News: Tuesday, July 20th, 2021

Central European foreign ministers meeting in Czechia to discuss Covid, EU expansion

Foreign minister Jakub Kulhánek (Social Democrats) is hosting his counterparts from the so-called Central European Five (C5) countries (Czechia, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary and Slovenia) in the northern Bohemian town of Mělník on Tuesday.

Topics of discussion include cooperation in combatting the coronavirus pandemic, the enlargement of the European Union to include the Western Balkans and cooperation in the Eastern Partnership project, which develops closers ties with countries of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.

After initial talks this morning, Mr Kulhánek told journalists that he has proposed the setting up of a team of coordinators who will manage the cooperation of the C5 countries in their joint fight against the coronavirus.

The foreign ministers of took place several times under Kulhánek’s predecessor Tomáš Petříček (ČSSD). They are due to meet again in May, in the Slovak capital Bratislava, to discuss the situation in Ukraine and EU-Russia relations, with their Ukrainian counterpart Dmytr Kuleba attending.

Czech health insurance will not cover Covid-19 tests as of September

The government has decided that as of September, state health insurance will not cover preventive tests for Covid-19, which people need, for example, when travelling abroad, attending cultural events or eating in restaurants, Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch told reporters on Monday.

Children under 12 will have an exception, as no vaccination is currently approved for them. Covid-19 tests will also continue to be reimbursed to people who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons and to those who have had their first dose.

Meanwhile, more walk-in vaccination centres, such as at Nový Smíchov shopping centre in Prague, are being established in all regions. On Wednesday, they will open at malls in Ostrava and Brno, in addition to Liberec and Ústí nad Labem.

Senate committee declares President Zeman fit for office

The Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs of the Czech Senate has not recommended that the chamber discuss whether President Miloš Zeman is unfit to continue in his office, news site iDnes.cz reported on Tuesday.

The proposal to declare Miloš Zeman unfit to continue as president of the Czech Republic was originally put forward in June by the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security, according to article 66 of the constitution.

A total of 15 constitutional experts were consulted in the decision. However, the Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs found insufficient reasons to support the proposal.

Explosion in training facility injures two Czech soldiers

Two soldiers were seriously injured in an explosion that took place at the Brdy military training zone near the Dolejší Padrťský pond on Tuesday. Czech Radio‘s sources say that one person is likely to lose a limb while the other has sustained serius burns on the upper part of his body. Their condition is now stabilised.

The explosion is connected to a pyrotechnical survey that was taking place in the area.

Tornado: Pope Francis to address Slovakia alongside cross made from damaged Moravian church

A cross made of beams from the roof of a Czech church damaged by a tornado in June will be installed on the podium from which Pope Francis will make his addresses when visiting neighbouring Slovakia.

The Moravská Nová Ves church priest said that the cross will be made of two beams of respectively six and three metres in length.

After celebrating the closing Mass of the International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest on September 12, the Pope will visit Slovakia for several days, with stops in Bratislava, Prešov, Košice and Šaštin, a place of pilgrimage in the Trnava region.

Three Czech projects mentioned in A+Awards for international architecture

Petr Janda’s revitalization design of the Prague riverfront area, commonly known as “Náplavka“, has received special mention in this year’s A+Awards – the annual architecture competition organised by the prestigious  Architizer platform.

The same architect’s “Floating pool for Prague” project, which proposes the construction of a unique swimming pool design on the Vltava River in Prague, was named Jury Winner in the Sports & Recreation: Unbuilt Sports & Recreation category. Mr Janda says that discussions are currently underway with Prague City Hall and that the swimming pool could be built within the next two or three years.

Architect Lina Bellovičová’s eco-friendly “House LO“ project received was named Jury Winner in the Residential: Private House category.

Czech Olympic volleyball team ravaged by coronavirus

Following the positive coronavirus test of Czech beach volleyball player Ondřej Perušič it has now come to light that Simon Nausch, the coach of female volleyball players Markéta Nausch Sluková and Barbora Hermannová, also has coronavirus, Czech Radio’s correspondent reported from Tokio on Tuesday. Both Nausch Sluková and Hermannová are still waiting for their test results, which should be announced later on Tuesday.

This is the third positive case detected in the Czech team. In addition to Perušič, one member of the support team also tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after arriving in Tokyo. All of the infected travelled in the same aircraft that transported dozens of Czech Olympic athletes to the upcoming Tokio games last week.

The Tokio Olympic Games are set to start this Friday.

Founder of child neurosurgery in Czechoslovakia, Vladimír Beneš, dies

Neurosurgeon Vladimír Beneš Sr. died on Sunday at the age of 100, Czech Television reported on Tuesday, citing information provided by his family.

Dr Beneš is considered the founder of Czech child neurosurgery. In 1978 he set up the Child Neurosurgery Department at Motol Hospital in Prague which he led for several decades. The department was known for its progressive and unique methods in treating patients.

Vladimír Beneš Sr. was the oldest in a line of three distinguished Czech physicians, all of whom carry the same name. His grandson, Vladimír Beneš Jr., currently heads the Child Neurosurgery Department at Motol Hospital.

Weather

Wednesday will see temperatures range around 23 degrees Celsius with overcast skies particularly over the northern and southern parts of the country.