Croatia holds military parade as it marks 30 years since a key war victory
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.
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Fox News
2 hours ago
- Fox News
Man built a country with just 400 citizens, says it all began as 'an experiment'
A man has declared himself president of a self-proclaimed country nestled in a disputed patch of land between Croatia and Serbia — and it comes complete with a flag, cabinet, currency and nearly 400 citizens. Daniel Jackson founded the Free Republic of Verdis, a 0.5-square-kilometer (less than 125 acres) sliver of forest along the Danube River. He did so after discovering the area was unclaimed by either neighboring country due to an ongoing border dispute. "Verdis was an idea I had when I was 14," said Jackson, who is 20 years old. "It was just a bit of an experiment at first with a few mates. We have all dreamed of creating something crazy." Jackson officially declared the republic's independence on May 30, 2019, news agency SWNS reported. The area the British man claimed, known on maps as "pocket three," has since been named the world's second-smallest country, right behind Vatican City. The digital designer, who earns a living by creating virtual worlds on Roblox, began shaping Verdis into a functioning government when he was just 18. "We started making Verdis a reality when I was 18 by forming some laws and a flag," he said. "We have now built up a government and have a great cabinet," he said. The official languages of Verdis are English, Croatian and Serbian — and the nation uses the Euro as its currency. Verdis is accessible only by boat from the Croatian city of Osijek, though attempts to settle there have gotten some significant resistance. He is operating what he calls a "government in exile." In October 2023, Croatian police detained several settlers, along with Jackson himself, before deporting them and issuing him a lifetime ban from entering the country. "They deported us but couldn't give a reason why," Jackson said. "They said we were a threat to homeland security." Now operating what he calls a "government in exile," Jackson has accused Croatian authorities of installing surveillance along his country's shoreline to block access from Serbia, SWNS reported. "We have had a lot of problems with Croatian authorities, but we do want a good relationship with them in the future," he added. "They haven't taken to us kindly and have been aggressive," he claimed. Per SWNS, Jackson now travels frequently to Belgrade, Serbia, where he says officials have been more receptive. Despite his ban from Croatia, he continues to advocate for the right to access Verdis and hopes to return to live there one day. "When you realize that you are in a country you have created, it is magical." "If successful, I would step down from my position and call an election," he said. "I am not interested in power at all … I just want to be a normal citizen. It has been eye-opening, and I am quite proud of what I have achieved," he added. Verdis began with just four people but now claims over 400 official citizens from a pool of more than 15,000 applicants. Each person receives a passport — though Jackson has warned people against trying to use it for actual international travel. That said, some citizens have reportedly used their Verdisian passport to enter other countries. "It is a very small country so we have to be careful who we let in," Jackson told SWNS. "When it comes to approving people, we look for in-demand skill sets such as experience in medicine or policing." Despite mounting setbacks, Jackson said he remains optimistic. "It is a matter of when, not if, we get back on the land," he said. "Croatia doesn't claim the land, so we have the right to it, and we believe that we have a good chance." Jackson, who is originally from Australia, is determined to make Verdis more than just a thought experiment, SWNS reported. "To the naked eye it is just a lot of forest, but when you realize that you are in a country you have created, it is magical," he said.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
Eurozone inflation holds at 2% as the euro slumps against the dollar
Inflation no longer appears to be a pressing concern in the eurozone, holding steady at a level that allows the European Central Bank (ECB) some breathing space — at least for now. According to preliminary figures released by Eurostat on Friday, consumer prices rose 2% year-on-year in July, the same pace as in June. On a monthly basis, prices were flat. Although economists had expected a slight dip to 1.9% year-over-year, the reading validates the ECB's strategy following years of persistent inflationary pressure. Looking at the main categories, food, alcohol and tobacco saw the highest annual inflation rate at 3.3% in July, up from 3.1% in June. Services followed at 3.1%, down from 3.3%, while non-energy industrial goods rose to 0.8%. Energy prices stayed in negative territory at -2.5%. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, was unchanged at 2.3%, though the monthly figure slipped by 0.2% — the first negative reading since January 2025. Among member states, Estonia and Croatia recorded the highest annual inflation rates at 5.6% and 4.5% respectively, while France and Cyprus saw the lowest, at 0.9% and 0.1%. On a month-to-month basis, prices in Croatia jumped by 1.2%, while Italy saw a notable decline of 1%. ECB policy outlook: Wait and see The ECB held interest rates steady in July, signalling the end of a year-long easing cycle that saw borrowing costs lowered eight times to levels not seen since November 2022. Last week, President Christine Lagarde noted the central bank is 'in a good place' but cautioned that assessing the future impact of tariffs remains difficult amid a mix of inflationary and disinflationary forces. This inflation data reinforces the ECB's current wait-and-see approach, with policymakers now looking at how the EU-US trade deal will shape the price environment. Related Eurozone growth slows: Spain leads and Germany contracts Spain's economy grows 0.7% as it continues to outshine eurozone peers Is the euro under renewed pressure? After posting its best first-half performance since its inception, the single currency ended July in negative territory — its first monthly decline this year. Most of the losses occurred in the final week of the month, with the euro depreciating 2.8% against the US dollar to reach 1.14, a seven-week low. The turning point came as investors judged the newly announced trade deal between US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as more advantageous for Washington. This sentiment, combined with robust US economic data, an uptick in American inflation, and a Federal Reserve decision to hold rates steady at 4.25–4.50% without signalling imminent cuts, accelerated the euro's slide. This marked the euro's worst weekly performance since September 2022, when energy market turmoil pushed the currency below parity to a low of $0.9535. While current conditions are far less extreme than three years ago, upcoming data releases and the evolving impact of tariffs and trade policy will be crucial in determining the euro's trajectory through the remainder of the year. Market reaction: Equities retreat amid tariff uncertainty European equity markets came under pressure on Friday, as investors reacted to renewed trade tensions sparked by President Trump's announcement of a 10% baseline global tariff and additional retaliatory levies — ranging from 25% to 41% — on countries without formal trade agreements. India, Canada and Switzerland were among the hardest hit. China was notably excluded, pending a separate deadline on 12 August. The EURO STOXX 50 dropped 1.7%, while the broader STOXX 600 slipped 1.3%. National benchmarks also suffered: Germany's DAX fell 1.7%, Italy's FTSE MIB lost 1.9% and France's CAC 40 declined 1.8%. Several large-cap stocks posted steep losses. AXA tumbled 6% after reporting a drop in net income, while Daimler Truck shed 5% following a profit warning. Siemens Energy, Sartorius and Airbus also recorded losses of more than 3%. Pharmaceutical stocks faced renewed pressure after the US administration issued letters to 17 major drug manufacturers urging lower prices. Novo Nordisk dropped 4.7%, bringing its weekly decline to 33% — the steepest in the company's history. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Travel Weekly
a day ago
- Travel Weekly
Aman at Sea opens its ship for charter and event bookings
The first yacht in Aman's cruise brand, Aman at Sea, has opened for charter and event reservations, marking the first opportunity to book cabins on the vessel. The vessel, the 94-passenger Amangati, is scheduled to launch in 2027. Its inaugural season will be in the Mediterranean, with sailings that include the French and Italian rivieras; the Adriatic Sea, Greek Isles and Turkey; Spain; and the Bay of Naples and Amalfi Coast, according to its website. Aman declined to share details on the structure of charter reservations, including pricing and specific itineraries. The Amangati's 47 suites will range from 532 square feet to 1,972 square feet. Their design will be inspired by Japanese architecture, and each will have a private balcony. Suites will also include full-length windows, free-standing baths, lounge seating and king beds. Some will also have plunge pools, the company said. The vessel is under construction in Genoa, Italy. It is part of a new group of yachting-minded, luxury-market cruise lines spearheaded by big names in ultraluxury hospitality. Aman recently appointed Angela Composto as senior vice president for sales, marketing and reservations. Composto was previously vice president of sales and marketing at Orient Express Sailing Yachts.
