Czech news in brief for November 23: Sunday’s top morning headlines

Temperatures fell below freezing across Czechia overnight, with Šumava and the Krušné hory recording lows around –25 degrees Celsius, meteorologists said. Western Bohemia saw –14 degrees in Konstantinovy Lázně, while cloudier Moravia and Silesia reported higher values and steady snowfall. Up to 15 cm fell in the Beskydy, with 5–10 cm elsewhere. Snow is expected to ease this afternoon as ski resorts continue snowmaking.

Russia holds the advantage in the Ukraine conflict and is therefore setting conditions for ending the war, defense analyst Zdeněk Petráš told ČTK in Brno. He said Ukraine lacks the military strength to retake occupied territory, while Russia can maintain control. His comments follow a U.S. peace proposal requiring major Ukrainian concessions, which he expects will lead to weeks or months of negotiations.

Nearly 40 Czech artists are featured as the Czech Republic serves as guest of honour at Luxembourg’s De Mains de Maitres Biennale. The exhibition, under the patronage of Grand Duchess Stéphanie, runs through Monday and presents Czech glass, jewellery, ceramics and fashion. Czech President Petr Pavel and his wife lent patronage after agreeing to a joint showcase during Pavel’s 2024 visit.

A Sudeten German congress planned for Brno next year is a logical continuation of improving Czech-German relations, Sudeten German leader Bernd Posselt said at the Czech-German Discussion Forum in Prague. The event, the first to be held in the Czech Republic, is billed as a civil society gathering. Co-chair Rudolf Jindrák said he expects it will be understood as supporting mutual understanding amid some public protests.

A trolleybus crashed into a pole Saturday evening in Ústí nad Labem’s Krásné Březno district, leaving seven passengers with minor injuries, authorities said. Firefighters had to free the driver, who was conscious. Twelve people were on board, and ambulances took injured passengers to hospitals in Ústí, Děčín and Teplice. Police are investigating the cause as sub-zero temperatures created icy conditions on local roads.