UNITED NATIONS/MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia again told the United Nations Security Council on Thursday it wants an international investigation into explosions last September on the Nord Stream gas pipelines connecting Russia and Germany that spewed gas into the Baltic Sea. Russia has said the West was behind the blasts. Western governments have denied involvement as has …

Russia again presses UN Security Council on Nord Stream blast inquiry Read More »

By Emilio Parodi MILAN (Reuters) – Italy’s cabinet on Thursday approved a justice reform aimed at strengthening the rights of defendants, measures long advocated by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi who died this week after years of legal battles with prosecutors. The bill, which Giorgia Meloni’s rightist government dedicated to Berlusconi, curbs the use of …

Italy launches ‘Berlusconi’ legal reform to bolster rights of accused Read More »

By Matt Spetalnick and Simon Lewis WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. sharpened its criticism of Russia’s record on human trafficking on Thursday, citing Moscow’s treatment of conscripts and Ukrainian children, in an annual report on countries that Washington says are failing to protect victims. The State Department’s 2023 Trafficking in Persons report kept Russia on …

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By Antonio Bronic ZADAR, Croatia (Reuters) – Croatian tourism officials are anticipating a record year for the sector after the country joined Europe’s free-movement Schengen zone in January, which has boosted the number of visitors to its picturesque Adriatic coast. Tourism accounts for 20% of Croatia’s economy and following a slump during the COVID-19 pandemic, …

Croatia eying record tourist season after joining Schengen area Read More »