Dust off your ice skates - the Letná Ice Rink is open again. California is the state most affected by coronavirus. Apple is temporarily closing its brick-and-mortar shops due to an increase in coronavirus cases. Robert Lewandowski has become FIFA player of the year. We wish you a beautiful morning reading the news brought to you by our Early Bird.
The Letná ice rink opens
Open in gallery (5)
Maminka s dcerou na kluzišti. Source: Freepik.com
The ice rink on the Letná Plain opens for the fifth time today. However, visitors will have to observe hygiene measures and, what's most important, the number of skaters and the time spent on the ice will be limited. The opportunity to skate will be free of charge until March 7. A heated tent, skate rental and a new grandstand for spectators will be available on site.
"In this coronavirus pandemic era, it's in everyone's interest to take care of our physical and mental health. Without exercise, there is a risk of obesity, not only in the younger generation. Regular exercise and outdoor pursuits boost our immunity, enabling our body to strengthen its defenses, which is something we all need during this period. Even winter time offers a number of suitable activities,"
said the councilor of the City of Prague for the field of sports Vít Šimral. In recent years, the outdoor ice rink has become a popular winter fun and social activity. This year it will be divided into four areas separated by barriers. A maximum of six skaters will be allowed in each area and their stay on the ice will be limited to a maximum of thirty minutes.
Opening hours will be every day from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm with short breaks for ice grooming. Only on December 24 will the rink exceptionally close earlier, at 2:00 pm.
Apple is closing its brick-and-mortar shops
Open in gallery (5)
Apple kamenný obchod. Source: Apple.com
Apple has been forced to temporarily close selected stores in California after a sharp rise in coronavirus cases. The company's website showed that at least a dozen stores, including Sherman Oaks and Beverly Center, were closed from Friday to Saturday, just a week before the peak of the Christmas holidays.
Some stores will be open for pre-booked purchases until 22 December. The company took a similar step in June and closed approximately 32 stores, as there was also an increase in positive cases after protective measures had been released in May.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the United States has reported 17.2 million infected people and 311,000 coronavirus-related deaths. California was one of the most affected states.
Dům na prodej 7kk - Praha 6, 232m2, Praha 6
Show property
The embankment will have its own token
Open in gallery (5)
Výhled na Prahu. Source: Pixabay.com/MurderousPass
From the New Year, Rašínovo and Hořejší Embankments will have their own tourist token, available for purchase from ferrymen operating between Smíchov and Vyšehrad.
"I am very glad that we managed, mainly thanks to the votes from embankment fans, to obtain a tourist token for the Prague embankments, which made us part of one of the largest tourist organizations in the Czech Republic. Rašínovo and Hořejší Embankments have thus become one of the official lists of the most interesting places in the Czech Republic that are worth visiting,"
says the curator of the Prague embankments Petr Hozman. The approval of the new tokens was decided this summer, when collectors themselves voted on them and approved their nomination. Of other Prague attractions, the Wallenstein Palace and its adjacent gardens in the Lesser Town, the Old Jewish Cemetery in Josefov and the State Opera saw success this year.
Google to introduce free Covid-19 testing
Open in gallery (5)
Vyhledávač GoogleSource: Pixabay.com/422737
Yesterday, Google announced that they are offering free and weekly home testing for Covid-19 for all their employees in the US. By next year, the company plans to expand the testing globally.
The spokesman for Google said that all 90,000 employees in the United States would be able to get tested for free; the initiative includes a weekly nasal swab and subsequent laboratory analysis. The company recommends that every employee takes advantage of this opportunity, even though it's not mandatory.
Lewandowski named FIFA Player of the Year
Open in gallery (5)
Robert Lewandowski. Source: Profimedia.cz
Robert Lewandowski was named Player of the Year at the most prestigious football award event, FIFA. The striker of Bayern Munich managed to beat Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronald. Lewandowski was in great shape last year, scoring 55 goals. Since the beginning of this season, the drive hasn't left him - he scored 73 goals in 64 club matches, which is 22 more than any other player in the European leagues.
"If you win such an award and share that title with Messi and Ronaldo, that is unbelievable and it means so much to me. A long time ago, I remember I was longing for something like this and now I can win such and award,"
said Robert Lewandowski.
We wish you a beautiful Saturday - only five days left until Christmas! Scottish writer Alexander Smith once said:
"Christmas is the day that holds all time together."
