Road & Rail Modernisation: Croatia’s big transport push is rolling on: a new bridge on Krk, a 14-kilometre tunnel, and major railway upgrades are in motion, including reconstruction of the Karlovac–Zagreb line with a second track aimed at cutting travel time to about 20 minutes. Toll System Update: Drivers face major changes this autumn as HAC’s new toll collection rollout nears—SMART top-up cards stop working on motorways from Oct. 1, with remaining balances transferable to ENC or refundable. Industrial Job Loss: Chromos, a Croatian paints and varnishes name dating back to 1920, is ending production in Croatia after 106 years, with manufacturing shifting to Slovenia and Serbia and only a sales network staying in Zagreb. Tourism & Travel Pressure: Split Airport set a record with 770,000 passengers in July, while ferry chaos hit the Orebić–Korčula route when a double-decker bus got stuck on a ramp, halting traffic for over an hour. Border Heat Story: A Vitaljina Croatia–Montenegro crossing that saw a seven-hour ordeal for families in extreme heat reportedly swung to almost no queue the next day. Sports & Youth: Croatia’s Olivia Vukosa made the FIBA U18 Women’s EuroBasket All-Star Five in Stockholm, and Bjelovar was named host for the 2027 European Junior Championships at the new Wellovar pool. Energy & Environment: Danube drought and 40°C heat are sending river levels to historic lows, disrupting shipping and adding pressure to water and energy supplies across the region.