Morning Briefing │ Friday, March 8th, 2024

* TRAVEL:

An ongoing strike by German passenger train drivers has disrupted international traffic including connections with neighbouring Czechia. On the line between Prague and Berlin, EuroCity trains are due to terminate in Dresden, from where they will return to the Czech capital. The protest action started at midnight and is expected to last for 35 hours.

* WEATHER:

Friday should be clear to partly cloudy with day temperatures between 6 and 10 degrees Celsius.

* LAWS:

The Czech Senate has passed, with the support of 66 of the 75 senators present, a new bill on weapons and ammunition that obliges arms dealers to report suspicious transactions, allows for the confiscation of weapons over security risks, and reduces from ten to five years the interval for medical check-ups of gun owners.

* SPORT:

Sparta Prague faced a heavy defeat against FC Liverpool in the Europa League round of sixteen, losing 1-5 in Prague Thursday tonight. The Reds scored three goals before half-time to silence the home fans on a chaotic night in the Czech Republic capital. The second leg will take place in Liverpool next week.

* UKRAINE:

Czech President Petr Pavel announced the collection of funds for 800,000 rounds of artillery ammunition for Ukraine, with 18 countries participating in the Czech initiative. Prime Minister Petr Fiala commended international cooperation in supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression.