For the first time in its history, the Croatian Air Force (HRZ) has appointed a woman as its Chief Non-Commissioned Officer. Nevena Ramić, who joined the Croatian Armed Forces at their formation in 1991, has dedicated 34 years to her career, steadily advancing through the ranks and earning numerous accolades along the way.

Ramić described her new role as both an immense honor and a significant responsibility. "I never imagined, not even in my wildest dreams, that I could achieve this position. It’s an incredible honor, and to be honest, I went through a whirlwind of emotions when the idea of me taking on this role was first raised. But now, I feel a deep sense of responsibility and a strong determination to give my absolute best, as I always have in my work," Ramić told HRT.

Born in Zadar in 1971, Warrant Officer Nevena Ramić has been with the Croatian Armed Forces since 1991. Over the course of her career, she has held numerous positions and, in 2016, was appointed Chief Non-Commissioned Officer at the Training Center in Zemunik—a role she served in until her latest historic promotion.

With strong trading volumes, the main stock indices on the Zagreb Stock Exchange soared to new record highs last week, primarily driven by a rise in stock prices in the industrial and construction sectors.

The Crobex index rose by 4.37% over the past week, reaching 3,330 points, a new record high. The Crobex10 index surged even more, gaining 5.39% to 2,113 points, also a new record, marking its third consecutive weekly gain.

Among sectoral indices, Crobexindustrija recorded the largest growth, rising by 2.95%, followed closely by Crobexkonstrukt, which strengthened by 2.33%. The only decline was in Crobextransport, which fell by 1.8%.

Regular stock turnover reached €10.8 million, an increase of €6.2 million compared to the previous week.

Additionally, €3.4 million in block trades were executed, specifically involving regular shares of Končar D&ST, at a price of €2,000 per share.

In regular trading, Končar's stock had the highest turnover at €2.93 million, with its price soaring by 18.53% to €550, making it the biggest gainer of the week.

Končar D&ST stocks also drew significant attention. Regular shares of the company saw €1.21 million in trading, with the price jumping by 10% to €2,200. Preferred shares traded for €1 million, with their price increasing by 7% to €2,120.

Polling stations opened at 7:00 AM across the country for the decisive second round of the presidential election. Voters will choose between the incumbent president, Zoran Milanović, representing the SDP and its partners, and Dragan Primorac, the candidate supported by the HDZ and its coalition.

The election is not limited to Croatia; voting is also taking place in 38 countries worldwide, down from 47 five years ago. A total of 3,762,224 citizens are eligible to vote in this crucial decision.

Restoration work is in full swing on the Jesuit Stairs, marking the first extensive renovation of this urbanistically significant 18th-century site.

The project began with the enclosure of the construction area, followed by the removal of biological growth and the cleaning of stone surfaces. All existing plaster was mechanically removed. In the lower section of the stairs, uneven steps were dismantled to be reinstalled with the correct geometry. The paving of the lower landing was removed and reinstalled on a red soil base. On the eastern flat surface, between the railing and the façade, stone overlays were removed to install waterproofing, with plastering to follow. On the western flat surface, unstable joints between the slabs were removed, with re-grouting next in line.

Conservation and restoration efforts include mechanical and chemical cleaning of the stone, crack injection and edging, reconstruction and retouching of missing or damaged areas, as well as work on the stone relief.

Remaining tasks include paving the upper landing, replacing missing or inadequate slabs, finishing step surfaces, repairing wooden handrails, and completing conservation-restoration work.

The restoration of the Jesuit Stairs, covering a total area of 197.25 square meters in Uz Jezuite Street, is part of the Dubrovnik Monument Restoration Program by the Institute for Restoration. Funding has been provided through the City of Dubrovnik's budget. The contractor agreement is valued at €262,735 (VAT included), with the total cost, including supervision, amounting to €290,000.

Work began in the second half of October last year and is scheduled for completion within four months.

During the past year, the island of Korčula was visited by 183,273 tourists, marking an increase of approximately three percent compared to 2023. During the same period, a total of 1,038,128 overnight stays were recorded, also reflecting a three percent increase.

The majority of visitors were concentrated in the area governed by the city of Korčula, with a total of 104,000 guests. This was followed by Vela Luka with 29,363 visits, Blato with 23,311 guests, Lumbarda with 19,311, and Smokvica with 7,461 tourists. The number of overnight stays increased by 4.25 percent in the city of Korčula, 3.2 percent in Vela Luka, while Blato, Lumbarda, and Smokvica remained at last year’s levels.

Tourism workers across Korčula, particularly those involved in private accommodation, are pleased with the results achieved in the past year.

The Dubrovnik Tourist Board is organizing a charity concert featuring one of Croatia's most renowned music artists, Vanna. The concert will take place on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 8 PM at the Marin Držić Theatre.

All proceeds from ticket sales, priced at €20, will be donated to the Lukjernica Association, which is dedicated to protecting the rights of psychiatric patients and improving mental health and quality of life within the community.

"We invite all music lovers and those who wish to support a noble cause to join us for this special event. Tickets are available at the Marin Držić Theatre box office and online," stated the tourist board. 

Don’t miss the chance to enjoy a musical spectacle while helping those in need!

The Croatian Banking Association (HUB) announced on Wednesday significant changes to Croatia's payment system that will take effect in 2025, involving the introduction of SEPA instant payments.

"The introduction of SEPA instant payments marks an important step in the modernization and digitalization of Croatia's financial system. This payment service allows users to execute payment transactions faster, more securely, and more conveniently," HUB stated.

In 2024, alongside the Payment Transactions Act, a European regulation on instant credit transfers in euros was adopted. It will come into effect in two phases during 2025 and mandates the implementation of SEPA instant credit transfers (instant payments), enabling the transfer of funds within seconds, 24/7, 365 days a year.

According to the latest regulatory requirements, all payment service providers will be required to facilitate receiving national and cross-border SEPA instant payments starting January 9, and sending such payments starting October 9 of the same year, HUB emphasized.

In line with the regulation, fees for SEPA instant payments will be equal to those for standard payments.

HUB also noted that a significant number of banks in Croatia have already been offering the service of receiving and sending national and cross-border SEPA instant payments, providing users with fast and secure payment execution.

They reminded the public that standard SEPA credit transfers in Croatia are currently processed according to the Financial Agency's (EuroNKS) payment system schedule, with orders initiated outside working hours, on weekends, or public holidays executed on the next business day.

With the introduction of SEPA instant payments, HUB highlighted that a strong emphasis has been placed on system security. Under the regulation, banks offering this service are required to conduct more intensive client database checks against sanction lists at least once daily, every day of the year, in accordance with obligations under the Restrictive Measures Act.

As a result of such checks, there is a possibility of temporarily withholding the ability to submit/receive instant payment orders for clients using this service. Since this is an EU regulation, the checks conducted by banks in Croatia will be identical to those performed by banks in other EU member states, HUB added.

For additional information on the benefits and how to use this service, clients are advised to contact their bank, HUB concluded.

From January 8th to 12th, 2025, the renowned Vakantiebeurs fair, specializing in tourism with a particular focus on camping offers, is taking place in Utrecht, Netherlands. The Dubrovnik-Neretva County Tourist Board is participating in this prestigious event for the second time as a co-exhibitor at the Croatian National Tourist Board's stand.

The first two days of the fair, January 8th and 9th, were reserved for tourism industry professionals, while the remaining days are open to the general public.

Vakantiebeurs offers visitors inspiring vacation ideas, while exhibitors showcase a variety of accommodation options, including hotels, campsites, and attractive destinations that promise an unforgettable experience.

At the central section of the Croatian National Tourist Board's stand, daily from 12 PM to 5 PM, tastings of premium Croatian wines, cheeses, and olive oils will be held – the perfect way to experience the flavors of Croatia and discover its rich gastronomic offerings.