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Czech science is experiencing interesting times. There’s a new head of the country’s biggest scientific institution and on the 10th anniversary of the existence of one of Europe’s biggest research funds, there’s been criticism of the country’s poor performance in pumping those resources and conducting top level science.

The management of Prague’s National Theatre this week symbolically launched planned renovation of the State Opera, located not far from Wenceslas Square. The project is set to cost 858 million crowns and will take more than two years, during which time the State Opera will put on productions at other venues. It is the first major renovation job on a large state-owned theatre since 1989.

Proposals for stricter European gun rules achieved almost the impossible by uniting Czech MEPs and creating a broad front of domestic opposition to the plans. While backers of the changes maintain they are clamping down on terrorism, opponents say the new rules are wide of the mark and merely make life difficult for legitimate and licensed gun holders. And Czech lawmakers have pledged to fight on.

Monday, March 13th, marked 40 years since the death of Czech philosopher Jan Patočka, one of the founding members and first spokesmen for the Charter 77 human rights movement. Patočka, who suffered from ill health, was interrogated for 10 hours by Czechoslovakia’s secret police, the StB. His health rapidly worsened and he later died. His funeral itself became an expression of opposition to the regime.

Amendments to the foreigner’s law which are being debated in the lower house of Parliament this week could significantly complicate the life of foreigners living in the Czech Republic, according to experts from non-governmental organisations and the Czech Chamber of Commerce. I spoke to Masha Volynsky of the Consortium of Migrants Assisting Organizations in the Czech Republic, who says the changes proposed by the Interior Ministry present a very significant infringement on migrant rights:

Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka stood for re-election of the Social Democrats at the party’s congress at the weekend and received 67 percent support from delegates, a somewhat lukewarm result given that he ran unopposed. Many would argue in an election year there was no advantage of changing horses midstream; also most are aware that it will be Mr Sobotka left holding the bag if the Social Democrats fail to triumph in the parliamentary elections this autumn.

President Miloš Zeman has officially announced his decision to run for a second, five-year, term in office. Although the field of declared candidates for the post is still small, political observers say the president will be a tough rival with the undisputed advantage of campaigning in office.

President Zeman’s decision to run for a second term in office was widely anticipated on the Czech political scene. And although the president has no party backing, and many are stressing the need for change, there is still no strong rival on the horizon to challenge him for the top post. I asked the head of the STEM polling agency Jan Hartl to assess how strong Mr. Zeman’s position is after four years in office and whether potential rivals stand any chance of replacing him.

The Prague restaurant Eska has been included in Michelin’s Main Cities of Europe Guide for 2017. The restaurant, located in the busy district of Karlín, received the Bib Gourmand award for places with “exceptional good food at moderate prices”. There are currently seven restaurants in the capital that boast a “Bib”, while three others have retained their one-star Michelin ranking. I asked food critic Petra Pospěchová what she thinks earned Eska the prestigious spot on the Bib Gourmand list:

Government leaders the Social Democrats are gearing up for a congress this weekend at which the party’s chairman, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, is expected to retain his post. But in general what shape are the party in with elections coming up in October? That’s a question Ian Willoughby put to political scientist Petr Just. He says the Social Democrats are the only coalition member “paying” for being in government with lower poll numbers – this hasn’t happened to the smaller parties, Andrej Babiš’s ANO or the Christian Democrats.