Czech news in brief for March 26: Thursday's top afternoon headlines

The Czech National Security Agency (NBU) is investigating whether Green Deal and climate change commissioner Filip Turek (Motorists) received illegal access to classified information. On TV, Turek referred to the EU's new sanctions package against Russia now under discussion but "kept secret, so I can't say them here" - despite not having the security clearance to be aware of those talks.

Over 450 people were evacuated from Jungmannova Street in the center of Prague after a fire broke out at the theater Divadlo Komedie. Firefighters responded to the incident, apparently caused by a curtain that caught fire during a rehearsal, at around 1 pm, but the crew had already managed to extinguish it. It's unclear whether the performance planned tonight will take place.

The head of the Czech Medical Chamber (ČLK) Milan Kubek called on the government to provide stronger support for flu vaccinations. "Flu epidemics shorten the lives of hundreds of patients every year and cause billions in damages to our economy," Kubek writes in the open letter. Every year, about 7 percent of the Czech Republic gets vaccinated against the flu.

The new exhibition "Fragments of Memory: The Treasury of St. Vitus Cathedral in the Mirror of Contemporary Art" opened today at the Prague Castle Riding School. Running until July 26, the show presents around 150 historical artifacts from the St. Vitus Cathedral treasure alongside the works of leading contemporary artists.

Prague's National Gallery is kicking off its spring season today with three new exhibitions at the Trade Fair Palace. Running until January next year, "230 Years of the NGP" looks back at the history of the institution, while "UMPRUM Biennale: Generation Z" presents the works of young artists from the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague. The third is dedicated to Czech artist Jiří Kolář.