Czechs and Slovaks on Tuesday will mark 50 years since Soviet tanks crushed the "Prague Spring" democratic reform movement, while using the anniversary to point out similarities to the situation today. The burgeoning movement, led by Communist Party leader Alexander Dubcek, had tried to put "a human face on socialism" through democratic reforms to the totalitarian regime. But on the night of August 20-21, 1968, Soviet soldiers backed by Bulgarian, east German, Hungarian and Polish units brutally put an end to the movement. Around 50 Czechs and Slovaks were killed on that first day alone, while the total number of victims of the Soviet occupation is 402, according to historians. The last Soviet soldier left the country only in 1991, two years after the Velvet Revolution that toppled totalitarian communist rule. "Our citizens categorically rejected the occupation. And yet, part of the Russian public continues to think of the occupation as 'international assistance'," said Tomasz … [Read more...] about Czechs, Slovaks mark 50 years since Soviets crushed Prague Spring
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Czech MotoGP: what to expect at Brno this weekend
With the brief summer break over, MotoGP returns this weekend with the Monster Energy Grand Prix of the Czech Republic at Brno, for what in spectator terms is the most popular (highest attended) event on the calendar – in excess of 200,000 spectators will flock to the circuit over the three days of practice, qualifying and racing. The first Grand Prix to be held at Brno was in 1965, over what was then a 13.94km circuit consisting of public roads. The current circuit was introduced in 1987 and until 1991 hosted the Czechoslovakian Grand Prix. There was no Brno Grand Prix in 1992, but after the country split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia the event was reborn in 1993 and has continued ever since, and the only venue to have hosted more Grand Prix races than Brno is Assen in the Netherlands. After dominating events once again at the Sachsenring in Germany in the last round, where he claimed his ninth straight win across all classes at the circuit, Marc … [Read more...] about Czech MotoGP: what to expect at Brno this weekend
World Cup 2018: Pub plastered with 300 flags covering walls, roof and windows ahead of Russia World Cup next week
WORLD Cup fever has gripped this pub which has been decorated in over 300 flags from all the competing nations. Special scaffolding was erected at the Robin Hood in Jarrow, South Tyneside to undertake the impressive feat. The front of the building is draped in St. George’s standards while flags from other nations adorn the roof. Bunting and smaller flags are flown inside the boozer. Manager Clare McFall told The Shields Gazette: “The flags are a really nice feature that get people excited and happy and interested in the World Cup. “Putting them up is a bit of tradition and we do so only for the World Cup, they are not brought out for any other celebration.” She said that it took around three weeks to complete the elaborate display. The pub plans to broadcast every single group game after the tournament kicks off on June 14. England’s first fixture is against Tunisia on Monday, June 18, followed by Panama on Sunday, June 24 and Belgium on Thursday, June 28. … [Read more...] about World Cup 2018: Pub plastered with 300 flags covering walls, roof and windows ahead of Russia World Cup next week
Tennis, Fed Cup: Goerges beats Pliskova, Czechs still lead Germany 2-1
Julia Goerges defeated Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-2 to keep Germany's Fed Cup hopes alive against the Czech Republic by pulling the score back to 2-1 in their semifinal on Sunday. Goerges sealed the win in under an hour with her eighth ace, making up for her defeat to Petra Kvitova the day before, and denying the Czechs an early path to the final on Nov. 10-11. Two-time Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber faced Kvitova in the fourth rubber later Sunday, aiming to ensure the tie is decided by the doubles match. Germany is bidding to reach its first final since 2014. But the 10-time champion Czechs have won five of the last seven Fed Cup championships and have a 7-1 head-to-head record against their hosts. Japan wins decisive doubles to beat Britain 3-2 Miyu Kato and Makoto Ninomiya beat Johanna Konta and Heather Watson 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in doubles on Sunday to give Japan a 3-2 win over Britain in their Fed Cup World Group playoff. Konta beat Naomi Osaka 6-3, 6-3 in the first reverse … [Read more...] about Tennis, Fed Cup: Goerges beats Pliskova, Czechs still lead Germany 2-1
Czech TV to shoot its first interview with astronaut in orbit
ČTK | 9 April 2018 Prague, April 6 (CTK) - The public Czech Television (CT) will be for the first time in the country's history connected with the crew of a space station on Monday and offer an interview with U.S. astronaut Andrew Feustel to its viewers, CT spokeswoman Karolina Blinkova said on Friday. Feustel has taken a plush toy of the Little Mole, a Czech cartoon character, to the orbit. Czech TV will show the telerecording from the space in the Hyde Park Civilisation programme on CT24 channel. The whole interview will be broadcast at 20:05 on April 14, while a part of it should be on the screen immediately after the shooting, that is on Monday, April 9. The signal will be brought through several satellites to New Mexico from where a satellite of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) will send it to CT. NASA has allocated the longest possible time provided for the media to CT, that is 20 minutes, Blinkova said. CT was negotiating about an interview from the space for … [Read more...] about Czech TV to shoot its first interview with astronaut in orbit