Czech news in brief for November 7: Thursday's top headlines

A new study has found that the Czech Republic ranks 23rd among 27 EU countries for housing availability and quality, partly due to high costs and limited construction. Around 1.6 million Czechs face serious housing challenges. Despite a slight improvement in affordability, buying an average apartment still requires 13 annual salaries. Rental housing also became less economical, dropping from the 3rd to the 13th most favorable option among EU nations.

The Czech National Bank announced that it reduced the basic interest rate to 4 percent on Thursday, aiming to stimulate weak economic growth. Five board members supported a quarter-point cut, while one favored no change and another preferred a half-point reduction. Analysts anticipated this quarter-point cut, which follows similar reductions in previous meetings. Since December, the Bank has eased monetary policy gradually, lowering rates from seven percent after holding that level for 18 months.

The National Monitoring Center for Drugs and Addictions reported that up to 600,000 Czechs over 15 used cannabis for self-medication last year, especially those over 65. While medicinal use rises with age, recreational use, stable overall, peaks among the young and declines with age. Between 7–11 percent of people used cannabis recreationally, mostly men and younger adults. About 4 percent used high-risk forms, with risky behavior most common in those aged 25 to 34.

Karel Havlíček, deputy chairman of the ANO movement, stated that Donald Trump’s election as U.S. president would strengthen the Patriots for Europe group in the EU Parliament, of which ANO is a part. Havlíček predicted weakened Czech-U.S. relations at the presidential level and expects increased pressure to end the war in Ukraine. He warned that post-war Ukrainian migration could bring security risks due to the trauma and combat experience of some veterans.

The Austrian Press Agency has reported that an 18-year-old Czech, injured while "metro surfing" on a Vienna subway, has died. Last Saturday, a 17-year-old, identified by the Czech Foreign Ministry as a Ukrainian with permanent Czech residency, also died from the incident. The two, along with two Austrians, were injured when they struck an overpass at Schönbrunn station. Vienna's Wiener Linien transit company urged people to avoid such dangerous stunts.

The Institute of former Czech President Václav Klaus (IVK) praised Donald Trump’s U.S. presidential election win, calling it a rejection of Democratic policies that, according to IVK, harmed the U.S. economy and worsened the migration crisis. IVK reiterated its 2016 endorsement, describing Trump's win as a triumph for "common-sense" citizens over political elites and "a defeat for political correctness and social engineering."

Czechs are on track to set a record for gambling spending in 2024, with deposits exceeding CZK 450 billion in the first half. Online betting surged during major sporting events, contributing to the trend. The Finance Ministry projects over 19 billion in gambling tax revenue. Meanwhile, about 100,000 Czechs face gambling addiction, with 208,000 opting for voluntary exclusion.

U.S.-based Advent International is exploring a potential sale of Czech drugmaker Zentiva, reports Bloomberg with a valuation possibly reaching EUR 5 billion (CZK 127 billion crowns), Bloomberg reports. Advent, which acquired Zentiva from Sanofi in 2018 for EUR 1.9 billion, is working with Goldman Sachs and PJT Partners to evaluate options. While interest from investors is expected, the sale remains in preliminary stages, and Advent may retain Zentiva longer.

The number of young psychiatric patients in Prague has nearly doubled over the past decade, while psychiatrist availability lags, Ladislav Dušek from the Institute of Health Information and Statistics reported Tuesday. Cases of child depression and personality disorders have surged, with hospitalizations for teens up over 210 percent. The city seeks to expand care capacity, but staff shortages and high demand continue to challenge mental health services for youth.

Actors Lorenzo Lamas and Robert Llewellyn will appear at Comic-Con Prague 2025, set for April 11-13 at the O2 Universe. Lamas, known for Renegade, and Llewellyn, famed as Kryton in Red Dwarf, will join fans for panels, autographs, and exclusive presentations. The event will feature cosplayers, YouTubers, and gaming zones. Comic-Con Prague 2024 saw record attendance, attracting 27,000 visitors in its fifth year.

Inversion weather with cloudy skies and fog will persist across the Czech Republic through next week, with temperatures slowly dropping and precipitation increasing by Monday, meteorologists report. Clearer conditions are expected in the mountains, where temperatures may reach up to 10°C. A shift to colder air and potential snowfall in higher elevations is forecast to begin Nov. 11 as southerly winds turn northerly.