UK’s Truss says looking at speeding up Russia sanctions process

British Foreign Secretary LizTruss said on Friday that she was looking at speeding up the process of imposing sanctions on Russian companies and individuals following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

The British government has faced criticism for being too slow in implementing sanctions. So far, sanctions have been announced on at least 14 Russians including an asset freeze on President Vladimir Putin.

Asked during a visit to Brussels why Britain was being slower than other countries on sanctions, Truss told reporters: “We’ve sanctioned more companies than our counterparts across the world, we’ve just sanctioned two more major oligarchs last night. What I am doing is looking at how we could speed up that process to make even more progress on that front.”

South Korea’s Moon orders protection of nuclear power plant amid wildfire

South Korea President Moon Jae-in ordered an all-out efforts to be made to protect the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant from a wildfire that broke out in the eastern coastal county of Uljin, the presidential office said in a statement.

Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi  condemned Russia’s attack near the Zaporizhzhia Ukrainian nuclear power plant, calling it an “attack against everyone’s security”.

“Prime Minister Mario Draghi condemns Russia’s atrocious attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant – an attack against everyone’s security,” his office said in a statement.

“The European Union must continue to react united and with the utmost firmness, together with its allies, to support Ukraine and protect European citizens.”

Russian forces seized the largest nuclear power plant in Europe after a building at the complex was set ablaze during intense fighting with Ukrainian defenders, Ukrainian authorities said on Friday.

Ukraine, Russia agree to create humanitarian corridors but no breakthrough on ceasefire: