Morning Briefing │ Tuesday, March 5th, 2024

* POLITICS:

EU member states should avoid unilateral measures that could increase gas prices for consumers, Czech Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Síkela said at a meeting in Brussels on Monday. He wants to discuss abolishing the fee that Germany charges other EU countries for gas transit through its territory.

* HEALTH:

Whooping cough is on the rise in Czechia, with 449 new cases in the last week. There have been 1,666 confirmed cases in the country since the start of this year, more than in the last four years combined. Around a third of those affected are children and adolescents.

* ENTERTAINMENT:

The Czech Republic will have a brand new free-to-air TV channel next month as Warner TV launches on 2 April.It will be managed as part of the local Czech linear Warner Bros. Discovery portfolio.

Czech viewers will be able to enjoy the wide range of content, including movies and series, from classical films to popular series.

* TRAVEL:

Deutsche Bahn (DB) train drivers will stage a 35-hour strike starting Wednesday, disrupting German railways and impacting connections with the Czech Republic.

The strike, driven by a demand for a 35-hour workweek, halts freight services on Wednesday evening and passenger services on Thursday morning. DB deems union conditions unattainable and selfish. Czech Railways advises passengers to anticipate schedule changes.

* EDUCATION:

Prague earmarks funds for Ukrainian students Prague’s city council announced the allocation of CZK 1.32 million to Post Bellum NGO to support Ukrainian students’ secondary education. The funds aid “zero years” programs, helping integrate young Ukrainians into the Czech system.