Daily news summary

State collected over one trillion crowns in taxes in 2018

The state collected over one trillion crowns in taxes last year, which is 62 billion more than in the previous year, the Czech News Agency reported on Sunday.

According to the state’s final account, presented by the government in the Lower House of Parliament, some 727 billion crowns ended up in the state budget and 295 billion crowns were earmarked for regions and municipalities. Nearly 20 billion crowns went to the State Fund for Transport Infrastructure. Collection of VAT and personal income tax recorded the steepest growth in 2018.

Marian column supporters gather on Old Town Square

Members of the Association for the Renewal of the Marian Column gathered on Prague’s Old Town Square on Sunday, collecting signatures in support of rebuilding the structure that stood there until 1918.

On Saturday, sculptor Petr Váňa again attempted to start rebuilding the column, placing part of a balustrade in its original location. His first attempt was thwarted by the police on grounds that he did not have the required permit to close off part of the square. Mr. Váňa claims that he has planning permission for the column.

The original Marian column, built in 1650, was regarded by some as a symbol of Austrian rule and was torn down by an angry mob shortly after Czechoslovakia was founded.

Czech films take three awards at Annecy animated film festival

Czech animated films collected three awards at this year’s International Animated Film Festival in Annecy in France. Daria Kashcheeva’s Daughter, a short puppet film about a complicated relationship between a daughter and her father, was voted the best film in the Graduation Short Films in Competition. The film, produced by FAMU, also won the Junior Jury Award in the same category.

Another FAMU project, Martin Smatana’s The Kite, which premiered at Berlinale in the Generation Kplus section, won the Young Audience Award. The annual festival in Annecy was established in 1960. This year it was attended by around 11,000 film professionals.

Beach Boys to perform at Prague’s Lucerna on Sunday evening

US band the Beach Boys are set to perform in Prague’s Lucerna Music Hall on Sunday evening, exactly 50 years ago after their first performance at the same venue.

In 1969, the band played three concerts in former Czechoslovakia, including Prague’s Lucerna, Brno and Bratislava. The legendary last performed in the Czech capital two years ago.

The current Beach Boys lineup features original member Mike Love and Bruce Johnston, who joined the group in 1978, along with supporting musicians.

Hot weather set to continue in coming weeks

Temperatures over the next four weeks should remain above average for the time of year, according to a regular four-week weather forecast issued by the Czech Hydro-Meteorological Institute. After a burst of heavy rain this weekend, temperatures are expected to rise again next week, reaching 30 degrees Celsius. The amount of rainfall for the whole four-week period should be below the long-term average.

Canoeist Prskavec takes silver at World Cup event in London

Czech kayaker Jiří Prskavec took the silver medal in the K1 men’ category at the Canoe Slalom World Cup in London. The 26-year-old Czech finished less than a second behind Joseph Clark of Great Britain. Tereta Fišerová finished sixth in the women’s canoe event.

Weather

Monday will be mostly sunny with daytime high ranging between 25 and 27 degrees Celsius.