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As people around the Czech Republic remember the eight people shot dead in an apparently random attack at a pub in Uherský Brod last week, questions are still being asked about how the police handled the situation. An investigation into the operation may take some time. But for now the interior minister has proposed steps aimed at averting similar incidents in future.

The first group of ethnic Czechs from eastern Ukraine, repatriated under a special government programme, has finally arrived in the Czech Republic, after nearly a year of negotiations. Another group is scheduled to arrive in the Czech capital by a special government plane in mid-March.

Residents in the Brečlav area have been advised to exercise caution after a brown bear was sighted in local woodland on Tuesday. The animal is believed to have wandered into South Moravia across the Slovak border – and may have been in the area before.

Czech President Miloš Zeman pledged his unwavering support to Israel on Monday during an appearance at the AIPAC lobbying organisation’s annual summit in Washington D.C. Mr. Zeman’s comments, in which he praised Israel as a regional beacon of democracy, come in the wake of a similar position expressed at events marking the anniversary of the Holocaust back in January.

The Polish daily Rzeczpospolita put the Czech Republic in the spotlight on Monday, when it claimed that some Czech firms have been exporting weapons to Russia despite the embargo imposed by the EU and the US in response to Russia’s intervention in Ukraine. In reaction to the criticism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement denying the accusations.

Andrej Babiš was re-elected leader of his ANO party on Saturday, gaining the approval of 186 delegates gathered for the party's annual congress in Prague. Expressing surprise over his 100 percent victory, Mr. Babiš sounded a combative, partisan tone to the party faithful. The Finance Minister’s harshest words were targeted at his fellow coalition members, the Social Democrats. I spoke with political analyst Jiří Pehe for his take on Babiš’s victory:

The Czech Ministry of the environment is launching a joint investigation with German authorities following countless complaints of noxious smells alleged to be seeping across the border into Germany. Inhabitants in the state of Saxony are pointing the finger squarely at the numerous factories which dot the landscape of the north-west Czech Republic.

The National Museum in Prague has just launched its very first volunteer program, giving members of the public the opportunity to serve in a variety of positions, depending on their personal interests and qualifications. I spoke to the head of the project, Ludmila Tůmová, about how much interest the project has generated and what kind of work is currently available.

Around a hundred rabbis from across Europe have come to Prague to attend a self-defence course designed to provide Jews with a means of fighting back in the event of anti-Semitic attacks. The move comes amidst increasing fears security within the European Jewish community following a number of attacks.

Preparations are well underway for the 2015 edition of the colourful One World international festival of human rights documentaries, which begins in Prague on Monday before travelling on to 33 other cities and towns. The visuals for the 2015 One World feature people covered in bubble wrap and before discussing expected highlights with fest director Hana Kulhánková I asked what was the thinking behind this year’s theme.