Czech news in brief for January 29: Thursday's top morning headlines

Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka is in Brussels for his first official meeting with European Union counterparts. The summit’s agenda includes discussing further sanctions against Iran and continued military and financial support for Ukraine. The visit follows Macinka’s Wednesday meetings with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, where he discussed security cooperation and upcoming NATO summit delegations.

Heavy snowfall and strong winds are complicating travel across the Czech Republic today. Meteorologists have issued warnings for icy roads and snowdrifts, particularly in the Vysočina region and higher elevations. On the D1 motorway, several stretches are blocked by stranded trucks and minor accidents, with delays also reported on the Prague Ring Road. Authorities advise motorists to exercise extreme caution and, if possible, avoid major transit routes until conditions improve.

Police officers from the National Center for Combating Organized Crime (NCOZ) intervened at the municipal office in Černošice and other locations on Wednesday. While officials confirmed the presence of investigators, specific details regarding the nature of the criminal proceedings have not been released. The intervention is reportedly supervised by the Prague High Public Prosecutor's Office. City representatives stated they are cooperating fully with the authorities, though the investigation has temporarily restricted office operations.

Over 1.5 million primary and secondary school students across the country are receiving their mid-term reports today. The distribution precedes a one-day holiday this Friday, Jan. 30. In several districts, the break will immediately be followed by a week of spring holidays. To celebrate, several institutions, including the Prague and Ostrava Zoos, are offering discounted admission for children who present their report cards or recycle old mobile phones.

A record 34,621 new companies were established in the Czech Republic last year, the highest figure in two decades. According to data from Dun & Bradstreet, this represents a 13 percent year-on-year increase, bringing the total number of active firms to nearly 595,000. Experts attribute the surge to a stabilizing economy and resilient domestic demand. The ratio of new startups to dissolved companies remains steady at two to one.