August the 26th, 2022 - The Virovitica IT company Factory has been going from success to success of late, now wanting to be listed among the top five global companies in one particular segment.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Josipa Ban writes, the Virovitica IT company Factory, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, has recently announced some rather ambitious plans. They want to be the leader, that is, in the top five companies that develop solutions based on Pimcore technology in the world. Ivica Horvat, one of the owners and director of Factory, discussed the topic.

Their plans, he says, are very realistic because in just four years, since they focused their business on Pimcore technology, they managed to position themselves among the leading 20. This is the result of top quality work and the fact that they successfully implemented the technology that enables the digital transformation of the company. They've done the same for 150 clients.

Most of the Virovitica IT company Factory's clients are foreign companies, primarily from the DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) region, the USA and Great Britain, meaning that a massive 80 percent of their income is generated on foreign markets. Their good business is continually confirmed by the constant growth of income, which rose to an impressive 8.8 million kuna last year.

This year, however, they expect to earn about 10 million kuna, which means a continuation of the trend of revenue growth. When they started their business back in 2012, under the name Plava tvornica (Blue factory), their business focus was completely different. They developed, as Horvat recalls, websites and mobile applications (apps).

"When we started the business, we took every single job we could get our hands on and we adapted to each client. After some time, we realised that it's so difficult to develop the company because we were just going in too many directions. We decided on a detour, but it was far from simple. We had to overcome a certain fear and uncertainty that comes with undergoing changes," explains Horvat, adding that the business environment ten years ago, when they were one of the first IT companies in all of Virovitica, was a lot different than it is today.

"The ecosystem wasn't developed then. We started in an environment where you had to learn on your own and you pay for everything out of your own pocket, and even the small IT community itself at the time was much more closed off,'' he said, adding that starting an IT company in Croatia is much, much easier today.

"Today, the exchange of information is completely open. I'm proud to be part of a community that is ready to share all of their knowledge and experience", said the Virovitica IT company Factory, which is now a company that currently has three offices - in Virovitica, Osijek and across the pond in San Francisco.

Factory matured alongside the IT sector in Croatia, and it turned from a company that "made everything" into a company that makes specialised solutions for its clients, including engaging in consulting services. The specialised solution is the implementation of Pimcore technology, which, as Horvat explained, enables the centralisation and management of all types of data.

"It is used by companies that manage large amounts of data and which need to distribute it to different points. On the Pimcore platform, we work with end-to-end solutions that enable the collection, processing, storage and distribution of data about products, services or any other digital materials within the company,'' he explained, noting that the platform, in addition to enabling the digital transformation of the company, does the same and is more competitive.

It's worth noting that in addition to technical assistance in the introduction of Pimcore, Factory has also recently been offering consulting services through the Consulting Department, which currently employs two people and should have four employees by the end of the year.

"We want to be a company that, in addition to developing technological solutions, also offers consulting services to clients regarding the implementation of digital processes and tools in the company," Horvat stated.

The number of employees in this department should be doubled over the next year, which means that much like others, the Virovitica IT company Factory is also facing an increasingly challenging search for employees, in this case - IT experts. That problem, at least according to Horvat, isn't just specific to Croatia but to the whole world.

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

August 25, 2022 - The savior of croatian basketball may have arrived. Recently imported and naturalized US American Jaleen Smith managed to help the Croatian National Basketball Team in his debut game today. The checkered team surprisingly won the first points in the first game of the 2025 World Cup pre-qualifier in Warsaw against Poland. 

Needed a lot of time to get rid of the weight on his shoulders: Jaleen Smith

During the first half coach Damir Mulaomerović did not seem to have found the right strategy. Poland dominated on both ends of the court, and Croatia led only in the category of turnovers. The guest team had lost the ball a total of 9 times in the first 20 minutes and it was no surprise that Poland was up by ten points when the half-time buzzer rang.

 Helped the team with his routine: Krunoslav Simon 

All eyes were on the new Croat Jaleen Smith and it seemed like the pressure was too much for the American. His stats looked terrible with only 1 field goal (a three-pointer) hitting its target in 8 attempts. Then again he collected 8 rebounds, which is an extremely high number for a guard. Smith was not the only one who had problems finding the basket. Together with Gnjidić, Simon, Šarić and Bogdanović the Croats around Smith had made only 5 of 28 three-point attempts in the first 38 minutes. 

 Poland dominated the first half of the game

The croatian team was carried by Zubac, Šarić, Bogdanović and the routine of Simon. Prkačin who had shown a great game against Finland did not play, just like Mavra and Perković. 

Coach Damir Mulaomerović

Luckily, after a good performance from the entire team that lead to a close final,  Hezonja made his last 2 three-point attempts in crunch time before Smith added 2 successful free throws to give Croatia a 67:72 lead with 12 seconds remaining. Poland was able to get the last two points but could not turn the game around. 

The much needed victory for Croatia is celebrated by the entire bench

Polish coach Igor Milicic's best man, who also was top-scorer of the day, was Mateusz Ponitka with 26 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Mulaomerović on the other side had three players in double digits: Zubac who had a double- double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, Bogdanović with 16 points (8 rebounds) and Hezonja with 10 points. 

Last hope for Croatian Basketball: American "Firefighter" Jaleen Smith with confidence before the game

Result by quarters: Q1:15-11 Q2:16-10 Q3:16-28 Q4:22-23

Find the boxscore with detailed statistics here

August 25, 2022 - Hajduk has dropped out of the UEFA Europa Conference League on a 2-6 aggregate to Villarreal. The Split club lost 0:2 at Poljud on Thursday night. 

Hajduk and Villarreal met in the second leg of the Conference League play-off at a sold-out Poljud stadium on Thursday. In the first match, Villarreal won 4:2 in Valencia, meaning Hajduk needed to score three goals to have a chance. 

Villarreal is one of the best European teams and was certainly the favorite to move ahead. The Spanish club is last year's Champions League semi-finalist, and Europa League champions the season before that, knocking out Dinamo Zagreb on their way to the title.

Hajduk had met Spanish clubs five times so far in European competitions but failed to move past them. 

"It will be a difficult test because Villarreal likes to control the game and have possession of the ball. We have to be patient and focused for the whole 90 minutes and pay attention to small details," Hajduk coach Valdas Dambrauskas said before the match. 

"In that beautiful stadium, we expect a good atmosphere in which we will try to manage the match," said Villarreal coach Unai Emery. 

Lineups

HAJDUK: Kalinić - Mikanović, Awaziem, Elez, Melnjak - Grgić, Fossati - Sahiti, Krovinović, Biuk - Livaja

VILLARREAL: Reina - Kiko, Mandi, Cuenca, Pedraza - Chukwueze, Parejo, Coquelin, Baena - Lo Celso, Nicolas

Match report

Villarreal had their first attack in the 2nd minute, which went out for a goal kick. Melnjak played a hospital ball to a Villarreal player at the top of the box. Kalinic luckily saved the shot, but Hajduk fouled in the next play. A free-kick awarded to Villarreal found the head of Baena, who went over the post. 

It was a shaky first five minutes for Hajduk, who was playing nervously. 

A quick counter which started from Awaziem found Sahiti on the right and went out for Hajduk's first corner. The ball was played out by the Villarreal defense and sent back in by Sahiti, who found Livaja's head. Marko just missed near post. 

Another attack for Hajduk came in the 10th minute and Fossati managed to get a shot off which was blocked. 

Another shaky instance in the Hajduk defense came a minute later and was luckily cleared by Melnjak. 

Another brilliant attack by Hajduk in the 14th minute saw Livaja get a shot off which was deflected out for a corner. Krovinovic found Livaja again, whose one-touch shot went over the goal.  

Sahiti dribbled through the Villarreal defense in the next play and shot at the keeper. Livaja tried lobbing the keeper from the halfway line in the 16th minute.  And he hit another rocket that went just wide of the far post in the next play. 

Mikanovic was shown a yellow card in the 19th minute. 

Villarreal tried a quick counter in the 22nd minute but shot straight at Kalinic. Hajduk countered back and Biuk got a shot off which was deflected to Reina. 

Hajduk was hungry and had another corner in the 25th minute, followed by another after that. 

Villarreal started to possess the ball and tried to move into the box. Nicolas' fancy footwork couldn't move past Hajduk's defense. 

A Hajduk free kick in the 30th minute was played short to Biuk on the left. The young midfielder cut into the middle and fell for a foul, but the ref said to play on. Hajduk's next attack was called offside. 

A dangerous free kick for Villarreal in the 34th minute was taken in front of the corner spot. Luckily the ball went straight to Kalinic. 

But just a few minutes later, Pedraza had his chance, playing around Hajduk's defense with no one in the block. He shot far post into Kalinic's goal for 0:1 Villarreal. Hajduk's hope had dwindled. 

A Livaja free kick in the 41st minute was taken from about 30 meters out and went just wide of the post. The first half ended 0:1 for Villarreal. 

Villarreal made one sub to start the second half - Capoue went on for Coquelin. Hajduk did not make any changes. 

A dangerous chance for Villarreal came in the 47th minute, which was blocked by the Hajduk defense. A standout save by Kalinic in the 51st minute stopped Villarreal from going ahead by two goals. 

Another attack for Villarreal in the next minute went out for a corner. Hajduk managed to clear any dangerous plays and tried to calmly move the ball into Villarreal's half but could not get a shot off. 

In the next attack, Chukwueze's shot slipped through Kalinic's hands and into the goal for 0:2 Villarreal. Hajduk would now need 4 goals to bring the match to extra time. 

Villarreal made substitutions in the 58th minute - Moreno came on for Jackson and Morales for Lo Celso. 

Hajduk made their first subs in the 59th minute - Lovrencsics came on for Mikanovic and Mlakar for Sahiti. 

Fossati was subbed off for Vukovic in the 65th minute.  

Mlakar had a great chance to score a minute later but just missed the far post. 

Krovinovic was fouled right on the corner of the box in the 71st minute. The same player took the free kick, which went out for a goal kick. 

Hajduk had a free kick and a corner in the 75th minute without a chance for a goal. 

Pau Torres came on for Pedraza and Foyth for Kiko in the 79th minute. Colina came on for Melnjak and Simic for Elez in the same minute. 

There were no dangerous chances for either team in the final 10 minutes. The ref added 3 minutes of stoppage time, in which no one scored.

Hajduk has thus dropped out of the UEFA Europa Conference League. 

Post-match comments 

Villarreal coach Unai Emery

"We played against a team that is good today but also has a rich past. The atmosphere created by the fans was special, and we enjoyed it. I'm sorry when a team like Hajduk is left out of the European competition. With this kind of atmosphere and fans, it deserves to be in the European competition. I have to repeat that in the first game, we made several mistakes, and now we managed to improve some things that we did in the first game at a lower level. This is Europe; we have to be concentrated and satisfied with this kind of game."

Hajduk coach Valdas Dambrauskas

"I can't fault the players. We were ready and better than in the first game. The difference in class between us and Villarreal is too big, especially in two games. We turn to Osijek, which for us as the final, will not be easy, but we have to focus. We showed a level we can be proud of, but we have to improve," said Dambrauskas.

"A big thank you to the fans for their support during and after the match. It's a big responsibility. I'm not afraid to say it, and I know it sounds like a cliché, but we really have the best fans in Europe. We really do. Someone compares us to Napoli and Marseille, but we are not even the first in Croatia, we do not play in the European League nor the Conference League, and we have such support. The players and we are very proud to have this kind of support."

To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, 25 August, 2022 - The head of Zagreb's Classical Gymnasium has said that the final warning prior to dismissal, issued on 23 August to the mathematics teacher who had raised a final grade of President Zoran Milanović's son, was not issued because of the grade correction but was prompted by findings of an inspection carried out in July.

In a statement sent to Hina on Thursday, school principal Zdravka Martinić-Jerčić said that due to great public interest in the case, she had to explain that the warning was given based on a decision and proposal by a school inspector who in July carried out an inspection and found omissions in the teacher's work.

Numerous media outlets today carried a report by the Telegram news portal which said that the mathematics teacher who had corrected the final math grade of President Milanović's son after the school was contacted on several occasions by First Lady Sanja Musić Milanović, had been given the final warning prior to dismissal.

The warning was issued by the school principal, whom the teacher had previously accused of pressuring her into correcting the grade, the news portal said.

The portal also said that the written warning prior to dismissal came after the school inspector recommended, based on the inspection findings, that the principal issue a written warning to the mathematics teacher.

ZAGREB, 25 August, 2022 - Istria County head Boris Miletić has condemned two acts of vandalism that occurred in Pula over the past few days - a bust of Partisan fighter Lino Mariani was toppled, and Nazi symbols were sprayed on the "Mate Parlov" sports hall, Miletić's office said on Thursday.

Miletić said Istria was again witnessing shameful acts of vandalism, this time in the week when it commemorates the 80th anniversary of the founding of the first Istrian Partisan unit and ahead of events commemorating the reunification of Istria with Croatia.

"Istria is not and will never be like that," he said.

"Istrian people are particularly proud of the fact that anti-fascism was and remains part of our identity, and we do not accept any alternative," said Miletić, expressing hope the perpetrators would be found and punished.

ZAGREB, 25 August, 2022 - Minister of Public Administration and Justice Ivan Malenica said on Thursday, ahead of a meeting with the pilots accused by Serbia of airstrikes against civilians after Operation Storm, that Croatia will provide them with full legal support and prevent the issuance of an international arrest warrant.

Malenica said that he would meet with the four accused pilots on Friday to discuss further activities regarding the proceedings initiated by Belgrade. He said the pilots should not worry because Croatia would give them full legal support. 

"We will also work on preventing the issuance of an international arrest warrant if Serbia were to make such a request. Croatian pilots have a clear conscience; the Homeland War was a defensive war, as proven before the Hague war crimes tribunal," Malenica said.

The minister added that Serbia had issued a politically motivated indictment, proving that it did not have independent prosecutorial authorities or a functioning legal system.

He recalled that incumbent Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić's role in the Homeland War was well known, as was his war-mongering rhetoric.

"Croatia's legal order is stable. A few years ago, proceedings related to war crimes in Glina were conducted. I leave it to the State Attorney's Office (DORH) to act if it finds elements of criminal acts," Malenica said in reference to President Zoran Milanović's statement that Croatia could also indict Serbia's president.

Malenica also strongly condemned a recent case of domestic violence in Gospić, as well as a statement made by the local prosecutor who, in a comment on the fact that a man who attacked and seriously injured with a knife his wife and her friend on Monday, had been reported for domestic violence a week earlier but was not placed in custody, said: "Where would it take us if all domestic abusers were placed in custody?"

"It was an inappropriate statement. It insinuates that prisons are full and that it is not wise to order pre-trial detention. I strongly deny such claims. There is room in prisons because 60% of prisoners are remand prisoners," he said.

Malenica said that he expected judges to make decisions on pretrial detention if there was a danger that a person may harm someone's life or health.

"I condemn domestic violence. We will not tolerate it. The government has amended the Criminal Code, the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence, we have introduced tougher penalties, increased the number of security measures, introduced the concept of a close person, etc. The thing we can still do is to continue improving the legal framework," said Malenica.

ZAGREB, 25 Aug (Hina) - Deputy Prime Minister Anja Šimpraga said on Thursday, at a commemoration for the civilians killed during and in the aftermath of the 1995 Operation Storm in the village of Plavno and the hamlet of Grubori near Knin, that prosecution of war crimes was a test of maturity for Croatia.

More than 30 civilians were killed during, and in the aftermath of Operation Storm in the hamlets of Plavno, including infirm and elderly people, Šimpraga said, noting that the injustice and evil done to local Croats in the early 1990s cannot and must not be used as justification for any crime.

"Prosecution of war crimes is not just about the truth, justice, and satisfaction for the victims' families, it is a test of maturity for us and our state which needs to show that it means it when it says that there is no statute of limitations on war crimes, that all victims are the same and all people equal," she said.

The pain of the families who have lost their dearest ones grows with every unjust court decision, every administrative obstacle to their return, and every outburst of hate towards Serbs, she said.

"Justice has not been served yet, and the vow of silence is stronger than honour and truth," she warned, adding that 27 years since Operation Storm, crimes against civilians had still not been prosecuted.

Only a few indictments for war crimes against Serbs were issued, and the trials resulted in only two convictions, for the crimes at Prokljan and Mandići and for the crime at Kijane near Gračac, she said.

History cannot be changed, and dead people cannot be brought back to life, but life can be brought back to abandoned villages, Šimpraga said, expressing hope that concrete work on revitalising Grubori would begin soon.

In her address, the Deputy PM also spoke about the Croat civilians killed in Škabrnja and other villages in the early 1990s.

MP and Serb National Council (SNV) president Milorad Pupovac said that the killing of Serb civilians during and in the aftermath of Operation Storm in Lika, Dalmacija, Kordun, and Banija should not be used by anyone to spread hate but that it also should not be negated and moral responsibility for it denied.

Speaking of the Grubori atrocity, he said that despite promises made to the UN, local civil and police authorities did not investigate the case or protect the scene of the crime.

Croatian courts and the Hague war crimes tribunal determined that the crime had been committed and that it had been committed by members of the Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit; however, the trial ended with an acquittal due to lack of evidence, Pupovac said. 

He noted that two years ago, a significant step forward had been made towards post-war reconciliation and better Croatian-Serbian relations, but that unresolved war crimes were seriously undermining the progress achieved.

Attending today's commemoration at Grubori were also Šibenik-Knin County head Marko Jelić and Knin Mayor Marijo Ćaćić.

ZAGREB, 25 August, 2022 - A conference on Serbia-Croatia relations was held in Golubić near Obrovac for the 15th consecutive year on Thursday, and the Declaration on the Cooperation of Serbs from Croatia and Croats from Serbia was initialed at the event.

The declaration was signed by Milorad Pupovac (SDSS) and Tomislav Žigmanov (Democratic Alliance of Croats in Vojvodina - DSHV), and the document will be confirmed by the bodies of both communities.

Since the countries are burdened by other relations, we considered it necessary to underscore our need to cooperate and to call on our countries to start cooperating on matters of our common interest, said MP Pupovac.

The declaration is the result of many years of cooperation and is an important step towards expanding institutional cooperation, said DSHV head Žigmanov.

I believe it will have an effect not only on the members of our community but also on the policies of interstate relations, he said.

The next step is to create a concrete programme for cooperation between institutions of the Croatian people in Serbia and institutions of the Serbian people in Croatia, which will touch on the issue of political relations, as well as of new forms of cooperation between the two sides.

"There is no doubt that the circumstances in Europe and the world have not favoured the cooperation between Croatia and Serbia, but there is also no doubt that the policies of Zagreb and Belgrade did not protect the area of cooperation, neither against internal relations nor against global influences," Pupovac added.

During the conference on Serbia-Croatia relations, participants dealt with topics related to heroisation and political myths in Croatia and Serbia, and they also discussed EU subsidies for encouraging the rural development of Dalmatia.

The conference was attended by scholars, representatives of the DSHV and the SDSS, as well as by other political representatives of Serbs from Croatia and Croats from Serbia and local officials.

The event was organised by the Association for History, Cooperation and Reconciliation from Golubić (Obrovac) and the Centre for History, Democracy and Reconciliation from Novi Sad.