VIDEO: Fish With Venom 1200 Times More Potent Than Cyanide in Istria
As Morski/Zana Moslavac writes on the 26th of August, 2020, the new tropical sea exhibition at the Pula Aquarium in Istria, which opened after several months of preparation, is inhabited by an interesting and well-known animal: the white-spotted puffer (Arothron hispidus). It is interesting that it belongs to the family of tetraodontidae, and all members of this group have one common characteristic: they all have four ''plates'' in the mouth that they use as teeth.
This species naturally inhabits areas of the Indian and Pacific oceans where its sharp flat teeth are used to crush prey with a solid exoskeleton. It is known for its ability to inflate its body, which it achieves by ingesting water or air through the mouth into a small chamber near the stomach. This ability is used when it is endangered, making it difficult for a predator to swallow it.
In addition, members of this family are considered more poisonous, that is, they are among the second most poisonous vertebrates in the world. The poison tetrodotoxin, which is much more dangerous than cyanide itself, is not found in certain organs of these animals. An antidote doesn't currently exist, but not even that fact stopped humans from eating these fish. Japan and Korea traditionally prepare delicacies from "fugu" puffers, provided that the fish is prepared exclusively by specially trained chefs who know how to properly separate the meat from the organs which may contain the potent substance. Unfortunately, poorly prepared meat fish of this kind results in several deaths per year. For that reason, the Japanese emperor was forbidden from consuming this unusual and potentially dangerous delicacy.
''Arothron hispidus arrived at the Pula Aquarium two years ago, when we bought one from the "Globo Divulgazione Scientifica" science association from Trieste, Italy, where it was part of an exhibition of dangerous marine animals. We placed it in our tropical marine setting, but as that aquarium room was intended for a complete reconstruction, the fish spent the last few months in aquarium quarantine. Obsolete steel pools have been replaced by modern, acrylic pools, which have arrived completely finished. They are monoblock pools in which tropical sea fish have been placed which cannot share space with other smaller tropical fish,'' said Zarko Jakovic.
Apart from the tropics, one type of puffer fish can be seen in the Mediterranean today. Namely, what is commonly known as the silver-cheeked toadfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus), a newcomer from the Red sea, was subsequently granted the status of an invasive species due to its extremely high reproductive rate and non-selectivity in feeding. It also causes significant negative consequences for fishing, such as tearing nets.
Watch the video of Istria's potent resident below:
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Croatian Prices: Bread, Baked Goods Cost More in Croatia Than Germany
Croatian prices are sometimes baffling for many people given the average wage level in the country, and some items are inexplicably more expensive than they are in more developed EU countries.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 26th of August, 2020, the prices of bread and cereals in Croatia are about two percent above the European average, and at these prices, the country is a record holder among transition countries, Eurostat announced based on the movement of prices of bread and cereals throughout the year 2019.
Slovenia is right next to Croatia in that sense. In the Czech Republic, bread and cereals are 80 percent cheaper than they are in regard to the EU average, ie a fifth cheaper than in Croatia, in Hungary, bread and cereals are a quarter cheaper, in Slovakia they're 10 percent cheaper, in Bulgaria they're cheaper by a third, and in Romania they're 50 percent cheaper.
Although it isn't a member of the European Union, prices in Norway are 60 percent above the EU average, however, so are average Norwegian salaries, and Germany's bread and cereals are about one percent cheaper than they are here in Croatia.
The bakery industry, ie the production of bread, fresh pastries, confectionery and cakes, annually generates between 4.5 and 5 billion kuna in revenue in Croatia and employs about 16 thousand workers.
When asked why bakery products are expensive in Croatia, both traders and bakers will immediately discuss the high cost of various boxes that must be ticked for the state, while a more honest answer could be - because they can be. On average, Croats eat only 4.5 kilograms of fish a year, but each member of a typical household eats an average of 55 kilograms of bread and pastries on an annual basis.
For comparison, the price of meat in Croatia is 17 percent lower than the average price in the EU, fruits and vegetables are about 11 percent lover, and milk, cheese and eggs are only 5 percent cheaper than the average price in the EU. Croatian prices for food are generally 6.5 percent lower while oils and fats are about 7 percent more expensive than the bloc's average.
In the past year alone, bread and cereals have risen in price by an average of 1.1 percent, which deviated from the movement of prices of other products. Prices of goods and services for personal consumption measured by the consumer price index, after a modest increase in June (+ 0.1 percent), fell by 0.5 percent on a monthly basis in July.
At the annual level, there was also a decrease in April in a row by 0.3 percent. In the period from January to July, average consumer prices were up 0.4 percent when compared to the same period in 2019. Observed by groups and by the purpose of consumption, the largest generator of the fall in consumer prices on a monthly basis by 9.5 percent are seasonal reductions in clothing and footwear.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages were on average 0.9 percent cheaper while the prices of household equipment and regular household maintenance were lower by 0.3 percent. In addition to the coronavirus crisis and reduced consumption, the fall in Croatian prices is also affected by crude oil, so fuels and lubricants are ten percent cheaper now when compared to the same period last year. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco with a share of 5.2 percent in the total structure of the domestic consumer basket increased at an annual rate of 4.5 percent, mainly due to increased excise duties on harmful products.
"By the end of the year, there should be a further decline in average consumer prices on an annual basis, so in the baseline scenario when compared to 2019, this year we should record stagnation in consumer prices," said RBA analysts, as was reported by Vecernji list.
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Krunoslav Capak Discusses Measures, Coronavirus Numbers and Vaccine
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 26th of August, 2020, Krunoslav Capak, the director of the Croatian Institite of Public Health, was a guest on the HTV dnevnik recently and pointed out that according to the World Health Organisation, 6 vaccines for the new coronavirus are currently in their third phase of clinical trials.
"Everyone knows that we've had big numbers over the last two weeks that no one is happy with. We didn’t expect them to be that big. Considering that we had a tourist season, there are a million people who have stayed in Croatia, that number isn't frightening, but of course we're worried. We're working to reduce that number,'' Krunoslav Capak told HRT.
"The numbers have been falling over the last two days and we hope it will continue to do so. We expect that tomorrow's number of infected people will be somewhat lower,'' he added.
Local headquarters and the determination of anti-epidemic measures
''This [the determination of measures] has been the goal of our meetings and agreements and we've been communicating with local and county headquarters in this way for some time now. We think that they know best what the situation is in their own respective counties and focusing their measures on those areas is a burning issue for them. What Imotski asked for, of course, was supported by the National Staff. Now the situation is with Slavonski Brod and we expect each county to express what is most important for them to be introduced as a new measure at this time,'' said Krunoslav Capak.
In Slavonski Brod's case, the measure is to reduce the number of people at weddings and gatherings.
The operation of bars and cafes
Krunoslav Capak said that he is not issuing punishments for not adhereing to the measures at this moment in time because they believe that repression is the last measure that should be used.
''We think it's much smarter to go with education, persuasion, with appeals to all those who should change their behaviour. At the moment, we have no grounds to punish those cafes that violate the measures, but of course there is a possibility for that. If this continues and our appeals aren't responded to, then there is always the possibility of repression,'' Krunoslav Capak stated.
Patients with severe clinical pictures
"In this warm period of the year, we've had milder clinical pictures, but as the number of patients increased, so did the number of people in our infectious disease clinics with patients who needed to be hospitalised. At the moment, there are 40 of them. Considering that some time has passed since the moment of a large number of patients being recorded, we expected that more severe clinical pictures would appear,'' said Capak.
Krunoslav Capak pointed out that the fact is that younger people are mostly ill. The average incidence of disease is between 30 and 35 years of age.
''These are younger people who have always had a milder clinical picture. We all need to rake caution and keep compliance with epidemiological measures in mind. Over the last few days, we've had an increased number of hospitalisations, which indicates an increasing number of more severe clinical pictures,'' he noted.
The coronavirus vaccine
Krunoslav Capak pointed out that according to the World Health Organisation, 6 vaccines are currently in their third phase of clinical trials.
''Their registration is unlikely before the New Year. At the beginning of next year, we can expect a regular and registered vaccine. Croatia has done everything to reserve this vaccine on time together with other member states of the European Union, it's known that we have booked a million and a half doses for citizens,'' concluded Krunoslav Capak for HRT.
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Adhering To Health Measures Could Secure 2 More Months Of Tourism Turnover
ZAGREB, Aug 26, 2020- There are now some 500,000 tourists in Croatia and if the epidemiological situation remains stable and everyone complies with recommendations, we can certainly expect another two months of tourism turnover this year, the National Tourist Board (HTZ) director, Kristjan Stanicic, said on Wednesday.
Stanicic met with representatives of Lika-Senj and Karlovac county tourist board representatives at Plitvice Lakes.
Lika-Senj county tourism board director Ivan Radosevic assesses that tourist trade in that county is very good compared to initial forecasts, saying that "August has brought an excellent 67% of last August's results, and year to date we have stood at 54% of last year's levels."
Currently, there are visitors in that county from Germany, Croatia, and Poland and the situation is similar in Karlovac County with the local tourist board's director Dina Begic saying that currently, the county is generating about 30% of last year's turnover.
They both underscored that this year the number of local guests has increased and account for 30% of tourism turnover.
Stanicic recalled measures from May until now which enabled tourism turnover, including a focus on marketing and information campaigns conducted on key European markets where the majority of holidaymakers come from.
Considering everything, Stanicic is exceptionally satisfied with the summer part of the tourism year and with that in August alone when 67% of last year's August turnover was achieved.
He announced a campaign for the shoulder season with emphasis on continental tourism, nautical and gastronomic tourism focusing on the closest markets.
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Croatia's Plum Production Falling, Imports Rising
ZAGREB, Aug 26, 2020 - Plums are increasingly in demand in the EU, however, Croatia's results in growing this fruit oscillate, as plum growing is often affected by weather conditions as it was this year, hence imported plums are dominating the market, an analysis by the Smarter consulting company said on Wednesday.
According to Smarter, which specializes in agriculture and food industry consulting, problems in the production of plums over the past few years have led to many large producers backing out of this business.
Croatia's plum production has recorded significant oscillations in recent years, Smarter underscored, supporting its claims with figures saying that in 2018, a record high 14,487 tonnes were produced whereas in 2014 just over 8,000 tonnes were produced.
This year due to poor weather conditions, the plum crop is expected to be quite bad, Smarter said and added that currently, the offer for plums is good however "the market is dominated by imported plums."
Smarter added that Serbia produces about 500,000 tonnes of plums annually and Bosnia and Herzegovina's plum crop is between 150,000- 200,000 tonnes. Romania too produces about 500,000 tonnes of plum annually and in 2018 its plum crop was a record high, 830,000 tonnes.
Data from the State Bureau of Statistics (DZS) indicate that back in 2008, Croatia produced 48,614 tonnes of plums with more than 32,000 being for its own needs through extensive cultivation while in 2019 production was only 9,403 tonnes," Smater's Miroslav Kuskunovic said.
According to official data, plums are cultivated on 4,500 hectares mostly in Slavonia and Baranja.
Last year 2,535 tonnes of fresh plums were imported with a value of €1.5 million while the country exported 845 tonnes for only €540,000.
Most imported plums came from Serbia (913 tonnes), Moldova (619 tonnes), North Macedonia (427 tonnes) while last year Croatia export 389 tonnes of plums and 57 tonnes of prunes.
At the same time, Croatia imported almost one thousand tonnes of prunes valued at €2 million, two-thirds of which were imported from Chile and Serbia.
Smarter underscored that European analyses indicate that the plum is one of the fruits with the most prospects for exporting in Europe and its market value in the EU exceeds €300 million.
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No Lockdown For Split-Dalmatia County
ZAGREB, Aug 26, 2020 - Head of the national COVID-19 management team and Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said on Wednesday that the new measures for Split-Dalmatia County, announced by the county's team, would come into force at midnight.
"Split-Dalmatia County has decided to make wearing masks mandatory in bars and restaurants before consuming drinks and food, the number of people at weddings will be limited to 50, wakes are banned, and owners of restaurants are obliged to supervise their facilities more closely. Also, gyms will close, and sports competitions can take place but without spectators," Bozinovic said.
Broken down by counties, the number of new cases of the infection is the highest in Split-Dalmatia County - 136, followed by the City of Zagreb (58), Sibenik-Knin County (33), Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (20), Zagreb County (19), Zadar County (15), Varazdin County (11), Brod-Posavina County (11), while other counties have recorded fewer than 10 new cases.
Asked whether the national COVID-19 response team was considering a complete closure of Split-Dalmatia County, Bozinovic said that was not the case.
"We are not considering that this is the only way to avoid that, and I am convinced there will not be any lockdown. We are keeping the situation under control this way," he said.
Asked about the possibility of the spike in number due to the recent Feast of the Assumption, Bozinovic said that they had assigned local teams to conduct epidemiological surveillance, and they believe the prescribed measures had been implemented.
"Split-Dalmatia County is a hotspot and new measures are being taken there. We will have meetings with others on Thursday, so it is possible that some new measures may be introduced then in some counties," Bozinovic said.
Asked why gyms were closing in Split-Dalmatia County while bars remained open and Masses were allowed, Bozinovic said that the new measures would be in place for 14 days.
He underscored that measures could be dropped or extended. Fines for violating the measures are also possible, he added.
"There is always the possibility of penalizing. We hope there will be no need for that because our intention is that as many people as possible accept the recommendations by the Croatian Public Health Institute. The point is for people to follow the recommendations because then we will achieve the main goal, to reduce the number of new infections and control the situation," he said.
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Croatian Digital Nomad Visa: PM Plenkovic and Cabinet Say YES!
August 25, 2020 - A big day for Croatia 2.0, as Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and his cabinet express full support for a Croatian digital nomad visa, with the process starting later this week.
I am starting to believe.
A little common sense, a lot of positivity, and the determination of a few good men and women.
Is Croatia 2.0 about to become a reality, at least in part?
The revolution of common sense and future thinking started in Estonia, then continued in Barbados and the Republic of Georgia. And today - it seems - that revolution of positivity and a brighter future, which could revolutionise tourism and the economy has reached Croatia.
The full support of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet for the introduction of the Croatian digital nomad visa.
In SUCH a short space of time, as covered by TCN.
The timeline:
May 5, 2020 - Digital Nomads Enter Croatian Tourism Conference Strategy Debate for 1st Time
May 11, 2020 - Digital Nomad Tourism Featured for 1st Time in Croatian Media
July 11, 2020 - Estonia on the Adriatic? Dutchman Asks PM for Croatian Digital Nomad Visa
July 28, 2020 - Split-Based Dutch Entrepreneur Jan de Jong: Croatia Should Introduce Visas for Digital Nomads
August 15, 2020 - Croatian Digital Nomad Visa One Step Closer? Ministry Meeting Confirmed
August 19, 2020 - Croatian Bureaucracy 2.0: Progress with the Digital Nomad Visa
August 22, 2020 - 5 Reasons Why the Croatian Digital Nomad Visa Should Exist
In the words of Dutch entrepreneur Jan de Jong, a Split resident and successful entrepreneur since 2006 on his LinkedIn profile, the latest stunning update:
****
Thank you Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic for taking time to meet today and for recognizing this great opportunity for Croatia. ??
It is truly amazing when you see that entrepreneurial ideas and suggestions are being heard and understood by policy makers.
Our Prime Minister told me that the introduction of a digital nomad visa was discussed earlier today during his meeting with his ministers - and that the cabinet fully supported this initiative.
By the end of this week changes to the Foreigners Act shall be proposed to parliament - which basically means that within 2 months after my open letter to our Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic here on LinkedIn - Croatia has managed to introduce a legal framework that would allow Croatia to start welcoming digital nomads ?
I believe! I really believe in a better Croatia. A Croatia:
✅ Where my children would want to stay.
✅ Where its citizens can enjoy among highest standards of living within Europe.
✅ From where digital nomads would want to work.
Thank you all for your support!
Follow me on #LinkedIn as this story is only getting better.
#LivingTheCroatianDream #entrepreneurship #Croatia #DigitalNomads
Congrats, Jan, and thanks for all your efforts.
Change IS possible.
FinMin: Q2 GDP Drop Expected To Be Larger Than During Financial Crisis
ZAGREB, Aug 26, 2020 - Finance Minister Zdravko Maric said on Wednesday the GDP drop in this year's second quarter was expected to be larger than the largest drop during the global financial crisis.
The national statistical office is expected to issue a report on GDP in Q2 on Friday.
Responding to questions from the press, Maric said the government would present new forecasts for the whole year in the first two weeks of September.
The largest GDP drop to date, of 8.8%, was recorded in Q1 2009, at the start of the global financial crisis.
Six analysts polled by Hina expect GDP to drop 13.9% year on year. This will be the first drop since mid-2014 and the largest since 2000.
Maric said everyone realized how much the state-supported the economy this year via job retention measures, but added that this could not be done indefinitely.
New programs are opening up, such as the EU's SURE program, from which Croatia is expected to receive €1 billion in favorable loans which will most likely be used to finance a shorter working week.
Maric said Croatia fared even better with the Next Generation EU instrument, the coronavirus recovery plan in which Croatia will have €9.4 billion at its disposal. He said the big challenge now was to draw the highest amount possible as quickly and as effectively as possible.
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INA's Layoffs Decision Is Business Decision, Says Minister
ZAGREB, Aug 26, 2020 - Economy Minister Tomislav Coric said on Wednesday INA's decision to lay off 250 workers was a business decision, and that INA recently submitted a proposal to the Strategic Projects Commission to declare the Sisak biorefinery a strategic project.
Asked by the press to comment on the announcement that 250 INA workers would lose their jobs, Coric said there was no satisfaction if people lost their jobs at the end of a process of transformation, but that INA's business decisions of several years ago were going in that direction.
"The thing that we can express satisfaction about, is that the workers are leaving with relatively favorable severance packages."
The oil company said earlier this week that, given the circumstances of operating during a pandemic, the INA Group began organizational changes and that the restructuring would cover a maximum of 250 workers. This news has caused great concern in the town of Sisak and the Sisak refinery, whose workers have warned that the layoffs would halve the refinery's staff.
Asked about the layoffs, Coric said the company's direction was its decision and that the global oil business was in trouble because of the coronavirus and other circumstances.
He said he was pleased that INA's proposal to declare the biorefinery in Sisak a strategic project, was recently submitted to the Strategic Projects Commission.
We are pleased about that because I think that the direction which INA is taking in fact - a sustainable, green direction - is the right one, Coric added.
INA council to discuss Lazard's final report soon
The minister said the government received Lazard's final report on INA. The company is the government's advisor on the possible buy-back of MOL's stake in INA.
He added, however, that the make-up of the council on negotiations with MOL on the possible purchase changed last week. "In the weeks ahead, that report will be presented to the council members and then we will go a step further."
Asked if the political decision to buy back the stake was still on, Coric said the government decided to do that in 2016 and that the decision was confirmed in the HDZ's platform for this year's parliamentary election.
"We will try to enter into talks with the other side, present our offer and try and restore Croatia's ownership of INA."
A member of the press remarked that consultants said the buyback was not worth it. Coric said that he did not have that information.
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Croatia Reports A New Record High Daily Number Of COVID Cases
ZAGREB, Aug 26, 2020- In the last 24 hours, there have been a record high 358 cases of infection with coronavirus in Croatia, and currently there are 2,352 active cases, the national COVID-19 response team said on Wednesday.
Health Minister Vili Beros informed a news conference that 184 COVID patients were currently being treated in hospitals, which is 7.4% of all active cases, and 10 of those patients are now on ventilators.
In the last 24 hours, 26 new patients have been admitted to the hospital, while 19 have been discharged.
Also, 7,993 people are now in self-isolation.
Croatia's COVID-related death toll stands at 175, and a total of 6,362 have recovered.
Thus, since the onset of the epidemic on 25 February, 8,889 people in Croatia have been diagnosed with this infectious disease, and 157,387 people have been tested for it.
Currently, 130 healthcare workers are positive for COVID.
In Split-Dalmatia County where 136 people have been diagnosed with this infection in the last 24 hours, new hotspots have appeared in fitness gyms.
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