After Miami Cancellation, Will the Ultra Europe Festival be Held in Split?
March 8, 2021 – Considering the fact that it was canceled in Miami for the second consecutive year due to the coronavirus pandemic, will the Ultra Europe Festival be held in Split this year?
As Slobodna Dalmacija reports, the dial on the official website of Ultra Europe is still counting down the days until the Split edition of this famous electronic music festival. Precisely 123 days remain until the first of three evenings at Youth Park on July 9. The remaining two are scheduled for July 10 and 11, 2021.
The question is, however, whether Ultra Europe will be held in Split this year. Judging by the fact that it was canceled in Miami for the second year in a row due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is increasingly likely that such a scenario awaits the city of Split, too.
Ultra was scheduled to take place in Miami on March 26, 27, and 28 but has now been moved to the same period next year.
"Given the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic, concerning mass gatherings and public health considerations, we're deeply saddened to be forced to reschedule Ultra Music Festival to 2022. We understand the disappointment and frustration that comes with reading this, as we feel and share it as well. We eagerly await the opportunity to safely produce what will certainly be the most memorable Ultra in our 22-year history. We miss you all tremendously and can't wait to reunite on the dance floor to create more unforgettable memories with you," reads the statement on the festival's official Facebook page.
An identical thing happened last year, when, due to the fear of spreading the coronavirus, Ultra in Miami was first canceled. And then, in mid-May, an official announcement arrived that Ultra was being postponed in Split.
Despite the pandemic, some significant events such as the Eurovision Song Contest, the European Football Championship, and the Olympic Games are planned to take place this year, and various scenarios regarding the audience have been prepared. It seems that Ultra does not have such scenarios, considering that it is almost impossible to maintain a safe distance among so many people. Hence, vaccination is the most viable solution and one of the preconditions for holding this famous festival again.
At the beginning of February, the Ultra Festival organizer Joe Bašić said for Enter Zagreb that it would be possible to assess better the circumstances related to COVID and the possibilities of organizing the festival in 60 days.
"As responsible organizers, we monitor events and work closely with the authorities, as well as all those responsible for making decisions for visitors' safety and the festival. Internationally, we work with several groups of people to find a solution for the festival's future, from COVID passports to quick tests. I've participated in more of these conversations, trying to find a solution, but, unfortunately, it's hard to be smart. Every day something changes, and we, as serious and responsible organizers, cannot confirm anything. We also cannot make decisions without an official decision from the state and the city," said Bašić.
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Zlatko Dalic Announces Croatia Squad for the Upcoming 2022 World Cup Qualifiers
March 8, 2021 - Coach Zlatko Dalic has announced the Croatia squad for the upcoming 2022 World Cup qualifiers later this month.
HNS reports that Croatia national team coach Zlatko Dalić has announced the list of players for the start of the FIFA World Cup European qualifiers. Recall, the final tournament will be held in Qatar at the end of 2022.
The 2018 World Cup finalists will try to win a spot in Qatar through Group H of the European Qualifiers against Slovakia, Russia, Slovenia, Cyprus, and Malta. Only the winners of the ten qualifying groups will qualify directly for Qatar, while the second-placed national teams - with two more national teams from the Nations League - will play in the playoffs.
The Croatia national team opens the qualification away in Ljubljana against Slovenia on March 24, followed by a double program in Rijeka - on March 27 against Cyprus and three days later against Malta.
Dalić invited 24 players and sent preliminary invitations to Ivo Grbić, Milo Škorić, Marin Pongračić, Tomo Bašić, and Kristijan Lovrić.
"There are no surprises on the list; this is a team we built through the qualifications for EURO and last year's Nations League. Although a demanding group awaits us, I have a lot of faith in this team, and we are very optimistic about the new cycle because I am deeply convinced we have the quality to win - and that is, of course, our main goal in these qualifications," said Dalić.
Dalić wished good luck to the U-21 national team at the European Championship:
"In agreement with the U-21 coach, Igor Bišćan, Domagoj Bradarić will be a member of the young national team in this term, as he cannot count on the suspended Sosa in that position. Domagoj can certainly make a significant contribution during the European Championship, which, as a competition, is a precious experience for a young player. I wish Igor and his team a lot of sports luck in Slovenia!"
"I am glad that at the moment we do not have serious problems with injuries, and I hope that it will remain so until the reunion. We want a good start because of the qualifications, but also as an introduction to the EURO, and for that, we will have to approach this with maximum concentration and togetherness. The schedule is tight; we will not have time for serious training, so the focus will be on good mental and tactical preparation to be at the best possible level given these circumstances. I am an optimist and look forward to the gathering, as well as our team," concluded the coach.
Croatia will gather on March 22 in Zagreb, from where they will leave for Ljubljana a day later. Immediately after the match against Slovenia, they will travel to Opatija, where they will stay until the end of the gathering.
Goalkeepers Lovre Kalinić, Dominik Livaković, Simon Sluga
Defenders: Domagoj Vida, Dejan Lovren, Šime Vrsaljko, Borna Barišić, Duje Ćaleta-Car, Dario Melnjak, Filip Uremović, Josip Juranović
Midfielders: Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, Marcelo Brozović, Milan Badelj, Mario Pašalić, Nikola Vlašić
Attackers: Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić, Ante Rebić, Josip Brekalo, Bruno Petković, Mislav Oršić, Ante Budimir
Callups: Mile Škorić, Toma Bašić, Marin Pongračić, Ivo Grbić, Kristijan Lovrić
What do you think of the Croatia squad for the upcoming 2022 World Cup qualifiers?
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Below Deck and Break Time: How Stray Cats Connected US Reality Show and Split Nautical Jewelry
March 8, 2021 - So, how was Split's famous nautical jewelry shop connected with one of the most famous reality shows in the US? Stray cats. A look at the Below Deck and Break Time bracelet story.
The Croatian National Tourist Board reports that the new season of the highly popular American reality series Below Deck Sailing Yacht, filmed in Croatia last summer, began airing on American cable television Bravo TV, the head of the Croatian Tourist Board in Los Angeles, Iva Bahunek, revealed on Monday.
"The show will last at least 16 weeks, which is the perfect time to additionally promote Croatia because it is the period when Americans most often book their trips. An additional benefit is that this series is shown in other countries. We are especially pleased with the production team's assessment that, of all previous seasons, the most attractive and interesting season was filmed in Croatia," said Bahunek, adding that the recent Golden Globe Awards broadcast an advertisement for the new Below Deck season, which gave the series, but also Croatia, additional visibility on the American market.
This famous American reality show has been airing since 2013, and the concept of the show includes following the professional and private lives of the crew and their guests on mega yachts. The new season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht 2 - CROATIA was filmed in the Split waters during July, August, and September 2020. During the filming, the 54-meter-long Parsifal III sailboat was used, anchored in front of the Le Méridien Lav Hotel in Podstrana near Split. It is also interesting that this was the first Hollywood production that was filmed entirely and without interruption outside the United States during the coronavirus pandemic, in which a significant contribution was made by the Split Institute of Public Health.
Just how much they liked Croatia and their kind hosts was confirmed by the $40,000 donation from the production company 51 minds and Bravo TV through the Global Giving Charity to help earthquake victims in Sisak-Moslavina County. Furthermore, all fans and viewers will also be able to donate to the same cause.
Namely, during the premiere of the first episode of the series, the show's biggest stars invited viewers to donate, which will be shown during the broadcast throughout the spring and early summer of 2021. Fans of the show will be able to donate through the Ministry of Finance portal, and the entire action was initiated by Iva Bahunek, head of the CNTB in Los Angeles.
But that's not all.
During their time in Split, Below Deck's main charter guests were connected with one local nautical jewelry shop TCN fans know well - and it was all thanks to stray cats.
"On August 11th, 2020, a group of cool American tourists entered our shop. If you watched episode 1 and 2 of the Below Deck Sailing Season 2, then you know them: the main charter guests Nikki and Rusty, along with their friends, came to our Trogirska 8 Split Atelier & Outlet Store in Split to leave a very generous donation of 1200 USD on behalf of their ARNI Foundation in Daytona Beach, Florida to help with the stray cat situation in the Split area, a donation which was put to very good use by the ladies who run the Macke & Co. Group.
They read Daniela Rogulj's article in Total Croatia News about the work that the ladies from the Macke group are doing and about the bake sale we organised in our shop to support the stray cats of Split. They came to us straight after getting off Parsifal III," said the Break Time owners Mirela and Leonard on their blog about the news, which they were only now able to reveal to the public!
And it gets better.
"Nikki and Rusty had no idea what our shop was actually about, but they immediately fell in love with our nautical bracelets and, besides getting some for themselves and friends back home, they ordered 12 of our Yacht Club anchor bracelets for the crew of Parsifal III, all custom engraved with the message "Live long, sail hard" to honour Nikki's father (you probably say also the Tshirts they were wearing in episode 1 of Below Deck Sailing).
We also made a special Captain by Break Time all-black nautical bracelet for Captain Glenn, engraved with PARSIFAL III (and from what we could gather from the teaser images, he is wearing it)," they added. Being big fans of the show, they decided to deliver the bracelets to the Le Meridien Lav marina themselves.
While Mirela and Leonard could not meet the crew due to COVID-19 restrictions, the story uncovers an even happier ending.
"A couple of weeks later, Nikki wrote to us and asked us to make 80 more custom engraved "Live Long, Sail Hard" anchor bracelets from our YACHT CLUB by Break Time original collection for the entire production team of the Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 2 Croatia. It was our biggest private order in 2020, and we were happy to oblige. My partner, Leonard, worked non-stop for a whole day to make them and engrave them while I helped packing them nicely."
The Below Deck series is shown on the Bravo TV network, one of the most-watched American cable channels, which in 2020 recorded a large increase in "on-demand reviews," 427 million to be precise, as well as 222 million "live broadcasts." So far, a total of 15 seasons of this TV franchise have been filmed, consisting of Below Deck, which is filmed in tropical destinations, Below Deck Mediterranean, which is filmed in the Mediterranean, and the latest Below Deck Sailing Yacht, which is filmed on large sailboats unlike other variants of the series that are filmed on motor yachts.
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Cavtat Among 15 Best European Destinations for Vaccinated Travelers
March 8, 2021 – While the European Union is deciding on introducing COVID passports, some travel portals are already making lists of the best destinations for people who got vaccinated. One such list created by the European Best Destinations portal included Cavtat among the 15 best European destinations for vaccinated travelers.
The Croatian town of Cavtat has recently been nominated for the best European destination and won third place. However, this time, it has found its position on the list of the 15 best European destinations, but for vaccinated travelers. Namely, the European Best Destinations (EBD) has listed Cavtat among the 15 best European destinations for vaccinated travelers, as destination travelers will most likely be able to visit.
As EBD reports, Cavtat is considered one of the safest destinations in Europe due to a low number of COVID-19 cases and proximity to airports (in case of repatriation) and hospitals. Also, the authorities' health measures and a wide range of accommodation options favor Cavtat's title of one of the safest European destinations.
As EBD calls it, this precious key will open the doors to a country renowned for its hospitality, gastronomy, sun, natural wonders, and magnificent beaches. Cavtat is, therefore, perfect to recharge batteries, enjoy good restaurants, meet locals, stroll around, or bathe in the crystal blue waters of the Konavle region.
Cavtat is once again in the chosen company of European destinations, among them: Tbilisi – the capital of Georgia, Portuguese Madeira and the Azores, Greek Rethymno, Kefalonia, Rhodes, Kos, and Athens, Iceland, Spanish Seville and the Canary Islands, Copenhagen and Rubjerg Knude of Denmark, and the Swedish capital Stockholm.
The European Union is currently working on introducing the so-called COVID passport, and some European countries have already recognized it. Numerous European countries have announced that they will make it easier for vaccinated travelers and tourists to enter their country.
However, Croatia has not yet officially responded to the topic of COVID passports. The Croatian media have recently learned that Croatian politics generally supports all efforts that will result in easier border crossings, but only if it will not be discriminatory towards citizens. Therefore, Croatia will support COVID passports only if it would not be mandatory for passengers.
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Magnitude 3.6 Quake Rocks Glina Area
ZAGREB, 8 March, 2021 - A magnitude 3.6 earthquake was registered in the Glina area, Sisak-Moslavina County at 1.44 pm on Monday, Croatia's Seismological Survey said.
Sisak-Moslavina County in central Croatia was struck by a magnitude 6.2 earthquake on 29 December, killing seven and causing enormous damage.
Petir: Agricultural Strategy Should Cover Status of Women in Rural Areas
ZAGREB, 8 March, 2021 - The chair of the Croatian Parliament Committee on Agriculture, Marijana Petir, has sent an initiative to the Minister of Agriculture to include activities aimed at improving the status of women in rural areas in the Agricultural Strategy and introduce a special sub-programme for women in rural areas.
Given that the Agricultural Strategy 2020-2030 is in the final stage of preparation, it is important for women in rural areas to be included in it in a separate section. That, in turn, would require preparation of an action plan that would deal with the status of women in rural areas, Petir said on the occasion of International Women's Day.
The plan would, among other things, address such important issues as the "invisible work" of farm women, access to land ownership, achieving economic independence, preventing the risk of poverty and unemployment, and increasing the representation of women in decision-making bodies.
Petir said that the national strategic plan, which is being developed, should include a special sub-programme for women in rural areas as provided for by the EU's common agricultural policy. Such a sub-programme could improve the status of women in rural areas, create jobs for them, help them in investing in physical assets, contribute to the development of farms and their operations, and ensure conditions for basic services and revitalisation of rural areas, she said.
"I hope that these activities will help improve the status of women in the rural areas of Croatia and that their irreplaceable role in sustaining the rural areas will start to be fairly evaluated," Petir said.
Women Better Responded to COVID-19 Vaccine, Study Shows
ZAGREB, 8 March, 2021 - People who had recovered from COVID-19 had a considerably high level of antibodies after the first dose of vaccine, which did not increase after the second shot, so they most probably will not need a second dose, the director of the Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Zagreb, Alemka Markotić, said on Monday.
Speaking at a regular press conference given by the national COVID-19 response team, Markotić presented the results of a study conducted by the hospital among its staff. The results have also been requested by the European Medicines Agency.
Women responded better than men
All staff had statistically considerably higher immunoglobulin levels a month after the second dose of vaccine compared with the first dose. Women responded better and had higher levels than men, especially after the second dose. There was a slightly negative correlation with age, as elderly subjects had a weaker response, which was moderate, Markotić said.
After the second dose, there was a considerable rise in the level of antibodies. None of the staff fell ill after the vaccination, and no differences were established among staff in respect of their job at the hospital, she added.
So far 426 (55.3%) of the staff at the Hospital for Infectious Diseases have received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Eight of them developed allergic reactions after the first dose and were not administered a second dose.
Initial serological tests were done on 420 staff three weeks after the administration of the first dose and shortly before the second dose, while second serological tests were performed on 82 staff four weeks after the second dose.
The subjects were 344 women and 89 men. They included 321 health workers and 112 workers in the healthcare system who are not in as close contact with patients as health workers.
Women better responded to the vaccine after the first and second shots. There is a negative correlation between the level of antibodies and age, which was expected given that the immunology system becomes less responsive with ageing, Markotić said.
Božinović: Difficult to Expect COVID Measures to be Relaxed as of 15 March
ZAGREB, 8 March, 2021 - The head of the national COVID response team, Davor Božinović, said on Monday that it is difficult to expect any further relaxation of measures after 15 March considering that numbers of new coronavirus cases are on the increase.
"At the end of the week we should decide on whether to extend the current measures as they expire on 15 March. It is still too early to say anything definite but considering the increase in numbers, it is difficult to expect any further relaxation of measures as of 15 March. We need to focus on maintaining the current measures so we don't have to go back," said Božinović.
Capak: 16% increase in new infections on the week
There were 94 new cases of coronavirus registered on Monday while 19 people died. The share of positive cases of the 2,178 tests conducted was 4.3%. That share was 8.6% in the past 7 days and 8.1% in the past 14 days. There are 805 hospitalised COVID patients, 74 of whom are on ventilators.
We have 16% more people infected on the week, the head of the Croatian Institute for Public Health, Krunoslav Capak, warned.
Croatia is currently in sixth place with regard to the incidence rate in the EU and 18th with regard to fatalities.
Capak said that an analysis of an immunology study conducted by the Zagreb Infectious Diseases Hospital could result in a new policy in the fight against coronavirus.
Anyone who has recovered from COVID-19 and has been given their first vaccine dose need not receive a second dose, he said.
Capak advised that the situation with the supply of vaccines has stabilised over the past two weeks and that another 62,400 doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine is expected in two shipments this week.
Johnson&Johnson's vaccine should be registered by the end of March and the first shipment of 900,000 doses should arrive mid-April.
As far as crossing the border based on a certificate of vaccination is concerned, not one country has introduced that measure as yet.
"There are bilateral talks between countries and we have some bilateral talks too to mutually recognise vaccination certificates," said Capak.
The look of the certificate, which is used only for medical purposes, has been defined for now while its use for crossing borders is being discussed at the EU level.
Beroš: Massive check points for vaccination test run
Health Minister Vili Beroš said that so far 54,008 people have registered online to be vaccinated and there have also been 4,271 calls in that regard.
"We are witnessing that massive check points for vaccination are a test run for what is to follow in the second and third phases, when more vaccines are expected," said Beroš.
We must not allow this mild increase in new cases to become a trend, he said. "Vaccination is encouraging but it must not be the cause of premature relaxation."
Interliber Book Fair Postponed Until Autumn
ZAGREB, 8 March, 2021 - The Interliber international book fair, which was to take place from 23 to 28 March, has been postponed until the autumn because of the coronavirus pandemic, Zagreb Trade Fair (ZV) announced on Monday.
ZV said the decision was made in consultation with the Association of Book Publishers and Booksellers and in compliance with the government measures, which do not allow the holding of fairs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new date for Interliber is 28 September to 3 October. Whether or not the book fair will be held solely depends on developments surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and decisions by the national COVID-19 response team, ZV said.
Croatia's Visibility on U.S. Tourism Market Heightened by "Below Deck Sailing Yacht"
ZAGREB, 8 March 2021, 2021 - The new season of the most watched US reality series Below Deck Sailing Yacht, which was filmed in Croatia last summer, began airing on US cable television Bravo TV, the Croatian Tourist Board (HTZ) reported on Monday.
The head of the Croatian Tourist Board's office in Los Angeles, Iva Bahunek, was quoited as saying that "the show will last at least 16 weeks, which is the perfect time period for the additional promotion of Croatia, as this upcoming period is when Americans most often book their travels."
"An additional benefit is the fact that this series is also being aired in other countries, and we are especially happy that production team's assessment that, of all the seasons so far, the most attractive and interesting season was filmed in Croatia," she added.
The new season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht 2 – CROATIA was filmed in the Split Aquatorium during July, August and September 2020, the HTZ says.
$40,000 donated by production crew to help earthquake victims in Sisak-Moslavina County
The HTZ also reported that "a sizable donation of 40 thousand US dollars" was paid by the production company 51 minds and Bravo TV to the Red Cross through the Global Giving Charity to help the earthquake victims in Sisak-Moslavina County, and all fans and viewers of the show will also be able to deposit additional funds for the same purpose.
"Namely, during the premiere screening of the first episode of the series, an invitation by the biggest stars of the show for viewers to donate was included, and this invitation will be shown during the broadcast of this and the next season of Below Deck series, which will be active during the whole spring and the beginning of summer 2021," the HTZ underscored.
Fans of the show will be able to donate funds through the portal of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Croatia, and this was coordinated and aided by the head of the HTZ office in Los Angeles.
