News

February 20, 2022 - BlockSplit, the largest regional conference for the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry, will hold its third edition from May 23 to 25, organized by the Croatian umbrella association for blockchain and cryptocurrencies - UBIK. The Blockchain Hub Split organizers, as well as participants at the BlockSplit conference held in Split in April 2018, were more than satisfied when they gathered about 500 programmers and entrepreneurs at the Faculty of Economics, who spent two days through workshops and lectures getting acquainted with the fast-growing blockchain technology, best known for enabling the development of cryptocurrencies. In its first edition, the…

February 20, 2022 - The youngest Croatian Olympian and cross-country skier Tena Hadžić will carry the Croatian flag at the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics on Sunday.  Croatian cross-country skier Marko Skender (20) finished his debut performance at the Beijing Winter Olympics in 57th place in the ski marathon (mass start), which, due to the great cold (-16 degrees) and icy wind, was shortened from the usual 50 kilometers to the "women's version" of the same discipline - 30 km. The gold medal was won by the Russian Alexander Bolshunov (25), who finished on the podium for the third time at…

February 20, 2022 - Professor Tea Katunarić Kirjakov and her team have uncovered an ancient luxury villa in Carkvica Bay near the town of Jelsa on Hvar. According to historical sources, the first written mention of an archeological site in the Hvar Island seabed, but also the whole of Croatia, was left by the Italian naturalist Alberto Fortis in 1774, recording the findings of Roman amphorae in Sućuraj. Since then, more than 200 similar sites have been registered in the area, and many underwater archaeologists have given their all to their research and protection. Among them is Tea Katunarić Kirjakov, a…

February the 20th, 2022 - The Darko Horvat scandal which has dominated the press over the last few days has been too much even by Croatian standards according to some. One Index journalist, Goran Vojkovic, believes it's time for PM Andrej Plenkovic to step down. As Index/Goran Vojkovic writes, the State Attorney's Office Act states that ''any form of influence is prohibited, especially any form of coercion against state attorneys and deputy state attorneys, the abuse of public authority and personal influence, and the use of media and public appearances in criminal cases prosecuted ex officio and in cases where…

Dr David M. Smith has been once again confirmed as the Rudjer Boskovic Institute director for the second time following a recently held session at which this decision was made. As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, at a session held on February the 18th, 2022, the Governing Board of the Rudjer Bosković Institute (RBI) elected Dr. sc. David Matthew Smith as the director for a term spanning four years, beginning during this one. The Governing Board elected Dr. sc. Smith after considering the positive opinion of the Tender Committee and the Scientific Council, and appointed him as the Rudjer Boskovic Institute director for…

February the 20th, 2022 - The European Commission (EC) very recently granted the Republic of Croatia an EU fund use delay. The cash in question is from what's known as the Solidarity Fund. While 2020 was a horrendous year for the vast majority of the globe, if not all of it, thanks to the emergence of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 and its journey around the world in the form of a pandemic, Croatia also suffered two devastating earthquakes. One struck the City of Zagreb in March, and another struck Sisak-Moslavina County in Central Croatia at the very end of December…

February the 20th, 2022 - Selection MM, a very well known Croatian luxury food importer owned Marijo Mendek, has unfortunately entered pre-bankruptcy proceedings. As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the Commercial Court in Zagreb has opened the pre-bankruptcy proceedings of Marijo Mendek's company Selection MM, known as the most famous Croatian luxury food importer and premium wines. The move was initiated at Mendek's own request due to "threats of insolvency" as well as blocked accounts and an established debt of about 219,000 kuna. In his own proposal, Mendek also listed the assets owned by MM Selection, which also includes the MM building…

ZAGREB, 20 February, 2022 - A Zagreb County Court investigating judge on Saturday evening remanded Darko Horvat, who was relieved of duty as construction minister, in one month's custody on suspicion that, at the urging of four other suspects, he illegally disbursed millions in grants in 2018. Horvat, who was arrested this morning, was remanded in custody so that he cannot tamper with witnesses, but not due to the risk of repeating the crime since he was relieved of duty at his own request by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. The USKOK anti-corruption office, at whose request Horvat was remanded in custody,…

February 20th, 2022 - The barrel jellyfish is mostly harmless to humans, but sure seems to be a menace to fishing nets due to its size - and numbers. Fishermen have been struggling with an invasion of huge jellyfish in the north of Istria that shows no sign of subsiding An infestation of large jellyfish has been a source of headache for fishermen in Umag and Savudrija for two months now, so much so that some have given up and are not even going out to sea anymore. There are so many of them, and they’re so big and heavy…

February 19, 2022 - Is the Dalmatian dog actually from Dalmatia? Inside the history of the spotted black-and-white creature. We’re all familiar with the unique breed that is the Dalmatian dog, whether it's thanks to a certain popular Disney film, or the countless fabric designs inspired by that distinctive polka-dot pattern. Based on its name, one would believe that the dog originates from the Dalmatian coast. And for Croatians, this would be an honour to have such a beloved dog breed associated with our country.  But actually, their supposed origins trace as far back to Ancient Egypt. King Cheops, who…