Nenad Bjelica No Longer Coach of Dinamo Zagreb
April 16, 2020 - Nenad Bjelica is no longer the coach of Dinamo Zagreb!
Gol.hr reports that negotiations at Maksimir lasted for more than three hours on Thursday, after which Dinamo officially announced that Nenad Bjelica was no longer the coach of the Croatian champion.
"GNK Dinamo and Nenad Bjelica have agreed to terminate their business cooperation. The club thanks Nenad Bjelica for his cooperation so far and the results he has achieved as the coach for Dinamo."
No details of the painful breakup are known so far. It should be reminded that by the end of the contract, Dinamo should have paid Bjelica just over two million euro.
Nenad Bjelica arrived at Maksimir this morning after 9 am to discuss terminating his contract. Dinamo had already written off the coach who brought the club the biggest success in Europe in the last 50 years as he did not agree to a reduced salary.
"The breakup was mutual, we didn't even get to fight," Bjelica told reporters.
What caught everyone's eye on Thursday is that Bjelica got out of a car with Split license plates. Namely, he arrived for negotiations with Split lawyer Tomislav Kasal. Kasal is a lawyer representing the Football Union Association and Hajduk and is a member of FIFA's Disputes Commission. He also represents a few Dinamo players.
The club was allegedly surprised that Bjelica arrived with a lawyer for his first interview at the club after the outbreak of the conflict. According to information from close sources, Bjelica did not forget about the dismissed members of his coaching staff who were not entitled to compensation and wanted to settle them in this breakup.
The new coach will be the current expert at the helm of the young squad, Igor Jovicic, which the club should soon confirm. So far, he is the only candidate for Bjelica's successor.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Stressed about Your Wedding in Croatia? Free Online Consultation
April 16, 2020 - Planning a wedding in Croatia which is being affected by coronavirus? Help is at hand with a free online consultation from an experienced wedding planner.
One of the things I am finding fascinating as a journalist in this corona crisis is how different industries are dealing with the direct impact they are experiencing on their particular business and sector.
Health and economic survival are the most important things to consider, of course, but once you catch your breath on the rapid changes in the world, then one remembers that we all had plans and dreams before the world was put on hold.
Spare a thought for the young couples planning to tie the knot in idyllic Croatia this year, such as this couple above, who did in one of the Adriatic's top destinations, the island of Hvar.
Getting married is one of the most stressful things to do at the best of times, doing so abroad adds another level of pressure, and then throw in the corona factor, and what is a bride-to-be supposed to do?
Thankfully, help is at hand.
TCN's popular new series looking at expats locked down in Croatia - Foreigners Self-Isolating in Croatia: Do You Feel Safer? has taken us all over the country and all over the world, as some 40 expats locked down in Croatia have shared their experiences in Croatia, as well as comparing how Croatia is handling the crisis to things back in their homeland. You can see the entire series here.
Among them was Tamara Shatkova, who runs Adriatic Weddings Croatia on Murter, who gave us this lovely and very positive interview about her current reality in the only part of Croatia under quarantine.
While we were chatting, I asked her how she was adjusting her business to the new reality, and her answer surprised me.
She told me that while business was obviously affected, she was concerned also about the many couples who are trying to organise their wedding in Croatia without a wedding planner. The corona effect would have knocked them sideways.
And so she recently posted this message on her social media channels:
Stressed about your upcoming wedding in Croatia❓Ask me what to do!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Most couples face stress as they move toward their wedding day, but making changes during a pandemic adds another layer. I’m sure that they are a lot of couples out there, who don’t have the support of a wedding planner as they are organizing a wedding in Croatia by themselves. These couples need a person who can guide them in this time of uncertainty. For that reason, I would like to offer a complimentary one-on-one call for those couples until the end of the summer. No strings attached:) You can message me directly or contact me through our web to set up the time that works best for you. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Wishing everyone an amazing day and stay positive ?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Lots of love,⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Tamara
A very nice gesture from a very nice lady.
If you would like to take Tamara up on her offer, you can contact her via her Adriatic Weddings Croatia website.
Free Wifi Hotspot Attacked Over 5G Fears
April 17, 2020 — The rumor went something like this: Authorities installed a 5G antenna in a secret operation to avoid public outrage. It spread across the small town of Bibinje, outside of Zadar. Soon, unnamed locals returned the favor with their own clandestine attack on the suspicious device — a wifi hotspot funded by the EU.
The Municipality released a formal statement denying any 5G antennas were installed, revealing it kept mum on the free internet to prevent public gatherings.
"As information emerged that the Municipality of Bibinje secretly and at night installed equipment for the 5G signal, we are obliged to deny such allegations," town authorities wrote in a statement laced with embarrassment and frustration. "That's not true. It is actually amazing that at such times someone is peddling such false information and lies to the public."
The damaged apparatus was actually a €15,000 wifi hotspot networked gifted, for free, by the WiFi4EU program. The initiative gives municipalities "free access to Wi-Fi connectivity for citizens in public spaces including parks, squares, public buildings, libraries, health centers and museums in municipalities throughout Europe."
The anti-5G movement suggested the increased wave density of the new network causes health problems — namely cancer. Animus towards the invisible cell phone network ramped up with the coronavirus's emergence, which conspiracy theorists tied to 5G in various ways. Either 5G helps the virus's spread, or the virus has been a diversion to allow nefarious governments to install 5G while fear-laden locals worry about a deadly respiratory illness.
The various theories have gained traction within a certain sect of skeptics in the Balkans.
Authorities said they kept mum on the new wifi hotspot after it's installation last month because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The router was delivering free internet to three locations in the town where the public typically gathers — the town square, the municipal building, and a popular promenade.
Authorities didn't want locals racing to free wifi in an age of social distancing and "stay at home."
"Given the new situation, we found it inappropriate," authorities wrote in the statement, "bragging about the implementation of equipment that provides free internet access on frequent public areas (outdoors)."
The authorities said the area where the vandals hit was under video surveillance, and they should identify the culprits soon.
Budget Revenues in First Half of April Only 1/3 Year-on-Year
ZAGREB, April 16, 2020 - Finance Minister Zdravko Marić said on Thursday budget revenues in the first half of this month were only a third of those generated in the first half of April 2019.
Speaking in parliament, he said the ministry expected May and June to be even more challenging.
Speaking of the effects of the crisis caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, Marić said fiscalised receipts in all activities were down 40%.
Responding to MPs' questions, he said HRK 13-15 billion a month was needed for the health, pension and welfare systems as well as for the measures to help the economy.
That is about HRK 45 billion for three months and if we add over HRK 20 billion for liabilities due, there is a need for HRK 65-70 billion, Marić said.
He reiterated that 95,000 employers had applied to the Employment Service for support to keep 550,000 jobs, and said that HRK 1.4 billion had been paid out to date for 439,000 workers.
He said the rest of the money for the March wages would most likely be paid out by tomorrow, after which applications would be invited for April wages, which would be paid in the first two weeks of May.
Marić said the Tax Administration had received 102,000 applications for the deferral, full or partial write-off or instalment payment of public contributions and that 85% had been granted.
The government's support for the economy shows the level of trust we have put in enterprise, the real and private sector, and we don't expect this trust to be abused, he said.
Marić voiced hope that the government's help would be utilised in the only right way, "which is that only with solidarity and unity can we ensure Croatia overcomes this crisis with the smallest scars possible and welcomes its end as prepared as possible."
More economic news can be found in the Business section.
Capak: Foreign Tourists May Come Only Under Special Conditions
ZAGREB, April 16, 2020 - The head of the Croatian Institute of Public Health, Krunoslav Capak, said on Thursday that special measures would be put in place for hotels and tourists for this year's tourist season in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
"If the situation in other countries changes, then foreign tourists may be allowed to come, but under special conditions," he told a regular press briefing on the coronavirus situation in Croatia.
He commented on proposals by Czech travel agencies that special air and road corridors be opened for healthy tourists.
"A clean bill of health can be valid only for a short while. The situation can change already within 24 hours and such certificates are not valid epidemiologically," Capak said, adding that tourists arriving in Croatia would first have to go into 14-day isolation.
More tourism news can be found in the Travel section.
Humanitarne organizacije u Hrvatskoj: kako pomoći u borbi protiv koronavirusa i potresa
14. travanj 2020 — Mnogi iz dijaspore vjerojatno osjećaju potrebu pomoći Hrvatskoj u borbi s pandemijom koronavirusa i višestrukim potresima koji su pogodili Zagreb gotovo istovremeno, ali se ipak suzdržavaju.
Lako je dopustiti da prevladaju ciničnost i potištenost, posebno kad se čini da postoje vrlo upitne "dobrotvorne organizacije" koje glume da se bore protiv virusa, a zapravo varaju donatore i uzimaju njihov novac diljem svijeta.
Ipak, postoje dobro provjerene, učinkovite međunarodne i lokalne humanitarne organizacije koje pomažu na terenu u Hrvatskoj. Njihovi postupci zaista čine razliku na terenu, te zaslužuju vašu podršku - bilo financijsku, bilo neki drugi oblik.
Hrvatski crveni križ — Crveni križ nastavlja svoju ulogu kao organizacija koja pomaže kod gotovo svake nezgode. Organizacija za pomoć radi zajedno s najžešćim navijačima Dinama Zagreb, Bad Blue Boysima Plavom Srcu, humanitarnom programu pomoći onima kojima je teško ostvariti normalan život nakon potresa.
Volonteri Crvenog križa također pomažu na terenu s dostavama i drugim oblicima pomoći starijim i bolesnim osobama diljem svijeta.
Donirajte ovdje.
Ili im novac pošaljite direktno na
IBAN: HR8523600001502750000
UNICEF — Najvažnija organizacija za pomoć djeci Ujedinjenih naroda pokrenula je krajem ožujka kampanju za pomoć medicinskom osoblju i obrazovnim institucijama, kao i za pomoć djeci i obiteljima. Ova akcija uključuje medicinsku opremu, maske, rukavice i respiratore.
Donacija UNICEF-u također ima utjecaj širenja na zajednicu, jer organizacija pomaže djeci i obiteljima s provlemima da dobiju psiho-socijalnu pomoć.
Donirajte ovdje.
Ili im novac pošaljite direktno na
IBAN: HR1723600001501092524 ; uz poziv na broj 2063-989
Jedni Za Druge i Potres Hrvatska — Ove Facebook groupe odgovor su na dvostruku nedaću koja je zadesila zemlju, pri čemu se jedna uglavnom bavi koronavirusom, a druga na potres u Zagrebu. Obje se temelje na razmjeni, spajajući one koji nešto trebaju s onima koji to (uslugu ili proizvod) nude. Bilo da se radi o odlasku u kupovinu namirnica ili nekom drugom manjem zadatku, cilj je spojiti ljude kojima pomoć treba s onima koji su je spremni pružiti. Ako ste u Hrvatskoj i možete nekome ponekad pomoći, priključite se grupi - možda baš nekome od vaših susjeda nešto treba.
Priključite se grupi “Jedni Za Druge” za vaš grad na Facebooku, ili krovnoj grupi kako bi ste saznali kako možete pomoći.
Hrvatska Mreža za Beskućnike — Uz starije i osobe lošega zdravlja, beskućnike čeka teža borba protiv COVID-19 od većine. Ova grupa obavila je mnoštvo posla na terenu, distribuirajući hranu i odjeću beskućnicima u Hrvatskoj, uglavnom u Zagrebu.
Donirajte ovdje.
Ili im novac pošaljite direktno na
IBAN: HR1723600001501092524
Ako želite ostvariti veći utjecaj sa značajnijom donacijom, humanitarne organizacije možete provjeriti kroz Charity Navigator (Navigator humanitarnih organizacija), koji ocjenjuje te organizacije prema njihovoj učinkovitosti.
Expats in Isolation Top 10 Croatia Experiences: Monique from Romania in Podstrana
April 15, 2020 - As people look for escape from the mental stress brought on by the corona crisis, a new series on TCN with local expats in isolation, looking back at their top 10 Croatia experiences so far. Nex up, TCN owner Paul Bradbury from Manchester in Jelsa.
I have had a LOT of emails and messages asking if TCN could write about something happier than the constant corona updates. I hear your pain, but with so much (sadly bad) news to report and limited resources due to the crisis, this is not so easy. But then I thought of a nice series which might perhaps pique people's interests, focus on the happy stuff, and even unearth some hidden gems to explore at a later date.
Having done a very successful series with over 30 submissions from expats around the world on their self-isolation experiences in Croatia compared to what is happening in their home country, and then following that with a series on Croats in the diaspora with their corona viewpoint of their country of residence compared to the Homeland, perhaps a happier and more interesting series would be to look at expats here today and their top 10 experiences in Croatia so far.
We started in Split with Ionut Copiou from Romania.
Next up, another Romanian - Monique Ioanitescu, who is currently in Podstrana.
If you would like to contribute to this series, contact us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Top 10.
. I am new in Podstrana, near Split. In the 7 months since I moved here, I have had amazing, beautiful experiences.
I learn how to say in Croatian the most important things and step by step to trust myself to speak Bok! 
I feel like Alice in Wonderland, each day when I admire them ️ 
Can't wait for the bakeries to open again 
??Are you an expat in Croatia with a little time on your hands and some fabulous memories and experiences to share? If you would like to participate in this series, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Top 10.
To see the other stories in this series, as well as expat self-isolation stories compared to their home countries, and corona voices in the diaspora, visit the dedicated section.
Jasenovac, Operation Flash Commemorations to Be Held
ZAGREB, April 16, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Thursday that victims of the WWII Jasenovac concentration camp would be commemorated appropriately in Jasenovac on April 22, and that the anniversary of the 1-3 May 1995 Operation Flash would be commemorated as well.
Plenković said at the beginning of his cabinet's meeting that the culture minister and other ministers were working on the organisation of the Jasenovac commemoration while the ministers of the interior, war veterans and defence were working on organising the commemoration of the military and police operation that liberated the areas of western Slavonia held by Croatian Serb rebel forces.
Plenković noted that the commemorations would be held in line with restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus epidemic.
More politics news can be found in the dedicated section.
Tourism Minister: Czech Tourist Arrivals Depend on More Than One Factor
ZAGREB, April 16, 2020 – Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli said on Thursday that the arrival of Czech tourists in Croatia would not depend only on their wishes or on the Croatian tourism sector but also on decisions to be made by national COVID-19 crisis management teams and governments.
In his comment on the Jutarnji List daily's report that Czech travel agencies have proposed the establishment of air and road corridors for healthy tourists who will not have to self-isolate upon arrival in Croatia or their return home, the minister explained that about 200 travel agencies that had made this proposal were trying to do something in the current circumstances.
The newspaper underscores that an association of Czech tour operators has recently sent a proposal to the government in Prague, suggesting that Czech citizens who get the confirmation from the authorities that they are healthy and negative for COVID-19 be allowed to travel to destinations with low rates of the coronavirus infection, such as Croatia and Slovenia.
Those agencies, just as anyone else, do not have much space for business and travel. It is the easiest for them to come to seaside destinations in Croatia, where they had good business results and booking arrangements. Whether they will manage to implement those proposals does not depend only on us but also on other countries, Cappelli said.
He added that similar suggestions could be expected from Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, primarily from their citizens who own boats and summer houses in Croatia.
The minister said that those property owners would likely be the first visitors after the corona crisis.
Cappelli finds it important that Croatia "sends good signals from its healthcare system. The country has possibly imposed the most rigid measures but it is also the safest."
More news about Croatian tourism can be found in the Travel section.
Croatia Can Emerge From Crisis with Smaller Public Administration
ZAGREB, April 16, 2020 - Public Administration Minister Ivan Malenica said on Thursday that Croatia could emerge from the coronavirus crisis with a smaller state administration, stressing that the government was considering ways to secure funds to help the economic sector by making cuts in public administration.
Reporters asked the minister ahead of today's government session if he believed that Croatia could emerge from the current crisis with a smaller public administration, to which he said that it could and that the government was going in that direction with a decision to ban hiring and make cuts in government departments.
"With its first and second set of measures designed to help the business sector the government has shown that savings can be made in public administration and some other departments to help the economic sector," he said.
He added that the government was working on new measures to help businesses as well as citizens.
Asked about wage cuts in the public sector, Malenica said that the matter should first be discussed with union representatives.
With regard to the reform of public administration through a reduction of the number of counties and municipalities, the minister said that the number of local government units could be reduced but that they first should be classified to determine which can provide certain services and which cannot.
More news about the Ministry of Administration can be found in the Politics section.
