Daily news summary
Australian firm pledges to process Lithium in Czech Republic
Lithium extracted in the Czech Republic near the German border at Cínovec should be processed in the country according to an agreement between the ministry of industry and the Australian mining company, European Metals Holdings. Mining should begin in 2022 the agreement continues.
European Metals says it is prepared to continue talks with the government about the precise processing and uses of lithium.
Lithium is used in batteries and is a key component for electric cars and other uses. The Czech Republic is reckoned to have around 3 percent of the world’s reserves.
Czech economy grew by 4.7 percent in Q2
The Czech economy grew annually by 4.7 percent in the second quarter of this year, the Czech Statistical Office said on Tuesday, confirming preliminary figures released in early September. Analysts say this was the fastest tempo of growth since the end of 2015 and the biggest quarter-to-quarter growth recorded over the past 20 years.
According to experts, manufacturing industry, especially car production, was the major factor behind the growth.
Czech drug smuggler sentenced to 17 years by New Zealand court
A Czech man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison in New Zealand for attempting to smuggle 20 kilogrammes of methamphetamine to the country, the local daily, The Stuff, reported on Tuesday.
The 42-year old Czech and his mother were arrested in May 2016 at the airport in Auckland where they arrived on a flight from Thailand. The drugs, with a street value of up to 20 million US dollars, were discovered in secret compartments in their luggage.
Charges against the mother were dropped after the investigation showed she had no knowledge of the drugs.
Czech population rose by about 73, 400 in last five years
The population of the Czech Republic rose by about 73.400 people over the past five years to total around 10.579 million, according to the latest data released by the Czech Statistical Office on Tuesday. The rise was driven mainly by foreign migrants.
Despite more children being born in recent years, the Czech population is ageing. Children up to the age of 15 account for 15.6 percent of the population, while people over the age of 65 account for nearly 19 percent. The average age is currently 42 years.
Translation prize awarded for Czech edition of Cervantes novel
The Josef Jungmann prize for the best translation into Czech was awarded to Josef Forbelský for his translation from Spanish of Miguel Cervantese’s novel Persiles and Sigismund.
The Josef Jungmann prize has been given annually since 1991 on the day of Saint Jerome, who is the patron saint of translators. At this year’s ceremony, which took place on Monday night, Vrastislav Slezák and Radoslav Nenadál were inducted into the hall of fame.
Jaromír Jágr signs NHL contract with Calgary Flames
Czech ice hockey veteran, Jaromír Jágr, has signed a one-year contract with the Canadian NHL club, the Calgary Flames. The deal comes on the eve of the start of the new season.
Jágr, 45, has been for weeks seeking a new team as a free agent after his former contract with the Florida Panthers was not extended at the end of the last season.
The new deal could allow Jágr to set a new record for NHL league starts.
Weather
Wednesday is expected to be mostly cloudy with occasional showers and daytime temperatures ranging between 11 and 15 degrees Celsius.
