Czech Republic

Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou waves as Ma leaves for China, at Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan City, northern Taiwan, Monday, March 27, 2023.

Former Taiwanese president makes historic visit to China

As the former president heads to China, Taiwan's current president, Tsai Ing-Wen, is heading to the Americas this week. The diplomatic trips come as voters prepare for this year’s presidential campaigns. 

Former Taiwanese president makes historic visit to China
The hydroponic tomato plants at Ráječek Farm rely on manufactured fertilizer to grow.

War in Ukraine sparks fertilizer crisis that may impact the future of global food production

War in Ukraine sparks fertilizer crisis that may impact the future of global food production
Julie Sedivy and other family members visiting her father’s family gravesite in his village of Moravská Nová Ves.

‘Memory speaks’: How to reclaim your mother tongue without having to relearn it from scratch

‘Memory speaks’: How to reclaim your mother tongue without having to relearn it from scratch
About one-third of the staff at the Stoneacre restaurants in Newport, Rhode Island, is from overseas.

Hospitality industries in the US struggle to find workers, but international labor is ticking up

Hospitality industries in the US struggle to find workers, but international labor is ticking up
A person holds a vial of a vaccine dose wearing blue gloves

EU moves toward stricter export controls for COVID-19 vaccines

EU moves toward stricter export controls for COVID-19 vaccines
A woman with a black and white striped shirt sits outside with younger children surrounding her.

Czech Republic may offer justice, compensation to thousands of sterilized Roma women 

A new bill under consideration in the Czech Republic could compensate women who were involuntarily sterilized up to $13,000. Roma women and activist groups say reaching this stage is a huge milestone. 

Czech Republic may offer justice, compensation to thousands of sterilized Roma women 
A worker wearing a face mask clears snow from the roof of a bar, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Dec. 5, 2020.

European leaders approve stimulus package; Argentina moves to legalize abortion; SCOTUS rules on no-fly list

European Parliament lawmakers have finally approved a coronavirus stimulus package in a compromise that allows EU funds to be made conditional on respect for European values. Argentina moved toward legalizing abortion, a step closer to honoring a promise made by President Alberto Fernández. And the US Supreme Court ruled Muslim Americans included on the no-fly list after refusing to become informants can sue federal officials.

European leaders approve stimulus package; Argentina moves to legalize abortion; SCOTUS rules on no-fly list
To people are shown dressed in medical protective gear including full facemasks and blue gloves.

Coronavirus pandemic worsens with onset of cold weather; Report suggests unlawful killings of Afghans by Australian troops; Activists stage mock COP26 after coronavirus postponement

The United States has surpassed 250,000 deaths from the coronavirus — the highest death toll by far in the world — and is turning the corner into what public health experts say will be the worst phase yet of the pandemic. And, a new report shows that elite Australian soldiers unlawfully killed 39 people during the war in Afghanistan. Also, young climate activists around the world have staged a mock COP26 virtual gathering in place of the actual UN conference that was delayed from this month until November 2021 because of the coronavirus.

Coronavirus pandemic worsens with onset of cold weather; Report suggests unlawful killings of Afghans by Australian troops; Activists stage mock COP26 after coronavirus postponement
Amsterdam's red-light district remains sparse as many international tourists have stayed away during the pandemic.

Is overtourism over? Travelers to Europe stay home due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Prior to the pandemic, Venice, Prague and Amsterdam had become so saturated with visitors that locals no longer recognized their hometowns. But with COVID-19 restrictions, residents are breathing a sigh of relief while many businesses face unprecedented losses.

Is overtourism over? Travelers to Europe stay home due to COVID-19 restrictions.
A film still of a man sitting at a dressing room mirror with lights

In 'The Humorist,' Soviet comedy is no joke

Michael Idov's new film, “The Humorist,” captures the oxymoronic nature of state-sanctioned Soviet comedy and the downfall of the system through the eyes of character, Boris Arkadiev.

In 'The Humorist,' Soviet comedy is no joke
Four people sit at a table covered in white papers, which are ballots, with their hands outstretched as they sort through the pile

East-west clash as Czechs vote for new president

Czech President Milos Zeman looked unlikely to win outright, which would then trigger a late January run-off election

East-west clash as Czechs vote for new president
Election campaign posters for the leader billionaire politician Andrej Babis in Prague, Czech Republic, reading: "Stand up against corruption and stop babbling."

The populist tide has spread to one of Central Europe's last liberal democracies

Andrej Babis and his party are winning the Czech Republic’s parliamentary elections this weekend. Add him to the current president, and that would mean not one, but two Donald Trump admirers governing a liberal democracy in the EU.

The populist tide has spread to one of Central Europe's last liberal democracies
The leader of ANO party Andrej Babis signs books for a supporter during an election campaign rally in Prague, Czech Republic September 28, 2017.

The Czech Republic's Trump is in the lead for prime minister

He may be facing charges over alleged EU subsidy fraud, but billionaire businessman Andrej Babis still appears poised to win this weekend's Czech general election pushing his trademark anti-corruption and anti-euro ticket.

The Czech Republic's Trump is in the lead for prime minister
Participants of the European Meeting of Antiracist Leaders walk past a pig farm

Czech government agrees to move pig farm from site of WWII concentration camp

Between 1940 and 1943, Nazi Germany and its Czech collaborators imprisoned close to 1,300 Czech Roma at the concentration camp.

Czech government agrees to move pig farm from site of WWII concentration camp
A herd of endangered Przewalski's horses trot across the Takhin Tal National Park, part of the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area, in southwest Mongolia, on June 22.

Photos: Rare wild horses are making a stunning return to Mongolia

Decades after being driven to extinction in their homeland, Przewalski's horses are being reintroduced into Mongolia's desert and mountains.

Photos: Rare wild horses are making a stunning return to Mongolia