October 13, 2020 - Ivan Mrvos has big plans for the future, which will be revealed next month when new products are announced. 

Lider.com reports that although the year is coming to an end, there are still a few significant events ahead for Ivan Mrvos and Include. Fans of the Croatian entrepreneur must eagerly await the news on November 23 when a new product presentation will occur.

"We have completely stopped producing existing products, so it will be exciting to see the reaction of the market when we present some new solutions at the end of the year. Also, we plan to expand our offices to other continents, and all this should be accompanied by a new investment round in which we are working intensively," reveals Mrvos, one of the most famous young entrepreneurs in Croatia under 30.

While everyone has heard of his smart benches, many may not know how the whole story began.

"It all started in 2014, back in high school, when I was not even 19 years old. The first projects were related to the web, and then at the end of that year, I made the first real product in the form of a light chair for catering. The idea did not go over too well and, within a few months, evolved in the direction of a solar park bench, with the main function being to charge mobile devices. The initial motive for entering the world of entrepreneurship was quite basic - creating additional monthly income. Still, over time it grew into a desire to build a global business and create products that will benefit people around the world," says the 25-year-old director of Include, which today employs 60 people, has offices in six states, and products in 55 markets. More than 260 cities have recognized it as a partner for Smart City solutions.

Include, according to the young innovator from Solin, is currently in the process of redesigning existing products and is preparing to present new solutions in the last quarter of this year.

"In November, we will be coming out as a completely different company, Include 2.0, with new solutions, new services, and price lists. To be able to place it, this year we are raising another two million euro, for which I give ten percent of the company," said Mrvos in an interview with Lider, who, with his team of fifty employees last year earned one million and fifty thousand euro.

Although these are excellent business results, the modest Mrvos names his greatest personal achievement.

"My greatest personal achievement is that we are still alive today, after six years of hard work, and I hope it will stay that way. We all know that 90 percent of startup companies fail within the first year, so I am happy that we are still here. We are approaching our seventh birthday," concludes one of the best representatives of the new generation of Croatian business leaders.

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ZAGREB, Oct 13, 2020 - The LNG Croatia vessel which, as a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU), will be one of the main elements of an LNG terminal in Omisalj on Krk island, sailed into Rijeka Bay on Tuesday, the LNG Croatia company said.

The vessel will dock at the Viktor Lenac shipyard in Rijeka for additional tests.

The LNG Croatia arrived from a shipyard near Shanghai, where it was converted into an FSRU.

The vessel will be put on trial at the LNG terminal in Omisalj on Krk island in early December and to commercial use as of January 1, the company's director, Hrvoje Krhen, told Hina.

Twenty-eight people are currently aboard and it will employ 60 when it is put into operation.

The vessel was selected as the most cost-effective in a procurement procedure two years ago, when the Golar Power company offered to convert the Golar Viking LNG tanker, made in 2005, into a €159.6 million FSRU.

The LNG Croatia has a storage capacity of 140,000 cubic metres, with a nominal LNG regasification capacity of 300,000 m3/h, or an annual capacity of 2.6 billion cubic metres.

The floating LNG terminal will allow the docking of all LNG transport vessels with capacities ranging from 3,500 to 265,000 cubic metres.

The investment in the terminal amounts to €233.6 million, of which €101.4 million is a European Commission grant given that the terminal has been included on its list of projects of common interest.

ZAGREB, Oct 13, 2020 - Chief of Police Nikola Milina on Tuesday said that there was no prior indication that the shooting that occurred on Monday in St. Mark's Square, when 22-year-old Danijel Bezuk fired at Government House and gravely wounded a police officer and later committed suicide, would occur.

"What we have managed to investigate so far does not show any indication that something like that might occur and the perpetrator did not have a criminal record," Milina told Croatian Radio.

He confirmed, however, that the police had searched several premises in Kutina that Bezuk used and found several firearms and ammunition.

Milina explained that the wounded policeman is still in intensive care and that his condition is stable. Investigators have not been able to question him yet as he was in the operating theatre all day yesterday, he said.  

Police trying to uncover motive

The police are working intensively to try and uncover the motive for yesterday's incident and have called on anyone who can provide any information to do so, adding that a case like this has never been recorded.

Milina added that the police are retracing the perpetrator's steps and confirmed that there was no indication of any possible threat to citizens prior ti the shooting. He said that the weapon he was carrying was hidden from sight so no one could have warned that something unusual was occurring.

According to Milina, the perpetrator was carrying a long gun and three other policeman were in the area at the time. Milina added that a small firearm was found next to Bezuk's body with which, it is assumed, he committed suicide.

Milina added that after MEP Ivan Vilibor Sincic dumped a load of watermelons from a van in front of Government House, security measures were ramped up and the number of police patrols there were increased.

Security measures need to be upgraded

Yesterday's event, however, has shown the need to upgrade security measures.

He added that physical obstacles have been erected in the square and no one can enter the square "without a justified reason."

Asked whether gatherings in the square would be banned, Milina said the law specifies how protestors can gather in the square.

He commented on some reactions on social media supporting the attacker, saying that citizens should not close their eyes to various types of threatening behaviour, whether that be domestic violence, traffic violations or illegal possession of weapons.

According to data he presented about the police operation "Fewer weapons, less tragedy," just this year the police have confiscated 2,542 firearms. of which 135 were automatic weapons, and 112 kilograms of explosives.

ZAGREB, Oct 13, 2020 - In the last 24 hours 372 new coronavirus cases have been registered in Croatia as well as three deaths, the national COVID-19 response team said on Tuesday.

The number of active cases is 2,774, including 424 hospitalised patients, 27 of whom are on ventilators.

Since 25 February 2020, when the first case was registered in Croatia, 20,993 persons have contracted the virus, 330 of whom have died, while 17,889 have recovered, including 307 in the last 24 hours.

Currently 15,912 persons are self-isolating.

To date 366,235 persons have been tested for coronavirus, including 5,259 in the last 24 hours.

ZAGREB October 13, 2020 – Since early June 2020, the Croatian National Theatre Zagreb has served as a nightly meeting point for the city's youths. In these pictures and video we see the incredible youth phenomenon as it once was and also how HNK afterhours lost its cool

Built in 1895, the Croatian National Theatre Zagreb (HNK Zagreb) is one of the finest pieces of architecture in a city not short on fine Austro-Hungarian buildings. Sitting in the middle of Republic of Croatia Square, it is the focal point of Lower Town. A multi-purpose space, it has world-class opera and ballet companies in-house.

© David Bakarić

This week, several media outlets have reported on the gathering of youths outside the theatre, especially on weekend nights. While an interesting read, including the thoughts of a sociologist, these stories are a bit out of date. Because the truth is, the party is over - HNK afterhours lost its cool many weeks ago.

BEFORE

© Marc Rowlands

In early June, when the three-month Coronavirus lockdown finally ended, HNK Zagreb became the de facto meeting point for Zagreb youth. It all happened rather spontaneously. There were no advertisements. Word spread from peer-to-peer and young people from as far away as Rijeka, Ivanic-grad and Zabok made the journey to take part in the youth culture phenomenon.

© David Bakarić

© Marc Rowlands

It was a joyful scene - thousands of people from every youth tribe imaginable; punk and metal fans, sports students, classical musicians, football fans, young patriots, LGBT teens, devout Christians and kids who would usually go to the cajke (folk music) club sat side-by-side. It was good-natured. Everyone was glad to be out of the house and be able to meet their peers. Everyone got along.

© David Bakarić

© David Bakarić

© David Bakarić

© David Bakarić

Impromptu theatre performances and music concerts took place. Soundsystems were set up. There was laughter, music, dancing and all round good cheer.

© David Bakarić

© David Bakarić

'We are extremely happy and positive that our theatre has been recognized as a place of gathering and sharing positive vibrations between generations,' an official from the Croatian National Theatre Zagreb told this journalist when approached to comment on HNK afterhours. 'Ever since 2014, our hope was to create a warm and welcoming feeling here for everybody, for all age groups and different audiences; to make theatre alive outside the building walls.'

Responsible young partygoers cleaned up after themselves in early June. Those cool kids have long since disappeared from HNK afterhours © David Bakarić

AFTER

HNK afterhours lost its cool many weeks ago. Becoming an expected rather than a spontaneous gathering was perhaps its death knell. That, and the fact that although everyone knew hundreds were gathering there, no provisions were made for these socialising young people. With no other option on Republic of Croatia Square, the bushes and gardens around the theatre became their toilets.

It was instantly noticeable when HNK afterhours lost its cool - all of the cool kids just stopped coming. What was once a representation of all the city's youth tribes dwindled to a hardcore few hundred of late-night drinkers with nothing better to do and no place else to go. The theatre and most of the music stopped.

Then the violence, graffiti and vandalism began. The excessive drinking was one major sign of youth insecurity – people not entirely comfortable with themselves within large groups got drunk to ease their discomfort. Then, they threw up in the bushes. But the violence and graffiti were greater signs of insecurity and immaturity.

Like dogs urinating on street corners to mark their territory, mindless graffiti 'tags' appeared all over the Croatian National Theatre Zagreb – its steps, its windows, its antique doors. In an effort to leave a permanent mark, the insignificant few seemed determined to destroy everything that had once been joyful and good-natured about this gathering.

Zagreb police intervene when one drunken male started to physically abuse some of his peers. Present at the scene, this journalist commented to a friend that the police had acted bravely. The peer commented that the police had looked scared. They were surrounded by hundreds of spectators to the violence.

You can now guarantee there will be some violence outside the theatre on every weekend night. Zagreb police, who have shown remarkable patience and restraint throughout the whole phenomenon, sit far from the crowd and let the youngsters party. However, Zagreb Police Administration have said that from May 1 to September 30, the police intervened around the Croatian National Theatre Zagreb about 50 times, based on allegations of possible disturbance of public order and peace. In an effort to perhaps try and understand the frustrations of youths at this time, they have filed misdemeanor charges against only six people. This, despite a small, insecure and immature male section of the crowds flexing their muscles against smaller peers – or the police themselves – on a nightly basis. A small cabal of latecomers are ruining the reputation of a youth culture movement which deserves to be much better remembered.

A young man shows the marks around both eyes that he received in an unprovoked attack at HNK afterhours on the weekend of 9 October 2020

When you're young, it can be difficult to hear that the party is over. After you've had such a good time, you don't want to go home. You want the good times to last forever. But, this party is well and truly finished. HNK afterhours lost its cool many, many weeks ago. It is a rather sad remnant of something that was beautiful while it lasted. But, now it is time for the party to move elsewhere or for the attendees to go home. This beautiful building, its grounds and surrounding residents have played host for long enough. They each deserve a break.

The use of uncredited photographs in this article was granted on condition that the submitting photographers remain anonymous

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October 13, 2020 - To develop year-round tourism and adapt to new market conditions, Arena Hospitality Group (AHG) has decided to open two of its camps, one in Pula - Arena Stoja, and the other in Medulin - the recently renovated Arena Grand Kažela, throughout the year. A look at the offer presented this winter.

“Arena Hospitality Group's wish is to develop long-term tourism in the south of the largest Croatian peninsula in cooperation with the tourist boards of Pula, Medulin, and Istria. At the beginning of this challenging 2020, and after coming out of the scale of unprecedented quarantine, we witnessed the demand for vacations in camps as the most sought-after form of accommodation. We believe that this type of demand will continue in the future," said AHG when asked how they decided on this move.

HRTurizam reports that plenty of sunny days and a mild Mediterranean climate allow southern Istria to become a year-round camping destination. Also, the destination offers guests a variety of facilities throughout the year - from sports and recreational activities in untouched nature, to exploring the rich cultural and historical heritage, and enjoying the traditional tastes of Istria, said AHG, and added: "Guests, especially those who come from urban centers, increasingly express the need to escape from cities to nature where, in the fresh air, in an intimate environment of nature, they can relax from daily obligations and stress.”

During the autumn and winter period, AHG has adjusted the offer. In addition to classic services such as electricity, water, and sanitation, guests will also have heated toilets, reception and coffee bar, and a restaurant within each camp.

But we can't forget the content. Through various activities organized in cooperation with partners, AHG will offer more than just a winter camping vacation through various activities within the camp, as well as throughout the destination. They also organized transportation to the new city swimming pool in Pula and nearby shopping centers, as well as various animation activities within the camps.

"Regardless of the day and month, Istria offers many historical and natural attractions that will inspire every curious traveler. The 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater in Pula, the archipelago of the Brijuni National Park, the tranquility of the landscape of Cape Kamenjak and its numerous hiking and biking trails, and picturesque historic towns fortified on the Istrian hills," said AHG about part of the offer, and emphasized that the most authentic of Istria can be experienced in autumn and winter.

During October, guests will be able to join the harvest of the precious Istrian fruit - olives, and in nearby Vodnjan, taste some of the best extra virgin olive oils in the world. By the way, this week, for the sixth year in a row, Istria was declared the best region in the world for extra virgin olive oil by Flos Olei.

In November, during St. Martin's Day, at one of the many local celebrations, they will be able to taste another top Istrian product - wine - and participate in the baptism of a young wine. This year, Istria has 60 wines with the Decanter label.

Istria has long been sufficiently branded through wine, olive oil, and gastronomy, as well as various events, from Teran Day to Truffle Day, and many smaller stories such as the new event "Autumn on a plate in Central Istria," which will take place from  October 16 to 31, 2020, in restaurants in central Istria. During this event, caterers will offer a variety of traditional Istrian dishes made from autumn ingredients of the region, all to strengthen the gastronomic offer of central Istria and further connect family farms and caterers in the postseason.

Arena Hospitality Group is certainly paving the way for 365-tourism in Istria and is hopefully setting an example for other regions in the country.  

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October 13, 2020 - As Jutarnji.hr reports, a five-star hotel project that has been on hold for years should soon begin on the site of an old hospital in Icici.

Namely, as confirmed by the developer Denis Šikljan, owner of the DDG group, the construction of a 50 million euro five-star hotel will start at the beginning of the next year on an attractive plot of 20,000 square meters across the beach. The project holder is Rivas Hotels & Resorts, which is owned by the Talentis Group.

It is a company owned by the family of Lörinc Mészáros, a Hungarian investor who bought NK Osijek a few years ago and which should build a stadium worth 40 million euros in that city. Mészáros is a frequent guest in Opatija, which he loves very much, and his company has about 30 hotels in its portfolio in Hungary, Austria, Montenegro, and Romania.

The hospital in Ičići was once taken over by Industrogradnja, and as the company went bankrupt, the land went to Karlovačka banka.

"Karlovačka banka has been the owner for a long time and it had a lot of investors who knocked on their door, but they did not manage to realize it with any of them, because there was no 'middle man', and that is what we do. So, we reconcile the interests of all participants and prepare projects for implementation," said Šikljan.

He added that the works in Ičići will start after the New Year.

"We pushed the project for a year and a half and only when we completed everything, we went to the investors. The hotel should be completed by the 2023 season. We will turn almost half of that plot, which is private, into a public one, a new square will be built for the citizens to use, there will be movement in front of the hotel, which will meet the needs of the locals,“ said Šikljan.

The hotel will have 180 rooms and 12 villas will be built. The construction of a fountain is planned in the public part of the space, and commercial facilities will also be built. Also, across the road, to the beach, there will be a bridge.

'We plan new projects with Rijeka'

As a developer, Denis Šikljan worked on housing projects in Rijeka and Krk, and he also realized shopping center projects in Serbia. According to him, he is now developing a project for Haludovo in Malinska on the island of Krk, where he is in negotiations with the Armenian owners. He is also interested in Rijeka, which, as he says, he wants to start with new projects.

"This is a project of a residential and business center on the site of the former Istravina factory, and we have a project for a new marina that is planned to be built in Porto Baroš, as well as for the Rijeka bus station," says Šikljan.

For more info and photos of the future hotel, check the article on Novilist.hr.

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October 13, 2020 – In a competition of 21 projects, one from each Croatian county, the project PISMO Novska from Sisak-Moslavina County won the title of the Most Successful EU project in Croatia, according to the people's choice.

The project "Creating a stimulating business environment in Sisak-Moslavina County by establishing the Business incubator PISMO-Novska“ won a convincing victory with as many as 30 percent of the votes in the online poll and was declared the most successful EU project in Croatia in 2020, in the category of contribution to entrepreneurship.

Gaming and metal industry

The Croatian public thus supported the PISMO (eng. letter) project the most, which focuses on the development of the gaming industry in Croatia. As we reported earlier, gaming is an industry that has seen great expansion in recent years. In Sisak-Moslavina County, this project has enabled the equipping of its infrastructure.

Gaming equipment inside one of the two renovated buildings in Novska / PISMO

Also, the vision for Sisak-Moslavina's town of Novska is to become not only the Croatian gaming industry center, but the regional center as well.

Namely, in only a few years, two new buildings have been equipped in Novska for the needs of the business incubator, and young video game developers have already started attending lessons at Sisak and Novska high schools.

In the future, the construction and opening of a faculty campus and an arena for sports are planned.

In addition to the gaming industry, the PISMO project also encourages the development of the metal industry, which has a long tradition in Sisak-Moslavina County with still untapped potential. The goal of the project is, of course, the development of entrepreneurship and the creation of conditions for new jobs in this county with a high unemployment rate.

Competition of 21 projects

The competition for the most successful EU projects in the Republic of Croatia was conducted by Jutarnji list in cooperation with the Croatian Union of Counties, the Office of the European Parliament in Croatia, and the Župan.hr project.

To participate in the competition, a five-member jury selected 21 projects, one from each Croatian county. Each of them was presented to the public in the printed edition of Jutarnji list newspapers and on the Novac.hr portal, from August 20 to September 7, 2020.

The election itself lasted from September 19 to October 10, when an online poll was open to the public. As part of the same competition, a five-member expert jury will also award prizes to projects in other categories such as contributions to the local and regional community, cross-border cooperation, and science and innovation.

The second place went to the project of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County entitled "Mala Barka 2: Preservation of the maritime heritage of the northern Adriatic" with 23 percent of votes, and third place went to Brod-Posavina County with the project "Innovative mind to smart schools - SMART SCHOOLS" with 13 percent of votes.

"Thank you to everyone who supported us, gave their vote, and helped the PISMO project to proudly win the title of the best and most successful EU project in Croatia!" reads the page of the PISMO Business Incubator.