Czech news in brief for February 19: Wednesday's top headlines

Czech household debt increased by 8.9 percent in 2024, reaching CZK 3.6 trillion, according to the Czech Credit Bureau. Housing debt rose 9.4 percent to almost CZK 3 trillion, the highest jump since 2021. Consumer debt climbed 6.6 percent, to CZK 618 billion. The volume of overdue housing debt also increased for the first time in a decade. Fewer people took out housing loans, but borrowers assumed larger debts, reflecting rising real estate prices.

A January survey from the STEM research agency found that Ukrainians are more acceptable neighbors to Czechs than Russians, reversing opinions from before Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Slovaks remain the most accepted, with 93 percent approval. Western Europeans and Americans are also widely accepted, while Vietnamese approval has risen to 71 percent from 30 percent in 2005. Meanwhile, people from the Middle East, Africa, and Roma remain the least accepted groups (less than one-quarter). 

Czech Railways transported 168.8 million passengers in 2024, a 3-percent year-on-year increase, nearing pre-pandemic levels. International routes saw a 12-percent rise, driven by new trains and expanded services. Growth was hindered by autumn floods in northern Moravia and Silesia. High traffic was noted on routes linking Prague with Germany, Austria, and Poland. Competitors RegioJet and Arriva each carried about 9 million passengers. Leo Express saw the greatest interest in connections between Prague and Ostrava last year.

Czech apartment prices rose 5.8 percent quarter-on-quarter in late 2024, averaging CZK 110,100 per square meter, according to Deloitte. The sharpest increases were in the Hradec Králové and Karlovy Vary regions, while prices fell in South Bohemia and Plzeň. Limited supply, investment demand, and high mortgage rates influenced the market. Despite a base interest rate drop, mortgage rates remained high, slowing real estate sales compared to 2023.

Since Russia’s 2022 widescale invasion of Ukraine, Czech humanitarian groups have provided aid worth over CZK 6.9 billion to at least 3.6 million Ukrainians, NGOs announced Tuesday in Prague. The funds, from Czech donors and international bodies, have repaired homes, rebuilt water networks, and supplied mobile clinics. Aid efforts also include heating repairs, refugee support, and education assistance for Ukrainian children in Czech schools. More than 396,700 refugees have sought temporary protection in the Czech Republic. 

The Czech Republic likely experienced its coldest night of winter, with average temperatures around -12°C, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute reported Wednesday. In Jizerka, temperatures dropped below -25°C. Clear skies contributed to the extreme cold, but warmer air from the west is expected to gradually ease the frost toward the weekend. Daytime highs will range from -3°C to 2°C.

The Czech government will review a draft regulation allowing the regulated sale of kratom and low-THC cannabis starting in July. Ministers will also discuss endorsing former Czech National Bank vice-governor Marek Mora for vice-president of the European Investment Bank and consider granting Taiwanese nationals free access to the labor market. Other agenda items include flood recovery aid and transport sector reforms.

Chamber of Deputies Speaker Markéta Pekarová Adamová (TOP 09) will not seek re-election this fall due to health issues but will remain party leader until November, she announced Monday. Defense Minister Jana Černochová (ODS) said she respects coalition negotiations on Prague’s candidate list and supports Pekarová Adamová’s decision. Černochová, open to various positions on the list, emphasized the coalition’s need for a strong election result.

Scientists from Czech and U.S. universities are collaborating on new therapies for cancer, severe infections, and immune system diseases, the University of West Bohemia (ZČU) announced. Researchers from Charles University, ZČU, and the University of Pennsylvania will focus on iNKT cell-based treatments, which could precisely target resistant tumor cells and provide long-term protection, potentially transforming cancer care and post-transplant recovery.

Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk presented the Czech edition of Plague Nights at Prague’s DOX Contemporary Art Center. The novel explores Ottoman society through an allegorical political story set during a plague outbreak. Pamuk also discussed his Museum of Innocence and his artistic work, which is on display in The Comfort of Things exhibition at DOX until April 6.