Daily news summary

Migrants biggest factor in rise in Czech population

The population of the Czech Republic rose by around 25,000 last year, with foreign migrants accounting for four-fifths of that increase, according to official statistics released on Tuesday. The country had 10,578,820 inhabitants at the end of 2016. Last year saw the highest birth rate in six years and there were more births than deaths. Men were on average 72.3 years of age when they died, compared to 79.2 for women.

Dvůr Králové zoo cuts off rhinos horns over poachers fear

Keepers at Dvůr Králové zoo in East Bohemia have begun cutting off the horns of its rhinoceroses. The move follows an incident at the Thoiry zoo in France where poachers killed a rhino and cut its horn off earlier this month. The first rhino at Dvůr Králové, a rare male white rhino, underwent the procedure on Monday, officials said. The zoo currently has 21 rhinos and all of them, with the exception of three calves, are to have their horns removed by chainsaw.

Chovanec gets police to examine allegations against party colleague Zimola

The minister of the interior, Milan Chovanec, has ordered the Czech police’s internal affairs unit to look into allegations received in an anonymous email that south Bohemian governor Jiří Zimola received tip-offs about planned police raids. Both men are senior members of the Social Democrats. The email also claimed that Mr. Zimola influenced the awarding of road maintenance contracts. He denies any wrongdoing and says the author of the email was mentally ill.

CEZ net profit down by 29 percent in 2016

The state-owned energy giant CEZ saw its net profit fall by 29 percent year-on-year to CZK 14.6 billion in 2016, according to figures released by the company on Tuesday. The decline in profits has been attributed to low energy prices and temporary shutdowns at CEZ’s power stations. The company has proposed paying out a dividend of CZK 33 per share. In the last four years CEZ paid out CZK 40 a share.

75,000 people see exhibition of Mucha’s Slav Epic in only 12 days

Over 75,000 people have seen an exhibition of Alphonse Mucha’s Slav Epic since it opened its doors in the Japanese city of Tokyo 12 days ago, Prague councillor Jan Wolf told the Czech News Agency. The series of enormous paintings is scheduled to be on show until June 5 but the Japanese organisers have already sounded out the possibility of keeping the exhibition open for longer. Mr. Wolf said people from all over Japan were travelling to Tokyo for the show.

Čech clinches title of Footballer of the Year

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Čech has clinched the title of Czech Footballer of the Year for a record ninth time, edging Vladimír Darida, who plays for Hertha Berlin and Bořek Dočkal (Henan Jianye) in the annual Czech Football Association survey. Lucie Voňková, a striker for FF USV Jena in the Bundesliga, won the title of Female Footballer of the Year and Vítězslav Lavička, who manages the U-21 team, best coach. The awards were presented at a gala ceremony at Prague Castle.

Weather forecast

Forecasters say we can expect rain on Wednesday in the Czech Republic and temperatures of up to 8 degrees Celsius.