The Daily Dozen: 12 things to know about Czechia today

Threatening calls|Czechs speaking out against the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin have been receiving phone calls from Russian-speaking people using Czech phone numbers, Deník N reports. Activist Otakar van Gemund says he received a call, the second of this kind, after displaying a nude dummy representing Russian President Vladimir Putin on a golden toilet in front of the Russian embassy in April 2021.

Ukraine|Ukrainian soldiers are already taking part in military training in the Czech Republic, Czech Chief of General Staff Karel Řehka confirmed yesterday. For security reasons, the Ministry of Defense did not say how many Ukrainian soldiers are currently in the country. Read more.

Geothermal energy|The city of Ústí nad Labem is planning to restore 20 disused wells that could be used for geothermal heating, ČT24 reports. Some institutions are already using this type of energy, for instance, the local zoo, according to director Ilona Pšenková. The first – and still the deepest – geothermal well in Czechia was drilled in 2007 in Litoměřice.

Living trees|Instead of throwing away a wilted Christmas tree at the start of January, you can buy a potted one, which could continue to grow in your garden, or any other green space, says Petra Fišerová, a spokeswoman for the Forests of the Capital City of Prague, announced as cited by Metro. A number of garden centers across Prague also offer fir or spruce in a flower pot, which you can then plant, or even rent.

Beethoven returns|The Moravian Museum in the Czech city of Brno put on display for the first time this week a musical manuscript handwritten by German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, before returning it to its rightful owners, AP reports. The manuscript belonged to the Petschek family's assets and possessions before World War II, when its members fled the country to escape the Holocaust.

Prague metro|Construction on the Prague metro line D is proceeding according to schedule, Pražská Drbna reports, citing deputy mayor Adam Scheinherr. Line D from Pankrác to Nové Dvory, which is estimated to cost CZK 52 billion, should start operating at the end of 2029. Since the start of work at the end of April, the metro tunnel reached a length of almost one kilometer.

Czechia and the universe|The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is opening its doors to visitors on Dec. 9–10 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at its headquarters in Prague’s Holešovice district. Organizers describe the event as an immersive experience that will introduce visitors to EUSPA, its mission, and the Czech Republic's role in it. Read more.

For the last time, again|Legendary U.S. band Kiss is coming to Prague on Jun. 10, 2023 at the O2 arena for its second farewell tour. This year, the glam rock pioneers celebrate five decades of performing under the Kiss banner. Their beginnings go back to New York in 1973, when they created the concept of bombastic stage shows inspired by horror movies.

Crown jewels|The Prague castle will exhibit the crown jewels for the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Czech Republic from Jan. 17 to 21, iDnes reports. They were last on display in January 2018, for the centenary of the founding of Czechoslovakia and the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Czech Republic. The skull of St. Václav will also be on display together with the jewels.