London’s roads have officially been crowned Europe’s worst for traffic in 2024, with frustrated drivers spending a whopping 101 hours in jams.

According to traffic boffins at analytics company Inrix, that’s a 2% rise on the previous year – and it’s costing a fortune. The capital’s gridlock racked up a jaw-dropping £3.85 billion bill (€4.65 billion), which breaks down to £942 per driver.

It’s not just Europe where London is struggling. The city’s congestion levels ranked it as the fifth worst in the world. Topping the global list was Istanbul, where traffic chaos reigns supreme.

But it’s not just Londoners pulling their hair out. Paris came in as Europe’s second-worst hotspot, with drivers delayed for 97 hours, while Dublin wasn’t far behind with 81 hours wasted behind the wheel.

Inrix revealed the grim stats after crunching data from mobile phones in vehicles, showing just how clogged up cities have become.

When it comes to traffic jams, it seems London is in the fast lane – to nowhere!

Rising basketball sensation Caitlin Clark couldn’t hide her love for Croatia during a chat on the podcast hosted by NFL stars and brothers Jason and Travis Kelce. The University of Iowa standout, known for her dazzling skills on the court, revealed that her international travels left her smitten with the Adriatic gem.

When asked about her favorite memory from her time in Iowa, Caitlin recalled trips abroad, having visited both Italy and Croatia. But when it came to picking a favorite, she didn’t hesitate: "Honestly, Croatia!"

The 21-year-old athlete gushed about her experience, saying, "It’s amazing. I was in Split and Dubrovnik. It’s clean, the sea is beautiful, there’s so much to do, and the food is excellent."

Her glowing review didn’t go unnoticed by the Kelce brothers, who chimed in with their own connection to the country. The NFL superstars revealed they’d recently discovered their Croatian heritage and agreed that Croatia has a reputation for being an incredible destination.

@marca.en Caitlin Clark’s best experience as a player in Iowa!????✨ Would you visit Croatia????????? #caitlinclark #kelce #traviskelce #jasonkelce #nba #wnba #football #sports ♬ sonido original - MARCA in English ????????

Today, January 6th, marks Epiphany, a significant Christian feast day and a public holiday in Croatia. Known as "Sveta tri kralja" (Holy Three Kings) in Croatian, it commemorates the visit of the Three Wise Men to the infant Jesus, symbolizing the revelation of Christ to the world.

Across the country, Epiphany is a day of reflection and tradition. Epiphany also signals the end of the festive season for many, with Christmas trees and decorations traditionally taken down after this day. Being a public holiday, businesses and schools are closed, giving Croatians a chance to spend time with loved ones and observe this important cultural and religious tradition.

Croatia's presidential race has entered its final stretch, with voters set to return to the polls on Sunday, January 12th, after no candidate secured a majority in the December 29th election. The stage is now set for a fiery runoff between incumbent President Zoran Milanović, backed by the opposition SDP, and HDZ candidate Dragan Primorac, who enjoys the support of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

As the candidates scramble to rally support ahead of Friday's midnight campaign cutoff, the gloves have come off in a contest that is as much about policy as it is about personal accusations and political rivalries.

Milanović: A Call for ‘Sensible Changes’

President Milanović, vying for a second term, held a rally in Koprivnica on Saturday, where he positioned himself as the defender of Croatia’s constitutional integrity. In an impassioned speech, he urged citizens to vote, framing the election as a referendum on Croatia's democratic values.

“I call on people to come out and vote, regardless of the weather, and give me their support—not to humiliate my opponent but to send a clear message that we need changes,” Milanović declared. “Not radical changes or revolutions, but sensible ones—a return to the foundations of the Constitution.”

The incumbent’s rhetoric struck a measured tone, but his focus on "constitutional respect" appeared to contrast sharply with the corruption accusations hurled by his opponent.

Primorac: Corruption Allegations Take Centre Stage

Dragan Primorac, the HDZ candidate and Milanović's main rival, turned up the heat at a Saturday press conference, launching scathing attacks on the president’s alleged connections to a high-profile corruption scandal.

Primorac questioned Milanović’s relationship with Dragan Kovačević, the former director of JANAF, a state-owned oil and gas transportation company embroiled in a corruption trial. “Is it a coincidence that his [Kovačević’s] company is registered at the same address as JANAF? Is this friendship that led to one of Croatia’s biggest corruption scandals just a coincidence?” Primorac asked rhetorically.

In a blistering tirade, Primorac accused Milanović of failing to prioritize Croatia, painting his rival as a liability. “This is a person burdened with scandals. He does not put Croatia first. Zoran Milanović wants to enslave Croatia,” he claimed, adding fuel to an already contentious race.

A Clash of Ideologies

Milanović’s campaign has centred on maintaining his image as a reformer focused on constitutional principles and democratic accountability. His appeal to moderate voters hinges on his promise of stability and measured change.

In contrast, Primorac has adopted a combative tone, leveraging allegations of corruption and scandal to erode Milanović’s credibility. As the HDZ candidate, his campaign highlights his party’s ongoing commitment to economic reform and nationalistic values, appealing to conservative voters and those dissatisfied with the status quo.

The Stakes Are High

With both candidates representing opposing political factions, the stakes in this election are immense. Milanović, backed by the SDP, faces the daunting task of convincing voters that his tenure has been marked by integrity and progress. Meanwhile, Primorac, buoyed by HDZ support, is looking to exploit dissatisfaction with the incumbent and frame himself as the agent of change Croatia needs.

As the clock ticks down to Sunday’s vote, one thing is clear: Croatia’s presidential runoff has become a battleground not only for political power but for the future direction of the nation. With accusations flying and the electorate increasingly polarized, all eyes are now on the final hours of this high-stakes campaign.

Dubrovnik has been named one of the hottest travel destinations for 2025, according to a recent report by Yahoo Finance using data from Kayak. Ranking 10th on the global list, Dubrovnik saw a 6% year-over-year increase in interest, solidifying its place as a must-visit destination.

The average airfare to Dubrovnik is listed at $1,272, highlighting its appeal as a premium travel destination for international visitors. 

The list places Dubrovnik alongside global hotspots such as Sapporo, Japan (31% increase in interest), Marrakech, Morocco (20%), and Washington, D.C. (11%). The report emphasizes Dubrovnik’s ability to stand out even among highly competitive destinations, drawing attention to its unique charm and year-round tourism appeal.

Dubravka Šeparović Mušović, the national opera champion of the Zagreb Croatian National Theatre (HNK), is the face of the new mini jewelry edition from the Dubrovnik brand RDcode. Since its creation in 2010, the brand has been known for its unusual bags and backpacks, and this spring, for the first time, it introduced a mini jewelry edition inspired by the Japanese wabi-sabi concept.

This is not the first collaboration between Dubravka Šeparović Mušović and the Dubrovnik slow fashion brand RDcode, whose owner and designer is journalist Renata Debeljak. The two women share a connection to their beautiful city, Dubrovnik, and they have already collaborated on the fashion-art project 'Doors & Bags.'

Renata Debeljak - Photo RDcode

The inspiration behind RDcode's story this time is completely different. The main motif for this mini jewelry edition is the perfect imperfection of life, represented through the Japanese wabi-sabi concept.

Not only does this perfect imperfection exist in everything around us, but it also exists within us, and through wabi-sabi, it reaches the true art of living. What is the art of living? Minimalism, simplicity, and a connection with nature through wabi-sabi encourage us to constantly seek beauty in imperfection, accept who we are, stay in the present moment, and appreciate the simple, transient phases of life. The pursuit of perfection is futile, as everything around us is in an imperfect state. We should strive for excellence, not perfection, says Renata Debeljak, owner of RDcode.

RDcode’s ‘At the Crossroads of Hypocrisy’ Jewelry Edition: A Bold Stand Against Mass Consumption and Greenwashing

The jewelry edition is part of the concept 'At the Crossroads of Hypocrisy,' created at the beginning of this year. The story deals with a concept that arises outside the realms of so-called trends and time periods, focused on timeless art/fashion details with a vegan philosophy, minimalist design, and an individual approach in limited editions.

Photo - RDcode

In the vastness of hypocrisy, in a time filled with mass consumption, uniformity, copycats, the déjà vu effect, and oversaturation in all aspects of life, when trivialities become new values, to persist in completely individual concepts in any context of fashion and artistic expression seems absurd. That path is not easy, but it makes more sense. In the realm of hypocrisy, banalities and trivialities become dominant. These realities are obsessed with consumer impulses, colored by hypocrisy, meaninglessness, subversive metamorphoses, and interwoven with various forms of greenwashing. Through them, senseless consumerism infiltrates all pores of life, sneakily hiding behind labels like green, sustainability, recycle, cruelty-free, and ethical... The list is too long. RDcode focuses on a slow fashion concept that aims to be as unaffected by hypocrisy as possible, says Renata Debeljak.

The jewelry is mainly in black and gray, RDcode's favorite colors. Materials used include wood, rubber, and wire, with the collection primarily featuring rings and bracelets. Dubravka is joined by her dog Vigo in the photographs.

The conceptual stories 'Doors & Bags' and 'At the Crossroads of Hypocrisy' are the current cornerstones of the RDcode brand, and original backpacks and bags continue to be created in its creative studio.

You can learn more about the RDcode brand on their Facebook page or via their Instagram profile @rdcodestudio.

Collaboration on the 'Doors & Bags' project

The conceptual story 'Doors & Bags' by the RDcode brand was created in 2016 as a symbolic link between bags and doors. As part of this story, editions of bags and backpacks inspired by interesting doors from various cities and countries, such as Dubrovnik, Oslo, Rome, London, and Hamburg, were created. One of the Dubrovnik historical doors that inspired RDcode for this bag edition was the door of the Rector’s Palace. The model for the bag with motifs of one of the most famous historical doors of Dubrovnik, once the entrance to the impressive seat of the powerful Dubrovnik Republic, was Dubravka. The fashion story for this collaboration was created in 2016 and photographed in front of the doors of Dubrovnik’s Rector’s Palace.

Following official announcements from the Ministry of Tourism, it has been confirmed: Dubrovnik is the champion of Croatian tourism in 2024, achieving the highest number of overnight stays.

Across Croatia in 2024, over 21.3 million tourist arrivals and more than 108.7 million overnight stays were recorded, representing a 4% increase in arrivals and a 1% increase in overnight stays compared to 2023, according to Dubrovnik’s city administration.

The most visited destinations by overnight stays include Dubrovnik, Rovinj, Split, Poreč, Umag, Medulin, Zagreb, Vir, Zadar, and Pula. Specifically, Dubrovnik recorded 4,555,636 overnight stays and 1,397,052 tourist arrivals, making it the most visited destination in Croatia by overnight stays and the second most visited by arrivals, behind Zagreb.

Compared to 2023, Dubrovnik saw a 9% increase in both arrivals and overnight stays.

Mayor Mato Franković emphasized the significance of these results for the city. “Dubrovnik has once again confirmed its status as the champion of Croatian tourism in terms of overnight stays. This success is the result of the dedicated efforts of all stakeholders in tourism and a clearly defined strategy for sustainable development. I am especially pleased that these figures show our city is becoming a year-round destination, attracting visitors not only during the summer but also in the pre-season and post-season. These results motivate us to continue investing in the quality, diversity, and sustainability of our offerings, making Dubrovnik a shining example of successful tourism in Croatia and beyond.”

The Online Vacancy Index (OVI) for 2024 indicates that labor demand fell by 3.2% compared to 2023, the Economic Institute in Zagreb reported on Friday. Analysts do not expect a significant decline in labor demand in 2025.

“The total number of ads in 2024 was the second-highest since 2005, when we began tracking the index, but it was lower than the record year of 2023. The largest decline in the index is now behind us, as it occurred during the first eight months of the year. In the last quarter, there was an increase of 1.4% compared to the previous quarter. Judging by monthly and seasonally adjusted data, the OVI index stabilized in 2024, and given the expected macroeconomic trends, no significant decline in labor demand is anticipated for 2025,” the Economic Institute noted on its website.

Shifts in Labor Demand

The greatest contribution to the annual decline in demand came from ads seeking low-skilled workers (down 1.1 percentage points), followed by those seeking medium-skilled workers (down 0.7 percentage points). Ads for high-skilled workers had the smallest negative impact (down 0.2 percentage points).

Consequently, the share of ads for low-skilled workers decreased by 1 percentage point to 14.5%, while the shares of ads seeking medium and high-skilled workers increased by 0.7 and 0.3 percentage points, respectively, during 2024.

Most In-Demand Occupations

The ranking of the top five most in-demand occupations saw little change over the year. Salespeople were the most sought-after, followed by chefs, who overtook waiters to claim the second spot. Warehouse workers and drivers remained in fourth and fifth places.

The largest positive annual growth in demand was recorded for accountants, teachers, and finance professionals. Conversely, construction workers, waiters, programmers, production workers, teleoperators, and teachers saw the largest declines. Among construction workers, bricklayers dropped the most, falling from 25th to 30th place, while pharmacists, civil engineers, and nurses climbed higher—pharmacists from 28th to 24th, civil engineers from 14th to 10th, and nurses from 22nd to 18th.

Shift Toward Permanent Employment

In 2024, there was a further increase in both the number and share of permanent contracts, primarily at the expense of fixed-term and seasonal employment. The share of permanent contracts reached 53%, a 4.8 percentage point rise compared to the previous year.

Regional Variations

All regions except Southern Dalmatia recorded a decline in job postings on an annual basis. Central Croatia led the decline, contributing 1.4 percentage points with a 58% share of total ads. It was followed by the Northern Adriatic (down 1.2 percentage points) and Eastern Croatia (down 0.4 percentage points). Overseas ads also fell by 29% annually, with a negative contribution of 0.7 percentage points.

Southern Dalmatia was the only region with a positive trend, achieving an annual growth of 6.5% in job postings, contributing a positive 0.9 percentage points to overall growth. The most in-demand occupations in this region included salespeople, hospitality workers, civil engineers, chefs, and teachers, while demand for warehouse workers, waiters, and bricklayers saw the largest declines.

About the OVI

The OVI – Online Vacancy Index – is a monthly index of online job postings developed by the Economic Institute in collaboration with the MojPosao portal. Its purpose is to provide timely information about the current state of labor demand.

The OVI is calculated by counting unique new job postings with application deadlines ending in the month for which the index is calculated. Since the data is based solely on postings from a single portal, the number of ads is expressed as an index (with 2020 as the base year).