Croatia to compete in Homeless World Cup in Brazil

These days Brazil is preparing for a football World Cup for the homeless, and Croatia is one of the teams that will take part in it.A Croatian team of homeless people will take part in Homeless World Cup 2010 that will be held from 19 to 26 September in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the second year in a row.It is an annual, international football tournament, uniting teams of people who are homeless and excluded and who will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their countries. The World Cup will feature 64 teams from around the world.The

Fear of anthrax cow disease spreading from Bosnia to Croatia

Bosnian authorities confirmed that several cows in Livno area (Bosnia and Herzegovina) have died from anthrax, prompting fears that the contagious illness could spread to neighbouring Croatia.The total of nine samples analysed showed that six of the dead cows had been infected. So far, fourteen deaths have been reported, and while the situation is alarming, no epidemic warning has been issued.The authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina have sent an appeal to all cattle owners in Livno and neighboring villages to keep their animals from grazing as the source of disease was located in the fields. They are worried that some

Three new fires in Dalmatia

Firemen have succeeded in localising three fires that started today (Fri) in Dugi Rat in southern Dalmatia, Kastel Novi near Split and Trilj in inland Dalmatia.The fire near Dugi Rat started before 11am and was localized by 1pm.Around 35 hectares of grass were destroyed. Two Canadair-type airplanes, an air tractor, two helicopters and 70 firemen with 29 vehicles took part in fighting the fire.The fire in Kastel Novi started at noon and was localized by 1:30pm. Around one hectare of grass was burnt.At the same time, firemen were alarmed about the third fire near Trilj and succeeded in localising it

Police find attackers of Frenchmen in Dubrovnik

Police have pressed charges against two men from Dubrovnik aged 18 and 19 for an attack on four Frenchmen on Wednesday.An argument among them started on a local bus early in the morning, and the four Frenchmen aged 20 and 21 got out of the bus and escaped after having become involved in a fist-fight.At 6 am, police found them lying in Obala Pape Ivana Pavla II Street in the city centre.They took them to Dubrovnik hospital, where doctors confirmed that they had slight injuries.The two attackers were taken to investigative court in Dubrovnik yesterday (Thurs).

Source: Croatian Times Online News

Police find attackers of Frenchmen in Dubrovnik

Police have pressed charges against two men from Dubrovnik aged 18 and 19 for an attack on four Frenchmen on Wednesday.An argument among them started on a local bus early in the morning, and the four Frenchmen aged 20 and 21 got out of the bus and escaped after having become involved in a fist-fight.At 6 am, police found them lying in Obala Pape Ivana Pavla II Street in the city centre.They took them to Dubrovnik hospital, where doctors confirmed that they had slight injuries.The two attackers were taken to investigative court in Dubrovnik yesterday (Thurs).

Source: Croatian Times Online News

Sisak mayor forbids city employees to visit Youtube and Facebook

Sisak Mayor Dinko Pintaric has forbidden all city government employees to visit Youtube and Facebook and also local web site www.sisak.info from 25 August.Pintaric believes visits to those sites have a negative effect on employees' work.City employees who disagree with the mayor's decision have told the local media they cannot believe it since they are theoretically allowed to surf porno sites but not the local web site.Pintaric recently sued website sisak.info because of its "atrocious articles."

Source: Croatian Times Online News

Three Frenchmen attacked in Dubrovnik

Police are investigating an attack on three young Frenchmen in Dubrovnik.The three Frenchmen aged 20 claimed they had been attacked by unknown men early this morning (Weds) on Obala Pape Ivana Pavla II street in the city centre.The attacked tourists were found by police on that street at 6 am.They were taken to Dubrovnik hospital, where doctors confirmed they all had slight injuries and soon released them.

Source: Croatian Times Online News

Man attacks woman and her male friend over high-beam headlights

Police have pressed criminal charges against a 25-year-old man suspected of having attacked a 29- year-old man and his 28-year-old female friend over high-beam headlights.The attacker stopped his car and started to shout to the female driver to turn off her high-beam headlights at 2am on 16 August on a road near the city of Rijeka.Then, he got mad and started to pummel her car.The woman's friend who was driving behind her tried to help her, but the other man punched him, knocking him to the ground.The woman and her friend finally succeeded in entering her car and escaped.Her friend

Another fire starts near Split

After around 250 hectares of pine woods and grass were destroyed by a wild fire that started yesterday in Donja Rupotina near Split, firemen were again called out today (Mon) at 11am.Another fire started at nearby Kozjak Mountain. Beside the local fire brigade, two Canadair-type aeroplanes and an air tractor took part in fighting the fire.A fire also started on Mljet Island in the southern Adriatic this morning. More then 30 firemen with the help of two Canadair-type aeroplanes took part in fire-fighting action there.The national protection and rescue directorate claims no people or homes are in danger.

Source: Croatian Times Online News

One-mans fight against corruption

Boris Zuvela has single-handedly taken on the fight against public corruption by driving around in Zagreb and giving everyone a piece of his mind.His faithful accomplice is his automobile, covered with slogans such as  "you robbed and sold off my homeland, you gang of thieves!"Everyone just suffers in silence. It is not always good to be silent. Some live very well, while the majority of Croatian people live poorly," says Zuvela, who was a volunteer in the war (1991-1995) and held in a concentration camp."When I go by, people wave at me and give me their support. That means a

One-mans fight against corruption

Boris Zuvela has single-handedly taken on the fight against public corruption by driving around in Zagreb and giving everyone a piece of his mind.His faithful accomplice is his automobile, covered with slogans such as  "you robbed and sold off my homeland, you gang of thieves!"Everyone just suffers in silence. It is not always good to be silent. Some live very well, while the majority of Croatian people live poorly," says Zuvela, who was a volunteer in the war (1991-1995) and held in a concentration camp."When I go by, people wave at me and give me their support. That means a

Dinamo and Hajduk win in Europa League qualification play

Croatian football clubs have gotten off to a great start in the first leg of the last Europa League qualifying round played on Thursday.

Hajduk Split defeated Romanian side Unirea 4-1 at Poljud Stadium in Split in front of 35,000 fiery fans. The Romanians took the lead with a goal in the 33rd minute when Frunza scored after passing through the confused Croatian defense. However, Senijad Ibricic scored twice and Mario Brkljaca and Duje Cop once each before the end of the match.

"It is still not over. I'd say Senijad Ibricic deserves to be praised the most. However, the

Firefighting pilot may be sanctioned for wearing jeans on duty

Major Marijan Batarilovic will not be disciplined for taking the initiative and extinguishing a fire near a cattle farm in Zadar without first requesting permission. Instead, he will be sanctioned for wearing jeans while doing so.Major Batarilovic and Brigadier Ivan Selak were flying in a fire-fighting aircraft to contain a fire on June 15. After they ended one mission, they noticed a different fire spreading near a cattle farm close to Zadar. They informed their supervisors of their intention to extinguish that fire as well but did so without receiving permission, angering them.Military top brass decided to stop disciplinary proceedings

HGAA investigators ´eye ex-Croat Prime Minister´

Former Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) Prime Minister Ivo Sanader faces investigations over accusations he pocketed huge sums in connection to Hypo Group Alpe Adria's (HGAA) careless lending activities in the country, according to reports.Local weekly magazine Nacional claims the former HDZ boss – who sensationally stepped down last year – received hundreds of thousands of Euros in the 1990s from Croatian firms to ensure they received loans from HGAA.HGAA had to be nationalised last December as it emerged that the bank faced annual losses of 1.6 billion Euros. SoKo Hypo – a special commission set up by Austrian People's Party

German tourist seriously injured in motorbike accident

A German tourist was seriously injured yesterday (Mon) after falling off her motorbike near the village of Krkovic near Sibenik.The 62-year-old woman lost control of the motorbike due to excessive speed, the news portal Index has reported.She is being treated at Sibenik hospital for her injuries.

Source: Croatian Times Online News

Teachers´ unions threaten school boycotts

Following the Croatian government's announcement that public-sector salaries may be cut by ten per cent, teachers' unions are threatening to boycott the beginning of the school year, and doctors are preparing equally-tough measures.The unions are warning that, although they tolerated a last salary cut of six per cent and the crisis tax, they will not accept further salary cuts.Additional negotiations between representatives of the unions and the government are expected, the daily Vecernji List has reported.

Source: Croatian Times Online News

Potty EU gives dirty beaches clean bill of health

Barmy new EU legislation means Croatian beaches can now have up to ten times more faeces and excrement than previously.Thanks to a new method for evaluating the quality of water, ten times higher concentrations of faecal bacteria E.coli and six times higher concentrations of faecal streptococci will be allowed.Consequently, 90 per cent of Croatian beaches have now been stuck into the top category of "Excellent quality" when only last year over half were in the second category of "suitable for swimmers".Head of Health Ecology at Zadar's Institute of Public Health Benito Pucar said that instead of four, there will be

Hajduk Split in talks to sign Albanian midfielder Ervin Bulku

Albanian national team midfielder Ervin Bulku has been in talks to sign with Croatian side Hajduk Split, daily newspaper Slobodna Dalmacija writes.The 29-year-old footballer is a free agent, but has spent the last three seasons with Ukrainian side Kryvbas.Hajduk Split officials consider signing the Albanian in a bid to strengthen the midfield in the season when they plan to become Croatian champions and to enter the Europa League.

Source: Croatian Times Online News

Serbia files indictment against vetaran for war crimes

Serbia has filed an indictment against war veteran Veljko Maric, 59 for war crimes against civilians allegedly committed in the village of Rastovac (Bjelovar-Bilogora County) in 1991.According to the prosecution, Maric, a member of the Croatian armed formations, is accused of having entered the house of Slijepcevic family and killed Petar Slijepcevic with several shots from an automatic weapon. 

Source: Croatian Times Online News

PR firm owner in jail on suspcion of fraud

The police have arrested the 54-year-old owner of PR company Fimi-Media and two others on suspicion of embezzlement of close to 2.3 million Euros from state firms and public institutions.Nevenka Jurak is suspected of fraud involving fictitious accounts. The Croatian daily Jutarnji List wrote in January that the former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader had recommended the firm and its services to twenty board members of various state enterprises.According to the data published so far, Fimi-Media was registered in 2001 when the company had only one employee and around 100,000 Euros of revenue. In eight years since its inception it grew

Dubrovnik considers additional safety measures around historic centre

Dubrovnik is considering additional security measures around the City's walls after a recent series of accidents.Zana Baca from the city's Department of Conservation says they have tried to warn of visitors of potential dangers, including putting up signs and notices in several languages on entrance tickets sold for touring the walls, but to little effect.In the latest incident, an unidentified person died on Thursday when he fell from the wall onto the beach below.

Source: Croatian Times Online News

Frankfurt, Zurich and Vienna vie for Zagreb Airport concessions

Frankfurt, Zurich and Vienna airports are interested in becoming concessionaires of the Zagreb Pleso airport where a new passenger terminal is planned.The Croatian government decided against co-financing between the State and the City of Zagreb in favour of a concessionary model, the portal Business writes.The director of Zagreb's airport Tonci Peovic hopes that the concessionaire would be selected by the end of the year. The necessary documents should be ready by 15 October, after when the government is expected to announce the tender.The companies that have won the tender for the conceptual design of the new terminal have lowered their

Nigerian man attempts suicide twice near Zagreb

A 35-year-old Nigerian man is in a Zagreb hospital after trying to commit suicide - twice.After jumping from an overpass on Zagreb-Lipovac highway, the man was taken to a hospital with a broken foot. But upon his arrival he promptly tried to slash his wrists with scissors, the daily Vecernji List reports.Police have not yet been able to talk to the 35-year-old and the reasons for his suicide attempts are not yet known.

Source: Croatian Times Online News

Government vows to prevent bread price increases

The government will do everything in its power to prevent an increase in the price of bread, the Prime Minister said yesterday (Thu) after the country's bakers and millers' associations announced the rise for autumn."As far as we are concerned, we will do everything in our power so that this does not happen. However, this must be discussed," Kosor said.She also reiterated the need to share the burden of the crisis. "It must be repeated that in these difficult times of crisis everyone must make their contribution – from members of the government to merchants," she said.The millers and bakers

Rapid reject Rangers´ €4.2mn bid for Jelavic

Rapid Vienna have snubbed a 4.2-million-Euro offer by Glasgow Rangers for striker Nikica Jelavic.Austrian sports press revealed today (Fri) that the 32-time Bundesliga title winners rejected the Scottish league champs' improved offer in talks held in Vienna yesterday.Asked about the outcome of the meeting, Rapid executive manager Alfred Hörtnagl announced: "We have come to no agreement."Hörtnagl hit the headlines earlier this week by claiming that Rapid had not received any official offers for the Croat national team star from any club - after newspapers speculated several months that Blackburn Rovers, Everton and other sides have signalised interest in the striker.Rapid

Rapid reject Rangers´ €4.2mn bid for Jelavic

Rapid Vienna have snubbed a 4.2-million-Euro offer by Glasgow Rangers for striker Nikica Jelavic.Austrian sports press revealed today (Fri) that the 32-time Bundesliga title winners rejected the Scottish league champs' improved offer in talks held in Vienna yesterday.Asked about the outcome of the meeting, Rapid executive manager Alfred Hörtnagl announced: "We have come to no agreement."Hörtnagl hit the headlines earlier this week by claiming that Rapid had not received any official offers for the Croat national team star from any club - after newspapers speculated several months that Blackburn Rovers, Everton and other sides have signalised interest in the striker.Rapid

Rapid reject Rangers´ €4.2mn bid for Jelavic

Rapid Vienna have snubbed a 4.2-million-Euro offer by Glasgow Rangers for striker Nikica Jelavic.Austrian sports press revealed today (Fri) that the 32-time Bundesliga title winners rejected the Scottish league champs' improved offer in talks held in Vienna yesterday.Asked about the outcome of the meeting, Rapid executive manager Alfred Hörtnagl announced: "We have come to no agreement."Hörtnagl hit the headlines earlier this week by claiming that Rapid had not received any official offers for the Croat national team star from any club - after newspapers speculated several months that Blackburn Rovers, Everton and other sides have signalised interest in the striker.Rapid

Pal kills Romanian tourist after row

A 50-year-old Romanian tourist who was beaten by an acquaintance in an apartment near Pula on July 27 has died of his injuries at the local hospital.On the night of the incident, several men had been drinking in their rented apartment in Pula.  Around 1am a heated row ensued between the Romanian and his pal, another tourist from Poland.  In the physical fight that followed, the Pole punched the other man who fell onto the floor - receiving severe injuries in the process.Three other men – one German citizen and two Polish – fled the apartment when they saw that

Croatian scientists work on key to longevity

A Mediterranean Institute for Life Sciences team led by scientist Miroslav Radman is halfway to discovering the key to longevity, the Institute writes in a press release.A team currently researching molecules that could protect all proteins from cell oxidation discovered the existence of this protective mechanism by looking at two bacteria – E.Coli, a common presence in humans' intestines, and Deinococcus radiodurans, the most radio-resistant organism known.The protection of the proteins in these two bacteria is achieved through a synthesis of small and still undefined molecules, which neutralise the effects of radiation, the Croatian daily Vecernji List writes.The Institute explains

President warms against army cuts

President Ivo Josipovic has warned against reducing Croatia's security forces following other cuts demanded by the government's economic recovery programme.Speaking at the commemoration of Croatia's Victory Day (August 4th), the President backed the government programme but once again reiterated that the burden of economic recovery must be divided equally, with the brunt borne by those with most means.He warned, however, against cutting down on the country's security forces. "Our security must not be smaller than today," he said.At the event commemorating operation Storm which brought the end to the Homeland War (1991-1995), Josipovic said the victory had enabled Croatia's citizens

Pula´s deputy mayor robbed at gunpoint

A 33-year-old Slovakian has been arrested for robbing Pula's deputy mayor Fabrizio Radin at gunpoint.The Slovak man is accused of approaching the mayor's parked vehicle on July 28 and demanding money and other valuables. Radin handed him his mobile phone and a wallet.He is also suspected of having accosted another victim in Rijeka the same day and stealing the man's bag and mobile phone, again at gunpoint.

Source: Croatian Times Online News

No rise in electricity prices after all

Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor has refused the National Electricity Company (HEP)'s request for electricity price increases, saying the moment was "inappropriate".HEP had requested a little below 10 per cent increase, but Kosor said the rise cannot be justified at the moment given that the company had made close to one billion kunas (138 million Euros) in profits last year.The Minister of Economy Djuro Popijac said he hoped meanwhile that the request will be re-evaluated in the near future as HEP is about to make a three-billion kunas  (414.5 million Euros) investment.He also refuted rumours about discussions over HEP's possible

Heavy rains interrupt Motovun Film Festival and ATP Tournament

Audience and spectators have deserted the Motovun Film Festival in Istria and the ATP tennis tournament in Umag as heavy rains lashed into both.The camp around Motovun was decimated on Tuesday as rain swept away tents, flooded streets and destroyed the festival's technical equipment.The ATP tennis tournament in Umag meanwhile saw courts flooded for the third time in its history - the first being in 1993 and then again in 2001.Meteorologists say an improvement is expected for Saturday, with Sunday and Monday bringing sunny skies. But Tuesday and Wednesday could bring worse weather, they warn.

Source: Croatian Times Online News