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Croatia

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Croatia. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Zagreb

Head of State

President Zoran Milanović

Head of Government

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković

A French Civil Security Canadair CL-415 aircraft flies past flames burning a forest surrounding Cotignac, southeastern France, on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Climate change

Raging wildfires in France and Spain force over 200,000 to flee

Spain has declared its first national emergency for wildfires, while France is mobilising its armed forces to help with the response.

25 Jul 2026 - 1:46PM

Extreme weather

Heatwave grips Eastern Europe after Germany weather breaks records

29 Jun 2026 - 8:15PMvideocam

Extreme weather

‘Health impacts likely’ as Europe bakes in early heatwave

24 Jun 2026 - 9:28PMvideocam

Aviation accidents

Small plane crash in Croatia leaves 4 dead, 2 missing

The search for two more people is ongoing.

4 Jun 2026 - 10:27PM

A person inspects a small plane which crashed near Medulin, Croatia on Thursday. Photo: AP

Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s Pony AI to launch robotaxi service in Europe with Uber, local start-up

Partners aim to operate thousands of robotaxis in various European cities over the next few years after starting in Zagreb, Croatia, ‘soon’.

26 Mar 2026 - 7:31PM

US, Israel war on Iran

As war in Iran roils energy markets, Europe pays price of ‘dependency’

Governments are racing to respond, as oil and gas prices raise fears of a further spike in living costs.

19 Mar 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

Nato

Serbia confirms it owns Chinese supersonic missiles after photo leak

‘We have a significant number of those missiles and we will have even more,’ Aleksandar Vucic said, adding they were ‘extremely effective’.

13 Mar 2026 - 6:47AM

China’s President Xi Jinping, left, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Photo: AFP

Donald Trump

Leaders invited to Trump’s Board of Peace meeting in US. Who’s going?

Argentina’s Javier Milei and Hungary’s Viktor Orban confirm attendance after invitations go out.

9 Feb 2026 - 11:57AM

China-EU relations

Flagging imbalances in China, EU chamber urges course correction in 5-year plan

Exhorting the need for a ‘new, productive development model’, latest chamber position paper airs members’ grievances.

17 Sep 2025 - 5:01PMvideocam

China's military weapons

Western leaders parse China military parade displaying national pride

US President Donald Trump says America deserves more credit for helping China gain its freedom.

4 Sep 2025 - 10:45PMvideocam

Military personnel take part in a parade in Beijing on Wednesday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender. Photo: AP

European Union

Europe’s ‘out of control’ wildfires hit tourism spots, forests

Europe battles record wildfires as a heatwave scorches Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey, threatening towns, tourism, and ecosystems.

12 Aug 2025 - 9:03PM

Burning trees are pictured during a wildfire in Carcastillo, northern Spain on Sunday. Photo: AP

European Union

Right-wing Croatian singer performs pro-Nazi salute with fans

One of Marko Perkovic’s most popular songs starts with the dreaded ‘For the homeland – Ready!’ salute, used by Croatia’s Nazi-era puppet Ustasha regime.

6 Jul 2025 - 9:31PM

Art

Searing Catholic murals given new life at ‘Sistine Chapel of Pittsburgh’

Croatian-American artist fused Catholic iconography with biting commentary on war, capitalism, migrant labour. 90 years on, murals restored.

11 Jun 2025 - 4:15AM

US-China trade war

Diplomats call for renewed world order to confront Trump tariff chaos

Multilateralism is the only way to preserve peace and order, Croatian envoy tells Beijing conference.

23 May 2025 - 10:48PMvideocam

Ambassadors to China meet in Beijing to discuss reform of international systems. Photo: X / @ ccg_org

Fame and celebrity

Balkan hotel’s turbulent century, from glamorous guests to Gestapo

Elizabeth Taylor hung out in its bar, world leaders were its guests, wars intruded. The Hotel Esplanade Zagreb has seen a lot in 100 years.

3 May 2025 - 9:53PMvideocam

The Hotel Esplanade in Zagreb. Photo: AFP

Tourism

Celebrate the funny side of life at HaHaHouse museum of laughter

Sumo fights in fat suits, distorted karaoke and choir of rubber chickens among attractions at museum that plays on laughter’s healing power.

14 Feb 2025 - 9:45AM

Tourism

A Balkans tour led by a Serbian and a Bosnian? The rise of peace tourism

Mejdi Tours takes groups to places like Uzbekistan and Israel led by pairs of locals with opposing religious, political or ethnic views.

14 Feb 2025 - 7:41AM

European Union

Croatia’s deputy PM quits over video of him firing gun from moving car

In the footage, the far-right politician is seen singing to loud music and shooting a pistol into the dark.

19 Jan 2025 - 6:23AM

Croatian minister Josip Dabro speaks with officials during a meeting in Zagreb in May. Photo: AFP

European Union

Croatia’s President Milanovic wins second term in election landslide

Zoran Milanovic wins with 74 per cent of the vote, the highest score since Croatia’s independence in 1991.

13 Jan 2025 - 2:39PM

European Union

Croatian incumbent Milanovic headed for election victory, early results indicate

With 63 per cent of all votes counted on Sunday evening, the former social democrat Milanovic was clearly ahead with 50.1 per cent.

30 Dec 2024 - 5:11AM

Crime

Teen stabs girl, 7, to death, wounds teacher, 3 more children in Croatia school

The suspect in the rare attack is a former student at the school.

21 Dec 2024 - 1:50AM

People lay candles following a deadly knife attack at a primary school in Zagreb, Croatia, on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Tourism

Editorial | China benefits on all fronts as visitors soar

Tourism, business and mutual understanding are among the winners as travellers from more countries receive visa-free access.

6 Dec 2024 - 12:01AM

Tourists pose for selfies in front of the Peace Hotel in Shanghai. The number of foreign visitors flocking to China is starting to resemble pre-pandemic levels. Photo: Xinhua

Tourism

Croatia the latest tourist-trap nation to mull short-term rental controls

With rents rising and a housing shortage, Croatia is taking steps to tax short-term holiday lets. Meanwhile, sustainable tourism gets a push.

23 Nov 2024 - 1:15PM

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Sports minister pledges ‘any assistance’ Hong Kong athletes need in Paris

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung tours Olympic Village and says city is ‘proud of its athletes’.

25 Jul 2024 - 11:22PM

Wimbledon

Sun continues to rise at Wimbledon, where Emma Raducanu awaits in fourth round

New Zealand’s Lulu Sun, who has a Chinese mother, beat China’s Zhu Lin to extend dream run at All England Club.

8 Jul 2024 - 4:06AM

Lulu Sun plays a backhand return to Lin Zhu during their third round women’s singles match at Wimbledon. Photo: AP

Euro 2024

Defence key to misfiring France’s run to last 8 at Euro 2024

Les Bleus have scored only three times in four games so far at the European Championship, once from a penalty by Mbappe and twice via opposition defenders.

2 Jul 2024 - 5:30PM

France forward Kylian Mbappe reacts after missing against Poland in the group stage at Euro 2024. Photo: AFP

Chinese Football Association (CFA)

Underdogs China will not be bullied by World Cup rivals, vows coach

China face uphill battle to get through next qualifying stage, but head coach Branko Ivankovic says side ‘has quality’ to compete with best.

29 Jun 2024 - 12:00PM

China-EU relations

Chinese migrants smuggled into Italy in luxury cars and exploited, police say

The victims crossed the border posing as well-dressed Asian nationals in expensive vehicles, and were later treated like slaves.

27 Jun 2024 - 4:36PMvideocam

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Croatia

Raging wildfires in France and Spain force over 200,000 to flee

Spain has declared its first national emergency for wildfires, while France is mobilising its armed forces to help with the response.

Heatwave grips Eastern Europe after Germany weather breaks records

‘Health impacts likely’ as Europe bakes in early heatwave

Small plane crash in Croatia leaves 4 dead, 2 missing

The search for two more people is ongoing.

China’s Pony AI to launch robotaxi service in Europe with Uber, local start-up

Partners aim to operate thousands of robotaxis in various European cities over the next few years after starting in Zagreb, Croatia, ‘soon’.

As war in Iran roils energy markets, Europe pays price of ‘dependency’

Governments are racing to respond, as oil and gas prices raise fears of a further spike in living costs.

Serbia confirms it owns Chinese supersonic missiles after photo leak

‘We have a significant number of those missiles and we will have even more,’ Aleksandar Vucic said, adding they were ‘extremely effective’.

Leaders invited to Trump’s Board of Peace meeting in US. Who’s going?

Argentina’s Javier Milei and Hungary’s Viktor Orban confirm attendance after invitations go out.

Flagging imbalances in China, EU chamber urges course correction in 5-year plan

Exhorting the need for a ‘new, productive development model’, latest chamber position paper airs members’ grievances.

Western leaders parse China military parade displaying national pride

US President Donald Trump says America deserves more credit for helping China gain its freedom.

Europe’s ‘out of control’ wildfires hit tourism spots, forests

Europe battles record wildfires as a heatwave scorches Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey, threatening towns, tourism, and ecosystems.

Right-wing Croatian singer performs pro-Nazi salute with fans

One of Marko Perkovic’s most popular songs starts with the dreaded ‘For the homeland – Ready!’ salute, used by Croatia’s Nazi-era puppet Ustasha regime.

Searing Catholic murals given new life at ‘Sistine Chapel of Pittsburgh’

Croatian-American artist fused Catholic iconography with biting commentary on war, capitalism, migrant labour. 90 years on, murals restored.

Diplomats call for renewed world order to confront Trump tariff chaos

Multilateralism is the only way to preserve peace and order, Croatian envoy tells Beijing conference.

Balkan hotel’s turbulent century, from glamorous guests to Gestapo

Elizabeth Taylor hung out in its bar, world leaders were its guests, wars intruded. The Hotel Esplanade Zagreb has seen a lot in 100 years.

Celebrate the funny side of life at HaHaHouse museum of laughter

Sumo fights in fat suits, distorted karaoke and choir of rubber chickens among attractions at museum that plays on laughter’s healing power.

A Balkans tour led by a Serbian and a Bosnian? The rise of peace tourism

Mejdi Tours takes groups to places like Uzbekistan and Israel led by pairs of locals with opposing religious, political or ethnic views.

Croatia’s deputy PM quits over video of him firing gun from moving car

In the footage, the far-right politician is seen singing to loud music and shooting a pistol into the dark.

Croatia’s President Milanovic wins second term in election landslide

Zoran Milanovic wins with 74 per cent of the vote, the highest score since Croatia’s independence in 1991.

Croatian incumbent Milanovic headed for election victory, early results indicate

With 63 per cent of all votes counted on Sunday evening, the former social democrat Milanovic was clearly ahead with 50.1 per cent.

Teen stabs girl, 7, to death, wounds teacher, 3 more children in Croatia school

The suspect in the rare attack is a former student at the school.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Editorial | China benefits on all fronts as visitors soar

Tourism, business and mutual understanding are among the winners as travellers from more countries receive visa-free access.

Croatia the latest tourist-trap nation to mull short-term rental controls

With rents rising and a housing shortage, Croatia is taking steps to tax short-term holiday lets. Meanwhile, sustainable tourism gets a push.

Sports minister pledges ‘any assistance’ Hong Kong athletes need in Paris

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung tours Olympic Village and says city is ‘proud of its athletes’.

Sun continues to rise at Wimbledon, where Emma Raducanu awaits in fourth round

New Zealand’s Lulu Sun, who has a Chinese mother, beat China’s Zhu Lin to extend dream run at All England Club.

Defence key to misfiring France’s run to last 8 at Euro 2024

Les Bleus have scored only three times in four games so far at the European Championship, once from a penalty by Mbappe and twice via opposition defenders.

Underdogs China will not be bullied by World Cup rivals, vows coach

China face uphill battle to get through next qualifying stage, but head coach Branko Ivankovic says side ‘has quality’ to compete with best.

Chinese migrants smuggled into Italy in luxury cars and exploited, police say

The victims crossed the border posing as well-dressed Asian nationals in expensive vehicles, and were later treated like slaves.

Editorial | China benefits on all fronts as visitors soar