Daily news summary

Zeman receives award for long-term support for Israel

The Czech president, Miloš Zeman, received an award recognising his long-term support for Israel on Monday. The Gershon Jacobson Jewish Continuity Foundation presented him with its Warrior for Truth award at a gala evening in New York.

Mr. Zeman arrived in the US city on Sunday ahead of an address at the United Nations General Assembly. He is reported to be planning to speak about the battle against terrorism in Tuesday’s speech.

Foreign minister recovering from concussion

Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek has told journalists he is feeling better and recovering from a concussion and wound requiring stitches sustained in a car crash. He has been told by doctors to avoid sports and to get plenty of rest.

The foreign minister’s car, driven by a member of the minister’s security team, was involved in a crash at Lechovice near Znojmo late Friday.

Mr Zaorálek said the vehicle had flown off the road and into an adjacent field. He thanked his luck there had been no trees by the roadside and said the driver had done a good job of swerving the vehicle away or impact would have occurred earlier. The minister was the only one hurt in the accident.

Lithium mining in Krušné Mountains could lead to more than 1,000 new jobs

Lithium mining in Krušné Mountains could lead to more than 1,000 jobs, say representatives of the town of Cínovec in the Teplice area, where mining is planned.

Investments of around 10 billion crowns are expected and Cínovecká deponie, a company controlled by Czech billionaire Karel Janeček’s investment fund RSJ Investments, possesses all the necessary permits needed to mine the resource in Cínovec.

Lithium is one of the raw materials used for making batteries for electric cars and other applications for renewable energy. High demand and soaring prices could help make the Czech Republic one of the main producers of the metal worldwide.

Czech woman, found guilty of defrauding Norwegian, appeals

A 27-year-old Czech woman has appealed a verdict by the District Court in Brno which found her guilty of defrauding a Norwegian national of the equivalent of more than 53 million crowns (around 2 million euros). She and the 60-year-old male met online on an erotic services website. The woman is alleged to have asked him to borrow funds for a number of reasons, from a knee operation to a car purchase to food for her cat, convincing the Norwegian she would return his money later. Found guilty, the defendant was sentenced to eight years in prison from a maximum 10. She immediately filed an appeal. The case will now go to the High Court in Olomouc.

ČTK: More students seeking dormitory rooms

Higher rents in the Czech capital and other towns and cities, as well as a lack of apartments, has seen more university students seeking dormitory rooms. The Czech News Agency reported that interest was higher than in previous years even though there were fewer first year students this academic year.

The dormitory services association for Prague’s Charles University confirmed that all available rooms were now taken; as did the Czech Technical University, ČVUT.

Rent in Prague averages 15,000 crowns per month, according to ČTK; a single dorm room costs around 4,300.

Slavia overcome Sparta in capital derby

Slavia Prague beat Sparta Prague 2:0 in a derby game at the former’s Eden stadium on Sunday evening. The result means Slavia, who are reigning champions, have now equalled Sparta’s 33-match unbeaten league run, the longest such sequence since the foundation of the Czech Republic.

Slavia’s goals came from Škoda and Hušbauer in the last 20 minutes. They had earlier seen a goal disallowed while Sparta had a man sent off in the dying minutes.

Weather

Rain has been forecast for Tuesday; daytime temperatures should reach highs of around 13 degrees Celsius.