Morning News: Thursday, January 12, 2023

The Czech prime minister, Petr Fiala, says his government is considering changing the country’s VAT system. Novinky.cz reported that instead of the current 10 and 15 percent VAT rates there should be one rate – of 13 or 14 percent – from next year.

The inflation rate slowed down to 15.8 percent year-on-year in December, down from 16.2 in November. The average inflation rate for the whole of last year was 15.1 percent, which is the second highest rate in the modern history of the Czech Republic.

The Czech company Excalibur Army delivered to Ukraine 20 T-72EA modernized Soviet-made T-72M and T-72M1 main battle tanks on the 90 which were ordered within the framework of a contract with the United States and European countries including the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.

Last year, Škoda Auto delivered 731,300 vehicles to customers worldwide, a 16.7 percent decrease from the previous year. cThis is due to persistent semiconductor shortages, the war in Ukraine, supply chain difficulties, rising energy and raw material prices, and continued uncertainty in global markets.

One in six children will not be able to eat lunch in the school cafeteria this year for financial reasons, according to the non-profit organization Women for Women (W4W), compared to one in eight last year. The organization expects to pay for lunches for up to 20 000 children this year, according to its report.