PRAGUE—A new coalition government took office in the Czech Republic on Friday, with the coronavirus pandemic and soaring inflation presenting immediate policy challenges. President Milos Zeman swore in the Cabinet at the presidential chateaux in Lany, west of Prague, ending the government of his ally, populist billionaire Andrej Babis, as prime minister. Two political coalitions…

A government decree making COVID-19 shots mandatory for elderly people and employees in certain sectors prompted a large demonstration in the Czech capital over the weekend. The outgoing government released an order last week making COVID-19 vaccinations a requirement for the 60-plus age group, as well as medical personnel, police officers, firefighters, and medical students….

Following the recent election in the Czech Republic which booted the communists out of Parliament, the Czech Senate passed a resolution supporting cooperation with Taiwan, including inviting Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu to Prague. Experts suggest that Wu’s visit to the Czech Republic is of great significance in deepening Taiwan-Czech relations, dealing a…

There is “really no place” for Afghan refugees in the European Union, Czech Republic Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said on Sept. 7, adding that leaders should adopt solutions and assist the Afghan people to remain in their home country. “There is really no place for them in Europe,” Babiš said after meeting with his Slovakia…

PRAGUE—A rare tornado believed to be the most devastating in the Czech Republic’s modern history has torn through the country’s southeast, killing at least five people and injuring hundreds, rescue services and police said on Friday. The tornado touched down late Thursday as strong thunderstorms hit the entire country. Seven towns and villages sustained heavy…

Russia on Wednesday ordered the expulsion of seven diplomats from Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, in retaliation for the expulsion of Russian envoys in the wake of Czech accusations that Russian intelligence was behind a deadly 2014 blast. Moscow and Prague are locked in their biggest row since the end of the Communist era in…

PRAGUE—The Czech Republic said on Monday Russia’s eviction of 20 Czech embassy employees in response to Prague’s expulsion of 18 Russian staff was a stronger than expected reaction and the government will consider further steps. Acting Czech Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek said he had asked fellow European Union foreign ministers for “an expression of solidarity”…

PRAGUE—Czech Prime Minster Andrej Babis fired his health minister on Wednesday, the third to have been ousted during the pandemic in one of Europe’s hardest-hit countries. Jan Blatny was replaced by Petr Arenberger, the director of Prague’s University Hospital Vinohrady, who was sworn in by President Milos Zeman. The move opens the way for a…

PRAGUE—World Cup cross-country ski races will not take place in the Czech Republic on Feb. 20-21 after COVID-19 restrictions in neighboring Germany tightened, Czech organizers said on Saturday. The decision came after Germany, which is due to host world championship races from Feb. 25 to March 7, tightened conditions for travelers from the Czech Republic,…