The Czech Republic has won some dubious recognition from the World Health Organization (WHO). A new report shows that the country has the second-highest per-capita consumption of alcohol in the world, behind Moldova. The score is nothing to celebrate, according to the UN agency: Eastern European countries have the highest consumption, risky patterns of drinking and high levels of alcohol-related deaths and disabilities.

In 2010 the total number of guests increased by 1.9 percent and the number of overnight stays by 0.4 percent compared to the previous year, according to the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ). It was the first year-on-year increase since 2008, and shows signs that the sector may be recovering. The growth was driven by foreign guests, and high-end hotels were the biggest beneficiary. But the recovery in foreign tourists was still below the international average.

The health of a key executive can often have a big impact on the share value of a company. When the head of Apple, Steve Jobs, announced that he will be taking medical leave of absence, it caused a ripple of apprehension in the markets. But does the investors’ right to know about the company management outweigh the managers’ right to privacy? Most lawyers think there are limits.

The overall reviews for 2010 are mixed, with a majority of Czechs looking on the year as a success, while one-fifth see it as the worst year they ever experienced, according to a poll by online opinion firm SANEP. The same split carries over into 2011, with about half the population worried for the future. Money and living standards led the list of concerns.