Daily news summary
Shareholders agree sale of controversial pig farm to the state
A majority of shareholders in AGPI, an agriculture company owning a controversial pig farm in South Bohemia, agreed on Monday to the farm’s sale to the state. For years, the pig farm stood partly on the site of a former labour and later WWII concentration camp where Romanies were interned. Some 300 people died there and an additional 500 people were sent to Auschwitz. According to the Czech News Agency, 88 percent of shareholders were in favour and 11 percent were against. The government is still keeping details, including the buyout price, under wraps; however, AGPI is expected to release the details once the sale is completed. Human rights activists and Roma groups have long sought the removal of the pig farm, calling it a stain on the memory of those who suffered and died at the former camp.
Police investigate fewer cases of parents not paying share for raising children
The number of cases where parents of split families are failing to make payments for raising children has fallen for the fourth year running. In 2016, police investigated just over 10,600 cases where payments were not being made. That is around 1,500 fewer than the previous year. Higher employment and the possibility of withdrawing driving licenses from non-paying parents are among the reasons given for the fall. There are around 180,000 single parent families in the Czech Republic.
Last attendees depart site of illegal techno party
Only a handful of participants remained early on Monday at a meadow near Nymburk, east of Prague, after attending an illegal techno party at the site at the weekend which attracted up to 6,000 people in total. Around 200, the Czech News Agency reported, had remained at the site a day earlier. The local mayor has complained the field was damaged by the illegal gathering while locals complained that the loud music had disturbed the peace. The party began on Friday; police tried to get attendees to leave but otherwise did not step in.
Zlín governor declares state of emergency over African swine fever
The regional governor for Zlín, Jiří Čunek, has declared a state of emergency in the region to try and isolate and prevent the spread of African swine fever. The outbreak of the disease among wild boar is largely concentrated in a 20 square kilometer area; one measure to be taken will be the instalation of 45 kilometre-long electric fencing to keep infected animals in.
Czech police officers leave for Macedonia and Serbia
Fifty-five Czech police officers departed for foreign missions in Macedonia and Serbia on Monday where they will serve until September 11, when they will rotate out. The news was confirmed by the police president Petr Petřík. The Czech officers will help guard Macedonia’s border with Greece and Serbia’s with Bulgaria. The move is part of a continuing operation in response to the migration crisis.
Sparta Prague draw 1:1 in season opener against Bohemians
In football, Sparta Prague drew 1:1 in their first league game of the new season 1:1 against Prague rivals Bohemians 1904. David Lafata, with his 200th goal for the club, scored from the penalty spot in the 16th minute. Two minutes from time Martin Šmíd equalised. Tomáš Rosický came on for Sparta in the 71st minute.Sparta’s Italian manager Stramaccioni described the performance as an improvement on the Europa League qualifier against Crvene Zvezde Belgrade last week when Sparta lost 0:2.
Weather
Tuesday should be mostly sunny. Daytime temperatures are expected to reach highs of around 34 degrees Celsius.
