Unexploded WWII bomb forces mass evacuation in Brno

Prague's public transport authorities have completed a geological survey of the construction project for metro line D. The project is now awaiting a main building permit for the creation of metro connections from Pankrác to Olbrachtov. Construction on the new line could begin this spring, subject to financing negotiations underway with the European Investment Bank. The geological survey was conducted in four locations, to ensure that no surprises would be encountered during the construction works and establish any necessary modifications to plans; no changes were found to be necessary, though.

The Czech Senate's Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security has called on the new government to revise relations with Russia so that they become "mutually beneficial." At the same time, the committee called on the government to demand an apology and compensation from Russia over the role of Russian agents in the Vrbětice explosions of 2014. The policy towards Russia should "enforce apologies and compensation, abide by treaties and build mutually beneficial relations," according to committee chair Pavel Fischer.

Police have evacuated 117 people in Brno today due to the discovery of an unexploded WWII bomb weighing around 100 kilograms. Bomb disposal experts are now working to safely remove the device, which was found during excavation work in the backyard of a family home. Experts are first determining the condition of the explosive, and will then decide what to do with it. They may either de-activate the bomb on the spot, or transport it elsewhere before disposing of it safely. The discovery of WWII bombs is not uncommon in the Czech Republic: a large unexploded bomb was also found near Ostrava last November.

Czech folk singer Hana Horká has died aged 57 after intentionally catching Covid from her husband and son. The unvaccinated singer welcomed catching Covid over the Christmas period as a way of obtaining a Covid certificate of immunity. Her son has blamed her death on anti-vax groups who he says have “blood on their hands.”

Horká was the vocalist for the band Asonance. She died on Sunday after voluntarily mingling with her vaccinated husband and son. Two days before her death Horká wrote on social media that she had survived the virus although “it was intense.” But after going for a walk outside, she started to complain about back pain and died soon afterwards in her bed. Her son said “it makes me sad that she believed strangers more than her own family” on Covid vaccination.

The Czech Republic will take its largest ever Winter Olympics team, with a total of 113 athletes, to the Beijing 2022 games. The team will be 19 members larger than the Czech representation in the PyeongChang games four years ago.

Martina Sáblíková is the team’s most-decorated athlete with three golds, two silvers and a bronze in speed skating to date. Ester Ledecká is another big name, having previously won both Alpine skiing and snowboarding golds. The Czech Republic’s best ever Winter Olympics medal haul was in Sochi in 2014, when the team won two golds, four silvers and two bronzes. The Czechs have won two golds at the last three Games.

Polish Environment Minister Anna Moskwa has claimed that the Czech government has agreed to drop its lawsuit over the Turów coal mine if an agreement on the dispute is reached. The Czech Republic previously filed a lawsuit about continued operations at the mine with the European Court of Justice.

“If the agreement is successfully signed, the Czech side will immediately send the court notification that the dispute has ben resolved and withdraw their complaint,” Moskwa said. As a result of the Czech lawsuit, the ECJ has ordered Poland to stop operations at the mine and has hit Warsaw with a fine of half a million euros for each day the mine keeps working.

Czech President Miloš Zeman has criticized opposition from judges and state prosecutors for a year-long freeze on their salaries. Zeman said judges cannot complain about their pay when they earn CZK 100,000 a month. Senior judges often earn even more.

Zeman spoke about the issue after appointing a number of new judges at his Lány residence on Tuesday. He said that as he is a very polite man he would not use the word “greed” to describe protests against the planned pay freeze. MPs and senators will also see their salaries frozen despite significant levels of inflation.

Prague will host the 12th edition of Europe’s largest education festival Science on Stage this spring. The event will take place from 24-27 March at the Clarion Congress Hotel Prague in Vysočany. This will be the first time that the popular science education project has come to the Czech Republic.

The City of Prague has allocated CZK 2 million to the organization and operation of the festival. The festival is seen as a significant event on the teaching calendar across Europe, and an opportunity for science-lovers in Prague to interact with others in the field from all over Europe. Around 450 primary and secondary school teachers from over 30 countries are expected to attend the 2022 fair.