Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Leganes in La Liga’s 29th round, drawing level with Barcelona at the top of the table—though their rivals still have a game in hand.

The match saw Kylian Mbappé open the scoring for Real in the 32nd minute from the penalty spot, but Leganes responded quickly, turning the game around with goals from Sergio García (33') and Roberto Raba (41'). Jude Bellingham equalized early in the second half (47'), before Mbappé struck again in the 76th minute to seal the win.

Modrić Sets Another Real Madrid Record

Luka Modrić, who started the match, played until the 81st minute, when he was substituted for Aurélien Tchouaméni. As he left the pitch, the Santiago Bernabéu faithful rose to their feet, giving their legendary captain a standing ovation.

This match marked Modrić’s 387th La Liga appearance for Real Madrid, making him the foreign player with the second-most league games in the club’s history. He surpassed former teammate Marcelo (386 matches), with only Karim Benzema (439 matches) ahead of him on the all-time list.

At 38 years old, Modrić continues to be an integral part of the squad, adding another milestone to his already illustrious career at Los Blancos.

On the occasion of Ramazan Bayram, the Mayor of Dubrovnik, Mato Franković, has sent a greeting to the Chief Imam of Dubrovnik, Salkan ef. Herić, the Islamic Community in Dubrovnik, and all fellow citizens of the Islamic faith. The full text of the greeting is as follows:

Dear Mr. Herić,

On behalf of the City of Dubrovnik and myself, I extend my sincere best wishes to you and all our fellow citizens of the Islamic faith on the occasion of Ramazan Bayram.

After a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection, may this great holiday bring joy, love, and peace into your homes. Bayram is a time of togetherness, gratitude, and solidarity—values that are deeply woven into our multicultural and open Dubrovnik community.

I wish you to spend these festive days surrounded by family and friends, in happiness, prosperity, and good health.

Bajram Šerif Mubarek Olsun!

Respectfully,

Mayor
Mato Franković

The Dubrovnik-Neretva County Tourist Board is once again participating in the renowned B-Travel fair, which will be held in Barcelona from March 28 to 30, 2025.

At this event, the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Tourist Board will exhibit in collaboration with the tourist boards of Split-Dalmatia, Zadar, and Lika-Senj counties, as well as the Zagreb Tourist Board. Their shared stand, measuring 24 m², will be located in the section dedicated to cultural tourism – B-Culture.

B-Travel is the largest tourism fair in Spain, aimed at a broad audience. Over 25,000 visitors are expected to attend, with around 120 exhibitors from more than 35 countries worldwide, spread across a 7,150 m² exhibition area. The fair attracts numerous travel agencies, hotel chains, cruise companies, transport providers, and tourism boards from around the world.

The fair is divided into seven themed sections: B-Happy, B-Industrial, B-Special, B-Culture, B-Adventure, B-Delicious, and B-Proud.

Interest from Spanish tourists in our region continues to grow – in 2024, a total of 68,784 Spanish visitors traveled to the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, representing a 16% increase compared to 2023. They recorded 172,249 overnight stays, a 14% rise from the previous year.

Recent data reveals that an estimated 1.4 billion people traveled internationally last year, marking an 11% increase from 2023. To inspire travelers planning their next summer getaway, digital PR agency Reboot Online analyzed online search trends and travel data to determine the most sought-after European beach destinations for 2025.

Top 10 Most In-Demand European Beach Destinations for Summer 2025

*Prices reflect the average cost of a seven-night holiday package, including travel and accommodation.

The Ultimate Summer 2025 Hotspots

Topping the list as the most in-demand destination for summer 2025 is Madeira, Portugal, with a nearly perfect holiday score of 9.4/10. This sun-soaked island generates an impressive 1.32 million average monthly searches, the highest of all destinations analyzed. A seven-night stay costs around £534, making it a highly appealing choice.

Claiming second place is Sorrento, Italy, with an ultimate holiday score of 9.3/10. The charming coastal town attracts 349,300 searches per month, making it the second most sought-after destination. A seven-night getaway to this stunning Italian hotspot will set travelers back approximately £591.

Close behind in third place is Taormina, Italy, scoring 9.2/10. With 273,000 searches per month, this picturesque Sicilian town has seen a surge in interest, partly thanks to its feature in the second season of The White Lotus. However, a weeklong holiday here is on the pricier side, costing around £709.

Ranked fourth, Palma, Mallorca secures an 8.7/10 holiday score, boasting 295,000 monthly searches. Situated on the stunning Balearic Islands, Palma offers a relatively affordable seven-night stay at approximately £477.

Rounding off the top five is Cascais, Portugal, with a holiday score of 8.6/10. While its search volume (188,800 searches per month) is lower than Madeira’s, Cascais commands a higher price tag, with a seven-night holiday averaging £656—£122 more than Madeira.

Croatia’s Rising Stars: Rovinj & Hvar

Croatia continues to cement itself as a top European travel destination, with two stunning coastal towns making the top 10 list.

Hvar

Ranked 6th, Rovinj is a picturesque gem on the Istrian coast, boasting 168,600 monthly searches and an ultimate holiday score of 8.3/10. Known for its Venetian-style architecture, charming old town, and stunning Adriatic views, Rovinj offers a perfect blend of history and relaxation. A seven-night stay averages £596, making it a mid-range option for travelers.

In 8th place, Hvar has long been one of Croatia’s most glamorous island getaways. Generating 128,700 monthly searches, it earns a solid 7.8/10 holiday score. Famed for its crystal-clear waters, vibrant nightlife, and luxurious resorts, Hvar remains a top choice for travelers seeking both relaxation and excitement. A seven-night holiday costs around £592, placing it in a similar price range to Rovinj.

The City of Dubrovnik and the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Croatia signed an agreement today in Zagreb for the transfer of a MiG-21 UM aircraft, which will be displayed on Srđ in front of the Imperial Fortress, a symbol of the city's defense during the Homeland War.

The agreement, signed by Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković and acting Chief Spomenka Lešnjaković, will enable the placement of this historic exhibit in front of the Dubrovnik Homeland War Museum.

The MiG-21 UM aircraft was donated to the City of Dubrovnik free of charge and will be permanently exhibited. This step symbolizes respect for all those who contributed to the defense of Dubrovnik, as well as for all citizens who laid the foundations for a free Croatia during the Homeland War. The City of Dubrovnik has allocated budget funds for the transportation and installation of the exhibit.

It is worth noting that the Republic of Croatia recently acquired new Rafale fighter jets, enhancing national air security. Meanwhile, the MiG-21 BIS fleet has been retired from service. Consequently, the City of Dubrovnik submitted a request to the Ministry of Defense for the donation of a decommissioned aircraft.

The city will receive the aircraft in its current condition and send it for restoration, which involves disassembling it into parts, refurbishing it, and then transporting and assembling it on the Srđ plateau according to the approved design plan. This process is expected to take several months.

The placement of the MiG-21 fighter jet in the planned sculpture park on Srđ carries deep symbolic significance. It was in this very area, during the 1992 military operation to liberate southern Croatia, that Croatian Air Force supersonic jets first engaged in combat. Two MiG aircraft flew over Srđ as part of the operation, which played a crucial role in the liberation of the southernmost part of the country.

As part of his stay in London for the ABTA Travel Convention, Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković visited the headquarters of the British Telegraph at the invitation of senior travel editor Greg Dickinson.

During the meeting, discussions focused on the sustainable tourism strategies Dubrovnik is implementing, with a particular emphasis on regulating cruise tourism. Mayor Franković presented the "Respect the City" project, a sustainable tourism management model aimed at preserving cultural heritage and improving the quality of life for residents. He highlighted that, thanks to smart visitor management, crowds remained under control despite a 10% increase in tourists in 2024. The success of these measures was further confirmed by the Dubrovnik Pass, with 453,000 cards sold and revenue of 16.8 million euros.

“Dubrovnik is now an example of a destination that successfully balances tourism and the quality of life for its residents,” Mayor Franković told The Telegraph.

Sustainability and overtourism are key issues in the UK tourism sector, and international media’s interest in Dubrovnik continues to grow. It was, in fact, this very media outlet that first placed Dubrovnik on the list of destinations to avoid eight years ago. However, in recent times, they have frequently mentioned Dubrovnik as a prime example of sustainable tourism.

This feature in the prestigious newspaper, which reaches 50 million readers every month, will further highlight Dubrovnik as a global leader in sustainable tourism.

Real Madrid legend Luka Modrić is stepping into a new world that’s a far cry from football pitches – and it’s brewing up excitement! The Croatian football star, who captained his national team to World Cup glory, is now diving into the craft beer business. And he’s doing it in the heart of Croatia’s Bilogora region, reports klikni.hr

In what can only be described as a game-changer, Modrić has reportedly become a co-owner of the renowned Zeppelin Craft Brewery in Bjelovar, known for its top-notch, unpasteurized, and unfiltered brews. The brewery has been creating a buzz across Croatia, winning rave reviews from beer lovers nationwide.

This latest venture marks an exciting chapter in Modrić’s already glittering career, which saw him bring home a silver medal at the 2018 World Cup and a bronze from the 2022 tournament. Now, the midfield maestro is expanding his brand off the pitch – and it looks like beer lovers are in for a real treat.

Rumor has it that Zeppelin could be launching a special beer in Modrić's honor, taking his name, already famous worldwide, to a whole new audience. Could Luka’s craft beer rival his football fame? 

Luxembourg and Ireland once again led the EU in 2024 in terms of GDP per capita, measured by purchasing power standards, while Croatia remained on par with Hungary, with a slight reduction in its gap compared to the EU average, according to Eurostat estimates.

Luxembourg’s GDP per capita, expressed in purchasing power standards, was nearly two and a half times the EU average last year, according to preliminary estimates from Eurostat.

Statisticians note that Luxembourg’s firmly established position at the top of the EU rankings is largely due to the high proportion of foreign workers.

“These workers contribute to GDP creation but are not included in the resident population used to calculate GDP per capita,” they explain.

Estonia, Poland, and Romania lagged behind the EU average by approximately 20%, according to Eurostat calculations.

Croatia was close behind, with its GDP per capita in 2024—measured in purchasing power parity—falling 23% below the EU average, according to preliminary Eurostat estimates. This marks a slight improvement from 2023, when the gap stood at 24%.

Hungary recorded the same shortfall last year, while Slovakia was also close, with GDP per capita exactly 25% below the EU average.