Czech news in brief for February 26: Thursday's top morning headlines

Defense Committee Chairman Lubomír Metnar stated on Czech Television on Wednesday that the Czech Republic intends to negotiate new terms for the European Union's temporary protection directive for Ukrainians. The current framework, which grants residence rights, requires revision to address long-term stability and integration needs. Metnar argued that updated conditions are necessary to manage the ongoing migration situation effectively before the existing legal status for refugees expires across member states.

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday a proposal to reduce the budget for Czech Radio’s foreign language broadcasting by nearly twenty-five percent. This significant financial reduction targets the station's international outreach efforts across multiple languages. Ministry officials cited the need for overall fiscal discipline as the reason for the decision. According to Czech Television, the broadcaster warned that such cuts could limit the country’s ability to project influence.

During a commemorative event on Wednesday, historian Petr Blažek described Jan Zajíc as a vital symbol of resistance against political normalization in communist Czechoslovakia. Zajíc, who self-immolated in February 1969 to protest the Soviet occupation, was honored in Prague on the anniversary of his death. According to Czech Television, the ceremony highlighted his individual courage and the refusal of many citizens to accept the suppression of democratic values after 1968.

Prague officials confirmed on Wednesday that the first tram successfully crossed the newly constructed Dvorecký Bridge during a technical load test. The Prague Public Transit Company conducted this trial to verify the structural integrity of the span connecting Smíchov and Podolí. Designed for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport, the bridge aims to reduce travel times. The project is scheduled for full operational completion later this year.

A new museum documenting the realities of the conflict in Ukraine opened inside a former air-raid bunker in Berlin on Wednesday. The exhibition features artifacts and photographs to illustrate the humanitarian impact of the ongoing war for European visitors. Organizers established the display to maintain international awareness regarding the front lines. According to ČTK, the site choice underscores the historical parallels of conflict and the continued necessity for civil defense awareness.