As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 28th of October, 2020, with a donation in the amount of 301,387.50 kuna, the PBZ Group contributed to the adaptation of the Karlovac Children and Youth Home with the aim of improving working conditions and the quality of social care of its users.

"The latest donation that we realised as part of our long-term humanitarian project 'I do good every day/Cinim dobro svaki dan' is intended for the Karlovac Children and Youth Home. We hope that the adaptation of the residential building to provide accommodation services to its users will contribute to improving the quality of their daily lives and social care, and also enable them to remain as comfortable as possible. More than fifty donations within the aforementioned project, which included donations to numerous homes for children and youth, pediatric wards and children's hospitals throughout our country, confirm our continued commitment to helping the community in which we operate," said Mislav Blazic, President of the Management Board of PBZ Card.

The aforementioned Karlovac home provides social care services to children and young people with behavioural problems and mental health issues, offering accommodation, both half-day and full-day stays, organised housing, counseling and assistance to primary and foster families and individuals after leaving care, service inpatient and outpatient team assessments and more for about a hundred users.

"Thanks to the social sensitivity of the donors, the PBZ Group, with the support of the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Policy and the City of Karlovac, created the foundations for us to be able to expand the range of services we can provide as an institution with this donation. The social welfare system has begun an extensive process of transformation, ie the deinstitutionalisation of care so that as few children as possible spend as little time as possible in institutional care. Our effort to provide organised housing to some of our users with comprehensive support is being done precisely with this in mind. This PBZ Group donation greatly contributed to the adaptation of the residential building, specifically enabling the installation of a new roof on the said building, which we received on concession from the City of Karlovac, and will be used for organised housing. On behalf of the Karlovac home, I'd like to thank the PBZ Group for their long-term support to all those who in any way invest their professional and personal time in caring for others,'' said Martina Brajdic Manojlovic, the director of the Karlovac home.

The donation to the Karlovac home is part of the PBZ Group's socially responsible business project, which is part of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group, and which has been implemented for more than twelve years under the name 'I do good every day'. With the funds raised for this project, PBZ Group supports national, long-term projects for the benefit of children and youth.

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As Novac/Jozo Vrdoljak writes on the 28th of October, 2020, after the company EVN Croatia Plin received a 50-year concession from Lika-Senj County for gasification of Gospic and Otocac a few months ago, Calcit Lika, otherwise one of the largest companies, is expected to join in with the move. According to unofficial information from EVN Croatia Plin, they are already overwhelmed by user inquiries about possible connection dates.

As they pointed out from EVN, their commitment to building a modern and safe gas network has been well recognised, as have all of the advantages and benefits that gas brings to citizens and the environment. Investing in gas infrastructure creates new opportunities for expanding existing activities and developing new opportunities as well as increasing its competitiveness, which will further encourage other investments and make Lika an attractive location for many companies, which in turn will lead to job creation. This will increase the employment rate and improve the living standards of the population.

''The most important thing is that Lika will remain what it is: untouched nature, full of greenery. Lika is one of the most beautiful and greenest regions in Croatia, but its winters are harsh, cold and long. However, most of its inhabitants still use wood, pellets, fuel, oil and similar derivatives for heating, the combustion of which pollutes the air and the environment. On the other hand, gas is a reliable, always available natural energy source, it doesn't depend on weather conditions and there's no need to store it and order new quantities. In addition to heating, it can also be used for cooling rooms down and obtaining hot water. Energy is saved, and the negative impact on the environment is significantly reduced,'' explained Vlado Mandic, the director of EVN Croatia Plin, adding that the gasification of Lika opens up new opportunities for growth and development within the region.

He noted the fact that in the past ten years alone, the gas industry in Croatia has gained a lot of new momentum. EVN Croatia Plin, which has been working on the gasification of Dalmatia since 2009, is largely responsible in his opinion. Back in 2011, based on a 30-year concession, EVN Croatia Plin began building its network, first in Zadar County, and then in the Sibenik-Knin and Split-Dalmatia counties.

''In a rather short period of time, we've become one of the largest greenfield investors in Dalmatia. From the beginning of the works until today, in Dalmatia, EVN Croatia Plin has built more than 137 kilometres of new gas network and supplies gas to more than 1,400 users every day, so it isn't surprising that Split-Dalmatia and Sibenik-Knin counties with EVN extended the concession for an additional 20 years,'' said Mandic.

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As Morski writes on the 28th of October, 2020, the Mayor of Porec, Loris Persuric, held a meeting via video link with the Mayor of the French city of Noisiel, Mathieu Viskovic, on the topic of cooperation and the conclusion of an Agreement on Cooperation and the Establishment of Friendly Relations between the two cities of Porec and Noisiel.

Noisiel is a city that belongs to the metropolitan area of ​​Paris, in the department of Seine-et-Marne in the French region of Île-de-France and has a population of just over 15 thousand. It is part of the eastern Paris suburb and the Marne Valley, where Disneyland is located, as well as the Menier Chocolat chocolate factory (now the headquarters of Nestlé France SAS) in Noisiel itself. In addition to industrial development, Noisiel is at the same time a city that is inevitably connected to the development of the French capital Paris and its metropolitan area, and is excellently connected with it in terms of urban planning and traffic.

Back in 2000, the Ministry of Culture and Communications named Noisiel a city of art and history with a special focus on industrial heritage - more specifically the heritage of the industrial chocolate manufacturer Menier - whose 19th-century UNESCO-protected facilities are a modern heritage created by the Marne Valley and green a heritage made up of parks and planned horticulture throughout the city.

The mayor of Noisiel, Mathieu Viskovic, whose family has roots in Croatia and Istria, expressed satisfaction that there is an intention to create a special friendship between Porec and Noisiel.

As soon as the epidemiological situation allows for it, a delegation of the city of Noisiel will visit Porec, and then formalise the agreement that has already been initiated with the representatives of Porec.

Mayor Loris Persuric said that there is interest in making friends on both sides because, apart from being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Noisiel is also a city inhabited by representatives of the Croatian diaspora who want to strengthen ties between the two countries.

It's worth noting that since back 1978 and the beginning of the friendship with the Italian city of Massa Lombarda, Porec has made various forms of friendships with as many as 11 cities. There is a special friendship between Zabok, Porec and Crikvenica, and together they organise cultural events. There is every reason to believe that this new friendship between Porec and Noisiel will be of satisfaction to many in both European cities.

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October the 29th, 2020 - The coronavirus pandemic has taken firm hold once again across Europe, with numbers soaring and the number of patients infected with the new virus requiring hospitalisation on the rise. As many countries across Europe re-introduce stricter lockdown measures, Croatia's minister of health, Vili Beros, has stated that he's more interested in finding a balance.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 28th of October, 2020, when commenting on the rising number of new cases of infection across Croatia, Health Minister Vili Beros said that the collapse of the already enfeebled Croatian health system was indeed a possibility, but that he was also working to enable maximum good functioning.

"It's excellent that a large number of retired doctors and students are stepping forward, so I'd like to appeal to everyone to join in with these joint efforts to suppress this epidemic," Vili Beros said.

He says he will continue to try to find the right balance between maintaining public health and not damaging economic activities. In some countries that have introduced curfews, there has been no reduction in the number of new infections, he noted, indicating that this appears a wasted effort in many cases.

"I respect, and I listen to everything, I understand the epidemiologists who say that they need stronger measures, but we should also look at businessmen for whom these measures are too much… We need to find a balance," said Vili Beros, clearly highlighting his awareness of how the economy is suffering, which is something he and others have previously been accused of not caring enough about.

He stated that Croatian epidemiologists are "a step ahead" of the coronavirus, so the Zagreb Arena is also ready to receive patients should that be necessary, as it was back in March when the new coronavirus first penetrated the country's line of defense, although it will be a long time before patients are admitted there.

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October 29, 2020 - Towns within the Rijeka Ring and Klana Municipality have joined forces to achieve better visibility and recognizability on the tourist market.

HRTurizam reports that signing the Local Tourist Board Association agreement, including the Rijeka Ring and the Municipality of Klana, was held in the Rijeka City Hall on Wednesday.

The agreement was signed by the Rijeka Tourist Board, Bakar Tourist Board, Kastav Tourist Board, Kraljevica Tourist Board, Čavle Tourist Board, Jelenje Tourist Board, Kostrena Tourist Board, Viškovo Tourist Board, and the Mayor of Klana.

This Tourist Board Agreement for Towns and Municipalities in the Rijeka Ring and the Klana Municipality regulates the manner of cooperation to jointly implement activities aimed at marketing for the Tourist Board Association of the Rijeka Ring and Klana Municipality.

Namely, in the Law on Tourist Boards and the Promotion of Croatian Tourism, which entered into force on January 1, 2020, tourist boards and local self-government units can join forces.

The Mayor of Rijeka, Vojko Obersnel, welcomes this initiative, which is, in fact, a continuation of the cooperation between cities and municipalities in the Rijeka ring.

"Through this joint action, we present ourselves as a unique tourist destination, rich in cultural and historical heritage. At the same time, such united tourist communities will be able to focus their resources on further raising the quality and connecting tourist products in the entire tourist destination," said Obersnel.

Director of the Rijeka Tourist Board Petar Škarpa said that the Rijeka Ring Tourist Board and the Municipality of Klana had been actively cooperating since 2009. Numerous projects have already been implemented in that period, which has united and presented the Rijeka Ring tourist offer in the extremely demanding tourist market.

“A website has been created, a general prospectus that has been distributed to numerous fairs and presentations, various promotional and information materials, mobile applications, and several other materials. The Bike Rijeka project is especially noteworthy, for which we received special recognition from the UNWTO," said Škrapa, emphasizing that the Agreement will further strengthen the cooperation of all tourist communities to strengthen the tourism sector, redefine joint activities, and with the synergy of all involved, implement all projects that await us in the "new normal."

CNTB Director Kristjan Staničić emphasized that this cooperation will enable more efficient branding and positioning on the domestic and global tourist map.

"This will make it easier for you to develop your joint marketing plan, joint product development strategy, conduct joint education, represent common interests, but also make it easier to get money from the Funds for projects and programs of joint tourist boards," said Staničić, referring to previous examples of similar associations on the island of Krk and Gorski Kotar.

Although it is only a project association, the Tourist Board Association of the Rijeka Ring and Klana Municipality will certainly achieve better visibility and recognizability of the destination on the tourist market.

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October 29, 2020 - As it stands now, Split Advent 2020 will be held from November 28, 2020, to January 6, 2021. The latest info on the potential of the event. 

Dalmacija Danas reports that a total of 11 offers arrived (two did not have all the documentation, and nine are valid) for the popular Split Advent 2020 holiday houses (kućice). Most offers, as expected, were for catering and trade. The director of Spalatum DMC stressed that he would hold a second round for offers because there are vacancies left.

"Last year, there were equal or even more offers in the second round than in the first round. You all know that we have set more favorable payment conditions and prices this year, given the situation with the pandemic - payment will be made only a few days before the start of the event when we know for sure that Advent can be held following epidemiological recommendations. If, for the same reasons, it is interrupted at some point, there will be a reciprocal payment," said Ante Šunjić. Thus, Director Šunjić eased the concerns of entrepreneurs, especially those for whom this is their first experience.

Provided that Split Advent 2020 is held at all because of COVID-19, many are interested in if the festivities will remain with a small number of exhibitors?

In the second round, many offers will arrive, Šunjić assured, while Marijana Pivalica from the Split Tourist Board (as a member of the Commission that opened the offers) mentioned another possibility if there is no offer for all houses, which is likely.

In such a case, in agreement with the bidders, the Advent festivities will be held at a reduced number of locations - Jardin is safe in any case. Of course, "safe" if the national and local headquarters approve the event at all, and until November 28, when Split Advent 2020 should open, anything can happen.

Four locations are planned - next to Strossmayer Park, in front of the Gallery, Prokurative, and Gaja Bulat Square. The valid bids that Spalatum DMC received in the first round were priced within the planned range - between three and five thousand kuna for trading houses for the planned duration of the Advent festivities from November 28 to January 6, 2021, and up to 30-40 thousand kuna for catering facilities.

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October 29, 2020 - From excessive tourism to empty streets and pandemic blues, CNN reports on the future of Dubrovnik.

Jutarnji List and CNN report that the term “overtourism” was often used last year to describe scenes that could be seen on the hiking trails of Machu Picchu or the streets and canals of Venice. The mentioned destinations and many others wrestled every day with crowds of tourists who wanted to experience a place's natural beauties and cultural goods.

Then came 2020 and the coronavirus pandemic.

No plan, forecast, and projection of tourism experts included the possibility that the sector would crumble and fight for survival. As COVID-19 spread around the world, bans on movement and quarantine forced people to stay at home. 

CNN, therefore, wonders: Is overtourism a thing of the past?

To get an answer to this question, CNN contacted destinations that had suffered from this type of tourism before the pandemic. Dubrovnik is a perfect example. 

The sea of terracotta roofs, city walls, and connection to the TV series "Game of Thrones" led to a significant increase in the number of tourists who visit Dubrovnik every year. Next to tourists enjoying the Adriatic Pearl for an extended weekend are those who came to the city on cruise ships and will leave by the end of the day.

As the crowds grew larger and larger from year to year, Mayor Mato Franković and other city officials promised to bring the situation under control. Last year, the number of cruisers allowed to dock in the old city port was limited to two, 80 percent of souvenir shops were closed, and it was proposed to ban the opening of new outdoor restaurants.

In early 2020, officials wondered if the measures would bear fruit.

The pandemic, which hit Europe hard in March, led to the decision to close the borders, and tourists stopped coming.

When Dubrovnik reopened at the beginning of the summer, and when tourism started again, mostly Croats came to the city. International guests began arriving only when passengers were received at Cilipi Airport again. But it didn't take long as the number of people infected with the coronavirus began to rise again.

"The UK had put us on the quarantine list, and everything sank again. Airlines started to reduce the number of flights," Deputy Mayor Jelka Tepsic told CNN. "Dubrovnik without flights and without the British market achieves minimal numbers."

Local tourist guide Ivan Vukovic said he finds it strange to see Dubrovnik so quiet. Truth be told, he also says that a break from the crowds is good for him.

"The atmosphere during the summer is similar to that of the 1990s when the (Homeland) War was still raging. The only thing is that there is no shelling now," Vukovic told CNN.

Dubrovnik recovered from the war and became one of the world's most famous tourist destinations. The question now is whether the pandemic and the ensuing catastrophe can catalyze change.

Tepsic says the restriction on cruisers and other measures against overtourism will not be lifted when international airlines resume operation, and the city is ready to invite guests to return.

Dubrovnik wants to tell its future guests that it seriously wants to deal with the problems of excessive tourism and coronavirus.

"At the entrance to the Old Town, there is a large sign saying that everyone should wear masks, keep their distance and wash their hands and use disinfectants, and we have special rules within the 'Respect the City' program," said Tepsic.

Unlike many European destinations, Croatia allows Americans to come, but only if they have a negative PCR test for COVID-19 that is not older than 48 hours. The lack of flights makes it difficult for the vast majority to arrive, but those with access to private jets come to Dubrovnik.

Tepsic says the city will continue to focus on luxury tourism.

City officials and entrepreneurs want tourists to walk the city streets again, but they also want a sustainable future.

Vukovic says the goal is not to return to excessive tourism but "some kind of normal tourism, if at all possible."

You can read the full article on CNN.

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ZAGREB, Oct 28, 2020 - Osijek-Baranja County Prefect Ivan Anusic said on Thursday that he is satisfied with the agreement on the sale of the Meggle dairy company, reached after months of negotiations between the Fortenova Group and Meggle's management in Osijek.

"When the news was announced in July that Meggle was leaving Croatia, aware that we could not change the management's decision, I called on Meggle's Croatian management for talks to find a way to retain the dairy tradition in Osijek and to save jobs. We held a meeting with interested companies at the Agriculture Ministry which launched these, now successfully completed negotiations based on which Belje Plus, a member of the Fortenova Group, has taken over the dairy," Anusic posted on his Facebook profile.

He underlined that as county prefect he could not influence business processes and decisions by companies doing business in the county but that he could extend a hand of cooperation to find the best possible solution,

Anusic believes that the example of Meggle has shown that mayors and county prefects can certainly contribute to resolving problems for all economic stakeholders who are prepared for talks.

"It is our duty to react, to cooperate and to connect businesses between themselves as well as with all levels of government. I congratulate the management of both companies for a job well done and wish Meggle's employees and subcontractors a lot of working days ahead in the dairy industry," said Anusic.

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