Czech news in brief for December 30: Monday's top headlines

Pilgrim sites and major Catholic churches across Czechia will join the 2025 Year of Jubilee, which Pope Francis launched on Christmas Eve. The theme is hope, with rites dedicated to hope and opportunities for extraordinary indulgences. Believers can earn plenary indulgences through acts of charity or pilgrimage. The Year of Jubilee, lasting until Jan.6, 2026, is a time for grace, forgiveness, and communion.

The Czech population dropped by 3,300 to 10.897 million in the first three quarters of 2024. Deaths outnumbered births by a record 18,300, according to the Czech Statistical Office. While births fell by 8 percent to 64,236, deaths remained stable at 82,550. Immigration helped boost population by 15,000. Marriages declined by 10 percent, while divorces rose 5 percent year-on-year.

Opposition party ANO became the third-strongest group in the Czech Senate after the September elections, and it gained a seat in its leadership. Despite ANO’s rise, ruling coalition groups maintain a comfortable majority with 60 out of 81 senators. Key Senate actions in 2024 included approving constitutional judges, pension reforms, and rejecting the Istanbul Convention. The year ended with a vacancy due to Senator Roman Kraus's death.

Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kalinak said Ukraine may need to cede territory to end the war with Russia. Speaking to TA3 TV, he stressed Slovakia’s interest in an immediate ceasefire and peace talks. His comments, alongside Slovakia's tensions with Ukraine over energy transit and a recent Moscow visit by Slovak PM Robert Fico, could deepen diplomatic strains.

Tens of thousands of skiers flocked to Czech mountain resorts over the weekend, drawn by clear, warm weather in the highlands despite lowland inversions. The Špindlerův Mlýn resort saw traffic jams as nearly 20,000 visitors arrived, prompting increased ski bus services. Eastern Krkonoše resorts hosted over 20,000 skiers, with 34 kilometers of slopes open. Liberec region resorts reported full parking and record turnout, with resort directors citing the best Christmas skiing conditions in a decade.

Six people suffered smoke inhalation in a fire at a panel house in Frýdek-Místek (Moravia-Silesia) late Sunday afternoon. The blaze prompted firefighters to evacuate eight residents. Paramedics treated six individuals, aged 25 to 55, on-site; none required hospitalization. Authorities are investigating the fire’s cause and assessing damages, according to Moravian rescue services spokesperson Lukáš Humpl. All victims are reported to be in stable condition.

A cold front will replace the inversion gripping Czechia on Jan. 2, ushering in snow and freezing temperatures across the country, including the lowlands. Daytime highs will struggle to surpass freezing, with lows plummeting to -9°C. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute warns icy conditions will persist, complicating travel. The cold snap may extend into next week, with Arctic air dominating forecasts.