood alert for several regions in the country due to precipitation and snowmelt. The alert is valid until Thursday noon. Rivers in Bohemia, the South Moravian region, and the Vysočina are at the first level of flood activity.

Meteorologists predict that water levels will rise in the Pilsen region, the northwestern half of the South Bohemian region, and the Znojmo region. During a flood alert, it is advised to be cautious in waterlogged areas and avoid activities such as swimming and boating in the stream bed.

People raised over CZK 2 million during the three days of the funeral of Karel Schwarzenberg. The money will be donated to help Ukraine, which is facing Russian aggression, and to the charity projects of the Order of Malta. The exact distribution of the donation will be decided by the family in the coming days.

Karel Schwarzenberg passed away in Vienna on Nov. 12 aged 85 after being hospitalized due to long-term health issues. Last week, the public had the chance to pay their respects at his coffin displayed in the Church of Our Lady Beneath the Chain. Instead of floral gifts, people were asked to contribute to the collection.

The Czech Defence Ministry has registered more than 4,000 applicants for professional military service since the launch of the virtual recruitment centre, according to Defence Minister Jana Černochová. The ministry is pleased with the interest shown and plans to focus on recruitment next year.

The ministry is prioritizing the recruitment of technically proficient professionals and is making changes to the medical examination and classification system. Černochová also highlighted the introduction of a new option for citizens to participate in the country's defence on a voluntary basis.

Prague is allocating CZK 13.4 million to aid Ukrainian students in local secondary schools, primarily through the "zero year classes" program, co-funded by UNICEF. These classes, emphasizing Czech language and communication skills, aim to enhance integration into the Czech education system for young refugees from Ukraine.

Recognizing disparities between the Ukrainian and Czech systems, experts stress the importance of proper integration to prevent a significant group of youth in Prague and Central Bohemia from either dropping out of school or attending institutions incompatible with their learning needs. City councilors finalized the decision to support this initiative on Monday.

In November, the Czech Republic improved slightly in the European inflation ranking, ranking sixth among 41 monitored countries, down from fifth in October. The Czech Statistical Office reported a year-on-year decrease in consumer price growth to 7.3 percent from October's 8.5 percent.

However, the ranking was influenced by the cost-saving tariff effect. Excluding this, the Czech Republic would be 18th, compared to 16th in October. Serbia led European inflation at 8.5 percent, followed by Romania, Iceland, Hungary, and Russia. Nearby, Slovakia, Poland, and Austria maintained relatively high inflation, while Germany approached the European Central Bank's 2 percent target at 3.2 percent.

The Czech Republic witnessed a 25 percent increase in Covid-19 cases in the past week compared to the previous one, with nearly 13,500 infections reported. Despite a one-third decrease in testing, health authorities recorded a rise in other respiratory illnesses. Data from hygienists indicates 1,542 sick individuals per 100,000 inhabitants, with Covid-19 at 121.9 per 100,000.

Influenza and similar diseases increased by 25 percent, and all respiratory infections by 5.8 percent. Healthcare workers reported almost 10,000 positive Covid-19 cases last week, with hospitalizations rising by 10 percent. Experts note a heightened morbidity in respiratory infections but haven't surpassed epidemic thresholds.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský stated that imposing sanctions on the Palestinian Hamas movement is not a controversial point within the EU. France, Germany, and Italy have called for such sanctions, addressing a letter to EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell.

Lipavský emphasized that no one disputes that Hamas is a terrorist organization, making further sanctions against entities or persons associated with Hamas non-controversial. The ministers also discussed potential EU-level sanctions on Israeli settlers involved in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, with Lipavský noting a lack of concrete proposals and the need to respect international law.

The 27th Made in Prague Festival in London concluded on Sunday, marking the Czech Centre's 30th anniversary. The multifaceted event, covering film, literature, music, science, theater, and visual arts, showcased diverse Czech contributions.

The closing event of the festival, organized by the Czech Centre in London, was a preview of One Life, a biographical drama on Sir Nicholas Winton's humanitarian efforts during the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, starring Anthony Hopkins. Despite not being of Czech production, the film resonated due to its connection to Czech history.