ANDREJ BABIS

Only months ago, Robert Golob was virtually unknown in politics, didn’t belong to any party, but had a clear goal: remove Slovenian populist Prime Minister Janez Jansa from power and stop a democratic backslide in the tiny Alpine state.

Virus Outbreak Czech Republic People wave flags and banners as they gather to protest against the governments restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Prague, Czech Republic, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (Petr David Josek)Thousands of people marched through the Czech Republic's capital on Sunday to protest against compulsory COVID-19 vaccination for certain groups and professions. Prime Minister Andrej Babis’ administration was replaced later in December by a new government formed by five parties that won October’s parliamentary election, led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala. The new administration opposed a vaccination mandate for older people and was ready to cancel it, but didn’t rule out it might still be compulsory for some, depending on the development of the pandemic. In the nation of 10.7 million, 6.7 million are considered fully vaccinated, while over 2.8 million have received a booster shot.

Thousands of people have marched through the Czech Republic’s capital to protest against compulsory COVID-19 vaccination for certain groups and professions.

The president of the Czech Republic is set to swear in the country’s new government on Friday.

PRAGUE — (AP) — Several thousand people marched through the Czech capital on Sunday, protesting a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for certain groups including people age 60 and over. The participants didn’t wear face coverings or follow social distancing rules despite a request by police to do so. They said they weren't against voluntary vaccination but opposed a vaccine mandate. The outgoing government released an order this week, making vaccination mandatory for the 60 and over age group, as well as medical personnel, police officers, firefighters and medical students. The coalition opposed a vaccination mandate for older people and can cancel it.

The Czech Republic's outgoing and incoming prime ministers have put aside their differences to support an initiative to administer 1 million COVID-19 booster shots in a week.

Czech President Milos Zeman has been readmitted to hospital after he tested positive for COVID-19, just hours after he had been discharged following more than a month’s treatment for an unspecified illness.

PRAGUE — (AP) — Coronavirus infections in the Czech Republic soared to a new record high, reaching almost 26,000 daily cases, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday. The daily tally hit 25,864 on Tuesday, about 3,000 more than the previous record registered on Friday. As infections soar, the government has been considering mandatory vaccination for certain groups of people, including the elderly, medical and military personnel and police officers. The latest surge has hit the country at a time of political transition following a parliamentary election in October. The new coalition said it wants to return to allowing negative tests to act as a pass for those venues and activities.

Coronavirus infections in the Czech Republic have soared to a new record high, reaching almost 26,000 daily cases.

The leaders of three Central European countries on Tuesday expressed their support for Poland in an ongoing migration crisis on its eastern border with Belarus.

Protesters are marching through the Czech capital of Prague to decry the government’s new restrictions on unvaccinated people.

(AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (Petr David Josek)PRAGUE — (AP) — The Czech and Slovak governments on Thursday approved new coronavirus restrictions that will come into effect next week and specifically target unvaccinated people amid a record surge of infections in both neighboring countries. There are exceptions for teenagers aged 12 to 18, people whose medical condition doesn’t allow vaccination and people who have been partially vaccinated. Vojtech said the goal of the measures that will come into force on Monday is to motivate people to get vaccinated. Prime Minister Andrej Babis said his government was inspired by similar measures imposed in the German state of Bavaria. Both, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have vaccination rates below the average of the European Union’s 27 nations.

The Czech government has approved new coronavirus restrictions that specifically target unvaccinated people amid a record surge of infections.

The president of the Czech Republic is set to swear in the country’s new prime minister on Nov 26.

The Czech Republic and Slovakia have both reported record daily new coronavirus cases.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis and his government have resigned in a formal step required by the Constitution following last month’s parliamentary election.

The Health Ministry reported that the daily increase of new infections hit 7,055 on Tuesday, Nov. 9 surpassing the previous record of 6,805 set on the previous Thursday. In neighboring Czech Republic, new infections jumped to levels close to record numbers seen during previous waves, authorities said. The Slovak Health Ministry reported that the daily increase of new infections hit 7,055 on Tuesday, surpassing the previous record of 6,805 set last Thursday. The record daily high of 17,776 was registered on Jan 7. The Czech Republic and Slovakia have both been among EU nations hardest hit by the pandemic.

Virus Outbreak Czech Republic FILE - In this May 10, 2021 file photo, woman lights a candle to commemorate victims of the COVD-19 pandemic at the Prague Castle in Prague, Czech Republic. Coronavirus infections in the Czech Republic have significantly jumped to the levels close to record numbers recorded at previous waves. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, file) (Petr David Josek)PRAGUE — (AP) — Coronavirus infections in the Czech Republic have jumped significantly and are at levels close to record numbers seen during previous waves, authorities said Wednesday. The Czech Republic has been one of the hardest hit of the European Union’s 27 countries in the pandemic. The country has seen almost 1.84 million confirmed coronavirus infections and 31,229 deaths, 368 of them recorded in November.

Coronavirus cases have soared to a new record high in Slovakia, with some hospitals having to move COVID-19 patients elsewhere in the country because they couldn’t take any more.

The leaders of four Central European nations have met in Hungary’s capital where they urged visiting South Korean President Moon Jae-in to consider investing in a rapid train line connecting Budapest and Polish capital Warsaw.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis says he wouldn't accept an offer to try to create a new government after his centrist ANO political movement narrowly lost in the parliamentary election last week and is ready to end up in opposition.

Australia’s capital Canberra has come out of lockdown with authorities reporting more than 99% of the population aged 12 and older having at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Czech President Milos Zeman has been rushed to the hospital a day after a parliamentary election in which he has a key role in establishing a new government.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis' centrist party narrowly loses the Czech Republic's parliamentary election shortly after details emerged over his overseas financial dealings.

Czech Republic Election Czech Republic's Prime Minister and leader of centrist ANO (YES) movement Andrej Babis holds his ballot at a polling station in Lovosice, Czech Republic, Friday, Oct. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (Petr David Josek)PRAGUE — (AP) — Prime Minister Andrej Babis' centrist party on Saturday narrowly lost the Czech Republic's parliamentary election, a surprise development that could mean the end of the populist billionaire's reign in power. With the votes from 99.7% of the ballot stations counted, the Czech Statistics Office said Together, a liberal-conservative three-party coalition, captured 27.7% of the vote, beating Babis' ANO (Yes) party, which won 27.2%. PRAGUE (AP) — The centrist ANO (YES) movement led by populist billionaire Andrej Babis was leading in the Czech Republic’s parliamentary election, partial results suggested Saturday, despite a turbulent first term for Babis with numerous scandals. After votes from almost 30% of the country's 14,900 ballot stations were counted Saturday by the Czech Statistics Office, ANO has received 30.1% of the vote.

Czech Republic Election Czech Republic's Prime Minister and leader of centrist ANO (YES) movement Andrej Babis holds his ballot at a polling station in Lovosice, Czech Republic, Friday, Oct. 8, 2021. Czechs begin voting in a parliamentary election with polls showing Prime Minister Andrej Babis, a populist billionaire, has a good chance of keeping his job, despite a new scandal over his financial dealings. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (Petr David Josek)PRAGUE — (AP) — The centrist ANO (YES) movement led by populist billionaire Andrej Babis was leading in the Czech Republic’s parliamentary election, partial results suggested Saturday, despite a turbulent first term for Babis with numerous scandals. The two-day election to fill 200 seats in the lower house of the Czech Republic’s parliament took place shortly after the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists reported details of Babis’ overseas financial dealings in a project dubbed the “Pandora Papers.” Babis, 67, has denied wrongdoing. He hasn’t ruled out forming a coalition with Freedom and Direct Democracy, a party that wants to lead the Czech Republic out of the EU and to hold a referendum on its NATO membership.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis’s centrist party has narrowly lost the Czech Republic’s parliamentary election, a surprise development that could mean the end of the populist billionaire’s reign in power.

Czech Republic Election FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021 file photo, Czech Republic's Prime Minister Andrej Babis speaks during the 4th Budapest Demographic Summit in Budapest, Hungary. Czechs begin voting in a parliamentary election with Prime Minister Andrej Babis hit by yet another scandal hoping to retain his job. But it’s not clear if Babis will win big enough to be able to form a new coalition government. Five opposition parties have put aside their differences to create two coalitions aimed at ousting the euroskeptic prime minister from power. He invited Europe's anti-migration champion, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, to attend a campaign rally.

Czechs begin voting in a parliamentary election with polls showing Prime Minister Andrej Babis, a populist billionaire, has a good chance of keeping his job.

Czech Republic Election Preview FILE - In this Oct. 23, 2017 file photo Czech billionaire and leader of ANO 2011 political movement Andrej Babis addresses the media in Lany, Czech Republic. Here's a look at the previously hidden dealings making waves in the Czech Republic and the country's election taking place on Friday and Saturday:WHAT DID BABIS DO? “It’s obviously a reason for concern, not just for Europe, but above all for the Czech Republic, given what’s been going on in Hungary,” Lebeda said. An EU investigation found that as prime minister Babis had a conflict of interest from his former business empire. Babis went through five health ministers, and the Czech Republic has reported more than 30,400 COVID-19 deaths among a population of 10.7 million.

Czech Republic Election Preview FILE - In this Oct. 23, 2017 file photo Czech billionaire and leader of ANO 2011 political movement Andrej Babis addresses the media in Lany, Czech Republic. Here's a look at the previously hidden dealings making waves in the Czech Republic and the country's election taking place on Friday and Saturday:WHAT DID BABIS DO? “It’s obviously a reason for concern, not just for Europe, but above all for the Czech Republic, given what’s been going on in Hungary,” Lebeda said. An EU investigation found that as prime minister Babis had a conflict of interest from his former business empire. Babis went through five health ministers, and the Czech Republic has reported more than 30,400 COVID-19 deaths among a population of 10.7 million.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis is heading into a parliamentary election this week hit by yet another scandal that links him and hundreds of other wealthy people to offshore accounts.

A global investigation has revealed how the rich and powerful have being hiding their investments in mansions, exclusive beachfront property, yachts and other assets for the past quarter-century.

A global investigation has revealed how the rich and powerful have being hiding their investments in mansions, exclusive beachfront property, yachts and other assets for the past quarter-century. Collectively these assets are worth trillions of dollars. The investigation, dubbed the Pandora Papers, was published late Sunday and involved 600 journalists from 150 media outlets in 117 countries.

A massive leak of financial documents was published by several major news organizations on Sunday that allegedly tie world leaders to secret stores of wealth, including King Abdullah of Jordan, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis and associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

President Biden will travel to Michigan Tuesday to rally public support for the bipartisan infrastructure plan and his Build Back Better agenda as infighting between progressive and moderate Democrats continues. Ed O'Keefe reports.

Hundreds of world leaders, past and present, and business moguls slammed for dodging tax laws: "This is where our missing hospitals are," says one charity.

Pandora Papers FILE - Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is shown ahead of a meeting at the EU Charlemagne building in Brussels, in this Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019, file photo. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is one of 330 current and former politicians identified as beneficiaries of the secret accounts. The report by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists involved 600 journalists from 150 media outlets in 117 countries. Many of the accounts were designed to evade taxes and conceal assets for other shady reasons, according to the report. Khan, the Pakistani prime minister, is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Pandora Papers FILE - Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is shown ahead of a meeting at the EU Charlemagne building in Brussels, in this Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019, file photo. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is one of 330 current and former politicians identified as beneficiaries of the secret accounts. The report released Sunday by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists involved 600 journalists from 150 media outlets in 117 countries. The more than 330 current and former politicians identified as beneficiaries of the secret accounts include Jordan’s King Abdullah II, former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, Czech Republic Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso, and associates of both Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Khan, the Pakistani prime minister, is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Calls are growing for an end to the financial secrecy and shell companies that have allowed many of the world’s richest and most powerful people to hide their wealth from tax collectors.

Hundreds of world leaders, past and present, and business moguls slammed for dodging tax laws: "This is where our missing hospitals are," says one charity.

Here's the latest for Monday October 4th: Southern California oil spill cleanup underway; President Biden promotes legislative agenda; Communication lines between North and South Korea reopen; New York City public school worker vaccine mandate begins.

A massive document leak is revealing the secret financial dealings of some of the world's richest people and most powerful leaders. According to The Washington Post, the so-called Pandora Papers detail the "opaque financial universe where global elite shield riches from taxes, probes and accountability." The Post's investigative reporter Debbie Cenziper joins CBSN host Elise Preston with more on what she and her colleagues discovered while examining the documents.

Jordan's King Abdullah II is one of 330 current and former politicians identified as beneficiaries of the secret accounts. The report released Sunday by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists involved 600 journalists from 150 media outlets in117 countries. Many of the accounts were designed to evade taxes and conceal assets for other shady reasons, according to the report. The records date back to the 1970s, but most of the files span from 1996 to 2020. Buying the company shares instead of the building saved the Blairs more than $400,000 in property taxes, the investigation found.

Hundreds of world leaders, powerful politicians, billionaires, celebrities, religious leaders and drug dealers have been hiding their investments in mansions, exclusive beachfront property, yachts and other assets for the past quarter-century.

Newly revealed Pandora Papers documents detail an opaque financial universe where the global elite shield riches from taxes, criminal probes and public accountability.

Central European leaders are voicing concern over what they say is a potential migration rush from Afghanistan in the wake of U.S. and NATO withdrawal.

Central European leaders on Friday voiced concern over what they said was a potential migration rush from Afghanistan as U.S. and NATO forces pull out from that country. Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki Morawiecki said a NATO troop withdrawal from Afghanistan could trigger a migration influx into Europe, on top of a steady stream of migrant arrivals from Africa.

Czech Republic Europe Weather View of the wreckage after a Tornado hit the village of Moravska Nova Ves in the Hodonin district, South Moravia, Czech Republic, on Thursday, June 24, 2021. A rare tornado hit towns and villages in southeast part of the country, injuring some 150 people and damaging hundreds of houses. (Vaclav Salek/CTK via AP) (Vaclav Salek)PRAGUE — (AP) — A rare tornado believed to be the most devastating twister in the Czech Republic’s modern history has torn through country's southeast, killing at least five people and injured hundreds, rescue services and police said on Friday. The tornado touched down late Thursday as strong thunderstorms hit the entire country. Hrusky Deputy Mayor Marek Babisz told Czech public radio that half of his town was almost completely wiped out.

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 of others.

The EU effectively threatened to sue itself on Thursday as MEPs said they would take the European Commission to court unless it takes punitive action against the bloc’s authoritarian leaders. The European Parliament attacked the commission for not triggering new clauses that tie huge amounts of EU cash to respect for the rule of law. It passed a resolution, aimed at the illiberal governments of EU members Poland and Hungary, with a large majority of 506 with 150 against and 28 abstentions. It is

A Belarusian opposition leader has called for the creation of an international tribunal to investigate and prosecute the reported crimes of her country's government and its authoritarian leader of nearly 27 years.

Czech Republic Politics Czech Republic's Prime Minister Andrej Babis addresses lawmakers during a parliament session in Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, June 3, 2021. The Czech coalition government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis is facing a parliamentary no-confidence vote during the session. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (Petr David Josek)PRAGUE — (AP) — The Czech coalition government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis survived on Thursday a no-confidence vote in Parliament over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. But the Communists refused to vote against the government, left the lower house and didn't participate in the debate and the vote.. The Czech Republic has been one of the hardest-hit European countries by the pandemic.

Czech Republic Politics Czech Republic's Prime Minister Andrej Babis addresses lawmakers during a parliament session in Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, June 3, 2021. The Czech coalition government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis is facing a parliamentary no-confidence vote during the session. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (Petr David Josek)PRAGUE — (AP) — The Czech coalition government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis was facing a parliamentary no-confidence vote Thursday over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Five opposition parties also requested the vote as prosecutors are looking into whether to indict Babis over alleged fraud involving European Union funds. The Czech Republic has been one of the hardest-hit European countries by the pandemic.

The Czech coalition government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis has survived a no-confidence vote in Parliament over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Czech coalition government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis survived on Thursday a no-confidence vote in Parliament over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Five opposition parties also requested the vote as prosecutors are looking into whether to indict Babis over alleged fraud involving EU funds in a separate case and a recently published European Union report concluded that Babis has a conflict of interest over EU subsidies involving his former business empire. Babis denies any wrongdoing.

Czech police are recommending again that Prime Minister Andrej Babis should be indicted over alleged fraud involving European Union subsidies.

Czech Republic Politics Member of Czech Parliament Adam Vojtech poses in Parliament building in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021. Czech Health Minister Petr Arenberger will resign and he will be replaced with former minister Adam Vojtech who stepped down last year, Prime Minister Andrej Babis has told journalists on Tuesday, May 25, 2021. (Vit Simanek/CTK via AP) SLOVAKIA OUT (Vit Simanek)PRAGUE — (AP) — The Czech Republic on Tuesday lost its fourth health minister since the coronavirus pandemic struck last year. Babis said he planned to reappoint Adam Vojtech, who was health minister when the pandemic hit the country in March 2020, to the post. Infections are falling in the Czech Republic.

Czech Republic Politics Member of Czech Parliament Adam Vojtech poses in Parliament building in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021. Czech Health Minister Petr Arenberger will resign and he will be replaced with former minister Adam Vojtech who stepped down last year, Prime Minister Andrej Babis has told journalists on Tuesday, May 25, 2021. (Vit Simanek/CTK via AP) SLOVAKIA OUT (Vit Simanek)PRAGUE — (AP) — The Czech Republic on Tuesday lost its fourth health minister since the coronavirus pandemic struck last year. Babis said he planned to reappoint Adam Vojtech, who was health minister when the pandemic hit the country in March 2020, to the post. Infections are falling in the Czech Republic.

Czech Republic Politics Member of Czech Parliament Adam Vojtech poses in Parliament building in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021. Czech Health Minister Petr Arenberger will resign and he will be replaced with former minister Adam Vojtech who stepped down last year, Prime Minister Andrej Babis has told journalists on Tuesday, May 25, 2021. (Vit Simanek/CTK via AP) SLOVAKIA OUT (Vit Simanek)PRAGUE — (AP) — The Czech Republic on Tuesday lost its fourth health minister since the coronavirus pandemic struck last year. Babis said he planned to reappoint Adam Vojtech, who was health minister when the pandemic hit the country in March 2020, to the post. Infections are falling in the Czech Republic.

The Czech Republic has lost its fourth health minister since the coronavirus pandemic struck last year.

The Czech Parliament has approved the changes in the electoral law requested by the country’s highest court that ruled the previous legislation discriminated against small political parties.

The Czech Republic has ordered 63 more Russian diplomats to leave the country.

The Czech Republic has demanded that Russia should allow its expelled diplomats to return to Moscow, threatening that otherwise more Russian diplomats would be asked to leave Prague.

The Czech Republic’s prime minister and prosecutor general say the two Russian military agents believed to be behind a massive depot explosion in 2014 likely targeted the ammunition, not their country.

The European Union’s foreign policy chief says that in the face of the big military buildup of Russian troops near Ukraine’s borders, it will only take “a spark” to set off a confrontation.

The Czech Republic is expelling 18 Russian diplomats it identified as spies in a case related to a huge ammunition depot explosion in 2014.

Czech lawmakers have rejected a proposed bill to reduce dependency on food imports by imposing a quota of locally-produced food to be sold in supermarkets.

Czech Republic’s foreign minister has been fired in a government reshuffle less than half a year before the parliamentary election.

COVID-19 has wrought division in the European Union.

Czech Prime Minster Andrej Babis has fired his health minister, the third who has lost the job in the pandemic in one of the hardest-hit European countries.

The expansion made possible by SAVES LIVES Act.

Bookseller Jaromir Vytopil, left, appoints the youngest schoolchildren to the order of readers at a library in Pelhrimov, Czech Republic, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2020. Some 25,000 have been killed by COVID-19 in the hard-hit Czech Republic. On March 22, 2020 and for some days to come, the Czech Republic reported daily COVID-19 deaths in the single digits. But it's not just grim statistics that have torn the fabric of Czech life. AdAccording to Johns Hopkins University, the Czech Republic has 240.7 cumulative deaths per 100,000 people, the world’s second-highest mortality rate after the microstate of San Marino.

Healthcare workers move a patient to the infectious ward of the Bulovka hospital in Prague, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021. “The more infectious variant of the coronavirus, the British one, has been spreading across all our regions and has become dominant in the Czech Republic,” Blatny said. AdDaily confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 14,554 on Thursday with 8,153 COVID-19 patients needing hospitalization - some 300 cases shy of Tuesday's record. “It’s more about mental exhaustion than physical fatigue.”The country has activated a plan for dozens of Czech patients to be treated in Germany, Poland and Switzerland. AdThe Czech Republic has by far the biggest 14-day infection rate per 100,000 inhabitants in the EU, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Police officers check cars on a road between the towns, Ceske Budejovice and Cesky Krumlov, near Kosov, Czech Republic, Monday, March 1, 2021. Limits for free movement of people are set in place in the Czech Republic. As of Monday, people in the Czech Republic who go out for exercise should not leave their municipality. Babis said 1 million vaccine shots were expected to arrive through an EU program in March and another 2.6 million in April. In a sign of solidarity, three states in neighboring Germany have sent the Czech Republic 15,000 dozes of the AstraZeneca vaccine to try to control contagion at the border.

While Israel does not produce vaccines, Netanyahu has moved aggressively to secure enough vaccines for Israel’s 9.3 million people in deals with Pfizer and Moderna. Ad“Our supply is beyond what is needed by the citizens of Israel,” Netanyahu told reporters Tuesday. In Prague, the Czech prime minister, Andrej Babis, said Israel was donating 5,000 doses to his country after a request for assistance. He said the vaccines were in response to requests from friendly countries, and not in exchange for any diplomatic favors. Israel this month delivered 2,000 doses of Moderna vaccines to the Palestinian Authority for frontline medical workers in the West Bank, and it has pledged to share a total of 5,000 doses.

(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)WARSAW – Central European leaders pushed Wednesday for faster deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines from every reliable manufacturer to speed up inoculations which they said is the way to conquer the pandemic and jump-start Europe’s economic recovery. The leaders of Hungary, Slovakia and Poland said they support purchasing vaccines from manufacturers regardless of “geopolitics” provided they are safe and effective. Hungary is the European Union's first and so far only member state to administer Russia's Sputnik V vaccine without waiting for approval from the European Medicines Agency. “There is no Eastern or Western vaccine, there is only a good or a bad vaccine,” Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban told a news conference in Krakow, Poland. European Council President Charles Michel, who attended the celebrations, said EU leaders will discuss next week ways of increasing vaccine production and of speeding up inoculations.

Medical workers move a covid-19 patient at a hospital overrun by the covid pandemic in Cheb, Czech Republic, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)PRAGUE – The Czech government on Sunday re-declared a state of emergency for next two weeks to tackle the coronavirus pandemic in one of the European Union's hardest-hit nations. The Czech Republic, a nation of 10.7 million, has had more than 1 million confirmed cases, with 18,143 deaths. AdDespite the dire situation, some lawyers and politicians, including Milos Vystrcil, the Senate speaker, say the government’s move violates the country’s Constitution. The government could use other legal options to reimpose some coronavirus restrictions but not all of them.

Policemen stop a car to check documents of a driver near the city of Sokolov, Czech Republic, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)PRAGUE – With a new, highly contagious coronavirus variant gaining force, the already hard-hit Czech Republic was in chaos on Friday after lawmakers deprived the government of a powerful tool to tackle the pandemic. Some of the regional leaders suggested they would like to ask the government to declare the state of emergency again. Local hospitals have reached their limits and COVID-19 patients have to be transported to hospitals in other parts of the Czech Republic. In reaction to the surge across the border, Germany decided to temporarily reinstate border controls with the Czech Republic and Austria on Sunday due to their high number of variant coronavirus cases.

Czech leader Andrej Babis has been seeking vaccines outside the EU’s common program after deliveries from EU-approved Western drug companies have been delayed. With a team of experts, Babis last week also visited Hungary, which has been the first EU country to give a green light to the Russian vaccine. Thanks to the Chinese and Russian vaccines, Serbia is currently second in Europe after Britain in the rate of the vaccination rollout per capita. “We should abandon politics and talk about people's health, because the (virus) situation in the Czech Republic is not good.”The Czech Republic, a country of 10 million, has recorded over 1 million infections and seen more than 17,600 confirmed virus deaths. Brnabic said the country's experience with all three vaccines has been “excellent.”Babis's visit included a tour of a mass inoculation center in Belgrade.

(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has reported 504 new coronavirus cases for the latest 24-hour period. Although coronavirus cases stayed relatively low in Japan last year compared to the United States and Europe, infections have been climbing recently. Kate Brown says outdoor contact sports, including high school football, can resume this week amid a decline in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. On Wednesday, Germany’s Robert Koch Institute reported 8,072 new virus cases and 813 deaths in 24 hours. ___MADRID — Spain’s official 14-day rate of coronavirus cases has fallen to 584, from a peak of 900 two weeks ago.

FILE - In this Jan. 29, 2021, file photo, Sri Lankan nursing staff administer COVID-19 vaccines to front-line health workers in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Reynolds issued the earlier restrictions in November when hospitals were struggling to care for a surge of coronavirus patients. Officials say it could help up to four COVID-19 patients. ___LISBON, Portugal — Portugal has set a new daily record for COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care with 904 patients on Friday. AdThe Austrian government offered to take in five COVID-19 patients and five non-COVID patients to relieve Portuguese hospitals.

Visitors view en exhibition of face masks at the National Museum in Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, May 28, 2020. With the coronavirus pandemic still not over yet, the Czech National Museum in Prague has put on display the most visible symbol of the country's response to it, face masks. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)PRAGUE The National Museum in Prague has put on display the most visible symbol of the Czech Republic's response to the coronavirus - face masks. If we want to leave a legacy for future generations, this collection of face masks says only positive things about us, National Museum spokeswoman Lenka Bouckova said Thursday. The Nation Museum exhibition is set to expand with future donations when people no longer need to use masks.

The New York Stock Exchange reopened the trading floor Tuesday, though with plexiglass shields and far fewer traders. U.S. restaurant traffic is starting to return as states push to get back to normal. About 93,000 U.S. chain restaurant locations reopened between May 10 and May 17. Plans by Delta Air Lines and United Airlines to resume flights to China next month have become entangled in a dispute between the U.S. and Chinese governments. UBS upgraded Southwest Airlines to buy from neutral on better prospects for a recovery in domestic travel.

Police officers are seen near the site of a shooting in front of a hospital in Ostrava, Czech Republic, December 10, 2019. LUKAS KABON/REUTERSPrague A gunman killed himself Tuesday after shooting dead six patients at a hospital in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava, in what the premier has called "an immense tragedy." Police officers stand guard near the site of a shooting in front of a hospital in Ostrava, Czech Republic, December 10, 2019. In 2015, a restaurant guest in the southeastern town of Uhersky Brod shot dead seven men and a woman before committing suicide. In March this year, a patient at a Prague hospital shot two fellow patients after an argument in a room.

An attacker shot dead six people sitting in a waiting room at a hospital in the northeastern Czech city of Ostrava on Tuesday, the government said. Police said on Twitter they were still searching for the assailant and posted a picture of a suspect without giving a name. The shooting took place at the University Hospital in Ostrava soon after 7 a.m. (0600 GMT), Interior Minister Jan Hamacek told Reuters. Prime Minister Andrej Babis told Czech Television the shootings occurred at close range in the waiting room, while Health Minister Adam Vojtech said six people had died. Hamacek and Babis were headed to Ostrava, 350 km (217 mi) east of the capital Prague.

PRAGUE A man with an illegal gun shot six people dead and wounded three more in a hospital in the eastern Czech Republic Tuesday, the prime minister and officials said. The apparent suspect later shot himself dead as police approached his car. Prime Minister Andrej Babis told Czech public television the shooting took place around 7 a.m. in a waiting room. "It's a huge tragedy," Babis later said. He said the suspect had been treated in the hospital, but didn't offer details.

PRAGUE A man with an illegal gun shot six people dead and wounded three more in a hospital in the eastern Czech Republic Tuesday, the prime minister and officials said. The apparent suspect later shot himself dead as police approached his car. Prime Minister Andrej Babis told Czech public television the shooting took place around 7 a.m. in a waiting room. "It's a huge tragedy," Babis later said. He said the suspect had been treated in the hospital, but didn't offer details.

PRAGUE A man with an illegal gun shot six people dead and wounded three more in a hospital in the eastern Czech Republic Tuesday, the prime minister and officials said. The apparent suspect later shot himself dead as police approached his car. Prime Minister Andrej Babis told Czech public television the shooting took place around 7 a.m. in a waiting room. "It's a huge tragedy," Babis later said. He said the suspect had been treated in the hospital, but didn't offer details.