Czech news in brief for April 2: Thursday's top afternoon headlines

The Czech government will cap retailers' profit margins on fuel and reduce the excise duty on diesel, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said after today's cabinet meeting. The new measures, meant to keep fuel prices in check as the war in the Middle East continues to disrupt global markets, will come into effect next Wednesday, April 8. The government will also set maximum fuel prices on a daily basis.

Temperatures are set to rise throughout the Easter week-end in the Czech Republic, possibly reaching up to 20°C on Sunday, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) announced. Above-average temperatures are expected for both Saturday and Sunday, although it might also rain in the evening. Showers and a slight cooling of temperatures are expected for Easter Monday.

PPF Group, the giant conglomerate and international investment firm of late Czech billionaire Petr Kellner, completed the transfer of its registered office from the Netherlands to the Czech Republic, effective this month. Long the richest Czech, Kellner died in a tragic helicopter accident in 2021. PPF Group is now owned by his widow Renáta Kellnerová and daughters.

Culture Minister Oto Klempíř (Motorists) criticized the Czech State Audiovisual Fund's decision to allocate almost CZK 1 million to the production of a film exploring Ukrainian queer history, Seznam Zpravy reports. Claiming the fund should support works with "broader benefits", Klempíř also blamed his predecessor for not having the legal right to intervene in the fund's decision-making process.

The D8 highway in direction of the capital was partly closed on Thursday afternoon after several cars and a van collided, Novinky.cz reports, adding that just one person with minor injuries was already being treated by emergency services. The collision occured near Klíčany, north of Prague, and traffic has been diverted for at least a couple of hours, a police spokeswoman said.