Czech news in brief for December 29: Friday's top headlines

In response to the tragic shooting at Charles University's Faculty of Arts, the institution has officially cancelled the rest of its winter semester. Lectures and seminars are canceled, with the examination period remaining optional for students. The faculty building, where the lone gunman claimed 14 lives, will stay closed until at least the end of January.

Lecturers may hold voluntary meetings with students during the week of January 8, focusing on support rather than academic content. State final exams for students will also be voluntary, with non-participation not affecting students' academic progress.

Czech Radio's mujRozhlas app fell victim to a cyber attack, exposing the data of approximately 150,000 users. The breach, detected on December 20, led to the theft of email addresses, names, encrypted passwords, and program preferences. Czech Radio urges affected users to change their passwords promptly and stay vigilant for potential phishing attempts.

The company is collaborating with cybersecurity authorities to investigate the incident. The mujRozhlas app offers live broadcasts, podcasts, and more. Users are advised to monitor communications from Czech Radio for further updates.

As of November, household debts in the Czech Republic rose to CZK 2.24 trillion, marking a CZK 7.3 billion month-on-month increase, according to data from the Czech National Bank. Meanwhile, corporate debts decreased by CZK 14.7 billion to CZK 1.345 trillion.

The year-on-year comparison showed a growth of CZK 102.5 billion in household debts and CZK 55.7 billion crowns in corporate debt. The majority of household debt consists of housing loans, reaching approximately 1.741 trillion crowns, constituting nearly four-fifths of total household debts.

The United Cup mixed team tennis tournament begins in Australia, with the Czech Republic facing China on Saturday and Serbia on January 2 in Group E. The Czech lineup includes Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová and Australian Open quarterfinalist Jiří Lehečka.

The tournament format features three events: men's and women's singles, and mixed doubles. The Czechs aim to advance from the group stage for a chance in the quarter-finals against Group C or A winners. Notable participants include Novak Djokovic, Iga Świątek, Taylor Fritz, and Maria Sakkari, competing for a $10 million (CZK 220 million) prize pool and ranking points. The tournament concludes on January 7.

Rail traffic on the Prague to České Budějovice line has come to a standstill between Plana nad Lužnicí and Tábor due to two damaged trains, reports the Czech Railway Administration (SŽ). The cause of the incident is under investigation, and SŽ spokesman Jan Nevola refrained from confirming whether it was an accident.

Emergency services are on the scene, and passengers are being evacuated with the assistance of railway firefighters. Czech Railways has arranged replacement bus transport, citing damage to the traction line. Authorities estimate that transport on the line may be restored at around 1:00 p.m., though this is considered an optimistic timeframe.

In a hard-fought match at the Spengler Cup in Davos, Pardubice topped Kuopio 2-1, securing the top spot in the basic group and advancing directly to the semi-finals. Tomáš Zohorna's decisive goal in the 58th minute sealed the victory, complemented by a stellar performance from goalkeeper Milan Klouček.

Pardubice's assistant coach, Marek Zadina, expressed delight in winning the group and commended the team's dedicated effort. Pardubice will await the outcome of the KalPa vs. Canada match on Friday to determine their semi-final opponent as they head to the final matches of the historic tournament.

River levels in the Czech Republic are returning to normalcy after recent floods. Currently, 28 locations maintain flood levels, down significantly from a previous count of about 84 areas on Wednesday. Water levels are generally receding apart from the lower part of the Elbe River in Ústí nad Labem, where three out of four areas still face the highest flood risk. 

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) expects a slight rise in water levels in the lower section of the Elbe River today, peaking at night, followed by gradual declines. Meteorologists foresee a drop from the maximum level-three alert by Saturday night.

Czech national rail carrier Czech Railways (ČD) plans to reduce train services on New Year's Eve due to decreased travel interest amid new-year celebrations. The company will adjust schedules for New Year's Day, increasing the number of services but arranging trains to depart a little later than normal.

ČD urges early bookings for long trips and suggests regional routes, especially around Prague. On Dec. 31, evening services will end early on many lines – around 10 p.m. – with most trains resuming by 6-7 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2024. Despite reinforced schedules, ČD anticipates high demand in the evening of New Year’s Day and recommends considering travel on Jan. 2 if possible.

The Czech Police Headquarters' Internal Audit Office is reviewing police actions preceding and during the Dec. 21 shooting at Charles University's Faculty of Arts. With results expected by mid-January, this procedure aims to assess police conduct and response to the attack. The check is to examine the intervention and its circumstances, including how and when crucial information reached the police, how they evaluated it, and whether they acted quickly enough.

Additionally, the General Inspectorate of Security Forces is simultaneously investigating the police response, analyzing public input amid some criticism that the police were unable to prevent the attack.

The annual Epiphany charity campaign in Czechia that collects money for people in need will commence at the start of January, organizers have said. Volunteer carollers dressed as the Three Kings will gather donations in sealed boxes across streets, churches, and online platforms on New Year’s Day.

Spearheaded by the Charity of the Czech Republic, this event involves tens of thousands of volunteers and typically raises tens of millions of crowns. Last year set a record with CZK 166.7 million collected, surpassing the previous year's CZK 141 million. The event collects donations from Jan. 1 to Jan. 14 next year.

A fatal and large collision occurred on the D8 highway near Prague Thursday night, claiming one life and causing mass traffic disruption. Two vehicles collided around 8 p.m. on the highway near the village of Klíčany in Central Bohemia. Three more cars crashed after that, but with no reported injuries. 

The incident spanned 1.4 kilometers between Klíčany and another village, Zdibsko. All emergency services, including a rescue helicopter, responded to the scene. Traffic resumed at about 1 a.m.