Czech news in brief for May 11: Saturday's top headlines

Trains along the Ostrava to Prague corridor are at a standstill due to a halted train between Lipník nad Bečvou and Přerov, causing delays of up to two hours for travelers heading from Ostrava to Prague. The Railway Administration is actively addressing the traction line failure, with no confirmed timeline for full restoration as of 2 p.m. on Saturday. These delays pose a significant inconvenience, especially for fans attending the ongoing Ice Hockey World Championships hosted in Prague and Ostrava.

Biologist and conservationist Jane Goodall participated in a naming ceremony for a female lowland gorilla born in Prague Zoo on April 12, 2024, naming her Gaia. Goodall, known for her primate research, chose the name for its significance as 'mother earth' and in honor of a chimpanzee named Gaia she studied in Africa. The gorilla's gender was determined via DNA test. Gaia is the second gorilla born in Prague this year. The zoo has been breeding lowland gorillas since 1963.

Czech tennis stars Kateřina Siniaková and Barbora Krejčíková confirmed they will team up to defend their Olympic doubles gold in Paris this summer. The duo, who ended their partnership last year, will reunite for the Olympic Games. Siniaková expressed hope for a healthy run, stating they aim to replicate their success. The Olympic tournament, held from July 26 to August 11, will occur at Roland Garros, where they also won multiple French Open titles.

The Czech health insurance system saw a surplus of CZK 230 million in the first quarter of 2024, ending seven years of deficit. Income rose by nearly 27 percent year-on-year, totaling CZK 12.88 billion, with expenses up by about one percent. Factors like high employment and earnings growth contributed to this turnaround. Discussions are ongoing to extend support to self-employed individuals for regular nursing allowance from next year.

The Hodonín Zoo celebrates the birth of a rare saddle-back tamarin, a species of omnivorous clawed monkey native to South America. With luck, this elusive newborn can be spotted in the exhibition area, closely watched over by its parents. Sadly, its twin didn't survive. Hodonín Zoo has been breeding saddle tamarins since 2020, aiming to preserve this species in Europe. These distinctive monkeys are known for their marbled "saddle" markings and are typically found in smaller groups, feeding on fruits, berries, and insects.

In their opening match at the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, the Czech Republic's national hockey team secured a 1-0 victory over Finland after an overtime shootout, with Ondřej Kaše netting the decisive goal in front of 17,413 spectators at Prague's O2 arena. Goalkeeper Lukáš Dostál achieved a clean sheet for the national team. The Czech team triumphed over Finland in a major event for the first time since 2017, breaking a streak of losses in recent encounters. Their next match is against Norway on Saturday.

Public prosecutor Jaroslav Šaroch has submitted a final appeal alleging fraudulent activities in the Čapí hnízdo case involving former PM Andrej Babiš and his aide. Šaroch argues that the separation of Farma Čapí hnízdo from the Agrofert conglomerate was orchestrated to unlawfully secure a subsidy. While Babiš and his advisor, Jana Nagyová, were previously acquitted, Šaroch maintains that unresolved market overlaps between Agrofert and Čapí hnízdo warrant further scrutiny. The appeal seeks to overturn the acquittal and prompts a rehearing at the Municipal Court.

The Lasar team of Czech secondary-school students had the honor of meeting Prime Minister Petr Fiala on Friday, presenting their award-winning project from the Conrad Challenge competition at NASA's headquarters in Houston. Their project, focusing on remote repairs of malfunctioning satellites, stood out among over two thousand teams. PM Fiala praised their exceptional achievement, highlighting the importance of innovative technological solutions for the country's competitiveness. The team will showcase their model at the Maker Faire festival in Prague this weekend.

Firefighters successfully concluded aerial extinguishing efforts for a forest fire near the village of Žehrov in Central Bohemia, which affected around a hectare of woodland. Utilizing "water bombs," they made 56 drops on Friday following 15 on Thursday, navigating challenging rocky terrain. Six firefighting units, supported by a police helicopter equipped with a Bambi Bucket, contained the blaze. Investigators suspect human involvement in the fire's origin but are unable to ascertain intent to date.

Police in Prague reported approximately 200 cases of counterfeit or resold tickets during the opening day of the Ice Hockey World Championship, with damages estimated at 400,000 crowns. Similar incidents were reported in Ostrava. Authorities urge purchasing tickets exclusively from authorized sellers until May 26. Cybercrime experts stationed at the venues assist victims discovering invalid tickets at turnstiles. Prompt reporting is advised, with a mobile police station facilitating criminal complaints for affected individuals, mostly Czechs and multiple-match ticket holders.