November 7, 2020 - The latest news for flights to Croatia as Lufthansa cancels Munich-Zagreb from December 1, and Chair Airlines announces a route between Zurich and Split next year. 

Croatian Aviation reports that German airline Lufthansa has canceled the Munich-Zagreb line from December 1. With the cancellation of this line, the airline will temporarily leave Zagreb Airport. Recall, the Frankfurt-Zagreb line was previously canceled until the spring of 2021.

Lufthansa launched the Munich-Zagreb route shortly after the lockdown and initially operated on it three times a week, gradually increasing the number of weekly flights between the two cities. During the lockdown, the airline stopped traffic on the Frankfurt-Zagreb line, and its resumption of operations was announced for March 2021.

The figures confirm how important Lufthansa is as a partner of Zagreb Airport - in 2016; this airline had a share of a high 18.25% of passenger traffic; in 2017, as much as 17.45%

Lufthansa was expected to operate the entire winter flight schedule on the Munich-Zagreb route (the only active route to Croatia). The number of operations has even increased for November, and daily flights are available. Still, from December 1, they will suspend traffic on this route, and will completely, temporarily, withdraw from Zagreb Airport, and consequently from the Croatian market.

Because Lufthansa will stop traffic on the currently only active route to Zagreb, and with previously canceled flights of Austrian Airlines, Eurowings is the only company from the Lufthansa Group will operate to Zagreb Airport this winter.

Thus, 53 years after the first flight to Zagreb, Lufthansa will temporarily withdraw from Zagreb Airport due to the global pandemic and weak demand.

From Wednesday, December 16, Croatia Airlines will offer daily flights on the Zagreb-Munich route, which will primarily depend on booking, which, after the withdrawal of Lufthansa, could be satisfactory, especially during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The withdrawal of Lufthansa from Zagreb is certainly bad news, considering that the direct connection with Munich is being lost, which, as a hub, enables the continuation of travel to numerous destinations in Europe and the world.

Croatian Aviation also reports that Swiss Chair Airlines has announced its destinations for next year's summer flight schedule. Among others, the Zurich-Split line is being introduced.

It is an airline operating under the name Chair Airlines since the summer of last year, formerly known as Germania Flug. The airline has two A319 aircraft in its fleet that can carry up to 150 passengers.

The announcement of the Zurich-Split route by Chair Airlines comes just a few days after the news that the German Condor will also operate on this route in the summer flight schedule next year.

With this new Chair Airlines route, Split and Zurich will be connected with as many as four airlines, with Croatia Airlines, Edelweiss, and Condor Airlines operating on the same route. Chair Airlines line will be in operation from April 25 to October 24, 2021, almost the entire summer flight schedule.

"After most citizens spent their summer vacation in Switzerland, we believe that next summer, popular destinations will be in demand more than ever before, that's why we decided to introduce a line to Split."

Chair Airlines between Zurich-Split-Zurich will be in operation twice a week, every Thursday and Sunday in the evening. The company has a total of 15,900 seats on sale between the two cities for the summer of 2021.

Timetable:

Thursday: Zurich 18:40 - 20:10 Split 20:55 - 22:30 Zurich

Sunday: Zurich 17:20 - 18:50 Split 19:35 - 21:10 Zurich

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November 7, 2020 - 'Magical Brac Island' has been presented on French national television TF1, thanks to famous French editor and journalist Jean-Marie Bagayoko.

French national television TF1, which is watched by more than 7 million viewers, screened a five-minute report on Croatia with special emphasis on the beauties of the island of Brac and one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Zlatni rat, said Danijela Mihalić Đurica, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board in France.

The report Envie d’évasion: la fabuleuse île de Brač (Desire to Escape: The Magical Brac Island) is the result of a visit by the famous French editor and journalist Jean-Marie Bagayoko to Zagreb because of the recent football match between France and Croatia. Delighted by Croatia's beauties, the journalist decided to present some other Croatian curiosities to the French public, in addition to the football image of Croats, and this time the decision fell on the island of Brac, which Bagayoko calls the 'pearl of heavenly decor.'

"We are extremely pleased with the latest positive announcements in the French media. Given the stopped tourist trends and the current moment when movements are significantly limited, and people spend more and more time in front of small screens, it is necessary more than ever to maintain visibility in the media, not only through television but all available promotional channels. That is why preparations for 2021 started earlier because most of the French stayed at home this year. Still, as soon as those infected numbers go down, they are ready to continue traveling. Croatia is definitely one of the favorite holiday destinations of French guests," said Danijela Mihalic Đurica.

In the report, the journalist reveals that, apart from the turquoise sea, the beach, and tourists, Brac is recognized in the world for its tradition of stonemasonry, white stone, and the School of Masonry in Pučišća. Brac stone, as the pride of islanders and Croats, is presented as a unique material from which many international monumental buildings are built, and the journalist singles out only a few examples as the most impressive buildings - Split's Diocletian's Palace, the United States White House and the Parliament building in Budapest. The secrets of stonemasonry, as well as the tradition passed down from generation to generation, were revealed to the French audience by professors and students of the school who emphasized the great importance of the school, but also the exceptional quality of Brac stone, which has been used to build famous buildings around the world.

In addition to stonemasonry, the report emphasizes the gastronomic tradition and the famous island specialties of lamb and the centuries-old tradition of olive growing.

The island of Brac is one of the Croatian islands along with Hvar, which is visited by an increasing number of French guests every year.

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ZAGREB, November 6, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Friday that the government's scientific council had assessed that the current measures  were proportionate to the threat of the spread of coronavirus.

"We have ascertained that there is a very clear common denominator that the measures we are taking are appropriate and proportional to the threat that the epidemic currently represents to the health of our citizens," Plenkovic told reporters after a meeting of the scientific council in the government.

He underscored that if necessary, the council would recommend further measures while the National Civil Protection Authority, that is the COVID-19 crisis management team, would ramp up the current measures.

Council's common stance: No lockdown or curfew

Plenkovic said that it was the common stance both of the government and the scientific council that a complete lockdown will not be introduced nor a curfew, reiterating that that "was never on the cards."

"We assessed that the overall fight against Covid-19 until now was good. It is good that we can see that the dynamics of the infection over the past few days has decreased significantly compared to the preceding weeks," said Plenkovic.

Asked whether anyone in the scientific council had suggested more stringent measures, the prime minister said that a margin existed to further sharpen measures and that the government was open to anything that could slow down the spread rate 0f COVID-19.

In response to reporters' claims that oncology patients in some hospitals will not be receiving their medication due to the debt to drug wholesalers, Plenkovic said that the budget revision is in the parliament and as soon as it is adopted certain funds will be paid to wholesalers but also that he has instructed Health Minister Vili Beros to investigate the situation.

"He has been in contact with the relevant health institutions today. I don't believe that that will be reflected in the broader context. If a shortage of a certain medication has occurred, I think that is more an exception than the rule in the health system," he said.

Referring to claims that numerous doctors are sending dramatic messages and that the health system seems on the verge of caving in to the epidemic pressure, the prime minister said that Minister Beros was talking with doctors right at this moment and that everything was being done to improve the quality and preparedness of the entire health system.

"The thing that is good and we spoke about that - is that a series of professions within the public healthcare system will additionally be engaged with a strong motivation to care for the health and welfare of our citizens," added Plenkovic.

ZAGREB, November 6, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Friday that Tomislav Coric would continue to be minister despite the fact that the opposition had launched "an action aimed at destabilising the government."

Asked for a comment on the opposition's motion for a no-confidence vote in Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Tomislav Coric, Plenkovic said that the opposition had launched "some kind of action aimed at destabilising the government on three counts".

According to Plenkovic, the first one is the commission of inquiry, and he says there will be no such thing, especially not to be used as a political instrument for attracting the attention of the media for six months, until the local elections, with the opposition creating an image that the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) is corrupt. He underscored that a motion for establishing a commission on inquiry could be based on a specific topic rather than on a mishmash of topics.

Secondly, there is the interpellation on the Krs-Padjene wind park, to which the government has responded with arguments.

"We will show that it is a project that has lasted for 17 years, that all governments during that period were involved in it, and that the key decision granting (the Padjene wind park) the status of preferential electricity producer was adopted during the Zoran Milanovic government," Plenkovic said.

As for the third point, the initiative for a vote of no confidence against Minister Coric, Prime Minister said that this time they had chosen the minister.

"We will see what they have written, respond to them, have a discussion, they will not get the 76 votes they need, and he will still be minister," Plenkovic said, adding that the opposition will then probably move on to Minister Beros, the situation in the health system and so on.

November 06, 2020 - After smart parking, meters and air quality monitoring systems, A1 Croatia continues to apply IoT solutions, this time in waste management, and given the national coverage of the A1 NB IoT network, they are ready for the exponential growth of IoT ecosystems in Croatia, said Ivan Gabrić, General Manager for Business Users A1 Croatia, at an online press conference.

As reported by Večernji list, some European and world cities have already conducted pilot projects which confirmed the many advantages of the application of IoT technology in efficient waste management, ie smart waste containers, say from A1 and explain: English Newcastle has saved 50% in operating costs by applying occupancy sensors and a platform for optimal waste collection on 1,200 bins. They estimated that it was 49 percent less CO2 pollution and also had 51 percent fewer complaints from citizens. The port area of ​​Dublin in Ireland, by introducing a smart tank system, has reduced the waste collection rate by as much as 85%, resulting in savings of 75% in operating costs, or € 200,000 per year. Also, the Irish city of Galway has reduced the number of collections by 80%, while at the same time, 40% fewer tanks by replacing classic tanks with smart ones in frequent places in just one month.

A1 Croatia, in cooperation with its partner, the company Interseroh, brings to the domestic market three models of containers for smart waste management on IoT technology. 

The first model is intended for outdoor use and allows you to press waste by increasing the capacity of the tank up to 10 times. In addition to being powered by solar energy, it is energy self-sustaining. It is equipped with a charge sensor and equipment for communicating with the cloud platform in real-time. Its equivalent is the second model intended for interior spaces. It is also equipped with a press, status sensors and a system for connecting and sending information. Disposal of waste in the tank is contactless, ie it opens to the motion sensor.

The third model is also intended for indoor use. The name of the smart container was acquired thanks to the application of artificial intelligence that detects the type of waste with sensors and cameras and automatically separates it into the appropriate container. In addition, the principle of machine learning in each recognition of the type of waste learns, complements the knowledge base and shares with other containers in the system. It is equipped with four internal containers that can be adapted for different types of waste according to user needs as well as a press to increase capacity.

"Thanks to the IoT cloud platform, it is possible to remotely check the tank filling status at any time so that discharge can be planned efficiently. The map shows the location of the tank, the status of occupancy and it is possible to create optimal tour routes, which significantly reduces operating costs. In addition, analytics and information are available, and given that the solution is in the cloud, no special user IT infrastructure is required", explained Siniša Staničić, Director of ICT Sales and Solutions at A1 Croatia.

Containers can be connected via WiFi, GSM or NB IoT network. The highest standards of hygiene are achieved by non-contact opening, antibacterial coating and are hermetically sealed preventing the spread of unpleasant odors or liquids. They comply with all applicable directives and regulations of the European Union with the CE mark and certificate. It is possible to extend the functionality by adding different sensors such as measuring air quality, noise level or WiFi spot.

When it comes to price, they depend on the type of tank and "accessories". The complete solution also contains software, a platform in the cloud and a complete service. The price depends on whether the complete solution is the entire aaS (as a Service) through a monthly fee.

External tank with solar panels, which is a set of 2 tanks, with a press and one without a press, each of 120 liters with basic functionality belongs to the class of up to 10,000 euros. The inner tank with a built-in press with a 120-liter motion sensor is around 28,000 kuna. The internal tank with artificial intelligence AI is at the level of 10,000 euros.

The first smart bins should appear in Rijeka since A1 Croatia is cooperating with the city of Rijeka on this smart city solution project.

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November 6, 2020 - Medjimurje has been named the 2022 European Region of Sport and is the first in Croatia to wear the prestigious title. 

Sportklub.hr reports that Medjimurje County is the first in Croatia to hold the title of European Region of Sport for 2022, said County Prefect Matija Posavec at a press conference on Friday.

Posavec pointed out that this is a big and important moment for Medjimurje, a region of 730 square kilometers in which more than 400 associations and more than 15,000 registered athletes operate.

“We are pleased to have been given the opportunity to present our county as a region that lives for sport, as a region that values the successes of its athletes,” the prefect said. He expressed gratitude and respect to all volunteers, athletes, and sports associations for their work and dedication, with the message that without them, they would not have won the title.

The prefect of Medjimurje also pointed out that Medjimurje has 6000 registered football players and more than 70 active football clubs. With all the refereeing and coaching organizations, he said, there is one football player for every 18th inhabitant of Medjimurje.

"Rarely anywhere in the world, and not only in Europe but also in football countries, do we have such data," Posavec pointed out.

Speaking about infrastructure, he reminded us that all municipalities and cities are committed and invest a lot in sports and sports infrastructure, which brings with it results.

The president of the Sports Associations and Federations of Medjimurje County, Mato Kljajić, said that sports in the county received great recognition.

"We managed to show and present to people in Europe that Medjimurje is a sports destination and that it lives for sports," Kljajić pointed out, adding that they are proud of that and are trying to keep it that way. He said the recognition was not the result of work “from yesterday and today,” but the work of all athletes and associations for decades. He added that almost one-third of the people of Medjimurje play some kind of sport.

A year has passed from the idea to its realization, added the vice president of the Association Mario Vukoja, and reminded that they applied thanks to the support of the County of Medjimurje, which recognized the idea as quality. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, November 6, 2020 - Social and Democratic Party (SDP) leader Pedja Grbin told a press conference on Friday that the SDP was today launching its campaign for the local election in Rijeka because Rijeka was the best example of how to love and lead your city in the right way.

At the press conference, the SDP introduced its candidates for Rijeka Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Marko Filipovic and Sandra Krpan.

"Rijeka is an excellent example to everyone in Croatia of what needs to be done to improve the lives of people who put their trust in you as a leader", Grbin said.

He thanked Rijeka Mayor Vojko Obersnel, who has been at the helm of Rijeka for 21 years, noting that the SDP "can be proud because he has done a lot for SDP's image and has shown how SDP members should act when elected to public office".

Obersnel is soon to be 64, so he said that a generational shift was normal and "there is no doubt that the two candidates will defend the basic postulates of the social democracy and what has been achieved in Rijeka, an open and inclusive city."

Filipovic is currently Rijeka Deputy Mayor.

 Croatia is to hold local elections in May 2021.

ZAGREB, November 6, 2020 - In ten years time vehicles will be autonomous, networked, electric and shared, which is an opportunity for Croatia to create a new business model, owner of the Rimac Automobili, Mate Rimac said at a conference on electromobility and autonomous cars technology.

During the videoconference, organised on Friday by the Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences' (HAZU) Scientific Council for Technological Development, Rimac underscores said that the future of automobility is changing as too many people are losing their lives on the road.

"Electric autonomous vehicles are able to reduce the number of fatalities in road accidents by more than 90 percent," said Rimac.

He added that one robo-taxi could replace 20 traditional vehicles.

He added that the C2 Rimac automobile was ready for autonomous driving adding that Croatia's potential is not exploited sufficiently and that Croatia is one of the rare European countries that does not have a strong automobile industry.

"Slovakia has become the centre of the automobile industry, Estonia for startups and digitisation so why shouldn't Croatia be the centre for electric and autonomous vehicles?," Rimac asked adding that two huge investment waves  in the automobile industry have already passed us by," he said.

The conference also heard that according to a report by the European association of vehicle manufacturers, eastern Europe is falling behind in developing infrastructure for electric vehicle filling stations. About 200,000 publicly accessible filling stations have been installed per 400 million population which means that there is one station per 2,000 population.

There are currently 500 electric vehicle filling stations in Croatia or 1 per 9,000 inhabitants.