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“Russia is Trying to Sabotage European Railways”, Says Czech Transport Minister

Russia has made “thousands” of attempts to interfere with European rail networks in a campaign to destabilize the EU and sabotage critical infrastructure, the Czech Republic’s transport minister has said. Martin Kupka told the Financial Times that Moscow was suspected of having made “thousands of attempts to weaken our systems” since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The hacking campaign included attacks on signalling systems and on the networks of the Czech national railway operator České dráhy, Kupka said. Past attacks have put ticketing systems out of service and raised concerns about successful interference with signals causing serious accidents. “It’s definitely a difficult point . . .[but] I’m really very satisfied because we are able to defend all systems [from] a successful attack,” Kupka said. Russian attempts to destabilise European energy infrastructure have been well documented but interference in transport networks has been less discussed. The EU Agency for Cybersecurity published its first report on threats to transport in March last year. It said there had been “attacks against railway companies with an increasing rate, primarily due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine”. It noted major cyber attacks by “pro-Russia hacker groups” on railway companies in Latvia,...

by Prague Morning Apr 05, 2024

New Prague Buildings to Face Scrutiny for World Heritage Impact

Prague’s unique skyline and historical center could be safeguarded by a new assessment process. Three major construction projects, including the long-debated main railway station, will undergo Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) to ensure they don’t jeopardize the city’s UNESCO World Heritage status. HIAs are a relatively new tool designed to evaluate the potential effects of development on World Heritage sites. Unlike Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), which are mandatory for most construction projects, HIAs are optional. However, in Prague’s case, authorities are proactively utilizing them for significant buildings like the Vltava Philharmonic concert hall and the Výton Bridge replacement project. According to Prague’s Deputy Mayor for Territorial Development, Petr Hlaváček, each project will be assessed based on its specific characteristics. The assessments are expected to take around a year for the Výton bridge and could influence future discussions about the project. As the Vltava Philharmonic undergoes cost analysis and awaits zoning decisions, and the Vrchlický Gardens plan is refined, these assessments will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Prague’s architectural landscape. Rail Bridge Prague’s Vyšehrad Railway Bridge, built in 1901 and granted national monument status in 2004, has long been in need of repair. The railway authority claims that...

by Prague Morning Apr 04, 2024

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