Czech news in brief for November 13: Wednesday's top headlines

The government has approved a major amendment to the country’s Criminal Code to ease overcrowding in prisons. The changes, the most extensive since 2010, aim to reduce prisoner numbers by up to 15 percent by imposing more fines and alternative penalties, especially for minor offenses like repeated theft or unpaid child support. Czech prisons are currently at over 96 percent occupancy in total. Alternative punishments like house arrest or community service will be used more frequently.

The APA news agency today reported that a 34-year-old Czech worker who killed two Slovak colleagues in Vienna in July will avoid trial as prosecutors seek his placement in a psychiatric facility, citing severe paranoid schizophrenia. In the incidents, he first rendered one colleague unconscious and threw him from a fourth-floor window, initially thought to be an accident. After a second fatal beating, Austrian authorities identified the Czech man as the perpetrator and extradited him.

The City of Brno and the Association of Business Service Leaders (ABSL) in Czechia have announced that Brno Business Services and Innovation Week will begin Mon., Nov. 18, at 5 p.m. and run until Nov. 22. The event will highlight Brno's growing prominence in IT and business services, with discussions on industry innovations and the importance of technology-related and STEM education. Data shows that one in six of the city's working-age population works in the IT sector, which will create around 2,000 new skilled jobs next year. According to ABSL, the fastest-growing services in 2023 were in the IT sector, specifically cyber and information security, IT support, and data analytics.

Consulting firm Deloitte reports that renting a 70-square-meter apartment in any Czech regional city now costs over CZK 14,000 per month, with the national average reaching CZK 310 per square meter. This translates to 21,700 CZK per month for a typical apartment, marking a 1.6-percent quarterly increase and a 5.8-percent year-on-year rise. According to Deloitte analyst Petr Hána, rental prices will likely continue to climb through autumn and winter.

Government ministers are divided on a proposed ban on energy drink sales to children under 15, which would impose advertising restrictions similar to those for alcohol and cigarettes. Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný strongly supports the ban, noting energy drinks’ harmful effects on teens and advocating for even broader restrictions on certain substances. Culture Minister Martin Baxa sees the issue as urgent but will decide after further government discussion.

Snowfall is expected in parts of the Czech Republic on Wednesday, particularly in central Bohemia. The snow line is predicted to be around 500 meters above sea level, but some areas in the north and northwest may see snow at lower elevations. While the snowfall is expected to be minimal and short-lived, it marks a significant weather change. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) forecasts more precipitation and potential snowfall in the mountains in the coming week.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala is attending the COP29 UN climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, from Nov. 11-13. He is expected to deliver a speech addressing climate finance goals and adaptation strategies. Fiala will also participate in several bilateral meetings, focusing on expanding cooperation with other nations on climate initiatives and economic ties. The PM also held talks in Baku with leaders from Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Pakistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Czech government is set to discuss a significant amendment to the Criminal Code today, which would introduce more frequent monetary penalties in place of imprisonment. Additionally, the Moravian-Silesian Region has requested an extension of the state of danger until Dec. 13 to speed up the recovery process following recent flooding. The extension would allow for faster damage liquidation efforts.

Despite a slight increase in average monthly salaries to CZK 49,058 in 2023, Czech teachers’ real wages declined due to inflation. While the government promised salaries of 130 percent of the average wage, this goal remains unmet. Women continue to dominate the teaching profession, and regional disparities in teacher salaries persist.

Czech high school students ranked second in computer and information literacy and third in computational thinking in the International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS). The study, conducted by the Czech School Inspectorate, assessed students from 34 countries. The results highlight the positive impact of technology access on student performance, particularly in mitigating socioeconomic disparities.