Czech news in brief for August 27: Thursday's top afternoon headlines

The threat of terrorist attacks in the Czech Republic remains low, according to the annual report released this week by the BIS counter-intelligence agency, nevertheless warning against the online radicalization of young people. According to the yearly report, Czechia's radical-right extremist scene also does not pose a significant security threat to the society.

Russia and China in the spotlight. BIS's annual analysis also identifies Russia and China as the two main perpetrators of cyber-espionage activities in the Czech Republic, with Beijing specifically accused of using experts and academics to push China-friendly narratives in the public discourse.

President Petr Pavel today signed into law a government-backed bill to reform internal proceedings in the Chamber of Deputies - the lower house of Parliament - meant to curtail gerrymandering and obstructionist practices.

More details. Among the changes, there will be stricter time limits to the speeches of lawmakers when putting forward amendments, and the Chamber of Deputies will also have more powers to limit the speaking time of MPs with priority rights.

In line with Czechia's plummeting birth rate, the number of children enrolled in Czech kindergartens is continuing to fall this year, dropping below 350,000 for the first time since 2012, according to the latest data released by the Czech statistical office (CZSO).

Long-term trend. According to experts, the trend is set to continue in the coming years after the birth rate reached its all-time low last year, with less than 80,000 children born in the Czech Republic in 2025.

Czechia's largest brewery Plzeňský Prazdroj will increase the price of draft beers served in kegs and tanks by 2.6 percent in October - the first such increase to the globally famous Pilsner lager since 2023.

Time will tell. It's still unclear how bars and restaurants will reflect the new prices, or whether Pilsner's competition will follow suit. "The final price is always up to the decision of the people selling the beer," a spokesman for the brewery said.

Czech police evacuated the entire Old Town Square in Prague earlier today after receiving an anonymous bomb threat against the astronomical clock. "In the morning hours, we received a notification about the presence of an explosive device on the premises of the astronomical clock," said Prague police spokesman Richard Hrdina.

False scare. Quickly called to the scene, a pyrotechnic inspection found no bomb in the building, and preventive measures were lifted around noon.