Czech news in brief for December 31: Sunday's top headlines

Due to a rush of motorized tourists, access roads to the Giant Mountains resorts of Pec pod Sněžkou, Janské Lázně, and Malá Úpa have been closed by the police. The closure was implemented before noon, as visitors, coming to celebrate New Year's Eve or enjoy skiing, had already occupied all available parking lots in the resorts.

Tourists are advised to park their cars in nearby locations, such as Svoboda nad Úpou, and use ski buses to reach the resorts. The situation is expected to improve in the afternoon when one-day skiers start leaving the area.

As the year comes to a close, river levels in the Czech Republic have generally calmed down by Sunday afternoon. Although flood warnings remain in effect in 15 locations, the Vltava in Český Krumlov has dropped to the lowest level. Controlled higher outflows from the Lipno reservoir will continue until January 1, 2024, contributing to the water level in Krumlov.

Overall, the number of Czech locations with flood warnings has decreased, with minimal damage reported in Český Krumlov, where water flooded a few cellars and gardens. The Elbe in various cities, including Děčín, Ústí, Litoměřice, and Mělník, carried the lowest warning level in the morning.

Firefighters and police divers successfully liberated a cabin boat stuck for two days under the Tyrš Bridge in Litoměřice, after the Elbe River level dropped on Saturday afternoon. The boat will now be anchored by the Florentýna cruise ship, while a section of the pier remains at the river's bottom.

The Elbe level in Litoměřice has receded to level one, prompting the lifting of restrictions on the main road to Děčín. However, the road to Dolní Žleb in Děčín remains closed, and it is anticipated to reopen when the water level drops to approximately 420 centimeters, potentially today or Monday.

EU member states have agreed to incorporate Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen Area, abolishing internal air and sea border controls by the end of March. The breakthrough follows years of negotiations and Austria's recent withdrawal of its opposition.

The move signifies a crucial step toward fostering free movement within the EU. While concerns about illegal migration delayed this expansion, the countries now fulfill Schengen requirements. This development is applauded as a step in unifying Europe, with further progress expected in lifting ground controls.

In a letter to the UN Security Council, the Czech Republic expressed condolences for the victims of the war in Ukraine, attributing the responsibility to Russia for instigating the war through aggression. The document, published by UN Report on X, reaffirms Czech support for Ukraine.

The letter emphasized that Russia, as the aggressor, bears accountability for the substantial loss of life on both sides of the conflict. The Czech Republic declined to attend the Security Council meeting called by Russia, asserting its refusal to serve Russian propaganda and reiterating the call for Russia to cease the war.

Old-age, disability, and survivor's pensions in the Czech Republic will see an increase of CZK 360 across the board starting in January. The solidarity fixed part of the pension, which is uniform for all recipients, will witness this increment based on the government's regular valorization regulation. This change adheres to legal rules governing pension adjustments.

The average old-age pension is expected to reach over CZK 20,600 in January, benefiting over 2.8 million recipients. The fixed part of the pension will rise by CZK 360, aiming to correspond to a tenth of the average national wage. Total pension expenses are estimated to exceed CZK 700 billion from the next year's budget, supporting more than CZK 706 billion from the state budget and almost CZK 664 billion from pension insurance.

New York Rangers forward Filip Chytil has flown back to the Czech Republic as he recovers from a concussion, reports the New York Post. The 24-year-old center hasn't played in the NHL for almost two months. Although Chytil is anticipated to return to the ice this season, his last appearance was on November 2nd, colliding with Jesper Fast.

Having suffered multiple concussions in his six-year NHL career, Chytil, a participant in this year's World Cup, has been training alone on the Rangers' practice ice for the past four weeks. He is expected to continue individual training in the Czech Republic with his skills coach.

Albanian forward Indrit Tuci has officially joined Sparta Prague, as announced by the Czech football club. The 23-year-old, previously with Lokomotiva Zagreb, brings a wealth of experience, having played 105 matches and scored 21 goals since 2019. Tuci's six goals in the current Croatian league season rank second in the league.

Sparta Prague, the reigning champions of the Czech league, continues to strengthen its lineup. Notably, the team already includes Albanian midfielder Qazim Laci, who joined Sparta a year ago. The club maintains its position as a leading force in Czech football.

The salaries of top Czech politicians, including the president, lawmakers, and government members, will see practically no change next year, according to the Czech Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The government's consolidation package has introduced a minimal increase in the base calculation for these salaries.

Only the speakers of the two houses of parliament, the prime minister, and the vice-chairs of parliamentary committees will experience a slight raise of 100 crowns per month. The new calculation also maintains unchanged allowances for costs related to their posts. Municipal and regional representatives will see an approximate 8 percent increase in their salaries, with Prague's Mayor receiving the highest pay at CZK 168,785 per month.

A group of four foreigners operating in the Czech Republic used fraudulent text messages to deceive individuals into disclosing personal and payment card information. Posing as an international shipping company, the scammers sent messages about a supposedly failed package delivery, directing recipients to a fake website to input their details.

Leveraging this information, the fraudsters created virtual copies of payment cards, using them to make unauthorized purchases and withdrawals, accumulating nearly a million crowns within days. Police arrested the individuals attempting to leave the country with goods purchased using the cloned cards.