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Stanislav Gross, who became the Czech Republic’s youngest prime minister aged just 34-years-old, has died following a short battle with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Mr. Gross served as Prime Minister for a mere nine months from 2004-2005. Once viewed as the “golden boy” of Czech politics, Gross’s tenure was marred by a scandal surrounding how the PM had managed to finance a 4.2 million crown apartment in Prague. Gross was forced to resign and subsequently quit politics altogether, and instead began practicing law. Largely absent from public life

After a nearly 40-year ban, recreational vessels can return to most of the rivers and reservoirs around the Czech Republic. Until now, motor vessels only had access to large rivers, such as the Vltava, Labe and Morava. A new bylaw changing the rules for their use came into force on Wednesday.

In a little over two weeks the national hockey team will begin its campaign to try and secure a medal at home at the Ice Hockey World Championships being hosted by Czech Republic. All eyes are on the national squad coach Vladimír Růžička but unfortunately nor only for positive reasons: he has come under scrutiny following an allegation he accepted a bribe while coaching domestic league club Slavia. Police are examining video released online to learn if a crime was committed. Jan Velinger has the details.

The top Book of the Year prize at the prestigious Magnesia litera awards has just gone to Básník, or Poet, which is subtitled A Novel about Ivan Blatný. The book – which had already picked up other major Czech literary honours – is the magnum opus of Brno-based author Martin Reiner. The day after the prize ceremony in Prague, I asked the writer what had drawn him to Blatný, who spent much of his life in psychiatric care in the UK.

Seven months ago, a deadly explosion rocked a munitions depot in Vrbětice near Zlín, killing two on-site employees and destabilising the entire complex. The police and eventually the Czech Army were called in to secure the area as random uncontrolled blasts continued. This Tuesday, Police President Tomáš Tuhý visited the site and offered an update.

This Thursday, cyclists in Prague will have a unique opportunity to take a ride through the Blanka tunnel, before it gets filled with cars. The organizers of the annual Velká Jarní Cyklojízda or Critical Mass Bike Ride, the NGO Automat, expect thousands of people to turn up for the event. Vratislav Filler is in charge of the project:

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing a new long-term foreign policy that would put an accent on human rights. Unlike an earlier draft, the new version builds on the legacy of Václav Havel and his championing of human rights, as well as mentioning the Prague Spring and Charter 77. The document has now been sent to the coalition partners and opposition parties for discussion.

Czech women are increasingly being sought after as brides for the sole reason that marriage offers an easy route to a visa, residence permit, and eventually passport for those seeking to escape from their country of origin. Police say the numbers of such, often short-lived, marriages are clearly on the rise.

At the end of 2004 the Czech Republic ended compulsory military service after over six and a half decades. Now, however, there are plans to introduce what is being billed as “conscription”. Under legislation just approved by the government, from 2017 all Czechs will have to report to the army when they turn 18 – and declare whether they would be willing to serve their country.

Doctors at Prague’s Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine are the first in the world to use a special heart pump in order to save patients with an acute heart failure. The PHP HeartMate pump can replace the heart’s function for 72 hours, giving doctors the chance to decide about the best possible treatment. So far, four patients at IKEM have undergone this experimental treatment: