Czech news in brief for January 3: Friday's top headlines

Police have charged an 18-year-old man with the New Year’s Eve murder of a 51-year-old homeless man in Krnov. Authorities allege the suspect, aided by a 19-year-old accomplice, assaulted the victim and hid the body. Both are in custody. If convicted, the main suspect faces up to 20 years in prison, while the accomplice could receive a four-year sentence for abetment.

Czechia has reopened its embassy in Syria, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský announced. The move restores Prague’s role as the U.S. protective power in Syria. While emphasizing cautious dialogue with Syria’s leadership, Lipavský highlighted concerns over sanctions on officials from the new government. Czechia previously evacuated its diplomats in December during the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime amid a rebel offensive.

Czech President Petr Pavel extended condolences to U.S. President Joe Biden and Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic following tragedies in New Orleans and Cetinje. In New Orleans, an attacker killed 14 people and injured 30 during New Year celebrations. In Cetinje, a gunman killed 12 before taking his own life. Pavel expressed deep sympathy and condemned the acts of violence.

The first regular sessions of the Czech parliament are set for the third week of January. The Chamber of Deputies will convene on Jan. 21, with the Senate following on Jan. 22. MPs may meet a week earlier to discuss a controversial salary increase for senior officials. The Senate's agenda will include bills on digitization, refugee protection, and stricter rules for Russian citizenship.

Lidl opened its first outlet store in the Czech Republic on Jan. 2, attracting hundreds of eager customers. A 70-meter queue formed outside the Štěrboholy Retail Park location before the opening. The store offers goods in categories like household, sports, and textiles at discounts ranging from 40 to 70 percent. Lidl plans to expand if the outlet proves successful.

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute has issued warnings for ice formation across the country, effective Thursday night into Friday morning. Strong winds are expected in southwest Bohemia, and snow is forecast for west Bohemia, with up to 10 cm possible. Some regions may also experience weak ice sheets.

The Czech koruna weakened against the dollar, falling to 24.49 CZK/USD, its lowest level in over two years. However, it strengthened slightly against the euro, closing at 25.16 CZK/EUR. Meanwhile, the Prague Stock Exchange rose 0.19%, closing at its highest point in 17 years, driven by gains in energy and banking stocks.

Czech Post will increase the price of sending letters by CZK 2 to CZK 4 starting in February. Economic regime letter shipments will rise to CZK 31 from CZK 27, and postal orders will also become pricier. The company cites rising costs and a decrease in letter shipments as reasons for the price hikes. Czech Post has been making losses and plans restructuring.