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Army Chief of Staff Karel Řehka has withdrawn three soldiers from a training mission in Kenya who face charges in connection with the death of an Afghan prisoner of war in 2018. Their presence in the 10-member Czech Special Forces Group in Kenya came to light during a hearing of Parliament’s Defense Committee looking into a separate incident in which a Kenyan recruit was wounded during training. Facing criticism from Defense Minister Jana Černochová over the soldiers’ continued presence in the Special Forces Group, Řehka countered that the army respects the presumption of innocence and his predecessors who handled the case of the accused soldiers did not find legal grounds for them to be placed off duty.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has said the government will not submit a bill that would introduce emission allowances for transport and households in the Czech Republic, known as ETS 2. The prime minister said he would push for the proposal to be modified or scrapped since, in his view, it is essential for Europe to ensure its competitiveness while pursuing its climate goals. The European emissions trading scheme, known as ETS 2, should put a price on greenhouse gas emissions from transport and home heating in 2027. The measures are intended to bring the EU closer to its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. Emissions from industry or the energy sector are already being charged.
The Czech Social Security Administration will become the country's first fully digitized sector enabling people to handle matters entirely online, Labor Minister Marian Jurečka told journalists at a press briefing in Prague. According to the minister, the agenda relating to employment should be fully digitized by January of next year, the registration of children's groups will be digitized by May and those seeking disability pensions and benefits will be able to do so fully online by next autumn. Jurečka said his ministry would fulfill all its set goals before the general elections next October. These include pushing through Parliament a proposed bill on pension reform, a review of benefits and introducing a more flexible labour code.
Police in Czechia joined a major European operation targeting VAT fraud, with 32 arrests made in the Baltic states. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) estimates that this branch of the case alone caused €297 million in losses.
The fraud, focused on unpaid VAT from electronics sales, is linked to organised crime, including the Italian mafia. Czech authorities confirmed conducting searches as part of the investigation but reported no arrests.
The case is part of the largest VAT fraud scheme ever uncovered in the EU, with total losses estimated at €2.9 billion (CZK 73.3 billion).
Sports and physical education clubs lack coaches and administrative workers, according to the results of a survey conducted by the Czech Union of Sport. As many as 73% of clubs and sports associations said that they lacked coaches for children and youth, with each club having an average of about four coaches. In addition, 72% of the clubs lack people for work in administration. The shortage severely limits the sporting activities of children and young people. These roles often have to be filled by parents or volunteers. The clubs say a lack of money is at the root of the problem.
Slavia Prague suffered a 1-2 home defeat to Fenerbahçe on Thursday in the Europa League. The loss leaves them 26th in the standings, making qualification for the next stage unlikely ahead of their December 12 home clash with Anderlecht.
In contrast, Viktoria Plzeň came from behind to beat Dynamo Kyiv 2-1 in Hamburg, moving up to 9th place in the standings.
Meanwhile, in the Europa Conference League, Mladá Boleslav earned their first win in four games, defeating Sevilla 2-1 at home.
Saturday should be partly cloudy to overcast with rain in the north-eastern parts of the country and day temperatures between 3 and 7 degrees Celsius.
This Sunday, December 1, Prague will host the annual International Charity Market. Organized by local embassies and the Diplomatic Spouses Association, this one-day event will feature Christmas gifts and Saint Nicholas treats from over 40 countries, with all proceeds supporting Czech charities.
Sonjašnyk is an all-female Czech-Ukrainian choir, based in the eastern-Bohemian city of Litomyšl. Founded two years ago to help Ukrainian women who had fled the war, it has continued to tour and raise money for charitable causes around Czechia.
Czechs are wary of the euro. Despite the fact that Czechia has been a European Union member country for more than two decades, the common European currency is viewed with suspicion by the majority of the population.
Simon Goff, a British musician and composer, is the visionary behind the soundtrack of this year’s celebrated Czech film Vlny (Waves). He spoke to Danny Bate about his British background, his move to Berlin, his process of making music, and his career path into composing film soundtracks.
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