Zagreb - Archaeologists in the Adriatic town of Rijeka have discovered mosaic floors dating from the 5th century, Croatian daily Novi list reported on Tuesday.

The floor mosaic, around 40 square metres large, is a part of an old basilica that was built on top of ancient Roman therms.

The mosaics have motifs including crosses, diamonds and other geometric forms and were found at the entrance of the basilica as well as in the nave, where they are richly decorated, head of the excavations, archaeologist Josip Visnjic said.

Zagreb - Under pressure from the church, Croatia banned shops from working on Sundays and retailers immediately began firing workers, the Slobodna Dalmacija daily said Thursday.

Large retail chains started first, in the first week of the year, saying they conducted one-fifth of their business on Sundays.

The Getro chain has let go 200 employees and Magma toy stores did not renew annual contracts with 155, the report said. Small, single stores are also expected to follow suit.

Zagreb - Maria Riesch of Germany won her third successive slalom in Zagreb Sunday to take the overall lead in the women's alpine ski World Cup standings.

Riesch benefited from a mistake by Lindsey Vonn of the United States who crashed out shortly before the finishing line when she appeared to be on the way to a clear victory.

Riesch clocked 1 minute 58.96 seconds for the two runs, with Italian Nicole Gius second, 0.44 seconds behind, and Sarka Zahrobska of the Czech Republic third, 0.63 seconds back.

Vonn, the reigning World Cup champion, had led from the first leg but a mistake shortly before the end of the second run when leading by almost a second cost her the race and her overall lead in the standings.

Zagreb - Croatian painter Ivan Rabuzin, known worldwide for his Naive art floral

Zagreb  - Ever since it broke off from Yugoslavia, Croatia tried hard to persuade others and itself that it is not a part of the perceivedly "dodgy" Balkan ways - but a series brutal murders proved it was still closer to how it regards Belgrade and Sofia than to Vienna.

With four gangland-style killings in October, Croatia's powerful - and previously largely negated - underworld flexed its muscle and sent the authorities scurrying for emergency measures.

Ivana Hodak, 26, beautiful celebrity daughter of a socialite lawyer defending powerful clients with lots of enemies, was slain in broad daylight in central Zagreb on October
6.

Zagreb - Croatia's efforts to deal with corruption in prisons suffered a hard blow Wednesday after a local daily published a price list of "services" provided in jails.

Croatian daily Slobodna Dalmacija reported, quoting "prison sources" that for a certain price, prisoners in Croatian jails can move to a minimal security prison, or get a better cell or job.

The price list ranges from 2,000 to 50,000 euros (2,800 to 70,450 dollars) depending on what one's needs. The "services" are arranged through lawyers and not upon arrival in prison, a source said.