Czech news in brief for April 5: Friday's top headlines

According to the chairman of the Fruit Union of the Czech Republic (OU), the flowering of fruit trees this year came three to four weeks earlier than usual. This poses a significant risk for future harvests, as orchards can be damaged by spring frosts until mid-May. So far, the frosts have not caused major damage to fruit growers, but apricots, pears, and cherries have been partially and locally affected. The OU stated that this is an extreme situation not previously experienced, with apricot trees blooming as early as February this year.

According to a new report by Europol, several dangerous criminal networks operating in the EU are also active in the Czech Republic, particularly in the trade of synthetic drugs and property crime. Czech nationals are also involved in some groups specializing in value-added tax (VAT) fraud. The report identified 821 criminal networks, with half involved in drug trafficking, mainly in cocaine, cannabis, and synthetic drugs. These groups are primarily Armenian, Dutch, Latvian, Lithuanian, and Slovak.

According to a recent public opinion poll, President Petr Pavel remains the most trusted high-ranking politician in Czechia, with 54 percent of people trusting him. Former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and leader of the opposition Freedom and Direct Democracy party Tomio Okamura also rank relatively high in trust, with 46 and 40 percent respectively. However, Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Chamber of Deputies Speaker Markéta Pekarová Adamová have the highest levels of distrust, at 79 and 73 percent respectively.

The Ústí nad Labem Zoo has announced the passing of Ferda, the oldest male orangutan in Europe and second-oldest in the world. The zoo was forced to euthanize Ferda due to his deteriorating health caused by a diseased heart, spinal arthritis, and breathing difficulties. Ferda, a cross between a Bornean and Sumatran orangutan, was born in Frankfurt am Main Zoo and moved to Prague Zoo at the age of three. After the 2002 Prague floods, he was transferred to Ústí nad Labem Zoo.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský announced a doubling of aid to Gaza, with an additional CYK 10 million allocated to the World Food Programme (WFP) amid fears of famine. This follows a previous CZK 5 million contribution in January. The move aims to address the worsening humanitarian crisis, with UN agencies warning of a potential famine in the region by May. Israel cites distribution issues within Gaza as a challenge.

Czech President Petr Pavel will visit Rwanda on Friday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the genocide, meeting President Paul Kagame and Czech expatriates. Rwanda marks the start of mass killings on Sunday, where up to 10,000 people died daily during the genocide. Pavel aims to strengthen the Czech presence in Rwanda, noting Chinese influence in African states. He plans bilateral meetings and engagements with Czech businesses focusing on satellite technology, healthcare, and defense sectors.

Former Czech president Miloš Zeman advocated for peace talks mediated by a neutral party in the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine during a televised debate with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Zeman warned against solely considering military options, emphasizing the need for negotiations to prevent extensive casualties and preserve Ukraine’s integrity. He highlighted the dangers of Russia’s potential dominance in Ukraine while acknowledging the country’s ammunition shortage.

Fico echoed the call for a ceasefire and proposed a peace plan for EU consideration, criticizing the bloc’s current approach. Both leaders voiced concerns over EU governance and advocated for normalized Czech-Slovak relations. Despite campaign regulations forbidding otherwise, Zeman supported presidential candidate Peter Pellegrini.

Czech Transport Minister Martin Kupka said in an interview with the Financial Times that Russia has launched numerous cyberattacks on European railway networks since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022—the hacking attempts are aimed at destabilizing the EU and sabotaging critical infrastructure. Kupka emphasized the need to enhance cybersecurity measures and disclosed plans to limit foreign companies’ participation in high-speed rail tenders due to security concerns.

Research conducted last year in the hop-growing regions of Žatec, Úštěck, and Tršick revealed hop wilting in 19 out of 346 hop farms, posing a significant risk of spreading to other areas. The Central Inspection and Testing Institute of Agriculture reported the presence of the fungal disease Verticillium nonalfalfae. Prevention measures include protective gear and equipment disinfection. The disease, causing leaf yellowing and wilting, threatens Czech hop growers, with confirmed lethal variants in Chomutovska and Lounska.

Prague Zoo is organizing a farewell event this Saturday for male elephants Max and Rudi, the first elephants born and bred in Prague. Max will be relocated to Antwerp Zoo in June, while Rudi will move to Pombia Safari Park in northern Italy this month as part of the European Elephant Breeding Programme. Born to Sri Lankan female elephants, Max and Rudi carry historical names reflecting Czech heritage.