New Czech government of Andrej Babis wins mandatory confidence vote

PRAGUE (AP) – The Czech Republic’s new government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš won a mandatory confidence vote in the lower house of Parliament on Thursday over its agenda aimed at steering the country away from supporting Ukraine and rejecting some key European Union policies.

US stocks erase sharp losses, while oil prices leap

NEW YORK (AP) - Oil prices leaped on worries that war with Iran could clog the flow of crude, while U.S. stocks swung from sharp losses to small gains.  The S&P5 00 finished with a gain of less than 0.1%. The Dow added 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.4%. Oil and defense stocks rallied. Treasury yields rose with worries about inflation.

Czech Prime Minister Babis faces confidence vote

PRAGUE (AP) – The Czech Republic’s new government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš was set to face a mandatory confidence vote in Parliament over its agenda aimed at steering the country away from supporting Ukraine and rejecting some key European Union policies.

Gulf carriers resume some flights even as strikes fuel travel chaos

LONDON (AP) – Several international airlines resumed a small number of flights from the United Arab Emirates on Monday, offering some relief for travelers caught up in airspace closures and other safety precautions as the U.S. and Israel bombarded Iran, and Iran struck back at targets across the Middle East.

Czech president swears in new coalition government

PRAGUE (AP) – A new Czech coalition government led by populist billionaire Andrej Babiš took office on Monday with an agenda to steer the country away from supporting Ukraine and reject some key European Union policies.

What to know about Iran's Revolutionary Guard, a powerful force

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has grown into a powerful force within the country’s theocracy, answering only to its supreme leader and overseeing its ballistic missile arsenal and launching attacks overseas.

Czech populist billionaire Babiš sworn in as prime minister

PRAGUE (AP) – Populist billionaire Andrej Babiš was sworn in Tuesday as the Czech Republic’s new prime minister, following October’s parliamentary election, as the next government is expected to steer the country away from supporting Ukraine and reject European Union policies on issues like the environment.

Editorials from The Washington Post, New York Times, The Guardian and others

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

Turkey's Pegasus Airlines acquires biggest Czech airline, Smartwings

PRAGUE (AP) – Turkey’s Pegasus Airlines said on Monday it has signed an agreement to acquire the biggest Czech airline, Smartwings, along with its owner, Czech Airlines, from Prague City Air.