Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A clip showing Czech President Vaclav Klaus spiriting away a pen during a press conference has become cult viewing on YouTube and inspired a tongue-in-cheek Facebook campaign.
The clip, copied from a report on Klaus's visit to Chile which was broadcast by public Czech television on Sunday night, was posted on Youtube the same day.
It had drawn more than 550,000 views on YouTube by Tuesday afternoon.
Klaus, sitting next to his Chilean counterpart Sebastian Pinera, is seen first opening a pen case lying on the table in front of him as the Chilean president gives him an enthusiastic welcome.
He takes the pen out, examines it carefully, hides his hands under the table, shuffles with his jacket, then buttons it up with both hands and finally lets his empty hands emerge above the table again to close the case.
Klaus, 69, is no stranger to international protocol. He has been Czech president since 2003 and was prime minister from 1993 to 1997.
On Tuesday he was quoted by the Novinky.cz news site as saying it was "standard to take a pen from an event," stressing it was no golden pen but a ballpoint.
The clip, which uses red arrows and circles to trace the route of the pen to the president's pocket, has inspired a Facebook collection for Klaus.
Participants are to send pens to his office on May 2 "as the president obviously has nothing to write with", according to the Facebook group.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments