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Work is set to begin on the repair of the former armoury and military storehouse in the fortress town of Terezín. The plans were presented on Friday at the recently restored Wieser House. Heritage experts and specialists from the Czech Technical University will help oversee the reconstruction.

The project is part of a broader effort to save some of Terezín’s most endangered historic buildings. The town has secured funding from the state and the Ústí nad Labem Region, though officials say finding designers and contractors remains a challenge.

Terezín was built in the 18th century as a fortress commissioned by Emperor Joseph II. During World War II, it was used by the Nazis as a ghetto and transit camp for Jews, through which around 155,000 people from across Europe passed.

Nearly 40 percent of Czechs aged 15 to 24 use some form of nicotine, and a quarter do so daily, according to a new survey by the National Institute of Public Health. Electronic cigarettes are the most popular product among young users.

Across the population as a whole, 29.5 percent of people use nicotine products. While the share of smokers has fallen slightly in recent years, the use of e-cigarettes has more than doubled over the past five years.

The survey also found that alcohol consumption and harmful drinking continue to decline, although alcohol use in Czechia remains high by international standards.

Czech leaders have condemned a Russian drone strike that hit a residential building in Romania. President Petr Pavel called the attack completely unacceptable and backed Romanian President Nicușor Dan’s call for a strong international response. He said allies should do more than simply condemn the attack and that Russia must understand such actions will not be tolerated.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš also denounced the strike, saying Czechia condemns Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine and stands by its NATO allies. The Czech Foreign Ministry, along with representatives of the opposition Mayors and Pirates, likewise condemned the attack.

Romania has summoned the Russian ambassador over the incident. President Dan said his country would not allow Russia’s war against Ukraine to spill over onto Romanian citizens and has asked the Foreign Ministry to propose measures in response.

A majority of Czech teachers now use artificial intelligence to prepare lessons, but many remain concerned about inaccuracies and the lack of clear rules governing its use in schools. A survey by Samsung and EDU-AI found that 62 percent of respondents use AI regularly or daily when creating teaching materials, tests and presentations. Teachers cited time savings as the main benefit, while concerns focused on AI “hallucinations”, reliability and fair assessment of student work. Respondents also stressed the need for clearer guidelines and greater emphasis on critical thinking and fact-checking as AI becomes more common in education.