Czech news in brief for December 21: Thursday's top headlines

Prague is reacting to the shootings that occurred this afternoon at Jan Palach Square, which have led to 11 fatalities (including the killer). The surrounding area, as well as Staroměstská metro station, has been cordoned off and is inaccessible until midnight. The majority of victims are thought to be students.

Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda has described the situation as a tragedy, likening it to the 9/11 U.S. attacks. "I'm speechless. All I feel at the moment is sadness. But as Mayor of Prague, I must respond. And reassure the people of Prague that they are safe," he wrote on social media platform X.

Following heavy snowfall in the last 24 hours, local authorities have raised the avalanche risk in the Krkonoše mountains to the second level of Czechia’s five-category scale for avalanche warnings. This indicates a moderate danger for hikes. The Krkonoše Mountain Service expects the warning to soon escalate to level three, denoting “hazardous conditions.”

Earlier today, the upper section of the Sněžka cable car was put out of operation due to strong winds. There is approximately one meter of snow towards the top of the mountain. Meteorologists forecast sustained snowfall this weekend, potentially triggering slab avalanches on leeward slopes due to a firm, icy base. Anticipated avalanches are mainly medium-sized, likely halting on slopes, yet the danger trend is rising.

Data released today by the Czech National Bank shows that the country’s foreign debt surged to CZK 4.5 trillion in the third quarter of this year, up by CZK 140.4 billion year on year. It now comprises 63 percent of total GDP. The private sector held 77 percent of the debt, while the public sector accounted for the rest.

The banking sector notably drove the debt increase by raising foreign deposits, loans, and bonds, contributing 39.6 percent to the country’s overall indebtedness. The new data underscores a significant upswing in external debt largely influenced by banking and non-governmental sectors.

The Czech Foreign Ministry has advised against traveling to Grindavik, Iceland, due to ongoing volcanic activity. Following weeks of tremors, a volcano in the southwest of the country erupted, prompting the evacuation of over 3,000 residents. Authorities deem this eruption notably larger than prior ones in the region. The affected area is closed for assessment by rescue teams and scientists.

However, the eruption – less than 50 kilometers away from the nearby Keflavik International Airport – hasn't impacted air traffic or road access. Icelandic authorities strongly discourage visiting Svartsengi, Grindavik, and the Blue Lagoon zone, emphasizing safety and avoiding interference with emergency operations.

According to a November election model by the Median agency, the ANO movement is projected to win the November House of Representatives elections in the Czech Republic with 34.5 percent of the votes, a slight dip from October. The ODS follows with 15.5 percent, showing a two percentage point improvement.

The Pirates returned to third place, securing 11 percent, up by two points from October. SPD support decreased by two points to 8.5 percent. STAN and TOP 09 would also secure seats with six and 5.5 percent, respectively. Social Democrats fell below the threshold with 4.5 percent. Voter willingness increased slightly to 69 percent.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a resolution, co-submitted by the Czech Republic, addressing human rights in the realm of digital technologies. Collaborating with South Africa, Maldives, Mexico, and the Netherlands, the Czech Republic aims to establish a consensus on applying human rights principles to modern technologies.

The resolution, unanimously approved by the UNGA social, humanitarian, and cultural committee, marks the first comprehensive initiative on human rights and new technologies. It encompasses various aspects, including digital development, freedom of expression, internet shutdowns, privacy rights, governance, racism, algorithms, artificial intelligence, and private sector accountability. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský emphasized the potential positive contributions of technology while cautioning against misuse.

This heating season in the Czech Republic faces delays and reduced consumption as households economize. The late start, commencing in mid-October, resulted in a nearly 25 percent year-on-year decrease in heat consumption in Q3. Nearly 40 percent of Czech households rely on district heating, anticipating increased costs in the upcoming year, especially from coal-fired plants.

Gas-heating users may experience discounts due to falling gas prices. Some heating plants will raise prices by 6-30 percent, impacting over 60,000 households in East Bohemia. Natural gas and electricity users, however, may see reduced costs. The evolving pricing structure aims to encourage energy efficiency measures.

In a major cyber victory, the FBI has successfully dismantled the BlackCat hacker group, responsible for targeting Czech companies like Newton Media. The attackers employed malware to encrypt data and extorted victims for re-access. The FBI, with international collaboration, developed a decryption tool to restore affected systems.

Companies worldwide suffered hundreds of millions in damages, prompting the US Department of Justice to encourage affected entities to step forward. Newton Media, a victim of the attacks, plans to utilize the FBI's tool. Recent statistics reveal that one in 39 Czech companies faced ransomware attacks, affecting critical infrastructure and entities such as Czech Radio and hospitals.

Striker Patrik Schick's hat-trick powered Bayer Leverkusen to a 4-0 victory over Bochum in the German league's final game of the year. Schick, returning to the starting lineup after health issues, scored all three goals in the first half, marking his second Bundesliga hat-trick.

Leverkusen maintains a four-point lead over Bayern Munich, who won 2-1 against Wolfsburg. Schick expressed delight, crediting his teammates. In another match, Václav Černý came off the bench as Bayern secured a 2-1 victory. Union Berlin won 2-0 against Cologne, with Alex Král making a 62nd-minute appearance.