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July 14, 2022 - The latest on the fires in Vodice, Zaton, and Sibenik, which broke out on Wednesday, July 13.  A large fire broke out on Wednesday in the hinterland of Sibenik, and during the afternoon, the fire spread to Zaton and Raslina. Residents of Zaton and Raslina had to leave their homes, and some were evacuated by boat. During the evening, some residents returned home. About 20 houses burned down, and the fire also destroyed several cars.    Two Canadairs have been in action since the early morning. The fire chief reported that the fire is under control, reports Jutarnji List.…

July 14, 2022 - Twenty years a foreigner in Croatia. Part 5 of 20 Ways Croatia Changed Me in 20 Years - the fabulous culture of moving vegetables.  About 15 years ago, I was driving through Republika Srpska from Hvar to Belgrade to visit friends in my father-in-law's commercial vehicle. It had his name on the side and Split licence plates. As I tried to cross the border, the guard eyed my passport and me with suspicion. What was a Brit doing driving a car he didn't own with Split plates through this lesser-travelled part of the Balkans, and did…

ZAGREB, 13 July 2022 - Real GDP growth could be 5.5% this year and 2.5% in 2023, while inflation could slow down from this year's 9.4% to 4.6% in 2023, the Croatian National Bank (HNB) said on Wednesday. According to the HNB's summary of macroeconomic trends and estimates, the economic repercussions of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the continued rise in energy and raw material prices, and the disruption of global supply chains have not seriously affected Croatia's economic growth outlook. However, unfavourable global circumstances and pronounced inflationary pressures could have a bigger impact on domestic economic trends in 2023, when real…

ZAGREB, 13 July 2022 - The European Commission recommended to Croatia in its annual rule of law report on Wednesday to reconsider security checks on judges, to regulate lobbying, to increase the transparency of state advertising in the media, and to address the issue of lawsuits against journalists. "The process for appointing the President of the Croatian Supreme Court, a challenge raised in the 2021 Rule of Law Report, was concluded," the report says. "Responding to findings of the past Rule of Law Reports, amendments strengthened the State Judicial Council’s and State Attorney’s Council’s role in the selection of judges and state attorneys, and,…

ZAGREB, 13 July 2022 - MP Ivana Kekin of the Green-Left Bloc said on Wednesday the heating season was three months away, yet the government was not taking any action. She said in parliament that while all of Europe was talking about energy supply in the coming autumn and winter, the Croatian government was avoiding the topic. At the beginning of the year, the EU decided that all gas storage facilities must be 80% full by 1 November, while Croatia has only one storage which is barely 20% full now, less than at the same time last year, Kekin said, adding that the…

ZAGREB, 13 July 2022 - During his visit to the mechanized armored brigade (GOMBR) at the Vinkovci barracks on Wednesday, Defence Minister Mario Banožić said that the heavy infantry battalion will be equipped with Bradley fighting vehicles which will be maintained by the Đuro Đaković Special Vehicles company. "We will carry out the reorganization and equipping of one mechanized battalion into a heavy infantry battalion that will be part of the medium infantry brigade," specified Banožić. The minister recalled that at the beginning of this year the Government decided to accept a donation of 89 Bradley vehicles, to bring 62 vehicles into the operational condition…

July 13, 2022 - The latest update on the fire in Sibenik today. The situation is serious around Zaton. The commander of the Sibenik-Knin County Fire Brigade Darko Durkic confirms that 20 houses have been destroyed. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic will arrive soon at the scene. UPDATE: The latest on the fires in Vodice, Zaton, and Sibenik on July 14 High temperatures and winds have caused three fires in the Dalmatia region, and numerous fire units in Zadar and Sibenik-Knin counties have been fighting the expansion of the fires for hours. The situation is particularly serious in Zaton, a village located 10…

ZAGREB, 13 July 2022 - The Croatian Journalists' Association (HND) on Wednesday warned about new threats to free journalism, highlighting politicians' inappropriate communication with the media and the disappearance of released articles from the media. Speaking at a press conference, HND president Hrvoje Zovko mentioned President Zoran Milanović's recent inappropriate statement about the Hanza Media company. He also mentioned the "disappearance" of articles on MP Sandra Benčić's warning about a possible conflict of interest in private deals between the Security and Intelligence Agency (SOA) and the PPD gas supplier. We are not investigators, but articles should not disappear from any media in Croatia, Zovko…

July 13, 2022 - Three fires in Dalmatia broke out on Wednesday - two in Šibenik-Knin County and one in Zadar County. The current situation is not good. This article has been updated. Click here for the latest update of the fire in Sibenik at 20:45 pm. Three fires are active in Dalmatia, one in Zadar County and two in Šibenik-Knin County, the Croatian Fire Brigade Association (HVZ) announced on Wednesday, reports Jutarnji List and HRT. "We once again appeal to the citizens to be extra careful due to the extremely unfavorable weather conditions, which include a very high risk of forest…

July 13, 2022 - Travel + Leisure readers choose the best islands in Europe based on fabulous food, rich history, and beautiful surroundings. Hvar and the Dalmatian Islands take #9! Travelers are once again exploring the world with gusto, and, as always, our intrepid readers have led the way. For this edition of our annual survey, hundreds of thousands of you reflected on recent journeys and shared your thoughts on hotels, islands, outfitters, national parks, and much more. Cheers to the best readers—and finest travel experiences—on the planet! - Travel + Leisure. The World's Best Awards survey is back, where Travel…