07. 11. 08. - 12:00

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07. 11. 08. - 12:00

New anti-smoking law enters into force

Croatian Times

The new Croatian anti-smoking law entered into force on 7 November. It will ban smoking in public places but provides for a six-month period of adjustment for restaurants and cafes.

All educational, health and social institutions, however, with the exception of psychiatric institutions, have to comply with the new law as of 7 November.

The purpose of the new law is to protect non-smokers in Croatia from harmful smoke and to change people’s smoking habits.

Around 10,000 people die from smoking and 3,000 from second-hand smoke each year in Croatia. The cost of treatment for diseases caused by smoking has risen to three billion kunas or around 416 million Euros annually.

Anyone who ignores the ban will face a fine of 1,000 kunas or 140 Euros, and the owner of a restaurant or café who allows smoking on the premises will face a fine between 500 and 1,000 kunas.

Serb to make curious protest along Adriatic coast
A Serbian TV station owner has announced an unusual crusade against what he calls the "mediocrity" that does not allow normalization of relations on both sides of the Croatian-Serbian border.

Unions collect enough signatures for referendum, but government withdraws amendments
A sufficient number of valid signatures had been collected to call a referendum on proposed changes to Croatia’s labour laws, the Ministry of the Interior and Public Administration has announced.

Wife attacks cops to prevent hubby´s arrest
Two police officers in Trogir (Dalmatia) were attacked by a raging wife after they tried to arrest her husband.

Croatia Airlines wants no part in former-Yugoslav alliance
Croatia Airline has said it is not interested in joining any sort of former-Yugoslav fleet alliance, in a response to media inquiries after the Serbian Secretary of State’s called for the union.

Activist demand greater protection for women victims of violence
Campaigners from the Autonomous Women’s House have visited various state institutions in Zagreb in order to draw the government’s attention to the plight of women victims of violence.

Donkeys smuggle drugs from Bosnia to Croatia
Drug smugglers are using donkeys to take packets of weed from neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) into Croatia, Split police have said.

PM refutes rumours of IMF´s arrival to Croatia
Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor has refuted recent media claims that the country may need help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the near future.

Thief steals singer´s wheelchair
Croatian singer Zdravko Skender's wheelchair was pinched from a handicapped parking space on Sunday evening in Zagreb.

80 per cent tax returns completed last week
Tax officials have processed 78 per cent of income tax claims, paying 206 million Euros in returns so far.

GDP down less than predicted, analysts say
The Croatian economy can expect a smaller GDP drop of 1.8 per cent compared to earlier estimates of 2.5 per cent, say Hypo bank analysts.