February 7, 2021 - Some things change, some things stay the same. A video recollection of Zadar in 1975.

'The Mediterranean as It Once Was' was the tourism slogan for many years, and it helped rebuilding the tourism industry after the Homeland War in the 1990s. Before the war, former Yugoslavia (essentially the Croatian Adriatic coast) was the second most popular destination for British tourists after Spain, with some 440,000 tourists annually. Yugo Tours and Yugoslavia were well-known brands, but it took time for Croatia to establish its own tourism brand, something it has managed to do with great success. 

The Mediterranean as It Once Was was the slogan that captured my attention in northern Somalia while watching CNN back in 2002. I was in the market for a new home and base for my humanitarian aid worker life, and this Croatia place looked just about perfect. 

And so it proved to be.

I really enjoy coming across older footage of the Dalmatian coast, when things were a lot less commercial, a lot less busy. Here is a lovely snapshot of life in Zadar in 1975. Some lovely shots of the former capital of Dalmatia, whose historic old town has remained virtually unchanged for centuries, while daily life looks perhaps a little different than it does today. The footage, hosted on YouTube channel FootageForPro.com, is introduced as follows:

Archival footage shot by a West German filmmaker while touring Yugoslavia with a sailboat probably in 1975. It contains stock footage of Zadar, a city in the Adriatic Sea in today's Croatia and formerly in Yugoslavia and Italy: St. Donatus church, the Roman forum, tourists taking pictures, the outdoor market (Trznica Zadar), and more.

Plenty has changed since this West German tourist filmed in Zadar in 1975, including the name of his own country. For the latest on how things are in Zadar today, follow the TCN Zadar section. 

ZAGREB, 6 February, 2021 - Željko Sabo, who was the mayor of the City of Vukovar from 2009 to 2014 as a Social Democratic Party (SDP) official, said on Saturday that he was ready to enter the Vukovar mayoral race as an independent candidate after the SDP leadership had ousted him from the party.

Recently, the committee of the SDP branch in Vukovar unanimously supported Sabo as the party's mayoral candidate in that eastern Croatian city, thus defying the SDP leadership's suggestion that Sabo should not be nominated for that candidacy.

After the SDP main committee earlier in the day decided by a majority vote to oust Sabo from the party, Sabo responded that the party leader Peđa Grbin disrespected the will of grassroot members in the party's organisations at local levels. He underscored that 90% of the members in the SDP branch in Vukovar had supported his mayoral candidacy.

Sabo accused Grbin of trying to remove all who had not voted for his candidacy as the party leader during the SDP intra-party election in October 2020.

Grbin said earlier in the day that the expulsion of Sabo was not directed against him personally.

The leadership's decision was prompted by Sabo's recent threat to reactivate his term as a member of the party's presidency.

These developments ensued after the Vukovar party branch committee's unanimous decision to support Sabo as the SDP mayoral candidate in May's local elections. The leadership recommended against Sabo's nomination as he had been convicted of corruption for trying to bribe a local councillor during his mayoral term. Apart from having served six months in prison, which enables rehabilitation under the law, Sabo is also facing charges of abuse of office and powers for allegedly embezzling funds intended for summer holidays for Vukovar children.

For the latest from politics in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN politics section. 

February 7, 2021 - HRT brought ASHBO together on Zvijezde Pjevaju and almost two years later, they are taking the stage again at this year’s Dora competition, to be held in Opatija on February 13.   

This will be Ashley, the songwriter’s, first time competing in Dora and  Bojan’s third time.  The lyrics were inspired by Ashley’s travels around the world and the idea that we are all more similar than different, no matter race, religion, status, or culture.  “The last year has been tough on everyone and we all need more love, and most importantly to share the love,” she said.  She will wear Larie by Marina Matić, a gown that will surely make a statement.   

ASHBO has been preparing their performance for months and says it will be a spectacle, something that has never been seen before on Dora.  “We always go full out on everything we do together, so you can expect a  really good show,” Bojan said.    They hope that people will be inspired to #ShareTheLove around the world.   

The music was composed by Ivan Škunca who also wrote and composed  Bojan and Ashley’s first duet, Zadnja Stanica.  Škunca translated the lyrics of “Share the Love” into Croatian.  ASHBO plans to release their official music video and the song in Croatia on Valentine’s Day, February  14, the day of love.   ASHBO is proud to be sponsored by some of their favorite brands including Ilocki Podrumi, Zlatarna Gjoni, City of  Cakovec, Villa Astra, airbreath® and Nova Rent a Car.   

Bojan Jambrošić started his singing career in 2009. Since then he has  recorded 3 albums, Bolji od ljubavi (2009.), Zapisano u zvijezdama  (2013.) and his most recent, “Kajkavski biseri” was performed with  Tamburaški orkestar and received a Porin award.  He also has a very successful acting career where he has starred as the main role in 8  musicals and one operetta. He was nominated for “Nagrada Hrvatskog glumišta” for best male role in a musical. With this song, they want to share the positive message of togetherness, tolerance, and love.  

Ashley Colburn is a Croatian-American travel journalist born and raised in California, who decided to move to Croatia 5 years ago, basing herself in Istria. Her first Emmy was for "WOW Croatia" which was viewed by millions around the globe. Ashley continues to promote every corner of  Croatia and believes it is the most beautiful country.  After Zvijezde  Pjevaju, ASHBO recorded their first duet together, "Zadnja Stanica" and filmed a video all around Croatia.  In 2020, Ashley released Croatia's  first English country song that was composed by her mom and was  produced in Nashville called, "Feels Like Home."  Since traveling was  tough in 2020, Ashley grew to love songwriting, which led to her  writing "Share the Love."  

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, 7 February, 2021 - Over the past 24 hours, Croatia has registered 276 new cases of the coronavirus infection and 25 deaths, the national COVID-19 crisis management team said on Sunday.

The number of active cases stands at 2,748. There are 1,142 COVID patients in hospitals, 107 of whom are on ventilators.

There are currently 13,535 people in self-isolation. To date, 1,228,609 people have been tested, including 5,249 in the last 24 hours.

Since the start of the epidemic in Croatia, 235,402 people have contracted coronavirus, 5,169 of them have died, and 227,485 have recovered, including 407 in the last 24 hours.

For the latest news on coronavirus in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN COVID-19 section.

February 7, 2021 – The autochthonous Croatian cake Rudarska greblica, originally from the village of Rude near Samobor, was awarded a designation of geographical origin and thus became the first protected gastronomic product in Zagreb County.

In the last few days, the good news does not stop coming from Zagreb County. Namely, after the samoborska kremšnita was recently awarded the status of intangible cultural good, another dessert from the Samobor area – Rudarska greblica – was approved as a protected designation of geographical origin at the European level.

With this label, Rudarska greblica becomes the 29th Croatian product with a protected name in the European Union and the first protected gastronomic product in Zagreb County.

Long history of Rudarska greblica

This dish dates back to the 16th century when the mining industry in Rude was developing and when wives used to make it for their husbands, who were miners. The name "greblica" comes from the traditional ash rake tool called greblica in Croatian.

Rudarska greblica. Photo: Josip Škof / Zagreb County Tourist Board

As reported from Zagreb County, the preparation of the Rudarska greblica was already declared a Croatian intangible good in 2007, when the Ministry of Culture included its preparing process on the list of Croatian intangible heritage. In 2017, the Ministry of Agriculture approved transitional, national protection to the Rudarska Greblica Association, which marks the association's first success.

Right now, three years later, Rudarska greblica became a protected European brand and entered an elite company of 1405 various protected products in European Union.

Rudarska Greblica Association's president, Andrejas Nikl, pointed out that the protection process's incentive was the appearance of different versions of greblica on the market, which deviated from the original dish, which has been prepared in Rude village since ancient times.

Diligent people of Rude (eng. miners), wishing to preserve the tradition, have been organizing the event "Days of Rudarska Greblica" for 35 years. They decided to protect their autochthonous dish and give a stamp to their gastronomic tradition with this goal.

Rudarska greblica – tourist offer of Rude, Samobor, and Zagreb County

"This is a great compliment to the originality and preservation of our tradition, especially when today we have the first recognition for the Rudarska greblica for which the European Union has established the right of intellectual property," said the Zagreb County Tourist Board director Ivana Alilović.

One of the most famous versions is the one with cheese and walnuts. Photo: Josip Škof / Zagreb County Tourist Board

"The Zagreb area has contributed to the Croatian and, as of today, European list of the protected geographical designation of origins. It emphasizes the relationship between a particular geographical region and product name, where the special quality, reputation, or other characteristics of the product can be attributed to its geographical origin. This is primarily a complement to our fellow citizens who did not write history, but lived it," added Alilović.

Rudarska greblica, thanks to the geographical protection it now enjoys throughout the European Union, can be produced exclusively in Rude and surrounding villages and is available at Bakery Nikl, which is the only certified producer of Rudarska greblica.

"Behind the story of Rudarska greblica lies the story of Rude's mining tradition (rudarenje – mining). The Greblica cake was a simple peasant cake that women prepared for their husbands who worked in the mines in the 16th century. Today, the renovated mine of St. Barbara is a tourist attraction of our place, and the protection of Rudarska greblica is an added value to the tourist offer, not only of Rude but also of Samobor and Zagreb County," concludes Andrejas Nikl.

Bakery Nikl is the only certified producer of Rudarska greblica. Photo: Josip Škof / Zagreb County Tourist Board

How to prepare Rudarska greblica

This dish can be best described as a savory pie with cheese filling, neatly wrapped between two thin layers of dough, writes TasteAtlas. The filling is occasionally enriched with other ingredients such as walnuts, green onions, or leeks, and before baking, the whole pie is smeared with sour cream.

Greblica is a prime example of creating something tasty and complex from something simple, which was once associated with poor miners. The most famous version is the one with cheese and walnuts and cheese and greens, such as spinach, chard, or nettles. Sweet variants people of Rude do not accept.

It would be ideal to try it at the "Days of Rudarska Greblica," an event in Rude dedicated to it, but while circumstances still do not allow it, use a recipe for a homemade version.

February 7, 2021 - Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic have won the 1st edition of the Murray River Open in Melbourne, a new ATP Series 250 tournament leading up to the Australian Open. 

Two tournaments together, two titles together

In their second joint appearance, Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic have reached their second title (the first was in Antalya in mid-January). Their eighth consecutive victory in 2021 was achieved in the Murray River Open final against the French duo Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin - 7:6 (2), 6:3.

Nikola and Mate took the first set with a convincing edition in a tie-break, while in the second, they reached two breaks (in the first and ninth games), and they lost only two points on their serve.

Solid smiles after a solid week!

Top seeds @NMektic/Mate Pavic def. Martin/Chardy 7-6(2) 6-3 to win the Murray River Open doubles title ? pic.twitter.com/CuePJfNazN

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 7, 2021

This is Mate Pavic's 41st doubles final of his career and the 19th title, while Nikola Mektic played his 18th final and won the ninth title.

This fantastic result is an excellent lead-in to the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the season, where the Croatian duo is the second-seed of the tournament. 

The 2021 Murray River Open is played on outdoor hard courts in Melbourne, Australia. It was organized as a lead-up tournament to the 2021 Australian Open and is held at the same venue. 

More soon...

Source: HRT

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

February 7, 2021 - Could the general population in Croatia be vaccinated in early spring? One Croatian Public Health Institute epidemiologist weighs in.

Croatian Public Health Institute epidemiologist Iva Pem Novosel said for Dnevnik N1 that the start of vaccination of all age groups against coronavirus could be expected in early spring.

However, waiting for the vaccine depends on its delivery, said Iva Pem Novosel.

"I advise everyone to get vaccinated if they have the opportunity, not to wait. All vaccines, including AstraZeneca - if it has a slightly lower effect than the other two, work to protect severe forms of the infection and those that end in death. All vaccines protect against them. That is the most important thing we need to achieve," says Iva Pem Novosel.

The effectiveness of the first dose is satisfactory, and protection is achieved after three weeks, she added.

"It’s hard for me to say when the vaccination will end; we know how many older people we have, but we don’t know how many will be vaccinated. However, the number of those who want to be vaccinated is growing every day. This is good both for the protection of the individual and for the protection of the community. This will bring us collective immunity faster," said the epidemiologist.

People over the age of 65 are now vaccinated, followed by people with chronic diseases, as they are all members of the risk group who can get a severe form of the infection with complications. If the delivery dynamics are adequate, other citizens can be vaccinated in early spring, she said.

Will the EMA approve the Russian vaccine?

"This process may have already begun, so it will likely happen. I think we will get the next vaccines quickly, and we will be in a better situation and have a choice," said Pem Novosel.

Serbia announced the possibility of producing Sputnik. Can something similar be expected in Croatia?

"It would be ideal if it could be implemented, so experts from Immunology should be asked about it," she said.

She said she was sorry that some entrepreneurs were suffering when it comes to measures, but she also said that the epidemic was not even close to ending.

"We sympathize with them. However, we must remind them that the epidemic is not even close to the end, with all our positive and optimistic wishes. Vaccination is in the initial phase, we now have about two percent vaccinated in the population, and it is desirable to vaccinate 50 percent of the population," said the epidemiologist.

She also said that it is possible that a new strain has crept in but that it is comforting that the numbers are satisfactory.

"But if we gave in a little and if there was a new strain, there would be problems again. Any opening, for example, gyms and cafe terraces, would still mean that certain measures should be adhered to. Measures should be respected everywhere and at every opportunity," said Iva Pem Novosel.

To read more about COVID-19 in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

February 7, 2021 - Dubrovnik, Trogir, Stari Grad on Hvar, and Sali on Dugi Otok will be the first in Croatia to reduce plastic waste and use alternative solutions by participating in projects implemented by the Split Association "Sunce" for Nature, Environment, and Sustainable Development, setting the pace for a plastic-free Croatia. 

Glas Istre reports that "Plastic Smart Cities Croatia" and "For Plastic Free Croatian Islands" aim to reduce plastic waste and use alternative solutions. They analyze the use of disposable plastics and waste plastic management in the local communities involved, develop and implement a "Plastic-Free Plan" with a participatory approach and workshops, as well as organize "plastic-free" public events, i.e., events and public forums aimed at raising awareness in the local population about the consequences of plastic pollution.

One of the important activities is implementing a national campaign to raise awareness of the impact of plastic pollution on the marine environment and available sustainable solutions in the island communities on Hvar and Dugi Otok. The Split Association for Nature, Environment and Sustainable Development "Sunce"is currently working on organizing workshops for networking partners and environmental organizations engaged in this topic.

It is in this project that the pioneer association "Sunce" began implementing the projects "Plastic Smart Cities Croatia" and "For Plastic Free Croatian Islands" to reduce the plastic footprint in various segments of social life in local communities by reducing the use of disposable plastic and encouraging the use of alternative solutions for plastic waste. One of their project goals is to raise the awareness of citizens and the public about plastic waste.

After the completion of the project, a final conference will be held aimed at disseminating the project results and encouraging the further reduction of plastic waste for representatives of local island authorities, national and international NGOs, local government units, representatives of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, tourism, relevant ministries, and other stakeholders, with the message "Reduce the use of disposable plastics and look for more sustainable solutions!", which the Sunce Split Association has been advocating for many years.

They remind that a new Law on Waste should be adopted in Croatia this year, which, among other things, contains some provisions of the EU Directive on reducing the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. At the end of last year, independently and in cooperation with other environmental protection associations in Croatia, they sent their comments on the Waste Act's draft proposal.

They add that the European organization "Seas at Risk," which brings together several associations dealing with protecting the marine environment, assessed last summer that the EU directive is an ambitious plan to dispose of ten non-reusable plastic items, and which can most often be found on beaches across Europe, but that its implementation into national legislation in most European countries has been halted.

The COVID-19 crisis has led to a dramatic increase in the use and the rejection of disposable plastic objects in nature.

"The Mediterranean Sea is one of the world's most polluted seas, and half of this enormous amount of waste comes from the mainland. With 400 kilotons of waste generated annually, Croatia ranks third in the region. Hence, it is imperative to take urgent measures and raise awareness to numerous visitors about the need for urgent action, i.e., reducing disposable plastic use.

Namely, tourism has been identified as one of the key actors, so part of the awareness campaign within the "Plastic Smart Cities" project is aimed at foreign and domestic tourists, the Sunce Split Association points out.

The EU directive on plastic waste was adopted in 2019 after a trialogue, i.e., negotiations between the European Parliament, the Commission, and the EU Council. This year, all EU countries must finally implement it. The Law on Waste in Croatia should be adopted by July 3 at the latest. Croatia should also throw out disposable plastic products, namely plastic q-tips, cutlery, plates, straws, drink sticks, and balloon holders.

After adopting the directive in the European Parliament, the then Croatian MEP Davor Škrlec from the Green Group said that the directive should be used to encourage change for us as a society to produce less garbage and become sustainable.

"If we do not change our attitude towards production, consumption, and waste, the human species will become consumable like a disposable coffee cup. This directive will help us abandon disposable plastics on the road to less consumption, better designed reusable products, more innovation, and a cleaner environment," Škrlec said then.

The directive also includes provisions for the disposal of cigarette butts, which are a significant polluter, the objectives of collecting beverage bottles, and the requirement to redesign beverage stoppers to connect them to bottles. The directive also includes national targets for reducing the consumption of plastic cups and food containers, and ultimately a total ban on oxo-degradable plastics often referred to as biodegradable but in reality fragmented into microplastics.

Disposable plastic products and fishing gear together account for 70 percent of Europe's marine litter, so it is expected that Europe's seas will be significantly cleaner by implementing the directive.

According to the Commission, the directive will bring many benefits for the environment and the economy. Environmental damage would be avoided, costing €22 billion by 2030, and saving consumers up to €6.5 billion, with an adjustment cost estimated at €3.2 billion for manufacturers.

At the end of last year, the Commission adopted new rules on the import and ban on exports of plastic waste to third countries that do not have the capacity to manage it in a sustainable way, which is one of the main points of the European Green Plan and EU Circular Action Plan.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.