Czech news in brief for April 26: Friday's top headlines

Pan-European football organization UEFA has fined Slavia Prague this afternoon EUR 87,000 (about CZK 2.2 million) and threatened further penalties for the Czech football due to Slavia fans' behavior during a match against AC Milan. The fans threw cups at players, chanted derogatory remarks, and blocked stairs. Some supporters will perform community work for the club as punishment. Other offenders could face a fine of up to CZK 50,000 and a two-year ban from attending matches at the Eden stadium. 

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský stated during a speech in Budapest this afternoon that it is naive to believe Russia would stop its aggression at Ukraine's borders if it were to win its current war with Ukraine. He emphasized the need for vigilance, as Russia continues to use its military power to expand its influence. Lipavsky also warned that Russia's ultimate goal is to “destroy Ukraine and dominate Central Europe,” with President Vladimir Putin declaring war on the "collective West."

Frosts in April caused over CZK 2 billion worth of damage to vineyards in the Czech Republic, putting the livelihoods of around 500 professional fruit growers at risk, according to the Agriculture Ministry. The fruit harvest alone suffered over CZK 1 billion in damages. Neighboring countries, such as Slovakia, also experienced some frost damage, though not as severe as in the Czech Republic. In Bohemia, the damage to the vines is estimated at 95 percent. President of the Czech Fruit Growers' Union Martin Chlad described the situation as "fatal.”

According to a spokesperson for the Agrarian Chamber of the Czech Republic, Czech farmers are preparing for protests in the second half of May due to their “unsustainable situation” due to cheap food imports. Minister of Agriculture Marek Výborný has promised continued communication with various non-governmental organizations to help prevent the protest. The last farmers' protest in March involved over 1,600 pieces of agricultural machinery. There have been two major farmers’ protests in Prague so far this year, following a trend across Europe.

President Petr Pavel will welcome German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Prague Castle on Monday to open a conference marking the Czech Republic’s EU entry anniversary. Discussions will encompass economic ties, energy, and military cooperation. Global issues, including Ukraine, the Middle East, China, and Africa, along with upcoming European Parliament elections will also be discussed. The president will also pay tribute to the victims of the December shooting at Charles University.

The Winemakers’ Union will address frost damage in Czech vineyards today. President Martin Chlad estimates hundreds of millions in losses, with 40 percent of vineyards affected. Winemakers have been deploying candles to raise temperatures and protect vines. Unpredictable weather has exacerbated the challenges for farmers, with fluctuating temperatures posing risks. Fruit growers also report significant losses, exceeding CZK 1 billion, particularly impacting Bohemia's fruit trees.

Prague’s National Gallery (NGP) will unveil its Get on the Ice! exhibition Friday, exploring skating and hockey in art across centuries. Works include Sad Clown by the late hockey figure Ivan Hlinka. The exhibition at the NGP premises in Kinsky Palace on Old Town Square presents the history of 17th and 18th-century ice skating in the Netherlands, its gradual transfer to Czech territory, and hockey development. and runs until Oct. 27. The exhibit also coincides with the International Ice Hockey Championship in Prague and Ostrava from May 10 to 26.

Prague will host a convoy of historic military vehicles and motorcycles today, marking 79 years since WWII’s end. The commemorative event honors the American army’s liberation of Czechoslovakia. The convoy departs from the U.S. Embassy, heading to western and southern Bohemia. The tradition, dating back to 2005, remembers fallen soldiers and leads to Pilsen’s Freedom Celebrations, featuring exhibitions, concerts, and a grand parade of historical military equipment, May 3-6.

Czech Minister of Agriculture Marek Výborný predicted that wooden buildings will constitute up to 25 percent of new constructions by 2035, aiming to boost domestic wood usage and processing. According to the upcoming Raw Materials Policy for Wood, adjustments in building standards seek to encourage wooden construction, reduce carbon footprint, and enhance economic value. The current export-heavy wood industry has prompted a policy shift, said Výborný who advocated for increased domestic wood utilization and processing. Fourteen to 15 million cubic meters of wood are harvested annually in Czech forests.