Daily news summary

Minister to meet Chinese ambassador over restrictions on Czech arts organisations

The Czech minister of foreign affairs, Tomáš Petříček, is set to meet China’s ambassador to Prague in connection with reports that China is cancelling events involving Czech arts organisations that have the word Prague in their title.

The Czech minister of culture, Antonín Staněk, said after a meeting in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart that a tour involving the Prague Philharmonia could only go ahead if the ensemble expressed criticism of Prague’s mayor Zdeněk Hřib over statements he made that were not to Beijing’s liking.

Mr. Petříček said he would discuss the matter with Mr. Staněk but that if the reports were true it would be “unfortunate”.

Ministry wants to fine food producers up to CZK 50 million for dual standards

The Czech Ministry of Agriculture wants to introduce fines of up to CZK 50 million for companies that distribute food products in this country that are of poorer quality than in other EU markets. The minister of agriculture, Miroslav Toman, said on Monday that products sold in the Czech Republic in similar wrappings had to have the same ingredients and attributes.

Mr. Toman said a new law imposing hefty fines for dual quality could be in place in 12 months. In the past tests have indicated that some products sold in the Czech Republic were inferior to those marketed in states such as Germany and Austria under the same brands.

Footballer Josef Šural dies following crash in Turkey

Czech football player Josef Šural has died following a minibus crash in Turkey. The 28-year-old was returning from a game with his club Alanyaspor on Sunday when the accident occurred. He was taken to hospital along with six teammates and later died of his injuries.

The forward, who was 28, made 20 appearances for the Czech national team and played for Brno, Liberec and Sparta Prague.

Poll: Most Czechs satisfied with EU membership and wish to remain in bloc

The majority of Czechs wish to remain in the European Union and are satisfied with the country’s membership of the bloc, suggests a poll conducted by Behavio, STEM and Europeum at the turn of the year. Fifty-six percent of respondents said they were content with Czech membership; a similar study some years ago found that only around one-third were satisfied, while in 2018 the figure stood at 45 percent.

Some 11 percent of the population would like the country to quit the EU immediately, the poll indicates. Another 27 percent of those questioned said they would be in favour of leaving if the EU doesn’t undergo reform.

Kiska: Prague unofficially third biggest Slovak city

Prague is unofficially the third biggest Slovak city, going by the number of Slovaks living there, the outgoing president of Slovakia, Andrej Kiska said on a visit to the Czech capital on Monday. Over 100,000 Slovaks live in the city and it is common to hear the language in Prague shops, he said.

Mr. Kiska, who will step down in June, received the keys to the city from Prague’s mayor Zdeněk Hřib. He also laid a wreath to Slovak-born politician Alexander Dubček at the former Federal Assembly building.

Kvitová wins her second WTA title of 2019

World number three Petra Kvitová won her second WTA title of 2019 as she beat Estonia's Anett Kontaveit 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) in the final of the tournament in Stuttgart on Sunday. Having won the Sydney International in January, Kvitová is the first woman to win two titles in 2019.

Třinec crowned Czech ice hockey champions

Třinec have won the Czech ice hockey Extraliga after beating Liberec 4:2 on Sunday evening to achieve the same result on games in the best-of-seven final series of the competition’s playoffs.

It is the second time Třinec have lifted the title in their history and comes eight years after their first triumph. Liberec were losing finalists for the second year in a row.

Weather forecast

It should be wet in the Czech Republic on Tuesday, with temperatures of up to 15 degrees Celsius. More rain is forecast throughout the week, while daytime highs will gradually fall to around 10 degrees Celsius next weekend.