Czech news in brief for December 21: Sunday's top morning headlines

Prague police on Friday charged two men with fraud for running a bond scheme through their construction companies, which caused more than CZK 360 million (USD 17.3 million) in losses to investors in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Police said the men sold bonds between 2015 and 2020 to 535 buyers, later using new investments to pay earlier clients in a Ponzi-style operation. Authorities said the case highlights the risks in lightly regulated corporate bond markets, which are widely used by retail investors.

Prague will mark the second anniversary of the deadly shooting at Charles University’s Faculty of Arts on Saturday with a silent remembrance, a benefit concert, and a memorial mass. Fourteen students and teachers were killed in the Dec. 21, 2023 attack, the deadliest mass shooting in Czech history. Events at Jan Palach Square and nearby churches will honor victims and support youth mental health initiatives.

Czech drivers face higher highway vignette prices and stricter enforcement under new government plans. From 2026, annual vignettes will increase by CZK 130, with shorter-term passes also rising due to inflation and the addition of highway kilometers. Transport Minister Ivan Bednárik (SPD) stated that fines for unpaid vignettes, which are currently only issued when drivers are stopped, will be issued by summons instead. The government is also considering ending the zero-rate exemption for electric vehicles. Last year, customs officers collected over CZK 40 million in fines for unpaid vignettes.

Czechia observes Golden Sunday on Dec. 21, lighting the final Advent candle as the season nears Christmas Eve. Traditionally a time of reflection, the day also draws visitors to markets, concerts, and holiday tours nationwide, including performances of Ryba’s Czech Christmas Mass and events at castles and historic sites. The four Advent Sundays (iron, bronze, silver, and gold) symbolize hope, love, joy, and peace, marking the spiritual journey toward Christ’s birth.

More restaurants in Czechia are expected to open on St. Stephen’s Day, Dec. 26, than last year, driven by the holiday falling on a Friday, typically the busiest day of the week. About half of restaurants may open, up from 45 percent last year, according to data firm Dotykačka. Roughly 30 percent are expected to open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, unchanged from 2024.