Liberec

I'm Sierra Krieger-Wolf and you're listening to Czechia in 30 Minutes, the show where we give you a rundown of what's recently been happening in the country in just half an hour.

Coming up on today's show, the death of a Liberec Zoo sea lion after swallowing a child's toy raises safety concerns.

Prague's former Rohan Island concrete plant could be transformed into an urban farm.

We'll hear from a game historian about players' fascination with historical video games, and later, a look into the first global system monitoring drought and forecasting its impacts.

The company, part of businessman Jaroslav Strnad's Helicopter Alliance Group, will provide parts to Black Hawk operators across the European Union.

Sikorsky says the move will strengthen its service presence in Europe and help ensure faster deliveries.

An autopsy has confirmed that the death of a valuable male South American sea lion at Liberec Zoo was most likely caused by a children's toy.

Veterinarians found the head of a doll lodged between the animal's stomach and small intestine during the autopsy.

This nearly week-long series of events brings contemporary glass art into galleries, workshops and public spaces across the city.

Its director, Jan Schmid, says the ambition is to turn Liberec itself into a showcase for Czech glassmaking.

Kristovo League is the biggest class festival in the Czech Republic.

And with its scope and diversity, it's unique in the world.

And crucially, this is not simply a heritage industry preserved for tourists.

Glass is still blown, cut, engraved and transformed into jewelry here.

The wider Crystal Valley brings together more than a hundred glassworks, studios, museums, schools and jewelry makers across the Liberec region.

The survival of those skills has now received international recognition.