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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.

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.

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?

Brigadier General Franišek Mičánek, head of the Centre for Security and Military Strategic Studies at the University of Defence in Brno, has been elected dean of NATO Defense College in Rome. He is the second Czech to secure a high post in NATO structures, following General Petr Pavel’s appointment as chairman of NATO’s Military Committee.

A project launched by the United Nation’s High Commissioner for Refugees’ aimed at teaching schoolchildren about migrants has stirred heated debate in the Czech Republic. The Education Ministry has distanced itself from the project and President Miloš Zeman has called it ‘idiotic and naive’ likening it to Bolshevik propaganda.

The first of a group of 153 Christian refugees from Iraq due to settle in the Czech Republic arrived over the weekend. The plan to take in Christians at risk was initiated by Generation 21 Foundation which has pledged to oversee and finance their relocation. I asked the head of the Foundation Jan Talafant to tell us more about them and what kind of reception they received.

British Prime Minister David Cameron flies into Prague on Friday with the main target to firm up his hopes of sealing a deal on European Union reforms which can be put to British voters in a referendum on whether to stay in or out of the 28-country political and economic bloc.