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For governments, Value Added Tax is usually one of the favourite instruments for relieving citizens of their earnings and emptying their pockets. It’s fairly easy to administer and the earnings are potentially huge. But a debate has now erupted within the Czech government and outside about selected cuts in VAT which could dent the flow of funds into state coffers.

In a brief statement issued on Monday evening the Czech foreign minister announced that five Czechs kidnapped in Lebanon last summer had been freed. The men are reportedly in reasonable health and are due home on Wednesday. However, questions remain about their release and there is speculation that it may have come at a price.

On Monday, officials announced that Czech archaeologists had made a remarkable discovery at Abusir, near Cairo, unearthing parts of a wooden boat more than 4,000 years old. Its location near the tomb of a prominent noble is a unique find. Such vessels, used by the spirit of the deceased to navigate the underworld, were usually reserved for members of the royal family.

Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek, heading a Czech delegation, continued an official visit to Cairo on Monday. The meeting with ministers and other representatives is aimed at deepening bilateral relations and bolstering further economic cooperation – with an accent on security and defence.

The Bavarian State Opera in Munich, one of the world’s leading opera houses, will this weekend stage the world premiere of a new piece by the Czech composer Miroslav Srnka. Called South Pole, the opera tells the story of two teams racing each other to reach the most southerly point on Earth. Starring Rollando Villazón in the role of Robert Scott, it represents a major milestone for the composer.

A proposal made on Thursday by ANO leader Andrej Babiš has raised eyebrows and ruffled feathers across the Czech political spectrum. The finance minister says he wants to halve the VAT rate on draft beer.

Last year saw a rise of almost 50 percent in the number of rallies organised by extremist groups in the Czech Republic. According to a freshly released Ministry of the Interior report, many such events were targeted against migrants, with far-right and populist groups viewing the issue as a way of winning new supporters. I discussed the study with extremism expert Miroslav Mareš from Brno’s Masaryk University.

The Czech Republic should elbow its way into the top 20 countries in the world for manufacturing competitiveness by 2020 according to a survey by one of the world’s top consultancy and advisory companies. That’s pretty good news for a county for which manufacturing contributes to more wealth creation than any other European Union state.

The Czech Republic’s position on the Corruption Perception Index published by Transparency International has significantly improved in the past year. The country moved 16 rungs up the ladder to 37th place, acquiring 57 points out of a maximum possible 100. Ruth Fraňková spoke to Radim Bureš of Transparency’s Czech branch, who ascribes the improvement to steps taken by the previous centre-right coalition government of prime minister Petr Nečas:

Miloš Zeman has long been known for his blunt language and biting wit. However, comments he made this week – interpreted as suggesting that the prime minister could be shot – have been criticised across the political spectrum. But has the Czech president “lost control of himself”? Or is he merely appealing to a certain constituency?