Monday News Briefing

The Czech Constitutional Court will discuss the Senate's treason charges against former president Vaclav Klaus at a closed session March 12, but no definitive decision is expected as the court is waiting for Klaus's reaction. The treason charges against Klaus were filed last Tuesday, one day after the step, initiated by the leftist opposition, was approved by a majority of the senators present. The charges are based on what the complainants call Klaus's acting at variance with the constitution, including his controversial New Year amnesty. According to available information, the court has not set any deadline for Klaus to react to the charges.   

The lost profits of Czech web servers, banks and telecommunication operators during the hackers' attack last week did not exceed 10 million crowns, according to a study by consultancy Pricewaterhouse Coopers. The corporate internal costs directly associated with the fight against hackers were lower than one million crowns, the study said.  Czech companies are about to invest tens of million crowns in the fight against hackers, but they are still often vulnerable from inside, it added. Other experts indicated the attacks had come from one direction, most likely Russia.   

Some 400 people protested against human rights violations in Tibet outside the Chinese embassy in Prague at an event organized by Amnesty International (AI) today. The participants paid tribute to the people who have immolated themselves in protest against Chinese domination by holding up their paper silhouettes. The protesters built a metal construction used for street stands and hung dozens of small Tibetan flags on it to the sound of reproduced Tibetan music. A metal barrier was put out outside the embassy, and approximately 30 police officers patrolled the event. 

News Desk can be reached at
news@praguepost.com