Ivan Lacković Croata is one of the most distinguished representatives of the so called Naive Art. Due to his paintings, Fumiko Yamazaki visited Croatia in 1990s, learned Croatian both spoken and written, and is known for popularizing the art of Lacković Croata in Japan. As we can see, fine art does not know borders. Mrs. Fumiko Yamazaki founded Lacković Art Japan society. In 2012, the then Croatian Ambassador in Japan, Drago Buvač handed the Certificate of Gratitude to Mrs. Fumiko Yamazaki in recognition of her contribution to the development of the Croatian-Japanese cultural cooperation.
Slaven Bilic distinguished Croatian soccer player manager of West Ham United
We provide an interesting interview with Slaven Bilić, former Croatian soccer player, who described his life and work in Great Britain, as a manager of West Ham United. We recall that Slaven Bilić was the coach of Croatian soccer representation which defeated England at Wembley in 2007, 3:2. Slaven is very open and communicative person, originating from the town of Split, as well as some other top Croatian sportsmen and sportswomen, like Goran Ivanišević, Toni Kukoč and Blanka Vlašić. It is less known that Slaven is a qualified lawyer, fine guitarist and fluent in several languages.
Trio LUR Lucija Petrac, Ursa Vukman and Rea Alaburic from Zagreb to Paris and Moscow in 2016
During the Advent 2016 Trio LUR, consisting of young Croatian classical musicians Lucija Petrač (flute), Ursa Vukman (organist) and Rea Alaburić (soprano), performed in two churches in Paris – famous church of Saint Madeleine (La place de la Madeleine) and Chapelle des Franciscains (7 Rue Marie Rose) on 16th and 17th of December 2016. Their concerts have been organized by AMCA-Paris society of former students and friends of the University of Zagreb, living in Paris. In March 2016, they also perfomed in the Catholic Cathedral in Moscow.
Dragan Bender new Croatian basketball sensation in Phoenix Suns NBA
Dragan Bender (born November 17, 1997) is a Croatian professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the USA. He stands 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m), 102 kg, and plays the power forward and center positions. Bender represents the Croatian national team. He competed for the Croatian national team at the 2012 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship in Latvia and Lithuania. From 2014-2016 he was playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel.
BBC micro:bit – Support the STEM revolution in Croatian Schools via Indiegogo
Nenad Bakic (left) a Croatian entrepreneur and investor, is spearheading the largest educational initiative in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) field in the Croatian school system via Indiegogo. This initiative aims to deploy Micro:bit technology in Croatian schools to aid in the modernization of the Croatian educational system in order to develop modern competencies, and a growth mindset and a strong character which will give Croatian students an equal footing in the society and economy of the 21 st century.
Ivica Zubac new Croatian basketball sensation in Los Angeles Lakers NBA
Ivica Zubac is a 19 years old Croatian basketball player who sucessfully started his international career playing in the NBA for Los Angeles Lakers since 2016. Born in Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he played for young team of Croatian basketball representation. His height is 2.16 m (7.1 feet) and weight 120 kg. Zubac represented the Croatian national team during the U16 European Championships in 2013. In the USA he is nicknamed Zu (i.e., Zoo).
Giovanna Drpic moves to CBS46 in Atlanta
Giovanna Drpic (left) can say she’s from the South and South America. She grew up in Texas, but she was born in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Giovanna is now proud to call Atlanta home as CBS46’s political reporter. She previously served as host/producer of the Emmy-nominated business show, “Money & Main$treet”, on Verizon FiOS1 News Long Island. Giovanna has also been honored by the NY Associated Press Awards, Folio Awards, the Press Club of Long Island and the Garden State Journalism Association.
Zagreb Ski World Cup January 2017
To honour and celebrate the history of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup, Organisers of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup races in Zagreb (CRO) have prepared a 165-metre-long ski slope in downtown Zagreb at which former and current World Cup champions raced on 4th January 2017. Eighteen skiing champions, including Croatia’s most famous siblings Janica (on the photo) and Ivica Kostelić, have competed in the special event to mark 50 years of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup which started on 5th January 1967 in Berchtesgarden (GER). Other big names joining the celebrations include former and current FIS World Cup champions including the first ever winner of the FIS World Cup, the legendary Jean-Claude Killy, along with Karl Schranz, Annemarie Moser-Proell, Marc Girardelli, Marcel Hirscher, Alberto Tomba, Andreas Wenzel, …
Mirko Cro Cop knocks out Amir Aliakbari to win grand prix Rizin 2016 in Tokyo
Cro Cop landed a beautiful straight left to drop Aliakbari, the former Greco-Roman wrestling world champion, and followed up with another big left before the referee stepped in to stop the fight. “This is a special one for me, 10 years later after winning Pride grand prix,” Cro Cop said on the microphone afterward. … “I can’t explain it and I can’t explain how happy and proud I am.” In the semifinals of the grand prix, Cro Cop defeated Baruto early in the first round with a vicious knee to the body from the clinch. The Croatian star defeated Muhammad Lawal in the quarterfinals Thursday.
Claudio Radonich since Dec 2016 Mayor of the city of Punta Arenas in Chile has Croatian roots
Claudio Radonich is since December 2016 a new Mayor of the city of Punta Arenas on the very south of Chile. He belongs to the third generation of Croats born in Chile, and his great-grandparents (Radonich’s) are from the town of Starigrad on the island of Hvar. Punta Arenas (as well as many other cities in Chile and in South America) has a very strong Croatian immigrant population, dating already since the 19th century. The city has a Croatian Street, Croatian Firefighting Association, Croatian Women Society, as well as Escuela Croacia (School Croatia), Clinica Croacia, Club Croata Restaurant, and a nice monument dedicated to Croatian Coat of Arms (3 m of height).
Surf'n'Fries Croatian franchise products in Moscow announcing at least 100 outlets in Russia
The most successful franchise from Croatia, that was launched in 2009 by Andrija Eolak (on the photo) and Denis Polić from the city of Rijeka, is now set to expand its business into Dubai, China, Russia, the United States etc. Their master franchisor has big expectations and announces at least 100 Surf’n’Fries outlets in Russia. This Croatian franchise is now ready to conquer some of the biggest world markets. Хотите попробовать картофель фри от Surf’n’Fries? Приезжайте в Шереметьево, а потом как можно быстрее в Хорватию.
Nenad Bach in the city of Vukovar in Dec 2016 as a representative of the State Office for Croatians Abroad
In December 2016 Nenad Bach visited the city of Vukovar as a representative at the State Office for Croatians Abroad. The members of the State Office had the opportunity to discuss various issues of vital importance for Croatia with President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović, as well as with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. Nenad Bach stressed among others the importance of ensuring direct airplane flights between Croatia and the USA. He also met legendary Dr. Vesna Bosanac, director of the famous Vukovar Hospital.
Ivan Rakitić's launches Scorrers app to connect fans and celebrities
Loyal fans will know how annoying it is to apply for every competition and giveaway going, only to be pipped at the post by someone more web-savvy or quicker off the mark. Now entrepreneurial FC Barcelona footballer Ivan Rakitić (left) has gone to extreme lengths to stop his fans missing out – creating a new mobile app and business that he says will shake up the celebrity giveaway market. His start-up, Scorrers, aims to connect sports stars, musicians and other celebrities with their fans by giving away prizes and memorabilia in a fair, free and convenient way.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2017 messages from the village of Samarica
Samarica is a lonely village near the mount of Moslavačka gora East of the city of Zagreb. We present its traditional Christmas carols and customs. We also enclose a Christmas message written by rev. Nikola Radić from the largest Croatian island of Krk, as well as two very nice Catholic calendars (the general one and the one representing the island of Krk) created by him in 2016. Rev. Radić is at the age of 80 and he is one day older than Pope Francis.
Zrinski's in Vienna with emphasis on Nikola Subic Zrinski of Siget + 1566
The defense of Siget by Nikola Šubić Zrinski (on the photo) in 1566 entered all the annals of European history in the 16th century. With his 2500 brave soldiers, mostly Croats, he was defending the fortress of Siget in southern Hungary against 90,000 Turks. Cardinal Richelieu, a famous French minister at the court of King Lui XIII, wrote the following: A miracle was necessary for the Habsburg Empire to survive. And the miracle happened in Sziget . Ivan Zajc has composed the opera Nikola Šubić Zrinski in 1876, which is very popular in Japan, especially its tune “U boj, u boj!”. Zrinski’s helmet and sward, kept in Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, have been shown in Croatia in the city of Čakovec in September 2016.
Marinko Marco Radakovic to appear in the film "Patriot's Day"
Marinko Marco Radakovic (left) will appear in the film “Patriot’s Day” directed by Peter Berg, and is about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the subsequent terrorist manhunt led by Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Dawhich. This visceral and unflinching chronicle captures the suspense of one of the most sophisticated manhunts in law enforcement history and the strength of the people of Boston. Radakovic will be playing a Boston police officer.
Tom Begich, Croatian American is New State Senator in Alaska
Tom Begich (left), Croatian American from Alaska, has been elected to the State Senate there and won in the Anchorage downtown “J” district. Tom ran unopposed in the general election after he won the August 16th Democratic primary with 62% of the vote against Ed Wesley. The Senate seat opened up when long time Democratic State Senator Johnny Ellis retired after 24 years. This popular incumbent endorsed Tom in the competitive primary race which was a key endorsement. Tom ran an energetic and issue-oriented campaign to win a strong majority of votes in this crucial party primary. This was Tom’s first campaign for office and he will be sworn in to the Alaska State Senate on January 17, 2017.
Josip Sersic author of important monograph about Croatians in Vienna – Kroatisches Wien / Hrvatski Bec
Josip Seršić, living in Vienna, prepared a monograph describing the presence of Croatians in Vienna, from the military history to literature, science and music. On the photo is Paula von Preradović, Croatian poetess and writer, author of the verses of Austrian national anthem. We list some of additional names: noble family of Zrinski’s, bishop Lepold Karl Kolonić, Ruđer Bošković, Nikola Toma Host, Nikola Tesla, Ivan Meštrović, Lovro von Matačić, Sena Jurinac, Clara Martinis, Emanuel Cenčić, Mirna Jukić and many other.
Nikola Toma Host 1761-1843 Croatian physician and botanist has memorial plaque in Vienna since 2016
The memorial plaque to Nikola Toma Host (1761-1843) is placed in the Alpic Garden of the Belvedere Palace in Vienna. Host was a personal physician of the Austrian Emperor Franz I. The Botanical Garden of the University of Vienna bears his name: Host’s Garden (Host’scher Garten), which he has directed until his death in 1834. His herbarium is kept in the Nature Museum in Vienna. The initiative came from Josip Seršić, Vienna, author of important monograph Kroatisches Wien / Hrvatski Beč (Croatian Vienna) published in 2013.
NFCA Announces “40 Under 40" Winners from USA!
The NFCA in Washington, D.C. is proud to announce the first ever group of “40 Under 40” Croatian Americans chosen for an award which celebrates the success and commitment of the next generation. These selections recognize the talent, the accomplishments, the potential and the pride in their Croatian heritage of these forty honorees under the age of forty. “We looked nationwide for forty Croatian Americans who have demonstrated leadership, career success and dedication to Croatian causes,”said Andrea Novak-Neumann, “40 Under 40” committee member and NFCA officer from Minnesota. On the photo Teresa Scanlan, Miss America 2011.