Czech news in brief for January 2: Friday's top morning headlines

Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Zvarych on Wednesday condemned Czech lower house speaker Tomio Okamura’s New Year remarks attacking Ukraine, calling them undignified and unacceptable. Okamura criticized military aid to Kyiv and echoed claims aligned with Russian propaganda. Zvarych said the comments insult Ukraine’s democratically elected leadership and contradict democratic values, urging Czech authorities and civil society to assess their compatibility with Okamura’s public office.

Czech prisons released 309 inmates on Wednesday following changes to the Criminal Code, officials said. Most were jailed for failure to pay child support, which is now punishable only if it endangers a child. Six others were freed after sentence reductions for minor drug offences. Courts will continue reviewing cases affecting about 3,000 people. Justice Minister Jeronym Tejc said full criminal liability may be reinstated.

An earthquake with a magnitude of about three struck western Bohemia on Thursday afternoon, rattling windows in the Cheb and Sokolov regions, officials said. The tremors were felt in nearby areas but caused no damage. Seismologists said such activity is common in the region’s earthquake swarms and remains unpredictable, though quakes of this strength are not considered dangerous to infrastructure or public safety.

Hundreds of New Year’s greetings from world leaders, royals, and public figures continue to arrive annually at Prague Castle, according to archivists. The presidential archive preserves decades of cards and letters sent to former president Václav Havel, including messages from Yitzhak Rabin, Yasser Arafat, Kim Jong Il, and Fidel Castro. Later collections reflect Havel’s illness, with more personal wishes from diplomats, friends, and cultural figures worldwide.

Astronomers say 2026 will offer one of the most eventful skies in years, including meteor showers, eclipses, and rare planetary alignments. Highlights include a partial solar eclipse visible from Czechia on Aug. 12, coinciding with peak Perseid meteor activity under dark skies. Observers can also expect multiple lunar events, as well as bright views of Jupiter and Saturn, and a Christmas Eve supermoon, all weather permitting.