New radio station helps Ukrainian refugees adapt in Prague
A new Prague-based internet radio stated has started to broadcast news, information and music tailored to the day-to-day concerns of some 300,000 Ukrainian refugees who have arrived in the Czech Republic after Russia launched its military assault against Ukraine.
Czech billionaire among 5 killed in Alaska helicopter crash
This photo provided by the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group shows the scene of a helicopter crash near the Knik Glacier in Alaska on Sunday, March 28, 2021. The pilot and four of the five passengers on board died in the crash, including billionaire Petr Kellner, the richest man in the Czech Republic. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash just north of Anchorage on Saturday night. Among the dead in the Saturday evening crash was billionaire Petr Kellner, the richest man in the Czech Republic. The five passengers included three guests and two guides from the Tordrillo Mountain Lodge, said company spokesperson Mary Ann Pruitt.
The Latest: Sinovac: CoronaVac vaccine effective in children
(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)BEIJING — Sinovac said on Monday that its COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac is safe and effective in children ages 3-17. State-owned Sinopharm, who has two COVID-19 vaccines, is also investigating the effectiveness of its vaccines in children. The House vote came just before the state health department reported that more than 1 million COVID-19 vaccine shots have been administered within the state. State officials say about 2.9 million vaccine doses have been given to about 1.1 million people so far in Arizona. ___LISBON, Portugal — Portugal resumed administering AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, a week after temporarily halting its use.
Czech state orders students to help at struggling hospitals
Healthcare workers move a patient to the infectious ward of the Bulovka hospital in Prague, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021. “The more infectious variant of the coronavirus, the British one, has been spreading across all our regions and has become dominant in the Czech Republic,” Blatny said. AdDaily confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 14,554 on Thursday with 8,153 COVID-19 patients needing hospitalization - some 300 cases shy of Tuesday's record. “It’s more about mental exhaustion than physical fatigue.”The country has activated a plan for dozens of Czech patients to be treated in Germany, Poland and Switzerland. AdThe Czech Republic has by far the biggest 14-day infection rate per 100,000 inhabitants in the EU, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
The Latest: Governor extends Oregon's state of emergency
Kate Brown on Thursday extended Oregon’s declaration of a state of emergency until May 2 as confirmed COVID-19 cases drop but hundreds of new cases continue to be reported daily. The Oregon Health Authority on Thursday reported 553 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the state total to 154,554. ___MISSOURI __ Missouri teachers and child care providers will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in mid-March, Gov. The nation of 10.7 million had almost 1.2 million cases with 19,835 deaths. AdLast week the Democratic governor announced that at least 10% of the state’s vaccine supply would go to education workers.
Hard-hit Czech Republic reaches 1 million confirmed cases
FILE - In this file photo dated Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, healthcare workers move a COVID-19 patient to the Motol hospital in Prague, Czech Republic. Reaching a milestone of one million confirmed cases, the battle against the pandemic is far from over in the Czech Republic. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, FILE)PRAGUE – The Czech Republic has reached 1 million confirmed coronavirus cases, health authorities said Wednesday. The Czech Republic is by far the smallest of the 21 countries to surpass the milestone, with the U.S. leading the global table with more than 26 million confirmed cases. Another European Union country, the Netherlands, reached the 1 million mark of confirmed cases on Wednesday.
Czech court ruling on electoral law to help small parties
On Wednesday Feb. 3, 2021, the Czech Republic's highest court ruled to cancel several provisions of the country's electoral law as discriminatory for small parties. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek/File)PRAGUE – The Czech Republic’s highest court ruled Wednesday to cancel several provisions of the country’s electoral law as discriminatory for small parties. To gain parliamentary seats, any party needs to reach a 5% threshold of the popular vote. Interior Minister Jan Hamacek said he respected the ruling and invited the representatives of parliamentary parties to discuss the possible options they have. AdBoth chambers of Parliament need to agree on necessary changes to amend the electoral law in line with the court’s verdict.
Prague zoo's month-old Sumatran orangutan finally has a name
Kawi, a newly born baby of critically endangered Sumatran orangutan, holds on to his mother Mawar at their enclosure at the zoo in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Kawi was born on Nov. 17. Prague’s zoo said on Wednesday it has finally completed the process of naming a critically endangered Sumatran orangutan baby born on its premises on Nov 17. Kawi is the fourth baby for his mother, Mawar, and the first for father Pagy. Librarian was the name of an orangutan in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series of fantasy novels.
St. Nicholas visits Czech children while adapting to virus
Members of the new circus company Cirk La Putyka entertain people driving through with their cars in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. On the eve of St. Nicholas, Czechs traditionally celebrate by dressing up as Devils, Angels and St. Nicholas, and visiting children in their homes handing out small presents, coal, potatoes or other gifts. The eager visitors formed a long line of cars at the La Putyka Circus base in Prague. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)PRAGUE – The coronavirus pandemic has made life difficult for a lot of people in the Czech Republic, and that includes Saint Nicholas. A long line of cars at the La Putyka Circus base in Prague formed an eager audience for the drive-thru performance.
Czech health minister breaks virus rules, asked to resign
PRAGUE – The Czech Republic’s prime minister called on his health minister to resign or be fired after he broke strict government restrictions to slow a record surge of coronavirus infections and visited a Prague restaurant. Prime Minister Andrej Babis said Friday he will meet with the country’s president later in the day to discuss a possible replacement of the minister, Roman Prymula. “If we want the people to abide by the rules ... it is us who have to set an example,” Babis said. Before he became health minister, Prymula was a deputy health minister who led the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic for a time in the spring. Prymula became health minister on Sept. 12, and he imposed a series of tough regulations in attempts to slow the steep rise of infections.
Europe faces more curfews, restrictions as virus cases swell
Prime Minister Andrej Babis says those measures should prevent the collapse of the health system in early November. The nation of 67 million jumped closer to the 1 million infections mark, with 999,043 confirmed cases by Thursday evening. Health Minister Jens Spahn, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, was quarantined at home. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson introduced a three-tier alert system last week for England. Cyprus made mask wearing mandatory for anyone older than 12 in outdoor public spaces after daily infections hit record numbers in the last two weeks.