Czech news in brief for April 19: Saturday's top headlines

A 19-year-old Czech and a 17-year-old Austrian were attacked and robbed by a group of teenagers in central Vienna around midnight Saturday, police said. The assault occurred on Rotenturmstraße, where about 10 youths reportedly beat the victims and stole their caps and watches before fleeing. The Czech victim was hospitalized. Austrian police are seeking witnesses to help identify the attackers.

Czech tennis player Linda Nosková and Russian Irina Khromacheva advanced to the WTA doubles final at the Open de Rouen in France after a dramatic semifinal win. They saved two match points before defeating Quinn Gleason and Magali Kempen 6-2, 3-6, 13-11. Nosková, 20, will seek her first doubles title Sunday against Aleksandra Krunić and Sabrina Santamaria.

New rules taking effect May 1 will relax requirements for small child care groups of up to 12 children in Czechia. A related law enables home-based neighborhood groups for up to four children. From September, stricter dietary rules will apply, requiring daily fruit and vegetables, monthly fish servings, and limits on sugar. Officials say the changes support better work-life balance for parents by expanding child care options.

Ian Paice, drummer for British rock band Deep Purple, will perform seven concerts in Czechia with his group Purpendicular, starting Oct. 1 at Prague’s Lucerna Music Bar. The tour includes stops in Liberec, Pardubice, Plzeň, Brno and Ostrava. Known for hits like Smoke on the Water and Hush, Paice remains the only founding member still with Deep Purple after more than five decades.

A Bidfood delivery van caught fire and exploded on Ve Smečkách Street in central Prague shortly before 1 p.m. on Friday. Flames reached several meters high, and an explosion was heard as police arrived. Firefighters extinguished the blaze in about 10 minutes. No injuries were reported. The cause appears to be a technical fault. Damages are estimated at CZK 700,000, including CZK 100,000 to a nearby vehicle.

A record 4,639 companies closed in Czechia in Q1 2025—the highest number since records began in 1990—according to a CRIF study. At the same time, 8,695 new businesses were founded, the most since 2017, resulting in a net gain of 4,056 firms. However, that gain is 12 percent lower year-on-year. Most new firms were based in Prague, and the largest sector for both new and closed companies was retail.

Canadian composer Christophe Beck received the CSFD Award for Lifetime Achievement at Composers Summit Prague. The Emmy-winning artist, known for scores to Frozen, The Hangover, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, attended the event’s opening concert, where his music was performed. The summit runs through April 22 and features concerts and workshops for film and game music professionals, composers, and producers.

Lamb meat production in Czechia has fallen from 150 tons in 2019 to 58 tons last year, according to the Czech Statistical Office. Despite this decline, demand spikes each Easter, when butcher shops report sales increases of up to 30 percent. Experts say weak consumption is tied to high prices and a lack of culinary tradition. Farmers also face challenges from declining wool sales and concerns over foot-and-mouth disease.

Six wild Exmoor horses were relocated Wednesday to a new pasture near Havraník in Podyjí National Park, officials said. The stallions will help manage overgrown grasslands and restore habitats rich in rare flora and fauna. The horses have been grazing in the region since 2018. Two herds now roam the park, which spans 60 hectares and is a major nature destination in South Moravia.

Czech MEP Ondřej Kovářík will step down from European Parliament before the summer recess due to family reasons, he announced Thursday. First elected in 2019, Kovářík was re-elected in 2024. He will be replaced by Jaroslav Knot, a former ambassador to Norway. Kovářík's party ANO, part of the Patriots for Europe faction, holds seven seats in the current European Parliament.

A 62-year-old Czech kayaker died of heart failure Thursday while paddling the Tavignano River in Corsica, despite efforts by rescuers, local media reported. Emergency crews, including a rescue helicopter and mountain rangers, responded after a Czech-speaking caller reported a suspected heart attack near Giuncaggio. The incident occurred during severe weather, which prompted flood warnings across the island.