Nikola Jelic

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic has been criticised for banning the daily Jutarnji list on Tuesday without any explanation from his press conference.

Hanza Media is the owner of several Croatian daily and weekly newspapers, including Jutarnji list, Slobodna Dalmacija and many others, which Milanovic has called "a cartel".

Croatia's Prime Minister started a three-day-long visit to Japan on Tuesday, where he will meet his Japan counterpart Shinzo Abe and Crown Prince Naruhito.

The first Croatian Prime Minister to visit Japan, he hopes to strengthen economic bilateral relations between the countries and lure Japanese investment to Croatia.

Croatia will go to the polls this Christmas after government spokesman Nikola Jelic confirmed on Wednesday that the first round of the presidential elections will be on December 28.

If a second round takes place, it will be held two weeks after, on January 11. This will take place if no candidate receives over 50 per cent of the votes.