Ukraine Gains Ground in Kherson
Following the announcement by the Russian Federation that it will be annexing four Ukrainian Oblasts, Ukrainian forces in the southern half of the country have reportedly made significant progress in liberating the southern Kherson Oblast.
Ukrainian forces have allegedly advanced dozens of kilometers along the Dnipro River, liberating numerous settlements along the way.
This has occurred amidst the background of Biden agreeing to send another $800 million in aid to Ukraine, alongside all of Russia’s EU neighbors banning the entry of Russian citizens into their country.
Hurricane Ian Leaves Behind Governing Sting
Hurricane Ian recently made landfall in Florida this past week as a Category 4 Hurricane. Ian brought with it 155mph winds and over 12ft in storm surge in some parts of Florida.
In the wake of its aftermath, officials from Florida’s Lee County are under scrutiny for issuing a late mandatory evacuation. NPR reports that, “according to the county’s emergency management plan, a 10 percent chance of a six foot storm surge is enough to prompt the evacuation of Zone A.”
Zone A includes the county’s most vulnerable coastal areas. Forecasts from the National Hurricane Center included all of coastal Lee in its products. With thousands feared missing and dozens dead, criticism is being geared towards county officials who issued the evacuation order only a day prior to landfall.
Protests Erupt in Iran over Death of Mahsa Amini
Protests have been ongoing in Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian woman who is presumed to have been killed by the Iranian Guidance Patrol, better known in the West as the Morality Police.
The protests ongoing in Iran have brought the country to a point of mass civil unrest, with cities like Tehran being contested between protestors and Iranian security forces.
Mahsa Amini was arrested by the Guidance Patrol for failing to wear her hijab in public, a violation of Islamic law in Iran. Eyewitnesses testify the Patrol severely beat her.
Women all across the world have taken to the streets and Iranian embassies in foreign countries to further the protests over her death.
This protest follows a wave of protests in Iran that have been ongoing since 2017. Recently in the news is the question of the Iranian Supreme Leader’s health, however, not much is known on his actual condition.
North Korea Fires Missile Over Japan
North Korea fired a missile over Japan this past Tuesday, the first time it has done so in over five years. Tokyo ordered residents of its Tohoku region to shelter in place in order to avert any potential threats posed by the missile.
This missile launch is North Korea’s 23rd this year. This year has also been the most active in terms of missile tests for the North Koreans.
The move has been perceived as provocative by the government in Tokyo, with its allies in Washington and Seoul echoing a similar sentiment.
The missile launch comes amidst Kim Jong Un’s promise to advance North Korea’s missile program at the “highest” speed. North Korea failed to launch more than 10 missiles in both 2020 and 2021.
Herschel Walker Denies Paying for Abortion
Herschel Walker, Republican candidate for Senate in Georgia, is under scrutiny this week over allegedly paying for his girlfriend’s abortion. Walker has a noted anti-abortion position.
An article in the Daily Beast by an anonymous woman author claims that she is the boyfriend of Walker, and that he covered the costs of an abortion for her. The writer is alleged to have provided a copy of a check written by Walker for this purpose to the Daily Beast.
Walker has fervently denied this claim. Georgia is seen as a key battleground state in the upcoming Midterm election.
