Is China's diplomacy under strain? The President-elect of Czech Republic is pushing for closer ties with Taiwan. Meanwhile, Fiji has scrapped a policing agreement with China. Is 'Xi-plomacy' failing? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Fiji & Czech Republic snub China

Retired NATO general Petr Pavel on Saturday won the presidential election run-off, defeating populist billionaire Andrej Babis.

Petr Pavel, aged 61, will succeed controversy-courting Milos Zeman as Czech Republic's president, a prestigious but largely ceremonial post.

Pavel clinched 57.8 per cent of votes while Babis received only 42.2 per cent, as the Czech Statistical Office completed the counting of 97 per cent of ballots of almost 15,000 polling stations.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/czech-police-look-for-creepy-burglar-who-watches-people-in-their-sleep-493360">Czech police look for 'creepy' burglar who watches people in their sleep</a>

“My presidency will succeed only when we all succeed together,” said Pavel, while addressing the cheering crowd of his supporters.

The voter turnout was unusually high in the NATO member country 70 per cent, which has a population of 10.5 million people, after an acrimonious campaign which was filled with death threats and controversy.&nbsp;

Once elected as the president, Pavel had vowed to "restore order" in the country.

"I can't ignore the fact that people here increasingly feel chaos, disorder and uncertainty. That the state has somehow ceased to function. We need to change this. We need to play by the rules, which will be valid for everyone alike. We need a general sweep," he stated on his campaign website.

In the election's first round which was held two weeks ago, Pavel defeated Babis as he scored 35.4 per cent against the former prime minister's 35 per cent.

After that, death threats were targeted at Babis and his family, while Pavel fell victim to a hoax which claimed he was dead, plaguing the final campaign with disinformation.

The president of the Czech Republic selects the constitutional judges and the central bank governor, works as the armed forces commander and names the government.

Pavel served as former chairman of NATO’s military committee, which is the highest military body of the alliance. He completely endorsed the humanitarian and military support extended to Ukraine in its fight with Russia.

WATCH | Around 70,000 people protest against government in Prague over rising inflation

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For Babis, who had held the position of prime minister in the past, this was his second major defeat. Zeman's support was with Babis, as the two shared similar eurosceptic views and use anti-migrant rhetoric.

Babis and Pavel competed in the second round of voting after all eight candidates initially failed to get a clear majority in the first round, which was held two weeks ago.

Zeman was the country's first president who was elected by popular vote. His second term of five years will expire in March.

The previous two presidents, Vaclav Havel and Vaclav Klaus, were elected by the lawmakers.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Retired NATO general Petr Pavel on Saturday won the presidential election run-off, defeating populist billionaire Andrej Babis. Petr Pavel, aged 61, will succeed controversy-courting Milos Zeman as Czech Republic's president, a prestigious but largely ceremonial post.

Retired NATO general Petr Pavel on Saturday won the presidential election run-off, defeating populist billionaire Andrej Babis. Petr Pavel, aged 61, will succeed controversy-courting Milos Zeman as Czech Republic's president, a prestigious but largely ceremonial post. Pavel clinched 57.8 per cent of votes while Babis received only 42.2 per cent, as the Czech Statistical Office completed the counting of 97 per cent of ballots of almost 15,000 polling stations. ALSO READ | Czech police look for 'creepy' burglar who watches people in their sleep “My presidency will succeed only when we all succeed together,” said Pavel, while addressing the cheering crowd of his supporters. The voter turnout was unusually high in the NATO member country 70 per cent, which has a population of 10.5 million people, after an acrimonious campaign which was filled with death threats and controversy. Once elected as the president, Pavel had vowed to "restore order" in the country. "I can't ignore the fact that people here increasingly feel chaos, disorder and uncertainty. That the state has somehow ceased to function. We need to change this. We need to play by the rules, which will be valid for everyone alike. We need a general sweep," he stated on his campaign website. In the election's first round which was held two weeks ago, Pavel defeated Babis as he scored 35.4 per cent against the former prime minister's 35 per cent. After that, death threats were targeted at Babis and his family, while Pavel fell victim to a hoax which claimed he was dead, plaguing the final campaign with disinformation. The president of the Czech Republic selects the constitutional judges and the central bank governor, works as the armed forces commander and names the government. Pavel served as former chairman of NATO’s military committee, which is the highest military body of the alliance. He completely endorsed the humanitarian and military support extended to Ukraine in its fight with Russia. WATCH | Around 70,000 people protest against government in Prague over rising inflation For Babis, who had held the position of prime minister in the past, this was his second major defeat. Zeman's support was with Babis, as the two shared similar eurosceptic views and use anti-migrant rhetoric. Babis and Pavel competed in the second round of voting after all eight candidates initially failed to get a clear majority in the first round, which was held two weeks ago. Zeman was the country's first president who was elected by popular vote. His second term of five years will expire in March. The previous two presidents, Vaclav Havel and Vaclav Klaus, were elected by the lawmakers. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Retired Gen Pavel elected as new president of Czech Republic

Seventeen-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova of the Czech Republic overcame Poland's Magda Linette to win the&nbsp;Chennai&nbsp;Open&nbsp;in her first WTA Tour-level final on Sunday. Linette, 30, ranked number 67 in the world, took the first set 6-4 in the sweltering Indian heat but Fruhvirtova won the second 6-3 and came from behind to clinch the decider 6-4.

"(I have) nothing but love for&nbsp;Chennai. I left my heart out during these matches and it is something I will remember for ever," a tearful Fruhvirtova said afterwards. Fruhvirtova, ranked 130, last year became at, 16, the youngest player to enter the top WTA 400 rankings and in March reached the last 16 of the Miami&nbsp;Open.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/andy-murray-hoping-for-final-chance-to-play-with-roger-federer-at-laver-cup-2022-517376">Andy Murray hoping for final chance to play with Roger Federer at Laver Cup 2022</a>

In the semi-final in&nbsp;Chennai, she came back from one set down to beat Argentina's Nadia Podoroska 5-7, 6-2, 6-4. Linette reached the final after Britain's Katie Swan threw in the towel after just three games, exhausted from a three-hour quarter-final against Japan's Nao Hibino that lasted until 3 am.

Seventeen-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova of the Czech Republic overcame Poland's Magda Linette to win the Chennai Open in her first WTA Tour-level final on Sunday. Linette, 30, ranked number 67 in the world, took the first set 6-4 in the sweltering Indian heat but Fruhvirtova won the second 6-3 and came from behind to clinch the decider 6-4.

Seventeen-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova of the Czech Republic overcame Poland's Magda Linette to win the Chennai Open in her first WTA Tour-level final on Sunday. Linette, 30, ranked number 67 in the world, took the first set 6-4 in the sweltering Indian heat but Fruhvirtova won the second 6-3 and came from behind to clinch the decider 6-4. "(I have) nothing but love for Chennai. I left my heart out during these matches and it is something I will remember for ever," a tearful Fruhvirtova said afterwards. Fruhvirtova, ranked 130, last year became at, 16, the youngest player to enter the top WTA 400 rankings and in March reached the last 16 of the Miami Open. ALSO READ | Andy Murray hoping for final chance to play with Roger Federer at Laver Cup 2022 In the semi-final in Chennai, she came back from one set down to beat Argentina's Nadia Podoroska 5-7, 6-2, 6-4. Linette reached the final after Britain's Katie Swan threw in the towel after just three games, exhausted from a three-hour quarter-final against Japan's Nao Hibino that lasted until 3 am.

Czech Republic teenager Linda Fruhvirtova wins Chennai Open

Around 70,000 people took to the streets in Prague, the Czech Republic to protest against the government over rising inflation. The protesters also expressed displeasure over the government's focus on Ukraine over their own people.

Around 70,000 people protest against government in Prague over rising inflation

In pics: Damaged Russian military equipment on display in Prague

In the Czech Republic, authorities are looking for a man who apparently watches people in sleep after breaking into homes to commit petty theft, the Czech police said on Thursday (June 30). As per a report by news agency AFP, he has broken into several homes in the country's capital Prague. The officers have noted that even the presence of people doesn't bother him. In fact, he intentionally picks such houses. So far, the police have registered seven cases. But the officers fear that there could have been more. The details that emerged so far make this&nbsp;burglar creepy.&nbsp;

As quoted by the news agency, Prague police spokesman Jan Rybansky said in a statement: "Home security camera footage makes it clear the perpetrator does not mind the presence of people." He added that "on the contrary, we could say he literally seeks out such homes."&nbsp;

While giving an example of an extremely creepy incident, Rybansky said in one case, the suspect was sitting on the bed next to the nine-year-old daughter of the house owner in her child's room. At the time he was there, the girl was asleep and had no idea about his presence.&nbsp;

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The movement of the suspect around the house was recorded by some house owners. The footage showed that he was there when the owers were awake.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The statement on the police website: "To avoid being disturbed, he locked himself in the room or on the entire floor, searched it and then left the house."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/china-new-plan-to-find-earth-20-et-493238">China's new plan to find 'Earth 2.0 ET'</a>&nbsp;

The manhunt is on for a suspect aged between 55 and 60, who has a limp. He has mostly broken into houses in Prague. He has burgled one house twice within a year.&nbsp;

The police said that the man faces up to three years in prison if convicted.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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In the Czech Republic, authorities are looking for a man who apparently watches people in sleep after breaking into homes to commit petty theft, the Czech police said on Thursday (June 30).

In the Czech Republic, authorities are looking for a man who apparently watches people in sleep after breaking into homes to commit petty theft, the Czech police said on Thursday (June 30). As per a report by news agency AFP, he has broken into several homes in the country's capital Prague. The officers have noted that even the presence of people doesn't bother him. In fact, he intentionally picks such houses. So far, the police have registered seven cases. But the officers fear that there could have been more. The details that emerged so far make this burglar creepy. As quoted by the news agency, Prague police spokesman Jan Rybansky said in a statement: "Home security camera footage makes it clear the perpetrator does not mind the presence of people." He added that "on the contrary, we could say he literally seeks out such homes." While giving an example of an extremely creepy incident, Rybansky said in one case, the suspect was sitting on the bed next to the nine-year-old daughter of the house owner in her child's room. At the time he was there, the girl was asleep and had no idea about his presence. ALSO READ | Report sheds light on big brands like Coca Cola and how they 'greenwash' their products The movement of the suspect around the house was recorded by some house owners. The footage showed that he was there when the owers were awake. The statement on the police website: "To avoid being disturbed, he locked himself in the room or on the entire floor, searched it and then left the house." ALSO READ | China's new plan to find 'Earth 2.0 ET' The manhunt is on for a suspect aged between 55 and 60, who has a limp. He has mostly broken into houses in Prague. He has burgled one house twice within a year. The police said that the man faces up to three years in prison if convicted. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Czech police look for 'creepy' burglar who watches people in their sleep

Portugal fired two goals in five minutes to beat the Czech Republic in UEFA Nations League on Thursday (June 9). The victory has allowed Portugal to open a two-point lead at the top of Group A2. Joao Cancelo and Goncalo Guedes scored the winning goals in 33rd and 38th minutes respectively. This win in Lisbon has underlined Portugal's strong start in the tournament.

Portugal is now two points clear of Spain. They have won two and drawn one of their first three games.

The Czech Republic started the match level on points with their opponents but drop to third, after Spain defeated Switzerland 1-0 in Geneva.

The Czech team will travel to Spain on Sunday while Portugal will play away match in&nbsp;Switzerland.

Portugal had to go through the play-offs to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, beating Turkey and North Macedonia to avoid an embarrassing exit.

But this convincing win came after they claimed a 1-1 draw away against Spain in their opening fixture before thrashing Switzerland 4-0 in the second, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice.

Cancelo also got on the scoresheet there and the Manchester City defender made it two goals in as many matches by scoring just after the half-hour against the Czechs.&nbsp;

It came from some brilliant work by Bernardo Silva, who wriggled free on the right and found his City teammate inside him, who fired in.

Five minutes later, it was two and again Bernardo was at the heart of it, sliding through Guedes, who swept a superb finish beyond Jindrich Stanek.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Portugal fired two goals in five minutes to beat the Czech Republic in UEFA Nations League on Thursday (June 9). The victory has allowed Portugal to open a two-point lead at the top of Group A2.

Portugal fired two goals in five minutes to beat the Czech Republic in UEFA Nations League on Thursday (June 9). The victory has allowed Portugal to open a two-point lead at the top of Group A2. Joao Cancelo and Goncalo Guedes scored the winning goals in 33rd and 38th minutes respectively. This win in Lisbon has underlined Portugal's strong start in the tournament. Portugal is now two points clear of Spain. They have won two and drawn one of their first three games. The Czech Republic started the match level on points with their opponents but drop to third, after Spain defeated Switzerland 1-0 in Geneva. The Czech team will travel to Spain on Sunday while Portugal will play away match in Switzerland. Portugal had to go through the play-offs to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, beating Turkey and North Macedonia to avoid an embarrassing exit. But this convincing win came after they claimed a 1-1 draw away against Spain in their opening fixture before thrashing Switzerland 4-0 in the second, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice. Cancelo also got on the scoresheet there and the Manchester City defender made it two goals in as many matches by scoring just after the half-hour against the Czechs. It came from some brilliant work by Bernardo Silva, who wriggled free on the right and found his City teammate inside him, who fired in. Five minutes later, it was two and again Bernardo was at the heart of it, sliding through Guedes, who swept a superb finish beyond Jindrich Stanek. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

UEFA Nations League: Portugal thrash Czechs with two goals in five minutes

Thrill-seekers flocked to the world's longest suspension footbridge after its opening in the Czech Republic.

The 721-metre-long bridge, which has been named Sky Bridge 721, is located near the Dolni Morava vacation resort.

It connects the Jeseniky mountains and enables tourists to walk from one mountain to another with a spectacular view.

The bridge, suspended by six main supporting ropes and 60 wind ropes, took two years to build at a cost of 200 million crowns ($8.4 million).

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/indias-tallest-bridge-higher-than-the-eiffel-tower-which-can-withstand-explosions-see-breathtaking-pics-468509">Also see |&nbsp;India's tallest bridge, higher than the Eiffel Tower, which can withstand explosions. See breathtaking pics!</a>

Sky Bridge 721, which sits at more than 1,100 meters above sea level, hangs 95 metres above the valley floor.

The previous record for the longest suspension footbridge was held by the 516-metre (1,692.9-foot) Arouca Bridge in Portugal.

Michaela Klestilova, a day-hiker told news agency Reuters, "We came here because we love adrenaline."

"We came by foot up here and now we are looking for our reward," she added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/dont-look-down-marvelous-glass-bottomed-bridge-opens-in-vietnam-474923">Also see |&nbsp;Don't look down! Marvelous glass-bottomed bridge opens in Vietnam</a>

Expressing concern about the bridge, the Czech Nature Conservation Agency's regional director Michal Servus told Czech TV it has changed the character of the area.

Tourists who wish to visit the bridge need to book tickets in advance which are worth 350 Czech Koruna or $15.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Thrill-seekers flocked to the world's longest suspension footbridge after its opening in the Czech Republic. The 721-metre-long bridge, which has been named Sky Bridge 721, is located near the Dolni Morava vacation resort.

Thrill-seekers flocked to the world's longest suspension footbridge after its opening in the Czech Republic. The 721-metre-long bridge, which has been named Sky Bridge 721, is located near the Dolni Morava vacation resort. It connects the Jeseniky mountains and enables tourists to walk from one mountain to another with a spectacular view. The bridge, suspended by six main supporting ropes and 60 wind ropes, took two years to build at a cost of 200 million crowns ($8.4 million). Also see | India's tallest bridge, higher than the Eiffel Tower, which can withstand explosions. See breathtaking pics! Sky Bridge 721, which sits at more than 1,100 meters above sea level, hangs 95 metres above the valley floor. The previous record for the longest suspension footbridge was held by the 516-metre (1,692.9-foot) Arouca Bridge in Portugal. Michaela Klestilova, a day-hiker told news agency Reuters, "We came here because we love adrenaline." "We came by foot up here and now we are looking for our reward," she added. Also see | Don't look down! Marvelous glass-bottomed bridge opens in Vietnam Expressing concern about the bridge, the Czech Nature Conservation Agency's regional director Michal Servus told Czech TV it has changed the character of the area. Tourists who wish to visit the bridge need to book tickets in advance which are worth 350 Czech Koruna or $15. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

Thrill seekers flock to world's longest suspension footbridge after its opening in Czech Republic

The Czech Republic will stop requiring COVID passes for entry to restaurants and other service or entertainment venues starting next week, opening them up to unvaccinated people, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said.

The country of 10.7 million, which was hit hard by previous waves of the COVID pandemic, is seeing a record spike in coronavirus cases as the Omicron variant spreads. However, officials expect an easing of infections this month.

The Health Ministry reported a record daily tally of 57,226 COVID infections on Tuesday, plus nearly 10,000 suspected re-infections. On Wednesday, a further 43,307 cases were reported and more than 7,000 re-infections on top of that.

But hospitalisations have not yet jumped and are well below peaks in previous waves of the pandemic. The government has sought to end some measures.

From Feb. 9, the need to show proof of vaccination or being recently recovered from COVID-19 to enter restaurants and other hospitality or service venues will end, Fiala said in a statement late Wednesday evening.

The government will also finish mandatory testing in firms and schools from Feb. 18.

Measures requiring mask wearing indoors and limits to the number of people at public events will remain.

The moves follow easing planned in other European countries. Neighbouring Austria will allow shops and restaurants to remain open longer and also ease restrictions on the unvaccinated from next week.

On Wednesday, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said Italy would soon announce a timetable to roll back its COVID-19 curbs.

The Czech Republic will stop requiring COVID passes for entry to restaurants and other service or entertainment venues starting next week, opening them up to unvaccinated people, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said.

The Czech Republic will stop requiring COVID passes for entry to restaurants and other service or entertainment venues starting next week, opening them up to unvaccinated people, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said. The country of 10.7 million, which was hit hard by previous waves of the COVID pandemic, is seeing a record spike in coronavirus cases as the Omicron variant spreads. However, officials expect an easing of infections this month. The Health Ministry reported a record daily tally of 57,226 COVID infections on Tuesday, plus nearly 10,000 suspected re-infections. On Wednesday, a further 43,307 cases were reported and more than 7,000 re-infections on top of that. But hospitalisations have not yet jumped and are well below peaks in previous waves of the pandemic. The government has sought to end some measures. From Feb. 9, the need to show proof of vaccination or being recently recovered from COVID-19 to enter restaurants and other hospitality or service venues will end, Fiala said in a statement late Wednesday evening. The government will also finish mandatory testing in firms and schools from Feb. 18. Measures requiring mask wearing indoors and limits to the number of people at public events will remain. The moves follow easing planned in other European countries. Neighbouring Austria will allow shops and restaurants to remain open longer and also ease restrictions on the unvaccinated from next week. On Wednesday, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said Italy would soon announce a timetable to roll back its COVID-19 curbs.

Czech government plans to end COVID passes, easing measures for unvaccinated

To all those who would pose a challenge to Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil’s coming presidential election, including the press, the Supreme Court and liberals, the embattled right-wing leader has an answer: “Only God removes me.”

But Bolsonaro might be unseated by an unexpected problem that his political playbook has no easy answer for: inflation.

Prices are climbing faster than they have in almost two decades in Brazil, a country with a relatively recent history of disastrous inflationary episodes. The currency has steadily declined in value, losing roughly 10% against the dollar in the last six months alone. And the economy, Latin America’s largest, slipped back into recession in the third quarter.

That has upset people like Lucia Regina da Silva. A 65-year-old retired nursing assistant and former Bolsonaro supporter, she has watched over the last year as surging prices have eroded the purchasing power of her modest monthly pension.

“I believed this government would improve our lives,” said da Silva on a recent morning as she pushed a mostly empty shopping cart — a few vegetables and some personal products were all she could afford — through the aisles of Campeão, a cheap supermarket chain in Rio de Janeiro. “But that was flawed.”

Bolsonaro is among a generation of right-wing populists who, in the past decade and a half, have risen to power in democracies like Turkey, Brazil and Hungary, and whose reigns have coincided, at least at first, with periods of solid economic performance in those countries. They have remained in power by stoking nationalist passions and driving deep wedges into the electorate with hot-button cultural issues. Along the way, they have co-opted the news media and cowed opponents.

Now these strongmen — including Bolsonaro, Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey — are grappling with rising prices, even as they face national elections within the next two years. A new and unexpected peril, inflation is threatening to organize and animate political opposition in the countries of these three leaders in a way few would have predicted just a few months ago.

In Hungary, where consumer prices are rising at their fastest pace since 2007, polls suggest that Orban will face his toughest election ever next year, as the cost of living and low wages become top concerns for voters.

Voters in the nearby Czech Republic — which has faced rising inflation and soaring energy costs — just ousted Andrej Babis, the country’s billionaire right-wing populist prime minister, by a narrow margin.

Bolsonaro’s standing, already damaged by his administration’s management of the COVID crisis, has tumbled, with polls showing him badly trailing his likely 2022 opponent, former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

In anticipation, Bolsonaro has begun laying the groundwork to dispute the results of next year’s vote, which the polls suggest he would lose badly if it were held today. “I want to tell those who want to make me unelectable in Brazil, only God removes me,” he told a cheering crowd in São Paulo in September.

But da Silva has already incorporated the economic crisis into his recent campaign. “The Bolsonaro government is responsible for inflation,” he said in an interview. “Inflation is out of control.”

The situation is most dire in Turkey, where the unorthodox economic policies of Erdogan have set off a full-on currency crisis. The value of the lira has collapsed roughly 45% this year. And prices are now rising at an official rate of more than 20% annually, with some unofficial estimates even higher.

Countries with right-wing populist leaders are not the only ones reeling from inflation. In the United States, prices are rising at their fastest rate since 1982. And left-leaning populists, such as those in power in Argentina, are also contending with fierce inflationary currents, which have put them on the defensive.

The upsurge represents a sudden break from the trend of sluggish growth and tepid inflation that dominated the global economy for roughly a dozen years before the pandemic hit. That low-growth backdrop allowed powerful central banks in the United States, the European Union and Britain to keep interest rates low. And those decisions had large implications for poorer countries around the world.

That is because the low-rate policies made by central banks such as the Federal Reserve reduce the returns investors in wealthy nations can make by buying safe government bonds in their home countries, pushing them into riskier investments in emerging markets that promise higher returns.

Economists say that flow of money toward developing nations might have been an underappreciated element of the success right-wing populist leaders have enjoyed in recent years, as it provided a steadily favorable economic tail wind that coincided with their time in power.

Turkey, which suffered a sharp recession in 2009, was able to rebound relatively quickly thanks to a surge of borrowing from foreign investors that supercharged growth. Bolsonaro’s election in 2018 coincided with a fresh push to lower interest rates from the Federal Reserve, which prompted U.S. investors to buy more emerging market debt and helped prop up the real.

“Since the global financial recession, the global macroeconomic environment was a godsend to authoritarians,” said Daron Acemoglu, a professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who has studied the deterioration of democracies. “Essentially, with very low interest rates, it made many countries that had either weak democracies or semi-authoritarianism, or sometimes fully fledged authoritarianism, still attractive to foreign capital.”

But as the global economy began to heal from the pandemic this year, a combination of supply chain disruptions, central bank money-printing and government spending aimed at juicing the recovery ignited a sharp rise in prices around the world. That prompted leaders in many developing countries to tweak their policies — and global investors to rethink their investments in those markets.

Claudia Calich, head of emerging market debt at M&amp;G Investments in London, has invested in Turkish government bonds, denominated in lira, for years. But, Calich said, the increasing public pressure that Erdogan was putting on the country’s central bank to cut interest rates this year led the fund to sell its entire position.

“As soon as we started seeing the changes this year going in the wrong direction, namely for further rate reductions, then we started getting worried about the currency,” Calich said. “That has been, so far, the wrong policy response. And yeah, we’ve been very happy to have exited that position.”

There are few politically palatable options for emerging market countries dealing with an inflationary upsurge and weakening currencies. But for a number of reasons, the inflationary rise is especially tricky political terrain for populists like Orban, Erdogan and Bolsonaro, who all face elections in 2022 or 2023.

Their personalized approach to politics — and the fact that they have all been in office for years — makes it difficult for them to sidestep blame for the condition of the economy. At the same time, their brand of populism, which emphasizes nationalist rivalries and has been effective in the past, can seem out of touch to citizens whose standards of living are swiftly plummeting.

The traditional remedy for inflation would call for some combination of higher interest rates from the central bank and skimpier government spending. But both moves would probably hurt economic growth and employment, at least in the short term, potentially worsening prospects of reelection.

In Turkey, Erdogan — who has adopted an increasingly authoritarian leadership style since surviving a coup attempt in 2016 — has ruled out such a conventional response. In recent weeks, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, essentially under Erdogan’s personal control, has repeatedly cut interest rates.

Most observers think Erdogan has made a difficult situation much worse, with the prospect of more interest rate cuts and currency declines driving foreign investors to pull their money from Turkey.

At the same time, the political winds also seem to be blowing against Erdogan. The worsening economic situation has prompted scattered street protests. Opposition politicians are calling for snap elections to deal with the crisis, while hammering Erdogan for what they call his disastrous management of the economy.

Orban and Bolsonaro, both of whom once fashioned themselves as conservative budgeteers, have abandoned their previous positions. Instead, they are pushing a short-term surge of spending to provide an influx of cash to voters before next year’s elections. It is unclear that such an approach will help, however, as it is likely to make inflationary pressures worse.

Sitting on a bench at a local farmers market in Budapest, Hungary, on a recent afternoon, Marton Varjai, 68, laughed at the $250 check Orban recently sent him, part of a payout his government authorized to all pensioners, who amount to roughly 20% of the population.

Varjai earns a monthly pension of about $358, of which 85% goes to covering medicine and utilities. “The rest is what I have to live off,” he said, adding that he was concerned about his ability to make ends meet.

Such sentiments are becoming an increasing focus for Hungarian voters. A recent study by Policy Solutions, a progressive think tank in Budapest, found that Hungarians are most concerned with the cost of living and low wages.

“If these issues dominate the campaign, it’s not good for Fidesz,” said Andras Biro-Nagy, director of Policy Solutions, referring to Orban’s ruling party.

To all those who would pose a challenge to Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil’s coming presidential election, including the press, the Supreme Court and liberals, the embattled right-wing leader has an answer: “Only God removes me.

To all those who would pose a challenge to Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil’s coming presidential election, including the press, the Supreme Court and liberals, the embattled right-wing leader has an answer: “Only God removes me.” But Bolsonaro might be unseated by an unexpected problem that his political playbook has no easy answer for: inflation. Prices are climbing faster than they have in almost two decades in Brazil, a country with a relatively recent history of disastrous inflationary episodes. The currency has steadily declined in value, losing roughly 10% against the dollar in the last six months alone. And the economy, Latin America’s largest, slipped back into recession in the third quarter. That has upset people like Lucia Regina da Silva. A 65-year-old retired nursing assistant and former Bolsonaro supporter, she has watched over the last year as surging prices have eroded the purchasing power of her modest monthly pension. “I believed this government would improve our lives,” said da Silva on a recent morning as she pushed a mostly empty shopping cart — a few vegetables and some personal products were all she could afford — through the aisles of Campeão, a cheap supermarket chain in Rio de Janeiro. “But that was flawed.” Bolsonaro is among a generation of right-wing populists who, in the past decade and a half, have risen to power in democracies like Turkey, Brazil and Hungary, and whose reigns have coincided, at least at first, with periods of solid economic performance in those countries. They have remained in power by stoking nationalist passions and driving deep wedges into the electorate with hot-button cultural issues. Along the way, they have co-opted the news media and cowed opponents. Now these strongmen — including Bolsonaro, Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey — are grappling with rising prices, even as they face national elections within the next two years. A new and unexpected peril, inflation is threatening to organize and animate political opposition in the countries of these three leaders in a way few would have predicted just a few months ago. In Hungary, where consumer prices are rising at their fastest pace since 2007, polls suggest that Orban will face his toughest election ever next year, as the cost of living and low wages become top concerns for voters. Voters in the nearby Czech Republic — which has faced rising inflation and soaring energy costs — just ousted Andrej Babis, the country’s billionaire right-wing populist prime minister, by a narrow margin. Bolsonaro’s standing, already damaged by his administration’s management of the COVID crisis, has tumbled, with polls showing him badly trailing his likely 2022 opponent, former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. In anticipation, Bolsonaro has begun laying the groundwork to dispute the results of next year’s vote, which the polls suggest he would lose badly if it were held today. “I want to tell those who want to make me unelectable in Brazil, only God removes me,” he told a cheering crowd in São Paulo in September. But da Silva has already incorporated the economic crisis into his recent campaign. “The Bolsonaro government is responsible for inflation,” he said in an interview. “Inflation is out of control.” The situation is most dire in Turkey, where the unorthodox economic policies of Erdogan have set off a full-on currency crisis. The value of the lira has collapsed roughly 45% this year. And prices are now rising at an official rate of more than 20% annually, with some unofficial estimates even higher. Countries with right-wing populist leaders are not the only ones reeling from inflation. In the United States, prices are rising at their fastest rate since 1982. And left-leaning populists, such as those in power in Argentina, are also contending with fierce inflationary currents, which have put them on the defensive. The upsurge represents a sudden break from the trend of sluggish growth and tepid inflation that dominated the global economy for roughly a dozen years before the pandemic hit. That low-growth backdrop allowed powerful central banks in the United States, the European Union and Britain to keep interest rates low. And those decisions had large implications for poorer countries around the world. That is because the low-rate policies made by central banks such as the Federal Reserve reduce the returns investors in wealthy nations can make by buying safe government bonds in their home countries, pushing them into riskier investments in emerging markets that promise higher returns. Economists say that flow of money toward developing nations might have been an underappreciated element of the success right-wing populist leaders have enjoyed in recent years, as it provided a steadily favorable economic tail wind that coincided with their time in power. Turkey, which suffered a sharp recession in 2009, was able to rebound relatively quickly thanks to a surge of borrowing from foreign investors that supercharged growth. Bolsonaro’s election in 2018 coincided with a fresh push to lower interest rates from the Federal Reserve, which prompted U.S. investors to buy more emerging market debt and helped prop up the real. “Since the global financial recession, the global macroeconomic environment was a godsend to authoritarians,” said Daron Acemoglu, a professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who has studied the deterioration of democracies. “Essentially, with very low interest rates, it made many countries that had either weak democracies or semi-authoritarianism, or sometimes fully fledged authoritarianism, still attractive to foreign capital.” But as the global economy began to heal from the pandemic this year, a combination of supply chain disruptions, central bank money-printing and government spending aimed at juicing the recovery ignited a sharp rise in prices around the world. That prompted leaders in many developing countries to tweak their policies — and global investors to rethink their investments in those markets. Claudia Calich, head of emerging market debt at M&G Investments in London, has invested in Turkish government bonds, denominated in lira, for years. But, Calich said, the increasing public pressure that Erdogan was putting on the country’s central bank to cut interest rates this year led the fund to sell its entire position. “As soon as we started seeing the changes this year going in the wrong direction, namely for further rate reductions, then we started getting worried about the currency,” Calich said. “That has been, so far, the wrong policy response. And yeah, we’ve been very happy to have exited that position.” There are few politically palatable options for emerging market countries dealing with an inflationary upsurge and weakening currencies. But for a number of reasons, the inflationary rise is especially tricky political terrain for populists like Orban, Erdogan and Bolsonaro, who all face elections in 2022 or 2023. Their personalized approach to politics — and the fact that they have all been in office for years — makes it difficult for them to sidestep blame for the condition of the economy. At the same time, their brand of populism, which emphasizes nationalist rivalries and has been effective in the past, can seem out of touch to citizens whose standards of living are swiftly plummeting. The traditional remedy for inflation would call for some combination of higher interest rates from the central bank and skimpier government spending. But both moves would probably hurt economic growth and employment, at least in the short term, potentially worsening prospects of reelection. In Turkey, Erdogan — who has adopted an increasingly authoritarian leadership style since surviving a coup attempt in 2016 — has ruled out such a conventional response. In recent weeks, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, essentially under Erdogan’s personal control, has repeatedly cut interest rates. Most observers think Erdogan has made a difficult situation much worse, with the prospect of more interest rate cuts and currency declines driving foreign investors to pull their money from Turkey. At the same time, the political winds also seem to be blowing against Erdogan. The worsening economic situation has prompted scattered street protests. Opposition politicians are calling for snap elections to deal with the crisis, while hammering Erdogan for what they call his disastrous management of the economy. Orban and Bolsonaro, both of whom once fashioned themselves as conservative budgeteers, have abandoned their previous positions. Instead, they are pushing a short-term surge of spending to provide an influx of cash to voters before next year’s elections. It is unclear that such an approach will help, however, as it is likely to make inflationary pressures worse. Sitting on a bench at a local farmers market in Budapest, Hungary, on a recent afternoon, Marton Varjai, 68, laughed at the $250 check Orban recently sent him, part of a payout his government authorized to all pensioners, who amount to roughly 20% of the population. Varjai earns a monthly pension of about $358, of which 85% goes to covering medicine and utilities. “The rest is what I have to live off,” he said, adding that he was concerned about his ability to make ends meet. Such sentiments are becoming an increasing focus for Hungarian voters. A recent study by Policy Solutions, a progressive think tank in Budapest, found that Hungarians are most concerned with the cost of living and low wages. “If these issues dominate the campaign, it’s not good for Fidesz,” said Andras Biro-Nagy, director of Policy Solutions, referring to Orban’s ruling party.

Inflationary wave changes political terrain for right-wing populists

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated Petr Fiala over his appointment as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic and said he looks forward to working with him for further enhancing ties between the two countries.

The Czech President on Sunday swore in Petr Fiala as the country's new prime minister following last month's parliamentary election.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/petr-fiala-named-new-czech-pm-by-covid-stricken-president-432562">Also read |&nbsp;Petr Fiala named new Czech PM by Covid-stricken president</a>

"Congratulations, Excellency Petr Fiala, on your appointment as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. I look forward to working with you for further enhancing India-Czech ties," Modi tweeted.

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Congratulations, Excellency Petr Fiala, on your appointment as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. I look forward to working with you for further enhancing India-Czech ties.<a href="https://twitter.com/P_Fiala?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@P_Fiala</a>
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Fiala teamed up his Civic Democratic Party with two smaller parties to form the Together alliance which came first in last month's general election.

He&nbsp;will face the urgent task of grappling with one of the world's highest Covid infection rates including a case of the new Omicron variant.

The 57-year-old&nbsp;has led the conservative Civic Democratic Party since 2014 and&nbsp;served as that country's Education Minister between 2012-13.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated Petr Fiala over his appointment as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic and said he looks forward to working with him for further enhancing ties between the two countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated Petr Fiala over his appointment as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic and said he looks forward to working with him for further enhancing ties between the two countries. The Czech President on Sunday swore in Petr Fiala as the country's new prime minister following last month's parliamentary election. Also read | Petr Fiala named new Czech PM by Covid-stricken president "Congratulations, Excellency Petr Fiala, on your appointment as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. I look forward to working with you for further enhancing India-Czech ties," Modi tweeted. Congratulations, Excellency Petr Fiala, on your appointment as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. I look forward to working with you for further enhancing India-Czech ties.@P_Fiala — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 28, 2021 × Fiala teamed up his Civic Democratic Party with two smaller parties to form the Together alliance which came first in last month's general election. He will face the urgent task of grappling with one of the world's highest Covid infection rates including a case of the new Omicron variant. The 57-year-old has led the conservative Civic Democratic Party since 2014 and served as that country's Education Minister between 2012-13.

PM Modi congratulates Petr Fiala for appointment as Czech prime minister

Right-winger Petr Fiala was named the Czech Republic's new prime minister on Sunday in an unusual ceremony, with wheelchair-bound President Milos Zeman speaking from behind a plastic barrier because he has Covid-19.

Fiala, a bearded, bespectacled former political scientist, will face the urgent task of grappling with one of the world's highest Covid infection rates including a case of the new Omicron variant.

"I am convinced we will soon have a strong and stable government," Fiala said at the ceremony.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/omicron-variant-is-causing-mild-disease-says-south-african-medical-association-432552" hreflang="en">Omicron variant is causing mild disease, says South African Medical Association&nbsp;</a>

Zeman said he aimed to wrap up meetings with possible ministers by December 13 "and we can then prepare the appointment of the government".

Fiala teamed up his Civic Democratic Party with two smaller parties to form the Together alliance which came first in last month's general election.

The grouping, which includes the centrist Christian Democrats and the centre-right TOP 09 parties,&nbsp;narrowly beat the ANO movement of outgoing populist billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babis.

The alliance has since forged a coalition with two centrist parties, the Mayors and Independents, and the Pirate Party,&nbsp;to secure a majority of 108 votes in the 200-seat parliament.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/fires-floods-flying-insects-climate-fuelled-disasters-that-wreaked-havoc-across-world-432546" hreflang="en">Fires, floods, flying insects: Climate-fuelled disasters that wreaked havoc across world</a>

The five parties have agreed on the composition of the future government and on a policy statement.

Post-election talks were held without the 77-year-old president, who was taken to hospital by ambulance on October 10, a day after the election, to be treated for liver problems.

Delays as Covid spikes

Zeman, a left-winger with a soft spot for Russia and China, had originally been expected to name Fiala as prime minister on Friday, a day after he was released from Prague's military hospital.

But he was rushed back to hospital on the same day after testing positive for Covid.

Zeman was discharged again on Saturday.

Under the Czech constitution, Zeman also has to name the government.

Fiala has said Zeman should name the government by mid-December as the EU member of 10.7 million people is grappling with record daily Covid-19 infections.

The surge led the outgoing government to announce new restrictions on Thursday, including the closure of restaurants, bars and discos at night, as well as all Christmas markets.

But observers say stricter measures may be needed.

Hospitals in the east are running out of capacity and some have begun to move patients to less congested facilities elsewhere in the country.

The Czech Republic is also struggling with unprecedented growth in energy prices and soaring inflation, which have thrown many people into uncertainty before Christmas.

Right-winger Petr Fiala was named the Czech Republic's new prime minister on Sunday in an unusual ceremony, with wheelchair-bound President Milos Zeman speaking from behind a plastic barrier because he has Covid-19.

Right-winger Petr Fiala was named the Czech Republic's new prime minister on Sunday in an unusual ceremony, with wheelchair-bound President Milos Zeman speaking from behind a plastic barrier because he has Covid-19. Fiala, a bearded, bespectacled former political scientist, will face the urgent task of grappling with one of the world's highest Covid infection rates including a case of the new Omicron variant. "I am convinced we will soon have a strong and stable government," Fiala said at the ceremony. Also read | Omicron variant is causing mild disease, says South African Medical Association Zeman said he aimed to wrap up meetings with possible ministers by December 13 "and we can then prepare the appointment of the government". Fiala teamed up his Civic Democratic Party with two smaller parties to form the Together alliance which came first in last month's general election. The grouping, which includes the centrist Christian Democrats and the centre-right TOP 09 parties, narrowly beat the ANO movement of outgoing populist billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babis. The alliance has since forged a coalition with two centrist parties, the Mayors and Independents, and the Pirate Party, to secure a majority of 108 votes in the 200-seat parliament. Also see | Fires, floods, flying insects: Climate-fuelled disasters that wreaked havoc across world The five parties have agreed on the composition of the future government and on a policy statement. Post-election talks were held without the 77-year-old president, who was taken to hospital by ambulance on October 10, a day after the election, to be treated for liver problems. Delays as Covid spikes Zeman, a left-winger with a soft spot for Russia and China, had originally been expected to name Fiala as prime minister on Friday, a day after he was released from Prague's military hospital. But he was rushed back to hospital on the same day after testing positive for Covid. Zeman was discharged again on Saturday. Under the Czech constitution, Zeman also has to name the government. Fiala has said Zeman should name the government by mid-December as the EU member of 10.7 million people is grappling with record daily Covid-19 infections. The surge led the outgoing government to announce new restrictions on Thursday, including the closure of restaurants, bars and discos at night, as well as all Christmas markets. But observers say stricter measures may be needed. Hospitals in the east are running out of capacity and some have begun to move patients to less congested facilities elsewhere in the country. The Czech Republic is also struggling with unprecedented growth in energy prices and soaring inflation, which have thrown many people into uncertainty before Christmas.

Petr Fiala named new Czech PM by Covid-stricken president

China, on Friday, warned Slovakia and Czech Republic ahead of a visit to both countries by Taiwan's foreign minister next week. Beijing said that nobody should harbour any illusions about "necessary measures" China would take to defend its sovereignty.

China, which claims democratically-ruled Taiwan as its own territory, is always angered by visits of senior Taiwanese officials to other countries, viewing it as covert support for the island's claims to be a state.

Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu is due to visit Slovakia and Czech Republic next week. In Slovakia, He will first attend a forum organised by a local think tank. He will go to Prague and will meet Milos Vystrcil, speaker of Czech parliament's upper house.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said they would be watching Wu's "scuttling about" closely.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-compromise-on-sovereignty-act-with-caution-over-taiwan-china-warns-us-422916">'No compromise on sovereignty, act with caution over Taiwan': China warns US</a>

Asked if China will make steps against the Czechs and Slovaks, he said China "will take proper and necessary measures to firmly defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. No one should have illusions about this".

Wang did not elaborate.

China is already in a dispute with Lithuania after it agreed with Taiwan to open de facto embassies in each other's capitals.

Both China and Lithuania have recalled their envoys to the respective countries.

Taiwan has diplomatic ties with no European countries apart from the Vatican City.

Due to Chinese pressure many countries are unwilling to host senior Taiwanese ministers, though Wu visited Denmark in 2019 to speak at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit.

China has ramped up its military and diplomatic pressure against Taiwan to force it to accept Chinese sovereignty.

Taiwan says it is an independent country with a right to be treated as such internationally, and that it will defend itself from China if attacked.

(With inputs from agencies)

China, on Friday, warned Slovakia and Czech Republic ahead of a visit to both countries by Taiwan's foreign minister next week. Beijing said that nobody should harbour any illusions about "necessary measures" China would take to defend its sovereignty.

China, on Friday, warned Slovakia and Czech Republic ahead of a visit to both countries by Taiwan's foreign minister next week. Beijing said that nobody should harbour any illusions about "necessary measures" China would take to defend its sovereignty. China, which claims democratically-ruled Taiwan as its own territory, is always angered by visits of senior Taiwanese officials to other countries, viewing it as covert support for the island's claims to be a state. Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu is due to visit Slovakia and Czech Republic next week. In Slovakia, He will first attend a forum organised by a local think tank. He will go to Prague and will meet Milos Vystrcil, speaker of Czech parliament's upper house. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said they would be watching Wu's "scuttling about" closely. Also Read | 'No compromise on sovereignty, act with caution over Taiwan': China warns US Asked if China will make steps against the Czechs and Slovaks, he said China "will take proper and necessary measures to firmly defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. No one should have illusions about this". Wang did not elaborate. China is already in a dispute with Lithuania after it agreed with Taiwan to open de facto embassies in each other's capitals. Both China and Lithuania have recalled their envoys to the respective countries. Taiwan has diplomatic ties with no European countries apart from the Vatican City. Due to Chinese pressure many countries are unwilling to host senior Taiwanese ministers, though Wu visited Denmark in 2019 to speak at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit. China has ramped up its military and diplomatic pressure against Taiwan to force it to accept Chinese sovereignty. Taiwan says it is an independent country with a right to be treated as such internationally, and that it will defend itself from China if attacked. (With inputs from agencies)

China warns Slovakia, Czech Republic over Taiwan minister visit

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis is set to meet the country's president on Sunday, with the populist billionaire hoping to hold on to power despite a narrow election defeat at the hands of a centre-right alliance.

Babis, a long-time political ally of President Milos Zeman, on Saturday lost the cliffhanger vote to the Together alliance which is ready to form a majority government with another grouping.

But Zeman made it clear earlier that he would appoint the head of a party, not an alliance, following the election, suggesting Babis would get the first attempt at negotiating a viable cabinet.

"I can't see many reasons why he would do something else," Tomas Lebeda, an analyst at Palacky University in the eastern Czech city of Olomouc, told AFP.

Zeman is due to receive Babis in his residence outside Prague for an informal meeting on Sunday morning, before a more formal encounter scheduled for October 13.

"We'll see what the president will say," Babis said as he conceded defeat.

The president cast his ballot in the residence because of poor health, with Czech media suggesting rather serious liver problems.

Zeman's office has been secretive about his illness, giving no details for weeks.

The Together alliance of the right-wing Civic Democrats, the centre-right TOP 09 and the centrist Christian Democrats won 27.79 per cent of the vote, while Babis's ANO party earned 27.13 per cent.

The alliance would have a majority of 108 seats in the 200-seat parliament together with another grouping comprising the anti-establishment Pirate Party and the centrist Mayors and Independents.

Together leader Petr Fiala said on Saturday that the two alliances would only talk about a government with each other and ask Zeman to tap him to form the government.

"It seems that both democratic coalitions will manage to get a parliamentary majority, which most likely means Babis will have to go," said Otto Eibl, head of the political science department at Masaryk University in Brno.

Named in Pandora Papers

But Lebeda was more cautious, saying that "we have known (Zeman) for some time, we know how he thinks, how he acts".

"Given his health, he may reconsider the situation and arrive at a different conclusion, but I wouldn't bet much on that as things are."

The two alliances and ANO will be joined in parliament by the far-right, anti-Muslim Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) movement led by Tokyo-born entrepreneur Tomio Okamura which scored almost 10 per cent.

Turnout in the vote reached over 65 per cent, up from 60.84 per cent in the previous general election in 2017.

Babis currently leads a minority government with the left-wing Social Democrats, which was until recently tacitly backed by the Communist Party that ruled the former totalitarian Czechoslovakia from 1948 to 1989.

But the Communists were ousted from parliament at the polls for the first time since World War II, failing to meet the five-per cent threshold for any party to enter parliament.

The 67-year-old Babis, a food, chemicals and media mogul, is facing police charges over alleged EU subsidy fraud and the bloc's dismay over his conflict of interest as a businessman and a politician.

Last weekend, the Pandora Papers investigation showed he had used money from his offshore firms to finance the purchase of property in southern France in 2009, including a chateau.

He has denied any wrongdoing and slammed the allegations as a smear campaign.

Babis won the previous general election in 2017, but it took him nine months to put together a minority government with Zeman giving him all the time he wanted.&nbsp;

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis is set to meet the country's president on Sunday, with the populist billionaire hoping to hold on to power despite a narrow election defeat at the hands of a centre-right alliance.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis is set to meet the country's president on Sunday, with the populist billionaire hoping to hold on to power despite a narrow election defeat at the hands of a centre-right alliance. Babis, a long-time political ally of President Milos Zeman, on Saturday lost the cliffhanger vote to the Together alliance which is ready to form a majority government with another grouping. But Zeman made it clear earlier that he would appoint the head of a party, not an alliance, following the election, suggesting Babis would get the first attempt at negotiating a viable cabinet. "I can't see many reasons why he would do something else," Tomas Lebeda, an analyst at Palacky University in the eastern Czech city of Olomouc, told AFP. Zeman is due to receive Babis in his residence outside Prague for an informal meeting on Sunday morning, before a more formal encounter scheduled for October 13. "We'll see what the president will say," Babis said as he conceded defeat. The president cast his ballot in the residence because of poor health, with Czech media suggesting rather serious liver problems. Zeman's office has been secretive about his illness, giving no details for weeks. The Together alliance of the right-wing Civic Democrats, the centre-right TOP 09 and the centrist Christian Democrats won 27.79 per cent of the vote, while Babis's ANO party earned 27.13 per cent. The alliance would have a majority of 108 seats in the 200-seat parliament together with another grouping comprising the anti-establishment Pirate Party and the centrist Mayors and Independents. Together leader Petr Fiala said on Saturday that the two alliances would only talk about a government with each other and ask Zeman to tap him to form the government. "It seems that both democratic coalitions will manage to get a parliamentary majority, which most likely means Babis will have to go," said Otto Eibl, head of the political science department at Masaryk University in Brno. Named in Pandora Papers But Lebeda was more cautious, saying that "we have known (Zeman) for some time, we know how he thinks, how he acts". "Given his health, he may reconsider the situation and arrive at a different conclusion, but I wouldn't bet much on that as things are." The two alliances and ANO will be joined in parliament by the far-right, anti-Muslim Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) movement led by Tokyo-born entrepreneur Tomio Okamura which scored almost 10 per cent. Turnout in the vote reached over 65 per cent, up from 60.84 per cent in the previous general election in 2017. Babis currently leads a minority government with the left-wing Social Democrats, which was until recently tacitly backed by the Communist Party that ruled the former totalitarian Czechoslovakia from 1948 to 1989. But the Communists were ousted from parliament at the polls for the first time since World War II, failing to meet the five-per cent threshold for any party to enter parliament. The 67-year-old Babis, a food, chemicals and media mogul, is facing police charges over alleged EU subsidy fraud and the bloc's dismay over his conflict of interest as a businessman and a politician. Last weekend, the Pandora Papers investigation showed he had used money from his offshore firms to finance the purchase of property in southern France in 2009, including a chateau. He has denied any wrongdoing and slammed the allegations as a smear campaign. Babis won the previous general election in 2017, but it took him nine months to put together a minority government with Zeman giving him all the time he wanted.

Czech PM to meet ailing president after election defeat

Three people died and dozens more were injured on Wednesday when two trains collided at a village in the west of the&nbsp;Czech&nbsp;Republic, according to railway officials.

The Munich-to-Prague express, number Ex 351 belonging to the German firm Die Laenderbahn, collided with a regional train between the&nbsp;Czech&nbsp;towns of Plzen and Domazlice, which was coming from the opposite direction.

Rescuers said two of the dead were&nbsp;Czech&nbsp;engine drivers, one of whom was operating the German train. The third victim was a female passenger on the regional train.&nbsp;

Several foreigners were travelling on the German train and some of them were among the injured, local media reported.

"Unfortunately, according to the latest information, a train collision... has killed three and left dozens of people injured," national rail operator Sprava zeleznic said on Twitter.&nbsp;

"All the passengers have been evacuated from the trains," the firm added.&nbsp;

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Střet vlaků u Milavče na Domažlicku má podle aktuálních informací bohužel za následek úmrtí tří lidí a desítky zraněných. Všichni cestující jsou z vlaků evakuováni. Po došetření nehody Drážní inspekcí začnou odklízecí práce. Obnovení provozu předpokládáme nejdříve zítra ráno. <a href="https://t.co/7IqcGgKVvZ">pic.twitter.com/7IqcGgKVvZ</a>
— Správa železnic (@Spravazeleznic) <a href="https://twitter.com/Spravazeleznic/status/1422856009442287617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2021</a></blockquote>
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National police said every passenger was accounted for, adding that the accident happened shortly after 8:00 am (0600 GMT) at Milavce.

Earlier, rescuers said 31 people whose lives were not in danger were being treated and seven others were in a critical state.&nbsp;

According to footage shown on&nbsp;Czech&nbsp;public television, one part of the German train was completely mangled, though both vehicles remained upright.&nbsp;

Die Laenderbahn said in a statement that "the running of the train on the&nbsp;Czech&nbsp;side is the responsibility of the CD",&nbsp;the Ceske drahy rail company.

'Situation is serious'&nbsp;

Czech&nbsp;Transport Minister Karel Havlicek said, "the Ex 351 did not respect a signal... and crashed into the regional train".

"The situation is serious," Havlicek said as he headed to the scene of the accident.

Czech&nbsp;Prime Minister Andrej Babis tweeted his "sincere condolences to the families of the dead. It is important to save other lives. Then everything must be investigated."

"Unfortunately, this summer is full of tragedies," he added.&nbsp;

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Toto léto je bohužel plné tragédií. Jsem v kontaktu s novým šéfem hasičů Vladimírem Vlčkem, s <a href="https://twitter.com/jhamacek?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jhamacek</a>, i <a href="https://twitter.com/KarelHavlicek_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KarelHavlicek_</a>, který vyrazil na místo. Upřímnou soustrast rodinám zemřelých. Důležitá je záchrana dalších životů. Následně se vše musí vyšetřit. <a href="https://t.co/Z9YPurGI10">https://t.co/Z9YPurGI10</a>
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Four helicopters, several ambulances and dozens of rescuers were dispatched to the site.

"The German Red Cross, the Bavarian ambulance service and doctors from (the German city of) Cham are also at the scene of the rail accident,"&nbsp;Czech&nbsp;police tweeted.

"German police have also offered assistance," they added.&nbsp;

Two train crashes in the&nbsp;Czech&nbsp;Republic in July last year left three people dead and dozens injured.

The&nbsp;Czech&nbsp;Republic has seen several other fatal railway accidents over the years, including one that killed 118 people and injured another 100 in 1960, when the country was still a part of Czechoslovakia.&nbsp;

Three people died and dozens more were injured on Wednesday when two trains collided at a village in the west of the Czech Republic, according to railway officials.

Three people died and dozens more were injured on Wednesday when two trains collided at a village in the west of the Czech Republic, according to railway officials. The Munich-to-Prague express, number Ex 351 belonging to the German firm Die Laenderbahn, collided with a regional train between the Czech towns of Plzen and Domazlice, which was coming from the opposite direction. Rescuers said two of the dead were Czech engine drivers, one of whom was operating the German train. The third victim was a female passenger on the regional train. Several foreigners were travelling on the German train and some of them were among the injured, local media reported. "Unfortunately, according to the latest information, a train collision... has killed three and left dozens of people injured," national rail operator Sprava zeleznic said on Twitter. "All the passengers have been evacuated from the trains," the firm added. Střet vlaků u Milavče na Domažlicku má podle aktuálních informací bohužel za následek úmrtí tří lidí a desítky zraněných. Všichni cestující jsou z vlaků evakuováni. Po došetření nehody Drážní inspekcí začnou odklízecí práce. Obnovení provozu předpokládáme nejdříve zítra ráno. pic.twitter.com/7IqcGgKVvZ — Správa železnic (@Spravazeleznic) August 4, 2021 × National police said every passenger was accounted for, adding that the accident happened shortly after 8:00 am (0600 GMT) at Milavce. Earlier, rescuers said 31 people whose lives were not in danger were being treated and seven others were in a critical state. According to footage shown on Czech public television, one part of the German train was completely mangled, though both vehicles remained upright. Die Laenderbahn said in a statement that "the running of the train on the Czech side is the responsibility of the CD", the Ceske drahy rail company. 'Situation is serious' Czech Transport Minister Karel Havlicek said, "the Ex 351 did not respect a signal... and crashed into the regional train". "The situation is serious," Havlicek said as he headed to the scene of the accident. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis tweeted his "sincere condolences to the families of the dead. It is important to save other lives. Then everything must be investigated." "Unfortunately, this summer is full of tragedies," he added. Toto léto je bohužel plné tragédií. Jsem v kontaktu s novým šéfem hasičů Vladimírem Vlčkem, s @jhamacek, i @KarelHavlicek_, který vyrazil na místo. Upřímnou soustrast rodinám zemřelých. Důležitá je záchrana dalších životů. Následně se vše musí vyšetřit. https://t.co/Z9YPurGI10 — Andrej Babiš (@AndrejBabis) August 4, 2021 × Four helicopters, several ambulances and dozens of rescuers were dispatched to the site. "The German Red Cross, the Bavarian ambulance service and doctors from (the German city of) Cham are also at the scene of the rail accident," Czech police tweeted. "German police have also offered assistance," they added. Two train crashes in the Czech Republic in July last year left three people dead and dozens injured. The Czech Republic has seen several other fatal railway accidents over the years, including one that killed 118 people and injured another 100 in 1960, when the country was still a part of Czechoslovakia.

Train crash in Czech Republic kills three, injures dozens

At least three persons died and more than 50 were wounded&nbsp;when a fast train from Munich collided with a passenger train in the Czech Republic.

Some passengers were taken to hospital by helicopter after eight individuals were badly hurt.&nbsp;

Czech Railways said a local passenger train and an international high-speed train that was heading from Munich to the western Czech city of Plzen and the Czech capital of Prague were involved in the collision.

The victims included the drivers of both engines and a female passenger, authorities said.

Four helicopters flew the injured to local hospitals and Prague, while three German speakers were sent to German facilities.

 
<img alt="train" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="64801b73-d5a0-4603-9a42-bc9b46ca006a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design_168.jpg" />

According to the area emergency agency, a total of 52 individuals required medical attention.

Nearby German rescuers arrived to assist their Czech colleagues in treating the injured.&nbsp;

The front of the high-speed train's engine was extensively damaged, according to photos taken on the scene.

The train is run by the Laenderbahn business in Germany and Czech Railways.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

At least three persons died and more than 50 were wounded when a fast train from Munich collided with a passenger train in the Czech Republic. Some passengers were taken to hospital by helicopter after eight individuals were badly hurt.

At least three persons died and more than 50 were wounded when a fast train from Munich collided with a passenger train in the Czech Republic. Some passengers were taken to hospital by helicopter after eight individuals were badly hurt. Czech Railways said a local passenger train and an international high-speed train that was heading from Munich to the western Czech city of Plzen and the Czech capital of Prague were involved in the collision. The victims included the drivers of both engines and a female passenger, authorities said. Four helicopters flew the injured to local hospitals and Prague, while three German speakers were sent to German facilities. According to the area emergency agency, a total of 52 individuals required medical attention. Nearby German rescuers arrived to assist their Czech colleagues in treating the injured. The front of the high-speed train's engine was extensively damaged, according to photos taken on the scene. The train is run by the Laenderbahn business in Germany and Czech Railways. (With inputs from agencies)

Three killed, more than 50 hurt as two trains collide in Czech Republic

In what could be called a big win, Czech Republic President Miloš Zeman signed a bill into law this week. This law will help women, who were sterilised without their consent, get compensation.&nbsp;

The government has announced a compensation of around 300,000&nbsp;Czech Korunas&nbsp;(14,000 US dollars) for these women, most of whom were Roma. &nbsp;

Roma or Romani people, an ethnic minority in the Czech Republic, are believed to be originally migrated from India long time back.&nbsp;

Human rights activist Gwendolyn Albert, who was campaigning for the change, said, “This means the wrongdoing committed against all who have been sterilised without their informed consent is acknowledged and can be redressed.”&nbsp;

From 1966 to 2012, several women were forced to undergo the procedure due to coercion, a report by The Guardian said. Threats and incentives were used widely.&nbsp;

There is no specific data to suggest the exact number of affected women, but the campaigners believe there were several hundred victims of this forced sterilisation.&nbsp;

Although the programme ended with communist regime’s collapse in 1989, the women in labour were continued to be misled into signing consent forms before caesarean births. In some cases, they were not even told that they were being sterilised after the delivery. &nbsp;

The compensation claims will be administered by Czech health ministry. It is also yet to announce when the process will begin. The victims will also have to support their claims. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Elena Gorolová, a 51-year-old social worker from Ostrava, said, the move marks a historic win. She was sterilised at the age of 21.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In what could be called a big win, Czech Republic President Miloš Zeman signed a bill into law this week. This law will help women, who were sterilised without their consent, get compensation.

In what could be called a big win, Czech Republic President Miloš Zeman signed a bill into law this week. This law will help women, who were sterilised without their consent, get compensation. The government has announced a compensation of around 300,000 Czech Korunas (14,000 US dollars) for these women, most of whom were Roma. Roma or Romani people, an ethnic minority in the Czech Republic, are believed to be originally migrated from India long time back. Human rights activist Gwendolyn Albert, who was campaigning for the change, said, “This means the wrongdoing committed against all who have been sterilised without their informed consent is acknowledged and can be redressed.” From 1966 to 2012, several women were forced to undergo the procedure due to coercion, a report by The Guardian said. Threats and incentives were used widely. There is no specific data to suggest the exact number of affected women, but the campaigners believe there were several hundred victims of this forced sterilisation. Although the programme ended with communist regime’s collapse in 1989, the women in labour were continued to be misled into signing consent forms before caesarean births. In some cases, they were not even told that they were being sterilised after the delivery. The compensation claims will be administered by Czech health ministry. It is also yet to announce when the process will begin. The victims will also have to support their claims. Elena Gorolová, a 51-year-old social worker from Ostrava, said, the move marks a historic win. She was sterilised at the age of 21. (With inputs from agencies)

Women sterilised without consent in Czech Republic to get compensation 

Four-legged stars ruled the red carpet at a Czech film premiere, debuting a movie on rescued dogs which were first portrayed in a surprise hit book and whose stories have helped finance a new shelter for fellow canines. 'Gump - the Dog that Taught People to Live' appeared as a book in 2019 and follows the journey of Gump, and other dogs which were mistreated - told from their perspective.

Dog days: Czech canine film stars hit the red carpet, and a new shelter

The UEFA Euro 2020 re-visitations of the overlay with a bunch of critical quarterfinals coordinates with this end of the week as Denmark locks horns with the Czech Republic at the Baku Olympic Stadium on Saturday. The two teams have been completely great this mid-year and have a highlight demonstrate this end of the week.&nbsp;

The Czech Republic have reliably fought at a surprisingly high level over the previous month and oversaw superb outcomes against Croatia and Scotland. The Czechs shocked the Netherlands in the Round of 16 and will be filled to the edge with certainty in front of this game.&nbsp;

Denmark, then again, persevered through a genuinely troublesome excursion in their league stage and required a splendid 4-1 triumph against Russia to arrive at the thump-outs. The Danes were electrifying against Wales and might actually be surprisingly strong contenders at Euro 2020.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="Euro 2020: Spain conquer penalty demons to reach semis against gallant Swiss">Euro 2020: Spain conquer penalty demons to reach semis against gallant Swiss</a>

<h2>Head-to-Head</h2>

There have been 11 past clashes between the sides previously, with the Czech Republic winning thrice, one more than Denmark. Crown jewels have been shared on six events between the different sides. Strangely, five of their last six clashes have finished in impasses, with Denmark getting a pounding 3-0 away triumph in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in March 2013.&nbsp;

<h2>Czech Republic versus Denmark&nbsp;</h2>

Yussuf Poulsen and Daniel Wass missed the Wales clash through injury, while Simon Kjaer must be subbed in the subsequent half, yet the triplet ought to be accessible for the quarter-last challenge.&nbsp;

Martin Braithwaite, Kasper Dolberg, and Mikkel Damsgaard dazzled as the front three last break and will all be certain of holding their places.&nbsp;

Probable Starting XI (3-4-3): Schmeichel; Christensen, Kjaer, Vestergaard; Wass, Hojbjerg, Delaney, Maehle; Braithwaite, Dolberg, Damsgaard.&nbsp;

Czech Republic have Jan Boril accessible after suspension and he is probably going to return at left-back.&nbsp;

Jaroslav Silhavy has choices to make somewhere else; Vladimir Darida and Jakub Jankto were named on the seat against the Netherlands however could supplant Antonin Barak and Petr Sevcik if the lead trainer picks against keeping a triumphant formula.&nbsp;

Protectively, Denmark have&nbsp;no motivation to dabble with the back three of Andreas Christensen, Jannik Vestergaard, and Simon Kjaer. The TRIO offers an optimal equilibrium of detail, and leadership, giving goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel top-class inclusion in the middle of the sticks.&nbsp;

Probable Starting XI&nbsp;(4-2-3-1): Vaclik; Coufal, Celustka, Kalas, Boril; Holes, Soucek; Masopust, Barak, Sevcik; Schick&nbsp;

<h2>Prediction</h2>

Denmark are surely the top picks heading into this encounter because of their amazing, free-scoring form. The resurgence of players like Dolberg, Braithwaite, and the predictable exhibitions from Maehle and Hojbjerg give them the edge in the defense, midfield, and assault.&nbsp;

The Czech Republic are&nbsp;a solid side that is fit for progressing to the following round. Although, they may battle to discover any solution to Denmark's attack, particularly if the resistance can stay away from any doltish errors.&nbsp;

The UEFA Euro 2020 re-visitations of the overlay with a bunch of critical quarterfinals coordinates with this end of the week as Denmark locks horns with the Czech Republic at the Baku Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

The UEFA Euro 2020 re-visitations of the overlay with a bunch of critical quarterfinals coordinates with this end of the week as Denmark locks horns with the Czech Republic at the Baku Olympic Stadium on Saturday. The two teams have been completely great this mid-year and have a highlight demonstrate this end of the week. The Czech Republic have reliably fought at a surprisingly high level over the previous month and oversaw superb outcomes against Croatia and Scotland. The Czechs shocked the Netherlands in the Round of 16 and will be filled to the edge with certainty in front of this game. Denmark, then again, persevered through a genuinely troublesome excursion in their league stage and required a splendid 4-1 triumph against Russia to arrive at the thump-outs. The Danes were electrifying against Wales and might actually be surprisingly strong contenders at Euro 2020. ALSO READ: Euro 2020: Spain conquer penalty demons to reach semis against gallant Swiss Head-to-Head There have been 11 past clashes between the sides previously, with the Czech Republic winning thrice, one more than Denmark. Crown jewels have been shared on six events between the different sides. Strangely, five of their last six clashes have finished in impasses, with Denmark getting a pounding 3-0 away triumph in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in March 2013. Czech Republic versus Denmark Yussuf Poulsen and Daniel Wass missed the Wales clash through injury, while Simon Kjaer must be subbed in the subsequent half, yet the triplet ought to be accessible for the quarter-last challenge. Martin Braithwaite, Kasper Dolberg, and Mikkel Damsgaard dazzled as the front three last break and will all be certain of holding their places. Probable Starting XI (3-4-3): Schmeichel; Christensen, Kjaer, Vestergaard; Wass, Hojbjerg, Delaney, Maehle; Braithwaite, Dolberg, Damsgaard. Czech Republic have Jan Boril accessible after suspension and he is probably going to return at left-back. Jaroslav Silhavy has choices to make somewhere else; Vladimir Darida and Jakub Jankto were named on the seat against the Netherlands however could supplant Antonin Barak and Petr Sevcik if the lead trainer picks against keeping a triumphant formula. Protectively, Denmark have no motivation to dabble with the back three of Andreas Christensen, Jannik Vestergaard, and Simon Kjaer. The TRIO offers an optimal equilibrium of detail, and leadership, giving goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel top-class inclusion in the middle of the sticks. Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Vaclik; Coufal, Celustka, Kalas, Boril; Holes, Soucek; Masopust, Barak, Sevcik; Schick Prediction Denmark are surely the top picks heading into this encounter because of their amazing, free-scoring form. The resurgence of players like Dolberg, Braithwaite, and the predictable exhibitions from Maehle and Hojbjerg give them the edge in the defense, midfield, and assault. The Czech Republic are a solid side that is fit for progressing to the following round. Although, they may battle to discover any solution to Denmark's attack, particularly if the resistance can stay away from any doltish errors.

Euro 2020: Denmark to battle it out with Czech Republic in quarter-finals

Tomas Holes and Patrik Schick scored second-half goals to take the Czech Republic into the Euro 2020 quarter-finals as they took advantage of a red card for the Netherlands to upset their more fancied opponents and win 2-0 in Budapest on Sunday.

Holes powered home a 68th-minute opener after being set up by Tomas Kalas, as the Dutch watched on hopelessly in their own penalty area.

Schick made sure of the Czechs' surprise success with a close-range finish 10 minutes from full-time, his fourth goal of the tournament, in front of a capacity crowd that provided a deafening wall of noise for most of an absorbing last-16 contest.

"They were the favourites in this game, it is an unreal feeling to beat such a team 2-0," said goalscorer Holes.

"They were better with the ball, we struggled, but thanks to our team performance, we did not give them much space."

It was a calamitous outcome for the Dutch, who imploded after Matthijs de Ligt was sent off for a cynical handball 10 minutes into the second half, and they will now undergo some serious soul searching.

De Ligt was sent off after a VAR review by Russian referee Sergei Karasev after punching away the ball as he tumbled to the ground in a tussle with Schick.

"We lost the game actually because of any action by me. We were in control before that and I feel responsible," an emotional De Ligt told Dutch television.

MOMENT OF MADNESS

Before that pivotal moment, the Dutch had looked to get on top of their opponents with their overlapping runs and passing ability, but a moment of madness from their 21-year-old centre back swung the balance of the contest towards the Czechs, who needed no second invitation to grab the initiative.

The Czechs are now through to face a quarter-final clash with Denmark in Baku on Saturday, turning around their Euro 2020 fortunes having only reached the knockout phase after finishing third in their group.

The Dutch could have gone ahead before being reduced to 10 men, with fullbacks Denzel Dumfries and Patrick van Aanholt creating several chances with their overlapping runs.

Yet striker Memphis Depay looked out of sorts and Donyell Malen hesitated with several opportunities -- no more so than when sprinting through the Czech defence to go one on one with Tomas Vaclik, before having the ball snatched away from his feet as he tried to round the keeper.

There was an opportunity for the Czechs when stand-in captain Tomas Soucek glanced a difficult header wide in the 22nd minute and Antonin Barak blasted past the target from a tight angle 16 minutes later.

Once De Ligt was dismissed, the Czechs assumed control and the goal came as the Dutch defence was caught static by a set-piece that saw Kalas climb above the defence to head back for Holes to score, with veteran Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg caught in no man’s land.

The Dutch then sought to throw on some attacking artillery but quickly wilted in the searing heat as Schick made it 2-0 with Holes pulling the ball back for the striker to finish clinically.

"It was an off day, we didn't handle the pressure in midfield and couldn't create our own space," said Netherlands captain Giorgino Wijnaldum.

Tomas Holes and Patrik Schick scored second-half goals to take the Czech Republic into the Euro 2020 quarter-finals as they took advantage of a red card for the Netherlands to upset their more fancied opponents and win 2-0 in Budapest on Sunday.

Tomas Holes and Patrik Schick scored second-half goals to take the Czech Republic into the Euro 2020 quarter-finals as they took advantage of a red card for the Netherlands to upset their more fancied opponents and win 2-0 in Budapest on Sunday. Holes powered home a 68th-minute opener after being set up by Tomas Kalas, as the Dutch watched on hopelessly in their own penalty area. Schick made sure of the Czechs' surprise success with a close-range finish 10 minutes from full-time, his fourth goal of the tournament, in front of a capacity crowd that provided a deafening wall of noise for most of an absorbing last-16 contest. "They were the favourites in this game, it is an unreal feeling to beat such a team 2-0," said goalscorer Holes. "They were better with the ball, we struggled, but thanks to our team performance, we did not give them much space." It was a calamitous outcome for the Dutch, who imploded after Matthijs de Ligt was sent off for a cynical handball 10 minutes into the second half, and they will now undergo some serious soul searching. De Ligt was sent off after a VAR review by Russian referee Sergei Karasev after punching away the ball as he tumbled to the ground in a tussle with Schick. "We lost the game actually because of any action by me. We were in control before that and I feel responsible," an emotional De Ligt told Dutch television. MOMENT OF MADNESS Before that pivotal moment, the Dutch had looked to get on top of their opponents with their overlapping runs and passing ability, but a moment of madness from their 21-year-old centre back swung the balance of the contest towards the Czechs, who needed no second invitation to grab the initiative. The Czechs are now through to face a quarter-final clash with Denmark in Baku on Saturday, turning around their Euro 2020 fortunes having only reached the knockout phase after finishing third in their group. The Dutch could have gone ahead before being reduced to 10 men, with fullbacks Denzel Dumfries and Patrick van Aanholt creating several chances with their overlapping runs. Yet striker Memphis Depay looked out of sorts and Donyell Malen hesitated with several opportunities -- no more so than when sprinting through the Czech defence to go one on one with Tomas Vaclik, before having the ball snatched away from his feet as he tried to round the keeper. There was an opportunity for the Czechs when stand-in captain Tomas Soucek glanced a difficult header wide in the 22nd minute and Antonin Barak blasted past the target from a tight angle 16 minutes later. Once De Ligt was dismissed, the Czechs assumed control and the goal came as the Dutch defence was caught static by a set-piece that saw Kalas climb above the defence to head back for Holes to score, with veteran Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg caught in no man’s land. The Dutch then sought to throw on some attacking artillery but quickly wilted in the searing heat as Schick made it 2-0 with Holes pulling the ball back for the striker to finish clinically. "It was an off day, we didn't handle the pressure in midfield and couldn't create our own space," said Netherlands captain Giorgino Wijnaldum.

Football: Czech Republic cash in with surprise last-16 win over Netherlands

Czech President Milos Zeman, commenting on a Hungarian law that bans LGBT material from schools, told a television interview on Sunday that he finds transgender people "disgusting".

Zeman, who has often espoused views outside the mainstream, was responding to a question about the law Hungary passed earlier this month, which bans the dissemination of content in schools deemed to promote homosexuality and gender change.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hungary-adopts-child-sex-abuse-law-that-also-targets-lgbt-community-391725">Hungary adopts child sex abuse law that also targets LGBT community</a>

"If you undergo a sex-change operation you are basically committing a crime of self-harm," Zeman told CNN Prima. "Every surgery is a risk and these transgender people to me are disgusting."

The Hungarian law has been strongly criticised by opposition parties at home, rights groups and by many of Hungary's fellow European Union members. At an EU summit last week, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told Hungarian premier Viktor Orban to respect LGBT rights or leave the bloc.

More than half of the EU's 27 member states have opposed the law but so far the Czechs have not done so. Zeman said the condemnation amounted to meddling in a country's internal affairs.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-leaders-confront-hungary-pm-over-lgbtq-law-393806">EU leaders confront Hungary PM over LGBTQ law</a>

Czech presidents have limited executive powers but Zeman and his predecessors have had a strong influence on public debate. The president has also leaned toward Russia and China and criticized immigration from Muslim countries.

"Viktor Orbán says that he is not against homosexuals, but that he is against the manipulation not only of parents, but also of children in sex education," Zeman said. "I see no reason to disagree with him, because I am completely annoyed by the suffragettes, the Me Too movement and Prague Pride. "

Unless it rows back on the law, Hungary faces a legal challenge at the EU's highest court. Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said Orban should also be subject to an as-yet untested procedure to cut EU funding for those who violate rules.

Orban, who has been Hungary's prime minister since 2010, has become more conservative and combative in promoting what he says are traditional Christian values from what he sees as excessive Western liberalism. Before last week's summit he told reporters the law was aimed at guaranteeing parents' right to decide on their children's sexual education.

Czech President Milos Zeman, commenting on a Hungarian law that bans LGBT material from schools, told a television interview on Sunday that he finds transgender people "disgusting".

Czech President Milos Zeman, commenting on a Hungarian law that bans LGBT material from schools, told a television interview on Sunday that he finds transgender people "disgusting". Zeman, who has often espoused views outside the mainstream, was responding to a question about the law Hungary passed earlier this month, which bans the dissemination of content in schools deemed to promote homosexuality and gender change. Also read | Hungary adopts child sex abuse law that also targets LGBT community "If you undergo a sex-change operation you are basically committing a crime of self-harm," Zeman told CNN Prima. "Every surgery is a risk and these transgender people to me are disgusting." The Hungarian law has been strongly criticised by opposition parties at home, rights groups and by many of Hungary's fellow European Union members. At an EU summit last week, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told Hungarian premier Viktor Orban to respect LGBT rights or leave the bloc. More than half of the EU's 27 member states have opposed the law but so far the Czechs have not done so. Zeman said the condemnation amounted to meddling in a country's internal affairs. Also read | EU leaders confront Hungary PM over LGBTQ law Czech presidents have limited executive powers but Zeman and his predecessors have had a strong influence on public debate. The president has also leaned toward Russia and China and criticized immigration from Muslim countries. "Viktor Orbán says that he is not against homosexuals, but that he is against the manipulation not only of parents, but also of children in sex education," Zeman said. "I see no reason to disagree with him, because I am completely annoyed by the suffragettes, the Me Too movement and Prague Pride. " Unless it rows back on the law, Hungary faces a legal challenge at the EU's highest court. Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said Orban should also be subject to an as-yet untested procedure to cut EU funding for those who violate rules. Orban, who has been Hungary's prime minister since 2010, has become more conservative and combative in promoting what he says are traditional Christian values from what he sees as excessive Western liberalism. Before last week's summit he told reporters the law was aimed at guaranteeing parents' right to decide on their children's sexual education.

Czech President Zeman calls transgender people 'disgusting'

England manager Gareth Southgate looks likely to resist the clamor for a major change in approach for Tuesday's final Euro 2020 Group D match against the Czech Republic at Wembley.

The disappointing performance in Friday's goalless draw with Scotland has led to calls from pundits and fans for Southgate to adopt a more positive style.

But while some personnel changes could be on the cards, it is not expected that the England manager will switch to the kind of attacking lineup some of his critics have been demanding.

The Czechs are top of the table on four points, ahead of England on goal difference, and a draw would see both teams advance regardless of the outcome of the game between Croatia and Scotland, who are both on one point.

So while critics may be demanding Southgate switch to a more offensive lineup, he will know the priority is to make it safely into the last 16.

On Sunday, Southgate took the unusual step of announcing that captain Harry Kane, whose sluggish displays have worried England fans, will definitely start against the Czechs.

Since the Scotland game, he has also pushed back gently against those who have been calling for Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho, who has yet to feature, to be given a slot on the right-wing.

"We've got some explosive options and a lot of them are young players and experiencing a big tournament for the first time," he said.

"So as a coaching staff we are realistic about our expectations of them as individuals.

"Jadon is in that mix. He's trained well the last few days and of course, we have got those options and those decisions to make," he said.

Sancho, linked with a move to Manchester United after a strong season in the Bundesliga, would be an alternative to Raheem Sterling, who scored the goal in the opening 1-0 win over Croatia, but who he has been struggling for form over recent months.

The most popular change Southgate could make is to bring creative midfielder Jack Grealish into the side, but even if he does introduce the Aston Villa player it is unlikely to be part of a major tactical shift.

Czech Republic assistant coach Jiri Chytry said England's display against Scotland was impacted by the special nature of the all-British clash.

"We expect to face the extremely strong England we know from recent years. Their team is well-balanced with experienced players from top-class clubs, talented youngsters. We are not reading much into the performance against Scotland: it was a derby with its own specific characteristics," he said.

Czech striker Patrik Schick is the joint top scorer, with Cristiano Ronaldo, in the tournament so far has grabbed three goals in the opening two games -- including his wonderful long-range strike against Scotland.

England manager Gareth Southgate looks likely to resist the clamor for a major change in approach for Tuesday's final Euro 2020 Group D match against the Czech Republic at Wembley.

England manager Gareth Southgate looks likely to resist the clamor for a major change in approach for Tuesday's final Euro 2020 Group D match against the Czech Republic at Wembley. The disappointing performance in Friday's goalless draw with Scotland has led to calls from pundits and fans for Southgate to adopt a more positive style. But while some personnel changes could be on the cards, it is not expected that the England manager will switch to the kind of attacking lineup some of his critics have been demanding. The Czechs are top of the table on four points, ahead of England on goal difference, and a draw would see both teams advance regardless of the outcome of the game between Croatia and Scotland, who are both on one point. So while critics may be demanding Southgate switch to a more offensive lineup, he will know the priority is to make it safely into the last 16. On Sunday, Southgate took the unusual step of announcing that captain Harry Kane, whose sluggish displays have worried England fans, will definitely start against the Czechs. Since the Scotland game, he has also pushed back gently against those who have been calling for Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho, who has yet to feature, to be given a slot on the right-wing. "We've got some explosive options and a lot of them are young players and experiencing a big tournament for the first time," he said. "So as a coaching staff we are realistic about our expectations of them as individuals. "Jadon is in that mix. He's trained well the last few days and of course, we have got those options and those decisions to make," he said. Sancho, linked with a move to Manchester United after a strong season in the Bundesliga, would be an alternative to Raheem Sterling, who scored the goal in the opening 1-0 win over Croatia, but who he has been struggling for form over recent months. The most popular change Southgate could make is to bring creative midfielder Jack Grealish into the side, but even if he does introduce the Aston Villa player it is unlikely to be part of a major tactical shift. Czech Republic assistant coach Jiri Chytry said England's display against Scotland was impacted by the special nature of the all-British clash. "We expect to face the extremely strong England we know from recent years. Their team is well-balanced with experienced players from top-class clubs, talented youngsters. We are not reading much into the performance against Scotland: it was a derby with its own specific characteristics," he said. Czech striker Patrik Schick is the joint top scorer, with Cristiano Ronaldo, in the tournament so far has grabbed three goals in the opening two games -- including his wonderful long-range strike against Scotland.

Football: England manager Gareth Southgate unlikely to take risks against Czechs

Russia on Friday officially designated the US and Czech Republic as 'unfriendly' states. This move has come amid rising tensions between Russia and the West.&nbsp;

The Russian government released a list of "unfriendly states" that now includes the US and the Czech Republic.&nbsp; 
The Czech embassy will be allowed to employ no more than 19 Russian nationals and the US embassy none at all, Moscow said.

Tensions between Russia and the US have been high from the time the US held it accountable for interference in US elections and hacking of US government departments and agencies. The US expelled some Russian diplomats last month.

Czech Republic has also taken a hard stand against Russia in recent weeks. Last month, it expelled Russian diplomats and accused Russia of having been involved in an explosion at a Czech ammunition dump.

Russia's ties with the West were also strained during its military build-up along its border with Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to respond to what he said was the persecution of Moscow-friendly politicians in Ukraine, accusing the West of turning a blind eye to Kiev's political "clean-up".

With tensions between Moscow and Kiev high, Ukraine this week placed Putin's top ally Viktor Medvedchuk under house arrest on suspicion of high treason.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia on Friday officially designated the US and Czech Republic as 'unfriendly' states. This move has come amid rising tensions between Russia and the West. The Russian government released a list of "unfriendly states" that now includes the US and the Czech Republic.

Russia on Friday officially designated the US and Czech Republic as 'unfriendly' states. This move has come amid rising tensions between Russia and the West. The Russian government released a list of "unfriendly states" that now includes the US and the Czech Republic. The Czech embassy will be allowed to employ no more than 19 Russian nationals and the US embassy none at all, Moscow said. Tensions between Russia and the US have been high from the time the US held it accountable for interference in US elections and hacking of US government departments and agencies. The US expelled some Russian diplomats last month. Czech Republic has also taken a hard stand against Russia in recent weeks. Last month, it expelled Russian diplomats and accused Russia of having been involved in an explosion at a Czech ammunition dump. Russia's ties with the West were also strained during its military build-up along its border with Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to respond to what he said was the persecution of Moscow-friendly politicians in Ukraine, accusing the West of turning a blind eye to Kiev's political "clean-up". With tensions between Moscow and Kiev high, Ukraine this week placed Putin's top ally Viktor Medvedchuk under house arrest on suspicion of high treason. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia designates US and Czech Republic as 'unfriendly states'

The United States said on Sunday it stood with the Czech Republic after it expelled Russia diplomats and accused Moscow of being behind an explosion at a Czech ammunition dump.

"The U.S. stands with the Czech Republic in its firm response against Russia’s subversive actions on Czech soil," said State Department spokesman Ned Price in a statement on Twitter.

"We must act firmly in response to Russian actions that compromise the territorial integrity, energy security, or critical infrastructure of our allies and partners."

The United States said on Sunday it stood with the Czech Republic after it expelled Russia diplomats and accused Moscow of being behind an explosion at a Czech ammunition dump.

The United States said on Sunday it stood with the Czech Republic after it expelled Russia diplomats and accused Moscow of being behind an explosion at a Czech ammunition dump. "The U.S. stands with the Czech Republic in its firm response against Russia’s subversive actions on Czech soil," said State Department spokesman Ned Price in a statement on Twitter. "We must act firmly in response to Russian actions that compromise the territorial integrity, energy security, or critical infrastructure of our allies and partners."

US stands with Czech Republic's response to 'Russia's subversive actions'

In Moscow, the Foreign Ministry announced that Russia has ordered 20 Czech diplomats to leave the country by the end of Monday. Earlier on Saturday, Czech officials expelled 18 Russian diplomats, accusing them of being secret agents in connection with a deadly explosion at the Czech munition depot in 2014.

Russia expels 20 Czech diplomats in tit-for-tat move, gives 24 hrs to leave the country

The Czech Republic said on Sunday it had informed NATO and European Union allies about suspected Russian involvement in a 2014 ammunition depot explosion and the matter would be addressed at an EU foreign ministers' meeting on Monday.&nbsp;

The central European country expelled 18 Russian embassy staff on Saturday over the issue and said investigations had linked Russian intelligence to the explosion, which killed two people. &nbsp;

Russia's Interfax news agency cited Vladimir Dzhabarov, first deputy head of the Russian upper house's international affairs committee, on Saturday as saying Prague's assertions were absurd and Russia's response should be proportionate.&nbsp;

The expulsions and allegations come at a time of heightened Russian-Western tensions and have triggered the biggest dispute between the Czechs and Russia since the 1989 end of Communist rule, when Prague was under Moscow's domination for decades.&nbsp;

On Sunday, the EU’s executive commission confirmed remarks by acting Czech Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek on Twitter that the dispute would be addressed during a previously schedule EU foreign ministers' video conference on Monday.&nbsp;

Separately, Czech police said they were searching for two men in connection with serious criminal activity, who were carrying Russian passports in the names of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, and that the men were in the country in the days leading up to the 2014 explosion.&nbsp;

Those were the aliases used by two Russian military intelligence (GRU) officers, who British prosecutors charged with the attempted poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with the nerve agent Novichok in the English city of Salisbury in 2018. Moscow denied involvement in that incident. &nbsp;

The United States and Britain said they stood in full solidarity with the Czech Republic in the dispute with Russia.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The Czech Republic said on Sunday it had informed NATO and European Union allies about suspected Russian involvement in a 2014 ammunition depot explosion and the matter would be addressed at an EU foreign ministers' meeting on Monday.

The Czech Republic said on Sunday it had informed NATO and European Union allies about suspected Russian involvement in a 2014 ammunition depot explosion and the matter would be addressed at an EU foreign ministers' meeting on Monday. The central European country expelled 18 Russian embassy staff on Saturday over the issue and said investigations had linked Russian intelligence to the explosion, which killed two people. Russia's Interfax news agency cited Vladimir Dzhabarov, first deputy head of the Russian upper house's international affairs committee, on Saturday as saying Prague's assertions were absurd and Russia's response should be proportionate. The expulsions and allegations come at a time of heightened Russian-Western tensions and have triggered the biggest dispute between the Czechs and Russia since the 1989 end of Communist rule, when Prague was under Moscow's domination for decades. On Sunday, the EU’s executive commission confirmed remarks by acting Czech Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek on Twitter that the dispute would be addressed during a previously schedule EU foreign ministers' video conference on Monday. Separately, Czech police said they were searching for two men in connection with serious criminal activity, who were carrying Russian passports in the names of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, and that the men were in the country in the days leading up to the 2014 explosion. Those were the aliases used by two Russian military intelligence (GRU) officers, who British prosecutors charged with the attempted poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with the nerve agent Novichok in the English city of Salisbury in 2018. Moscow denied involvement in that incident. The United States and Britain said they stood in full solidarity with the Czech Republic in the dispute with Russia. (With inputs from agencies)

EU to discuss alleged Russian link to 2014 blast in Czech Republic 

The Czech government said it will expel 18 Russian that have been identified as secret agent of Russian intelligence service SVR and GRU.

"Eighteen employees of the Russian embassy must leave our republic within 48 hours," Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek told reporters.

Czexh PM Andrej Babis said that authorities had "clear evidence"

"We have good reason to suspect the involvement of GRU officers from unit 29155 in the explosion at the ammunition warehouse in Vrbetice" in the east of the country, Babis said.

He added he had received the information on Friday, without explaining why it had taken so long.

"The explosion led to huge material damage and posed a serious threat to the lives of many local people, but above all it killed two of our fellow citizens, fathers of families," Babis said.

Hamacek, who is the interior minister and also an interim foreign minister after his predecessor was sacked earlier this week, said he was sorry the incident would "fundamentally damage Czech-Russian relations".

"We are in a situation similar to that in Britain following the attempted poisoning in Salisbury in 2018," he said, referring to the case of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal who survived a nerve agent poisoning in Britain.

Russia denied involvement but some 300 diplomats were sent home in subsequent tit-for-tat expulsions. 
Hamacek said he had summoned Russian ambassador Alexander Zmeyevsky on Saturday evening to tell him about the decision.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

The Czech government said it will expel 18 Russian that have been identified as secret agent of Russian intelligence service SVR and GRU. "Eighteen employees of the Russian embassy must leave our republic within 48 hours," Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek told reporters.

The Czech government said it will expel 18 Russian that have been identified as secret agent of Russian intelligence service SVR and GRU. "Eighteen employees of the Russian embassy must leave our republic within 48 hours," Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek told reporters. Czexh PM Andrej Babis said that authorities had "clear evidence" "We have good reason to suspect the involvement of GRU officers from unit 29155 in the explosion at the ammunition warehouse in Vrbetice" in the east of the country, Babis said. He added he had received the information on Friday, without explaining why it had taken so long. "The explosion led to huge material damage and posed a serious threat to the lives of many local people, but above all it killed two of our fellow citizens, fathers of families," Babis said. Hamacek, who is the interior minister and also an interim foreign minister after his predecessor was sacked earlier this week, said he was sorry the incident would "fundamentally damage Czech-Russian relations". "We are in a situation similar to that in Britain following the attempted poisoning in Salisbury in 2018," he said, referring to the case of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal who survived a nerve agent poisoning in Britain. Russia denied involvement but some 300 diplomats were sent home in subsequent tit-for-tat expulsions. Hamacek said he had summoned Russian ambassador Alexander Zmeyevsky on Saturday evening to tell him about the decision. (With inputs from agencies)

Czech Republic expels 18 Russian diplomats over 2014 blast

Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovic announced on Sunday that he intended to resign after coming under intense pressure over the coronavirus crisis but said he wanted to stay in the government as finance minister.

Matovic, whose decision to buy Russian vaccines has been hugely controversial, did not specify when he would resign and said he wanted the current finance minister, Eduard Heger, to replace him.

"We will exchange our posts with minister of finance, Eduard Heger... He is a good man and all of us can trust him," Matovic told reporters in the latest twist in a weeks-long crisis triggered by the pandemic.

Heger, 44, is a former businessman and also worked as a consultant for the Ministry of Defence.

He became minister of finance in March 2020 when his and Matovic's OLaNO party won a general election.

Heger is currently also the acting health minister.

Relatively spared at the start of the pandemic, Slovakia's healthcare system has struggled during the third wave of the virus and the country has one of the highest Covid death rates in the world per capita.

Six ministers, including the health minister, have left the 16-member cabinet and one party has said it is leaving the four-party governing coalition unless Matovic quits the government entirely.

Matovic, a former businessman in the publishing industry, came to power last year after beating the governing populists on an anti-corruption platform.

While supporters view him as a maverick with a knack for self-promotion, critics accuse Matovic of being an unpredictable, attention-seeking control freak.

During the pandemic in Slovakia, a eurozone country of 5.4 million people, Matovic's critics have accused him of poor communication and political missteps.

But his decision to buy Sputnik V vaccines has proved particularly divisive, with the former foreign minister Ivan Korcok calling the jabs "a hybrid war tool".

Opinion polls from March 21 suggested that more than 80 percent of Slovaks agreed that Matovic should resign.

President Zuzana Caputova last week joined calls for Matovic to resign, saying it was "essential" that he step down to end the political crisis.

Matovic would have to formally announce his resignation before Caputova can ask Heger to form a government.

Heger would then need to build consensus behind his candidacy within the coalition and then seek the approval of parliament in a confidence vote. 
&nbsp;

Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovic announced on Sunday that he intended to resign after coming under intense pressure over the coronavirus crisis but said he wanted to stay in the government as finance minister.

Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovic announced on Sunday that he intended to resign after coming under intense pressure over the coronavirus crisis but said he wanted to stay in the government as finance minister. Matovic, whose decision to buy Russian vaccines has been hugely controversial, did not specify when he would resign and said he wanted the current finance minister, Eduard Heger, to replace him. "We will exchange our posts with minister of finance, Eduard Heger... He is a good man and all of us can trust him," Matovic told reporters in the latest twist in a weeks-long crisis triggered by the pandemic. Heger, 44, is a former businessman and also worked as a consultant for the Ministry of Defence. He became minister of finance in March 2020 when his and Matovic's OLaNO party won a general election. Heger is currently also the acting health minister. Relatively spared at the start of the pandemic, Slovakia's healthcare system has struggled during the third wave of the virus and the country has one of the highest Covid death rates in the world per capita. Six ministers, including the health minister, have left the 16-member cabinet and one party has said it is leaving the four-party governing coalition unless Matovic quits the government entirely. Matovic, a former businessman in the publishing industry, came to power last year after beating the governing populists on an anti-corruption platform. While supporters view him as a maverick with a knack for self-promotion, critics accuse Matovic of being an unpredictable, attention-seeking control freak. During the pandemic in Slovakia, a eurozone country of 5.4 million people, Matovic's critics have accused him of poor communication and political missteps. But his decision to buy Sputnik V vaccines has proved particularly divisive, with the former foreign minister Ivan Korcok calling the jabs "a hybrid war tool". Opinion polls from March 21 suggested that more than 80 percent of Slovaks agreed that Matovic should resign. President Zuzana Caputova last week joined calls for Matovic to resign, saying it was "essential" that he step down to end the political crisis. Matovic would have to formally announce his resignation before Caputova can ask Heger to form a government. Heger would then need to build consensus behind his candidacy within the coalition and then seek the approval of parliament in a confidence vote.

Slovak PM says he will resign to end political crisis

Czech Republic's richest man Petr Kellner (56) &nbsp;was killed in a helicopter crash at night on Monday (Indian Time). He was on a skiing trip to Alaska. He was among the five, including the pilot to have been killed. The crash took place near Knik Glacier northeast of Anchorage, Alaska State Troopers said.

One survivor was taken to hospital, they said, adding the group had been on a heli-ski tour.

Kellner was founder of investment group PPF. He avoided public attention.

A spokeswoman for the exclusive Tordrillo Mountain Lodge, where the crash victims were staying, said Kellner had been a frequent guest since 2012.

Kellner was a towering figure in the Czech Republic's post-communist era, amassing wealth estimated at $17.5 billion according to Forbes.

He was the world's 68th richest person on Forbes' 2020 list, tied with media giant Rupert Murdoch and his family.

PPF in a statement expressed "deepest grief" at the death of its founder and 98.9% shareholder.

Ladislav Bartonicek, a 30-year PPF veteran who owns just over a 0.5% stake, will take over management duties, the company said.

PPF's third shareholder, Jean-Pascal Duvieusart, also with just over 0.5%, said the company would continue building and keeping with Kellner's vision.

"Petr was somebody who was truly extraordinary in terms of energy, in terms of creativity, in terms of a drive to build new things," Duvieusart said in a telephone interview.

Kellner is survived by his wife Renata and four children.

(With Reuters inputs)

Czech Republic's richest man Petr Kellner (56) was killed in a helicopter crash at night on Monday (Indian Time). He was on a skiing trip to Alaska. He was among the five, including the pilot to have been killed.

Czech Republic's richest man Petr Kellner (56) was killed in a helicopter crash at night on Monday (Indian Time). He was on a skiing trip to Alaska. He was among the five, including the pilot to have been killed. The crash took place near Knik Glacier northeast of Anchorage, Alaska State Troopers said. One survivor was taken to hospital, they said, adding the group had been on a heli-ski tour. Kellner was founder of investment group PPF. He avoided public attention. A spokeswoman for the exclusive Tordrillo Mountain Lodge, where the crash victims were staying, said Kellner had been a frequent guest since 2012. Kellner was a towering figure in the Czech Republic's post-communist era, amassing wealth estimated at $17.5 billion according to Forbes. He was the world's 68th richest person on Forbes' 2020 list, tied with media giant Rupert Murdoch and his family. PPF in a statement expressed "deepest grief" at the death of its founder and 98.9% shareholder. Ladislav Bartonicek, a 30-year PPF veteran who owns just over a 0.5% stake, will take over management duties, the company said. PPF's third shareholder, Jean-Pascal Duvieusart, also with just over 0.5%, said the company would continue building and keeping with Kellner's vision. "Petr was somebody who was truly extraordinary in terms of energy, in terms of creativity, in terms of a drive to build new things," Duvieusart said in a telephone interview. Kellner is survived by his wife Renata and four children. (With Reuters inputs)

Czech billionaire Petr Kellner dies in helicopter crash in Alaska

Germany has defended its border restrictions with Austria and the Czech Republic. The European Nation has said that these curbs are temporary measures and the last resort to avoid lockdown restrictions.

Germany restricts borders with Austria, Czech Republic

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Prague, Czech Republic on Sunday with empty beer glasses to rally against the closing of pubs and restaurants in the country.

Czechs wave empty beer mugs in lockdown protest

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