Czech morning news in brief: top headlines for June 14, 2021

U.S. convoy enters Czech Republic on return from military exercise

U.S. military convoy vehicles returning from a NATO exercise in Hungary to its base in Bavaria, entered the Czech Republic at the Břeclav border crossing in south Moravia, shortly before 21:30 Sunday night. Additional groups are set to arrive on Monday and Tuesday evening. In total, about 600 U.S. soldiers with more than 200 vehicles will cross the Czech territory. From Břeclav, the U.S. troops will go to Rančířov near Jihlava, where they will spend the night in a tent camp. On Monday, they will continue along the D1 motorway to the Prague ring road and further westwards along the D5 motorway to the Rozvadov-Waidhaus crossing on the Czech-Bavarian border. U.S. units have regularly transited the Czech Republic on their way to this exercise since 2015, with the exception of last year when it was canceled.

Czechs won't 'take a knee' at Euro 2020 football tournament

The Czech Republic will play its opening match in Glasgow against Scotland on Monday but Czech players are not planning to take a knee ahead of their European Championship games said coach Jaroslav Šilhavý who added that there's no place for political gestures in sports. Players will instead be showing their support for racial justice by pointing to the UEFA Respect sign on the left sleeve of their jersey. Šilhavý said he understands it’s an important topic for society “and my team and I condemn any form of racism.” Czech defender Ondřej Kúdela will miss the match; the Slavia Prague player received a 10-match ban for racially abusing Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara during a Europa League game in March. The gesture has divided fans with some booing England players who took the knee during two recent games.

Czech Post will move its headquarters out of Prague center

Czech Post will sell its headquarters in the center of Prague and build a new one in Prague's Vysočany district. The post office will keep a section of the historic building Jindřišská Street open as a check-in hall. The post office is still preparing a specific layout of the parts of the building intended for sale; the study should be completed by the end of the year. The reason for the sale is savings; operation of the space costs CZK 40 million a year. Last year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, Czech Post saw its losses increased by CZK 1 billion to CZK 1.382 billion; it hopes to return to a profit this year.

Weekend visitors get first look at Czech Republic's first African elephant calf

A young elephant calf born in the Zlín Zoo last Sunday, made its public debut this weekend. The male is the first African elephant born in the Czech Republic. Following the birth of the elephant, zoo workers closed the pavilion and the surrounding areas of the outdoor enclosure to give the elephants and the young complete peace and quiet to allow for the herd bonding critical to the young elephant's survival. The zoo said that it would constantly monitor the behavior of elephants, and in the event of an unfavorable reaction would close the area around the pavilion and the elephant enclosure again if necessary. The baby elephant is less than a meter tall, its weight has been estimated by breeders at 90 to 100 kilograms. 

Tropical temps heading to the Czech Republic this week

According to the Sunday weekly forecast of the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI), the week will begin with lower temperatures which will gradually rise to a sticky 30°-34° Celsius by the end of the week. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the weather in the Czech Republic will be partially affected by a weak cold front from the northwest; between the pressure level above Eastern Europe and a furrow of low air pressure above Western Europe, very warm air will flow from the south into the Czech Republic giving way to Thursday-Friday highs of between 33-34°C.