Czech news in brief for February 6: Tuesday's top headlines

According to Michal Barbořík, head of the Interior Ministry's crime prevention section, cybercrime is rapidly increasing in the Czech Republic, with 11 percent of all recorded crimes last year being related to cybercrime. However, experts believe that this only represents a small portion of the actual number of cybercrimes committed.

Last year, the police registered 19,592 cybercrimes, but experts estimate that the true number is much higher. Barbořík also highlighted the various types of cybercrimes, including fraud, child abuse, and the spreading of hate. He also noted the growing trend of cyber attacks using advanced methods such as identity theft, human exploitation, and deep fake technology.

During a meeting with international representatives of diplomatic missions in the Czech Republic today, Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated that opinions on the conflict in the Middle East differ but emphasized the importance of remembering the aggressor and the victim. 

He expressed support for Israel against Hamas and mentioned the Czech Republic's ongoing defense support for Israel. Fiala also re-emphasized Czechia’s ongoing support and aid to Ukraine. In addition to security issues, Fiala said the Czech Republic was also focusing on the development of trade cooperation with Asian and African countries.

The Czech Ministry of Environment announced today that the country plans to obtain one-third of its energy from renewable sources and decrease energy consumption by one-fifth by 2030. Other ministries and trade unions can now review the updated Climate Protection Policy document. 

Czechia's goal is to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030 through the use of renewable energy, energy conservation, and phasing out fossil fuels. The country also aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, with a focus on increasing renewable energy usage and reducing energy consumption by 30 percent and 20 percent respectively. 

According to the Czech Ministry of Education, the deadline for submitting applications to secondary schools will not be extended past Feb. 20, despite a large technical failure in the online application portal (Dipsy.cz) at the end of last week. The decision was made in order to allow school principals enough time to review applications and plan entrance exam rounds. 

In the first three days of Dipsy.cz’s operation, almost 20,000 applications were submitted. The electronic system was introduced by the state to simplify the admission process, make it faster, and reduce paperwork. 

Mayor Pavel Novotný of Prague-Reporyje will stand trial after making controversial statements regarding Palestinians on a social media platform. According to Czech Television, the member of senior government party Civic Democrats (ODS) called for the killing of Palestinians and referred to them as "monkeys" following a terrorist attack in Jerusalem in December 2023. 

The ODS party quickly distanced themselves from his remarks, and Novotný later apologized and deleted the post. A party spokesperson stated that the ODS rejects all forms of violence and racism. Novotný’s comments sparked criticism, and he responded with further inflammatory statements. 

According to the APA news agency, two Czech climbers are stranded at 3,200 meters on Austria's highest mountain – the Grossglockner – after being injured by a falling rock on Sunday evening. 

Due to strong winds, a rescue helicopter cannot reach them until Tuesday. The climbers (25 and 39) are in contact with rescuers and are well-equipped; their health is not in jeopardy. The situation will be reevaluated on Tuesday, as the climbers have chosen to stay in their bivouac (a custom-made shelter) for the time being. 

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has initiated a coalition consensual procedure in response to European Affairs Minister Martin Dvorak's unilateral appointment of economist Petr Zahradnik as the coordinator for adopting the euro. Disagreements within the five-party coalition include appointing a government coordinator for the euro, opposed by Fiala's Civic Democrats.

While Dvorak views Zahradnik as an adviser, others, including coalition representatives, argue for a government commissioner role. The consensual procedure, outlined in the 2021 coalition agreement, aims to address broader coalition functioning issues and prevent disputes reminiscent of the "Slovak scenario" that led to a government collapse.

For months, fake profiles impersonating Prague Airport have appeared on Facebook, offering lost suitcases for sale in an apparent scam. Despite the airport's efforts to report and monitor the fraudulent profiles, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has ignored the issue, the airport said in a press release.

The misleading profiles promise to sell unclaimed suitcases and their contents for a small sum, but victims never receive them – falling prey to fraudsters seeking payment card data. Prague Airport emphasizes the airport does not sell lost luggage, urging people not to share personal or payment information. Similar scams have been reported at airports globally.

Renáta Kellnerová, the widow of the Czech Republic's late richest man, Petr Kellner, is reshaping the PPF business empire, shifting its focus towards the West. In her first public comments since assuming leadership, Kellnerová emphasized stabilizing PPF after her husband's sudden death and preparing their children for future leadership.

Under her leadership, PPF exited Asia, refocusing on Western markets, and achieved full family ownership. Renáta Kellnerová is now Central Europe's wealthiest woman, with a net worth of USD11.8 billion (more than CZK 273 billion). She emphasizes PPF's flexibility in making quick investment decisions and patience in holding assets, distinguishing it from typical investment funds.

Czech National Security Adviser Tomas Pojar emphasized the need for increased daily cooperation to elevate the Czech Republic-Israel relationship to a strategic alliance. While both countries share similar values, they are not yet strategic partners, requiring enhanced collaboration beyond the diplomatic level. Pojar suggested increased cooperation between universities and private companies.

Former ambassador Jiri Schneider noted the shared historical experience, emphasizing untapped potential in the relationship. Israeli Ambassador Anna Azari expressed the belief that Israel hasn't fully utilized opportunities offered by the Czech Republic. The Czech-Israeli Forum, addressing geopolitical cooperation, aimed to show solidarity with Israel after the October Hamas terror attack.

A survey by Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic, indicates that in 2023, men, younger individuals, and those with higher education levels were more likely to use artificial intelligence (AI). The study, involving 4,775 respondents aged 18-95, focused on AI usage for health information searches and trust levels.

Nearly one-third of respondents used AI systems like ChatGPT or Bard, 48 percent were willing to use AI for healthy eating information, and 32 percent for illness diagnosis. Despite AI usage, trust varied, with only 15 percent of women and 17 percent of men trusting AI recommendations, and the highest trust was observed in the 18-29 age group.