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Current AffairsBracing for a terrorist attack
The sound of sirens - the Czech Republic's early-warning system - is one
that many people have come to dread. Some remember the sound from the time
of the floods three years ago, but today fears are just as strong of a
man-made catastrophe. Since the terrorist attacks in New York, Madrid and
London the fear of a possible bomb attack is never far from people's
minds. Although the Czech intelligence services say they have no
indication of any imminent threat to this country, the Czech government
wants to make sure that the country's police and rescue services are
capable of dealing with a large-scale disaster.
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Current AffairsPolice study: wire-tapping numbers were exaggerated
Three months ago it caused nothing less than a furore in the Czech
Republic: the news that wiretapping of telephones was among the highest in
Europe. Following several high-profile tapping cases the country's
president himself asked for a full investigation. Now, the police study is
complete and both the interior minister and other officials are standing by
numbers said to show that tapping in this country is not nearly as high as
previously thought.
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Current AffairsOpinion divided in parliament over Bush victory
While some European leaders may be feeling trepidation at the election of
George Bush to a second term as US President, the Czech President Vaclav
Klaus - himself a strong advocate of the political right - responded with
unconcealed delight, describing Mr Bush as a "true leader of his
nation at a difficult time". And that is despite Mr Klaus's
reservations about the Iraq war. But Czech political opinion is divided,
as we found out when we spoke to deputies in the Czech parliament on
Thursday. More
