The EU agreed a new round of sanctions over Russia's war in Ukraine on Friday, the one-year anniversary of Moscow's invasion, the bloc's Swedish presidency announced.. The package -- the 10th the EU has imposed since Russia's February 24, 2022 invasion -- contains, it said, "targeted restricted measures against individuals and entities supporting the war, spreading propaganda or delivering drones used by Russia in the war".
Canada is sending four additional battle tanks to Ukraine -- doubling its commitment -- and sanctioning an additional 192 Russian individuals and entities, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday.. The new sanctions target Russian lawmakers who've backed the invasion of Ukraine, including deputy prime ministers, ministers, others in Putin's office, its military and defense sector, as well as family members of individuals already on Canada's sanctions list.
The first 2,000 inmates of a new prison built in El Salvador to accommodate more than 40,000 suspected gangsters targeted in President Nayib Bukele's "war" on crime, arrived at the facility Friday.. Built on Bukele's orders after he declared a "war" on gangs last March, the prison in Tecoluca, 74 kilometers (46 miles) southeast of the capital San Salvador, consists of eight buildings made of reinforced concrete.
The death toll from floods and landslides in southeast Brazil has risen to 54 people, the authorities said Friday, as Pope Frances sent a message of condolences.. Authorities said the largest daily rainfall ever registered in Brazil triggered violent floods and landslides that tore through precariously built hillside communities.
Heavy snow fell in southern California on Friday, as the first blizzard in a generation pounded the Los Angeles area, with heavy rains threatening flooding in other places.. A flood watch was in place for portions of Ventura, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara Counties where up to an inch (2.5 centimeters) of rain was expected in an hour.
More than 30 stars including Julia Roberts, Barbra Streisand and Matt Damon on Friday sent their "love" and prayers to Ukraine in a video marking the anniversary of Russia's invasion. . Singer and actress Barbra Streisand said Ukraine would be supported for "as long as necessary."
Three candidates -- two women and a Muslim man -- will battle it out to replace Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, it was announced Friday, in a race already mired in controversy.. The leadership race was ignited when Sturgeon last week announced her surprise resignation, after more than eight years as Scotland's first minister and SNP chief.
China called Friday for urgent peace talks as it released its plan to end the war in Ukraine, but several Western powers rebuffed the proposals while warning against Beijing's closening ties to Moscow.. Zelensky told reporters he was planning to meet with Xi Jinping after the Chinese leader's government called for the peace talks, saying it would "be important for world security."
Ukraine on Friday issued a postage stamp reproducing a mural by British street artist Banksy showing a boy defeating a grown man in judo, to mark the first anniversary of Russia's invasion.. The image draws inspiration from Russian President Vladimir Putin, known to be a black belt in judo, and depicts a young judoka representing Ukraine knocking down a grown man.
Thousands rallied in Georgia on Friday in solidarity with Ukraine on the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of the fellow ex-Soviet nation and in support of Tbilisi's European Union membership.. Last year, the EU deferred Tbilisi's membership application -- while granting candidacy to Ukraine and Moldova -- saying Tbilisi must improve its democratic record before it is put on a formal membership path. im/rl
