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

Prague’s extended tram line to the Pankrác metro station will open Saturday, Dec. 14, the city and Public Transport Company announced today. The 260-meter extension, complete with barrier-free stops, aims to aid commuters during a year-long closure of Pankrác Metro C starting Jan. 6 next year. Future plans include further extending the tram line to Budějovická station. The project includes an underpass linking metro and tram access, set for completion in stages by 2026.

Former Czech EU Commissioner Věra Jourová will become the next vice rector of Charles University, focusing on human resources and new technologies, starting in January. Approved by the Academic Senate on Friday, Jourová also pledged her salary to the university’s Resilience Fund, created after a tragic campus shooting last December. Jourová served as EU commissioner from 2014 to 2023, overseeing justice, transparency, and values during her tenure.

Czech President Petr Pavel signed a pension reform law Friday, raising the retirement age incrementally to 67 and changing the formula for new pensions starting next year. The government says the measures aim to stabilize funding for future retirees, preventing a potential deficit of 5 percent of GDP by 2050. Opposition parties ANO and the Freedom and Direct Democracy Party criticized the changes as piecemeal and vowed to repeal them if elected. The retirement age had already been increasing, usually by two months a year for men and four months for women. 

Czechia in the last few years has been experiencing some of its warmest Christmas-period days in three decades, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. Last year's Christmas Day had an average temperature of 6.3 degrees Celsius, the second highest on record. While snow fell in cities before a thaw set in, meteorologists say it's too early to predict this year's holiday weather. Historically, Christmas Eve temperatures have ranged from below freezing in 2007 to a high of 14.5 degrees Celsius.

Slavia Prague football club has denied accusations of racism from Anderlecht following a 2:1 Europa League loss on Thursday night. Anderlecht coach David Hubert claimed defender Mathias Jorgensen faced racial insults during the match. Slavia stated the allegations are unfounded, stressing its commitment to anti-racism efforts. The club explained that a raised voice in Czech was misinterpreted and emphasized its long-standing stance against intolerance. Sparta Prague football club have also in the past had racism-accusation issues.

 Czech EU Commissioner Jozef Sikela, in charge of international partnerships, said today that he aims to help developing nations, like Mauritania, combat migration by fostering job creation and sustainable economic development. Sikela's upcoming visit to Mauritania on December 18 will include discussions on EU-backed projects and migration issues. He stressed that local production and global trade access can alleviate migration's root causes, including despair and lack of opportunity.

In Brussels Tuesday, Czech Interior Minister Vít Rakušan emphasized that internal Schengen border checks must remain temporary, urging stronger EU external border protection and improved return policies. Germany and other nations have reinstated internal checks, citing migration and security concerns. Rakušan welcomed Bulgaria and Romania’s full Schengen membership, highlighting its importance for European integration. On Syria, he called for a coordinated EU response to recent political shifts, including potential refugee returns.

Prague’s City Assembly announced Wednesday that it will purchase the historic Zizkov Freight Station and adjacent land from Czech Railways for CZK 1.43 billion. The city plans to revitalize the 1930s functionalist building into a cultural hub with schools, offices, and housing. A tram line will connect the site to public transport. The project supports a new district for 15,000 residents, preserving heritage while accommodating modern development needs.

Police in the Liberec region culled 44 wild boars amid efforts to curb African swine fever, but hunters argue the operation, costing CZK 14 million, was no more effective than traditional hunting methods. Hunters claim to have already exceeded the police's results in prior months. Disruptive incidents during the operation prompted criminal investigations. Authorities emphasize the importance of targeting adult boars to reduce reproduction, while veterinarians monitor disease spread in the region.

According to the Czech Banking Association, Czech banks and building societies issued mortgages worth CZK 26.1 billion in November, marking a 1 percent decline from October but a 62 percent year-on-year increase. Interest rates dropped slightly to 4.85 percent. Newly issued mortgages reached CZK 21.6 billion, with 5,620 loans issued, up 35 percent from last year. The average mortgage value rose to CZK 3.84 million as demand remained stable amidst gradual rate decreases.

Liberec officials approved a rounded design for the new Ještěd cable car cabin, created by designer Anna Marešová. The silver cabin features a windowed floor and lighting effects resembling a "landing UFO." The cable car, replacing one that collapsed in 2021, is expected by 2029. Financing remains unsettled, with projected costs of CZK 360–440 million. Plans include increased capacity and an extended route to Horní Hanychov’s tram terminus.

The Geminid meteor shower peaks tonight, offering stargazers fewer meteors due to the nearly full Moon's brightness. Meteors will be most visible between midnight and 4 a.m., with up to 40 per hour expected under optimal conditions. The radiant lies in the Gemini constellation, and meteors are best viewed away from its direction. Despite the moonlight, astronomers encourage viewing the bright, slow-moving meteors for a final celestial show in 2024.