MILOS ZEMAN

China is accusing Czech’s incoming president of challenging its national sovereignty after the country deepened its relations with Taiwan.

PRAGUE — (AP) — Petr Pavel, a retired army general, defeated populist billionaire Andrej Babis in a runoff vote Saturday to become the new Czech president. With the ballots from 99.5% of polling stations counted by the Czech Statistics Office, Pavel had 58.2% of the vote compared with 42.8% for Babis. “We have to learn how to communicate with each other.”Babis conceded defeat and congratulated Pavel on his victory. The president picks the prime minister after a general election, one of the office’s key responsibilities, and appoints members of the central bank. Losing the race to Pavel was another major defeat for Babis 68, a former prime minister.

A retired army general has defeated a populist billionaire in a runoff vote to choose the new president of the Czech Republic.

The Czech election was framed by some as a contest between constitutional democracy and populism, with Russia’s war in Ukraine looming in the background.

PRAGUE — (AP) — A retired army general who backs military support for Ukraine and a euroskeptic billionaire who has questioned NATO's collective defense clause are contesting for the ceremonial but prestigious post of Czech president in a runoff starting Friday. Three other candidates pledged their support for Pavel ahead of the two-day ballot starting Friday. Zeman divided the nation with his pro-Russia stance — until the Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine — and support for closer ties with China. A POLITICAL ROOKIE GENERALPavel, 61, has presented himself as the right person for the post in hard times amid Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Ukraine war was a core campaign issue.

Retired army Gen. Petr Pavel is challenging populist billionaire Andrej Babis in the Czech presidential runoff vote for the largely ceremonial post that pits the political newcomer against the former prime minister.

PRAGUE — (AP) — Retired army Gen. Petr Pavel narrowly defeated populist billionaire Andrej Babis in the first round of the Czech presidential election to set up a runoff vote between the political newcomer and the former prime minister. Pavel and Babis advanced to a second round of voting because none of the eight candidates seeking the country’s largely ceremonial presidency received a majority of votes in the initial round, which was held on Friday and Saturday. With the ballots from 99.9% of the polling statins counted by the Czech Statistics Office, Pavel had 35.39% of the vote compared with 35.00% for Babis. “It's such a close result that I can already see the hard work for us ahead of the second round," Pavel said. Voting in the Czech presidential election at the Czech Embassy in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, had to be interrupted for an hour because of a Russian missile attack earlier on Saturday, the Czech Foreign Ministry said.

PRAGUE — (AP) — The Czechs were casting ballots in the presidential election on Saturday, picking a successor to Milos Zeman in the largely ceremonial post. Populist billionaire Andrej Babis is leading a field of eight candidates in two days of voting that will be completed Saturday. Babis, a former prime minister, was acquitted this week in a fraud trial, which boosted his chances of winning in the first round of the presidential election. A court in Prague acquitted Babis, 68, on Monday of fraud charges in a $2 million case involving EU subsidies. Zeman was the first president elected by popular vote.

Retired army Gen. Petr Pavel has narrowly defeated populist billionaire Andrej Babis in the first round of the Czech presidential election to set up a runoff vote between the political newcomer and the former prime minister.

Voting has began in the election to replace Milos Zeman in the Czech Republic. The eight candidate field is led by billionaire Andrej Babis.

PRAGUE — (AP) — Populist billionaire Andrej Babis leads a field of eight candidates hoping to succeed Milos Zeman in the largely ceremonial but prestigious post of the Czech president. Babis, a former prime minister, was recently acquitted in a fraud trial, boosting his chances of winning in the first round of the presidential election in voting on Friday and Saturday. With Zeman, his political ally, he espouses a strong anti-migrant rhetoric, which unites him with anti-migration champion Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister. Polls favor him to advance together with Babis to the second round of the Czech presidential election. Many see her as the Czech answer to popular Slovak President Zuzana Caputova, who became the first woman to hold the post.

Populist billionaire Andrej Babis is leading a field of eight candidates hoping to succeed Milos Zeman in the largely ceremonial but prestigious post of the Czech president.

Populist billionaire Andrej Babis has announced his intention to run for the largely ceremonial post of the Czech Republic’s president.

Czech Same Sex Marriage FILE - President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman addresses the media in Vienna, Austria, June 10, 2021. Czech President Milos Zeman says he is ready to veto legislation that would give same-sex couples the right to marry. The lower house of the Czech Parliament is set to begin debating such a bill drafted by lawmakers across the political spectrum. Full stop.”The Czech president is known for derogatory comments about the LGBTQ community. Same-sex marriage is now legal in some 30 countries worldwide, including most of Western Europe.

Czech President Milos Zeman says he is ready to veto, if it’s approved by parliament, proposed legislation that would give same-sex couples in the country the right to hold civil weddings.

Several of Russia's closest allies and former Soviet satellite states have sharply rebuked President Vladimir Putin over his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.Why it matters: As the Western world seeks to make Putin an international pariah, even his closest allies are resisting showing support for his assault on Ukraine.Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for freeDriving the news: Czech President Milos Zeman and Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor

Hungary Orban FILE - Viktor Orban waves after his annual state of the nation speech in Varkert Bazaar conference hall of Budapest, Hungary, Feb. 12, 2022. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shocked the former Soviet satellite states of Central and Eastern Europe, drawing strong condemnation even from the region’s most pro-Kremlin politicians. “Russia attacked Ukraine this morning with military force,” Orban said in a video on Facebook. “Together with our European Union and NATO allies, we condemn Russia’s military action.” (AP Photo/Anna Szilagyi, File) (Anna Szilagyi)PRAGUE — (AP) — Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shocked the former Soviet satellite states of Central and Eastern Europe, drawing strong condemnation even from the region’s most pro-Kremlin politicians. “Russia attacked Ukraine this morning with military force,” Orban said in a video on Facebook.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shocked the former Soviet satellite states of Central and Eastern Europe, drawing strong condemnation even from the region’s most pro-Kremlin politicians.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shocked the former Soviet satellite states of Central and Eastern Europe, drawing strong condemnation even from the region’s most pro-Kremlin politicians. Two until now major pro-Russian voices in the European Union, Czech President Milos Zeman and Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, didn't mince their words in criticizing Moscow’s most aggressive action since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.

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

Czech travel writer Miroslav Zikmund has died at age 102.

Czech President Miloš Zeman has been discharged from the capital’s military hospital after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Coronavirus infections in the Czech Republic have jumped to a new record high in a surge that hit the country’s president and delayed the appointment of the new prime minister

Coronavirus infections in the Czech Republic have jumped to a new record high in a surge that hit the country’s president and has delayed the appointment of the new prime minister.

PRAGUE — (AP) — Czech President Milos Zeman was discharged Thursday from the Czech capital’s military hospital after his condition improved. Zeman, 77, was rushed to the clinic on Oct. 10, a day after the election for the lower house of parliament, to be treated in an intensive care unit. The hospital said Thursday it would have preferred Zeman to remain hospitalized, but accepted his decision to leave due to a “significant improvement" in his condition. As president, Zeman has a key role in establishing a new government following the election. The new partnership will hold 108 seats in the 200-seat lower house of Parliament, relegating populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis and his centrist ANO (YES) movement to the opposition.

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

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

A Senate report accuses the president's entourage of concealing his condition since he was hospitalized.

Czech Republic Zeman Health In this picture taken on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021, Czech Republic's President Milos Zeman welcomes his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Prague Castle in Prague, Czech Republic. On Wednesday Sept. 22, 2021 Zeman was released from Prague's military hospital. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (Petr David Josek)PRAGUE — (AP) — Health problems were preventing Czech President Milos Zeman from carrying out his duties, an official said Monday. As president, Zeman has a key role in establishing a new government. Although the office is largely ceremonial, the Czech president is responsible for tapping a party leader to try to form a government after a parliamentary election.

A Czech official says health problems are preventing Czech President Milos Zeman from carrying out his duties.

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.

Czech Republic President Czech Republic's President Milos Zeman is admitted to the Military hospital in Prague, Czech Republic, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (Petr David Josek)PRAGUE — (AP) — Czech President Milos Zeman was rushed to the hospital on Sunday, a day after the parliamentary election at a time when he has a key role in establishing a new government. Prague’s military hospital confirmed Zeman was transported there from the presidential chateau in Lany, near Prague. The Czech presidency is a largely ceremonial post but the president has the right to choose the country’s new prime minister. Babis won 72 seats, six less than in the 2017 election.

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.

Czech President FILE - In this Thursday, June 10, 2021 file photo, the President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman addresses the media during a joint press conference after their meeting at the Hofburg palace with the Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen in Vienna, Austria. Czech President Milos Zeman was hospitalized on Tuesday Sept. 14, 2021, while his predecessor Vaclav Klaus was undergoing tests in the same hospital. (AP Photo/Lisa Leutner, File) (Lisa Leutner)PRAGUE — (AP) — Czech President Milos Zeman who was hospitalized this week has undergone medical checks that haven't revealed any problems or disease that would threaten his life, the presidential office said on Thursday. Zeman’s office said doctors carried out CT scans, sonography checks and blood tests at Prague’s military hospital where the president was admitted Tuesday. During his current hospitalization, Zeman will receive unspecified infusions and will fully return to his duties next week, his office said.

Hospitalized Czech President Milos Zeman has undergone medical checks that haven't revealed any problems or disease that would threaten his life.

Czech President FILE - In this Thursday, June 10, 2021 file photo, the President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman addresses the media during a joint press conference after their meeting at the Hofburg palace with the Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen in Vienna, Austria. Czech President Milos Zeman was hospitalized on Tuesday Sept. 14, 2021, while his predecessor Vaclav Klaus was undergoing tests in the same hospital. (AP Photo/Lisa Leutner, File) (Lisa Leutner)PRAGUE — (AP) — Czech President Milos Zeman was hospitalized Tuesday while predecessor Vaclav Klaus was undergoing tests at the same hospital. An adviser to Zeman told Czech public radio that he was there for a regular check. He spent time at the hospital last weekend because of high blood pressure, his spokesman told Czech public television.

Czech President Milos Zeman has been hospitalized while predecessor Vaclav Klaus is undergoing tests at the same hospital.

When U.S. President Joe Biden took office early this year, Western allies were falling over themselves to welcome and praise him, and hail a new era in trans-Atlantic cooperation.

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.

The lower house of the Czech Parliament has approved legislation to compensate Roma women sterilized against their will.

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

It was the third Hamas bank destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in this week's deadly escalation and fighting. —-JERUSALEM — The number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank has risen to seven. The West Bank violence comes as Israel unleashed a heavy barrage of tank fire and airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Friday. The West Bank violence signals a new wave of unrest there as part of the Israel-Gaza escalation. The incident took place on Friday north of the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

(AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu) (Mahmud Hossain Opu)JERUSALEM — (AP) — The Latest on the stepped-up fighting between Israel and militant Hamas rulers (all times local):PRAGUE — The Israeli flag has been flying over the seat of the Czech presidency. He had previously stood by Israel in a letter to his Israeli counterpart, President Reuven Rivlin. ___JERUSALEM — Israeli defense forces have fired warning shots toward a group of protesters who crossed from Lebanon as part of a rally against the Israeli campaign in Gaza. Rights groups have complained about past shootings of Palestinians by the Israeli military under questionable circumstances. —-GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Palestinians living along Gaza's northern and eastern borders are fleeing intense Israeli bombardment.

Virus Outbreak Czech Republic A man lights up candles to commemorate victims of the COVD-19 pandemic at the Prague Castle in Prague, Czech Republic, Monday, May 10, 2021. The Czech Republic is massively relaxing its coronavirus restrictions as the hard-hit nation pays respect to nearly 30,000 dead. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (Petr David Josek)PRAGUE — (AP) — Czechs lit nearly 30,000 candles at Prague Castle, the seat of the presidency, on Monday evening to pay their respects to the pandemic’s victims. After observing a minute of silence, President Milos Zeman was the first to light a candle. The Czech Republic at one point topped the global per capital death toll table, due to a too-early relaxation of virus restrictions.

APTOPIX Virus Outbreak Czech Republic Woman lights a candle to commemorate victims of the COVD-19 pandemic at the Prague Castle in Prague, Czech Republic, Monday, May 10, 2021. The Czech Republic is massively relaxing its coronavirus restrictions as the hard-hit nation pays respect to nearly 30,000 dead. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (Petr David Josek)PRAGUE — (AP) — Czechs lit nearly 30,000 candles at Prague Castle, the seat of the presidency, on Monday evening to pay their respects to the pandemic’s victims. After observing a minute of silence, President Milos Zeman was the first to light a candle. The Czech Republic at one point topped the global per capital death toll table, due to a too-early relaxation of virus restrictions.

Czechs have lit candles at Prague Castle as the hard-hit nation pays its respects to the country's nearly 30,000 dead.

Thousands of Czechs have rallied in the capital against President Milos Zeman, accusing him of treason for his pro-Russian stance over the alleged participation of Russian spies in a huge 2014 ammunition explosion.

Thousands of Czechs rallied Thursday in the capital against President Milos Zeman, accusing the pro-Russian leader of treason over the alleged participation of Russian spies in a huge 2014 ammunition explosion in the Czech Republic. The protesters, who wore face masks and followed social distancing rules, spread out through central Wenceslas Square in Prague.

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

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

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.

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.

The group, also known as V4, often works out joint positions in international ties, especially within the European Union. Opening the ceremonial meeting, Duda said the V4 group has had a positive role in European and trans-Atlantic ties. “The group is an important, if not the key catalyst of the regional cooperation in all of Central Europe and contributes significantly to the cooperation and political processes regarding the EU and NATO," Duda said. Poland currently holds the group's 12-month rotating presidency, which it will hand over to Hungary on July 1. ___A previous version of this story corrected the spelling of the Slovakia president’s name to Zuzana Caputova, not Zuzanna Czaputova.

Prymula will be the new Czech Health Minister, replacing Adam Vojtech (for ANO), who announced his resignation on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020. (AP Photo via CTK/Ondrej Deml)PRAGUE – The Czech government moved Monday to appoint an epidemiologist as the new health minister as the country struggles with a surge of new coronavirus infections. The outgoing minister, Adam Vojtech, resigned from his post on Monday, saying his departure was meant to create space for a possible different approach to the pandemic. As deputy health minister, Prymula led the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic for a time in the spring. Babis said he was sorry about Vojtech's resignation, calling the outgoing minister “the best” the country ever had.

The Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil cheers before delivering a speech at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday, Sept. 1. Threats are not a part of that.Wang defended Chinas response, saying that the Czech delegation was mixing in Chinas internal affairs.China must react adequately, he said through a translator. Vystrcil's visit follows a spat last year between Beijing and Prague, the Czech Republic's capital. The visit is also in direct opposition to Czech President Milos Zeman, who has taken strongly pro-China views. Following his speech, Vystrcil told reporters that his visit was consistent with Prague's interpretation of the one-China policy" and wasn't intended as an affront to Beijing.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives at the airport in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in Czech Republic at the start of a four-nation tour of Europe. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, Pool)PRAGUE U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in the Czech Republic at the start of a four-nation tour of central and eastern Europe expected to focus on threats to the region posed by Russia and China. Two of Pompeo's other three destinations the Czech Republic and Austria also share a border with Germany, while Slovakia borders Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland. In Warsaw, Poland, Pompeo plans talks with President Andrzej Duda, who recently won a narrow reelection after a bitter campaign that concerned human rights advocates and others.

WASHINGTON Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to central and Eastern Europe next week to discuss efforts to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the region and talk about U.S. troop deployments on the continent. The State Department said Thursday that Pompeo will visit the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Austria and Poland on a weeklong trip that is only his third overseas since the coronavirus outbreak. The shift has raised significant concerns in Europe and elsewhere as the Trump administration has given conflicting reasons for it, ranging from antipathy toward Germany's leadership to strategic planning. In Vienna, Pompeo will meet Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz to review trade relations and regional security. In Warsaw, Poland, Pompeo plans talks with President Andrzej Duda, who recently won a narrow reelection after a bitter campaign that concerned human rights advocates and others.

PRAGUE The speaker of the Czech Republic's Senate announced Tuesday he will visit Taiwan despite warnings from China and a recommendation from his own government that he not take the trip. Vystrcils predecessor in the post, Jaroslav Kubera, was planning to travel to Taiwan before he died in January. The Czech Republic has established informal relations with Taiwan but recognizes the one-China principle the notion that Taiwan belongs to Communist Party-ruled China. He said the Czech Republic will benefit from his trip. Taiwan is an important business partner for the Czech Republic and has invested more in the Czech economy than mainland China.