Czech news in brief for January 5: Sunday's top headlines

Meteorologists have issued warnings of widespread icy roads in Czechia, with snowfall transitioning to freezing rain on Sunday. Authorities urge drivers to exercise caution as untreated roads, especially in mountainous regions, may be slippery. Packed snow and ice are reported in areas like the Krušné Mountains and Jesenicko. Road workers are actively treating major routes, but freezing rain and strong winds could further impact travel and energy supplies.

The Czech Presidential Office received 426 pardon requests from July 30 to the end of 2024, after President Petr Pavel granted his first four pardons in July, spokesperson Filip Platos said. No additional pardons have been issued since. Pavel's pardons, the first since his March 2023 inauguration, included two mothers and a long-term resident. Czech presidents historically vary widely in their use of pardons.

The Czech koruna is expected to remain above CZK 25 per euro in 2025, analysts told ČTK. Key factors include inflation, monetary policy, and geopolitical risks, such as U.S. trade policy under President Donald Trump. While some predict slight fluctuations, significant strengthening is unlikely. Analysts estimate mid-year rates around 25.20 CZK/EUR and year-end rates near 25 CZK/EUR, citing economic recovery and central bank policies.

Czech doctors performed a record 952 organ transplants in 2024, surpassing the previous high of 895 in 2018, according to the Transplant Coordination Centre. Kidney, heart, lung, and liver transplants reached all-time highs, with heart transplants exceeding 100 for the first time. The number of patients waiting for organs fell to 923, the lowest since 2011. Regarding organ donation, Czechia uses presumed consent but considers families' wishes.

Czech households with open-ended energy contracts, about half of all electricity consumers, are set to overpay nearly CZK 10 billion in 2025, according to Kalkulátor.cz. Despite lower prices from suppliers like ČEZ and E.ON, indefinite contracts remain pricier than fixed tariffs. The average household could save significantly by switching. Meanwhile, electricity and gas prices for 2025 are projected to drop 10.1 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively.

The first group of Masaryk University’s 14-member Antarctic expedition departed for the Johann Gregor Mendel Station on James Ross Island this week, with a second 23-member team heading to Nelson Island on Jan. 11. Researchers from Israel, Italy, and Ukraine will join. Projects include climate monitoring, bird flu studies, and algae research. The expedition receives support from Chile, China, Portugal, Spain, and Uruguay.