News

The village of Klučnice and its surroundings in the Příbram District were hit by a light earthquake measuring a magnitude of 2.5 on the Richter scale during the night from Thursday to Friday. It was followed by a series of minor tremors. The information was reported by the Institute of Physics of the Earth at Masaryk University, which monitors seismic activity.

The institute said it did not expect any damage to buildings since the location is known for repeated occurrences of small earthquakes. Similar quakes measuring magnitudes 2.5 and 2.7 were recorded last year in August, followed by a months-long series of so-called aftershocks that ended at the close of the year. In general, Czechia shows relatively weak seismic activity, located mostly along the perimeter of the Bohemian Massif.

Dust from the Sahara desert is set to reach Czechia this weekend, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) said on Thursday. With little rain expected, the fine sand is unlikely to leave marks on cars or windows, but it may slightly lower daytime temperatures and make skies appear less blue.

Saharan dust has reached the country several times in recent years, occasionally tinting rain yellow or brown. In spring 2024, high concentrations even prompted a smog alert.

For the first time, the London Symphony Orchestra, led by chief conductor Antonio Pappano, will perform at the Smetana Litomyšl Festival of classical music. On June 20th, the orchestra will play Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 in B minor.

The 68th edition of the festival, running from June 12th to July 5th, will open with the Czech Philharmonic, conducted this year by David Robertson.

The theme for this year’s festival is Natura (Nature) and tickets go on sale on Wednesday March 4th.

Czech Agriculture Minister Martin Šebestyán (non-affiliated, representing SPD) has created a new post of 'food ombudsman' within his ministry. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, he said the role will be filled by Jindřich Fialka, the ministry’s current director of food production. Fialka will be responsible for increasing transparency across the food industry and helping to protect the rights of consumers, domestic farmers, and food producers. Šebestyán emphasised that the new position will not add costs or bureaucracy. Instead, it is intended to play a key role in implementing government plans to ensure high-quality and affordable food. The minister has not yet given precise details for a plan to reduce food prices.