CROATIA

Tournament organizers say Rafael Nadal is aiming to make his comeback from a hip injury at the clay-court Monte Carlo Masters next month.

Europe’s inflation rate has dipped at the start of the year, giving some relief to consumers but still leaving them facing higher prices.

The European Union's border and coast guard agency says that the number of attempts by migrants to enter Europe without authorization reached around 330,000 last year.

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé head the selections for the team of the tournament as chosen by writers covering the World Cup for The Associated Press.

Morocco’s fans in the Arab world are taking the North African team’s 2-1 loss to Croatia in the World Cup third-place playoff philosophically.

Luka Modric led Croatia to third place in what was likely the midfield great’s last appearance at the World Cup.

The tournament in Qatar has been described by FIFA president Gianni Infantino as the “best World Cup ever.”.

FIFA expects to earn $11 billion through 2026 with a 48-team men’s World Cup in North America set to deliver a huge rise in revenue.

The chances of the winning the World Cup might have gone for Croatia and Morocco but “immortality” is at stake when the two teams meet in the third-place playoff.

Argentina’s national carrier has scheduled two extra flights from Buenos Aires to Qatar to take soccer fans to the World Cup final.

Luka Modric pulled his shirt up over his face as he trudged over to the sideline.

Julián Álvarez carried Argentina into another World Cup final with his surging runs and a striker’s instinct.

Lionel Messi is back in the World Cup final with Argentina on his mission to win soccer’s biggest prize for the first time.

Julian Alvarez has scored to give Argentina a 3-0 lead over Croatia in the World Cup semifinals.

Brazil soccer fans have been shocked into silence back home after the national team was eliminated by Croatia from the World Cup.

The slippery hips of Luka Modric wriggled away from danger.

Neymar has moved into a tie with Pelé as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 77 goals.

Croatia knocked Brazil out of the World Cup by beating the five-time champions 4-2 in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals.

There’s no contest between Brazil and Croatia in terms of pupulation.

Croatia is going deep at another World Cup and the team is taking the long route once again.

Croatia advanced to the last 16 of the World Cup with a 0-0 draw against Belgium.

Belgium’s “Golden Generation” meets Croatia’s accomplished veterans in a decisive World Cup match on Thursday.

Andrej Kramaric scored a pair of goals and Croatia crushed Canada’s hopes of advancing at its first World Cup in 36 years with a 4-1 victory.

Morocco held 2018 finalist Croatia to a 0-0 draw at the World Cup in another strong performance by a team from an Arab country.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has downplayed Qatar’s last minute ban on the sale of beer at World Cup stadiums as nothing more than a brief inconvenience to spectators.

Croatia and the Netherlands finished warming up for the World Cup in style by winning their last Nations League games to qualify for the Final Four tournament next year.

A Seminole County man who fled the U.S. and was eventually arrested in Croatia has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $7.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds.

Reaction to Roger Federer’s announcement that he will retire from tennis after the Laver Cup in London next week.

The Slovenian army has started removing a razor wire fence on the border with Croatia that was put up to curb migrant crossings after more than a million people fleeing violence and poverty entered Europe in a huge migration wave in 2015.

Slovenian police say they have detained a Syrian man for illegally transporting migrants, as the country’s foreign minister says the dismantling of a razor wire on the border with Croatia will start soon.

Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell have won the men’s doubles title at Wimbledon.

When you’re on this cruise, winter is certainly not coming.

When you’re on this cruise, winter is certainly not coming.

European Union leaders have agreed that Croatia will join the group of countries using the euro currency next year.

Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador and Jean-Julien Rojer of Netherlands won the French Open men’s doubles championship by beating Ivan Dodig of Croatia and Austin Krajicek of the U.S. 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-3 in the final.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says Croatia is ready to join the group of countries using the euro single currency at the start of next year.

When life gets too stressful, imaging that you're on vacation at an exotic remote location while drinking copious amounts of wine can be the best medicine for getting through a rough day.

Russia’s request to freeze a FIFA ban on its soccer teams ahead of next week’s World Cup qualifying playoffs has been denied.

While the “will he or won’t he” question remains for No. 1 Novak Djokovic and his participation in the Australian Open the rest of the tennis world returns to work this week to prepare for the season’s first major.

Russia’s 15-year wait for a Davis Cup title has ended after another clutch performance by Daniil Medvedev.

There will be more host cities and fewer nations playing in the Davis Cup Finals next season in an attempt to increase fan engagement and keep the revamped team event sustainable.

The European Union says the massive spike in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks is threatening the bloc's recovery from the deep economic slump caused by last year’s onset of the pandemic.

The European Medicines Agency says it is evaluating whether to authorize booster doses of Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine.

Spain, Serbia and Croatia are heading to next year’s World Cup.

Despite its infection surge, Croatia is becoming a new favored destination for Russians seeking vaccination with Western jabs.

Germany's defense ministry says a company of the military’s guard battalion has been suspended from official duty amid an investigation of initiation rituals, suspected sexual abuse and far-right activity.

Croatian police have said they have established the identity of a woman who was found in a remote area on a northern Adriatic island with no recollection of who she is or where she came from.

Summer tourism has exceeded even the most optimistic expectations in Croatia this year.

Croatia’s electric supercar maker is taking over the iconic French manufacturer Bugatti in a deal that is reported to be worth millions of euros.

Alvaro Morata and Mikel Oyarzabal scored in extra time to give Spain a 5-3 win over Croatia and a place in the European Championship quarterfinals.

A coronavirus infection has created disruption for two teams at the European Championship after a positive test for Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour also led to two England players having to self-isolate.

England defender Tyrone Mings has responded to criticism from British Home Secretary Priti Patel for taking a knee before games at the European Championship.

Raheem Sterling scored his first tournament goal to give England a 1-0 victory over Croatia at the European Championship.

Sections of fans at Wembley Stadium have booed England players for taking a knee before the European Championship game against Croatia.

The traditional French Open schedule is being disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic for the second year in a row.

(Admir Buljubasic/Pool via AP)TORONTO, ONT – Canada on Monday suspended the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for people under age 55 following concerns it might be linked to rare blood clots. Health Canada said it has not received any reports of blood clots in Canada, and the department’s chief medical adviser, Dr. Supriya Sharma, said she still believes the vaccine’s benefits outweigh the risks. Last week, the department changed its label on the vaccine to warn about the rare risk of blood clots. Canada is expected to receive 1.5 million doses of AstraZeneca from the U.S. on Wednesday. Canada has placed bigger bets on Pfizer and Moderna, ordering up to 76 million doses of Pfizer and up to 44 million of Moderna, compared with up to 20 million of AstraZeneca.

FILE - This Monday, Dec. 28, 2009 file photo shows Zagreb's mayor Milan Bandic reacting at his campaign headquarters in during presidential elections in Zagreb, Croatia. Bandic, the controversial long-serving mayor of Croatias capital of Zagreb, has died from a heart attack, his office said Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. Bandic felt unwell late Saturday and was swiftly taken to a hospital but nothing could be done, the state HRT television reported. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File)ZAGREB – Milan Bandic, the controversial long-serving mayor of Croatia’s capital of Zagreb, has died from a heart attack, his office said Sunday. Bandic felt unwell around midnight Saturday and was swiftly taken to a hospital but nothing could be done, the state HRT television reported.

It started with a chilling account of alleged rape and abuse at a high-end acting school in Serbia. Further west, in Slovenia, a young actress spoke to local media about two years of alleged sexual harassment by a professor at the Ljubljana drama academy. A student survey has shown that one in 10 students reported exposure to sexual harassment, the official STA news agency said. In North Macedonia — also once a part of what used to be Yugoslavia — a protest against sexual harassment on social networks gathered several hundred people on Wednesday. “(Sexual) harassment is a taboo topic in a traditional society.”AdTwo years ago, another Serbian woman was at the center of a high-profile sexual harassment case: Marija Lukic defied threats to her safety to take her powerful boss to court.

A migrant walks during a snowfall at the Lipa camp, outside Bihac, Bosnia, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. “As a country with a perspective of EU accession, we expect Bosnia-Herzegovina to work on sustainable, long-term solutions, to set up facilities evenly distributed across the full territory of the country,” Johansson said. Migrants come to Bosnia with the aim of reaching Croatia before moving on into Western Europe. The Lipa camp was only ever set up as a temporary measure to cope with the impact of the coronavirus over the summer. Bosnian central authorities wanted to move some migrants to a nearby facility at Bira, but local authorities blocked the move as protests erupted.

Stranded residents try to reach their cars in the flooded street, following heavy rain and snowfall in Fushe Kosove, Kosovo on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)BELGRADE – Days of heavy rain and snow across the Balkans left homes and fields flooded Monday, disrupted traffic on highways and at ports and caused power outages. In central and eastern Serbia, thousands of people were left without electricity as heavy snow collapsed distribution lines. Authorities urged drivers not to take to the road unless absolutely necessary because of heavy snow. Floods were reported in Albania and Kosovo, where days of heavy rain mixed with snowy weather.

Migrants cook inside a makeshift shelter at the Lipa camp, outside Bihac, Bosnia, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. A fresh spate of snowy and very cold winter weather on has brought more misery for hundreds of migrants who have been stuck for days in a burnt out camp in northwest Bosnia waiting for heating and other facilities. Hundreds of Lipa camp residents tried to warm up around fires during a blizzard at the the facility in northwest Bosnia as authorities rushed to equip some 20 new tents meant to accommodate them. “We have too much trouble here in Lipa camp." There are thousands of migrants in Bosnia who are trying to reach Western Europe.

ORLANDO, Fla – Central Florida is about to get a mind-bending experience when the Museum of Illusions opens to guests next month at ICON Park. Museum of Illusions Orlando Opens January 9 at ICON Park™ Central Florida’s newest “edutainment” destination invites guests to enter the mesmerizing world of illusions and take mind-boggling snaps (Museum of Illusions)Officials said the experience will offer a number of mind-blowing photo backdrops, including some that are designed exclusively for the Central Florida location. “Many international guests are familiar with our concept through social networking,” said Museum of Illusions Orlando General Manager George Youngdahl. “We can’t wait to bring our museum to Central Florida – there’s nothing quite like it here.”The museum will be located at ICON Park along International Drive. From Jan. 9-31, Orlando residents and visitors can enjoy special preview days pricing for $15 per person of any age.

ORLANDO, Fla – Central Florida has a new mind-bending experience with the Museum of Illusions at ICON Park along International Drive. Museum of Illusions (Copyright 2020 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.) “Many international guests are familiar with our concept through social networking,” said Museum of Illusions Orlando General Manager George Youngdahl. Museum of Illusions (Copyright 2020 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.) News 6 producer Landon McReynolds steps inside to experience the Museum of Illusions (Copyright 2020 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)

(AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)Since her return to Alpine skiing's World Cup six weeks ago, Mikaela Shiffrin has been solely focusing on her strongest events: slalom and GS. Shiffrin won a record fourth straight slalom title, but also a super-G gold at the worlds in Sweden two years ago. “That would be ideal — that’s the plan.”Picking up super-G training again in the third week of January could enable Shiffrin to compete in the speed events at the world championships. But with Shiffrin as the 2019 gold medalist, the U.S. ski team gets an additional starting berth for the Feb. 9 super-G race. Still, she won’t start in a speed race in Cortina d'Ampezzo next month just for the sake of racing it.

Migrants warm themselves around a fire at the Lipa camp outside Bihac, Bosnia, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 202, after hundreds failed to be relocated from the burnt-out tent camp in the northwest of the country. The migrants were supposed to move on Tuesday from the much-criticized Lipa camp in northwest Bosnia to a former army barracks in the central part of the country. The tent camp, located near the border with Croatia, lacked basic facilities such as running water and heating. European Union officials and aid groups warned of a humanitarian disaster and increased pressure on Bosnia to move the migrants away from the camp. To get to Croatia, migrants use mountainous illegal routes and often encounter pushbacks and alleged violence at the hands of Croatian police.

A migrant walks through the snow wrapped in a blanket at the Lipa camp northwestern Bosnia, near the border with Croatia, Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Kemal Softic)BIHAC – BIHAC, Bosnia-Hundreds of migrants were stranded Saturday in a squalid, burnt-out tent camp in Bosnia as heavy snow fell in the country and winter temperatures suddenly dropped. Migrants at the Lipa camp in northwest Bosnia wrapped themselves in blankets and sleeping bags to protect against the biting winds in the region, which borders European Union member Croatia. "Snow has fallen, sub-zero temperatures, no heating, nothing," the International Organization for Migration’s chief of mission in Bosnia, Peter Van Der Auweraert, tweeted. Left without a solution, migrants put down carboard on the floor and set up improvised barriers for privacy inside the only standing tent at the Lipa camp.

(AP Photo/Hau Dinh)HANOI, Vietnam -- Vietnamese authorities are conducting intensive contact tracing after the country’s first confirmed local transmission of the coronavirus in 89 days. The flight attendant tested positive on Saturday, the Tuoi Tre newspaper said. The new case ended Vietnam’s streak of 89 days without any known local transmission of the virus. The country has reported 1,347 coronavirus cases, including 35 deaths. State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said Monday on Twitter that the record comes ahead of an “anticipated Thanksgiving acceleration” in coronavirus cases.

World leaders congratulated U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on his victory, cheering it as an opportunity to fortify global democracy and celebrating the significance of Americans having their first female vice president. Other leaders who sent congratulations included German Chancellor Angela Merkel, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Prime Minister Janez Jansa was the only world leader who congratulated Trump even before all the votes were counted, and showed support after Biden’s win was announced. His rival, Juan Guaido, also thanked Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for their “firmness and determination” in confronting Maduro. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who struck up a cordial working relationship with Trump, also avoided congratulating Joe Biden.

(AP Photo/Christophe Ena)PARIS – The Latest from the French Open (all times local):___7 p.m.Roger Federer has congratulated rival Rafael Nadal on pulling even at 20 Grand Slam titles. ___ 6 p.m.Rafael Nadal has matched Roger Federer with his 20th Grand Slam singles title. ___5:52 p.m.Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 to win a record-extending 13th French Open and match Roger Federer with his 20th Grand Slam title. Nadal is seeking a record-extending 13th trophy at Roland Garros and can match Roger Federer with his 20th Grand Slam title. “To be a Grand Slam is to be a pillar of the game,” he said.

The 2009 French Open champion was beaten by Russian countrywoman Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 2-6, 6-1. But the 2016 French Open champion held firm to beat Tamara Zidansek 7-5, 4-6, 8-6. He beat Reilly Opelka 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. The new roof over Court Philippe Chatrier is again proving its worth on Day 2 of the French Open. The court is hosting the only play as rain thwarted the start of all other matches at Roland Garros.

Alexander Zverev, of Germany, reacts during a match against Borna Coric, of Croatia, during the quarterfinals of the US Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)NEW YORK – The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times EDT):___12:30 p.m. The men's semifinal matches will be played after the women's doubles championship is awarded at the U.S. Open. They were to be followed by Alexander Zverev against Pablo Carreno Busta, along with 2019 runner-up Daniil Medvedev facing No. ___More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Opposition leader Davor Bernardic of the liberal-left Restart coalition addresses his supporters in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, July 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Daniel Kasap)ZAGREB The leader of Croatias main liberal opposition party announced his resignation Monday, a day after a crushing defeat in the countrys parliamentary election held amid a coronavirus spike. Davor Bernardic said he is stepping down as president of the Social Democratic Party after the vote which was convincingly won by Croatias ruling conservatives. He said he wont run for the party president in an upcoming internal party election. The Restart Coalition, led by Bernardics left-wing SDP party, won 41 seats, 15 seats less than in the previous parliament.

Andrej Plenkovic, Croatia's Prime Minister incumbent smiles as he addresses the media in Zagreb, Croatia, Thursday, April 9, 2020. (AP Photo)ZAGREB Amid a spike of new coronavirus cases, voters in Croatia cast ballots on Sunday in what is expected be a close parliamentary race that could push the latest European Union member state further to the right. This means that a newcomer right-wing party led by a popular folk singer could play a key role in the future government. Plenkovic's main opponents are Restart coalition led by the center-left Social Democratic Party, the main liberal group. Some 3.8 million people are eligible to vote but analysts say virus fears could keep many at home.

Novak Djokovic has tested positive for the coronavirus after taking part in a tennis exhibition series he organized in Serbia and Croatia. Grigor Dimitrov, a three-time Grand Slam semifinalist from Bulgaria, said Sunday he tested positive. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)VIENNA Third-ranked tennis player Dominic Thiem apologized Thursday for taking part in an exhibition series hosted by Novak Djokovic in which four players tested positive for the coronavirus. I am extremely sorry.The top-ranked Djokovic tested positive on Tuesday. Djokovic said on Tuesday that he and his wife tested positive and admitted it was too soon to host such an event.

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___Another tennis player has tested positive for the coronavirus after taking part in an exhibition series organized by Novak Djokovic in Serbia and Croatia. Viktor Troicki says he and his pregnant wife have both been diagnosed with the virus. The former top-20 player from Serbia played against Djokovic in Belgrade during the first part of the two-leg tour. Three-time Grand Slam semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria said Sunday he has tested positive for the virus. Borna Coric played Dimitrov on Saturday in Zadar and said Monday he has also tested positive.

Grigor Dimitrov said Sunday he has tested positive for COVID-19, leading to the cancellation of an exhibition event in Croatia where top-ranked Novak Djokovic was scheduled to play. The Bulgarian player featured last week in the Serbia leg of the Adria Tour exhibition event organized by Djokovic. There was criticism that there was no social distancing at the exhibition, which took place before packed stands in Serbia, where the government lifted most virus restrictions last month. Dimitrov played a match against Borna Coric in Croatia on Saturday in the second leg of the exhibition series. Broadcaster Eurosport said Sunday the exhibition has now been canceled.

Civil protection officials said at least 229 people have tested positive for the virus in Italy. Italy has the highest number of cases outside Asia, underscoring the limits of Italy's prevention protocols, the most stringent in Europe. Officials still hadn’t pinpointed the origin of Italy's outbreak or whether the clusters were related. State railways was offering full reimbursement of tickets for travelers who didn't want to travel due the virus outbreak. Until last week, Italy only had registered three people who tested positive for the virus, including a Chinese couple visiting from Wuhan.