Czech news in brief for December 20: Saturday's top morning headlines

German General Maik Keller, NATO deputy commander for Ukraine, expressed cautious optimism that Czechia will continue its artillery munitions initiative supporting Ukrainian troops in an interview with Reuters Friday. Czech Defense Minister Jaromír Zuna said the government will decide on the program, which has delivered 1.8 million shells so far. While Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and coalition partners have criticized it, the initiative has strong support from President Petr Pavel, and deliveries remain crucial for Ukraine.

Czech skier Jan Zabystran made history Friday, winning the men’s super-G in Val Gardena, Italy, reports Reuters, to become the first male Czech athlete to claim an Alpine Skiing World Cup race. The 27-year-old, starting 29th, finished in 1:24.86, beating Swiss favorite Marco Odermatt by 0.22 seconds. Giovanni Franzoni of Italy took third. Odermatt, despite second place, extended his overall World Cup lead and now leads the super-G standings. In 2018, compatriot Ester Ledecká’s raced to victory at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, wearing low-ranked bib No. 26. 

Two years after a mass shooting at Prague’s Faculty of Arts left 14 dead, the university has upgraded security, including a reconstructed gatehouse, security foils on glass, a crisis plan, and a designated security manager. Despite improvements, reporters found they could still access upper floors with large luggage, reports iDnes.cz. Police say security is coordinated through a crisis system, with officers responding to about 250 school threat calls since the 2023 attack.

Christmas markets across Czechia offer festive treats at varying prices reports Novinky.cz. In Prague, svařák and punch cost about CZK 100 , langoš from CZK 200, and sausages CZK 160. Brno markets range from CZK 60–90 for svařák and CZK 140 for langoš, while Ostrava’s langoš costs CZK 150. Zlín offers hot drinks from CZK 50 and langoš for CZK 130. Prices differ due to portion size, quality, and location, with markets open through Jan. 4.

Three historic church statues stolen from western Czech churches in 1992 have been returned to Czechia after being recovered in France, police said. The wooden figures, including statues of St. Vitus, St. Diviš and a 17th-century Christ the Savior, resurfaced on a French online sales platform. Czech and French authorities cooperated on the case, with the artworks handed over this week at the Czech Embassy in Paris.