Czech news in brief for January 22: Thursday's top morning headlines

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš held a series of bilateral meetings at the World Economic Forum in Davos, saying he spoke with presidents, prime ministers, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and business leaders. He described the talks as an opportunity to promote Czech exports, investment, and tourism. Babiš said Czechia will take part in Expo 2027 in Serbia and is considering opening an embassy in Oman, alongside discussions on new flight connections and future cooperation.

Parts of the Šumava Mountains saw extreme cold on Thursday morning, with temperatures dropping to nearly minus 30 degrees Celsius, meteorologists said. The lowest reading was minus 29 degrees at Rokytská slat in the Klatovy region, while Kvilda recorded minus 28.4 degrees. Elsewhere in southern Bohemia, morning lows were mostly between minus seven and minus ten degrees. Forecasters expect freezing conditions to continue through Friday, with gradual warming from the weekend

Czechia remains well below the EU average in electricity production from solar and wind energy, according to an Ember Institute analysis. While solar and wind made up about 30 percent of EU electricity last year, their share in Czechia was 6.6 percent. Solar output has grown but at a slowing pace, while wind power has stagnated at around one percent. Analysts warn the gap could widen without faster investment.

Individually sold cannabis joints have become common in convenience stores and tourist shops in central Prague, police say. Officers say the products meet legal THC limits and are therefore not illegal. Random test purchases have not found banned substances. Experts warn the presentation may mislead customers, as many products contain semi-synthetic cannabinoids. Full cannabis legalization has not taken effect, despite relaxed rules on possession and cultivation from January 2026.

The National Heritage Institute has launched a tender to renovate Prague’s Baroque Invalidovna, with a projected cost of CZK 2.15 billion including VAT. The project will restore the historic complex in Karlín, add two modern wings, and revitalize surrounding gardens. Construction is expected to take about three years. After reopening around 2029–2030, the site is planned as a new cultural and social hub open to the public.