In memoriam Funeral mass for Pope to be held in Prague
A funeral mass for Pope Francis, who died April 21 at age 88, will be held today at St. Vitus Cathedral. The Apostolic Nuncio to the Czech Republic, Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, will preside. The Czech Bishops’ Conference honored the Pope as a man of peace and urged prayers ahead of the conclave. Pope Francis’s Vatican funeral is set for Saturday with global leaders in attendance.
Transport Muzeum metro station reopens after water leak
Prague’s Muzeum metro station, where lines A and C meet, reopened Thursday evening after a six-hour closure due to water seepage. Trains had bypassed the station until about 5:20 p.m. The direct exit from line A to Wenceslas Square remains closed, with passengers required to use the transfer corridor from line C. Construction crews had been working on emergency repairs throughout the day.
Russia Opposition questions protection of hockey legend
SPD MP Radek Koten questioned in parliament whether former hockey star Dominik Hašek deserves police protection after a veiled death threat from ex-Russian President Dmitri Medvedev. Interior Minister Vít Rakušan defended the offer of protection, calling out Koten’s stance as unpatriotic. Medvedev reportedly warned Hašek to “be careful crossing roads.” Hašek, a vocal critic of Russia, has denounced threats linked to his anti-war views.
weather Torrential rains leads to flooding in Czechia
Severe storms swept through parts of Moravia on Thursday, with torrential rains striking the Přerov and Hodonín regions. The hardest-hit areas included Ústí, Černotín, and Skalička, where several properties were damaged. Firefighters responded to flooding in homes, cellars, and roads, deploying heavy equipment to clear mud and debris. Domanín and Veselí nad Moravou were among the most affected, though no evacuations were necessary. Rain continues across the Olomouc region.
Crime Slovak arrested for Taylor Swift terror plot
Austrian authorities have arrested a 20-year-old Slovak man suspected of involvement in a terrorist cell linked to a foiled attack on a 2024 Taylor Swift concert in Vienna. The group, tied to ISIS, also allegedly plotted attacks in Mecca, Dubai, and Istanbul. The Slovak suspect reportedly planned the Istanbul attack but returned to Austria without carrying it out. Investigations are ongoing.