Chemical elements

Turkey's Eti Maden Lithium Production Plant inaugurated in the country's central province of Eskişehir on Dec. 26 will help prevent annually $20 million lithium imports, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez said.

The tap water in Lyubimets is now safe for drinking and cooking show the new tests made yesterday. The indicators are good and arsenic concentration, for which water use was limited, is already within normal.

Turkish police seized nearly 70,000 historical artifacts in simultaneous operations conducted in the Aegean provinces of Izmir and Manisa. 

Acting on a tip off, local security and intelligence teams followed seven suspects, who previously had criminal records for historical artifact smuggling, said sources on Friday speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a state of emergency in the Arctic city of Norilsk on Jue 3 after a huge leak of fuel into a river and upbraided a senior official on television over what he said was a bungled state response.

Outdoor sporting activities are now officially allowed, but only for individual sports. Swimming pools are also expected to open in the coming days, but if they meet all the health and safety requirements set by the Minister of Health.

The Greek government on Monday presented a plan for the restructuring of LARCO, one of Europe's biggest nickel producers, by placing the mineral and metallurgical industry into a clearance management status which envisages cost and wage reductions, and an immediate launch of a tender for the selling of the factory and mines within 12 months.

An organization dedicated to healthy seas is calling on the Environment Ministry to conduct an investigation into the quality of the water in Ermoupoli port on the island of Syros after discovering worryingly high levels of heavy metals on the seabed.

Bulgaria's Minister of Environment and Water, Neno Dimov, on January 10 was accused of deliberate mismanagement. He remains in custody for 72 hours. The Prosecutor's Office will seek for remand.

The price of gold has reached a 7-year high because of the danger of a military conflict between Iran and the United States. It reached $ 1,582 an ounce. This is the highest value since April 2013. The rise was expected because in times of geopolitical crises, gold is seen as a safe investment and the price goes up.

Two people were injured in a blast in a mine near the eastern German city of Halle, the Associated Press reported, citing police sources and DPA.

It is estimated that about 35 people were left underground, but in a safe place.

The incident occurred in a former potassium carbonate (potash) mine, where only extractive waste is now stored.