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The Visegrad Four, a loose alliance of Central European states comprising the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary is celebrating 30 years since its founding in the historic town of Visegrad on February 15, 1991. What led to its creation shortly after the fall of communism, how has it changed over the years and what are its future prospects? I discussed these and other issues with Jan Kovář from the Prague-based Institute of International Relations and began by asking him to explain what purpose the alliance was meant to serve.

Czech company helps restore ancient archaeological treasures: Citadel in Erbil, Choli Minaret and Shrine of Prophet Nahum

The Czech company Gema Art has helped to rescue and restore cultural heritage sites at home and abroad. Among the larger projects, which it has undertaken in the Czech Republic are restoration work at the Municipal House in Prague, the Cathedral of St. Vitus, the Vítkov Memorial, the Pilgrimage Church of John of Nepomuk on Zelená Hora, or the Basilica of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary on Svatý Kopeček near Olomouc. In recent years it has also established itself abroad. Projects led by Gema Art were carried out in France, Ireland, the US and in Iraq.

Lower house refuses to extend state of emergency raising fears of a set-back in the fight against Covid-19; Brno archaeologists reveal early Slavs used Germanic runes prior to Glagolitic script; Looking back at 30 years of the Visegrad Group

Archeologists at the Masaryk University in Brno have announced a groundbreaking discovery. The researchers have found a fragment of an inscribed bone which proves that the oldest writing system used by the ancient Slavs were Germanic runes, not the Glagolitic script as it was previously thought.

This coming Monday, the partnership between the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, known as the Visegrád Group will celebrate 30 years of existence. The V4, as the group is commonly referred to, reached the goals it originally set out achieve by the mid-2000s, but its member states have since continued to work together, recognising that there is value in unity within the European Union’s framework.

The Czech lower house on Thursday rejected a government proposal to extend the state of emergency beyond February 14, despite the worsening coronavirus epidemic in some regions. The decision will effectively end the validity of the restrictions in place and has left the government searching for means to keep the epidemic in check.

Large segment of Czechs disregard recommended COVID-19 precautions; Brno launches pilot project to house seniors alongside kindergartens; Interview with Czech anthropologist Zdenka Sokolíčková who is studying how local people perceive the effects of climate change in Svalbard, Norway.

Despite recommendations, 46 percent of Czechs with coronavirus symptoms choose to venture outside their homes, a new survey initiated by the World Health Organisation in Europe indicates. Close to a half believe that the pandemic is largely a media sensation. However, the number of people who would be willing to take a vaccine has grown substantially over the past three months.

Brno, the second-largest Czech city, has launched a pilot project to bring seniors and kindergarten children together in one building. Studies show similar initiatives have greatly improved the mental health and physical wellbeing of the elderly, who often suffer from feeling isolated. But preschoolers also have much to gain.