Czech news in brief for December 2: Tuesday's top morning headlines

Police investigated MP Filip Turek after posts from his X account appeared to endorse the 2023 killings of two environmental activists in Panama. Turek denied writing the comments, saying friends sometimes use his phone. Detectives could not confirm the device or IP address behind the posts, which were later deleted, and the case was dropped in July. Prosecutors are separately examining other alleged extremist comments tied to his accounts.

Legal disputes among construction firms are threatening the timeline for Prague’s Metro D project, reports Czech Television, particularly a segment starting at Olbrachtová with four planned stations. Courts and the antimonopoly office are weighing competing claims, potentially prolonging decisions for years. Even a final regional court ruling may not resolve the issue, as the contract could be cancelled entirely, forcing the city to restart the tender process.

As of Dec. 1, fireworks use will be more restricted under an amended pyrotechnics law aimed at protecting animals and reducing disturbances. Firework sales from markets and portable stalls are now banned. Those using fireworks and rockets must maintain a 250-meter distance from hospitals, senior homes, shelters, zoos, and rescue stations. Only F1-category items such as sparklers remain widely allowed for users 15 and older.

Czech e-shops recorded about CZK 8.5 billion in Black Friday sales, up 8 percent from last year, according to the Association for Electronic Commerce. Small and medium e-shops saw an 18 percent weekend surge, with clothing, cosmetics, e-bikes, toys, and decorations leading gains. Price-tracking group Shop Watch found some retailers overstated discounts. E-shops expect CZK 73.5–77 billion in Christmas sales, with carriers urging early parcel drop-offs.

Czech sculptor Čestmír Suška has installed his Abandoned Dwellings exhibition on Prague’s Smíchov embankment, using five carved metal cisterns to highlight people displaced by war and crisis. First conceived during Europe’s refugee wave, the interactive sculptures have toured Germany and Czechia. Officials say the display, open through February 2026, also aims to enliven the winter waterfront. Suška’s Studio Bubec is providing related educational programs.