A large number of elementary and high school students, but also students of Montenegrin faculties, had the opportunity to learn about "technologies of the future" for the first time at the Science Days last week.

Among them are two of which Montenegro and the region could greatly benefit from shortly - three-dimensional (3D) printing and hadron cancer therapy.

All those interested in the 3D printing booth were greeted by many items made with the help of a special printer, including a bust of Nobel Prize winner Albert Einstein.

Visitors of the Science Days had the opportunity to become familiar with the application of 3D printing, learn the basics of modeling in specialized software, and look directly at the printer to create 3D figurines.

According to the Master of Science student at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Luka Radunovic, interest in 3D printing has been overwhelming, partly attributable to the fact that this technology is relatively new.

"It is a new area in Montenegro. Even in the world is a new area and is under-explored. 3D generators are now being created for printing metal-based on generative design. This is a new method of element optimization. For example, if some mechanical elements, such as wheels, are taken, using certain wheelbase programs will completely disperse - they will have up to 20, 30 percent less mass and higher strength," Radunovic explained.

Radunovic with one of the made objects (Photo: Luka Zekovic)

For the last two years of the respective studies, he has been involved in 3D printing and its application in the university projects.

He added that in this area, they focused mostly on mechatronic devices, that is, they made various gears for transmitting power and energy and the like.

Radunovic is now on his master's degree in the direction of mechatronics.

He told “Vijesti” that he has already noticed progress in the direction of developing this technology in Montenegro.

“Starting from last year with the opening of the Open box studio and 3D room and other businessmen who produce certain elements of plastic, as far as I can see, it has been tremendous growth over the past year. And factories are about to open. Firstly because it is a lucrative business from their point of view, and secondly is useful from the point of view of a consumer," he explained.

Visitors to last week's Science Days had the opportunity to peer into one of Europe's largest research centers and beyond. The center that is the dream of all physicists - CERN.

One of those who has repeatedly visited this center based in Switzerland and has worked on several of its projects is Master of Physics Itana Bubanja.

Visitors at the booth where she was located had the opportunity to see animations from CERN in one place, as well as a demonstration of how to use particle therapy software for cancer treatment.

"The technique used at CERN - particle acceleration - is applied. So high-energy particles, high enough that they can be applied to humans, are sent to cancer cells where they ionize the environment and kill those cells," Bubanja explained.

She also had the opportunity to introduce high school students to the opportunity to attend a masterclass in Podgorica, which should be held this year.

3D printing interested even the youngest (Photo: Luka Zekovic)

"Where they will have the ability to treat the patient in a simplified way by using certain applications, i.e., to choose the mode and intensity of the beam, set the required angle, etc. "

State-of-the-art hadron cancer therapy is at the heart of the project to establish the International Institute for Sustainable Technologies in Southeast Europe (SEEIIST).

The location of the Institute should be known by the end of next year, or beginning of 2021, construction would start in 2023, and some five years later, the first patients would be treated.

The SEEIIST Managing Committee is chaired by the Minister of Science Sanja Damjanovic.

Text by Milos Rudovic, on October 13th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

The Ministry of Interior will spend close to five million euros to cover cities with video surveillance.

The tender documentation, in addition to the cities being covered, does not specify how many cameras are required or their technical characteristics.

"The part of the tender documentation relating to the technical characteristics or specifications of the subject matter of the public procurement shall contain classified information ... and a statement by the authorized person of the interested person that he will take over part of the tender documentation to be kept and protected in accordance with the Law on Classified Information," it is stated in the tender.

A month ago, “Vijesti” reported that the Agency for Personal Data Protection and Free Access to Information had given its consent to Mevludin Nuhodzic’s department to set up cameras over public areas in Podgorica, Bar, Budva, and Cetinje.

Nuhodžić (Photo: Savo Prelević)

The Agency's council agreed to set up cameras in four cities at its session on August 12^th. The decision states that the period of use and storage of data is 30 days and that the exempted videos are used until the completion of criminal or misdemeanor proceedings, after which they are kept for three years for the offenders, the perpetrators of the offense for one year, for the wanted persons, until they are found.

The decision also stated that “personal data contained in the said records, or videos, are stored electronically on the servers at the premises of the MOI Data Center, which was declared as a safe zone”.

The MOI has agreed to display notices at video surveillance locations prominently.

The cameras, according to the tender available on the Public Procurement Portal, should be installed within one year from the date of contract conclusion.

When it comes to up to five million euros, it is stipulated that half of the contracted price should be paid in advance, within five days of signing the contract and submitting an advance guarantee, and the remaining part within 15 days of submission of the invoice, which must be verified by MOI.

The camera on a pole at 6th Montenegrin Brigade Street in Niksic (Photo: Boris Pejovic)

The subject procurement involves the preparation of design documentation, delivery, installation, connection, commissioning of equipment at the required locations and training users.

The guarantee period is at least one year and starts from the date of commissioning the equipment and signing the handover protocol, which must be verified by the Ministry of Interior and the bidder.

The Ministry of Interior is obliged to provide all the conditions for the delivery and installation of the technical protection system, which implies the provision of all site conditions (use of existing infrastructure-construction structures for the installation of equipment where possible, telecommunication and energy) as well as all necessary permits.

The cameras have been illegally placed in Kotor and Niksic, as stated by “Vijesti” several times.

More than three years ago, Vijesti found that the mafia was taking records of Kotor with cameras set up at numerous locations. Since then, video surveillance has been removed and reinstalled several times after the first actions of the AZLP, the police and the prosecution. During the summer, the authorities found that most of the "new" cameras in Kotor had not been installed in accordance with the law, but only one they do not know who is responsible for - it is installed on the lighting pole in front of the tunnel Vrmac.

When it comes to Niksic, the prosecution is investigating who has installed cameras at multiple locations (streets Nikola Tesla, Jole Piletic, Voja Deretic).

Text by Milos Rudovic, on October 15th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

In the future, children and young people will play a more active role in creating cultural policy strategies for the youngest audiences, and the Ministry of Culture will always support any cultural activity related to children and their creative activities. The Minister of Culture Aleksandar Bogdanovic promised this in an interview with UNICEF volunteers - young reporters of the media campaign "Let's Choose What We Watch", which was taken over by the Ministry of Culture in celebration of the 30th birthday of the Convention on Children's Rights.

“The current five-year Cultural Development Program expires next year, and we are about to begin creating a new five-year strategic document. I take this opportunity to invite you to join us and actively participate in the programming of our obligations in the field of cultural needs of children and young people, because it is important for us to hear your voice," said Bogdanovic.

A survey of a media literacy campaign found that two-thirds of children in Montenegro had not been to the theater during the past year; 75% of the children have not been in a museum; 85% have not visited an art exhibition; almost two-thirds have not attended a music concert.

Young reporter Nadja Lalovic pointed out that this data points to the significant educational and cultural poverty of children and, therefore, the spiritual poverty of a country. The Minister also agreed with this assessment and asked the young people for help in order to identify the reasons why children and young people have such an attitude towards consuming cultural and artistic content in our country.

Today at the Ministry (Photo: Duško Miljanić)

"In this way, we could jointly find a good solution and the right answer to this attitude of young people towards cultural activities. I also believe that we must approach this challenge systematically, more precisely, to involve the wider social community and multiple different sectors," said Bogdanovic.

Young reporter Jovana Popovic reminded the minister that there are many children in our country who would like to go to music concerts, theatrical performances, see the ballet or opera, but simply do not have this opportunity, because such programs are not offered or rarely offered in their cities, especially in the north of the country.

Answering this question, Bogdanovic promised that the programs of all cultural institutions within the competence of the Ministry would be accessible and visible in all Montenegrin cities, and not only on the home scene.

"Thus, the Montenegrin National Theater and the Royal Theater "Zetski dom" will play their performances alongside Podgorica and Cetinje, and on the stages in other cities of southern and northern Montenegro. The same rule applies to concerts of the Music Center and exhibitions of the Center for Contemporary Art,” said Bogdanovic.

Young reporters also recalled the fact that almost every cultural activity needs to be paid and given our standard, many parents cannot afford to enroll their children in art schools or centers to develop their talents, but also to become culturally literate. "That is why we believe the state must enable and support as many free cultural activities for children and young people across Montenegro as possible," said the young reporter Miljan Vlahovic.

The Minister, however, believes that the acquisition of cultural habits does not require a large amount of money, and that most cultural programs are available to children and adults free of charge.

"Visits to concerts of art music, art exhibitions, book promotions are free of charge, while for organized visits to theaters, film screenings or museums, the fee is symbolic," Bogdanovic said, adding that the Ministry would always support any activity in the culture related to children and their creative work.

Young reporter Dunja Sekulovic, a student at High Ballet School “Vasa Pavic”, said that young ballerinas did not have an adequate training room, and that the stage is not suitable for performing professional ballets. Minister Bogdanovic has announced that he will talk to Education Minister Damir Sehovic about resolving this issue.

The young reporters thanked Minister Bogdanovic for giving them his space in the Ministry of Culture for one day and reminded that children and young people develop creativity through art and learn to express emotions and attitudes initially and convincingly.

"That is why today when we took over the Ministry of Culture of Montenegro, we are saying - Culture for every child!" concluded the young reporter Dunja Sekulovic.

At the end of the interview, inspired by research data showing that every fifth child between the ages of 9-17 years had not read any books outside the school textbooks in recent years, he presented to young reporters the book “Montenegrin Dynasties”. He said: "Let's read more, let's choose what we read!".

The media campaign "Let's Choose What We Watch" was launched by the Electronic Media Agency of Montenegro and UNICEF in February last year. One year after its launch, every other citizen of Montenegro has heard of this campaign, which aims to encourage the development of media literacy of children and parents, as well as to strengthen the capacity of the media to produce quality media content with children and young people and to report in an ethically correct manner all issues of child rights in Montenegro. The campaign recently received a Global Media Literacy Award from the Global Media Literacy Association run by UNESCO in collaboration with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the international network of universities.

Text by Vijesti online, on October 14th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

October 14, 2019 - Visitors will have the opportunity to view the photo exhibition "People of China," by Milos Vujovic in Lustica Bay, which is being shown in Montenegro for the first time, and has been shown in Beijing three times. The exhibition opened in The Chedi Hotel, and is organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Montenegro.

"Milos's photographs remain in his memory forever," said Chinese Ambassador Liu Jin, opening the exhibition.

During his stay in China, a prominent Montenegrin photographer, Milos Vujovic, remained fascinated by the history and culture, as well as the faces of all the people he had the opportunity to see. With the camera, he recorded the expressions on people's faces in everyday occasions - on the metro, in the library, and out in nature.

Milos Vujovic has been involved in professional photography since 2007. He has been engaged in most of the notable events in Montenegro and abroad, such as the activities of diplomatic missions, state and foreign officials, celebrations and activities of international organizations and leading corporations in the country. From 1999 to 2006, Vujovic worked as an amateur videographer, and then switched to professional waters.

On behalf of Lustica Bay, visitors were greeted by Slavica Milic, pointing out that the company is very active in the Chinese market and Lustica Bay, according to Chinese journalists, is a very desirable country for life. On behalf of the Confucius Institute at the University of Montenegro, the guests were greeted by the director Milena Djukanovic, and the opening was accompanied by music and dance performances by the Institute's volunteers.

In addition to Vujovic's works, visitors will have the opportunity to view an exhibition of photographs on China's development, as this year marks the 70th anniversary of the new China.

The People of China exhibition in Beijing was shown as part of the One Belt One Way initiative.

In cooperation with the Confucius Institute in Lustica Bay, a lecture and demonstration of the practical application of the skill of Taichi, Grandmaster Zhao You Bin, was organized this year.

13 October 2019 - Amendments to the Internal Trade Act will begin on Monday, which stipulates that wholesale and retail trade in Montenegro cannot be performed on Sundays and public holidays.

The first non-working Sunday is October 20th. The law was adopted on June 20, and the largest Montenegrin retail chains support this legal solution, although some expect that traffic in their stores will be reduced, given that Sunday and public holidays are the most significant in terms of sales volume, writes Pobjeda daily.

Representatives of trading companies in Montenegro announced that by applying the law, their workers would be more satisfied, and consumers are expected to change their buying habits and adapt to changes and make weekly and daily purchases on other days of the week.

The representatives of the company Voli said they would obey the law but expect others to do so. Commenting on changes to the Internal Trade Act, which introduces a non-working Sunday in trade, the company recalled that they adjusted their business to market requirements and have been working on Sundays since opening the first market. “In any case, we supported the law because we believe it will have a beneficial effect on our employees. When it comes to Voli, a non-working Sunday will make it easier for us to organize our days off, there will be no job streamlining," the representatives of the company said.

The company Merkator CG, which operates Idea stores, said that the company operates following legal regulations, and will do so when it comes to amendments to the Law on Internal Trade, which stipulate that retail shopping facilities in Montenegro cannot operate on Sundays and public holiday days.

"Merkator CG is a socially responsible company and as such, welcomes the Government's measures, that will allow our colleagues from retail stores to have a free Sunday, which they will be able to spend in the family," said Mercator representatives. The management of this trading company believes that its consumers will understand these measures and that they will purchase the products they need on other days of the week.

"Mercator CG expects that these measures will change consumers' purchasing habits and that the purchases made so far on Sundays will be carried out on other days," said Mercator representatives.

Still, they warned that losses in terms of volume sales could result in even more significant losses during the tourist season. "This could adversely affect the business of commerce as a whole, but it remains to be seen in the future," said Mercator CG representatives.

The representatives of Domaća trgovina company also say that in all Aroma and Conto markets, the Law on Internal Trade will be respected so that Sunday will be a non-working day. "All organizational and structural changes in the operation of our markets and discounts have been made in order to harmonize the business with the new legal solution," said the company’s management.

The Inspection Directorate has called on businesses this week to comply with the obligation to contribute to the full implementation of the Internal Trade Act, which introduces a non-working Sunday in commerce.

The Directorate reminded all wholesale and retail trade companies of the prescribed provision of the article of the Law on Internal Trade, which will be enforced from tomorrow, which means that the first non-working Sunday is October 20.

"We warn and appeal to all companies subject to the prescribed restriction to comply with this obligation, so as not to get into the situation that the Market Inspection Directorate through market inspectors takes the prescribed administrative measures and actions and imposes fines," the statement said.

For non-compliance with this obligation, in addition to fines, an administrative measure has been prescribed, which stipulates that if the inspector determines that the trader works on Sundays and public holidays, he will close the shop or other outlets for a period during which work is not allowed. The law provides for a fine of 1,000 EUR to 10,000 EUR for the company and 200 EUR to 500 EUR for the responsible person.

Read more about lifestyle in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

13 October 2019 - According to the latest updated data from the Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro, 454 drones - uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) are registered in Montenegro, reports CdM.

In order to introduce as many drone operators as possible into regulatory frameworks, the Civil Aviation Agency launched an educational campaign this year on how to safely manage drones.

Through the conduct of this campaign, the Agency insists on the observance of regulatory frameworks in the field of civil aviation by drone operators, so as not to endanger the safety of air traffic or endanger persons and property on the ground.

Drones are experiencing real expansion, not only for aerial photography, but also prove to be very useful in controlling infrastructure, forests, agricultural goods, road traffic and the like.

"However, it is important that everyone operating the drone adheres to certain rules to avoid adverse events, such as an aircraft drone crash or dropping a drone to the ground, which can endanger people's lives and property," the representatives of the Agency explained.

In order to combat the illegal use of drones, the Civil Aviation Agency signed an agreement with the Police Directorate. This creates the conditions for joint activities to carry out more effective drone control measures. In Montenegro, the Ordinance on the requirements for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and aeronautical models adopted by the Civil Aviation Agency in 2016 defines the conditions for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and aeronautical models (drones) with an operating mass up to and including 20 kilograms.

The basic regulatory requirements that are placed before drone operators:

1. All operators whose drones have a mass of more than half a kilogram with a range of over 15 meters and height over 10 meters, should be registered with the Agency;

2. The registration of the drones is free of charge;

3. The approval of the Agency for carrying out an operation using drones is only necessary when it comes to heavyweight drones and if they fly closer to urban areas or gatherings of people;

4. It is forbidden to operate a drone at night;

5. It is forbidden to operate a drone near the airport;

6. It is forbidden to throw objects to the ground during the flight.

Additional rules include the fact that "the drone must be within the field of vision of the operator and within 500 meters of the horizontal distance and up to 150 meters above ground or water. Also, the drone must be at a distance more than 150 meters from people’s gathering of and more than 30 meters from people, animals, facilities, vehicles, vessels, other aircraft, roads, railways, transmission lines and similar objects. In the event of illegal use of drones, there is the possibility of fines and court proceedings for violating public order and peace, "the Agency said.

Read more about lifestyle in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.