Czech news in brief for March 25: Wednesday's top morning headlines

Two people accused of terrorism and participation in a terrorist group in connection with last week's fire have been remanded in custody by the District Court in Pardubice. A small group of people with Palestinian flags gathered in front of the courthouse in an apparent show of support. An anti-Israeli organization has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Czech police are still considering the possibility of a 'false flag' operation.

In view of last week's arson attack in Pardubice and the situation in the Middle East, Czech authorities will take extra security measures for the upcoming Easter holidays, Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar (ANO) said. This will, for example, include increasing the protection of social, cultural and sporting events throughout the country. The Czech Republic is still at the second moderate level of terrorist threat (out of four).

Senators will discuss today the possible introduction of a Czech Flag Day. According to the proposal of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, a national flag day on March 30 should be added to the list of so-called "significant days", which are normal working days as opposed to public holidays. Critics have described the measure as unnecessary and simply paying lip-service to the notion of patriotism.

A cold front is approaching the Czech Republic, with lower temperatures and precipitations, both rain and snow, expected to impact mostly the eastern part of the country in Moravia and Silesia. The Beskydy Mountains could see up to 30 centimeters of snow during the second half of the week. Chillier temperature could last until Easter, according to the latest forecasts.

The World Figure Skating Championships are kicking-off in Prague today, with stars from the discipline from all around the world descending on the O2 Arena until Sunday. French Olympic champions Laurence Fournier-Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron will be among those competing, and Czechs will also be represented in all categories.