Czech news in brief for December 5: Friday's top morning headlines

President Petr Pavel will appoint ANO leader Andrej Babiš as prime minister on Tuesday after Babiš pledged to divest from his Agrofert empire to resolve conflict-of-interest concerns. Babiš said he will permanently relinquish control through an independent trust, with shares passing only to his descendants. The move removes a major obstacle to forming a government and follows Pavel’s insistence that the next prime minister clearly address business ties.

Students with the Universities for Climate initiative will protest on Tuesday against placing Motorists in charge of the Ministry of the Environment. Walkouts and marches are planned in Prague and cities including Brno, Ostrava, and Olomouc. Critics say Motorists’ leadership would risk public health and erode environmental protections. The coalition of ANO, SP,D and Motorists has nominated MP Filip Turek, who has faced criticism for controversial social media posts.

Another 50,000 hepatitis A vaccine doses have arrived in Czechia, but demand still exceeds supply, health officials said Thursday. The shipment includes vaccines for adults and children; however, pediatrician Hana Cabrnochová told Novinky.cz that it remains insufficient amid high interest and record infections. Prague accounts for more than 40 percent of the 2,880 cases reported this year; the most since 1984. Vaccines will be distributed this week based on clinic orders.

“Elch Emil,” the nickname for a moose that traveled from Poland through Czechia and Slovakia into Austria this summer, has been voted Austria’s Word of the Year. The 500-kilometer journey captured public attention as the moose roamed near the border of Lower and Upper Austria. It was later tranquilized and relocated to the Šumava mountains in hopes of joining the small moose population there.

A digital 3D model of Prague’s medieval astronomical clock will go on display on Friday at the Old Town Hall, allowing visitors to explore the mechanism behind the landmark. The interactive exhibit features a touch panel that allows users to rotate and inspect components, showcasing parts of the clock dating back to before its 1865 repair. Prague City Tourism and the Cesnet association have completed a two-year digitization project, covering over 750 parts.