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

Recent closures of the Strait of Hormuz are likely part of a game or misunderstanding between the U.S. and Iran, local political analysts told Czech News Agency. The disruptions are raising concerns over global oil and gas supplies, with potential impacts on prices and inflation. Analysts expect continued instability rather than escalation, though shipping risks remain high. The strait is a key route for a significant share of global energy exports.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, developed by Czech studio Warhorse, has won the BAFTA award for Best Story. The medieval role-playing game is set in 15th-century Bohemia and follows the character Henry of Skalice through real historical locations including Kutná Hora and Bohemian Paradise. The title was also nominated for best lead performance. The success follows strong international recognition for the franchise, which has boosted tourism in areas featured in the game.

Around 100 residents blocked a main road in western Bohemia on Saturday to protest plans for a deep geological repository for radioactive waste in the Brezový potok area. The demonstration is part of a decades-long opposition campaign involving nearby municipalities. The government is expected to select one of four possible sites by 2030. Residents argue they should have a stronger role in decision-making and continue to reject the planned facility.

Czech author Dora Kaprálová won the 2025 Book of the Year award at the Magnesia Litera ceremony in Prague for her work Maribor Hypnosis. She also received the prose category prize. The annual awards recognize outstanding Czech literature across genres, with a record 631 books submitted this year. Other winners included titles in poetry, non-fiction, and children’s literature. The event also featured criticism of cultural policy and support for public media.

The peacock butterfly was the most frequently recorded species in Czechia last year, according to organisers of the nationwide Butterfly Half-Hour monitoring project. Around 400 volunteers submitted nearly 4,000 observations covering more than 36,000 butterflies. Experts say cold and unstable spring weather reduced overall numbers. The citizen science initiative, which tracks butterfly populations as indicators of environmental health, will continue this year with observation weeks scheduled for June and July.