As Novi list/Ingrid Sestan Kucic writes on the 31st of August, 2019, four years ago, an online university graduate study in business economics, in the field of entrepreneurship, was launched, and in this academic year, Rijeka's faculty of economics is going to step up its game yet again.

The Faculty of Economics in Rijeka is the first university constituent in the whole of the Republic of Croatia to launch an online undergraduate degree in business economics, which was done four years ago, and is now the first higher education institution in Croatia to start implementing its undergraduate level since the new academic year.

Accreditation for the undergraduate degree program in entrepreneurship has recently arrived, and the first enrollments are being completed as early as this autumn, for which applications are still being received until September the 10th, 2019. The first generation of students, as was announced by Helga Pavlić Skender, PhD, and Zoran Ježić, PhD, will consist of thirty students, while forty graduate students are enrolled in the online degree program this year.

Explaining that this is a dynamic way of studying that enables you to fulfill your goals through better organisation of activities and parallel career development with your studies, this Rijeka faculty's staff say that online studies are chosen by young employees or young mothers who are away from Rijeka.

Online studying allows students to follow lectures from anywhere they happen to be, it provides them with the opportunity to learn at their own pace in their own surroundings, as students go through the learning material at the speed they want, and they are given the opportunity to choose how they'd like to study. At the same time, they acquire competences in working with different technologies, as they acquire not only information about what is being learned, but also additional knowledge and skills about the use of information technologies along the way.

''Every year, we have an increasing number of students attending graduate level studies, and the report we received for undergraduate level accreditation was without a single objection. We have students from all over Croatia, and although all classes are conducted in an e-environment, the exams are taken at the faculty in controlled conditions in order to maintain a high level of quality of the studies,'' explained prof. Dr. Ježić

Dean of the Rijeka Faculty of Economics, prof. Dr. Alen Host added that this type of study significantly reduces the cost of studies, as there are no housing costs, and students only need to physically come to Rijeka for their exams.

''The study is conducted as a part-time one, and is intended for students who don't actually live in Rijeka, those who work and don't attend the afternoon classes that we organise for other part-time students. The price of the study is the same as that of the part-time study, ie, the year costs 5,500 kuna. The style of teaching is identical to part-time teaching, students have the same obligations and the same learning outcomes, and classes can be followed even on mobile phones,'' the dean said.

It is a way of studying that is practical, dynamic and in step with new technologies that guarantee the knowledge and skills needed and sought after in today's demanding business world.

Currently, 6.3 million students study online worldwide, and this is a way of studying that has an upward trend, with 5.6 percent more students opting for this type of study this year than last year.

For the purpose of conducting distance learning, the Rijeka Faculty of Economics has established a Committee for the Development of Distance Learning, equipped a studio for online lectures, as well as two halls, a lecturer's manual has been issued, and teacher education is a continuous process that is constantly being upgraded.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more on education in Croatia.

August 29, 2019 - Gent eliminated NK Rijeka at Rujevica Stadium on Thursday with a 3:2 aggregate, thus moving into the group stage of the Europa League.

Rijeka failed to advance to the group stage of the Europa League this season, reports Gol.hr.

After playing 1:1 against Belgian club Gent in the return match of the play-off round in Rujevica, they failed to come back from the 1:2 loss in Belgium in the first game a week ago. Rijeka led thanks to a goal by Puljić in the 32nd minute, but only two minutes later, Plastun equalized.

After half an hour of careful play on both sides, Rijeka came to a 1:0 advantage when Acosty found Puljić in the box, who shot from seven meters out into the back of the net. 

Unfortunately, Gent equalized immediately in the next attack. The ball came into Rijeka's penalty area and fell in front of Plastun, who, like Puljić, scored from seven meters out. 

In the rest of the match, Rijeka created several chances, but failed to score which would have taken the duel to an additional 30 minutes

Rijeka has thus ended their Europa League campaign this season. The club has failed to qualify for the Europa League group stage for the fourth time in six years

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

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 29th of August, 2019, this building was built about forty years ago and is the latest hospital facility in the Rijeka area, yet most of the hospital's medical facilities are housed in a building that is more than one hundred years old.

Back at the beginning of this month, the government approved the director of the Clinical Hospital Centre (KBC) Rijeka to conclude contracts with contractors for the second phase of the construction of a new hospital in Rijeka, popularly called the ''mother and child'' hospital, a new construction site will be opened in Sušak in September.

In the currently contracted time period of two and a half year, a brand new hospital complex will emerge, in which the current Clinic for Gynaecology and Obstetrics, the clinics and wards which are now part of the Children's Hospital in Kantrida, all hospital laboratories and ancillary facilities such as the thermal power block and a multi-storey car park, will be replaced.

The investment, worth almost 800 million kuna, was secured from this and previous budget years, and which was a precondition for signing contracts with contractors Kamgrad and GP Krka, which should complete the new facility by March 2022, writes Novi list.

The building for the new hospital complex is a major part of the long-awaited second phase of the construction of the new hospital, which, more than a decade ago, began with the construction of other facilities in Sušak, with a total of 90 million kuna invested over the years.

The second phase of construction of the new hospital began back in 2016 with the excavation of the construction pit and the arrangement of a new integrated emergency reception, which began operations last year. Along with the aforementioned excavation and the new emergency admission facility, when it comes to the second phase of the new Rijeka hospital, around 875 million kuna should be invested, which definitely makes the second phase of the new Rijeka hospital one of the largest investments in the recent history of the entire Northern Adriatic city.

It is common knowledge that KBC Rijeka operates in as many as three localities today, which primarily increases costs, but also significantly affects the quality of care. The construction of a hospital for mother and children will move the entire site of Kantrida, a valuable property owned by the City of Rijeka, to Sušak, while the Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Rijeka site should be redeveloped after the relocation of the new clinic.

Make sure to follow our dedicated business and lifestyle page for much more.

ZAGREB, August 29, 2019 - A rally in support of Matko Škalamera, who was accused by a 70-year-old man of having hurt him based on his ethnicity, was held outside the jail in Rijeka on Wednesday evening, bringing together about 2,000 people, according to some estimates.

The rally, which was announced by a local group of fans of the Rijeka football club on Tuesday evening, took place today as planned, although earlier in the day Škalamera was released from investigative custody.

One of the leaders of the fan group, Đoni Božić, said that they had come outside the prison to express support to Matko Škalamera and all future cases such was this.

Božić warned that they would like that there would be no cases of "media lynching and agitating journalism and something like this anymore".

Another leader of the Armada fan club, Denis Povh, said that injustice inflicted to Matko Škalamera was the reason why they had gathered for this rally.

"Those whose duty is to call for freedom and who most frequently invoke freedom of expression, have deprived this man, who has rescued thousands of people, of freedom," he said referring to the fact that Škalamera is a distinguished member of Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS).

Povh accused thus, media of playing games together with politicians with an aim of raising tensions.

"We do not need unprofessional reporters who make headlines out of accusing ordinary people, while they are afraid of publishing the names of criminals and murderers. We do not need politicians who fight for their own interests only while failing to protect us. We do not need the judiciary which facilitates political games," said Povh.

The rally lasted 30 minutes, and then protesters dispersed peacefully.

Škalamera, 42, who was arrested by the police on Saturday morning on suspicion of threatening and inflicting bodily harm to Dobrivoje Arsić, 70, in an argument about a parking place in the Rijeka suburb of Viškovo on 20 August, was released from investigative custody in Rijeka on Wednesday afternoon. After the 20 August incident in Viškovo, Škalamera was apprehended this past Saturday (24 August) and a 30-day investigative detention was set for him on Sunday. The Rijeka court cited a possibility of the suspect influencing witnesses as the reason why Škalamera was behind bars.

On Tuesday afternoon, five witnesses for the defence were questioned and Arsić and his wife were also questioned in their flat on Wednesday morning, so there were no more reasons for Škalamera to remain behind bars.

Earlier on Wednesday, Arsić admitted to reporters that the whole situation had got out of control and claimed that he had told the prosecutorial authorities that the 42-year-old man should be freed. from custody.

Arsić and the suspect had an argument about a parking place in front of a block of flats at Viškovo in the evening on 20 August. After the row, Arsic told media that Škalamera had threatened and beaten him because he was Serb, and also filed a report against him.

HGSS posted on its Facebook profile yesterday that "Matko Škalamera is undergoing an exceptionally difficult time in his life at the moment as a result of a totally unjustifiable media lynching considering the charges pressed."

HGSS added that their members do not discriminate against anyone based on national, racial or any other basis. "We consider any form of discrimination against any human being as unacceptable for our society," HGSS said.

More Rijeka news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

August 26, 2019 - The 6th round of the Croatian First League was held from August 24 to 25, 2019, which featured Osijek and Hajduk at City Garden stadium. 

Slaven Belupo v. Varaždin (1:1)

Belupo and Varaždin opened the 6th round in Koprivnica on Saturday, August 24, 2019, in front of 1,682 spectators. 

While the first half went without goals, the second half held all of the excitement. In the 54th minute, Adzic was booked for a double yellow which forced Varaždin to play with ten men. Four minutes later, Ejupi put Belupo in the lead at 1:0. Varaždin was able to equalize thanks to a goal by Stolnik in the 72nd minute. The game ended 1:1. 

Belupo is currently in 8th place with 7 points, while Varaždin is in 9th place with 3 points. 

Inter Zaprešić v. Lokomotiva (1:2)

Inter and Lokomotiva met on Sunday, August 25, 2019, in Zaprešić in front of 280 spectators. 

The game didn’t see a goal until just before halftime when Kastrati scored for the Lokomotiva lead (0:1). 

Inter equalized in the 68th minute when Mamut scored for 1:1, though Kastrati came back with another goal for Lokomotiva to retake the lead and secure the 1:2 victory.

Inter is currently in the last place with 2 points, while Lokomotiva is in 7th with 7.

Gorica v. Istra 1961 (1:1)

Gorica and Istra met on Sunday, August 25, 2019, in Velika Gorica in front of 2,431 spectators. 

Bosančić scored for the Istra lead in the 6th minute, though at the start of the second half, Gorica’s Hamad equalized for 1:1, which is how the game ended. 

Gorica is currently in 5th place with 8 points, while Istra is in 6th with 7. 

Osijek v. Hajduk (1:0)

Osijek and Hajduk met on Sunday, August 25, 2019, to close out the 6th round at City Garden Stadium in front of 7,354 spectators. 

Osijek’s Mance put the home team in the lead in the 34th minute, and though Hajduk attacked Osijek’s goal numerous times in the second half, they were unable to equalize. 

Osijek is currently in 3rd place with 11 points, while Hajduk is in 2nd with 12. 

Dinamo and Rijeka have postponed their derby, which was initially scheduled for the weekend. 

“Due to the established timetable of the Champions League play-off round in which GNK Dinamo competes, and the Europa League play-off round for HNK Rijeka, it is not possible to secure a term in which both clubs would have a level playing field.

For this reason, the commissioner of the First HNL competition has decided to postpone the HT First League 6th round match between GNK Dinamo and HNK Rijeka.

The match will be played in the first possible free term, no later than Wednesday, December 18, 2019,” GNK Dinamo said in a statement. 

You can see the full HNL table here.

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

August 22, 2019 - Gent topped NK Rijeka 2:1 in the first leg of the Europa League play-off round in Belgium. 

In the first match of the Europa League play-offs, NK Rijeka was unlucky against Belgian club Gent, losing 2:1 away for a 1:0 aggregate, reports HRT.

Rijeka took the lead in the 40th minute thanks to a goal by Tibor Halilović, though, in the second half, Gent’s Laurent Depoitre managed a turnaround for the Belgian club with two goals in the 57th and 71st minute. 

Rijeka came to Gent with a clear goal - to achieve a result that gives them a chance to advance to the Europa League group stage. They let Gent keep possession of the ball, played disciplined, and all attempts by the Belgian club to threaten Rijeka's goal in the first half were unfruitful. 

The hosts had their only opportunity in the 36th minute after an error by Acosty.

Rijeka led in the 40th minute after Tibor Halilović played Čolak in the penalty area, though his back was to the goal. However, Čolak managed to lay off the ball to Halilović who shot from 10 meters out to give Rijeka the lead. 

At the start of the second half, Gent put even more pressure on the Rijeka defense. After two unsuccessful headers, Gent equalized in the 57th minute. Yaremchuk made his way through the left side and crossed into the penalty area where Laurent Depoitre scored for 1:1.

Gent's pressure once again produced a goal in the 71st minute thanks to a Depoitre header for 2:1.

The home side had their last chance at the 80th minute, though Yaremchuk's header went over the crossbar.

The return game in Rijeka will be played in one week. 

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

If it isn't the roads then it's the sea. Each year, numerous laws are broken in the Croatian Adriatic, by everyone from fishermen to foreigners renting boats. Rijeka's dedicated maritime police have successfully sanctioned numerous foreigners for breaking the law in some way or another over the last few days alone.

As Morski writes on the 20th of August, 2019, crews of Rijeka's police vessels have caught as many as eighteen foreign nationals gliding without prior authorisation in speedboats since Saturday, August the 17th.

The above-mentioned eighteen foreign nationals include nine German nationals, four Austrian nationals, three Italian nationals, and Polish and Hungarian nationals, who were gliding in their boats at a distance of less than 300 metres from the coast, a move which can sometimes have catastrophic consequences.

Crews of police vessels from Rijeka spotted them in the waters of the islands of Lošinj, Krk and Rab, and each individual was fined in accordance with the prescribed provisions of the Croatian maritime code.

In addition to the groups of foreign nationals illegally gliding in speedboats, an American citizen was also caught in the harbour of Rab on August the 19th removing shellfish without a valid permit to do so. He was fined for the offense committed under the Law on Marine Fishing.

Police officers from Rijeka's maritime police force will continue to undertake all available measures and actions within their power in order to maximise the safety of swimmers, boaters and other persons, as well as the overall safety of traffic at sea, as the police from Primorje-Gorski Kotar County reports.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more.

August 19, 2019 - The 5th round of the Croatian First League was held from August 16 to 18, 2019, and saw Hajduk humiliate an otherwise strong Gorica to hold their second-place spot on the table. 

Inter Zaprešić v. Dinamo (1:2)

Inter and Dinamo opened the 5th round on Friday, August 16, 2019, at the Zaprešić stadium in front of 2,686 spectators. 

Inter was the first to score thanks to a goal by Tsonev in the 8th minute, though Dinamo's Atiemwen equalized just before the half for 1:1. Inter’s Galić was shown a red card in the 49th minute, and Dinamo quickly capitalized on the extra man as Atiemwen scored again for 1:2 in the 50th minute. The game ended at 1:2.

Inter is currently in 9th place with 2 points, while Dinamo is in 1st with 13. 

Varaždin v. Lokomotiva (1:1)

Varaždin met at the NK Varteks stadium on Saturday, August 17, 2019, in front of 2,231 spectators. 

Glavica scored for the Varaždin lead in the 44th minute for 1:0 at the half, though Lokomotiva equalized in the 56th minute from a goal by Uzuni for 1:1, which was the final score of the game. 

Varaždin is currently in the last place with 2 points, while Lokomotiva is in 8th with 4. 

Istra 1961 v. Slaven Belupo (2:3)

Istria and Belupo met on Saturday, August 17, 2019, at the Aldo Drosina Stadium in Pula in front of 2,027 spectators.

Krstanović scored for the Belupo lead in the 12th minute,  though Gržan scored a penalty to equalize 3 minutes later for 1:1. Istra then took the lead thanks to a goal by Regan in the 35th minute, though Belupo equalized just 7 minutes later for 2:2 at the half. 

Puclin scored for Belupo in the 60th minute for a final score of 2:3. 

Istra is currently in 6th place with 6 points, while Belupo is in 7th with 6. 

Hajduk v. Gorica (3:0)

Hajduk and Gorica met on Sunday, August 18, 2019, at Poljud stadium in front of 14,054 spectators. 

Jairo scored for Hajduk to make it 1:0 in the 30th minute, which was the score at the half. Gorica was given a red card in the 60th minute, forcing the visiting team to play with a man down for the rest of the game.

In the 67th minute, Jairo increased Hajduk’s lead and his number of goals to 2:0, and just two minutes later, Hajduk defender Josip Juranović made it 3:0, which was the final score of the game. 

Hajduk is currently in 2nd place with 12 points, while Gorica is in 5th with 7. 

Rijeka v. Osijek (1:1)

Rijeka and Osijek met on Sunday, August 19, 2019, to close out the 5th round at Rujevica stadium.

Rijeka’s Čolak put the home team in the lead at 1:0 in the 34th minute. It wasn’t until the 86th minute that Žaper equalized for Osijek to end the game 1:1. 

Rijeka is currently in 3rd place with 10 points, while Osijek is in 4th with 8.

You can see the full HNL table here. 

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

When you think of a religious experience and witnessing the one and only Virgin Mary appear, you probably think of it happening in Međugorje or in some other holy place, and you likely imagine it happening when you're alone and then nobody believing you. You certainly don't think of her appearing on a paddle board among numerous swimmers on a beach in Rijeka.

As Morski writes on the 16th of August, 2019, yesterday, the Virgin Mary "appeared" to swimmers on Morski prasac beach in Rijeka. Namely, a woman dressed as the Virgin Mary on a paddle board drifted along in silence between those present and thus managed to produce different reactions. Some thought it was funny and creative, others of course found it offensive.

While some viewed the Virgin Mary's ''appearance'' on a paddle board at a beach as a funny joke, others found it disgusting and extremely offensive, and others saw it as a mere marketing ploy. Morski tried to find out the real reasons for this somewhat unusual performance from its organiser, but they didn't get an answer.

What we do know is that this is a performance organised by Kantrida FKK 2020 - European Quarter of Culture.

In the meantime, the Facebook post which showcased the Virgin Mary floating along on her trusty paddle board has disappeared, possibly due to less pleasant reactions from people who didn't see the humour in the performance.

Still, thankfully a video was captured by one of Morski's reader from Rijeka who took everything as a joke and was pleasantly surprised by the Virgin Mary's appearance on the Rijeka beach, and let's be honest, who wouldn't be?

Watch the video here:

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more.

Big Brother has finally taken up residence in the ''city that flows'', also known as Rijeka. After numerous reports of the cameras being placed there, they're now fully up, running and functional and have already delivered hefty fines to those who decide to commit driving offences in five different locations in the city.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 16th of August, 2019, as of yesterday, offences recorded by Rijeka's brand new, modern traffic surveillance cameras, set up at five locations in the city, have already seen some of their respective punishments dealt out.

Drivers in Rijeka - beware. There are five locations within the city that have otherwise repeatedly been reported to be ''home'' to some of the highest number of traffic violations - the intersection of Riva street and Splitska street, then the intersection of Riva Boduli Street and Riva street, and Ivan Zajc street, Fiumar street and Adamićeva Street street (near Adriatic square/Jadranski trg). If necessary, it has been stated that it might be possible to extend this new camera system to other locations, that is, to purchase yet more cameras to place across the City of Rijeka.

According to a report from Novi list, this is a system put in place for the monitoring of the common and improper stopping and parking of vehicles, which was initially presented to the public back in mid-July. The goal is to increase Rijeka's overall traffic safety and reduce the number of violations which end up slowing down the regular flow of traffic at key checkpoints within the city.

The 200,000 kuna system works by setting the cameras record and document all vehicle stops automatically and in real time, 24 hours a day, every single day, by creating visual records, after which traffic monitors decide whether or not what has been recorded is a misdemeanor.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more.