Czech news in brief for November 29: Friday's top headlines

According to police, a 34-year-old man threatened to shoot at Charles University's Faculty of Arts in Prague today but was unarmed and lacked a firearms license. He shouted threats in the library before fleeing. Police detained him in Hellichova Street, over a kilometer away, after a 45-minute search. He was taken to a hospital due to mental health issues. Faculty operations were unaffected, though police guarded the building as a precaution.

The State Veterinary Administration (SVS) announced that the spread of bluetongue disease in the Czech Republic has ceased. Monitoring across 40 farms confirmed this, and veterinarians declared a seasonally free period, aiding animal trade. Bluetongue, detected in the country this September after 15 years, affects sheep, goats, and cattle but poses no risk to humans. Cold weather has halted transmission, and animals can now move freely to several European countries, the SVS confirms.

The Czech National Bank (ČNB) reported household debt at banks rose by CZK 15.4 billion month on month in October, to CZK 2.36 trillion, driven by housing and consumer loans. Year-on-year, household and corporate debt grew by CZK 118.3 billion and CZK 65.5 billion respectively. Analysts attribute this to rising consumer confidence amid lower inflation and interest rates. Meanwhile, corporate debt fell by CZK 1.7 billion to CZK 1.44 trillion, fluctuating throughout 2023.

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute reports that heavy snow is falling in the Krkonoše, Jizera, Jeseníky, and Beskydy Mountains, prompting extended weather warnings. Snow accumulation in Krkonoše and Jizera ranges from 10 to 35 cm, with 5 to 25 cm more expected by evening. In Jeseníky and Beskydy, 10 to 20 cm has fallen, with another 10 to 20 cm possible by Saturday morning. The snowfall is expected to continue until the early hours of Saturday.

Food consumption in the Czech Republic dropped by 12 kilograms per person this year, marking a second consecutive decline. The decrease follows a decade of rising consumption, peaking at 825 kilograms per person in 2021. Factors include higher food prices and falling household incomes, with food inflation rising to 11.5 percent. The country’s food self-sufficiency also fell from 94 percent in 1993 to 78 percent in 2023, according to the Czech Statistical Office.

High prosecutors have upheld the decision to shelve last December’s Charles University shooting case, confirming it as a multiple murder, not terrorism. The perpetrator, a student, killed 14 people, wounded 25, and died by suicide. Oversight by Prague’s High Prosecutor's Office found no errors in the initial investigation. Complaints by victims' families and survivors about the legal classification were deemed unfounded.

The Energy Regulatory Office is set to announce 2024’s regulated electricity and gas prices. Analysts expect a slight reduction in electricity rates but predict a 15 percent rise for gas, adding tens of crowns per megawatt hour. Regulated fees cover transmission and distribution costs. Final prices will vary, with suppliers announcing discounts for the commercial portion of energy costs next year.

Czech police have charged 14 women with exploiting prostitutes in Ireland, alleging they earned over CZK 10 million through a hidden network. The group, active since 2019, recruited vulnerable women, coordinated clients, and operated covertly using aliases in encrypted apps. The main organizers face up to 12 years in prison, while others could face up to 10 years. Authorities worked with international counterparts on the investigation.

A new railway bridge named Schwarzenberg was officially opened over the Eagle Dam in Píseck on Thursday. Named after the influential Schwarzenberg family connected to the region, the reinforced concrete arch spans 156 meters, making it the longest in the Czech Republic. The first passenger train is set to cross the bridge on Friday afternoon, marking a significant milestone for local infrastructure. See a video here.

A 15-year-old girl was struck by a train in Černošice near Prague on Thursday evening, losing both legs in the accident. Emergency responders stabilized her and airlifted her to a trauma center. The incident reported at 6:30 p.m., halted train traffic between Dobřichovice and Prague's Radotín for over two hours before resuming by 9 p.m., according to Czech Railways.