The Daily Dozen: 12 things to know about Czechia today

Western Balkans | A key topic at a summit of EU leaders in the Western Balkans was illegal migration, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala tweeted. The Czech politician also said that the Western Balkans are a long-term priority for the Czech Republic, since "the stability of these countries is important for our security," as cited by ČTK.

Future of Sberbank CZ | Česká spořitelna received the green light to purchase the loan portfolio of Sberbank CZ from the Antimonopoly Office, iDnes reports. The purchase price is CZK 6 billion lower than its worth of CZK 47.1 billion, and the buyout also needs to be approved by the Czech National Bank. The Prague Municipal Court declared Sberbank CZ bankrupt this August.

BankID | Bank Identity plans to add several new features to the portal, iDnes reports. One of them, in collaboration with Czech universities, will allow students to apply for studies or exams. Another, in collaboration the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, allows users to apply online for any type of pension. Established in 2020, BankID can be used, among other things, to communicate with the state via the public administration portal.

Gender equality | A gendered ad cost České Budějovice businessman Jan Dobiáš a fine of CZK 20,000, Seznam Zprávy reports. His establishment put up a sign saying that it was hiring a waitress, which was a violation of the Employment Act due to being discriminatory against men. Spokesman of the State Labor Inspection Office Richard Kolibač said that in 2022 so far the office recorded 150 similar offenses.

Lunch money | Lunch prices in Prague surpassed the CZK 200 mark in November, and now average CZK 203, iDnes reports. The average cost of lunch across Czechia was CZK 179.30, which is CZK 22 more than in January. Jan Michelfeit from Sodexo Benefits said the price hike is likely to continue, given that many restaurants have fixed electricity and gas prices until the end of the year.

Make it legal | Around 64 percent of Czechs are in favor of easing or loosening the legal conditions regarding cannabis, according to a survey by Behavio for the Charter 420 citizen initiative, which supports the efforts of the national anti-drug coordinator Jindřich Vobořil. Additionally, 76 percent of respondents agreed with the regulated sale of marijuana to people over the age of 18.

Back-breaking work | Up to 93 percent of nurses suffer from back pain, which is one of the main causes of retirement from the profession, iDnes reports, citing research from the National Institute of Socioeconomic Research on Impact of Diseases and Systemic Risks. This is one of the main causes of professional retirement, as nurses leave the field for less strenuous types of works, leading to shortages in inpatient care units.

Covid-19 | The peak of the Covid-19 pandemic is getting near, Seznam Zprávy reports, citing former Minister of Health Roman Prymula. Still, that doesn't mean that the disease will disappear, but instead will remain for decades, and mutate into variants that are "significantly more infectious, but also clinically less serious."

Kafka on a bike | Czech manufacturer of high-end carbon bike frames Festka partnered up with illustrator Michal Bačák to create a bike inspired by the works of Prague-born, German-language writer Franz Kafka. The client who approached them selected Kafka’s "A Hunger Artist" and "An Imperial Message," as well as a number of quotes from Kafka’s notebooks, which were included on the bike’s frame.