December 18, 2021 - The media leader in promoting the idea of sustainable living, National Geographic Croatia, presented the 2021 Yellow Frame award for Sustainable Development, Science, and Education in 17 categories. Among the winners are Mario Romulić and OPG Čudesna Šuma, and the Osijek Center for Peace, Nonviolence, and Human Rights.

The Yellow Frame is awarded as part of the comprehensive Sustainable Croatia project, implemented with the Office of the Croatian President, the City of Zagreb, the Ministry of Economic and Sustainable Development, and the project partners JANAF and RTL. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals, according to which the categories are divided, have been defined by the United Nations. The Yellow Frame highlights companies, individuals, associations, and institutions that have contributed the most to sustainability, developing knowledge in the country, protecting the environment, and human values in Croatia, reports HRT.

In the "Response to Climate Change" category, Mario Romulić and his family farm OPG Čudesna Šuma was awarded the Yellow Frame. As stated in the explanation, "Romulić is a world-famous photographer, and they also call him the good spirit of Kopački rit. He is a fighter against climate change, an ecologist, an advocate of healthy eating and food production, and a promoter and educator of coexisting with nature. He lives with his family on his eco-farm and family farm Čudesna Šuma, which promotes biodynamic agriculture; there are several wooden houses for birds as well as "hotels" for insects, composting sites - sustainable agriculture in full glory."

Mario Romulić, who came to Zagreb for the award accompanied by his sons Ivor and Svebor, thanked everyone for the nomination and the expert jury for recognizing their dedicated work in nature and environmental protection. "Also thanks to all the friends, attendees of our workshops, associates, sponsors, our teachers, companions, and all those who support us and help us, as well as all those we inspire, and without whom this award would not have come to our hands, nor would it make any sense," Romulić pointed out.

The Yellow Frame for Sustainable Development, Science, and Education in category 16 - Peace and Justice / Strong Institutions was awarded to the Osijek Center for Peace, Nonviolence, and Human Rights. Its Executive Director, Natalija Havelka, accepted the award.

"The Osijek Center for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights is an association of citizens founded in the turbulent 1992, encouraged by the circumstances of the war, with the desire to contribute to ending the war and building peace. The activities of its members are aimed at building peace, protecting and promoting human rights and freedoms, dealing with the past, providing free legal aid, and promoting creative methods of resolving conflicts at the individual, group, and political levels. He advocates conscious involvement in the construction of the European Union as a peace project and for taking responsibility for the common destiny of humanity and planet Earth. There is no alternative to peace, non-violent problem-solving, and respect for human rights," the statement said.

"This year as well, we awarded the most valuable among you with the prestigious 'Yellow Frame' award. Among all the applications, it wasn't easy to select only one winner per category who, with their work and efforts in sustainable development, education and science, made a special contribution to society. National Geographic continues to encourage individuals and associations to contribute to the preservation and survival of planet Earth and human civilization through 17 goals of sustainable development and invites you to apply next year and walk with us on the yellow carpet," concluded National Geographic Croatia.

You can follow the Romulic magid on the Magical Forest Facebook page. 

For more on lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, 17 Dec 2021  - The Zero Waste Europe network has published new best sustainable waste management practices in Europe, which include those in the northern Croatian town of Prelog and 11 neighbouring municipalities, the Green Action NGO said on Friday.

"Croatian towns and municipalities that are part of the European network have continued advancing their waste management systems, achieving new successes. In terms of their results, they are a decade ahead of the goals set in July by the new law put forward by the unambitious Economy and Sustainable Development Ministry," said Marko Košak of the Green Action.

Prelog, the first Croatian town to adopt a zero waste strategy, and 11 neighbouring municipalities (Belica, Donja Dubrava, Donji Vidovec, Sveta Marija, Goričan, Donji Kraljevec, Kotoriba, Dekanovec, Domašinec, Martijanec, Podturen), have improved their result, with a cumulative result of 57.25% of all waste being sorted in 2019 to 65.23% in 2020.

The public sanitation company PRE-KOM in in charge of waste management in Prelog and the neighbouring communities.

The Green Action says the significance of this success is best evidenced by the fact that the EU had set the target rate of waste sorting for Croatia at 50% in the period until 2035.

"All 12 local government units, which are part of PRE-KOM's waste management system, have met the target of 50% waste sorting which was set for Croatia in the period until 2020, and some of them were much more successful. For example, Prelog, with 70%, and Belica municipality, with an impressive waste sorting rate of 80%, show that one can achieve a goal if there is a will," said Košak.

Most towns in Croatia not even close to 20% 

At the same time, most towns in Croatia are not even close to a waste sorting rate of 20% while some are at 0%, with the ministry's blessing, Košak said.

The Green Action says that excellent news is coming from Krk island, where seven local government units have an average waste sorting rate of 53%. Croatia was to have met the waste sorting average of 50% by 2020, he said, noting that communities on Krk island want to achieve a better result, notably in terms of waste generation and increasing recycling and reuse.

The NGO said it looked forward to cooperation with Zagreb and its Čistoća public sanitation company on waste collection and waste disposal charges, on which a decision would soon be put to public consultation.

The decision is expected to help fix the chaotic system of waste management and unjust waste disposal charges in the capital, which has been burdening its residents due to the former city administration's having ignored the problem for a long time, he said.

At meetings of the city's task force, the Green Action has given recommendations on individualising waste disposal charges to make them depend on the quantity of exclusively unsorted waste generated, which will motivate citizens to sort and reduce waste.

For more news, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, 17 Dec 2021 - Croatia on Friday became a full non-regional member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Ministry of Finance said.

The AIIB is an international development bank headquartered in Beijing, established in 2015 to support sustainable economic development, create wealth and improve infrastructure connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region. The Bank has a high AAA/Aaa rating and a capital of $100 billion.

AIIB's operations are primarily focused on the Asian region, which accounts for 45% of the world economy and 60% of the world population.

According to its Corporate Strategy for 2021-2030, AIIB's mission is defined as "Financing Infrastructure for Tomorrow", and the Bank's investments have to be aligned with at least one of the four thematic priorities: green infrastructure, connectivity and regional cooperation, technology-enabled infrastructure and private capital mobilisation.

However, the press release reads, the AIIB can finance projects in non-regional territory, primarily within the framework of investments aimed at supporting trade and connecting with the region, including ports, transport links, production and transmission of electricity, as well as investments in global public goods, such as projects for the production of renewable energy (including storage or transmission).

To date, the AIIB has approved membership for 104 countries, including 19 member states of the European Union, which places the bank among the top international financial institutions, just behind the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, of which Croatia is also a member, the press release said.

In October this year, Croatia passed an act accepting AIIB's Articles of Agreement, and as a signatory to the Agreement, Croatia subscribes to 50 shares of the original authorised capital stock, totalling $5 million, that is, 10 paid-in shares ($1 million), with payments to be made in five installments of $200,000, and 40 callable shares ($4 million), with payment subject to call.

According to an explanation of the act, Croatia's membership of the Bank would increase the visibility of Croatian companies in tenders within the framework of projects financed by the AIIB in the region and beyond, which would ultimately contribute to the development of Croatia's economy.

For more on politics, CLICK HERE.

ZAGREB, 17 Dec 2021 - An exhibition of artefacts found in a burial mound in Jalžabet dating back to the sixth century BC was opened at the Croatian History Institute on Friday.

The "Gold to gold" exhibition was opened by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, who said the Gomila burial mound was one of the most valuable examples of prehistoric burial architecture of its kind in Europe.

From the end of the ninth to the mid-fourth century BC, the region from the Atlantic to the Danube was dominated by the Hallstatt culture, which was sort of an early form of European unity, he said.

The region along the Drava and Mura rivers belonged to the east Hallstatt culture and it is part of our prehistoric cultural heritage, the prime minister added.

In our region, the Iron Age came out of the spiritual and material culture of the late Bronze Age, he said, adding that the deceased were incinerated and the most prominent members of society were buried in tombs below artificially made mounds called tumuli, Plenković said.

He added that it was of special value to Croatia that one of the best preserved and most important locations from the early Iron Age in central Europe was south of the Drava river, in Jalžabet and nearby Martijanec.

Two tumuli called Gomila were found in Jalžabet in which experts recognised the burial places of the Hallstatt aristocracy, Plenković said.

He recalled that luxury finds made of various materials were discovered in the tombs. They are rare items of gold and amber, examples of supreme craftsmanship which show that the people who made them had developed many of the techniques and skills which we inherited, he said.

Those items were buried for millennia and now researchers are faced with the challenge of finding out about a prehistoric society, lives and beliefs centered around one event, the ceremonial burial of a ruler for whom one of the biggest tumuli in Europe was built, the one in Jalžabet, Plenković said, adding that there are still many mysteries concerning the complexly built Gomila.

He said the burial mound also had tourism potential and that the exhibition comprised everything archaeologists found in the last four years.

For more on lifestyle, CLICK HERE.

December 17, 2021 - Organized by the Croatian Football Federation, the Croatian premiere of Untold Story, a documentary about Miroslav 'Ćiro' Blažević, was held at the Kaptol Boutique Cinema in Zagreb.

The film about the "coach of all coaches" and the celebrated Croatia coach, who won bronze with Croatia at the World Cup in France in 1998, was directed by Bosnian-Herzegovinian sports commentator Sabahudin Topalbećirević and former Croatia footballers Davor Šuker, Robert Jarni, Aljoša Asanović, Igor Štimac, and Goran Vlaović, but also Bosnian-Herzegovina national team players Edin Džeko and Miralem Pjanić and many others, reports HNS.

In the film, Ćiro spoke about his difficult childhood, recalling the days of growing up in Travnik during the Second World War, sad and tragic episodes in his life, but the better days of his playing and coaching career on football fields in Switzerland, Yugoslavia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and China.

Slobodan Kadić

"Thanks to the Croatian Football Federation, which managed to gather us to watch this film in Croatia as well. At first, I didn't agree with Baha's idea, I thought there were a lot more important people than me to make films about, but at one point I realized I was getting to the end so I said to Baha: "Let's make that film before I go", ha, ha, ha… Thank you to my Vatreni, my sons, together we paved the way to affirm Croatian football and represented the homeland in every way. And one more thing… I always knew who was in charge, the audience was in charge, and journalists were the soul of the audience. Many times I had the opportunity to say to a journalist: “Are you crazy? What are you asking me?”, But instead I told them:“ You are smart! ”, Ha, ha, ha… I love you all and I say: Ćiro is not so easy,” said Miroslav Blažević after the screening. He also received gifts from the president of the Croatian Football Federation, Marijan Kustić, and Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić - a framed jersey with the number 72, symbolizing his number of games leading Croatia, and a replica of the silver medal from the World Cup in Russia dedicated to the 'coach of all coaches'.

Slobodan Kadić

"We are proud to have had the opportunity to organize the Croatian premiere of this beautiful documentary, I am still impressed by the emotions. When I saw Aljoša’s tears at the end of the film and I had a hard time, my thoughts went back to ’96 and ’98. If someone had told me then that I would be sitting here with Ćiro today as the president of the Croatian Football Federation, I would have told him that there was a greater chance that I would win the jackpot. After this film, there is no need to say anything, I can only thank you, Mr. Blažević, for everything you have done for Croatian football and sports in general. In that regard, I proposed to the Executive Board that at the recent Assembly, on December 22, we declare Mr. Blažević the honorary coach of the Croatian national football team," said Marijan Kustić.

Slobodan Kadić

"Thank you all for coming, thank you Baha for the film about the life of Miroslav Blažević, the man who did the most for my career and who helped me a lot to become what I am. However, I can win a gold medal in Qatar, God willing, but Ćiro remains the coach of all coaches. Boss, thank you on behalf of Croatian football for everything you gave it, thank you for everything you did for me in my coaching career, After all, you were one of the few who believed in us from day one and that is why our silver from Russia has a lot of your merits," said Zlatko Dalic.

Slobodan Kadić

"During the screening, I saw the tears of Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić, and tears were present during the Sarajevo premiere. Ćiro struggled for a long time when it comes to shooting this film, despite the fact that the two of us met while I was a boy, back in 1983. It was at Marakana when Dinamo beat Sarajevo 3:2, I was a Sarajevo fan and I threw everything from the stands, and then Ćiro put me on the field and said: “Mali, Sarajevo will win the second time, may you be alive and healthy." Ćiro is an absolute genius, I thank him from the bottom of my heart for finally agreeing to make this life story and open his soul, and in order to open someone's soul, you have to trust him," said Sabahudin Topalbećirević.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

December 17, 2021 - The UTMB® World Series will consist of 30 international trail races, and one of them is the strongest Croatian trail race - Istria 100. 

The organizers of the world's most famous trail race Ultra Trail Mont Blanc (UTMB Group), teamed up with IRONMAN Group in May 2021 to launch the UTMB® World Series, a new trail platform that will bring together an impressive number of globally acclaimed trail races from 2022 to give runners exclusive access to a top sporting event, the final of the world series of races, UTMB® Mont-Blanc, reports HRTurizam.

UTMB® World Series will consist of 30 international trail races, and one of them is the strongest Croatian trail race - Istria 100. 

As of today, the 100-mile race across Istria race bears the new name Istria 100 by UTMB® and which is now in the company of elite races such as Ultra-Trail AustraliaTM, La Sportiva® Lavaredo Ultra Trail® by UTMB®, Western States®, Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB® and UTMB® finals of the UTMB® Mont-Blanc World Series.

“There is a moment when established events have to decide what their next stage of development will look like: further growth or something completely new. Istria 100 by UTMB® has decided to grow, and my team and I are happy and proud to have the opportunity to grow in a group of very competent and successful races gathered in the UTMB® World Series. Our idea and passion for creating something unique in Istria to, with the support of the local community, show trail racers from all over the world the beautiful nature of Istria, its medieval towns, and the diversity of landscapes are further confirmed by including our race in the UTMB® World Series," said Marko Gregurić, CEO of the Istra 100 by UTMB® race.

The UTMB® World Series described the Istria 100 by UTMB® race as a challenge as beautiful as it is demanding. Istria 100 by UTMB® is the largest trail race in Croatia, which will take place from April 7 to 10, 2022. Over 2,000 runners will take part in the race, which will run on the trails of the heart-shaped Istrian peninsula.

With the longest race being 100 miles, runners can choose Istria 100 by UTMB® races that are also 128 km, 68 km, 40 km, and 20 km. Runners will travel through the most picturesque parts of Istria. From the beginning to the end of the race, they will encounter sections of technical terrain, pass through ancient medieval towns, deep forests, and muddy valleys, all with a beautiful view that stretches to the Adriatic Sea.

The start of the trail running season in 2022 starts in February 2022 with the TaraweraTM Ultramarathon by UTMB®, and the next one on the calendar is Istria 100 by UTMB®

The 100 Miles of Istria race in 2019 gathered as many as 1,800 competitors from 51 countries. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

December 17, 2021 - Just a few minutes away from the festive Fuliranje location, Canopy by Hilton Zagreb is the best Advent weekend getaway. 

Winter weekends in Zagreb require a bit more than warm clothes - and choosing where you'll stay for a holiday requires you to think a bit harder about the perfect escape when those 0-degree temperatures come out to play. 

Fortunately, the Canopy by Hilton Zagreb offers all that and more, and I don't remember the last time I had such an enjoyable stay in the capital city. 

Canopy opened in late 2018 and is located just steps away from Zagreb's central rail station and the Branimir Centar shopping. Boasting 151 rooms and eight spacious suites, Canopy's interiors mix today's trends with Croatian culture. The neighborhood's industrial history is highlighted in its textiles and artwork, enhanced by retro Nikola Tesla paintings and standout images of Croatia's most recognized brands. 

And while the decor and overall city buzz through its walls are enough to bring me back, there are a few things that stole the show on my December trip to Zagreb. 

Service

I arrived at Canopy by Hilton on a chilled Zagreb evening, quickly shocking my Split bones. While I knew I didn't have much time to spend in my hotel room after checking in, I knew I wanted to snag whatever bit of comfort I could before braving the crisp air on the way to my next event. The check-in process could not have been more seamless, and the Kraš chocolate gift hit my sweet tooth just right while paying homage to the building's past and the industry that once flourished within its walls.

I also have to point out that Croatian-made products for purchase are displayed behind the check-in counter, showcasing some of Croatia's best designers! 

Eco-friendly

One of the things I was most excited to learn at check-in was that the 4th floor hosted the hotel's refillable water station, which certainly fed my obsessive water-drinking habit. It didn't help that my hotel room happened to be right around the corner. Better yet, the hotel doesn't expect you to keep your refillable water bottle from home handy - they provide a glass bottle in your room to refill at your convenience.

And should you need ice? They have it, too! 

Breakfast 

I don't know a single person who wouldn't be excited about a buffet breakfast, but in a country that is still learning its way around this morning meal, I also know not to expect too much. Canopy's buffet breakfast, however, pulled out all of the stops.

From wellness shots to freshly-blended smoothies, a selection of cold cuts and cheeses and fruit plates to eggs served scrambled and sunny-side up, sausages, sauteed veggies, stellar štrukli, and bread offer for everyone's palate - this breakfast spread transported me to the hotels I was used to visiting in America. 

Coffee pots were placed on every table, and should you prefer a latte instead? The attentive staff made sure your favorite hot drink was never far away. I could hardly wait to wake up in the morning!

Safety reminders 

Canopy by Hilton is taking the pandemic seriously, which is seen thanks to various reminders around the hotel.

Canopy also boasts the Safe Stay in Croatia label, confirming it adheres to the prescribed epidemiological measures. 

Location

And if you are going to Zagreb for Advent this year, the one location you won't want to miss is Fuliranje, located on the Esplanade hotel terrace. Just a 5-minute walk from the Canopy Hilton, Zagreb's best Advent location is within perfect reach, making those hazy mulled-wine walks home at night a breeze. 

Marko Lukunic/PIXSELL

Canopy Hilton has also become a hotbed for remote workers, with its cafe bar transforming into Zagreb's hippest coworking space no matter the time of day. They also hosted the 2021 Digital Nomad Week! 

A fantastic new addition to the capital, I'm not sure I'll be able to stay anywhere else. 

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.

December 17, 2021 - The UEFA Nation's League Group 1 schedule has been announced. Croatia will open the competition with home games against Austria and France next June. 

The European Football Federation (UEFA) has announced the Nations League Group 1 schedule, which features the national teams of Croatia, France, Denmark, and Austria.

"We are in the elite group and every opponent is tough, but I can say that the draw was not bad. It seems to me that it will be easier than the first two years and I expect, of course, good results. I was expecting Italy, but we got France from the strongest hat. There is no way we can avoid them and I guess we have to play until we beat them. Austria and Denmark are national teams we can play with," was how Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić reacted to the draw held on Friday. 

"The Nations League is always important, but it has caused me problems in the past because we were not successful. Now I expect better games and to present ourselves properly. There will be good matches, the group is great and everything will be great preparation for the World Cup in Qatar," concluded Dalić.

Croatia will open the competition in June next year with home games against Austria (June 3) and France (June 6). This will be followed by away matches against Denmark (June 10) and France (June 13). Croatia will play at home against Denmark on September 22 and visit Austria on September 25 to close out the group stage. 

The cities hosting the group matches will be announced at a late date.

SCHEDULE

June 3, 2022: Croatia - Austria

June 6, 2022: Croatia - France

June 10, 2022: Denmark - Croatia

June 13, 2022: France - Croatia

September 22, 2022: Croatia - Denmark

September 25, 2022: Austria - Croatia

It is not yet known how this Nations League season will affect the qualifications for Euro 2024. UEFA has said that this has not yet been decided.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.