By , PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Czech government announced on Friday strict new restrictions limiting people’s movement over the next three weeks and tightening shop and school closures in a bid to slow a fast spread of COVID-19 infections.The country of 10.7 million, in which around one in 10 have been infected in the past year, has the highest per capita infection rate in the world over the past week, according to the Our World in Data website, 10 times higher than Germany. The death toll has risen to 20,000 from about 600 in five months.The country is facing a renewed surge in infections,...…By , PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Czech government announced on Friday strict new restrictions limiting people’s movement over the next three weeks and tightening shop and school closures in a bid to slow a fast spread of COVID-19 infections.The country of 10.7 million, in which around one in 10 have been infected in the past year, has the highest per capita infection rate in the world over the past week, according to the Our World in Data website, 10 times higher than Germany. The death toll has risen to 20,000 from about 600 in five months.The country is facing a renewed surge in infections,...WW…

By , PRAGUE (Reuters) - Slovakia’s drug watchdog said it has not received sufficient information from the maker of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to be able to decide on its benefits and risks for people.The surprise purchase of 200,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine last month, even though the European Union’s medicines agency has not approved it for use, forced the resignation of Prime Minister Igor Matovic.But not one dose has been administered while Slovak authorities continue to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the shot.National drug agency SUKL said it had examined...…By , PRAGUE (Reuters) - Slovakia’s drug watchdog said it has not received sufficient information from the maker of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to be able to decide on its benefits and risks for people.The surprise purchase of 200,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine last month, even though the European Union’s medicines agency has not approved it for use, forced the resignation of Prime Minister Igor Matovic.But not one dose has been administered while Slovak authorities continue to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the shot.National drug agency SUKL said it had examined...WW…

By , , PRAGUE (Reuters) - With theatres closed and work prospects dim, Czech actor Tomas Novotny put his stage career on hold and trained to become a gravedigger.The coronavirus reshaping Europe’s labour markets has spurred workers like Novotny to seek new career paths as old jobs disappear or remain beset with uncertainty about any return to normal.Not all changes are as dramatic as that of the 36-year-old actor but his is an early illustration of a shift that will require people to take on new skills to compete.“I’m glad for this opportunity,” Novotny told Reuters at a training site in...…By , , PRAGUE (Reuters) - With theatres closed and work prospects dim, Czech actor Tomas Novotny put his stage career on hold and trained to become a gravedigger.The coronavirus reshaping Europe’s labour markets has spurred workers like Novotny to seek new career paths as old jobs disappear or remain beset with uncertainty about any return to normal.Not all changes are as dramatic as that of the 36-year-old actor but his is an early illustration of a shift that will require people to take on new skills to compete.“I’m glad for this opportunity,” Novotny told Reuters at a training site in...WW…

By PRAGUE (Reuters) - China’s global economic power makes the communist country in some ways a more difficult foe to counter than the Soviet Union during the Cold War, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on a visit to the Czech Republic on Wednesday.Pompeo called on countries around Europe to rally against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which he said leverages its economic might to exert its influence around the world.“What’s happening now isn’t Cold War 2.0,” Pompeo said in a speech to the Czech Senate. “The challenge of resisting the CCP threat is in some ways much more...…By PRAGUE (Reuters) - China’s global economic power makes the communist country in some ways a more difficult foe to counter than the Soviet Union during the Cold War, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on a visit to the Czech Republic on Wednesday.Pompeo called on countries around Europe to rally against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which he said leverages its economic might to exert its influence around the world.“What’s happening now isn’t Cold War 2.0,” Pompeo said in a speech to the Czech Senate. “The challenge of resisting the CCP threat is in some ways much more...WW…