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The Czech Republic could in future play a role in NATO’s Rapid Response Force. That is if the country’s new defence minister has her way. Speaking at Czech Army HQ, Jana Černochová also called for increased military spending.

Over the past decade or so, Czechia has seen something of an upsurge in small breweries. There are now about 500 mini-breweries across the country, with over 30 being established last year. However, the new head of the national mini brewers association says the trend has already reached its peak.

Josef Maršálek is a master confectioner with star status. Rising to head pastry chef at the world-famous Harrod’s department store in London, he baked for royalty – serving the Queen of England and Emperor of Japan – and a host of celebrities, such as Sir Elton John. After a sabbatical of sorts at a patisserie in India, he returned to Prague a few years ago to host the Czech version of the wildly popular show the Great British Bake Off. I caught up with him ahead of the Christmas break in hopes of learning a few tricks of the trade when it comes to baking for the holidays. But I began by asking the pastry chef about his latest projects.

A children’s book inspired by the Czech fairy tale character of Vodník or Water Goblin has just been released in Scotland. Called Andyel and His Magic Daddy, the book also features illustrations by Czech teenager Sidonie Procházková.

The Czech Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a dinner of fried carp and potato salad, Jan Jakub Ryba’s Christmas Mass and traditional fairy tales screened every holiday season on Czech television. Perhaps the most popular of them is Tři oříšky pro Popelku, or Three Wishes for Cinderella, made by Václav Vorlíček in 1973. A re-make of the famous fairy tale has now been released in Norway.

Prague’s famous Loreto church has a surprise in store for visitors. Its 27-bell Baroque carillon is being re-programmed to play a Christmas melody from Christmas Day till February 2. It is only the second time in over a century that the melody has been changed.

The new Czech government hasn’t wasted time in laying out its priorities as regards the Covid crisis. A decree on compulsory vaccinations will be amended before it takes effect, while the health minister says he prefers appealing to the public to be careful over state directives.

The new Czech cabinet, led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala, has made it clear that it plans to effect change in many areas of government. However, one area in which the new administration will stay firmly on course is energy policy. The new prime minister said on Sunday that the proposed EU ban on new vehicles with internal combustion engines by 2035 is unacceptable and the Czech Republic would seek allies in Europe to change it.

Saturday marks the 10th anniversary of the death of Václav Havel, the former political prisoner who in late 1989 became Czechoslovakia’s first post-Communist president and a symbol of human rights around the world. Among those who worked closely with him before and during the Velvet Revolution, was the journalist and teacher Jan Urban. Indeed, he suggested “forum” and Havel came up with “civic” when a name was sought for the loose opposition group that pushed through the transition to democracy. As is clear in this interview, Urban is also quite critical of Václav Havel’s performance as president, believing he could have achieved far more.

The Czech Republic’s new government was officially sworn in by President Miloš Zeman at Lány Chateau on Friday. Headed by Petr Fiala, the cabinet is made up of 17 ministers from the ruling Together and Pirates and Mayors coalition. It replaces the ANO-Social Democrat government of Andrej Babiš, which led the country for the past four years.