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The world-renowned Czech mezzo soprano Magdalena Kožená has been nominated for this year’s Grammy Awards, along with such stars as Beyonce or Rihanna. Kožená received the nomination in the Best Classical Vocal Album category for her album of works by Claudio Monteverdi, which was released this spring under the label Deutsche Grammophon.

In the Czech Republic, smokers, roughly a quarter of the population, burn through 21 billion cigarettes each year; but after last Friday, they are likely to soon no longer be able to smoke in restaurants or pubs. Lawmakers in the lower house of parliament passed a long-awaited anti-smoking bill.

Following the end of most sanctions earlier this year, Iran is one of the most courted countries in the world due to its booming economic prospects. The Czech Republic is seeking a piece of the prospective action with a top level Iranian delegation in Prague on Friday to chart how bilateral economic ties can develop further.

A new scientific study has found that new-born babies in Moravia’s industrial north-east are significantly more prone to illness than in the rest of the country. The joint study by the Czech Institute of Experimental Medicine and the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague focuses on the notorious Karviná district, which suffers from severe smog as a result of copious coal-burning by homes and power plants, pollution from local steelworks, and proximity to a similarly industrial area of Poland.

After a seven hour debate and many motions for changes, the government coalition rallied its troops and won sufficient support to push through its planned 2017 budget which foresees a slight reduction in the planned state deficit.

After a year of events dedicated to highlighting the legacy of Bohemian King and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, CzechTourism is preparing its main theme for 2017. The focus will be on the country’s Baroque period, with its architecture, landscape, music and gastronomy.

US president-elect Donald Trump has invited Czech president Miloš Zeman to the White house next year, Prague Castle has revealed. The pair spoke by telephone on Tuesday, affirming a common stance on issues such as migration and battling terrorism.

Members of the legendary rock group Pražský výběr will go on stage at Prague’s O2 Arena on Wednesday night to play the biggest and quite possibly the last concert of their 40-year career, called “eR - Last or Forever”. The concert of Pražský výběr, one of the most significant rock bands of the 1980s, will be accompanied by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, and they will be joined on stage by a number of guest musicians.

An 18-strong team of Czech military doctors has been dispatched to support coalition efforts in Iraq. The team is being situated near the city of Mosul, where efforts continue to defeat Islamist extremists from ISIL.

Trust in the country’s president, Miloš Zeman, has fallen to its lowest in the past 12 months, a poll - conducted on the heels of Czech-born Holocaust survivor George Brady being overlooked for a state distinction - suggests. Other missteps or scandals since, including the latest involving the outgoing head of protocol at Prague Castle, could negatively impact the numbers further.