Nov 2, 2026, 11:30 PM UTC

Josef Mašín, the last surviving member of a famous anti-communist resistance group that escaped Czechoslovakia in the early 1950s, has died in Santa Barbara, California, at the age of 94.

Mašín, along with his brother Ctirad and Milan Paumer, undertook a dramatic armed flight through East Germany to reach West Berlin. Their operations against the communist regime, which resulted in the deaths of six people, remain a subject of intense historical debate in the Czech Republic. The son of General Josef Mašín, who fought Nazi occupation during World War II, Josef Mašín maintained an uncompromising stance regarding his anti-communist actions throughout his life.

Sources: Český rozhlas Plus, Deník N, Ekonomický deník, Hospodářské noviny, iROZHLAS

Wildfires burning across the Indonesian regions of Kalimantan, Papua, and Sumatra have generated severe toxic haze, creating health problems and diplomatic strain across Southeast Asia. Winds have carried the dense smog into neighbouring countries, including Malaysia and Singapore, where residents report widespread respiratory issues and headaches.

The transboundary pollution has placed regional governments in a difficult position as they attempt to address public health concerns while managing diplomatic relations with Jakarta. The recurring seasonal crisis highlights ongoing challenges in controlling land-clearing fires and enforcing environmental regulations across the archipelago. Regional authorities face growing public pressure to find effective solutions to mitigate the transboundary impact of the seasonal blazes.

Sources: BBC News