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Tag: Czech Republic

  • Czech Republic President Petr Pavel ends 3-day visit to Ghana

    Czech Republic President Petr Pavel ends 3-day visit to Ghana

    President Petr Pavel of the Czech Republic embarked on a three-day state visit to Ghana from April 8 to April 10, at the invitation of President John Dramani Mahama.

    The visit marked a significant milestone in diplomatic relations, as it was the first time a Czech head of state had visited Ghana since diplomatic ties were established with the former Czechoslovakia in October 1959. It also represented President Mahama’s first official hosting of a foreign Head of State since resuming office in January 2025.

    During his stay, President Pavel engaged in high-level discussions with President Mahama aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, education, health, security, and technology. The two leaders also explored new opportunities for investment and cultural exchange.

    As part of his itinerary, President Pavel visited key sites, including the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, where he laid a wreath in honor of Ghana’s first president. He also addressed a special session of Parliament, reaffirming the Czech Republic’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Ghana.

    In a joint press conference at the Jubilee House, President Mahama described the visit as “a renewal of a long-standing friendship” and emphasized the need for Ghana and the Czech Republic to collaborate more closely on global challenges, including climate change, peacekeeping, and economic development.

    President Pavel, on his part, hailed Ghana as “a beacon of democracy and stability in West Africa” and expressed optimism about the future of Czech-Ghanaian relations.

    The visit concluded with the signing of several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covering areas such as technical education, health infrastructure development, and military cooperation.

  • Turkey beat Czech Republic to secure last-16 tie against Austria

    Turkey beat Czech Republic to secure last-16 tie against Austria

    Turkey secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic, thanks to a stoppage-time winner by Cenk Tosun, setting up a last-16 tie against Austria in the European Championship.

    The game, held under sunny skies in Hamburg, Germany, was marked by high tension and an unprecedented number of cards, totaling 18, setting a new record for disciplinary actions in a European Championship match.

    The Czech Republic entered the match needing a win to avoid elimination, but their hopes took a severe blow midway through the first half when Antonin Barak was sent off for a second yellow card offense.

    Despite being down to ten men, the Czechs fought valiantly and managed to equalize after Hakan Calhanoglu had given Turkey the lead with a precise strike into the bottom corner early in the second half.

    West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek leveled the score for the Czech Republic with a volley from close range, setting the stage for a tense and open-ended finish as both teams pushed for a decisive goal.

    It was Turkey who ultimately found the breakthrough deep into stoppage time when Tosun skillfully cut inside and fired a shot past the Czech goalkeeper, sparking wild celebrations among the Turkish players and fans.

    The match concluded in chaotic scenes as players from both sides clashed, resulting in another red card for the Czech Republic as Tomas Chory was sent off. Despite the ill-discipline and the heated atmosphere, Turkey emerged victorious and secured their spot in the knockout stages.

    Turkey’s triumph over the Czech Republic adds another chapter to their Euro history, recalling their memorable comeback victory over the same opponent in the 2008 tournament.

    With their passionate fans behind them, Turkey now looks forward to facing Austria in the round of 16, aiming to continue their impressive campaign in the European Championship.

  • Czech midfielder Sadilek to miss Euro 2024

    Czech midfielder Sadilek to miss Euro 2024

    Czech Republic‘s midfielder Michal Sadilek will miss Euro 2024 due to a leg injury sustained from a bicycle fall.

    Sadilek, a player for Dutch club Twente, had recently captained the Czech team in a friendly victory against Malta.

    This setback comes as a blow to manager Ivan Hasek, who described Sadilek’s absence as a significant loss for the team.

    “Sadilek unfortunately fell while riding his bike and suffered a laceration in the leg,” a Czech Republic spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday.

    The Czech Republic will kick off their Euro 2024 campaign on Tuesday, June 18, against Portugal. They are also set to play against Turkey and Georgia in Group F.

    The team’s journey in Euro 2020 ended in the quarter-finals when they were defeated by Denmark.

  • ‘I predicted that goal; I told my brother to tell Ghanaians’ – Gyan on first World Cup goal

    ‘I predicted that goal; I told my brother to tell Ghanaians’ – Gyan on first World Cup goal

    Former Ghanaian footballer, Asamoah Gyan recently reminisced about his iconic goal against the Czech Republic during the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

    In an interview with Captain Smart on the Onua show, Gyan shared his premonition of scoring against the formidable Czech team, despite Ghana’s challenging group stage.

    Gyan recalled telling his brother about his confidence in scoring against the Czech Republic, although he didn’t anticipate it happening just one minute and eight seconds into the match.

    “I told my brother I will score against Czech Republic. I wasn’t sure when but however I did not know it will be that early, one minute eight seconds, FIFA world cup 5th fastest goal,” Asamoah Gyan told Captain Smart on the Onua show.

    His goal, which became the fifth-fastest in FIFA World Cup history, remains etched in football fans’ memories worldwide.
    Reflecting on that moment, Gyan described the overwhelming nostalgia and the incredible reception he received from fans globally.

    His assertion of destiny in that match highlights the magic of sports and the indelible mark it leaves on players and enthusiasts alike.

    Watch video below:

  • Krystyna Pyszková secures Miss World victory for Czech Republic

    Krystyna Pyszková secures Miss World victory for Czech Republic

    Krystyna Pyszková of the Czech Republic emerged as the new Miss World in a dazzling competition held in Mumbai, India, on Saturday night.

    The first runner-up was Yasmina Zaytoun of Lebanon among the 112 contestants participating in the event at the Jio World Convention Center.

    Expressing her joy, Pyszkova stated, “Being crowned Miss World is a dream come true. I am deeply honored to represent my country and the values of ‘beauty with a purpose’ on a global platform.”

    The event marked a return to India after 28 years, showcasing the diverse culture, traditions, heritage, arts, crafts, and textiles of the country to a global audience.

    Participants donned intricately embroidered skirts and blouses, performing to popular Bollywood songs.

    As Karoline Bielawska of Poland handed over the crown, Pyszková waved to the large crowd and shared hugs with fellow contestants.

    The event highlighted India’s rich cultural tapestry and featured Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar and Miss World 2013 Megan Young from the Philippines as hosts.

    India’s representative, Sini Shetty, reached the final eight but exited the competition. Six Indian women have previously won the Miss World title, including Reita Faria (1966), Aishwarya Rai (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta Mookhey (1999), Priyanka Chopra (2000), and Manushi Chillar (2017).

  • Prague University tragedy elicits national mourning in Czech Republic

    Prague University tragedy elicits national mourning in Czech Republic

    The Czech Republic is observing a national day of mourning for the lives lost in the tragic mass shooting at a Prague university on Thursday. The nation comes together in grief to honor and remember the victims of this devastating incident.

    Official buildings lower flags to half-mast, and a moment of silence is scheduled for midday as the Czech Republic pays tribute to the victims of the mass shooting at a Prague university.

    A tragic incident unfolded at the Faculty of Arts building of Charles University in the capital, where fourteen individuals were fatally shot by a student who subsequently took his own life.

    Police are working to uncover the motive behind the attack.

    It is one of the deadliest assaults by a lone gunman in Europe this century.

    Those killed in Thursday’s attack included Lenka Hlavkova, head of the Institute of Musicology at the university.

    Other victims were named as translator and Finnish literature expert Jan Dlask and student Lucie Spindlerova.

    The shooting began at around 15:00 local time (14:00 GMT) at the Faculty of Arts building off Jan Palach Square in the centre of the Czech capital.

    The gunman opened fire in the corridors and classrooms of the building, before shooting himself as security forces closed in on him, police say.

    US tourist Hannah Mallicoat told the BBC that she and her family had been on Jan Palach Square during the attack.

    “A crowd of people were crossing the street when the first shot hit. I thought it was something like a firecracker or a car backfire until I heard the second shot and people started running,” she said.

    “I saw a bullet hit the ground on the other side of the square about 30ft [9m] away before ducking into a store. The whole area was blocked off and dozens of police cars and ambulances were going towards the university.”

    In a statement, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the country had been shocked by this “horrendous act”.

    “It is hard to find the words to express condemnation on the one hand and, on the other, the pain and sorrow that our entire society is feeling in these days before Christmas.”

    The gunman is thought to have killed his father at a separate location. He is also suspected in the killing of a young man and his two-month-old daughter who were found dead in a forest on the outskirts of Prague on 15 December.

    The attack had one of the largest death tolls of any mass shooting by a lone gunman in Europe this century:

    • Norway, July 2011 Anders Behring Breivik killed 77 people by planting a car bomb that killed eight at an Oslo government building and then shooting dead 69 more, most of them teenagers, at an island summer camp run by the ruling Labour Party’s youth wing
    • Germany, April 2002 Robert Steinhauser, 19, killed 16 people – 13 teachers, two pupils, and a policemen – at the Gutenberg Gymnasium secondary school in the city of Erfurt. He had been expelled from the school the previous autumn
    • Germany, March 2009 Tim Kretschmer, 17, killed 15 people in a shooting that began at his former school in the town of Winnenden, near Stuttgart. He shot dead nine students and three teachers at the school before going on to the nearby town of Wendlingen, where he shot another three passers-by.
    • Switzerland, September 2001 Friedrich Leibacher entered the regional parliament building in the city of Zug dressed in a police uniform and shot dead 14 people and injured another 10
    • Serbia, April 2013 Ljubisa Bogdanovic shot dead thirteen people, including a two-year-old boy, and injured his wife in a village outside Belgrade. Bogdanovic was a military veteran who had fought with Serb forces in the Croatian War of Independence in the early 1990s.

    Founded in 1347, Charles University is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic and one of the oldest such institutions in Europe.

  • Gladbach sign Tomas Cvancara in 5 year deal

    Gladbach sign Tomas Cvancara in 5 year deal

    Borussia Monchengladbach announced on Friday that they have secured the services of Czech Republic forward Tomas Cvancara (22) from Sparta Prague.

    The player has signed a five-year contract with the Bundesliga club.

    While the exact transfer fee has not been disclosed by the clubs, reports suggest that the amount involved in the deal is approximately 10 million euros.

    “Tomas is a striker that poses a real threat on goal, coupled with plenty of pace,” Gladbach sporting director Roland Virkus said in a statement.

    “He’s still young but has been playing professionally for several years and broke into the Czech Republic national team this season.”

    He made his Czech Republic debut scoring a goal in a Euro 2024 qualifying 3-1 win over Poland in March.

    Cvancara started his professional career at Czech top-flight side Jablonec in February 2018 before moving to Sparta Prague in January 2022, where he played nearly 50 games and scored 24 goals in all competitions.

  • Black Stars defender Patrick Kpozo joins Czech Republic

    Black Stars defender Patrick Kpozo joins Czech Republic

    Ghanaian left-back Patrick Kpozo has completed a move to Czech Republic club Banik Ostrava on a two-year contract from Moldovan champions Sheriff Tiraspor.

    Kpozo, aged 25, had a brief spell of 18 months with Sheriff Tiraspor after joining them from Swedish club Östersund in January 2022.

    His impressive performances during this period earned him a call-up to the Ghana national team.

    During his time with Sheriff Tiraspor, Kpozo made 15 league appearances, contributing to their eighth consecutive league title win and qualification for the UEFA Champions League.

    He also featured in eight matches in the UEFA Europa League and made two appearances in the Moldovan Cup.

    In March, Kpozo was initially invited by Black Stars coach Chris Hughton to join the Ghana national team for their doubleheader against Angola in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

    He had to wait until the following match against Madagascar, where he made his debut and won the admiration of many due to the previous left-back players’ lacklustre performances, Baba Rahman and Gideon Mensah.

    As his new team Banik Ostrava struggled defensively last season, Patrick Kpozo is expected to strengthen their defence under his leadership.

    They avoided being demoted after the playoffs by placing 12th in the regular season.

  • Construction of 50 bridges in farming communities underway – Roads Minister

    Construction of 50 bridges in farming communities underway – Roads Minister

    In order to advance socioeconomic activities throughout the country, 50 bridges in farming areas are being built by the government, according to Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah.

    These Czech steel bridges, spanning a total of 1,500 meters, were procured through Messrs Knights A/S, with the support of the Czech government.

    The initiative aims to replace dilapidated bridges and provide access to previously isolated communities affected by water crossings.

    During a visit to the Czech Republic, Amoako-Attah led a delegation to discuss the progress of the bridge construction project with Messrs Knights A/S, who were contracted under a Czech export credit facility.

    The minister also negotiated an additional 100 steel bridges to further improve transportation infrastructure.

    As part of the visit, Amoako-Attah held productive bilateral meetings with officials from ČSOB Bank, EGAP (Czech Insurance Company), Raiffeisen Bank, as well as representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Transport, and Trade and Industry of the Czech Republic.

    Highlighting the significance of these bridges, Amoako-Attah emphasized, “The bridges will reduce travel time, enhance accessibility for local communities, alleviate traffic congestion at river crossings, and contribute to the growth of the agricultural sector,” ghanaiantimes.com.gh quoted the minister.

    Out of the 50 bridges, 34 are nearing completion, with 90% of the work finished, while 10 bridges are ready for immediate use. Prominent among the substantially completed bridges are those spanning the Taifa-Dome stream in the Greater Accra Region, the Okurudu Stream in Kpormettey in the Central Region, the Birim River on the Akim Mamponp-Adasawase road in the Eastern Region, the Kokoso-Bohyen Road in the Ashanti Region, and the Kamba River on the Sentu-Girigan-Kpari road in the Upper West Region.

    The minister further explained that once the additional 100 bridges are secured, they will be installed on feeder roads nationwide, enhancing accessibility in farming communities and replacing existing deteriorated steel bridges.

    Expressing satisfaction with the progress made by Knights A/S in installing the steel bridges, the CEO of EGAP, Dr. David Havelicek, assured Amoako-Attah of his company’s continued support for Ghana.

    The contract agreements for financing the project were signed by the Government of Ghana, Knights A/S, and Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Bank on April 2, 2019. Amoako-Attah lauded the longstanding friendly relations between Ghana and the Czech Republic, which date back to 1959, and acknowledged the significant role of Czech investments in Ghana’s economic development.

    He also appealed to the Czech Republic for further support in the supply of steel bridges. Accompanying the minister on the visit were Dr. Abass Mohammed Awolu, Chief Director of the Ministry of Roads and Highways; James Nyasembi; Ahmad Tijani Abubakari, Ambassador and Deputy Ambassador of Ghana to the Czech Republic; Dr. Karl Laryea, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Knight; Mr. Lanka Laryea, President of Knight; and officials from the Ghanaian Embassy in the Czech Republic.

  • England captain Williamson out for ‘several weeks

    Williamson has made four appearances for Arsenal in all competitions this season

    England captain Leah Williamson will be out of action for “several weeks” with a footinjury.

    Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall confirmed that Williamson will undergo further assessment, but it is not likely she will need surgery.

    The 25-year-old centre-back was ruled out of England’s friendlies against the United States and the Czech Republic after sustaining an injury in training.

    She is set to miss England’s November fixtures against Japan and Norway.

    Williamson’s defensive partner, Rafaelle Souza, is also expected to miss several weeks with a fractured foot.

    The Brazilian, who is also unlikely to need surgery, has played in Arsenal’s first two Women’s Super League (WSL) games this season, scoring in the 4-0 north London derby win against Tottenham.

      The champion of two courts ignored by the world: Ora Washington fought to make her name in racially segregated AmericaHow is a jet engine made? Go behind the scenes at the Rolls-Royce factory in Derby to find out

    Source: bbc.com

  • Czech Republic strengthens visa requirements for tourists from Russia

    From October 25, Russian tourists holding Schengen-zone visas issued by any country will no longer be allowed to enter the Czech Republic.

    In recent months, countries bordering Russia, like the Baltic states, along with Finland and Poland, have barred Russian tourists.

    Meanwhile, the Czech Republic immediately stopped visas for Russians, except on humanitarian grounds, after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine but allowed in visitors at airports who had visas issued by other countries in the EU’s Schengen travel zone.

    Now, the tightening of rules, approved by the government today, means even those with EU visas from other states will not be allowed to enter.

    “While Russian rockets fall on a children’s playground and on people in Ukraine, up to 200 Russian Federation citizens travel to the Czech Republic via international airports every day,” the Czech Republic’s foreign minister Jan Lipavsky said.

    The ban will be for Russians holding visas for tourism, sport, or culture, Mr Lipavsky added.

     

  • Ghanaian defender Ishaku Konda trains with new club FK Jablonec

    Ghanaian international Ishaku Konda trained with his new teammates at FK Jablonec on Monday.

    He was put through his paces with his former coach David Horejs whom he worked with and established a good relationship with him at Ceske Budejovice.

    The 23-year-old joined the Czech Republic top-flight side on a two year deal after successful negotiations.

    In his contract, the talented youngster has a clause which will give him the chance to extend for an additional year at the end of his two-year stay with FK Jablonec.

    In the past, Ishaku Honda played for České Budějovice, and also had a fine stint in Estonia where he played for Paide.

    At FK Jablonec, the Ghanaian youngster has set his sights on working very hard to make a mark in the Czech Republic top-flight side.

    Konda is likely to feature in their cup game against Vyskov on Tuesday.

     

    Source: Footballghanaaaa

  • UK and Czech PMs concur to cooperate on energy issues and oppose Putin

    During a meeting in Prague, Liz Truss had a conversation with Petr Fiala, her Czech counterpart.

    The pair met ahead of the European Political Community’s inaugural summit.

    A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister met the Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala in Prague this morning.

    “The prime minister thanked Prime Minister Fiala for hosting today’s gathering of European leaders, welcoming the important opportunity to discuss regional issues like energy security and migration.

    “The leaders were in strong agreement on the importance of like-minded European democracies presenting a united front against Putin’s brutality.

    “They discussed the UK and Czech Republic’s early support for Ukraine’s defence and the need to continue military aid, help on reconstruction, and sanctions on Putin’s regime.

    “The prime minister and Prime Minister Fiala also noted opportunities for our countries to work together to secure long-term energy supplies, including cooperation on nuclear and renewables.

    “Both leaders welcomed the prospect of the United Kingdom resuming participation in the North Seas Energy Cooperation group. The prime minister looked forward to work progressing at pace on developing next-generation energy interconnectors in the region.”

  • EU ambassadors impose new sanctions against Russia

    EU member countries have agreed on another round of sanctions against Russia over its aggression against Ukraine, the Czech EU presidency said on Wednesday.

    “Ambassadors reached a political agreement on new sanctions against Russia,” the presidency said on Twitter.

    Edita Hrda, permanent representative of the Czech Republic to the EU, said the sanctions were in response to Russia’s annexation of four regions in Ukraine, which the West has deemed illegitimate.

    This morning we reported that Vladimir Putin had signed laws absorbing four Ukrainian regions into Russia.

    Earlier this week, both houses of the Russian parliament ratified treaties making the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions part of Russia.

    The referendums have been described as a “sham” by the West.

  • Kwadaso Agric College to be made university – President

    President Akufo-Addo has announced plans by the government to upgrade the Kwadaso College of Agriculture in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, to an agricultural university.

    He said the government was collaborating with the Mendel University of the Czech Republic to upgrade the status of the Agricultural College.

    The President said this at the centenary celebration of the Kwadaso Agricultural College last Friday

    With the Kwadaso College established in 1922 to help maintain the then Gold Coast’s enviable position of being the leading producer of cocoa in the world, the President noted that the College has since evolved into a centre of excellence, with increased capacity for training.

    According to President Akufo-Addo, “the Kwadaso College of Agriculture can, to date, boast of having trained some one hundred thousand (100,000) young people as agricultural assistants who have since been absorbed by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Local Government Service, Ghana Cocoa Board, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, as well as the private sector over the years.”

    Having produced a significant number of graduates, who have moved on to occupy leadership positions in industry, academia, civil society and entrepreneurship, he noted that “the record of the College in contributing to the human resource development of this country is testament to its strength”.

    One hundred (100) years after the establishment of the College, the President stated that the time was ripe to reposition the institution to harness its full potential, and that was why the decision has been taken to upgrade the Kwadaso Agricultural College into an agricultural university, with collaborative support from the prestigious Mendel University of the Czech Republic.

    “It is my understanding that the agricultural university will take care of the academic and professional development of our human resource for the agricultural sector. If successful, the plan will include establishing satellite campuses in Ejura and Wenchi Agricultural Colleges,” he said.

    The President continued, “The reason why the establishment of this University, dedicated to agriculture, excites me very much is because we will produce the requisite numbers of human resource to support research, impart knowledge and provide leadership in the sector.”

    Stressing on the need for the country to scale up consciously the number of middle level professionals who provided hands-on support in the sector, President Akufo-Addo acknowledged the fact that the Kwadaso College of Agriculture, and indeed other colleges, are already laying the foundation for developing such category of human resource, as some graduates of these institutions have begun benefitting from training in Government’s greenhouse internship programme in Ghana and Israel.

    “The trainees at such centres are prepared for entrepreneurship by being equipped with academic knowledge and practical skills in greenhouse technology. Once established, the transformed agricultural university and other colleges will serve as incubators for the development of more agricultural professionals in the country,” he said.

    The President, therefore, pledged the continous support of Government to make the upgrade of the College into a University a reality, and charged the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to step-up efforts, and strengthen the partnership and collaboration with the Mendel University to realise this vision.

    “The collaboration between the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Mendel University exemplifies the wisdom of collaborating to make our institutions very valuable to our developmental efforts. I am confident that this celebration will ignite that spirit of togetherness and make this a reality,” he added.

  • Mobilization orders: No visa for Russians – Czech Republic announces

    Russian men evading mobilization orders will not be granted humanitarian visas, according to Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky.

    While understanding their intentions, Lipavsky told the Czech news outlet Novinky. cz that such situations did not fit the requirements for a humanitarian visa.

    The Czech Republic joins other countries such as Latvia which has said it will not provide sanctuary to Russians seeking to avoid the draft on humanitarian grounds. Germany, on the other hand, says it will do so.

    The Czech Foreign Ministry has also confirmed it has written to two NHL teams to say Prague would not issue visas to Russian ice hockey players wishing to travel to the Czech capital to take part in the NHL’s Global Series games.

    Prague will host two matches between the San Jose Sharks and the Nashville Predators, both of which have Russian players, on 7 and 8 October.

  • Ukraine war: Grave sites spark calls for a tribunal into Russian killings

    In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Union leadership has called for an international tribunal.

    The appeal came from the Czech Republic, which is presently in charge of rotating the bloc’s presidency. It was made in response to the discovery of hundreds of graves in Izyum, a town that Ukrainian forces had just recaptured.

    It is said that many of them are civilians, including women and children.

    “We stand for the punishment of all war criminals,” Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said.

    Ukraine says it believes war crimes have been committed in Izyum, where 59 bodies have been exhumed so far – with more expected from the graves in a forest at the edge of the city.

    “In the 21st Century, such attacks against the civilian population are unthinkable and abhorrent,” Mr Lipavsky said.

    “We must not overlook it. We stand for the punishment of all war criminals,” he said.

    “I call for the speedy establishment of a special international tribunal that will prosecute the crime of aggression.”

    In his regular address on Saturday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said investigators had discovered new evidence of torture used against the people buried in Izyum, in Kharkiv region.

    “More than 10 torture chambers have already been found in the liberated areas of Kharkiv region, in various cities and towns,” Mr Zelensky said.

    He said the Russians would have to answer “both on the battlefield and in courtrooms”.

    On Thursday, EU Commission President chief Ursula von der Leyen said she wanted Mr Putin to face the International Criminal Court over war crimes in Ukraine.

    Russia claims it is fighting to de-Nazify Ukraine, in a conflict it still refers to as a “special military operation” rather than a war.

    It has not commented on the burial sites at Izyum. Moscow has previously denied targeting civilians.

  • EU ministers look to set up central military training for Ukraine

    Senior European Union ministers are meeting in the Czech Republic, with defence ministers set to discuss setting up a centralised military training mission for Ukraine.

    Individual members have been training Ukrainian troops for a while, mostly in operating new weapons, but the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has said he hopes more “high-level training” can be offered.

    He said a central training system would allow EU members to be “more predictable and to provide stronger support” to Ukraine.

    Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers are also set to meet this week, with a debate introducing visa restrictions on Russian citizens expected to dominate discussions.

    EU members are set to continue discussions in the Czech capital Prague on Wednesday.

    Source: BBC

  • Czech forest fire smoke drifts across country

    People in many areas of the Czech Republic have been advised by the fire brigade to keep their windows closed as they fight a big forest fire.

    Parts of the Bohemian Switzerland national park, which sits on the German border, have been burning since Sunday.

    Homes have been destroyed and the smell of smoke has reached the capital Prague 100km (60 miles) to the south.

    Smoke has also been detected in the Pardubice area, 180km to the south-east.

    Hundreds of Czech firefighters were deployed as the fire destroyed areas of forest and homes in the village of Mezna. The fire was also threatening the nearby village of Hrensko, close to the German border, and dozens of people were forced to flee their homes.

    Three German teams who had been helping later left for the German side of the border as the blaze later started to spread. Tourists were urged to avoid the area as the alarm was raised around Bad Schandau in the Saxon Switzerland national park.

    The fire service was inundated with calls about the drift of smoke and appealed to Czechs not to contact them unless they saw flames. Human carelessness has been blamed for the fire, the BBC’s Rob Cameron in Prague reports.

    A Czech army helicopter helps to extinguish a forest fire, during a heatwave, close to the German-Czech border near Schmilka, Germany, July 26, 2022.Getty Images
    The national park is a major tourist attraction along the border with Germany

    Czech helicopters could be seen filling buckets from the River Elbe before heading towards the fire. Firefighters from Slovakia, Poland and Italy, as well as Germany have responded to Czech calls for aid under the EU’s civil protection mechanism.

    While there have been no reports of injuries from the Czech fire, hundreds of people have fled their homes since Sunday. Prime Minister Petr Fiala visited the scene of the fire on Tuesday.

    The Bohemian Switzerland national park is a popular tourist attraction, and its naturally formed sandstone arch – the largest in Europe – has featured in a number of films, including The Chronicles of Narnia.

    • Authorities in northern Greece were continuing to battle a devastating blaze in Dadia national park in Evros for a sixth day
    • In Spain three wildfires in the Castile and León region stabilised and large fires that had ravaged Galicia were reported under control
    • A blaze in northern Tenerife continued but had stopped spreading while several smaller fires continued across Spain.

     

    Source: BBC

  • Spain beat Czech Republic to go top of group

    Spain saw off the Czech Republic at La Rosaleda Stadium in Malaga to move into top spot in Nations League Group A2.

    Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler slotted in from Marco Asensio’s pass to open the scoring before substitute Pablo Sarabia doubled the hosts’ lead.

    The 30-year-old tapped in from close range after Barcelona winger Ferran Torres flashed a ball across goal.

    Spain were dominant, enjoying 72% of possession, and Sarabia curled another narrowly wide from the edge of the box.

    The visitors did have chances of their own in the first half, but Vaclav Cerny and Jan Kutcha both failed to convert.

    Victory for Luis Enrique’s side saw them leapfrog Portugal, who were beaten by Switzerland.

    Source: BBC 

  • It’s time to leave Czech Republic for another environment – Benjamin Tetteh

    Ghanaian forward Benjamin Tetteh has said it’s time to leave Sparta Prague this summer as he seeks to change environment from Czech Republic to another country.

    The former Ghana U20 star has two years remaining on his Sparta contract but believes the time to leave the club is now.

    Tetteh has been playing in Czech Republic since 2016 having had spells 1 FC Slovacko on loan and FC Bohemians Prag 1905 before joining Sparta in 2018.

    “I have been here (in the Czech Republic) for four years and would like to change environment. Now is the time to go.” he told www.90min.com

    The 23-year-old made 33 appearances for Sparta in the Czech top-flight this season where he netted 7 goals and assisted other four.

    Tetteh has been linked with a move to the French Ligue 1 with Stade Reims interested in landing the lanky attacker.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Re-Live: Ghana’s first ever FIFA World Cup win against Czech Republic

    Ghana pulled off the biggest upset in the 2006 FIFA World Cup by recording its first victory over the second-ranked team on the FIFA/Coca -Cola World Ranking, Czech Republic 2-0 at the RheinEnergiestadion in Cologne, Germany.

    Asamoah Gyan fired Ghana ahead after just 70 seconds, finishing superbly to punish Tomas Ujfalusi’s mistake.

    Ujfalusi was later sent off for bringing down Matthew Amoah, but the Czechs had a reprieve as Gyan struck the resulting penalty against the post.

    Petr Cech kept Ghana at bay with a string of great saves but the Black Stars sealed the victory with a second when Sulley Muntari rounded off a fine move.

    Ghana gave an instant demonstration of their determination to make amends for their error-strewn defeat to Italy by sweeping into the lead inside 70 seconds.

    A Ghana corner was cleared only as far as Stephen Appiah whose cross was missed by Ujfalusi and fell for Gyan who finished superbly past Cech from the edge of the box.

    The Czech Republic was having problems getting the influential Tomas Rosicky on the ball.

    Ghana’s central midfielders Appiah and Michael Essien worked their socks off to negate the threat of Nedved and Rosicky.

    The Czechs at last stitched a move together, with Jaroslav Plasil, Rosicky and Nedved combining to set up Poborsky for a cross which Rosicky fired wide.

    Czech Republic’s hunger for an equaliser almost proved their undoing as Asamoah Gyan caught them short-handed at the back and it needed a great save Cech to prevent Ghana from doubling their lead.

    Match statistics

    Czech Republic: Petr Cech, Zdanek Grygera, David Rozehnal, Tomas Ujfalusi, Marek Jankulovski, Karel Poborsky (Jiri Stajner 55), Tomas Galasek (C) (Jan Polak 45), Tomas Rosicky, Jaroslav Plasil (Libor Sionko 68), Pavel Nedved, Vratislav Lokvenc.

    Subs Not Used: Pavel Mares, Radoslav Kovac, Martin Jiranek, David Jarolim, Jaromir Blazek, Marek Heinz, Antonin Kinsky, Jan Koller, Milan Baros.

    Sent Off: Ujfalusi (66).

    Booked: Lokvenc.

    Manager: Karel Brückner (Czech Republic)

    Ghana: Richard Kingston, John Pantsil, John Mensah, Habib Mohamed, Shilla Illiansu, Michael Essien, Stephen Appiah (C), Sule Muntari, Otto Addo (Derek Boateng 45), Asamoah Gyan (Razak Pimpong 85), Mathew Amoah (Eric Addo 80).

    Subs Not Used: Sammy Adjei, Hans Sarpei, Samuel Kuffour, Addoquaye Pappoe, Tachie-Mensah, George Owu, Daniel Quaye, Issah Ahmed, Haminu Dramani.

    Booked: Otto Addo, Essien, Gyan, Boateng, Muntari.

    Goals: Gyan 2, Muntari 82.

    Manager: Ratomir Dujkovi? (Serbia)

    Attendance: 45,000.

    Referee: Horacio Marcelo Elizondo (Argentina).

    FIFA man of the match: Michael Essien.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Czech quarantine policy draws protest on Polish border

    Czech and Polish citizens of the divided border town of Cesky Tesin/Cieszyn gathered on Friendship Bridge on Monday evening to highlight what they see as the absurdity of continuing border restrictions due to Coronavirus.

    Around 200 people from both sides of the Czech-Polish border gathered on the bridge for a silent protest against the ongoing restrictions put in place by the Czech authorities, Czech Radio reports. The event was attended by representatives of both the Czech and Polish town councils, including the mayor of Cieszyn on the Polish side.

    The Czech government has designated the Polish province of Silesia as high-risk and requires all Czechs returning from there and all Poles crossing into the Czech Republic from there to provide a negative Coronavirus certificate within 72 hours or self-isolate for 14 days. Local people say it is destroying business and family ties as they are used to crossing the river to visit the other side several times a day.

    “We’re one city. If you say the border’s going to open, then it should be open on both sides. If you only open it on one side, then to me that’s not opening it,” the mayor of Cieszyn, Gabriela Staszkiewicz, told Czech Radio.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Free beer in the Czech Republic

    Over the past few weeks, many of us likely missed getting a decent pint in the pub down the road.

    But if you’re in the Czech Republic, today’s the day!

    Bars and restaurants will be able to reopen their indoor premises this Monday.

    It gets better though: the largest brewery in the country is using the day for a big PR stunt.

    Every customer who orders a beer in any pub serving Pilsner Urquell on tap will receive a second one for free, Czech media are reporting.

    Yep, the mere thought of it makes us just as thirsty as you right now.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Czech media name Russian diplomat in ‘poison plot’ row

    Russia’s embassy in Prague has asked for police protection for one of its diplomats, who has been named by Czech media amid allegations of a plot to poison Czech politicians.

    It said “false and unfounded” allegations had been made against one of its employees and he was now receiving threats.

    There has been no confirmation three Czech mayors were the focus of a plot.

    But all three – including the Prague city mayor – got police protection.

    Last month a Czech weekly, Respekt, alleged that a Russian agent had travelled to Prague with a suitcase containing the highly potent toxin, ricin. It suggested the poison might be used to target Czech politicians who had angered Russia.

    Who is the man named in Czech media? A Czech TV news programme has now alleged that the reports involved Andrei Konchakov, head of the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Prague, and suggests he is an undeclared intelligence officer.

    Without naming him, the embassy said on its Facebook page that a member of its staff was the target of an “anti-Russian information campaign” and that it had been forced to apply for police protection for him. It said the diplomat was the victim of a “slander campaign” whipped up by Czech media.

    Mr Konchakov told Czech website Seznam Zpravy he had brought “disinfectant and sweets” into the country in his suitcase, and not ricin as had been claimed.

    Several Russian media have also reported his name. According to his biography on the Prague Russian centre’s website, he was born in 1986 and given his current job in December 2017.

    The head of the federal agency he works for in Moscow dismissed the reports as a “pure provocation”, linked to an ongoing row over the removal of a statue of Soviet Marshal Ivan Konev in Prague.

    Prague and Moscow are due to start talks in the coming days to try to defuse growing tension in bilateral relations.

    Who is Konchakov?

    Is Andrei Konchakov’s cover blown? Is he even an undercover agent?

    Russia denies this which, even if he was, is understandable. That’s the whole point of being an undeclared intelligence agent.

    Czech authorities also won’t comment. But they have in the past complained about the supersized Russian diplomatic delegation.

    In 2018, there were 121 Russian diplomats and support staff in Prague, with another 18 at the country’s consulates in Brno and Karlovy Vary. It’s one of the biggest Russian diplomatic missions in Europe.

    Exactly how many are spies using diplomatic cover is known only to Moscow. Privately Czech officials believe it could be as high as 40%.

    Czech journalists are now tweeting photos of Mr Konchakov from his Facebook account. One of the most recent shows him surrounded by members of Russia’s Night Wolves motorcycle gang, in front of the statue of World War Two Russian general Ivan Konev in Prague.

    That’s the statue that has now been removed; the act that caused so much anger in Moscow.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Czechs to test 27,000 people to gauge coronavirus antibodies

    The Czech Republic will test 27,000 people for coronavirus antibodies to gain information on how many came into contact with the infection, officials said on Tuesday.

    The study, wider than others made in European countries and the United States in recent weeks, will start on Wednesday and involve all age groups.

    Four regions were picked, from areas that were little affected by the virus to ones highly affected, Institute of Health Information and Statistics Director Ladislav Dusek said.

    Results, expected in early May, should give the government a clearer view of how many asymptomatic cases there may have been and help decision-making on further steps.

    “For us, this study will be an important lead. The higher the rate the more positive the situation will be in this respect,” Health Minister Adam Vojtech told a news conference.

    The pandemic has been less severe in the Czech Republic, a country of 10.7 million, than most west European countries after the early adoption of strict measures such as shop and school closures, a ban on most foreign travel and the mandatory use of face masks in public.

    The government has been under pressure to accelerate easing the measures.

    Unlike tests to identify current infections, the study will use rapid tests for antibodies, which show whether people have been infected in the past. People who test positive will be offered a swab test to find out whether they are still carrying the virus.

    Deputy Health Minister Roman Prymula said he expected the study to show the percentage of the population carrying antibodies to be in single digits. That would mean the country has not reached widespread “herd immunity”.

    The Czech Republic has reported 6,914 cases and 196 deaths. It has done 178,617 tests.

    A study of 863 Los Angeles County residents in the United States showed 4.1% of adults tested positive for antibodies, suggesting the infection rate may be 40 times higher than the number of confirmed cases. [nL1N2C900W]

    In Austria, a study of more than 1,500 people found that less than 1% were currently infected in early April. [nL5N2BY0SY]

    Source: bbc.com

  • Czech shooting: Gunman kills six at hospital in Ostrava

    A gunman has killed six people in a hospital waiting room in the Czech city of Ostrava before shooting himself in the head, police say.

    Armed police found the suspect dead from a self-inflicted gunshot in a vehicle three hours later.

    The gunman was believed to be a patient at the hospital, one unconfirmed report said. His motive remains unclear.

    Officers said they were called to the hospital in the north-eastern city at 07:19 (06:19 GMT).

    The shooting took place in a matter of moments at Ostrava university hospital’s trauma clinic. Hospital director Jiri Havrlant told Czech TV the gunman opened fire without warning, hitting nine patients.

    Read:CID Boss speaks on organised crime, money laundering in Czech Republic

    Four men and two women were killed and three other people were wounded, two seriously. All of the victims were patients at the hospital.

    The hospital was initially locked down.

    A doctor inside the hospital told the Aktualne website that staff had been locked in a hallway waiting for the emergency to end.

    Police earlier asked for help in their search for the gunman, but warned people not to approach him, adding that the site in the Moravian-Silesian region had been “secured”.

    The suspect had used a handgun and had driven off in a silver Renault Laguna car, according to police. They said they had established the 42-year-old man’s name, had photographs of him and had obtained his vehicle licence plate number.

    Police said that once they had obtained pictures of the suspect from security cameras they launched two helicopters to search for him. When one of the helicopters was flying over the car some 5km (3 miles) north of the hospital, the man shot himself in the head and later died of his injuries.

    Read:Gunman in US school shooting dies as police hunt motive

    The gun used in the attack was described as a 9mm Czech-made handgun, which the suspect did not have a licence for.

    Police initially posted an image of a man they said they needed to trace and said later he was the man behind the shooting, but they later removed the picture from their social media feed after he was found.

    Patrols were stepped up at what police described as soft targets, such as schools, shopping centres and other hospitals.

    Colleagues of the suspected gunman told Czech media that he had recently gone on sick leave, declaring he was seriously ill. He was said to be a construction engineer who had been treated at the hospital’s haemato-oncology department.

    Prime Minister Andrej Babis confirmed that six people had been killed and that the shootings occurred at close range. He cancelled a foreign trip and was preparing to travel to Ostrava, reports said.

    The governor of the Moravian-Silesian Region, Ivo Vondrak, said the shooting was “a great tragedy”.

    Read:Deadly Los Angeles school shooting traumatises students

    Police said that officers responding to reports of a shooting had arrived at the scene within five minutes. Ostrava is about 300km (190 miles) east of Prague.

    Gun attacks in the Czech Republic are rare, although gun ownership is relatively high for Europe because of the popularity of hunting.

    In 2015, a man opened fire in a restaurant in the eastern town of Uhersky Brod, killing eight people before turning the gun on himself.

    Last week, the Czech government lost a legal challenge to an EU law restricting private use of semi-automatic rifles. It was introduced by the European Union in 2017 after a spate of militant Islamist attacks in 2015.

    The government in Prague said the law would do nothing to increase security.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Ghana moves to revive trade ties with Czech Republic

    Ghana has called on Czech Republic to revamp industries it set up in the country during the 1950s.

    The West African nation has also urged the Government of Czech Republic to assist with the establishment of factories that have been identified by Government through the One District One Factory policy.

    Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey made the call as she held bilateral talks with her counterpart from Czech Republic, Tomas Patrick, in New York, USA, on the sidelines of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.

    She expressed the determination of Ghana to build stronger bilateral relations with the Czech Republic for the mutual benefit of their peoples.

    Madam Ayorkor Botchwey acknowledged the contribution of the Czech Republic to Ghana’s socio-economic development during early independence era and further mention the assistance provided in the establishment of a number of factories including the Aboso Glass Factory, Saltpond Ceramics, Kade Match Factory, Komenda Sugar Factory and the Kumasi Shoe Factory.

    She disclosed that the Government of Ghana remains mindful of the importance of the manufacturing sector to achieving economic growth, and its renewed focus on adding value to primary produce and raw materials through industrialization of the economy for enhanced exports returns and job creation for the youth.

    As a result, she observed, the Ghanaian Government was implementing an economic policy of “One District One Factory”, which seeks to equip and empower communities to utilize their local resources in manufacturing products for local and international consumption.

    According to her, opportunities abound for cooperation between the two countries in the areas of agriculture and agro-processing, construction, manufacturing, energy, oil, services and security.

    She urged the Czech Government to further consider enhancing cooperation with the Government of Ghana in the aforementioned areas.

    The Minister recalled the strong cultural and technical cooperation that has existed between the two countries, which enabled many Ghanaian students pursue studies in diverse fields such as health, engineering and agriculture on Czech Government scholarships in the past.

    She acknowledged the immense impact that the beneficiaries of these scholarships have had on the national development of Ghana and take advantage of the opportunity to propose the renewal of such cooperation and scholarship schemes.

    She stated Government’s policy of engaging and tapping into the expertise of Ghanaians in the diaspora to accelerate national development and underscore Government’s commitment to support the work of Dr. Karl Laryea as well as Dr. John Logah, a Ghanaian Neurosurgeon in the Czech Republic who intends to establish, together with his colleague specialists, a Ghana Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT), in the country for the management of sickle cell disease on a non-profit basis.

    Source: Foreign Affairs Ministry