HNL Round 6 Recap: Hajduk Topped Varazdin at Stormy Poljud
September 28, 2020 - The 6th round of the Croatian First League was held on September 26 and 27, 2020. In this round, Hajduk topped Varazdin at a very stormy Poljud, while Osijek was better than Gorica. The games between Dinamo and Rijeka, and Lokomotiva and Slaven Belupo were postponed due to obligations in the Europa League.
Istra 1961 v. Sibenik (1:0)
Istra and Sibenik opened the 6th round on Saturday, September 26, 2020, in Pula.
The only goal of the match came in the 39th minute when Ivancic scored for 1:0 at the half. Grzan missed a penalty in the 70th minute and failed to increase Istra's lead. The game ended 1:0.
Istra is currently in 9th place with 4 points, while Sibenik is in 8th with 4 points.
Osijek v. Gorica (2:1)
Osijek and Gorica met on Saturday, September 26, 2020, at City Garden Stadium.
Mierez scored a penalty for Osijek in the 3rd minute of the ref's added time, just before the half. A Doka double-yellow saw Gorica play with a man down from the 72nd minute. Gorica, however, was able to equalize in the 84th minute thanks to a Lovric goal. Grgic put Osijek back in the lead in the 7th minute of added time for a final score of 2:1.
Osijek is currently in 4th place with 10 points, while Gorica is in 2nd place with 13 points.
Hajduk v. Varazdin (2:0)
Hajduk and Varazdin closed out the 6th round on Sunday, September 27, 2020, at Poljud Stadium.
Gyursco scored an early goal for Hajduk in the 5th minute to put them ahead 1:0. A Pellumbi red card for Varazdin in the 15th minute did not help them equal the score.
A penalty was awarded to Hajduk in the 50th minute, which Caktas scored for 2:0. A vicious storm erupted in the game's final minutes, which you can see in the video below.
Hajduk is currently in 3rd place with 10 points, while Varazdin is in 5th with 7.
Dinamo and Rijeka, and Lokomotiva and Slaven Belupo, will play their 6th round matches in the first free term.
You can see the full HNL table here.
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Jenz: Croatian Social Network App Proves Itself During Pandemic
As Poslovni Dnevnik/Lucija Spiljak writes on the 27th of September, 2020, this year during the lockdown, after 10,000 hours, 24 months of hard work and 300,000 euros of investment, the Zagreb software company Q Agency presented the Jenz mobile app, a Croatian social network where company employees can post official and entertainment content and connect better.
''As the number of employees in the agency grew and expanded rapidly, we wanted to improve communication and strengthen the culture within and among the teams. Jenz is an application that combines several communication and feedback tools. At first it looks like Instagram, full of photos and videos. In addition to the live feed, which is its most dynamic part, Jenz has eight features and contains a calendar of all activities in the company, anonymous surveys, Kudos sharing, the anonymous collection of feedback via Shoutbox and employee profiles with their contact information, their picture and a brief description of the person and their function in the company,'' explained Ana Cupic, Head of Communications at Q, who currently works with 160 people, from full-time employees to external associates.
More than a year ago, they made specifications and a workshop, formed a team of about 30 people from different fields and started making Jenz, which is known as a favourite for the Best Mobile App (BMA) award of the International Association of Experts and Developers which has been being awarded since back in 2012. The competition runs until the 31st of December. Many companies have recognised the value of the app in the pandemic because it facilitates and enhances two-way communication between employees and the company, creating a sense of connectedness and inclusion so interest in it grows from week to week.
"It used to be important, but it wasn't urgent. Now it's important and urgent, so Jenz suddenly got so much more attention as a solution,'' added Cupic, whose agency, as she says, approaches each client holistically, so the app adapts to the client, and not vice versa.
The need for such apps, added Cupic, is confirmed by Slack's research, according to which more than 91 percent of employees want to connect with their colleagues at work better. Before Jenz came into the hands of all employees, the agency selected about 20 ambassadors who instructed them in the principle of the app. Their first user in Croatia was the consulting and auditing company Deloitte Croatia, which employs about 160 people. According to Cupic, the reactions from Deloitte were above all expectations. The Jenz app is now ready for commercial use.
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Volunteers Remove 350 Bags of Rubbish from Sibenik Seabed
September the 28th, 2020 - The issue of harmful plastic and other waste ending up in the world's oceans and seas isn't a new thing, but more and more attention has been being given to it of late, with the EU passing decisions in an attempt to limit the devastating effects such behaviour has on the environment and on marine life. Croatia is known for its many ''beach and sea clean ups'', and a group of volunteers have recently removed a discouraging 350 bags full of rubbish from the Sibenik seabed.
The historic Dalmatian coastal city of Sibenik is known for everything but its rubbish, but the sheer amount of trash pulled from the Sibenik seabed is shocking. As Morski writes on the 27th of September, 2020, yesterday, one area of Sibenik was full of volunteers from all over the Republic of Croatia who arrived to clean up what had unfortunately found itself thrown onto the Sibenik seabed in an ''out of sight, out of mind'' manner. The result is 350 garbage bags or three full containers full of harmful waste placed there by humans.
The initiator of this and numerous previous environmental clean-up actions in the wider Sibenik-Knin County is Goran Simic, who was joined by 80 divers from 12 diving clubs from all over the country, as well as about 40 other volunteers armed with good will.
They were helped by firefighters, the local Funcuti fan group, students, passers-by, and various associations. What people are sadly able and even more sadly willing to throw into the sea is best shown by the photos taken by Valerio Baranovic. It can be seen that in addition to glasses and bottles and chairs from local cafes, there were quite a few iron artifacts, car tyres, and even water heaters dragged from the Sibenik seabed.
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Exhibition '100 Years of Jadran' will Celebrate Swimming Club's Birthday
September 27, 2020 - From Monday, September 28, the citizens of Split will have the opportunity to see the exhibition '100 Years of Jadran'.
As Slobodna Dalmacija reports, the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of this water polo and swimming club, an exhibition that chronologically follows the tradition of the swimming and water polo club Jadran will be opened in the Photo Gallery of the Photo Club Split at 7 pm, from the very beginning until today.
"The photos will remind us of the days of the founding of Jadran, the construction of homes, swimming pools on Zvončac, the two biggest sporting successes of the water polo club, two European titles and swimming legends of Jadran, well-known male and female faces who marked Jadran swimming feats. The photos will remind us of recent history, of two Olympian swimmers thanks to whom Jadran is writing a new history today and renovating its 'home' ", it is stated in the announcement.
By the way, Jadran was founded on September 23, 1920, in Baluni Bay on the west side of the port of Split.
"The initiative was launched at the constituent session of the Maritime Sports Association Baluni. The first president was Frane Aljinović, and on July 24, 1921, the club officially opened the doors of its 'home'. The first public match after the First World War was played on July 30, 1922, at the first Sub-Federal Championship in water polo and swimming in which the Baluni team defeated Firule 5: 1", they recall from the Photo Club Split.
Not everything went smoothly for Jadran. Their home was destroyed in a fire twice, the first time in 1925 and again exactly ten years later.
"On the night between April 20 and 21, 1935, the clubhouse burned down again and it was decided to build a new one in the neighboring Zvončac bay. During 1936, eight cabins were built, a swimming pool was excavated, a wall was erected towards the cemetery, showers were installed, a water installation was arranged, and temporary grandstands were built. With coach Neven Kovačević, the Jadran team became the champion of Yugoslavia in 1991, at the last championship in which Croatian clubs participated", it is stated in the announcement.
Jadran has twice won the title of European champion, and as many as nineteen times they have been national champions.
An exhibition '100 years of Jadran' on the club’s rich history will remain open until October 7th.
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President Replies to Government's Call to Apologise, again Invites PM to Meeting
ZAGREB, Sept 27, 2020 - President Zoran Milanovic has replied to the government's call for him to apologise to everyone he has insulted, saying ironically that he wants to apologise to those, notably government ministers, whom the prime minister and some of his associates exposed to undeserved loss of face.
"The President of the Republic apologises in good faith to all those, primarily ministers, whom the Prime Minister and some of his associates have exposed, through their indolence and inaction, to undeserved humiliation," Milanovic said in a Facebook post on Sunday.
The post appeared after on Saturday the government, in response to Milanovic's criticism of the work of investigative and judicial bodies in the JANAF scandal, and his statement that he would invite PM Andrej Plenkovic to a meeting on that topic said that "Milanovic should first apologise to all those he has been insulting, and then stablise."
Milanovic says in his post that he also apologises to citizens for ministers' luxury cars and undeclared assets.
"The President of the Republic also apologises to all citizens because the (Andrej Plenkovic) government for years included ministers who could not explain the origin of their luxury Mercedes cars or failed to declare their assets worth millions of kuna because they amassed such a fortune that they themselves were unable to count those assets. And all of that happened just because the Prime Minister did not want to know anything about it... regardless of how much others spoke or wrote about it, or warned him," Milanovic said.
Milanovic also attached to his post a link to an article by Deutsche Welle from 2014 under which the then German minister of the interior, a member of the CDU party, had information about an investigation against a member of parliament from the SPD party.
President again invites PM to a meeting
Milanovic today again invited Plenkovic to a meeting at which they would discuss their opposing views on the functioning of state institutions in the context of the JANAF graft scandal.
"I once again invite the Prime Minister to a meeting, whenever it suits him. Lest it is forgotten," the president said in his Facebook post.
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Tourism Opportunity for Rural Areas in Croatia and Region
ZAGREB, Sept 27, 2020 - Tourism is an opportunity for the development of rural areas, but urban and mass tourism should be avoided there, experts said on the occasion of World Tourism Day, September 27, which this year is dedicated to the topic of "Tourism and Rural Development".
World Tourism Organisation UNWTO chose the topic of World Tourism Day 2020 before the pandemic, and the demand for tourist services has this year been more pronounced in rural areas than in cities and big destinations, mostly due to health reasons.
Something similar has also happened in Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, said experts on rural tourism from the three countries.
What those countries and the entire region have in common is that rural areas make up about 90% of the total area, which is mostly neglected and unused and suffers from the rural flight, which is, according to experts, a great shame because the area has great potential to develop due to its authentic natural, traditional, historical and cultural values.
After Istria, which was among the first to start, nearly all parts of Croatia are developing tourism in rural areas. They offer not only family-run farms but also wine and heritage hotels, different tourist attractions, and activities in the countryside, said Dijana Katica, president of Croatian tourism and rural development association.
She thinks that COVID-19 in a way contributed to demand, and now is the right time to start planning the promotion of rural tourism for 2021 and further development of rural areas because of EU funding.
"In the entire region, including Croatia, the biggest problem is the low level of public awareness that tourism can present an opportunity for the development of villages and rural areas, that it can be a source of income. There is no tradition of tourism there," said the head of the Institute for Tourism, Damir Kresic.
He also said that care should be taken that tourist activities do not have too much of an impact on the environment and nature.
According to him, rural areas have the potential for development, which can be seen from official data -- family-run farms generated more than 66,300 overnight stays in the first eight months, which is less than 1% of the total number but compared with other accommodation facilities, they came very close to last year's results and stand at 78%.
"It can be said that the crisis has harmed them the least and that it has put the spotlight on that type of tourist services," Kresic said, adding that rural tourism also makes the tourist season last longer.
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PHOTOS: Divota Yoga Garden Opens in Split Center
September 27, 2020 - Divota Apartment Hotel in Split has opened a yoga and meditation center as part of its holistic spa offer. Meet the Divota Yoga Garden!
Slobodna Dalmacija reports that directly opposite the new mural on Plinarska Street, there is a small antique door on an old stone house. Green, wooden, with an opening covered with a masterfully executed "lattice" of wrought iron. When you head down a long portico corridor paved with old stone slabs, you don’t expect much and actually wonder where this magical garden might be. As you continue along, you come across a small stone courtyard - and then a view of the greenest oasis in this part of town appears.
The garden is surrounded by an old wall on one side and low buildings blended into the ambiance. Silence, peace, and relaxation are inescapable. This calming atmosphere was the goal in designing this newly opened Divota Yoga Garden, which will be a place for not only guests of the Divota hotel to relax, but also for citizens who can practice yoga here.
And we are not talking about just any yoga exercises, but Tibetan healing yoga, which, according to the teacher of zen-yoga, Lu Jong yoga and retreat manager at the Divota Yoga Garden, Sandra Neretljakovic, has not been applied in Croatia thus far.
Rainee Wang
Lana Lakic Kolic, the general manager of the Divota hotel, said that the Divota owner lives in Switzerland and is an avid follower of yoga and healthy living. Now she has finally found a place in Split where she can combine those two things, and even more than that; to offer guests and yoga students drinks and snacks from raw products grown according to permaculture in their fields in Smokovika and Meje.
Rainee Wang
In an area of about 900 square meters, there is a 108-square-meter hall with sliding glass walls, which is now open so people can enjoy the greenery as they exercise.
The entire architectural project was led by architect Sasa Bui, who revealed that everything was created following conservation conditions. However, they sought to achieve harmony between modern and classical.
"Everything here had to be of simple shapes, clean lines, simply as the whole of Varos is. The hall is surrounded by greenery and it was important to connect the interior and exterior, and they imagined that exterior as an enchanted Mediterranean garden," says Sasa Bui. It will be even more magical when the recently-planted plants grow, the architect notes.
Rainee Wang
Arsen Roje, together with Erik Radic, devised the landscaping.
"We imagined a real Mediterranean garden with olive trees, cypresses. We have preserved two older laurels and a fig tree on the east side. We wanted to achieve a functional space 'divided' by plants.
Around the main trail, we planted a trellis of olives and rosemary. In the middle is a lawn on which to practice, and in the middle is a 'pepper tree,' or the Latin Schinus molle, which will grow and create shade. It is evergreen and has a beautiful trunk, bumpy like an olive. We divided the space with other plants into small places where benches will be placed, as small booths for resting after exercises. We also paid attention to the colors in the garden, that they are in line with the colors of Divota, white, blue, shades of purple... and everything to blend with old courtyards," said Arsen Roje.
Rainee Wang
Lana Lakic Kolic revealed that they lowered the materials, plants, and all large items into the courtyard with the help of a large crane located across from the house.
Lakic added that everything will be ecologically maintained in the center as well, and be cleaned daily with vinegar and baking soda.
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590,000 Doses of Flu Vaccine Ordered, Vaccination Plan in Preparation
ZAGREB, Sept 27, 2020 - Flu vaccinations in Croatia will start early this year, mid-October, due to the coronavirus epidemic, 590,000 doses of flu vaccine have been ordered, and a plan is being prepared to carry out vaccinations in adherence with all epidemiological measures.
"In January we ordered 460,000 doses of the vaccine, and now an additional 130,000 doses have been ordered. Soon, 560,000 doses should arrive, and 30,000 more in December. That is how many could be procured on the world market given the insufficient quantities of the flu vaccine," epidemiologist Branko Kolaric told Hina.
This is more than last year, when about 400,000 doses of the vaccine were ordered through the Croatian Health Insurance Institute (HZZO), said Kolaric.
Vaccination could start between October 15 and 20
He expects vaccination could start between October 15 and 20, which is three or four weeks earlier than last year.
Priority groups include people above the age of 65, health workers, staff in nursing homes, people with chronic diseases, and this year experts recommend getting vaccinated for the flu as a measure of protection against the coronavirus.
A plan is in preparation to carry out vaccination in adherence with epidemiological measures, and those belonging to risk groups should be vaccinated first, said Kolaric.
Flu epidemic accelerates the spread of coronavirus
A flu epidemic accelerates the spread of coronavirus, and if the two infections occur at the same time, we have a disease with a severe clinical picture, Kolaric said.
"In recent years, there has been an increase in the interest in vaccination, which had a downward trend in the 2000s due to the so-called anti-vaccination movement. This year, the interest is even stronger due to the coronavirus epidemic," he said
During the last flu season, which lasted until May 17 this year, Croatia recorded 59,725 cases of the infection. Last year's data show that the death toll from the flu was 117.
The flu vaccine is also available in pharmacies, its price is HRK 96.39 and it is in great demand, said president of the Croatian Chamber of Pharmacists (HLJK), Ana Soldo.
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Grbin and Kolar to Vie in Runoff for SDP Leader
ZAGREB, Sept 27, 2020 - Social Democratic Party (SDP) vice-president Pedja Grbin and Krapina-Zagorje County head Zeljko Kolar will run for the post of SDP leader in a second round of intraparty elections, it was said on Saturday evening, after polling stations were closed and votes were counted.
After 70% of the ballots were counted, it was stated that Grbin received the support of 43% of SDP members who participated in the voting, and Kolar mustered 22%.
The other candidates running for the fourth SDP leader and successor to Davor Bernardic were SDP Split-Dalmatia County branch head Ranko Ostojic. who won 19%of the vote, Omisalj Mayor Mirela Ahmetovic (15.4%), Pula Social Democrat Marino Percan 0.5%.
Elections for the fourth SDP leader were held at 286 polling stations in six-party constituencies, and around 12,000 party members had the right to vote.
The second round is due to be held next Saturday.
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Croatia Reports 190 New Coronavirus Infections, Three Deaths
ZAGREB, Sept 27, 2020 - Over the past 24 hours, Croatia reports 190 new cases of the coronavirus infection and three deaths, and the number of active cases currently stands at 1,316, the national COVID-19 management team said on Sunday.
There are 280 COVID patients in hospitals, including 23 who are on ventilators. In the last 24 hours, 3,945 coronavirus tests have been performed and 204 people recovered.
Currently, 9,372 people are self-isolating.
Since February 25, when the first case of the coronavirus infection was recorded in Croatia, a total of 16,197 people have contracted the disease, 14,609 have recovered, and 272 have died.
To date, 292,969 people have been tested for coronavirus.
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