August 2, 2021 - Croatia water polo loses to Spain in the fight for first place in Group B on Monday. Croatia will thus play Hungary next in their quarterfinal match, while Spain will meet the USA.

The Croatia water polo team played their last game of Group B against Spain. It was the match for first place in the group, and Croatia only needs a victory to sit at the top. 

Given that Spain is currently at the top of the group, and Croatia lost to Australia, the draw would lead Spain as the first in the quarterfinals.

Coach Tucak announced that the great Paolo Obradović, the hero of the great victory against Serbia, would not play due to a rib injury. T

The first-placed team plays the USA in the quarterfinals, and the second against Hungary.

1st Quarter

Spain opened the game with a 5-meter penalty which they scored for an early lead. Croatia missed on its first attack and Spain came back in their next for a two-goal lead. 

Another penalty for Spain was awarded with 5:30 to go, Bijač saved it to keep the game only 2:0 to Spain. Croatia hit over the game in their next attack. Bijač was brilliant in goal to keep Spain ahead by only two goals with 2 minutes to go as Croatia continued to shoot over Spain's goal. 

Luka Bukić scored Croatia's first goal for 2:1 with less than a minute to go, which is how the first quarter ended. 

2nd Quarter

Both Spain and Croatia missed out on scoring in their first few attacks. The first goal of the 2nd quarter was only scored with 3:46 to go. It was 3:1 for Spain. 

That was the only goal scored in the 2nd quarter, which ended 3:1 for Spain. 

3rd Quarter

Macan scored to open the 3rd quarter and brought Croatia back to -1 for 3:2 Spain. Spain came back for 4:2 with 6:12 to go. Bukić scored a rocket from the outside for 4:3 20 seconds later. Spain went back up to +2 with 5:32 to go (5:3). 

It was 6:3 for Spain, their highest advantage yet, with 4:23 left on the clock. Croatia was unlucky in their next attack to keep Spain ahead. 

Spain made it 7:3 with 27 seconds left in the 3rd. 

4th Quarter

Both sides missed their first attacks to start the final quarter. Fatović scored the first goal of the final quarter for 7:4 with 5:23 left in the match. 

Marcelić was in goal for Bijač to finish the game. It was 8:4 for Spain with 2:41 left. Marcelić saved Spain's final attack to end the game 8:4 for Spain.

This was Spain's 5th win of the Olympic Games. Croatia will thus play Hungary next in the quarters. 

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August the 2nd, 2021 - The Croatian summer tourist season is now in full swing, with many more tourists in the country than could even be thought of this time last year, the country has been managing to keep hold of its favourable epidemiological picture. The German coronavirus map, now updated with a few new rules, has showcased Croatia's safety for travellers.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, Germany introduced new rules for its travellers returning from foreign holidays on the 1st of August. There are now some stricter rules for Germans returning to their country from being abroad and a new way of categorising risk areas on the German coronavirus map, writes Index.

Who should have a negative test when returning to Germany?

According to the new rules, all passengers entering Germany who haven't yet been vaccinated, as well as those who cannot prove they have contracted and since recovered from the disease must have a negative coronavirus test (and it has been that way since yesterday).

This has so far only applied to air passengers, and has now been extended to all others.

The measure took effect yesterday and will remain in force until the end of the year, with the exception of children under the age of 12 and those who need to cross the German border every day due to work. Road traffic controls will not be carried out systematically, but sporadically, German officials added.

"All unvaccinated people entering Germany will have to show proof of a negative test, whether they come by air, road or rail," said German Health Minister Jens Spahn.

"In this way, we'll manage to reduce the risk of additional imports of the infection," he added.

Currently, just over 50 percent of German citizens are fully vaccinated and the government is appeals daily for people to be immunised.

On Friday, the State Epidemiological Institute Robert Koch published a list of countries from which most newly infected people bringing coronavirus into Germany arrive, on which Croatia is behind Spain, Turkey and the Netherlands.

The new German coronavirus map

At midnight on the first of August, the change related to the marking of risk areas took full effect. There will be classifications into only two categories, and not three as it was before. The category of a epidemiologically low-risk area, in which Zadar County was, is no being longer used. This doesn't mean, according to the Robert Koch Institute, that there is no risk in the areas that did belong to that now shelved German coronavirus map category.

They added that the risk areas will be classified into high-risk areas and areas with virus variants. Croatia isn't in any of the categories, but both Portugal and Spain are in the high risk category.

A high-risk area is an area that has a seven-day incidence greater than 100. People who come from such areas must enter into a ten-day quarantine if they haven't yet been vaccinated, or if they can't show proof of their recovery from the infection. They can exit quarantine after five days, if they take and produce another negative test.

For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, make sure to bookmark our dedicated COVID-19 section and choose your preferred language.

August the 2nd, 2021 - One Zagreb pizzeria which has always been popular among residents has been ranked among the continent's top fifty, providing extra recognition and a spring in the step of this capital city restaurant.

When it comes to pizza and pizzerias, most people naturally first think of Italy. Just across the Adriatic sea, however, Croatia has a lot to boast about when it comes to this dish, and it's being more and more recognised on an international scale.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the Zagreb pizzeria Franko's Pizza and Bar has become the very first Croatian pizzeria to be ranked on the list of Europe's top fifty pizzerias, writes the Plava Kamenica portal, often read by Croatia's many food lovers.

These lists are compiled regionally, and this Zagreb pizzeria is in 47th place in the European selection. Belgrade's Majstor and Margarita, which is in 43rd place, and Ljubljana's Verace in 35th place are also on the list from Croatia's neighbouring countries.

The list of the best European pizzerias this year includes 28 countries, and last year it was won by Kalò di Ciro Salvo Pizzeria from the British capital of London, while this year, first place went to Peppe Pizzeria from Paris.

The list is, quite expectedly, dominated by French and Spanish pizzerias, but this recognition for Croatian pizzas is a fantastic bit of publicity and promotion for the country which has become very well known for its rich and extremely varied gastronomic offer over the years, especially since the late Anthony Bordain visited.

On top of that, the fact that it is a Zagreb pizzeria and not one based down on the Adriatic coast is excellent recognition for continental or ''green'' Croatia, as tourism away from the coast gradually attracts more and more curious foreign visitors.

For more, make sure to follow Made in Croatia.

August the 2nd, 2021 - The coronavirus pandemic has taken an unimaginable toll on global travel and tourism, and countries which rely very heavily on this economic segment such as Croatia, have taken a heavy blow indeed. That said, things have dramatically improved when compared to 2020, and Valamar Riviera's traffic at the height of the season is more than encouraging.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Crnjak writes, in the first six months of this year, Valamar Riviera generated an impressive 291 million kuna in total revenues, which more than doubled the revenues they had during the same period in 2020. At the same time, a positive operating profit of 19.6 million kuna was achieved, which is an increase compared to 2020, but it is also 67 million kuna less than in pre-crisis 2019, the company announced recently.

The achieved revenue growth is the result of the easing of travel restrictions, high demand from key markets, good season preparation, the opening of most facilities in June and significant investments in Valamar Riviera's wider portfolio in previous years.

Despite the continued impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, a significant improvement in operating profit compared to 2020 was achieved through the general rationalisation of operations and internal austerity measures, as well as the continued implementation of the "Pause, Restart" programme which was adopted in April 2020. On top of that, the further use of measures the government introduced last year for support for job preservation also plays a role, Valamar explained.

In July 2021, Valamar generated about 90 percent of the board's revenues realised in the same month in 2019, which, together with the semi-annual results, indicates the beginning of recovery for tourism, which hasn't come a moment too late.

"In July, Istria and the northern Adriatic destinations achieved a result similar to that of 2019, while Dubrovnik and the southern destinations are still lagging behind. The trend of bookings for August is improving in southern destinations, and in the north it's almost reached the levels we saw back in 2019. The level of uncertainty for business results in 2021 remains high due to uncertainty about the further development of the pandemic across Europe and the generally low vaccination coverage here in Croatia. We expect that the tourism sector will continue to be affected by the crisis throughout 2021, while a return to regular operations is expected in 2022 and 2023,'' they concluded in their recent announcement.

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August the 2nd, 2021 - The company Varazdin City Connect from Northern Croatia has done remarkably well for such a young company, and has now become part of the Swedish Transcom company.

As Novac/Bernard Ivezic writes, the Swedish company Transcom, which entered the Croatian market fourteen years ago in parallel with Tele2, to which it provided call centre services from Vukovar, has taken over Varazdin City Connect. While the value of the takeover hasn't yet been announced, Transcom’s plan going forward has. Its goal is to position itself as the leading BPO service provider here in the wider Adriatic region.

The acquired company, Varazdin City Connect, became quite popular in Croatia in a short amount of time. It is a very young company that is growing so quickly that it is being hailed as ''Varazdin's Infobip'' - a true mark of success when one considers what the actual Infobip from Vodnjan has achieved.

the Varazdin City Connect company was founded back in 2019, and in its first year of operation alone, it had revenue of 1 million US dollars and a net profit of 328,589 dollars. Last year, it generated revenue of just over 7 million dollars and a net profit of 4.7 million dollars. This year, however, the company expects to generate revenue of nearly 18 million dollars with double-digit net profit growth.

In addition, the Varazdin City Connect company grew to 425 employees last year, of which 340 are located right here in Croatia. Now, in the middle of 2021, thar figure is even higher, with 620 employees, both in Croatia and in nearby Macedonia and neighbouring Slovenia.

Marko Dagelic, President of the Supervisory Board of City Connect, says that their business with the Swedish company Transcom is extremely good.

''The current owners and management of the Varazdin City Connect company have entered into the co-ownership of Transcom and took over the management of Transcom's positions in the Adriatic region, and with this business move, Transcom has become the dominant BPO service provider with more than 3,000 employees,'' explained Dagelic.

He stated that this was a key reason for the acquisition, as it will allow for greater and easier growth and better service delivery to global clients, as well as greater availability of labour and language skills.

Transcom stated that the Varazdin City Connect company is an enterprise specialising in omnichannel user experience and has a strong presence on the German market. The largest number of its clients are listed companies and fast-growing e-commerce companies.

Jonas Dahlberg, President and CEO of Transcom, said that Transcom has significantly improved profitability over the years, developed a strong digital offering and is now growing rapidly in attractive segments such as e-commerce and technology.

''The German market is now our strategic priority and we're continuously strengthening our operations to support the high demand for our services. By partnering with City Connect, we're further strengthening our ability to thrive on the German market,'' noted Dahlberg.

Dagelic from the Varazdin City Connect company added that from their perspective, business is good because of the similar cultures and values ​​shared by Transcom and City Connect, but also because they complement each other.

''With Transcom's well-managed operations in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia, we now have a presence throughout the region and additional resources to provide superior services throughout the Adriatic region, serving not only the German market but also large multilingual and international clients,'' said Dagelic, adding that as part of this move, they didn't sell the project of the previously announced future data centre in Varazdin.

Namely, they announced the construction of a data centre of 2000 square metres, the largest such facility in all of Croatia. That part of the business is now under the auspices of Cratis, which was partly linked to City Connect through management and partly through actual ownership.

''These are now separate stories,'' stated Dagelic.

the Varazdin City Connect company boasts a wide variety of services in the field of telecommunications and software, hence the association with the incredible Infobip, which it actually has nothing to do with at all. City Connect is building virtual telecommunications networks for customers, which is something telecoms normally do. Furthermore, it deals with the installation and connection of software, such as system integrators, then the contact centre, and even consults its clients on how to carry out the digital transformation they need. In any case, this is a successful company that stands out from the usual classifications.

''With a new opportunity to expand our current portfolio, we'll continue to provide flexible, agile and top service to our clients,'' concluded Dagelic.

For more, follow our business section.

August 2, 2021 - With one in ten vaccinated people not developing immunity, how can we know our coronavirus antibody count? TCN reporter Ivor Kruljac found an option in Zagreb and learned whether or not his vaccination was a shot in the dark.

Given that a smaller part of vaccinated people (every 10th vaccinated person) fails to develop proper protection, it's necessary to adhere to the basic measures to prevent infection (maintaining social distancing, mask-wearing, maintaining respiratory and hand hygiene, and going into isolation in the event of the development of COVID-19 symptoms - says the paper containing some basic information about the COVID-19 vaccine I received when taking both doses. 

The paper also contains info on how to report side effects and lists some common ones (headaches, developing the shakes, sore muscles, a fever that lasts for a day or two). It also assures that people allergic to food, pollen, insect bites, animal hair, and similar issues can take the vaccine, while those who had a severe reaction to the first dose should either not take the second one or approach it with caution.

With all vaccines having their alleged ups and downs, I opted for Pfizer. Why team Pfizer? Well, the more unserious reasons would be that almost everyone I know at TCN took Pfizer, and I wanted to be cool like them, and also, if it was so good that Croatian elites pushed through to take it earlier in the year, then it is probably good enough for me. 

Post-vaccine information paper © Ivor Kruljac / Total Croatia News

Check the data, check yourself

But, on a serious note, as with every vaccine you choose, reading the information from the right sources (such as the WHO that started explaining the different technologies and the types of COVID-19 vaccine back in January as well as updating people about the latest info) is the best way to make the choice you feel most comfortable with.

While we witness many people refusing vaccines as they fall victim to fake news, conspiracy theories, and misinformation, some people refuse it for legitimate reasons. Those who suffer from blood clots have more than fair issues and questions about taking the vaccine.

It's worth noting that before you take the vaccine, a staff member will ask you a series of questions about your overall health (do you take any regular medications, have you already had COVID-19, do you have any chronic conditions, did you take antibiotics a month before, etc). Based on your answers, they will determine whether or not you should wait in the presence of medical staff for fifteen minutes, half an hour, or even longer following vaccination, and whether you should even take the vaccine in the first place.

Consulting with your trusty general practitioner and maybe even undergoing a physical examination ahead of vaccination is the best way to be as informed as possible to answer this series of pre-vaccine questions. Paired with general trustworthy vaccine info, your vaccine experience will likely be trouble-free.   

Whether your reason for refusing the vaccine is because of a reasonable concern based on the available information and perhaps your current state of health, or because of some rather absurd misinformation, the recently developed situation in the US best presents the efficiency of the vaccine for your personal safety.

As Bloomberg reports, American president Joe Biden warned Americans that COVID-19 is now a pandemic that strikes only those who aren't vaccinated (49% of Americans have been fully vaccinated at the time of writing this article).

''We've still got a pandemic for those who haven’t gotten the vaccination. It’s that basic, it’s that simple, if you’re vaccinated, you’re not going to die,'' Biden said in late July in Cincinnati.

Choose the (un)lucky number

But, let's leave Biden for a second and get back to the issue at hand, one in ten vaccinated people, unfortunately, fails to develop protection against COVID-19. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't really find any solid medical reason as to why that is, but I'll leave that to the scientists and the doctors.

When it comes to the Pfizer vaccine, after my first dose, I felt sleepy, and the moment I came home, I took a really good nap. Was it due to the vaccine or the fact that I had an early morning appointment and I didn't get much sleep the night before? I'm not sure. As for the second dose, I was prepared for a headache and fever. It seems that these side-effects are practically unavoidable when it comes to Pfizer.

The second dose was received on July the 15th, a couple of days went by, and nothing happened. On one hand, that's great, but why am I not experiencing what the majority seem to experience following their second dose? Could it mean it isn't working? Am I number 10? If I was a medical professional I'd have been able to get the vaccine more quickly, and I would get an antibody test to get a better idea of where things stand.

Bloodstream © Pixabay

Public vaccine, private tests

The public healthcare system is one of the values Croats do like, despite their complaints. Pay your taxes and keep healthcare widely accessible. That said, sadly waiting lists can become quite long, and the overall debt left the public unsure whether the required medicines would perhaps be unavailable earlier in 2021. When it comes to non-emergency healthcare services, it may not be the worst idea to go see a private health professional (if you can afford it of course).

One such service is provided by Laboratory Breyer, founded in 1997 by a clinical chemistry specialist, Dr. Darija Breyer.

''Our motivation lies in never-ending research to better our service with the aim of increasing the care provided to our customers. Our best advertisement is the customer experience that serves as a starting point for all future appointments and is a foundation for long-lasting trust in our service. We justify the trust of our customers by expressing the highest concern for their health,'' says their official website.

The accessibility to the service is evident in Breyer now has two locations in Zagreb: Ilica 191 and Ede Murtića 9.

''Polyclinic Breyer is aimed at the customer: quality comes first with both customer and laboratory staff spaces combining maximum efficiency and modern design. Our complete service, starting from the reception to the test result is constantly re-evaluated and monitored. All personnel in both locations are included in all activities regarding quality compliance according to the written procedures and working instructions,'' they explain.

Open for communication; you can learn more and get in touch with the polyclinic here.

Blood analysis © pixabay

(Anti)body count

The informative piece of paper I received says it takes a week after the second dose to reach immunisation, and that our covid certificates for crossing borders will not allow their holders to avoid testing before two weeks from the second dose have passed. So, the plan is simple, wait two weeks and check your antibody levels.

Additionally, sometime during the late evening hours of the eleventh day after the vaccine, the side effects kicked in. I got a bit of a headache, a low-grade fever, and I experienced a bit of shaking. it was of course not all that pleasant but I welcomed it anyway. My body was reacting, and something was happening. So, should I get my antibody levels tested?

Fortunately, with a private clinic being an option, I had time to make a decision, as no appointment in advance was needed.

''How long has it been since you took the second dose?'' the Laboratory Breyer receptionist asked me when I arrived and I said I wanted coronavirus antibody count.

''Two weeks and one day,'' I replied.

''Hm, it might be a bit too early, the time period needed for immunisation can stretch for a whole month after the second dose, that's usually the best time to do the test,'' the expert kindly explained.

An expert, which I'm not, and you should always accept that you can't be good at everything and that someone always knows better than you about something. Still, I kindly asked if I could take the test anyway. Due to the journey, I'm about to take (which TCN readers will have a chance to learn a bit more about in the following weeks), I wanted to see if something had started happening in my body or not. Alright, the immunisation isn't complete, but if they find at least one little antibody in my bloodstream after two weeks, at least we'll know something had started, right?

My turn came quickly, and the nice lady asked me to take a seat and a vile of my blood was quickly taken. The needle was a bit more painful than a mosquito bite typically is, but at least there was no annoying itching afterward. They said the results would arrive in a couple of hours via email.  

They carefully sealed the pierced point and suggested I take a seat in a waiting room. Careful examination of the vein a few minutes later confirmed that all was well. The test took a 220 kuna hit to my paycheck, which isn't that bad, maybe more like a slap.

The sample was taken at 11:09 AM, and results were issued at 15:03, so it was all pretty fast. Despite two weeks not being a long time, I already have 7,236 antibodies. So, the taxpayers didn't waste money on vaccinating me. Hip hip, hooray!

Vaccine efficiency confirmation, screenshot: Ivor Kruljac/TCN

Of course, vaccines don't mean you can't get sick, but the chances of death or developing a severe clinical picture are unlikely. It's nice to know that the one act that has been saving humanity from diseases for centuries works like a charm, and hopefully, more and more people will follow this positive scientific tradition and take the vaccine—both for themselves and for others.

Learn more about health in Croatia, including insurance, what to do in an emergency, and how to find dentists and doctors on our TC page.

For more about COVID-19 in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page and choose your preferred language.

ZAGREB, 1 Aug, 2021 - In 2020, the number of cases of primary free legal aid provided rose by a third from 2019 while the number of requests for secondary free legal aid dropped by a quarter.

Primary legal aid, whose cost is covered by the state and which includes the provision of general legal information and advice, making of motions, representation before administration offices, ministries, public companies etc., was provided in 27,200 cases in 2020, and in 20,700 cases in 2019, which is an increase of 31.5%, according to a report on free legal aid adopted by the government.

Most of the legal aid was provided by authorised associations while much less was provided by county administration bodies and legal clinics.

In almost 90% of the cases, free legal aid concerned the provision of general legal information and advice.

Free legal aid, a mechanism that enables financially disadvantaged citizens to access courts and other bodies, includes secondary legal aid, and the number of requests for secondary free legal aid in 2020 dropped by 24% compared to 2019, the exceptions being Slavonski Brod-Posavina, Dubrovnik-Neretva and Varaždin counties, where it increased, and Požega-Slavonia and Zadar counties, where it remained at the 2019 level.

The purpose of secondary free legal aid is to enable all citizens, including those who cannot afford it, to access courts and exercise the right to a fair trial, with the state covering the cost of attorneys, expert witnesses, court interpreters, etc.

In 2020, citizens submitted 4,459 requests for secondary free legal aid, of which 3,016 were approved and 451 were rejected.

Along with Croatian nationals, secondary free legal aid was also provided to foreign nationals, most of whom were from Bosnia and Herzegovina (21), followed by Kosovo (3) and Germany (2).

The largest number of requests for secondary free legal aid was submitted in Zagreb and Istria Counties, 456 and 419 respectively, and the least in Šibenik-Knin County, 59.

The amount of money spent on free legal aid in 2020 was 4.3% lower than in 2019, but the drop referred only to secondary legal aid, while expenses for primary free legal aid rose from 2019.

Of the HRK 4.3 million set aside for free legal aid, 2 million was envisaged for primary and 2.2 million for secondary legal aid, while eventually 2.1 million was spent on primary and 1.5 million on secondary free legal aid.

(€1 = HRK 7.5)

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ZAGREB, 1 Aug, 2021 - Defence Minister Mario Banožić said on Sunday that the defence cooperation between Croatia and the United States has been going on for many years and that Croatia very much appreciates the support and donations form the US government for the development of Croatia's defence capabilities.

Banožić and the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Admiral Robert Hranj, were attending a formal reception on board the command ship of the US Sixth Fleet , USS Mount Whitney, which had arrived in Split on Friday for a visit.

Banožić said that the ship's visit was of exceptional strategic importance for Croatia, noting that the United States was Croatia's most important strategic ally in defence.

"The defence cooperation between Croatia and the United States has been going on for many years, and Croatia is very grateful for the support and donations from the US government for the development of our defence capabilities. Joint training and participation in exercises and operations strengthen our operational readiness and interoperability," the defence minister said.

"The Croatian military is fully committed to strengthening stability and security and further promoting our defence cooperation," he added.

Banožić was presented with a plaque by Vice Admiral Gene Black, Commander of the Sixth Fleet.  

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