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Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has launched a massive counter-offensive to the preliminary EU audit concluding that he has a conflict of interest due to strong links to his former business empire. While he refuses to meet with the organizers of the street protests against him, he has taken every opportunity to present himself as the victim of a targeted smear campaign intended to drive him out of politics.

Today it is exactly 77 years since units of the German Security Police liquidated the Central Bohemian village of Lidice in retaliation for the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich. While far from the only example of such cruelty during the war, Lidice became famous around the world. In part due to its symbolic value as a place of tragedy, but also hope.

The most travelled flock of hens, the longest limousine car, or a two-meter-high knitted snowman are just some of the attractions visitors can look forward to seeing at the 29th Pelhřimov Curiosity Festival, which takes place this Friday and Saturday. The festival has been going strong for nearly 30 years and attracts people from across the country, as well as the wider continent.

Young Czechs remain at the top of the European ladder in the use of soft or party drugs, with marihuana being the most commonly used substance. However it is the illegal production of methamphetamine that remains the most pressing problem in fight against drug abuse, both for the Czech Republic and neighbour states.

Czech politicians, including President Miloš Zeman, have condemned the draft Russian legislation stating that Soviet troops took part in the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia to supress an attempted coup. The Senate’s Committee for Foreign Affair said the draft was an attempt to rewrite history.

For the first time in history Czech citizens can come up with an official name for a star and planet outside our solar system. The opportunity comes as part of the 100 year anniversary of the International Astronomical Union, which has launched their worldwide NameExoWorlds campaign as part of the celebrations.

The Czech Republic’s Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes has launched a new project to help teachers in primary and secondary schools make history classes more engaging. Called Obrazy války or Images of War, it focuses on the period of the Second World War and provides teachers with alternative study materials, based on photographs and film clips.

News outlets from across the world reported on Tuesday’s demonstration calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, which organisers say had the largest turnout since the Velvet Revolution. Among the tens of thousands of protesters were many representing the regions, where the PM’s party has its main power base.

Czech-Burmese relations are getting closer. That was the main message of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate turned State Counsellor of Myanmar, during her visit to Prague this week. Leading Czech dignitaries have hosted the Burmese head of government with both sides stressing the aim to establish closer business ties as top of the agenda.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš remains defiant in the midst of a storm following the leaking of a preliminary EU audit which states that he has a conflict of interests and the country many have to return close to half a billion crowns in EU grants as a result. The prime minister insists that the country will not have to return anything and has refused a call for him to ask the lower house for a vote of confidence in his minority government.