Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek Among Top 8 in World, Secure Spot in ATP Finals
November 2, 2019 - Ivan Dodig and partner Filip Polasek have advanced to the semifinal of the Paris Masters - and booked a spot in the ATP Finals in London!
Croatian tennis player Ivan Dodig and Slovakian partner Filip Polasek are among the top eight doubles teams in the world to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals, to be held in London from November 10 to 17, 2019.
Dodig and Polasek advanced to the semifinal of the Masters 1000 Series ATP tournament in Bercy (Paris Masters) with a victory over American Rajeev Ram and British player Joe Salisbury in the quarters - 6:3, 6:7 (5), 10:7, though this success was not ultimately necessary for them to book a spot in London.
Namely, the legendary Americans Bob and Mike Bryan (seventh in the ‘Race for London’) pulled out of all tournaments until the end 2019, thus virtually securing Dodig and Polasek a spot among the eight best doubles teams.
Of course, it helped that Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut celebrated in the quarterfinal of the Paris Masters against Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin, who still had a theoretical chance to skip ahead of Dodig and Polasek - that is, if they won the title.
This is an excellent success for Dodig and Polasek, who have only been playing together since June this year, and who already have titles from Cincinnati and Beijing and can boast the Wimbledon semifinal.
This will be Dodig’s sixth appearance in the ATP Finals with three different partners. Dodig has played four finals so far with Brazilian Marcelo Melo (2013 - 2016) and in 2017 with Spanish player Marcel Granollers. This will be Polasek’s first appearance in the final.
The Croat and the Slovakian team thus continue their march in Bercy, and their rivals for a spot in Sunday's final will be Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov, who defeated Rohan Bopanna and Denis Shapovalov in the quarters.
Source: HTS
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Ivan Milat - Australia's Worst Serial Killer with Croatian Heritage
Numerous Australian tourists arrive at Korčula Island each year, and often they find themselves in utter shock when they find out that one of the most common surnames on the island is - Milat. They know of that surname, as Ivan Milat was the worst serial killer in Australian history.
His killing spree happened in the late eighties and early nineties, way before the internet, and during the most difficult period in the recent Croatian history, the Homeland War, so probably not many people in Croatia followed the story of the so-called "Backpacker Murders" in Australia. Seven young backpackers who were hitchhiking in New South Wales, near the highway between Sydney and Melbourne, disappeared between 1989 and 1992. Their bodies were subsequently found in the Belanglo State Forest. The victims were Deborah Everist (19) and James Gibson (19), an Australian couple, Simone Schmidl (21), Gabor Neugebauer (21), and Anja Habschied (20) from Germany and British backpackers Caroline Clarke (21) and Joanne Walters (22). The search for their killer, as it was soon determined it was probably the same killer, was the most extensive criminal investigation in Australian history.
Ivan Milat has, as his first and last names clearly suggest, Croatian heritage. His father, Stjepan Marko Milat (who went by "Stephen" in Australia), was born in Croatia, and while there are no official records of where he was originally from, some conclusions can be drawn. The name is still commonplace in and around Korčula, especially in the village of Žrnovo, and some of the people with the same last name from Žrnovo told me that Stjepan was a distant relative, who moved to Australia in the twenties of the previous century. That was the era of extensive emigration for the people from the Croatian islands, and many young people left never to return because of many economic factors.
Ivan was one of 14 children Stjepan had with his wife Margaret Elizabeth Piddleston and was the fifth-born child. Many of his siblings had numerous run-ins with the police for various delinquencies and crimes, and Ivan wasn't different, being in multiple facilities aimed at helping him fix his behavior since he was 13. None of that helped, as he was arrested in '71 with charges of kidnapping of two hitchhikers, but never convicted of it.
The investigation into the Belanglo Park murder rather quickly zeroed-in on Milat, and even during the earliest stages, some people suspected that there was more than one person involved, based on some evidence and criminal profiles made. FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (the well-known "profilers") who helped the Australian authorities during inquest didn't believe so, as they concluded that there was only one perpetrator.
Ivan Milat was arrested at his home on May 22nd, 1994, after he was identified by a young man who managed to escape abduction in 1990, which was quite similar to the circumstances in which the other backpackers disappeared.
Ivan Milat never confessed to anything. He kept maintaining his innocence even after some of the personal belongings of the killed backpackers were found in his house, and at some other properties belonging to the Milat family members. At his trial, Milat's defense was that one of his brothers was the culprit and that they (Richard or Walter) tried to frame their brother for the killings*. Richard and Walter adamantly denied those claims but maintained their certainty that their brother was not the cold-blooded murderer.
In the end, the jury found Ivan Milat guilty of all seven murders and the attempt of abduction mentioned before. He was given a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Some members of his family have maintained in staunch support of their brother, including the matriarch Margaret (the Croatian father Stjepan passed away in 1983), while the others have accepted that their brother is a murderer. His brothers Richard and Walter were prosecuted for illegal weapons; however, none of them was ever officially linked to the murders.
After more than 25 years behind bars, Ivan Milat died in prison of esophageal cancer on October 27th, 2019, aged 74. He never admitted his guilt to any of the murders and claimed he knew nothing about similar crimes that happened around the same time in areas where he was known to have been.
If you want to find out more about the case, I recommend the Casefile podcast series about it. Just note that, while the host is pronouncing the killer's name the same way most Australians do, that's not how we'd say it in Croatia. Ivan would be pronounced just like the world has learned to pronounce Ivan Lendl, and Milat would be quite similar to this: https://forvo.com/word/milat/
* - a factoid that people familiar with Korčula will find fascinating: the prosecutor in Milat's trial was Mike Tedeschi, which is also a very prominent last name on Korčula (no confirmation of any links to the island, and is more probably an Italian Tedeschi)
Prosecution Drops Case of Man Who Smashed Bilingual Signs in Vukovar
ZAGREB, November 1, 2019 - Vukovar municipal office of the Chief State Prosecutor has decided not to proceed with the case of Marijan Živković, the father of two soldiers killed in the defence of Croatia, who was charged with smashing Latin-Cyrillic signs on the building of the Vukovar police station in September 2013.
The commercial N1 broadcaster quoted on Friday Živković's lawyer Emil Mitrovski as saying that the case was dropped after the findings of the latest psychiatric examination of his client which shows that at the time when he had smashed the signs, Živković was mentally incapacitated.
Mitrovski said that the local prosecution already sent its decision to the Vukovar Municipal Court where a hearing was to have been held on 5 November.
The lawyer also explained that during that event in 2013, Živković was carried by his emotions and influenced by a prevailing mood in the crowd which was why he was not able to control his conduct.
He added that his client Živković was now a free man.
Živković said that he had received the decision of the prosecution about the discontinuation of the proceedings against him.
"I am a little man, but I am afraid of nothing, and I can only mourn the deaths of my sons," Živković said adding that justice has won and thanked those who supported him with prayers.
The lawyer said that this was the victory of justice and added that after Živković's acquittal in 2016 pending trial, no proceedings should have been conducted at all.
In the meantime, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović has written on her Twitter account that the decision of the prosecution to drop this case was the only correct decision.
More Vukovar news can be found in the Politics section.
Nikola Šubić Zrinski Opera to Be Live-Streamed Internationally
ZAGREB, November 1, 2019 - The opera titled "Nikola Šubić Zrinski", written and composed by Ivan Zajc in 1876, which will be performed by the Croatian National Theatre (HNK) in Zagreb on Saturday (2 November), will be live-streamed on the OperaVison platform in parallel to a global audience.
Thus, this opera which the platform describes as "Zajc's patriotic opera" will be available to millions of viewers.
The platform that promotes opera music informs viewers that this Croatian opera "retells the story of Nikola Šubić Zrinjski’s daring leadership and heroic sacrifice during the real-life Siege of Siget."
"Packed with powerful music – including the rousing male chorus ‘U boj, u boj!’ – it has held a treasured place in the Croatian repertoire ever since its wildly successful premiere in 1876."
Saturday's rendition in the HNK will be under the baton of maestro Nikša Bareza.
This opera will be available at this website: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBTlXPAfOx300RZfWNw8-qg until May next year.
More culture news can be found in the Lifestyle section.
Darko Horvat: We've Opened Path to Commercialisation of Croatian Innovation
As Novac/Adriano Milovan writes on the 1st of November, 2019, innovation is the basis of further economic growth, and Croatia is a land of huge potential when it comes to innovation, states a message from the conference "Croatia - a Place for Innovation and Smart Investment", organised yesterday by the Ministry of Economy and the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) at the Westin Hotel in Zagreb.
The aim of the conference was to connect innovative Croatian companies with investors and other partners. These involve more than 300 projects, which have crystallised on thematic innovation councils, with an estimated value of more than 5 billion kuna. They are all open to investment, which is why matchmaking meetings were organised at the end of the conference.
Although Croatia has a long tradition in innovation, the realisation of any of it has so far been stalling and lagging behind far more than it should be. Simply put, it lacked the path for the commercialisation of its innovation. However, Darko Horvat, Minister of Economy, is convinced that a step has now been taken in the right direction.
''Networking the real entrepreneurial sector, academia and local and central government officials and getting all of that through a maze relatively quickly, all this was done this year and in the future we'll talk no more about speed but acceleration,'' Horvat stated at the conference, adding that things are definitely changing for the better in Croatia.
Luka Burilović, President of the Croatian Chamber of Economy, recalled the long tradition of innovation in Croatia and said that Croatian innovators are stilling following global trends.
''Today, we have a new generation of minds, who are pushing our economy into a new, digital age,'' Burilović pointed out, pointing specifically to Rimac Automobili's owner, Mate Rimac.
Tomislav Sokol, MEP, warned that the EU is lagging behind the US, China and India in innovation. One of the main reasons for this, at least according to Sokol, is the overregulation of the European Union, which is why the aim is to reduce red tape by a third.
Despite its aspirations and goals, Croatia still lags behind others in R&D investment. For example, according to Eurostat's data for 2017, appropriations for this purpose in the EU accounted for 2.06 percent of GDP, and in Croatia, they amounted to 0.86 percent of GDP.
On the other hand, in Israel, these expenditures, according to Nili Shalev, director-general of the Directorate for Research and Development at the Israeli Innovation Agency, have reached 4.3 percent of GDP, with the largest share being provided by the private sector. The main driver of investment in innovation in Israel are large multinational companies, but the state, and especially the military, are both contributing, Shalev said.
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Festival of Polish Films to Be Held in Zagreb
ZAGREB, November 1, 2019 - The second edition of the Festival of Polish Films in Croatia, which takes place under the name "Visla (Vistula)" is set for 5-9 November in Zagreb's Kaptol Boutique Cinema.
The programme includes ten films, and the event will be ushered in by the screening of "The Messenger" by filmmaker Wladyslaw Pasikowski.
Also a few thrillers are offered to the audience, including "Werewolf" by Adrian Panek about eight children liberated from a Nazi concentration camp who have to overcome hunger, thirst and vicious dogs in an abandoned mansion surrounded by the forest, and the film titled "Tower. A Bright Day" by Jagoda Szelc.
"A Coach's Daughter" by Lukasz Grzegorzek is also in the programme.
The film titled " The Butler (Kamerdyner)" by Filip Bajon is the last one in this programme which is organised under the auspices of the Polish Embassy in Croatia.
More film news can be found in the Lifestyle section.
Government to Help Find Money for Đuro Đaković Workers' Wages
ZAGREB, November 1, 2019 - Economy Minister Darko Horvat said on Friday that the necessary funding for overdue monthly wages of workers of Đuro Đaković metal and mechanical engineering group would be found and that after that, decisions should be made on the future of that Slavonski-Brod based group.
Asked by the press in Veliko Trgovišće on Friday whether it was the Croatian Postal Bank (HPB) that should provide financial means for that purpose, Horvat answered in the affirmative.
Some 70 million kuna should be used for the overhaul of the group.
"We are together with the HPB seeking a model that should help restructure Đuro Đaković. Those 70 million kuna should provide a tailwind for the company in the next six months until the completion of the restructuring and until we find a new, true and good strategic partner," Horvat said.
The accounts of the Đuro Đaković were blocked on Wednesday and the management started negotiations with creditors on the removal of the blockade. The company's workers have been on strike since 24 October because they have not received wages for September.
On Wednesday afternoon, the group said that management board chairman Marko Bogdanović tendered his resignation. Bogdanović says in an explanation of his resignation that the group is currently in an unenviable situation due to two crucial issues: inability to financially follow the production of wagons for export and inadequacy of the group's own capital.
Also on Wednesday, the group issued a financial report about its loss of 38.7 million kuna in first nine months of 2019.
Total consolidated revenue in the first nine months of 2019 was 235.5 million kuna, down 35.4% or 129 million from the first nine months of 2018, while consolidated expenditure fell by 16.9% to 116.2 million kuna.
At the end of March 2019, the Đuro Đaković Group had 544.1 million kuna in business deals signed.
On Wednesday morning Minister Horvat said that the Đuro Đaković company needed restructuring and a strategic partner.
"We realise that, as in other ailing companies, the old philosophy of doing business is simply not possible. We helped Đuro Đaković a year ago by giving a loan which is slowly coming due for repayment. We are looking for a model to pay the one late salary, but without serious restructuring and a serious strategic partner, Đuro Đaković won't be able to continue at the pace it did when it was created and when it was a recognisable brand, not just in Europe but worldwide," Horvat told reporters.
Asked about the possibility of US company BAE Systems entering the group, he said he did not have such information. Jutarnji List daily said today BAE was considering opening a maintenance centre for Bradely armoured vehicles in Slavonski Brod.
Horvat said he asked management to submit an analysis of the situation in Đuro Đaković in the next ten days, after which the company's receivables and liabilities would be known.
More economic news can be found in the Business section.
Labour and Pension System Ministry to Get 6.4 Billion Euro in 2020 Draft Budget
ZAGREB, November 1, 2019 - A 2020 draft budget, outlined by the government on Thursday, plans 145.1 billion kuna on the revenue side and 147.3 billion kuna on the expenditure side, and a majority of government departments can expect a rise in their funding from the state budget.
The largest individual outlay from the next year's budget, 47.8 billion kuna, is planned for the ministry of labour and pension system, which means that it will get 4.7% or 2.1 billion kuna more than in 2019.
Finance Minister Zdravko Marić explained that 42.6 billion kuna would be set aside for pensions in 2020.
The second biggest recipient is the finance ministry, 43.6 billion kuna, or 4.4% more than what it received from the original budget for 2019.
The budget outlays for the science and education ministry are budgeted at 18.6 billion kuna in 2020, up by 7.6% or by 1.3 billion kuna in comparison to the original budget for 2019.
The health ministry is to get 12.4 billion kunminia, which is a rise of 5 percent compared to its budget funding in 2019.
The projected budget outlays for the ministries of defence and interior stand at 5.3 billion kuna (up 5%) and 5.9 billion kuna respectively.
The tourism ministry can expect the biggest increase, 29%, in the funding which is budgeted at 258 million kuna in 2020.
One of the few ministerial departments with a drop in the funding from the state budget is the agriculture ministry, and it can expect the lowering of its sum by 4% to 7.4 billion kuna. The ministry for the management of state property can expect a 10-percent decline in the funds from the state budget to 72.1 million kuna.
The government plans 6.7% higher revenues in the draft 2020 budget in comparison to the original 2019 budget, that is 5.4% more in comparison to the revised 2019 budget, which was also tabled to the parliament on Thursday.
The expenses in next year's budget are higher by 5%, that is by 7 billion kuna, in comparison to this year.
More budget news can be found in the Politics section.
Plitvice Lakes National Park Busy in Offseason with Successful Promo Week
November 1, 2019 - Plitvice Lakes National Park successfully cruises through the offseason.
Judging by all the indicators so far, Plitvice Lakes National Park is nearing another record year, which is contrary to the pessimistic announcements made before that the number of visitors would be halved if online ticket sales were introduced.
However, Novi List reports that the recently held Promo Week confirmed otherwise
To mark 70 years since it was proclaimed the first national park in Croatia, and 40 years since it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list,Plitvice Lakes gave back to its visitors with a ‘Promo Week’ that ran from October 21-27 with discounted ticket prices.
Namely, during Promo Week, tickets purchased online were only 50 kuna for adults, while students paid 30 kuna and kids aged 7-18 paid 20. Children under seven and people with disabilities entered for free.
Plitvice Lakes National Park spokesman Ognjen Borcic highlighted the many benefits and above all the excellent organization stemming from online ticket sales.
"Finally, an order was introduced in this regard, without long waits, nervousness, and all the negative things that used to happen at our park entrances. We have talked about it many times. Promo Week confirmed this to us. The opportunity to visit the national park for an unprecedented price proved to be excellent, and the last weekend of Promo Week was a sign of great attendance.
Thus, on weekends alone, we recorded almost 16,000 visitors. This was also helped by the great weather, the quiet and warm autumn. We have an extended weekend ahead for All Saints Day.
According to the current announcements, this will be another reason to be proud of the business success of Plitvice Lakes National Park because the bookings are excellent, and the reports of arrivals literally come from all sides,” emphasizes spokesman Ognjen Borcic.
Plitvice Lakes National Park's diverse offer was further enhanced this year by a weekly culinary event, a multitude of other events, presentations and scientific meetings, all in celebration of the unique park and its tradition.
The image of Croatia’s most famous national park is currently enveloped by the calming of colors of autumn, with increasingly pronounced yellow hues. It is all part of the annual changes that make Plitvice Lakes so unique.
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Wiener Osiguranje Becomes Sponsor of Nutcracker at HNK Zagreb
The weather is gradually getting colder, the very first snow has already fallen on Sljeme, and as Poslovni Dnevnik/Sergej Novosel Vuckovic writes on the 1st of November, 2019, we're now nearing the time of year when many of Zagreb's citizens queue up at the Croatian National Theatre (HNK) in order to obtain tickets for the globally beloved Nutcracker, which is traditionally one of the most sought after cultural events during the Advent period.
Wiener Osiguranje has become the sponsor of this, otherwise the most frequently performed ballet in the entire world. According to the manager of the Croatian National Theatre, Dubravka Vrgoc, the ballet will be performed about twenty times at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, which is in itself a kind of record.
"Sponsorship of the most popular and most frequently performed ballet is the crown of our celebration of twenty years of doing business in Croatia, and it's a great honour to be part of this wonderful Christmas story," Wiener Osiguranje's Jasminka Horvat Martinović said, adding that the representation of culture and art is of great importance to Wiener Osiguranje as a company.
This insurer, which is part of the large Austrian group Vienna Insurance, had a premium last year of 891.5 million kuna (an increase of fifteen percent when compared to the previous year), with a net profit of 59.4 million kuna, which ranked it in fourth position on the Croatian market. In the life insurance segment, for example, it has done even better, coming second (with a premium of 548 million kuna), just behind Croatia Osiguranje.
Wiener Osiguranje is, interestingly, also the insurer of the construction of Pelješac bridge down in Dalmatia, a strategic project for both the European Union and Croatia, and the largest infrastructure project in Croatia to date. The insurance company was hired by the contractor, China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBD) as the insurance contractor for the whole operation.
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