Croatia

Europe’s ‘out of control’ wildfires hit tourism spots, forests

Europe battles record wildfires as a heatwave scorches Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey, threatening towns, tourism, and ecosystems.

12 Aug 2025 - 9:03PM

Burning trees are pictured during a wildfire in Carcastillo, northern Spain on Sunday. Photo: AP

Right-wing Croatian singer performs pro-Nazi salute with fans

One of Marko Perkovic’s most popular songs starts with the dreaded ‘For the homeland – Ready!’ salute, used by Croatia’s Nazi-era puppet Ustasha regime.

6 Jul 2025 - 9:31PM

Art

Searing Catholic murals given new life at ‘Sistine Chapel of Pittsburgh’

Croatian-American artist fused Catholic iconography with biting commentary on war, capitalism, migrant labour. 90 years on, murals restored.

11 Jun 2025 - 4:15AM

US-China trade war

Diplomats call for renewed world order to confront Trump tariff chaos

Multilateralism is the only way to preserve peace and order, Croatian envoy tells Beijing conference.

23 May 2025 - 10:48PMvideocam

Ambassadors to China meet in Beijing to discuss reform of international systems. Photo: X / @ ccg_org

Fame and celebrity

Balkan hotel’s turbulent century, from glamorous guests to Gestapo

Elizabeth Taylor hung out in its bar, world leaders were its guests, wars intruded. The Hotel Esplanade Zagreb has seen a lot in 100 years.

3 May 2025 - 9:53PMvideocam

Celebrate the funny side of life at HaHaHouse museum of laughter

Sumo fights in fat suits, distorted karaoke and choir of rubber chickens among attractions at museum that plays on laughter’s healing power.

14 Feb 2025 - 9:45AM

A Balkans tour led by a Serbian and a Bosnian? The rise of peace tourism

Mejdi Tours takes groups to places like Uzbekistan and Israel led by pairs of locals with opposing religious, political or ethnic views.

14 Feb 2025 - 7:41AM

Aziz Abu Sarah is a co-founder of Mejdi Tours, a tour operator intended to bridge the divide between two populations at odds with each other - such as Uzbeks and Russians, and Israelis and Palestinians. Photo: Instagram/mejdi_tours

Croatia’s deputy PM quits over video of him firing gun from moving car

In the footage, the far-right politician is seen singing to loud music and shooting a pistol into the dark.

19 Jan 2025 - 6:23AM

Croatian minister Josip Dabro speaks with officials during a meeting in Zagreb in May. Photo: AFP

Croatia’s President Milanovic wins second term in election landslide

Zoran Milanovic wins with 74 per cent of the vote, the highest score since Croatia’s independence in 1991.

13 Jan 2025 - 2:39PM

Croatian incumbent Milanovic headed for election victory, early results indicate

With 63 per cent of all votes counted on Sunday evening, the former social democrat Milanovic was clearly ahead with 50.1 per cent.

30 Dec 2024 - 5:11AM

Crime

Teen stabs girl, 7, to death, wounds teacher, 3 more children in Croatia school

The suspect in the rare attack is a former student at the school.

21 Dec 2024 - 1:50AM

People lay candles following a deadly knife attack at a primary school in Zagreb, Croatia, on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Editorial | China benefits on all fronts as visitors soar

Tourism, business and mutual understanding are among the winners as travellers from more countries receive visa-free access.

6 Dec 2024 - 12:01AM

Tourists pose for selfies in front of the Peace Hotel in Shanghai. The number of foreign visitors flocking to China is starting to resemble pre-pandemic levels. Photo: Xinhua

Croatia the latest tourist-trap nation to mull short-term rental controls

With rents rising and a housing shortage, Croatia is taking steps to tax short-term holiday lets. Meanwhile, sustainable tourism gets a push.

23 Nov 2024 - 1:15PM

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Sports minister pledges ‘any assistance’ Hong Kong athletes need in Paris

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung tours Olympic Village and says city is ‘proud of its athletes’.

25 Jul 2024 - 11:22PM

Wimbledon

Sun continues to rise at Wimbledon, where Emma Raducanu awaits in fourth round

New Zealand’s Lulu Sun, who has a Chinese mother, beat China’s Zhu Lin to extend dream run at All England Club.

8 Jul 2024 - 4:06AM

Lulu Sun plays a backhand return to Lin Zhu during their third round women’s singles match at Wimbledon. Photo: AP

Chinese Football Association (CFA)

Defence key to misfiring France’s run to last 8 at Euro 2024

Les Bleus have scored only three times in four games so far at the European Championship, once from a penalty by Mbappe and twice via opposition defenders.

2 Jul 2024 - 5:30PM

Underdogs China will not be bullied by World Cup rivals, vows coach

China face uphill battle to get through next qualifying stage, but head coach Branko Ivankovic says side ‘has quality’ to compete with best.

29 Jun 2024 - 12:00PM

China-EU relations

Chinese migrants smuggled into Italy in luxury cars and exploited, police say

The victims crossed the border posing as well-dressed Asian nationals in expensive vehicles, and were later treated like slaves.

27 Jun 2024 - 4:36PMvideocam

Boats are seen along the Grand Canal in Venice in March. Smuggled Chinese migrants were transported to a safe house near Venice before being taken either elsewhere in Italy or to other EU countries. Photo: Bloomberg

Fifa World Cup 2026

Indian FA accuses sacked coach Stimac of using astrologer to select players

Ex-Croatia defender would not be the first manager to face accusations of allowing his beliefs to influence his team selection.

26 Jun 2024 - 1:31AM

India’s FA has suggested former manager Igor Stimac used an astrologer to help with team selections. Photo: AFP

Zaccagni rescues Italy with last-gasp goal leaving Croatia in Euro 2024 limbo

Italy progress in second place behind winners Spain with 1-1 draw against Croatia and will face Switzerland in the last 16.

25 Jun 2024 - 2:12PM

Last-gasp Fullkrug goal rescues top spot for Euro 2024 hosts Germany

Result means Switzerland, rather than Germany, face a tougher last-16 assignment, setting up a potential meeting with holders Italy or 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia.

24 Jun 2024 - 9:29AM

Spain impress again at Euro 2024 but get helping hand from Italy to reach last 16

Spanish could have had the match won before Italy suffer stroke of misfortune in the tournament’s biggest match to date.

21 Jun 2024 - 5:50AM

Italy (in white) are outnumbered on a night when Spain gave a statement of intent. Photo: EPA-EFE

Serbia’s belief hailed by Stojkovic after late Euro 2024 goal shatters Slovenia

‘We do not give up,’ manager Dragan Stojkovic says, praising persistent attacks that earned a last-gasp equaliser, keeping Serbia’s tournament hopes alive.

21 Jun 2024 - 5:16AM

Serbia’s Luka Jovic celebrates his goal in Munich, which snatched his side a point. Photo: AP

Germany through, Scotland still alive as Croatia, Albania play thrilling draw

A round-up of all the action from day six, which produced our first last-16 entrant and more last-minute drama in which an Albania midfielder went from villain to hero.

20 Jun 2024 - 1:28PM