Czech news in brief for January 16: Tuesday's top headlines

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) has this afternoon warned of a risk of extensive ice in the Czech Republic – excluding the east – from Wednesday afternoon (Jan. 17) to Thursday morning. Thickness may exceed 5 millimeters in several areas, with the Ore Mountains and Jizera Mountains expecting sustained snowfall. In the north and northwest of Czechia, over 7 centimeters of new snow could accumulate in 12 hours. 

The ČHMÚ urges caution due to the elevated risk of injuries and accidents in icy areas. Meteorologists have given Prague a high-level alert for ice. Most of Czechia’s southern regions have been given a low-level warning.

Police have announced they apprehended two men and a woman accused of illicitly crafting heroin from stolen poppies between last fall and this month. Aged 43 to 48, the trio faces charges of illegal production and handling of narcotics, with a potential 10-year prison term. 

As per spokesperson Richard Hrdina, the suspects scouted summer recreation spots near lakes and poppy fields. While engaging in daytime activities like swimming and barbecuing, they uniquely spent nights near poppy fields to secretly harvest. After accumulating a sizable poppy stock, the suspects, once dried, commenced drug production. The police also found over 200 kilograms of dried poppies on the suspects during home searches.

The Czech government has today announced that on Jan. 20 the new eDoklady mobile application that allows for a digital version of ID will become active. Initially accepted by central state bodies and select municipalities, the police will be obliged to recognize it from April, and labor offices or tax authorities from the middle of 2024.

Accessible on the App Store and Google Play from the second half of January, citizens can download it, activate their ID through the Citizen Portal, and eventually include additional documents. The app streamlines interactions with authorities, enabling efficient data management without paper forms. It functions both online and offline for identity verification, facilitating tasks like online purchases and flight bookings.

According to the Central Inspection and Testing Institute for Agriculture, last year's fruit harvest in the Czech Republic dropped by 26 percent compared to the previous year, reaching a below-average 121,946 tons. This represents the lowest harvest in the last six years. The most significant decrease was seen in apple trees, with a 27 percent drop and the lowest harvest in 12 years. 

Other stone fruits, including apricots, peaches, plums, and sour cherries, also saw significant decreases due to unfavorable weather conditions. Chairman of the Fruit Union of the Czech Republic Martin Ludvík attributes the low harvest to frost damage and a decrease in orchard areas.

Czech President Petr Pavel during his Israel visit expressed his admiration for the Israeli army's extensive aid to Palestinian civilians, citing their delivery of drinking water to the Gaza Strip as an example. However, he also noted that this aid often falls victim to destruction by the radical group Hamas, which aims to hinder Israel's image as a humanitarian state. 

Pavel believes this reveals the true intentions of Hamas and raises concerns about their treatment of Palestinian civilians. He emphasizes the importance of evaluating the level of aid provided to Palestinians and how Hamas serves their interests, or fails to do so.

President of the Czech Senate Miloš Vystrčil spoke at a commemoration on Wenceslas Square this morning for Jan Palach, a student who set himself on fire in 1969 to protest the occupation of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact troops. The event, Vystrčil said, served as a wake-up call for the nation to fight for freedom and sparked the eventual transformation from a totalitarian society to a democratic one. 

On the 55th anniversary of Palach's sacrifice, Vystrčil and other senators paid their respects at the site where a wooden cross stands as a memorial. Vystrčil emphasized the importance of remembering the significance of Palach's act and the value of freedom for a society. He believes that it was this act that ultimately led to the successful transformation of Czechoslovakia in 1989.

The archbishopric of Olomouc announced that the Italian police have returned a 16th-century book that was missing from the Olomouc Chapter Library for 80 years. The book, Postilla super Epistolas et Evangelia, was written by a Dominican friar and is an interpretation of New Testament texts.

This is the second time such an event has occurred in the history of the archbishopric, with the first being the discovery of a stolen statue in Vienna. Bishop Josef Nuzík, administrator of the Olomouc archdiocese, expressed his gratitude and praised the professionalism of the Italian carabinieri (a section of national law enforcement) in finding the book.

Czech President Petr Pavel, currently visiting Israel, criticized Hamas for violating principles and endangering Palestinian civilians. Pavel announced a Czech government allocation of ten million crowns for humanitarian aid, split between Palestinian civilians via the World Food Programme and Israeli health organizations.

Pavel commended Israel's efforts to minimize civilian casualties, blaming Hamas for hiding behind the population. He asserted that Hamas shouldn't be seen as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Pavel discussed varying views within Israeli leadership on a two-state solution. Economic cooperation, cyber security, and meetings with families of kidnapped hostages are part of Pavel's itinerary.

On the 55th anniversary of Jan Palach's self-immolation in Prague's Wenceslas Square, the Czech Republic commemorates the student's protest against societal resignation following the 1968 Warsaw Pact occupation. Ceremonies occur at various sites, including the courtyard of Prague's Karolinum, where Palach's remains were displayed, and Wenceslas Square's memorial. Děčín unveils a monument to Palach and Jan Zajíc, while Mělník hosts a photo exhibition.

Palach aimed to rouse resistance against normalization, echoed later by Zajíc's self-immolation. Initially suppressed by communist authorities, their memory sparked powerful protests in 1989, contributing to the regime's fall. Jan. 16 is now a significant day in the Czech Republic since 2014.

Czech ice-hockey legends Jaromir Jagr, Jaroslav Pouzar, and Igor Liba are set to enter the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Hall of Fame during the May World Championship in Prague, as announced by the IIHF. The induction includes Sweden's Kenny Jonsson, Finland's Petteri Nummelin, Canada's Ryan Smyth, American Natalie Darwitz, and Canadian coach Mel (Melody) Davidson.

A special award will recognize the Czech national team's 1998 Olympic victory. Jagr, a two-time world champion, Olympic champion, and NHL star, continues to play for Kladno in the Czech Elite League. Czech hockey boasts 24 representatives in the IIHF Hall of Fame.

Prague police are investigating threats against actor Ondřej Vetchý due to his involvement in a fundraising campaign supporting Ukraine against Russian invaders. Vetchý, a founder of the Group D association, which aims to purchase drones for Kyiv, has been targeted alongside other members of the group. Extremism and terrorism detectives are determining whether any criminal activity occurred.

The Group D campaign, backed by Czech Army Chief of Staff Karel Řehka and Presidential Office military section chief Radek Hasala, has garnered nearly CZK 40 million for the purchase of 10,000 drones. Threats have also extended to photo montages online, negatively portraying Vetchý.

In the Krkonoše Mountains, heavy snowfall has elevated the avalanche danger from the second to the third level on a five-point scale. The Krkonoše Mountain Service cautions against off-road hikes, emphasizing the very treacherous conditions at the third stage. With up to 160 centimeters of snow on the ridges, stability tests indicate reduced stability, exacerbated by recent snowfall and winds.

This marks the second declaration of the third degree this season. The forecast anticipates further snowfall with strong winds, posing risks of plate avalanches above a thousand meters. Previous instances of third-level danger led to six larger avalanches in Kotli during the Christmas holidays.