Inflation in the Eurozone is strengthening, according to citizens’ estimates in a survey by the European Central Bank (ECB), while wages continue to grow significantly slower than prices.

Prices in the Eurozone rose by 3.1 percent in March compared to the same period last year, according to the median of citizens' estimates.

However, calculations by the European statistical office showed that inflation measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) in March stood at 2.2 percent.

In the next 12 months, prices are expected to rise by 2.9 percent according to the median of citizens’ estimates. This means that inflation, from their perspective, is strengthening, as just a month ago they expected a price increase of 2.6 percent.

On Tuesday in Warsaw, the Croatian Prime Minister announced that Croatia will assume the presidency of the Three Seas Initiative (3SI)—an informal platform launched in 2015 by Zagreb and Warsaw. Presidents of the 3SI member states emphasized that the initiative has brought energy security and resilience to participating countries, calling it a “strategic platform.”

Andrej Plenković took part in the presidential business panel titled “Connecting for Growth,” held alongside the summit, joined by around a dozen heads of state from the initiative.

“As Croatia takes over the presidency of the 3SI, we look forward to hosting the summit and business forum next year. Our main priorities will be to strengthen economic and energy cooperation and enhance infrastructure connectivity across the Baltic-Adriatic-Black Sea region,” said the Prime Minister.

Plenković also highlighted the importance of improving financing for initiative-related projects and boosting parliamentary cooperation. In the context of transatlantic relations, he noted the significance of the presence of U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright at the summit.

He praised former President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović as a “visionary,” along with Polish President Andrzej Duda, for launching the initiative ten years ago to connect countries along the vertical axis between the Baltic, Adriatic, and Black Seas. The aim was to bridge the development gap between this region and Western Europe, and the initiative has since proven to be extremely important, surpassing its original goals.

Plenković also reiterated that Croatia is becoming a new energy hub, emphasizing the strategic role of Rijeka and Krk. He noted that the capacity of the LNG terminal on the island of Krk has been expanded to 6.1 billion cubic meters of gas per year, enabling the supply of other Central and Eastern European countries.

The award ceremony for the best athletes of the City of Dubrovnik for 2024 was held at the Dubrovnik Student Dormitory. On behalf of the City of Dubrovnik, the awards were presented by Mayor Mato Franković, Deputy Mayor Jelka Tepšić, and the Head of the Administrative Department for Education, Sports, Social Welfare and Civil Society, Dživo Brčić.

Mayor Franković congratulated all the award recipients on their outstanding sports achievements, expressing gratitude to coaches, parents, and sports professionals for their contributions. He emphasized that the City of Dubrovnik continues to invest in sports infrastructure and supports the work of clubs and associations, creating conditions for the development of sports at all levels.

“Dubrovnik is now among the leading cities in Croatia in terms of investment in sports. Over the past eight years, we have launched an investment cycle worth €20 million, renewing and building sports infrastructure that had been neglected for decades. In addition, we have allocated over €3 million annually in support to clubs and sports associations. We are particularly proud to be the first city in Croatia to secure a dedicated budget line for sports programs for people with disabilities,” said Mayor Mato Franković.

The Best Team of 2024 is the senior squad of Water Polo Club Jug Adriatic Osiguranje.

The Best Female Athlete is Iva Todorić of KK Ragusa, who received her award from Mayor Franković.

The Best Women’s Team is Women’s Basketball Club Ragusa, and the Most Successful Coach is Vjekoslav Kobeščak, head coach of VK Jug's first team.

The Best Male Athlete is Marko Žuvela of VK Jug Adriatic Osiguranje, and the Top Para-athlete is Ante Kolunđija from Dubrovnik Tennis Club.

The International Achievement Award was given to both VK Jug Adriatic Osiguranje and VK Dubrovnik Veterans.

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Milan Jejina.

Before these main awards, certificates of recognition were also presented to athletes in the youngest categories to further encourage the development of young sports talent.

The City of Dubrovnik, in line with its Sports Development and Infrastructure Strategy through 2028, has already completed a number of significant projects, including:

• construction of a judo hall in Mokošica

• football pitch with artificial turf in Gospino polje

• renovation of the Jug swimming pool building with the installation of heat pump systems

• construction of a sports hall at the new Montovjerna Primary School

• reconstruction of the martial arts hall in Gospino polje

• renovation of school gyms in Lapad and Marina Getaldić Primary Schools

• refurbishment of the Dubrovnik Gymnasium sports field

• construction of the ‘Đuro Miletić’ Bocce Hall in Gospino polje

• and reconstruction of outdoor sports fields in Gospino polje.

Upcoming projects include the complete renovation of the existing sports hall in Gospino polje, the construction of a school sports hall in Orašac, and development of an athletics track at the Lapad Stadium.

In addition to infrastructure investments, the City of Dubrovnik is significantly increasing funding for sports programs and is actively working to brand itself as a sports destination. The hosting of the 2024 European Water Polo Championship and the growing recognition of Du Motion confirm the city’s capacity to organize major sporting events.

High above the red-tiled roofs and winding limestone streets of Dubrovnik, where the Adriatic Sea stretches into sapphire infinity, a silent witness glides gracefully through the air. The Dubrovnik Cable Car, both a feat of modern engineering and a gateway to centuries of rich history, invites its passengers to see the city not just as it is, but as it has always been—resilient, radiant, and endlessly captivating.

From the moment the cabin doors close and the ascent begins, the ordinary melts away. Below, the familiar outline of Dubrovnik’s Old City slowly transforms into a living, breathing work of art—its ancient walls circling like a protective embrace, its streets and squares unfolding in miniature. It is from this unique vantage point, rising 412 metres (or 1,352 ft) above sea level to the summit of the Srđ Mountain, that one truly begins to understand the scale, the beauty, and the story of this remarkable city.

A Journey Through Time

As the cable car climbs, the grandeur of Dubrovnik reveals itself layer by layer. The city’s famed walls—built between the 13th and 17th centuries to protect against invaders—take on a new meaning from above. No longer simply stone ramparts, they become brushstrokes in a larger masterpiece. The towers and bastions, the forts of Lovrijenac and Revelin, the gates and the moat—each a silent sentinel, watching the centuries pass by.

Beyond the walls, the contrast is stunning. Verdant cypress trees march along the hillsides; the Elaphite Islands drift like emerald jewels across the water; Lokrum, mysterious and lush, sits poised just offshore, cloaked in legends and stories.

From this altitude, the Old City’s intricate planning—often hidden at street level—is fully appreciated. The symmetry of the main thoroughfare, Stradun, the careful arrangement of public spaces, and the timeless beauty of churches and palaces all fall into place, revealing Dubrovnik as both a medieval marvel and a living museum.

The Present Meets the Past

The Dubrovnik Cable Car is more than a scenic ride—it is a seamless blend of past and present. It connects not only the city to the sky, but history to hope. It is a modern emblem of a city that refuses to stand still, always climbing, always striving, always looking forward.

Each journey is a quiet tribute—to those who built the walls, defended the land, rebuilt what was lost, and believed in the future. And each visitor who steps aboard joins that story, however briefly, and carries it onward.

Whether you are a first-time visitor or a lifelong lover of Dubrovnik, the cable car offers a perspective that cannot be found in guidebooks or galleries. It reveals not just what Dubrovnik is—but what it means.

Learn more or plan your visit: www.dubrovnikcablecar.com
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On Tuesday, members of the Croatian Air Force hosted colleagues from the French Air and Space Force, with whom they will participate in several activities on Wednesday as part of the French military exercise PEGASE 25, aimed at strengthening the security of NATO’s eastern flank.

“We are very happy to have you here and we look forward to working with you today, tomorrow, and in the future,” said Colonel Željko Ninić, Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the Croatian Air Force, to his French counterpart, Brigadier General Patrice Hugret, Commander of the Air Operations Brigade, at the “Colonel Marko Živković” barracks in Pleso.

After spending recent days in Sweden and Poland, members of the French Air and Space Force are in Zagreb today and tomorrow as part of the PEGASE 25 exercise. They will be joined by Croatian Air Force personnel in several joint activities.

“We are especially pleased that, just days after completing the delivery of the 12th Rafale and establishing the full strength of our fighter squadron, we’ve had the opportunity to host a French Air and Space Force team in an activity that showcases our shared level of training, interoperability, and host nation support,” said Colonel Ninić.

He emphasized that this activity is extremely important for the Croatian Air Force and the 191st Fighter Squadron.

“We seize every opportunity to raise the readiness and training levels of all support functions both on the ground and in the air, so we can achieve initial operational capability with the Rafale as soon as possible. We couldn’t ask for better instructors and mentors than the people from whom we bought the aircraft and with whom we completed our initial training in France,” he added.

The exercise is a French Air and Space Force initiative to enhance allied interoperability and support NATO’s deterrence and defense posture. PEGASE 25 is part of NATO’s Agile Combat Employment concept and Air Shielding missions aimed at bolstering the security of the Alliance’s eastern flank.

French Brigadier General Patrice Hugret stated that this has been a long but successfully executed mission. “Today we are in Zagreb, with our partners, and we are pleased to be here—it’s the perfect time to share insights. It’s very important that air forces are agile, resilient, and capable of providing support whenever and wherever needed,” he emphasized.

The joint activities in Croatia will involve both Croatian and French Rafales, as well as two A400M transport aircraft and an A330 MRTT refueling aircraft.

This operation sends a strong signal of readiness, autonomy, and the capability of European NATO members to respond to threats and crises and to contribute to the security and sovereignty of Europe, stated French Ambassador to Croatia Fabien Fieschi.

“The final phase of this operation, here in Croatia, is also an opportunity to highlight the excellent bilateral cooperation in defense and security. Like Sweden and Poland, Croatia has become not only a fully integrated member of NATO and the EU but also a strategic partner of France,” he emphasized.

“This demonstrates that our cooperation is deepening—that by sharing equipment and working together, France and Croatia are helping to strengthen Europe’s and NATO’s ability to defend their territory and face all challenges threatening the sovereignty of member states,” Fieschi concluded.

A major new digital marketing campaign is bringing the beauty of Dubrovnik to the heart of Germany’s largest cities, with eye-catching visuals now on display at some of the country’s busiest transport hubs.

As part of a Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) initiative, a captivating promotional video highlighting Dubrovnik’s historic landmarks, sparkling Adriatic coastline, and rich cultural heritage is being shown at high-traffic locations including Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Potsdamer Platz, Munich Ostbahnhof, Karlsplatz, and Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof.

With thousands of commuters and travelers passing through these hubs daily, the campaign offers powerful visibility for Dubrovnik, aiming to inspire German tourists to explore the Pearl of the Adriatic.

Germany remains one of Dubrovnik’s most significant international tourism markets, and this campaign is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the city’s presence and appeal as a premier Mediterranean destination.

The new circular bus line 8A began operating today on the route Viktorija – Pile – INA (Pod Dubom) – Ilijina Glavica – Viktorija. The inaugural ride from Zlatni Potok to Ploče was joined by the Mayor of Dubrovnik Mato Franković, Libertas d.o.o. director Franko Mekišić, Head of the Department for Communal Services, Transport, the Sea and Local Self-Government Matilda Krile Prkoča, and the President of the Ploče iza Grada City District, Đani Banovac.

The mini-bus used on this route is fully electric and brand new – the first of its kind in Croatia. Mayor Franković highlighted that while some electric city buses are in operation across the country, they are usually second-hand vehicles, making this a national first.

“Today we’re launching a line we promised – the circular 8A – which will help reduce traffic congestion in the city and serve both our residents and visitors. The main idea is to encourage people to park outside the special traffic regime zone, use line 8A to reach the Old City, and return the same way. This is the first of several lines aimed at easing traffic around the historic core. Once the Park’n’Ride system is completed, the next line, Pobrežje–Pile, will be introduced and significantly reduce vehicles in the Old City area,” said Mayor Franković, noting that transport on this line is completely free for 78 residents who hold special passes.

Speaking about future plans for public transport, the mayor announced a new line to the "Kineski zid" (Chinese Wall) area once road construction is complete, improved connectivity to Solitudo after new parking is built at Orsan, and the introduction of two-way traffic in that zone. Director Mekišić also announced the upcoming procurement of three articulated hybrid buses to be used on lines 1A and 1B.

City District President Đani Banovac said the line was introduced at the request of local residents and expressed confidence it would be recognised as a practical and high-quality solution.

The Iveco electric bus used on this route has a capacity of 22 passengers and produces zero harmful emissions.

Rumours are swirling around Croatian cellist Stjepan Hauser after he posted a series of romantic photos with his Ukrainian partner Maria — both dressed head to toe in white aboard a sleek speedboat. The images have sparked speculation that the couple may have secretly tied the knot.

Though Hauser has never officially confirmed the relationship, the pair have been seen together frequently on social media in recent months. Fans flooded the comments section with congratulations and wedding guesses, with messages like "Did they finally do it?" and "Wishing you eternal love."

Photo - Instagram 

Back in January, Hauser teased his followers with videos of a "mysterious lady" — widely believed to be Maria — and last summer he confirmed he was in a serious relationship, even introducing her to his parents in Istria.

Photo - Instagram 

The famously private musician has kept tight-lipped about his love life since his high-profile split with singer Jelena Rozga. And while he was once linked to pianist Lola Astanova, she later clarified their connection was purely professional.

As for the wedding rumours? Hauser hasn’t said a word — but fans are convinced the white outfits weren’t just for show.