Poor snow conditions in Croatia have forced World Cup organisers to shift January's men's and women's slalom races from Zagreb to Bormio in Italy.

On July 1, Croatia became the 28th member of the European Union. It marked he assimilation of the first former Yugolsav republic to the international trading bloc. Its membership also marked an important milestone for the region two decades after a number of vicious conflicts tore the former Yugoslavia asunder.

As he does in many countries, Bob Dylan enjoys a great reputation in Croatia. In 2008 and 2010, he gave concerts here that received excellent reviews and publicity. But some of his Croatian fans are saddened, even outraged, that their musical idol expressed himself carelessly in describing their country’s historically fraught relationship with neighboring Serbia.