As Hospitality Industry Flounders, Zeljko Herceg Opens Construction Firm
December the 13th, 2020 - The ongoing crisis has forced many to put their keys in the lock, but some have decided to use the crisis as a means to force them into jumping into something new. As Glas Istre writes, Pula businessman, Zeljko Herceg, is one such person.
"There's no real coffee. You can make the best coffee at home. Coffee in a cafe is a social ritual, especially in our country. It's a place for gossip,'' is the first thing Zeljko Herceg, the owner of Pula's famous Cybercafe in the immediate vicinity, stated. He's right, it is a special ritual in Croatia, a form of socialisation that doesn't exist now, and we're not really really grieving for the taste of coffee but for the gentle murmur of society.
Zeljko Herceg's cafe is now, much like everyone else's in the country, closed, empty, with only bills arriving. Those very bills greet him at his locked door. "These are all the bills for November, and there's no money," Zeljko Herceg comments in his recognisable deep radio voice. His voice is his capital. His voice got him a job on Radio Pula and Radio Maestral, to which he returned during the pandemic and reawakened his old love for the radio airwaves. He works for free, but that's not the point. The point lies in the emotion, love, interaction and communication that everyone is missing at the moment, including him.
He's the type people wonder about when it comes to thinking about how others are coping with this situation. He is one of those people who knows how to manage with just about anything. Throughout his life, he threw himself from one branch to another. He swam well in each pool and was extremely successful. “Yeah, I’m orthodox,” he joked. By that he means he goes all the way when something bites him.
Zeljko Erceg logically started his radio career owing to his voice. Initially, it was Dilema, his first company with which, back in 1993, he launched the cult and legendary Art & Music Festival, the largest alternative festival in the region that promoted comic book culture, positioned a new youth scene, and Pula became an important point on the cultural and musical map of this part of the world. After 10 years with Dilema, he created New Concept, a company that dealt with marketing and ticket sales for the Histria Festival.
At one point, for existential reasons, he started selling Kirby vacuum cleaners. "I didn't have a kuna in my pocket. I borrowed 2,500 kuna from a friend and the agreement was to return that amount to him in a month. I didn't have that kind of money, and my friend said: ''You're a smart boy, come with me to a Kirby's presentation to see how I work. Then do five presentations, if you sell one Kirby, you don't have to give me my money back.''
I had an aversion to that, and when I realised that I had to go on stage and that I had to spend two hours up there... Well, I ended up making many sales. In the first month, I got such great results that after that the president of the company came and me took me to Rome, London, Amsterdam and showed me how many vacuum cleaners I'd sold,'' Zeljko Herceg recalled.
Although he was the best salesman in Southeast Europe and made a good living from it, after a year and a half he went to Zagreb. He said that the sale of vacuum cleaners directed him there, without him even being aware of it, to become a teacher of communication skills. The school of personal development with the well-known Pula psychiatrist Robert Duras also helped him in that field.
"We were aware that during our awkward formative years we'd made significancy life changes in the transition from socialism to capitalism. We didn't have that system of thinking built within us. A year ago, greed wasn't a good quality, and then overnight it was something that had added value. Suddenly you were successful if you managed to create excess capital. We didn't all do well in that, and the school of personal development helped me to use some tools to take myself and my family on a journey, and to still remain normal,'' explained Zeljko Herceg.
He added he isn't a conformist, nor is he a team player. He tried his hand at politics, he wanted to be an uhljeb, but he didn't succeed - he lasted a mere month.
''In a corporation, it's interesting how people communicate. No school can teach you how to do it. If you've completed communication science, you don't have a sales plan, if you are a salesman, you don't have a communication line. There's something missing everywhere, and that is skill. The skill is that with a sufficient amount of repetition and sufficient time and quality work assistance invested, incredible results can be achieved. In the sporting world, repetition and thus the formation of a habit is normal, in business it's something unknown, and that's why it needs to be learned,'' explained Zeljko Herceg when discussing the skills that led him to work as an independent lecturer for eight years in Croatia.
The coronavirus crisis is, therefore, while an enormous issue, just another obstacle in the road for Zeljko Herceg, who will, for his ''next trick'' open a firm and enter the world of construction in order to survive.
For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily.
Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages
New Croatian Coronavirus Measures for Stores Create Huge Queues
December the 13th, 2020 - The new Croatian coronavirus measures which involve shops and the limiting of the number of people allowed inside at any one time has created huge queues.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, as people rushed to do their Christmas shopping on Friday, long queues and crowds continued into Saturday as well, because until January the 10th, 2021, the new rules on the permitted number of people in shops and shopping centres will continue to apply. In stores smaller than 10 square metres, there can only be one customer at any given time, 24sata writes.
In many Croatian cities, queues quickly formed in front of stores, the same kind we all saw during the first wave of the pandemic when there was also a limitation on the number of customers allowed inside shops.
New Croatian coronavirus measures
Stores ranging in size from 11 to 100 square metres in size can accommodate customers provided ten square metres can be provided for each person.
Stores from 101 to 200 square metres can accommodate customers provided they provide 12 square metres per customer.
Those up to 2,000 square feet will have to provide 16 square feet per customer, and 20 square feet for each customer must be provided by stores larger than 2,000 square feet.
For shopping malls and centres, the maximum number of customers is determined so that at least 16 square metres must be provided for each customer.
All stores and shopping centres will have to display a notice at their entrances about the maximum number of customers allowed inside and ensure that the rules are implemented, or take additional measures to ensure that the stores don't have more customers inside than allowed.
It will still not be possible to sit in the corridors of shopping centres, ie stores larger than 2,000 square metres, the organised transportation of customers by bus will also not be available. Hygienic protection measures will be strengthened.
The implementation of these new Croatian coronavirus measures will be controlled by the Civil Protection, the police and the State Inspectorate.
For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily.
Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages
Epic Imagination! How Converted Mines Below Labin Istria Will Look
December 13, 2020 – An incredible reimagining of the mines that run deep below the centre of Labin Istria – the two-kilometre long complex will be accessed spectacularly via a see-through elevator
French writer Jules Verne liked to venture deep. The second most-translated author ever to have lived (between number one, Agatha Christie and number three, William Shakespeare – both British), his stories were quite often regarded as fantasy tales for children, owing to the poor, early transference of his French text into English. When read in his native tongue, he fantastical imagination, perhaps the roots of all science fiction, are better expressed. This is plainly evidenced in two of his most famous books, 20, 000 Leagues Under The Sea and Journey To The Centre Of The Earth.
Jules Verne's inspiration can be found in physical form on the streets of Zagreb, where the 20, 000 Milja bar entertains with its submarine-themed décor. Though without any formal attribution, the project about to be undertaken by the town of Labin Istria could just as well be inspired by his other bestseller. Because, just as Jules Verne's journey to the centre of the earth was like no fantasy previously expressed, a limitless imagination seems to have gone into how the mines below Labin Istria will look once converted.
Newly revealed images display a visitor's space like nowhere else in Croatia. Though not quite at the centre of the earth, the new attraction lies some 166 metres below ground. The thrilling experience of a visit is set to begin before you even reach its entrance – access will be gained by a see-through elevator (lift).
The attraction is set to be divided into five modules – entrance and information area, an art gallery for exhibitions and multimedia installations, an escape room entertainment area, an education zone with 360° projections, a gastro module, centring a wine cellar ( featuring local wines from Istria, which are among the most-prized of those produced in Europe – the mine conditions being perfect for their storage) and a gift shop where souvenirs from local producers, arts & craftsmen will be available.
The sprawling complex is set to extend some two kilometres into the former mines of Labin Istria. That's no short walk! But, part of the route is being designed as a train ride, although the last section must be done on foot, due to the specific conditions of the tunnel.
The town of Labin Istria was once the centre of mining endeavours in Croatia. At the height of its operations, some four mines operated in Labin Istria. In early 1921, the town was the scene of a miners' strike which quickly grew into an anti-fascist rebellion, a movement essential to securing Croatia's future independent state. It was the first of its kind and resulted in the declaration of the short-lived Labin Republic (also known as the Albona Republic). This particular mine, located in downtown Labin, was the last to close and did so in 1989. 2021 is the 100th anniversary of the Labin Republic, an anti-fascist struggle for which the town is extremely proud. It is hoped that works on the mine conversion will begin then.
All images © Level 52 / 3DX Studio / City of Labin
Zagreb Lauba's Revolutionary Redesign by World-Famous Japanese Architect
ZAGREB December 13, 2020 – .One of Croatia's best-loved gallery and event spaces will undergo a revolutionary new facelift at the hands of a world-famous architect. Zagreb Lauba's new look comes at the hands of internationally acclaimed Sou Fujimoto. A serial award winner, the architect's prominent works are found all over the world.
Newly-released images of how Zagreb's Lauba will look show an incredibly imaginative redesign. Echoing the avenue of trees that runs by the side of the gallery and event space, Sou Fujimoto has planned an oval-shaped garden roof space for the building in which trees will also be planted. The inspiration for the design came from Zagreb Lauba's name – it is a colloquial word used to describe a certain circular area of trees, the architect being informed of this by gallery owner Tomislav Klitschko.
© Sou Fujimoto Architects / Lauba
According to Jutarnji List's coverage of the redesign, by journalist Patricia Kish, the new roof garden space will be accessed by stairs and lift. Zagreb Lauba's design as it stands today was originally made by Alenka Gačić-Pojatina, who will collaborate on the new additions by Sou Fujimoto.
Zagreb Lauba's story dates back to 1910 when it was constructed by Emil Eisner and Adolf Ehrlich for use as a stables and riding school for the Austro-Hungarian army. It later became the weaving mill of the Textile Combine Zagreb, which it remained until being converted to a gallery and event space in 2008.
© Sou Fujimoto Architects / Lauba
Sou Fujimoto is one of the most celebrated architects of Japan. He has won several prestigious awards for his work and the acclaim has made his designs much in-demand around the world. Often working with wood and natural materials, his designs can be found in London, Paris, Budapest and soon, at Zagreb Lauba's hands, in Croatia.
Lauba is a contemporary art gallery and its mission is to discover artistic expression by Croatian visual artists, and also participate in international cultural trends. Set in a huge black building near Črnomerec its exhibitions usually change around every month. In recent times it has also played host to large-scale electronic music events.
One of Sou Fujimoto's previous designs © Kenta Mabuchi
Croatian MMA Union Formed with Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic as Honorary President
December 13, 2020 - The newly founded Croatian MMA Union was officially presented to the media in Zagreb by Dražen Forgač and Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipović.
Gol.hr reports that after maintaining and improving the world of freestyle wrestling in Croatia for years without formal functions, former fighters Dražen Forgač, Zelg Galešić, and Igor Pokrajac decided to take things to a higher level and founded the Croatian MMA Union.
"The motive for founding the Croatian MMA Union is that the situation on the MMA scene is currently such that the interest is great, the halls are full - especially with young fighters and amateur recreationists, and we want to unite all clubs, and we succeeded," said President Forgač.
The honorary president of the newly founded Union was accepted by the greatest Croatian legend of this sport - Mirko Filipović.
“This is to help young fighters, organize competitions, organize seminars for refs, for coaches, for cutmen, and so on, everything that goes into the spectrum of that job," Cro Cop said.
If you wonder why the umbrella organization that brings together all the important clubs in the country is called the Union, and not the Federation - the answer is because the Federation already exists. But since its founding in 2006, Cro Cop says that the Croatian MMA Federation has been basically inactive.
"After all, to be honest, I don't even know who founded it and on what basis that MMA Federation was founded," he said.
"We did everything ourselves - the organization, care for fighters, amateur championships," said Pokrajac.
The same will continue to work, but under the auspices of the Union and at a higher level. Just how much interest there is in MMA in Croatia is best shown by the numbers.
"At the last amateur competition, there were over 100 fighters despite COVID-19, and the viewership was over 40,000 people live via the Youtube channel. So I think the interest is great - both the audience and the athletes themselves," says Forgač.
Globally, MMA has more than 500 million fans, and its current biggest star, Khabib Nurmagomedov, has taken on the role of the promoter to make mixed martial arts an Olympic sport by the Games in Los Angeles in 2028,
"Khabib is certainly one of the most popular fighters today, and it is certainly a great thing that he got involved and engaged in it. A big thank you to him on behalf of all the fighters. I think it would be a great thing if mixed martial arts, MMA sport, joined the Olympic family," said Cro Cop.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Total Lockdown in Croatia Last Possible Option, Says Health Minister Beros
December 13, 2020 - Minister of Health Vili Beros spoke on HRT about a total lockdown in Croatia, the new measures, the current epidemiological situation, and the beginning of vaccination.
Asked if he felt responsible because, according to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Croatia is the worst in terms of the number of active COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, he said:
"Of course, I feel responsible. However, this is a multidimensional, complex crisis, and there are no unambiguous solutions and answers. The only thing that is possible in the given circumstances is to monitor the epidemiological situation from day to day, to monitor all those elements that clearly describe it - the number of newly infected, their distribution, appearance, and based on these elements to prescribe measures," Beros said.
He also added that two weeks is not a big enough period of time to indicate a trend. He also reminded that it took France six weeks after the national lockdown to stabilize the situation. But even after that, they have upward trends again. He believes that four to five weeks should pass after the measures are introduced, assuming that people adhere to them.
He claims that a full lockdown in Croatia is the final option and believes it will not happen.
"We have seen in the example of the neighboring countries what a hard lockdown brings. It is not a good thing. So we need to find a coexistence model in the circumstances of the new normal; we must enable certain economic activities while reducing everything we can reduce. And that is exactly what we are working on; we are trying to balance the measures. It would be easiest to introduce the toughest lockdown and close everything. But that is not realistic, especially since we do not know how long this situation will last," Beros said.
The health minister said that at the moment, it is not very certain that a ban on inter-county travel will be introduced around December 21, although they are discussing it as well. However, this will be introduced if the epidemiological situation is such that it requires a similar way of organizing work.
"Personally, I don't think that will happen. But, if the epidemiological situation is not adequate, we will consider similar measures. Of course, taking into account the working circumstances, i.e., exceptions that would enable work processes," he said.
Emphasizing the importance of antigen tests, Beros said that Croatia procures significant quantities of these tests and will increase their number in hotspots where there are many newly infected.
Stating that the Croatian Institute of Public Health will conduct a national campaign to promote vaccination, Beros warned that - for vaccination to be effective - a large part of the population must be vaccinated. He pointed out that if, for example, less than 70 percent of the population is vaccinated, this will not guarantee significant prevention of the spread of the infection.
Beros also said that introducing a "COVID card" is not being considered at the moment. Still, if the virus continues to cause such severe clinical pictures after spring or summer - that is not ruled out either.
To read more about coronavirus in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
VIDEO: PlayStation 5 Release in Croatia Marked by Klapa and Traditional Instruments
December 13, 2020 - The PlayStation 5 release in Croatia has been marked by the traditional music of Croatian regions.
The PlayStation 5 is one of the most anticipated releases in the gaming world, so much so that it achieved the highest launch month sales for a video game console in United States History since its debut there on November 12.
Thus, to mark the release of the PlayStation 5 console, PlayStation Croatia, in partnership with musicians from several Croatian regions, recorded the opening sound of the new console authentically, and characteristic for each Croatian region using traditional instruments and song, reports HRTurizam.
It has been 25 years since the arrival of the first PlayStation console on the European market and during those years the sound reproduced when launching the PlayStation console is one of the features by which every PlayStation generation is remembered and recognized.
Thus, a music tour of Croatia was recorded, from Slavonia, Istria, Dalmatia, and Zagorje to Petrinja, in which the opening sound of the PlayStation 5 console was recorded on the Slavonian tamburitza, Istrian sopila, Zagorje bass, brass instruments, and Dalmatian klapa.
“With the opening sound of the PlayStation 5 console, we made a music tour all over Croatia! With the Slavonian sound of the tamburitza, the Dalmatian performance of the klapa, the Zagorje version on the bass, the sounds of Istria on the flutes, and a touch of Petrinja with brass instruments, the sounds of the PlayStation 5 console received new life with traditional Croatian instruments. The tamburitza ensemble Rubato, KUD Zlatela Kršan, Marko Horvat, Klapa Sebenico and Gradska limena glazba Petrinja took part in the recording," said PlayStation Croatia.
Videos were released with recognizable locations around Croatia, like Rovinj and Petrinja, an authentic Slavonian village near Slavonski Brod, the fortress of St. Mihovil in Šibenik and the Veliki Tabor castle, which you can find below.
To read more about coronavirus in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Spokesman Says Gov't Has No Information on Any Threats Against Lauc
ZAGREB, Dec 12, 2020 - Government spokesman Marko Milic said on Saturday the government did not have information "about any threats" against a member of the government's Scientific Advisory Council, Gordan Lauc, who earlier in the day said in a Facebook post that some government ministers had openly threatened him.
"We are not aware of any threats and have not been informed about them by anyone," Milic said in response to a query from Hina after Lauc said in a Facebook post that some government ministers had openly threatened him.
In his Facebook post Lauc announced that he would launch legal action over lies and untruths which, he claims, are published about him in public.
Commenting on his role in the government's Scientific Advisory Council for the fight against coronavirus, Lauc said that he is not "the government's hireling" and that during the pandemic he had experienced "unpleasant situations, including open threats from some ministers."
After it denied having any information about the threats, the government noted that Lauc had been a member of the Council since March and that cooperation with him would continue with the aim of controlling and curbing the COVID-19 epidemic.
British Ambassador Puts in Service "Climate Tram" No. 13 in Zagreb
ZAGREB, Dec 12, 2020 - British Ambassador Andrew Dalgleish formally put in service the so-called climate tram No.13 in Zagreb on Saturday, on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the conclusion of the Paris Climate Agreement.
The tram promoting 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, which will be held in Glasgow next year, will be in operation in the Croatian capital in the next six months.
During the ceremony, the ambassador said that his country was making preparations for the conference in that Scottish city in 2021.
We hope that Glasgow event will bring together world leaders who will make real and concrete promises on greenhouse gas reduction so as to halt dangerous climate change, said the diplomat.
He also pointed out that commuting by tram is an excellent, environmentally-friendly mode of transport.
There is the QR code on the tram leading to the website https://ukcop26.org/ with information on all activities aimed at climate change prevention and on the next year's conference in Glasgow.
The Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty on climate change, was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, on 12 December 2015, and entered into force on 4 November 2016. Its goal is to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. To achieve this long-term temperature goal, countries aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate neutral world by mid-century.
During today's ceremony, the British ambassador welcomed the announcement that US President-elect Joe Biden will reenter the U.S. into the Paris Climate Agreement. The move will ensue after President Donald Trump formally withdrew the USA from the climate change agreement on Nov. 4.
Women's Handball Euros: Croatia Struggles Against Favorite Norway (25:36)
December 11, 2020 - In the second match of the second round, Croatia struggles against favorite Norway (25:36).
The Croatia women's handball team met the biggest favorite of the tournament, Norway, in the second match of the second round on Saturday in Kolding, Denmark.
On Thursday, the Croatia women's handball team achieved its fourth victory in its fourth appearance at the European Championships. Recall, in the 1st round match of Group II, Croatia defeated Romania 25:20, while Norway recorded a convincing victory against the Netherlands (32:25).
Up until the match against Croatia, Norway scored 137 goals and conceded 90 in four matches. With these stats, they are the best team in the European Championship. Norway is the weakest from nine meters (13/33, 39%) and the best on counters (31/43, 72%).
Croatia and Norway started the match even - and it was 3:3 in the 4th minute. Norway took the lead in the next minute, and by the 10th minute, they were up by two (6:8). Croatia was consistently behind by two goals for most of the first half, and by the 29th minute, neither team had scored for more than 6 minutes!
Croatia went into halftime behind by one goal (14:15).
The second half started with an immediate goal for Croatia to equalize at 15:15.
There was a bit of back and forth in the minutes that followed, which saw Norway attain a three-goal advantage at 21:18 in the 37th minute. By the 39th, Croatia was behind by 4 - and by the 41st, behind by 5. In the 45th minute, Croatia was down 20:27.
Norway's momentum could not be stopped - and they were up by 10 goals in the 48th minute. Croatia was struggling to hold on.
With two minutes to go, it was 24:34, and the match ended at 25:36 for Norway.
A win against Norway would have secured Croatia a spot in the semifinals. However, even with a defeat, Croatia has a good chance of passing among the four best national teams in Europe. Only Germany can shake up Croatia's plans.
Croatia will play against Germany in the last round on Tuesday at 18:15. Germany beat Hungary 32:25 earlier today and now has four points.
Read more about Croatia handball on HRS.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
