Czech news in brief for January 20: Tuesday's top morning headlines

Senate Speaker Miloš Vystrčil (ODS) and Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) met Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in Prague to discuss post-ceasefire developments in the Gaza Strip. Vystrčil said Czechia recognises Israel is not acting against states following international law, contrasting with other European nations. Babiš highlighted opportunities for cooperation in healthcare, AI, cybersecurity, and defence technology. The talks come amid U.S.-led plans for a Palestinian Peace Council and Gaza reconstruction following last year’s conflict.

Czech households are seeing stable prices for everyday goods, with inflation at 1.8 percent in December, one of the lowest in the EU. The Czech Statistical Office reported that housing, utilities, and food costs remain manageable, while energy and fuel may fluctuate. Eurozone inflation eased to 1.9 percent, and central banks, including the Czech National Bank, are keeping interest rates steady, providing continued stability for loans and mortgages.

Michal Tomasek, Vice-Dean of Charles University Prague’s Faculty of Law, will step down at the end of January after reports that he collaborated with the former communist secret police, StB. He will also leave the faculty’s scientific council and his role as coordinator of the Cooperatio program. Dean Radim Bohac confirmed the decision followed a review of Tomasek’s full file. The Ministry of Education is reviewing compliance with lustration laws at other universities.

A rare aurora borealis lit up the country last night, captivating observers and photographers nationwide. The display, caused by intense solar activity, was visible further south than usual, offering a striking spectacle for cities and countryside alike. Experts from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) say such northern light shows could become more frequent as solar activity peaks, giving residents more opportunities to witness the phenomenon in the coming months.

Pope Leo XIV has accepted an invitation from President Petr Pavel and his wife Eva to visit the Czech Republic, Pavel announced on X after meeting the Pope at the Vatican. The president said he expects the visit to happen soon. The last papal visit to Czechia was by Benedict XVI in 2009, when he celebrated masses in Prague, Brno, and Stará Boleslav for tens of thousands of believers.