Mayor Mato Franković today presented certificates of appreciation to participants of the 16th Dubrovnik Table, a major humanitarian culinary event held at the Rixos Premium Dubrovnik hotel. This year's edition raised a total of €21,333.65, with all proceeds donated to Poseban Prijatelj, an association that provides counselling, education, and support to parents of children with special needs.

Mayor Franković thanked all participants, emphasising that the Dubrovnik Table is both a charitable initiative and a showcase of everything the city offers throughout the tourist season. He extended special gratitude to emergency and public service teams — the Dubrovnik-Neretva Police Department, Dubrovnik Fire Brigade, Emergency Medical Service, and Čistoća — noting that they are essential to the city's daily functioning.

Đenita Lazarević, president of Poseban Prijatelj, expressed heartfelt thanks on behalf of the association, praising the generosity of everyone involved and highlighting the importance of such support for families in need.

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Mayor and Head of the Department for Culture, Heritage and Tourism, Julijana Antić Brautović, as well as the Head of Municipal Services, Transport, Maritime Affairs and Local Administration, Matilda Krile Prkoča.

The Dubrovnik Table is organised by the City of Dubrovnik, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, Dubrovnik-Neretva County, the Croatian Chamber of Economy – Dubrovnik County Chamber, the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Crafts Chamber, the Guild of Caterers, and the Dubrovnik Tourism and Hospitality School.

The long-standing event remains one of the city’s most beloved humanitarian traditions, drawing together chefs, businesses, institutions, and citizens to support vulnerable members of the community.

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A restored Croatian MiG-21 fighter jet was lifted into place today on Srđ Mountain overlooking Dubrovnik, marking the arrival of a striking new memorial at one of the city’s most symbolically important locations. The aircraft is being installed in front of the Homeland War Museum at Fort Imperial, the hilltop stronghold that played a decisive role in the defence of Dubrovnik.

The installation follows an agreement signed in March between the City of Dubrovnik and Croatia’s Ministry of Defence, granting the city a decommissioned MiG-21 free of charge. The fighter jet will now become a permanent outdoor exhibit on Srđ, serving as a tribute to all who contributed to the defence of the city and to the creation of a free and independent Croatia.

The City of Dubrovnik financed the transport and installation of the aircraft, which arrived on the mountain earlier today to the attention of residents, veterans, and visitors.

The choice of location carries deep symbolism. The planned sculpture park on Srđ lies on ground where, in 1992, Croatian Air Force MiG-21s carried out the first supersonic combat missions in the operation to liberate southern Croatia. Those flights over Srđ marked a turning point in the push to restore control over the Dubrovnik region.

By placing the restored jet at Fort Imperial, the city aims not only to preserve an important piece of military history, but also to create a lasting reminder of the courage displayed during one of the most critical chapters in Dubrovnik’s past.

The MiG-21 will be fully positioned in the coming days, becoming one of the most prominent new landmarks on Srđ and a powerful visual symbol of freedom overlooking the city it once helped protect.

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Croatia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlić Radman, is at the end of a three-day visit to Washington D.C., where he is holding a series of diplomatic meetings focused on security, regional stability, and transatlantic cooperation.

On Monday, the minister met with U.S. Congressman Brian Mast, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. According to the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the talks centred on Croatia’s role as a committed NATO ally and a key contributor to European energy resilience through the LNG terminal on the island of Krk.

The two officials also discussed broader security challenges in Southeast Europe, with a particular focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina. Both sides reaffirmed their support for the equality of the country’s three constituent peoples and the preservation of the power-sharing framework established under the Dayton Agreement, describing it as essential for lasting peace, stability, and institutional functionality.

Minister Grlić Radman’s visit to Washington will continue through Wednesday, 3 December 2025, with additional high-level meetings and foreign policy engagements expected over the coming days.

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Spanish media are reporting that Branimir Mlačić, Hajduk Split’s rising 18-year-old centre-back, has attracted serious interest from Real Madrid – but any potential transfer could spark a major battle off the pitch, with Inter Milan already well ahead in talks, reports tportal

According to Defensa Central, Mlačić’s breakthrough season has not gone unnoticed in Spain. The young defender has earned a call-up to Croatia’s Under-21 national team, a development that particularly impressed the sporting leadership in Valdebebas. Real’s recruitment team reportedly believe the teenager fits perfectly into the club’s long-term strategy of signing elite young talent, drawing comparisons with Raphaël Varane, who arrived in Madrid at the same age.

Real Madrid’s chief scout Juni Calafat and his department are said to be seriously considering a move, especially as Mlačić’s current market value remains relatively modest. But there’s a major complication: on 4 November, the player signed a contract extension with Hajduk until 2029, significantly strengthening the Croatian club’s position.

And Madrid may have an even bigger problem. Spanish outlets claim Inter Milan are already deep into negotiations with Hajduk and are currently the frontrunners to secure the defender. The Italian giants reportedly view Mlačić as a long-term project at the heart of their defence, meaning Real would face a serious “boardroom battle” if they choose to enter the race.

Still, commentators note one crucial factor: few young footballers can resist a call from Real Madrid. Spanish media cite the recent example of Franco Mastantuono, who was expected to join PSG but ultimately opted for the Bernabéu.

“Several clubs were interested, and I respect all of them. I spoke with Luis Enrique and he was very clear. I congratulate him on last night’s title,” the Argentinian said during his unveiling in Madrid.

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The global economy is expected to cool only slightly in 2026, supported by favourable macroeconomic policies and easing financial conditions that continue to cushion the effects of rising trade barriers and geopolitical uncertainty, the OECD said in its latest outlook.

According to the report, global economic activity will grow by 3.2 percent in 2025 — broadly in line with 2024 — reaffirming the organisation’s September projections. While a modest slowdown to 2.9 percent is anticipated in 2026, the OECD expects growth to rebound above three percent in 2027, signalling continued resilience in the world economy.

The updated forecast marks an improvement compared with estimates published earlier this year. The OECD attributes the more positive outlook to better financing conditions, as many central banks have already begun lowering interest rates after a prolonged period of monetary tightening.

Despite ongoing uncertainties, including elevated trade tensions and political risks, the OECD notes that global economic momentum remains stronger than previously expected, bolstered by robust consumption, investment and generally stable labour markets in many advanced economies.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković will travel to Paris and Berlin early next week accompanied by a political and economic delegation, where Croatia is set to finalise two major defence procurement agreements. Government sources have confirmed that the visit will include the signing of contracts to purchase 18 French Caesar MK2 self-propelled howitzers and 44 German Leopard 2A8 tanks, marking one of the largest modernisation steps for the Croatian Armed Forces in recent years.

The first agreement will be concluded in Paris on Monday, where Defence Minister Ivan Anušić will sign the contract alongside his French counterpart. Two days later, Anušić will travel to Berlin to formalise the acquisition of the Leopard 2A8 tanks with German officials. Both procurement packages will be financed through the European Union’s SAFE defence instrument, designed to strengthen member states’ strategic capabilities.

In addition to the military agreements, Croatia and France will also sign a new Action Plan for Strategic Partnership, the third such document since President Emmanuel Macron and Plenković formalised bilateral cooperation in 2021. That partnership has already contributed to significant milestones for Croatia, including entry into the Schengen Area and the Eurozone, while also supporting Croatia’s bid for membership in the OECD.

The upcoming agreements highlight Croatia’s continued efforts to modernise its defence infrastructure and deepen strategic ties with key European partners.

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American visitors have once again strengthened their position as one of the most important tourism markets for the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, with figures for 2025 showing double-digit growth compared with last year. From the start of the year to 1 November, the county welcomed 267,259 tourists from the United States, a sharp rise from 235,113 over the same period in 2024 — an increase of almost 14 percent.

Overnight stays rose at a similar pace. US guests recorded 723,951 overnight stays, up 13 percent year-on-year, confirming not only increased arrivals but also sustained interest in longer visits.

Despite this impressive growth, Americans were not the most numerous foreign visitors overall. That position remained with UK tourists, who recorded 289,815 arrivals — slightly fewer than last year — but still far ahead in overnight stays, with 1.4 million nights spent in the county. This continues the long-standing trend of British visitors choosing extended holidays on the Adriatic.

With Dubrovnik Airport currently in negotiations with another US carrier for flights next season, speculation is already mounting. Could an additional direct connection between the United States and Dubrovnik push US visitors to the top spot in 2026?

However, there is a potential twist. Split Airport will become only the second airport in Croatia to host direct flights from the United States, with United Airlines launching a new Newark–Split route next year. Tourism analysts suggest this could either boost overall US arrivals to Croatia or redistribute travellers between the country’s major coastal airports, including Dubrovnik.

What remains clear is that American interest in southern Croatia shows no sign of slowing — and 2026 may well reshape the rankings of the county’s most influential tourism markets.

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The historic Sermage Palace in Varaždin hosted a unique cultural event on 29 November as the chamber ensemble Sve ostalo je glazba presented its acclaimed heritage interpretation project The Other Side of History. The performance — featuring soprano Marija Lešaja, clarinettist Sebastijan Sarapa and pianist and project creator Ivana Jelača — is the result of a collaboration between the Varaždin Concert Office, the Varaždin Baroque Evenings Festival and cultural institutions from both Dubrovnik and Varaždin.

After its premiere in Dubrovnik’s Rector’s Palace in October, the project drew prominent guests in Varaždin, including Dr. Marija Šiša-Vivek, Director of the Dubrovnik Museums, and Miran Bojanić Morandini, Director of the Varaždin City Museum. Speakers highlighted the exceptional value of historical instruments held by Croatian museums — among them the rare 1790 fortepiano by Viennese maker Anton Walter from the Dubrovnik Museums collection.

Šiša-Vivek emphasised the project's importance in bridging Croatia’s northern and southern cultural traditions, noting that the blend of museum heritage and historically informed performance strengthens national and European cooperation in early music. She credited artistic director Ivana Jelača for expanding the network of institutions dedicated to this specialised field.

Throughout the evening, Jelača guided the audience through a programme inspired by extensive archival research, performing on an 1810 Rosenberger piano from the Varaždin City Museum. The concert featured works by composers spanning two centuries of European musical life, including Haydn, Mozart, Vanhal, Schubert, Sorkočević and Murat.

With refined performances and engaging storytelling that linked Dubrovnik and Varaždin to the great cultural centres of the 18th and 19th centuries, the event recreated the intimate atmosphere of historical salons — and was met with prolonged applause from the gathered audience.