Czech news in brief for December 28: Thursday's top headlines

The Chamber of Deputies is currently debating an updated version of Czechia’s Weapons and Ammunition Act, which would grant doctors access to a central weapons register, aiming to confirm patients' firearm licenses. At present, general practitioners issue opinions for licenses, with psychologists occasionally consulted. 

Recent coverage in Czech media has linked last Thursday’s Charles University shooting to the shooter's psychological illness, with questions raised as to how the perpetrator was given clearance to own multiple firearms. Interior Minister Vít Rakušan highlights doctors' registry access as pivotal for the future following last week.

The Dvůr Králové Safari Park, Czechia’s second-largest zoo, has said today that in 2023 it welcomed six endangered newborn Rothschild's giraffes, marking the highest number among the 26 born globally in zoos this year. 

The 17 giraffes now living in the Dvůr Králové zoo hold significant global importance to the giraffe population, the park says. This type of breed is one of the most endangered distinct populations of giraffes globally, with 1,399 estimated in the wild in 2018. Over 500 Rothschild giraffes reside in zoos worldwide.

The Czech National Library, Dilia, and OOA-S – organizations that represent authors – have extended free access for a further three years to digitized Czech publications. This agreement covers over 150,000 copyrighted titles not available on the book market, but crucial for research. 

The National Digital Library will provide continued accessibility for registered users, particularly focusing on Czech books published pre-2003. There will be a particularly large focus on modern Bohemian studies. This extension means that students, teachers, researchers, and the public can utilize these valuable resources without charge until 2026.

According to analysts, energy prices are expected to stabilize next year, avoiding previous substantial fluctuations. While a slight further decrease might occur under favorable conditions, prices won't revert to pre-2020 levels. Last year's record-high wholesale electricity and gas prices have gradually declined, with upcoming electricity contracts at their cheapest since summer 2021. 

Analyst Jiří Tyleček of financial firm XTB attributes these reduced prices to slow European economic growth, warmer weather, and increased allowance volumes. Expectations for significantly better prices in the coming year are restrained, with a potential rise in pressure on energy prices in the latter half of the year due to anticipated economic revival in Central European countries, prompting consideration for long-term energy price fixing.

The Czech Statistical Office (CZSO) highlighted in a social media post on X today that the return of Czech industry to pre-Covid-19 growth is now “unattainable” for the foreseeable future. The CZSO says that the global pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war significantly altered Czech industry dynamics, disrupting the prior 4.5 percent average yearly growth from 2014 to 2018. This change has stemmed largely from weakened domestic demand. 

Industrial production, previously stable at 3 to 6 percent growth, halted in 2019 due to automotive industry troubles such as a lack of chips and supply-side problems.

Central Bohemian police are probing two cases involving people from Kolín and Mladá Boleslav endorsing the shooting at Prague's Charles University Faculty of Arts on social media. They face potential two-year sentences for inciting the crime. Another inquiry in Jablonec nad Nisou (Liberec) concerns a 24-year-old potentially facing a year in jail for praising the massacre. 

Czech police are handling around 70 related cases nationwide post the tragic incident – they know the identities of about half. Directly after last Thursday’s shooting, they arrested four people who said they would emulate the actions of the shooter.

This morning, the Czech Republic faced flood alerts in 40 areas, with the highest danger persisting in four places along the Elbe. Rising water levels in the Vltava at Český Krumlov were due to the Lipno dam discharge. Nine areas lowered their flood alert level by 8 a.m., per the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. 

Meteorologists warned of river flooding around the Elbe, Morava, Vltava, and Ohře rivers. While most waters receded overnight, the lower Elbe showed a slight rise. Specific regions like Děčín, Ústí nad Labem, Litoměřice, and Kostelec nad Labem faced significant flood risks. Overall, 26 areas had the lowest flood alert.

The Czech Republic anticipates cloudy skies with rain showers and temperatures above freezing, even at night, through to the year's end. Mountain regions may experience snowfall. Weekend temperatures will hover around 10 degrees Celsius, becoming slightly cooler on New Year's Day. The capital will see maximum temperatures of 9 degrees Celsius on Friday and 6 degrees Celsius on Dec. 31.

Clear to partly clear skies may persist today, with increasing cloud cover leading to scattered showers, mainly in the northwest. Expect consistently overcast skies as the new year begins. Rainfall, occasionally drizzly, is forecasted for Friday, expanding to widespread showers on Saturday and lingering into next week. Higher altitudes might see snow, primarily in the north and northeast.

International police instructor Pavel Černý has argued against relying on barriers, checkpoints, or widespread weapon bans to prevent future incidents like the Prague Faculty of Arts shooting. He believes such measures create vulnerable queues and merely shift the threat to different targets nearby, like shopping centers or public spaces.

Instead, Černý advocates for modern security training to prepare for evolving threats. He highlights that implementing excessive security measures limits normal life without effectively disarming potential attackers. Addressing the futility of checkpoints, he notes they could inadvertently concentrate targets, making them easier for assailants.