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A nighttime fire at a restaurant in the city of Most in the north-west of the country has left six people dead and eight injured, six of them critically. The injured, who suffered burns and smoke inhalation, were transported to hospitals in Prague, Ústí nad Labem, and Most.
Police are investigating the blaze as potential negligent endangerment and have ruled out forced entry or terrorism. Regional police director Zbyněk Dvořák confirmed the victims’ identities are still unknown. Authorities suspect a propane bottle explosion as the cause, according to a statement on X.
The fire, reported at shortly after 11 p.m. on Saturday, had engulfed the building by the time firefighters arrived, the fire department wrote on Facebook.
This is the sixth most tragic fire in Czechia since 1990. The deadliest occurred in August 2020, when an arson attack on an apartment in Bohumín claimed 11 lives.
The opposition ANO party, led by former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, would dominate January's elections to the Chamber of Deputies, securing 33.9% of the vote, according to a STEM poll for CNN Prima News, published on Sunday. The Together coalition comprising of the Civic Democrats, Christian Democrats and TOP09, trails behind with 18.4%.
Mayors and Independents, Freedom and Direct Democracy and the Pirates follow, with the Stačilo! Coalition narrowly surpassing the 5% threshold required for entry into the lower house. Motorists are polling at exactly 5%.
ANO continues to lead the opposition with broad support, particularly among older citizens, women, and those without a high school diploma. Meanwhile, the Together coalition saw a 2.7-point drop since November.
Political leaders have expressed deep condolences for the six lives lost and wished a swift recovery for the eight injured in the Most restaurant explosion and fire. A black flag flies at Most Town Hall to honour the victims.
President Petr Pavel, Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Speaker Markéta Pekarová Adamová, opposition leader Andrej Babiš, and SPD leader Tomio Okamura shared their sympathies online, while Interior Minister Vít Rakušan, Ústí Region Governor Richard Brabec, and Most Mayor Marek Hrvol visited the site.
President Pavel urged those affected not to hesitate to seek support, while both he and Prime Minister Fiala praised the dedication of emergency services.
Czech conductor and teacher Mario Klemens died on Saturday at the age of 88, his son Adam confirmed to the Czech News Agency.
Klemens, a native of Chlumec nad Cidlinou, was a long-time conductor of the Film Symphony Orchestra (FISYO), recording music for over 150 films. He headed the orchestra from 1979 until its dissolution in the early 1990s, conducting performances at home and abroad, including the Prague Spring Festival.
A respected guest conductor, Klemens collaborated with numerous Czech and international record companies and taught conducting at the Prague Conservatory.
Czech fencer Alexander Choupenitch secured his second World Cup bronze of the season in Paris. Competing at the Pierre de Coubertin Hall, he defeated four opponents, including Japan’s Olympic gold medalists Takahiro Shikine and Kyosuke Matsuyama.
In the semi-finals, Choupenitch fell to Alexander Massialas of the USA, losing 10:15. The 30-year-old now has three World Cup podium finishes, including a silver from La Coruña in 2014.
Aleš Loprais claimed his second stage win in the truck category at this year's Dakar Rally, just two days after his 45th birthday. The Czech pilot dominated the seventh stage, finishing nearly ten minutes ahead of Lithuania's Vaidotas Zala. Martin Macík took third in the 418-kilometre stage in Davadmi, further solidifying his lead in the intermediate classification.
This victory marked Loprais' fifteenth career stage win and a follow-up to his triumph in stage 3. Overcoming all rivals ahead of him on the track, he led the standings from the 183-kilometre mark. Currently third overall, Loprais has narrowed the gap to second-placed Mitchell van den Brink of the Netherlands to just 23 minutes.
Monday will be cloudy, with snow or snow showers in the northeast and east early on. Precipitation will ease by afternoon, with some clearing. Temperatures will range from -3°C to +2°C, around -6°C at 1000m.
Anežka Hodinová-Spurná was a fearless advocate for women’s rights and a pioneer in Czechoslovak politics. Born 130 years ago, she was one of the founders of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, serving multiple terms in the National Assembly and rising to the position of Deputy Speaker of Parliament. Beyond politics, she was active in the peace movement and joined the exiled Czechoslovak State Council during World War II.
The Prague Symphony Orchestra’s story is closely intertwined with the history of the Czech capital, and this connection is clearly reflected in their repertoire, which we feature on today's edition of our Sunday Music Show.
The Prague metro turned 50 years old last year. To mark the occasion, we explore some of the iconic stations on the Czech capital's metro network. Metro station Petřiny lies only a short walk away from the Břevnov monastery and the battlefield of the Battle of White Mountain in the Thirty Years War.
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