Czech news in brief for December 13: Wednesday's top headlines

The Czech government will provide financial assistance of CZK 3.5 billion to energy-intensive companies to mitigate the impact of rising energy prices, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said today. The aid will reduce payments for renewable energy by an average of two-thirds for almost 25,000 collection points connected at high and very high voltage levels.

Fiala stated that the targeted assistance aims to support the competitiveness of Czech companies and protect jobs. The funds will be drawn from next year's budget and will be calculated based on reserved power. The government plans to discuss system solutions to prevent future increases in regulated energy components with industry representatives.

According to a survey conducted by Generali Investments, 60 percent of Czechs plan to save on Christmas gifts this year. Two-thirds of people will limit their spending on Christmas entertainment, with a focus on New Year's Eve celebrations and buying alcohol.

The survey also found that 70 percent of Czechs will not go on a winter vacation due to financial constraints. Additionally, 83 percent of respondents expressed concern about the upcoming consolidation package and its impact on their wallets, which is two percentage points higher than in the summer.

The Prague Metropolitan Court has scheduled new hearings in the case of suspected subsidy fraud involving ANO leader and ex-PM Andrej Babiš on Feb. 14 and 15. Babiš and his former adviser Jana Nagyová are facing charges concerning a CZK 50-million subsidy for the construction of Čapí Hnízdo center.

A local court acquitted them in January, but the verdict was overturned by the Prague High Court in September. The main trial will involve two expert witnesses and documentary evidence, following the reasoning of the High Court's decision to annul the acquittal verdict.

The number of legal foreigners in the Czech Republic increased by 455,305 to 1.12 million, accounting for 10 percent of the population, according to the Czech Statistical Office. Ukrainians make up the largest group of foreigners, followed by Slovaks and Vietnamese. Most foreigners reside in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region.

Out of the total, 70 percent have a temporary residence permit, with the remaining 30 percent having a permanent residence permit. There were also 2,456 foreign citizens with asylum in the country. The proportion of women among foreigners increased to 51.1 percent, largely due to mothers with children from Ukraine.

The Czech Republic is expected to see a rise in Covid-19 cases by Christmas and again in January, according to Deputy Health Minister Josef Pavlovic. While patients heading to hospitals have other problems and not necessarily Covid-19 related, there is concern about the increase in cases. The ministry does not plan any blanket measures.

The situation is similar to previous years with respiratory diseases, including Covid-19 and flu. The Health Ministry urges people to get vaccinated against Covid-19 and flu. Only about 3 percent of the population has received the Covid-19 vaccine this autumn so far, according to official data.

The agreement of nearly 200 countries at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai marks a historic step towards modernizing the global energy sector through renewable sources, nuclear power, carbon storage, and hydrogen promotion, Czech Environment Minister Petr Hladík wrote on social network X. For the first time, countries have committed to phasing out fossil fuels, highlighting the urgent need to address climate change, he added.

Hladík emphasized the global consensus achieved at the conference, where over 200 countries set goals to triple renewable sources and double energy efficiency by 2030. This agreement sets the stage for a greener and more sustainable future.

Six climate activists, including a man with Czech citizenship living in Prague, will stand trial in Berlin for causing EUR 115,000 in damage to the historic Brandenburg Gate during a protest last September. The group, associated with the Last Generation movement, spray painted orange messages on the landmark to draw attention to climate change dangers.

While the protestor from Prague confirmed involvement and willingness to repeat such actions, prosecutors allege damages exceeded initial estimates, and the six disrupted police response. The trial could influence further environmental demonstrations in Germany.

Over 100 countries at the UN climate conference in Dubai pushed through a draft declaration that would see the end of fossil fuels. The draft version is supported by the EU countries, including the Czech Republic.

The proposal urges transitioning from fossil fuels this decade and switching to renewable energy by 2050. While a historic agreement, some observers note it also credits carbon capture and natural gas. Approval is not assured as oil producers like Saudi Arabia and Russia must agree before the conference ends Wednesday.

Singer Aiko will represent the Czech Republic at the Eurovision Song Contest in May in Malmö, Sweden. She won the online national voting contest with her song Pedestal.

Born in Moscow and raised in the Czech Republic, Aiko released her debut EP five years ago. Her latest album Fortune's Child contains the winning song Pedestal an anthem about self-love. Aiko now has less than six months to prepare her performance for the international competition watched by tens of millions. A record number of fans voted in the national round of Eurovision this year

While Czech employers remain more likely to hire than fire in Q1 2023 according to a Manpower survey, their optimism has declined. The hiring outlook index fell to +5 percent from +10 percent last quarter. The survey of 525 private and public employers found 27 percent plan to recruit, up from a year ago when energy costs surged, but 22 percent may cut staff, vs 20 percent before.

Confidence suffered most in consumer sectors due to high inflation and slower growth, said Manpower CR CEO Jaroslava Rezlerova. At +5 percent, the Czech Republic had the second lowest hiring plans in Manpower's global survey, better only than recession-hit Argentina.

Russia threatened retaliation if the EU backs a Czech proposal to restrict travel by Russian diplomats in Europe's Schengen zone. The idea, backed by some as an espionage countermeasure, would "provoke our regret, as well as an appropriate reaction," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Zakharova warned of consequences for all EU nations that implement the "terrible" initiative. Though Czech minister Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský said the proposal may not be in the next sanctions package, it could still be included later as diplomatic tensions rise between Russia and Western allies over the war in Ukraine.