Hundreds of women in the Czech Republic who were sterilised under an unofficial policy to curb the country’s Roma population are hoping to finally win a long battle for compensation. A bill expected to be debated in the Czech parliament on Wednesday envisages granting each woman a one-off payment of 300,000 CZK. Most of the sterilisations occurred in the 1970s and 1980s during the communist regime of former Czechoslovakia, but activists say the practice continued into this century. Although the Czech government expressed “regret” in 2009 for the sterilisations, it did not offer compensation. Elena Gorolova, who was sterilised at 21 and has helped lead a 15-year campaign for compensation, said some women were offered financial incentives in exchange for being sterilised or told their children would be taken away if they had more babies. Others, like Gorolova, were sterilised during Caesarian births or told the procedure was a temporary form of contraception that could be reversed. Europe’s human rights watchdog has urged lawmakers to pass the bill, saying it may be the last chance to deliver justice. Some victims have already died. “This opportunity should not be wasted,” Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic said in...
Finding the newest relevant information about issues as important as the current COVID-19 pandemic may be difficult. There are many often rapid changes to restrictions announced on short notice. It is, however, even more, complicated to understand the situation when you are stuck in a foreign country whose language you don’t speak. So what are the English-written sources where you can find out what is currently going on? Comprehensive Overview From the Ministry of the Interior About three months ago the Czech Ministry of the Interior launched a special website mapping the current epidemiological situation and restrictions. It was created by NAKIT (National Information and Communication Agency) and MP Dominik Feri to provide Czechs with all the necessary information, so they don’t have to go through all the complex and often confusing documents released by the government, or different ministries. Fortunately, the creators kept expats living in the Czech Republic in mind as well and made an English version of the website. The only problem is that it takes time to translate everything and so the website doesn’t provide all the information the original Czech version of the website does. Despite this, there is all the information one really needs,...
In the future, Czech police are expected to gain access to a list of people and even businesses who repeatedly violate coronavirus measures in an effort to bring down the deaths and infections that have assailed the country. On Monday, the amendment presented by the Czech Ministry of the Interior, which expands the register of offenses to include offenses committed under the Crisis Act, was approved by the government. According to the amendment, in the case of repeated violations of government measures, companies and entrepreneurs could also be banned from operating for one year. The adjustments and higher sanctions concern violations of crisis measures ordered by the government, such as a ban on the operation of services or movement. On the contrary, it does not apply, for example, to the wearing of face masks. Thanks to the register, the administrative body and police officers should be given the opportunity to take into account whether the offense is committed repeatedly, and to adjust the extent and type of sanction accordingly. Interior Minister Jan Hamáček told reporters on Monday that the amendment to the Crisis and Misdemeanor Act is intended to eliminate complications in enforcing the rules. “No new register is being...
On Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) said that the Czech Republic will wait for the Sputnik V approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). “We will therefore not follow the example of Hungary, which will start vaccinating people suffering no chronic diseases with Russia’s Sputnik COVID-19 vaccine.” Hungary’s drug regulator granted the shot emergency use approval rather than waiting for the EU’s European Medicines Agency (EMA) to give it the go-ahead. PM Babiš will visit Serbia with a team of experts on Wednesday, to discuss the country’s experiences with the pandemic Russia’s vaccine. The team includes the main epidemiologist of IKEM Petr Smejkal, the head of the Department of Infectious Parasitic, and the chief surgeon of the infectious diseases of the University Hospital in Bulovka, Hana Roháčová. Serbia has already vaccinated more than half a million people. In Belgrade, the Prime Minister will meet with the Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, and President Alexander Vučić. “On average per capita, they are among the best in the world, so we are interested in their experience. They have experience with vaccines that have not been approved in the EU,” Babiš said before leaving for Serbia. “Whether [vaccines] come from...
Customisable catering delivery right to your home, make each weekend special, and enjoy a meal with your family, significant other, or small group of friends. Following a great demand for their home catering delivery at Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, Culinaria catering as created a weekly residential catering service available from Friday to Sunday. Culinaria Catering offers a wide selection of starters, soups, salads, main dishes, sharing platters, desserts and baked goods. Weekends are the time to spend with your loved ones, and what better way to maybe your weekend better than ordering delicious homemade food from a customisable menu. Order tasty and unique dishes that will be delivered to your home or office every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Look out for their ever-changing menu based on seasonal ingredients and themes based on universally and mainly American holidays. Their eShop offers you one-stop shopping when it comes to planning your weekend meals or small gatherings. Each order and all items are cooked fresh, made to order, and packed for reheating in family-sized amounts of 500 gr. or 1 pound, 1 kilo or 2 pounds. Start your meal with Alaskan Salmon Chowder or maybe a Bacon Corn Chowder, a hearty type...
Heavy snowfall across the Czech Republic on February 7-8 left Prague’s iconic buildings and parks coated with snow and pedestrians getting around with cross-country skis. Non-traditional scenes took place mainly on Prague’s Petrin Hill, where, in addition to children with sledges and bobsleighs, also adults had some… fun! The best example? A man dressed in the iconic Borat swimsuit was filmed while skiing on the slope. However, the Minister of the Interior, Jan Hamáček (ČSSD), pointed out that skiing on Petřín is illegal. “It is not in accordance with the law skiing or snowboarding off the marked track,” he told CNN Prima News. The Czech meteorologists predict the temperatures will drop to minus 12 degrees, and even minus 20 degrees in some areas. Currently, the warning against the freezing temperatures is valid from this Tuesday at 22:00 until the situation is resolved. Mezitím na Petříně #petrin #borat #freeride #odnasehozpravodaje pic.twitter.com/OuWoPZOoRk — Pokornja (@pokornja) February 8, 2021
The presidents of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia gathered in northern Poland on Tuesday for two days of debates to mark the 30th anniversary of the Visegrad Group, an informal body of political and economic cooperation in the region. Their talks will include the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, building energy security, protecting the climate, and international and trans-Atlantic relations. The group, also known as V4, often works out joint positions in international ties, especially within the European Union. Polish President Andrzej Duda welcomed counterparts, Zuzanna Czaputova of Slovakia, Janos Ader of Hungary, and Milos Zeman of the Czech Republic, at a residence on the Baltic Sea coast, on the Hel Peninsula. Next week, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will host the V4 group’s government leaders’ anniversary meeting with European Council President Charles Michel at the Wawel Castle in Krakow, southern Poland. The meeting is set to work out a declaration of future goals for the group and discuss issues related to the internet and online games, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sek. The V4 was founded in February 1991 from a declaration of cooperation that then-Presidents Lech Walesa of Poland, Vaclav Havel of then-Czechoslovakia,...
Universities and college programs in the Czech Republic become more popular every year. Great country, quality education, security, free European zone, and even a chance for free education — the list goes on, while students around the world choose this country. Why should you consider it too? 5 Reasons to Consider Universities in the Czech Republic If you know the language you can study for free (not a joke!) More than 50 thousand international students study in the Czech Republic and almost 40 thousand studies in Czech. The reason is simple — if you study in the national language, education is free even for international students. Considering the fact that Czech diplomas are recognized not only in the EU but around the world (somewhere after additional exams), it is a good way out for free and quality education. Czech is not a difficult language. The alphabet is Latin, and it helps immensely. Also, most of the professors know English, and though not officially, can additionally explain the most difficult topics to international students. The level of Czech required to enter university is B2. Lots of exceptional programs in Humanities and Science When you browse through university and college programs...
Labour and Social Affairs Minister Jana Maláčová said Sunday the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic were worse than those of World War II as she argued in favour of reopening schools. Prague Jewish Museum director Leo Pavlat raised objections to the statement of Ms. Maláčová comparing the coronavirus pandemic consequences to World War II. Maláčová said in a TV debate on Sunday that not even the Second World War had prevented children from going to school. Pavlat reminded that Jewish children were banned from attending all types of schools during WWII. “Covid is a disease that has made the country stop working for a year, the country is at a standstill, the entire economy is struggling. Even World War II did not do what the virus did. No other situation stopped us from sending the children to school,” said Maláčová in a television debate on CNN Prima News. Mr. Pavlát reminded that Jewish children were prevented from studying in all schools during the war. The statement also aroused criticism from journalists, labeled as “extremely insensitive” toward victims of the Holocaust. Maláčová later tried to backpedal, saying she did not mean to dishonor the more than 70 million victims of World...
The owner of C2H retail group Michal Mička said that the company entered insolvency proceedings due to coronavirus. The group owns the Kara and Pietro Filipi fashion stores The E15.cz server stated on Monday that the C2H group owes around 722 million crowns. The main creditor is Česká spořitelna. Negotiations on new investors were unsuccessful. Czech fashion brand Pietro Filipi will lay off all employees of its 23 stores. According to the latest financial statements, Pietro Filipi Stores employed 138 people at the end of 2018. At the end of 2018, another 64 people worked for the company Pietro Filipi sro, which procures clothing designs for the brand. The dropout of last year’s sales at Kara amounts to 200 million crowns while Pietro Filipi turnover fell to 227 million crowns from the previous 434 million in 2019. Employees of Pietro Filipi stores received a letter in January the day before payment stating that they were out of work and without money. “The employment relationship with you will be terminated,” according to the daily, the company’s human resources director Jan Zipser wrote to the employees. “Pietro Filipi Stores does not have funds left in the account, so unfortunately we will not...
The Czech Health Ministry will recommend the use of COVID-19 therapies that contain casirivimab/imdevimab and bamlavinimab antibodies ahead of standard approval, the ministry said on Monday. Both therapies are being reviewed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the agency said last week. The Czech Republic has been among the European countries worst hit by the current wave of the coronavirus pandemic, with the number of new infections per 100,000 people higher only in Portugal and Spain, according to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) released last week. “The Ministry will recommend distribution and use of unregistered treatments which contain casirivimab/imdevimab and bamlavinimab antibodies,” the ministry said. It said it would wait for an expert opinion from the national drug agency SUKL before issuing a final ruling. The former points to Regeneron’s cocktail of casirivimab and imdevimab, which was authorized for emergency use in the United States in November, and was given to then U.S. President Donald Trump during his COVID-19 infection. The latter, Eli Lilly’s combination therapy of two antibodies, bamlanivimab and etesevimab, helped cut the risk of hospitalisation and death in COVID-19 patients by 70%, data from a late-stage trial showed in January. Czechs...
In an attempt to slow the spread of infections, the government is currently scheduled to convene on Monday to consider restricting travel between Prague and the Central Bohemian region. Prague’s Mayor Zdeněk Hřib spoke out against the proposed measure and has the support of Governor Petra Pecková of the Central Bohemian region. Pecková agreed that free movement between the two entities is vital for the well-being and economic prosperity of its residents. “I request the government not to impose restrictions on movement between Prague and the Central Bohemian Region. Together we form one functional unit, an agglomeration connected in terms of transport, socially and economically. It is essential to maintain links in the field of healthcare,” Hřib stated on Twitter on Saturday. Prime Minister Babiš admitted last week that the situation in regard to the pandemic is not improving. Babiš feels that there is no point in tightening measures if the public does not obey them to begin with and that if they would comply, businesses could reopen again. “We must clearly tell the citizens that the situation is not good, but we must also say that if we all follow the measures as it did in the spring, we will...
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