The Daily Dozen: 12 things to know about Czechia today

Ukraine|About 200,000 of the half million Ukrainians who fled to Czechia from their attacked country have asked for a one-year prolongation of temporary protection until March 2024, the government announced Monday. Those who wish to have their visas extended must sort all necessary paperwork with Czech immigration police by the end of March. Read more in our article.

China and security|China poses a threat to European security and stability not only through its massive spread of disinformation but also as the biggest producer of medicines, which the Czech Republic is reliant on. Czech officials also raised concerns over data collection by the Chinese app TikTok. Read more in our article.

Medical cannabis|The number of patients and the number of prescriptions and grams of medicinal cannabis issued by pharmacies increased by more than 30 percent last year, to around 800,000 people, according to data from the State Agency for Cannabis for Medicinal Use. The National Monitoring Center for Drugs and Addictions highlighted that many more people use cannabis for self-medication or recreation purposes.

Cancer rates|The latest Oncology Profile of the Czech Republic 2023, published by the OECD, shows that the percentage of new cancer cases in Czechia is 4 percent higher than the EU average. Some of the risk factors accounting for the numbers are alcohol consumption, smoking, and obesity rates in Czechia, which are higher than the EU average.

Depression|Depression and anxiety are on the rise in Czechia. Data from the Czech Association of Health and Insurance Companies (SZP) shows that in the past two years the amount of people who have sought medical help for the mental health conditions has tripled. Read more in our article.

Horsing around|Prague police officers wrote on Facebook that they found a horse surrounded by a rope fence last Friday in the Pankrác Central Park, after receiving a call from a passer by. An investigation showed that the horse had been stolen from its owner, who lived near the Krč forest, and who arrived to pick it up after receiving the police alert.

Walking for Ukraine|A man who goes by the moniker Phantom has set out on a walk around Ukraine meant to draw attention to the decreasing aid to Ukraine, Novinky.cz reports. Petr, who keeps his face covered to protect his identity, plans to walk 1,275 kilometers from western Ukraine to the Donbas in the east, and would like to raise one Czech crown for each step. Follow his journey on the website For a Free Ukraine.

Future of Czech|The Czech language is not in danger of dying out, as it is adapting to changes in society, Hana Dufková from the Institute of Czech Language and Communication Theory told ČT24. Her remarks are tied to the fact that Feb. 21 is an international day that commemorates the importance of the mother tongue for human identity and the cultural heritage of mankind.