Czech news in brief for December 19: Tuesday's top headlines

The Senate's foreign affairs, defense, and security committees this afternoon unanimously recommended extending temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees in Czechia until March 2025. This extension, part of the Lex Ukraine law amendment, follows the Chamber of Deputies' approval three weeks prior.

The amendment also limits the stay of Ukrainian refugees in free emergency accommodation and introduces stricter rules in case of expulsion of people with temporary protection. To extend their status, Ukrainians must electronically register by March 15, 2024, scheduling an in-person visit to the Interior Ministry for a visa card. This card, crucial for proving their protection, requires a final in-person validation by September 2024.

Recent days in South Bohemia have exhibited unseasonably spring-like weather, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ). Meteorologists observed an eight-year temperature high for mid-December in Vimperk, South Bohemia, hitting 12.4 degrees Celsius today. Comparable warmth spread across the region, with České Budějovice registering 12.8 degrees. 

Temperatures have also been above average in the capital, hovering at about 8 degrees Celsius. The remainder of the week will also see warmer-than-usual temperatures, with maximum temperatures of 7 degrees Celsius forecast for Thursday and 8 degrees Celsius on Sunday.

The Prague High Court has this afternoon upheld ex-soldier Martin Sukup's 21-year sentence for aiding pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine from 2014 to 2018. Convicted of terrorism and group involvement, Sukup's initial four-year term was raised after a Supreme Court review.

The court affirmed Sukup's guilt, stating no doubt about his actions. If he returns, a new trial is possible but cannot escalate punishment. Discharged from the Czech army in 1997, Sukup joined separatists in Donetsk, serving until 2018. The High Court first heard the case last December, when it sentenced Sukup to four years in prison for his participation in a non-state armed group.

Firearms firm Colt CZ, previously Česká zbrojovka, has announced it will acquire Sellier & Bellot, a significant small-caliber ammunition manufacturer, from international firm CBC Europe for approximately CZK 8 billion. 

The takeover involves obtaining a 100-percent stake in Sellier & Bellot through a cash payment of USD 350 million and issuing new shares, granting CBC a 27-28 percent ownership in Colt CZ Group. Pending regulatory approvals, expected in the first half of 2024, Colt CZ’s acquisition aligns with its strategy of expanding into ammunition, complementing its firearm products.

The EU's average inflation rate dropped to 3.1 percent in November, although Czechia’s 8-percent inflation rate is the bloc’s highest, as per Eurostat figures released today. The 3.1 percent inflation rate is the EU’s lowest inflation figure in two years. The Czech Statistical Office, which uses different methodology to Eurostat, puts Czechia’s inflation rate at 7.3 percent.

This time last year, the EU’s average inflation rate was 11.1 percent. Hungary's inflation dropped to 7.7 percent, while Poland remained at 6.3 percent. Slovakia improved to 6.9 percent, compared to last year's higher figures. Denmark held the lowest inflation at 0.3 percent.

Czech President Petr Pavel has signed into law a Labor Code amendment that allows 24-hour shifts for healthcare staff and retracts doubled voluntary overtime for doctors. Health Minister Vlastimil Válek and Labor Minister Marian Jurečka drafted this response to doctor protests, which stemmed from the impractical 832-hour ceiling for voluntary work.

The protesting doctors also sought a salary increase threefold the average wage and Labour Code revisions. They will now see a higher average monthly gross salary of between CZK 5,000 and CZK 15,000. An agreement among health representatives, government, and state health insurer VZP was reached last month, securing an extra CZK 9.8 billion for hospital staff salaries.

President Petr Pavel signed the Czech state budget for the next year, revealing a deficit of CZK 252 billion, 43 billion less than the current year's approved deficit. The budget anticipates increased revenues by CZK12 billion to 1.94 trillion and reduced expenditures by CZK 31 billion to 2.19 trillion. The economic growth assumption is 2.3 percent, with a decrease in inflation to 2.8 percent.

Key budget priorities include boosting teacher salaries and maintaining social peace. Prime Minister Petr Fiala sees it as the best proposal considering the high debt and challenges. The opposition criticizes increased expenses and reduced pro-growth investments.

Police are actively pursuing the killer responsible for shooting a two-month-old baby and her 32-year-old father in Klánovické les. Recent information suggests detectives are searching for a foreigner who may have known the victim. The tragic incident occurred during a meeting in the forest, ending in cold-blooded murder. Evidence indicates a conflict between the men, leading to multiple gunshots and four fatal head wounds.

The police have created an identikit and are conducting standard criminal procedures, including scene examination and footage analysis, to apprehend the suspect. A witness, located 200 meters away, attempted resuscitation but couldn't save the victims. A makeshift memorial has emerged at the crime scene.

Czechia is approaching the epidemic threshold for acute respiratory tract infections, with nearly 1,700 cases per 100,000 inhabitants reported by doctors in the past week, marking a nearly nine percent increase. Positive Covid-19 tests also rose on Dec.11, reaching the highest since October 2022. The State Health Institute attributes the surge to various respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, and increasing influenza cases.

Deputy Minister of Health Josef Pavlovic anticipates a further rise in Covid-19 cases by Christmas and in late January. Hospitalizations exceed 1,100, primarily including patients admitted for non-Covid reasons but testing positive. Testing has decreased, but positivity rates are high. In Prague, some hospitals are limiting visits or requiring visitors to wear respirators.

Police in the Czech Republic helped foil a potential school shooting in the U.S. in November, reveals police sources. A Czech man had communicated online via an undisclosed social network with an American discussing an attack. The FBI alerted Czech authorities who found and interviewed the Czech. They then passed information to the FBI, who tracked down the suspect.

According to the police, the individual in question was planning a school shooting. Thanks to the cross-border cooperation, lives were saved, said Czech National Center against Terrorism head Břetislav Brejcha. FBI Director Christopher Wray personally thanked the Czech police for their work. The Czech who communicated with the American suspect was not detained or accused of any wrongdoing.

The Prague Municipal Court overturned the ban on a pro-Palestinian demonstration scheduled for Dec. 5, citing the slogan "From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free." The city mayor had initially banned the event, asserting the slogan indicated a call for the destruction of Israel.

However, the court disagreed, stating the phrase had multiple meanings and did not convey an unequivocally violent or genocidal message. The court also considered the lack of evidence connecting the organizer to radical groups and the non-imminent threat to the Jewish community at the proposed rally location. The decision emphasized the context of the assembly.