HDZ Mayoral Candidate in Zagreb Davor Filipović: Fighting Corruption Top Priority
ZAGREB, 28 April, 2021 - The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) mayoral candidate in Zagreb, Davor Filipović, on Wednesday presented his election agenda, and said that fighting corruption was a top priority in the document.
"We are going to introduce the ISO 37001 anti-corruption standard, following the model set by the City of Prague, and it refers to the corporate responsibility, control mechanisms and action plans when there is suspicion of cases of corruption in the City of Zagreb or in any city institutions," said Filipović pledging to create an anti-corruption atmosphere in the capital city.
He also said that one of the priorities would be the fast and efficient post-quake reconstruction of the city and recalled that €683.7 million is available for this purpose through the EU Solidarity Fund.
The HDZ mayoral candidate promised free-of-charge services in pre-school day-care institutions for all the children in the city.
Filipović promised the closing of the Jakuševac waste landfill, the construction of a centre for waste management, and the modernisation of public transport vehicles, as well as the construction of the Jarunski Most bridge and a new stadium in Maksimir.
Filipović's agenda also envisages the establishment of a Homeland War Museum and a centre for war veterans in the city.
For more about politics in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Zagreb Stock Exchange Indices Go Down
ZAGREB, 28 April, 2021 - The main Zagreb Stock Exchange (ZSE) indices declined on Wednesday amid modest trading, with the Crobex dropping by 0.71% to 1,886 points and the Crobex10 decreasing by 0.35% to 1,173 points.
With regard to sectoral indices, only the food index saw an increase, of 0.02%, while the construction index saw the biggest decline, of 3.55%.
Today's regular turnover amounted to HRK 3.7 million, about HRK 100,000 more than on Tuesday. The preferred share of the Adris tourism and insurance company generated another HRK 2.05 million in block trading, closing at HRK 407 per share.
The Podavka food company generated the highest turnover in regular trading, slightly over HRK 2 million. The price of its shares went up by 0.73% to HRK 554 per share.
Shares of telecommunications equipment manufacturer Ericsson Nikola Tesla generated a turnover HRK 1.16 million, closing at HRK 1,650 per share, down 0.6%.
A total of 35 stocks traded today, with seven of them recording share price increases, 20 registering share price decreases and eight remaining stable in price.
(€1 = 7.566274)
For more about business in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
PM Andrej Plenković: State Is Functioning Normally, I Am Not Squabbling With President Zoran Milanović
ZAGREB, 28 April, 2021 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Wednesday that the state is functioning normally, dismissing interpretations that he is squabbling with President Zoran Milanović and that their relationship is affecting the state of the country.
"There is no squabbling. What you are saying is misrepresentation of facts and deduction of a conclusion that does not exist," Plenković told reporters in Šibenik when asked if the country can function with him and the president squabbling for months.
There is civilised, polite communication, arguments... listen, watch, follow and you will see who is insulting whom, who is arguing with whom, who is whose target, added Plenković.
"The government has always been constructive and willing to resolve problems and negotiate. But there is no sense in faking some sort of unity that doesn't exist," he said.
"The state is functioning well. There is nothing wrong with the state - everything that needs to function is functioning," he said.
Everyone is receiving their wages, pension allowances, a COVID supplement will be paid to pensioners, tax refunds and job-keeping measures will continue, he said.
"The election will be held, we need to fix some details regarding vaccination and we are working on enabling the tourism season," he added in reference to his visits to Dalmatia today and yesterday.
Plenković dismissed accusations by the opposition that he and Health Minister Vili Beroš are to blame for the problems in organising vaccination against COVID-19, saying that the opposition, and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in particular, were trying to score cheap political points due to their unfavourable approval ratings and likely poor results in the local election.
He said that it was thanks to the engagement of his government and not that of the opposition that COVID-19 vaccines had been secured.
"As of today, with the latest shipment of the Pfizer vaccine, Croatia has received a total of one million doses of vaccines. Thanks to me and my government and not the opposition's, in the next two months more than 3.2 million doses will come. And now it is up to the healthcare system, in coordination with (Health) Minister (Vili) Beroš, to intensify inoculation and ensure citizens' health protection," said Plenković.
For more about politics in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page
Željko Reiner: "Opposition's Motion to Impeach Beroš Won't Succeed"
ZAGREB, 28 April, 2021 - Deputy Parliament Speaker Željko Reiner (HDZ) said on Wednesday that the opposition's motion to replace Health Minister Vili Beroš will not succeed just as previous motions to impeach ministers did not.
"Today, I heard that the opposition will submit a motion on 4 or 5 May to impeach Minister Beroš. Just like all the previous motions to impeach ministers, this one won't succeed either," said Reiner.
Reiner announced that he would put the motion for a no confidence vote on the Parliament's agenda within the deadline foreseen in the Standing Orders.
Asked whether Beroš can make order in the process of vaccination, Reiner said that it would be put in order in the shortest time possible and that sufficient quantities of vaccines had been obtained.
Reiner said that Beroš is doing his job quite satisfactorily and that he needs to be left to do it in peace to the end.
Asked about accusations from the We Can! party that paid seminars are held on information from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and that some ministers participate in them, Reiner said that any such accusations need to be substantiated with arguments. "I haven't heard a single argument. Those are empty phrases, like many others," he said.
For more about politics in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Lošinj Gastro Weekend 2021: Local Culinary Spectacle Throughout May
April 28, 2021 - Starting this weekend, the Lošinj Gastro Weekend 2021 prepares a real treat to the visitors of 14 restaurants on the island.
A beautiful island setting of Lošinj, and delicious food next to the Adriatic - all a regular feature of the annual gastro weekend which starts this week and continues until the end of May.
As Losinj Tourist Board website VisitLosinj.hr announces, fourteen restaurants from Osor all the way to Mali Lošinj will each weekend have a special offer based on a specific product.
Starting with this Friday, April 30 to Sunday, May 2, the restaurants will have lamb specialties in which the local meat will be offered to satisfy your taste buds.
The next is asparagus weekend (May 7-9), followed by fish dishes (May 14-16), Medditaranian herbs dishes (May 21-23), and finally the Antic cuisine (May 28-30).
Artatore, Baracuda, Bocca Vera, Bora bar, Borik Mediterranean Bar, Deveron, Diana Steakhouse, Eki, Lanterna Grill Mare, Silvana, Silver Bay Televrin, and Veli žal are the restaurants.
Turizmoteka.hr also covered the story and warned readers to reserve their place in the restaurants to enjoy this lovely culinary spectacle.
„In these moments, the cooperation between every actor in the destination is extremely important to overcome the negative effect of corona crisis as fast as possible. This festival is an ideal opportunity for visitors to meet Lošinj through local specialties. Come and enjoy!“, said Mali Lošinj mayor Ana Kučić, writes Turizmoteka.
"It is our wish to bring our guests almost all gastronomy pleasures the Island of Vitality is known for“, said Dalibor Cvitković, president of Lošinj Tourist Board, referring to the island's nickname.
Learn more about Croatian islands on our TC page.
For more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Charlize Theron On Her Happiest Moment in Life - Holidaying in Croatia
April 28, 2021 - In an interview with Vanity Fair, the Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron answered questions from the Proust Questionnaire and said she was the happiest on a family vacation in Croatia.
In 2019, Charlize Theron, a South African-born actress, is among many celebrities to vacation along the Croatian coast.
The Vanity Fair Proust Questionnaire consisted of 35 quick-fire questions to get to know Charlize's personality. One of the questions asked was 'when and where were you the happiest?' and Theron answered, "Last summer on vacation with my tribe." Later on, in the reflection session, Charlize explained her family traveled through a bit of coastal Croatia and described it as "just magical."
She went on to explain, "It was with a couple of families and tons of kids and people who I just really love and consider my adopted family. I've been thinking a lot about that vacation during quarantine".
Charlize stated that she is the happiest when in a warm climate, so it comes as no surprise that she chose to spend her summer along the Croatian coast. With her tribe, as Charlize described them, they spent their days exploring the southern Dalmatia, more specifically Hvar and Dubrovnik.
During their time in Croatia, Charlize and the tribe were spotted enjoying their time on a private yacht and local restaurants on the mainland. The famous actress described was extremely satisfied with the local food as she described her experience as "so delicious, so amazing!" in a video from Gariful official Instagram profile.
On vacation in Croatia, the actress and her daughters and family friends spent time doing what they love the most sailing, touring restaurants, and exploring the beautiful Croatian coast.
For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Charlize starts talking about Croatia about 8 minutes into the video.
Croatia Logs 2,904 New COVID-19 Cases, 44 Deaths
ZAGREB, 28 April, 2021 - In the past 24 hours a total of 12,032 coronavirus tests were conducted in Croatia, with 2,904 returning positive while 44 people died in that period, the national COVID-19 response team said on Wednesday.
There are currently 14,604 active cases, with 2,278 patients who are in hospital, including 253 on ventilators.
The number of positive cases in the number of tests done in the past 24 hours is slightly above 24%, around 5% down from last Wednesday.
Since the first case of the disease was reported in February 2020, 327,737 people have contracted it, and 7,001 have died.
A total of 306,132 people have recovered, including 1,586 in the past 24 hours.
To date a total of 1,784,547 persons have been tested.
As of 27 April 812,984 doses of COVID vaccines have been administered, inoculating 639,564 people.
Of that number, 463,710 people have received the first dose and 173,420 have received both doses, while for 2,434 people it is not known which of the two doses they have received.
For more about COVID-19 in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
MP Says Citizens Will Replace PM Andrej Plenković If He Does Not Change
ZAGREB, 28 April, 2021 - MP Bojan Glavašević of the Green-Left Bloc said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Andrej Plenković "has a very serious problem with ignorance", and that Croatia needs a prime minister who is knowledgeable and that if Plenković refuses to change, citizens will replace him.
"Instead of realising that he should inform himself about the scandals his colleagues are involved in, the prime minister insists on ignorance," Glavašević said, noting that his ignorance was being paid for with citizens' money and health.
With money, as in the case of a loan approved to former minister Gabrijela Žalac by two incumbent ministers, and with health, as in the shameful scandal with the Cijepise.hr platform for COVID-19 vaccination, Glavašević said, stressing that Croatia needed a knowledgeable prime minister.
"Because this one, who does not know, does not see, does not hear and does not want to know, see or hear, evidently lacks the capacity for his post," he said.
"This country and its people deserve better. If the Prime Minister does not change, citizens will replace him, it's only a matter of time and the number of victims of ignorance," Glavašević said.
For more about politics in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Three Large Roman Monuments in Vid Have Been Excavated!
April 28, 2021 - Employees of the Neretva-Pelješac-Korčula-Lastovo-Mljet waterworks (NPKLM vodovod d.o.o.) from Korčula excavated several Roman stone blocks during the repair of the water pipe on the Mala Riva, north of the bridge at the entrance to Vid. Among them, three significant Roman monuments in Vid stand out, and on one of them, along with various decorations, an inscription is carved.
Metković News reports the letters AV and the third damaged letter (perhaps the letter G) have been preserved on the monument. It can be preliminary said that the name of the first Roman emperor Augustus was probably mentioned.
It is the largest inscription found in Narona. The height of the letters, 30 cm, indicates that the inscription stood on a large public building and can be associated with the most famous Naronitan site - the temple of Augusteum, where Emperor Augustus was worshiped.
The employees of NPKLM vodovoda d.o.o carefully removed the monuments. They will be presented to the public in the Narona Archeological Museum, the first on-site museum in Croatia, after the cleaning and conservation process.
"Since the works are taking place in the area of the former center of ancient Narona, we could expect something like this. Another reason for this is that much later, a stone was inserted into the foundations of the bridge over the Norin, so we expected to find something like this", said the director of AM Narona, Toni Glučina.
Whenever you dig a little deeper in the area of Vid, it can be expected that some stone witness of the famous Naronitan history will come to light. This is the biggest monument found in Vid from the ancient Roman city of Narona, since the archeological discovery of 17 marble statues with inscriptions and mosaic floors inside the Plečaš family barn. The unique archaeological find of the Roman remains indicated that the city was of great importance during the Roman era, built in the first century BC.
To find out more about the Narona Archeological Museum, click HERE.
Digital Nomad Campaign Starts With Over 8 Million Impressions
April 28, 2021 - As part of the first wave of the digital nomad campaign, "Croatia, your new office!", over 8 million impressions were achieved from mid-March to mid-April.
As reported by the Croatian National Tourist Board, activities within the digital nomad campaign, which the Croatian National Tourist Board is conducting on the US market, Canada, and the United Kingdom, were carried out on Facebook and Twitter and aimed exclusively at the target group of potential digital nomads, and all information on the conditions of registration and stay of digital nomads in Croatia can be found on the campaign landing page and subpage ‘‘Croatia your new office’’.
"Digital nomads in the current circumstances can contribute to better occupancy of tourist capacities throughout the year, while digital nomadism itself is increasingly becoming a global trend that brings numerous benefits for a number of activities, including the tourism sector. Croatia has the necessary preconditions to become an attractive and desirable destination for digital nomads, and we will continue to carry out the necessary activities to be as successful as possible", said Croatian Tourist Board Director Kristjan Stanicic, adding that the second wave of the promotional campaign is planned for the second half of 2021.
Let's add that the campaign page mostly searches for the conditions and steps that must be met in order to obtain a visa for "digital nomads", but also the content available in certain destinations. The data also show that the most interesting are tourist products such as active holidays, nature, culture, and eno-gastronomy, but also destinations such as Central Dalmatia, Istria, Dubrovnik, and Zagreb.
That Croatia is recognized as an interesting destination for digital nomads is confirmed by numerous publications in renowned foreign media such as GEO, Lonely Planet, The Washington Post, Forbes, The Mirror, and The Independent, which have dedicated their recent articles to the digital nomad campaign in Croatia.
You can learn more about the digital nomad visa through our interview with Melissa Paul, owner of Croatia's first digital nomad visa earlier this year.
For more on digital nomads in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section.
