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The head of the Czech Tennis Federation, Ivo Kaderka, who is currently under investigation for extensive subsidy fraud, has resigned, news site iRozhlas reported on Friday. He stated in his resignation letter that his decision to quit was "not directly related" to his "current situation" and that the sole reason for his resignation was so as not to hinder National Sports Agency funding for the tennis association.

Mr. Kaderka headed the Czech Tennis Federation for over 25 years. He was charged in February with subsidy fraud and manipulating public tenders and faces up to 10 years in prison. He continues to deny any wrongdoing, stating in his resignation letter that he was not aware of having done anything illegal and that he will now focus on trying to prove his innocence.

From next year, May 1 will not only be a national holiday for Labour Day in Czechia, but also a so-called "significant day" commemorating the date of the country's accession to the European Union. President Petr Pavel signed the relevant amendment into law on Friday. According to the proponents of the proposal, such as Minister for European Affairs Martin Dvořák, it is appropriate that the law be submitted to the Parliament this year given that Czechia celebrated its 20th anniversary of EU membership in May.

President Petr Pavel signed an amendment on Friday which will change the definition of rape in Czech law from forced to non-consensual sexual intercourse. The change will apply from January of next year. The bill also stipulates that sexual intercourse with a minor under 12 years of age must always be treated as rape or sexual assault, and never as the less serious crime of sexual abuse.

Sixteen European countries have changed their legal definitions of rape in recent years, with some countries such as Croatia, Spain and Greece changing it according to the principle of "yes means yes" (i.e. the absence of active consent is all this is needed to prove rape), while others, like Czechia, have changed it according to the "no means no" principle (i.e. physical or verbal coercion doesn't have to be proven and a lack of consent can be proven by means other than verbal). Some EU states, such as France and Austria, still have a legal definition of rape based on the use of violence or threats.

The railway corridor through Pardubice has reopened on one track at a limited speed following a fatal accident on Wednesday night. An express train crashed into a cargo train at the newly built station Pardubice-Centre in the East Bohemian city shortly before 11 pm, leaving four people, dead and 27 injured.

Investigators say the accident occurred when the passenger train, operated by the company Regiojet, failed to respect a stop signal. Among the victims are two Slovak and two Ukrainian women.