Latest news with #AdriaticSea
The Independent
7 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Croatia holds military parade as it marks 30 years since a key war victory
Thousands watched a military parade in Croatia's capital on Thursday marking 30 years since a key war victory as the country looks to further boost its forces with a possible loan from a new European Union defense fund. A flyover in Zagreb by French-made Rafale jets was a highlight of the show that included 3,400 army personnel along with police units, emergency service teams and war veterans. Navy battle ships sailed simultaneously by the Adriatic Sea port of Split. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said that 'we have passed a big process of transition from eastern to western technology in order to be compatible with the capabilities of those armies who are our partners and allies.' Croatia joined the EU in 2013, four years after becoming a member of NATO. Back in August 1995, Croatia recaptured lands that had been held by minority Serbs since their rebellion in 1991 against the country's independence from the former Communist-run Yugoslavia. The Operation Storm offensive presented a turning point in the war and also triggered a mass exodus of ethnic Serbs from Croatia. Tensions persist in relations with Balkan rival Serbia, which backed the ethnic Serb rebellion in the 1990s'. Serbia plans to hold a commemoration ceremony for the Serb victims of the offensive, and Belgrade has cautioned Serbian citizens against traveling to Croatia in early August. A military parade in Belgrade is planned for September. Political analyst Zarko Puhovski said he believed the military parade was designed both to garner popular support for further defense spending amid security concerns in Europe fueled by Russia 's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and as a message of strength in the region. 'It's just putting on a show, to put military equipment on display," Puhovski told The Associated Press. "This will be presented as Croatia's effort to join the overall trend of increased militarization in Europe.' Croatia is among eighteen EU countries that have applied for billions of euros from the bloc's program of cheap loans aimed at helping Europe provide for its own security. Plenkovic has said that Croatia could seek 1.8 billion euros ($2 billion) from the fund. The 150-billion-euro ($173 billion) Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program was launched after the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump signalled that Europe is no longer a U.S. security priority. Some U.S. allies in Europe worry that President Vladimir Putin could target one of them if Russia wins its war on Ukraine.
Associated Press
7 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Croatia holds military parade as it marks 30 years since a key war victory
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Thousands watched a military parade in Croatia's capital on Thursday marking 30 years since a key war victory as the country looks to further boost its forces with a possible loan from a new European Union defense fund. A flyover in Zagreb by French-made Rafale jets was a highlight of the show that included 3,400 army personnel along with police units, emergency service teams and war veterans. Navy battle ships sailed simultaneously by the Adriatic Sea port of Split. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said that 'we have passed a big process of transition from eastern to western technology in order to be compatible with the capabilities of those armies who are our partners and allies.' Croatia joined the EU in 2013, four years after becoming a member of NATO. Back in August 1995, Croatia recaptured lands that had been held by minority Serbs since their rebellion in 1991 against the country's independence from the former Communist-run Yugoslavia. The Operation Storm offensive presented a turning point in the war and also triggered a mass exodus of ethnic Serbs from Croatia. Tensions persist in relations with Balkan rival Serbia, which backed the ethnic Serb rebellion in the 1990s'. Serbia plans to hold a commemoration ceremony for the Serb victims of the offensive, and Belgrade has cautioned Serbian citizens against traveling to Croatia in early August. A military parade in Belgrade is planned for September. Political analyst Zarko Puhovski said he believed the military parade was designed both to garner popular support for further defense spending amid security concerns in Europe fueled by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and as a message of strength in the region. 'It's just putting on a show, to put military equipment on display,' Puhovski told The Associated Press. 'This will be presented as Croatia's effort to join the overall trend of increased militarization in Europe.' Croatia is among eighteen EU countries that have applied for billions of euros from the bloc's program of cheap loans aimed at helping Europe provide for its own security. Plenkovic has said that Croatia could seek 1.8 billion euros ($2 billion) from the fund. The 150-billion-euro ($173 billion) Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program was launched after the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump signalled that Europe is no longer a U.S. security priority. Some U.S. allies in Europe worry that President Vladimir Putin could target one of them if Russia wins its war on Ukraine.
Washington Post
7 hours ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Croatia holds military parade as it marks 30 years since a key war victory
ZAGREB, Croatia — Thousands watched a military parade in Croatia's capital on Thursday marking 30 years since a key war victory as the country looks to further boost its forces with a possible loan from a new European Union defense fund . A flyover in Zagreb by French-made Rafale jets was a highlight of the show that included 3,400 army personnel along with police units, emergency service teams and war veterans. Navy battle ships sailed simultaneously by the Adriatic Sea port of Split.
Condé Nast Traveler
a day ago
- Condé Nast Traveler
7 Best Beaches in Venice for Swimming in the Adriatic Sea or the Venetian Lagoon
Ah, Venice—a city of art, history… and beaches. That's right. Though La Serenissima draws travelers for its culture, you might be surprised to find the best beaches in Venice are just as perfect for a spot of swimming and sunbathing as some of the other best beaches in Italy. Mudflats and sandbanks have made up the calm laguna di Venezia for thousands of years, which means that those long, pencil-thin islands act as natural barriers between sea and lagoon, resulting in wide, soft-sanded beaches that shelve gently into the Adriatic Sea. It's a spectacular setting quite different from the other seaside scenes on the Italian peninsula—so you have all the more reason to go. The easiest beaches to reach from Venice proper are on the island of Lido, which is essentially seven miles of sand with a town, villages, and nature reserves attached. South of the Lido is an island called Pellestrina; to the north is a long finger-shaped peninsula sticking out from the mainland, with beaches so spectacular that it often feels like half of Germany and Austria have driven down to lay out their towels on them. Wherever you go, you won't be disappointed. Here are seven of the best beaches in Venice. Read our complete Venice travel guide here. Des Bains 1900 beach club has reopened 15 years after Grand Hotel Des Bains shuttered. Courtesy Des Bains 1900 Des Bains 1900, Lido The Grand Hotel Des Bains was the icon of the Lido di Venezia, the seven-mile sandbar of an island that sits between the Venetian Lagoon and the Adriatic Sea. When the hotel closed in 2010, it even left a hole in the Venice Film Festival, which used to hold events there—but its beach club, Des Bains 1900, has returned this year, making this the hottest place to be on the island. Here, across the silken sands, you can choose between a sun-lounger (from around $32) or a family-friendly 'gazebo' (or cabana, from around $200), bookable through their site. There are bathrooms, a restaurant, optional yoga and tai chi classes, and a kids' club. This place is perfect if you want a day off from Venice sightseeing, and there are plenty of hotels nearby if you want to make a night of it, like the five-star Hotel Excelsior Venice.
Condé Nast Traveler
23-07-2025
- Condé Nast Traveler
17 Most Beautiful Islands in Italy
Floating in the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Puglia, the Tremiti are among Italy's most under-the-radar escapes. This tiny archipelago comprising San Domino, San Nicola, Capraia, Cretaccio, and Pianosa is part of the protected Gargano National Park, with crystal-clear waters and marine life that draw snorkelers and divers from around the country. San Domino is the liveliest, with pine forests, sea caves, and sandy coves like Cala delle Arene, while San Nicola is steeped in history, crowned by a fortified Benedictine abbey that once doubled as a prison. Though small, the islands have long held a legendary allure: even Emperor Augustus is said to have exiled his granddaughter here. —L.W Where to stay: Although there are a few little hotels on the island of San Dominio, there are some Airbnbs like this one that allow you to live at your own leisurely pace. They're simple, just like the islands. For something a little more luxurious, you can venture back into the mainland and stay in one of the best hotels in Puglia. Getting there: In the Gargano area, you can take a ferry from Vieste, Peschici, or Rodi Garganico. The journey can take up to 1 hour and 40 minutes.
