The Sunday Subject – October 2, 2022
Hurricane Ian swept through Florida this week with wind speeds near 150 mph.
President Biden stated that the hurricane may have caused a “substantial loss of life,” and that it may be the deadliest hurricane in Florida’s history. Biden declared it a major disaster, unleashing federal aid to several counties.
Georgia Meloni, the leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, declared victory in Italy’s general election.
Meloni is set to lead a right-wing coalition that includes Matteo Salvini’s Northern League and Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia, likely becoming the country’s first woman prime minister. The election was called after the collapse of Mario Draghi’s broad coalition in July.
The EU and NATO have determined that leaks from Nord Stream 1 and 2 were caused by sabotage.
Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, stated that deliberate disruption would receive the strongest possible response. While the EU and NATO have not outright blamed Russia, von der Leyen has proposed new sanctions against Russia, including an oil price cap.
Vladimir Putin declared the annexation of four regions of Ukraine.
The announcement at the Kremlin followed sham referendums on joining Russia, in which some Russian troops held Ukrainian voters at gunpoint while they filled out their ballots. Many countries have stated they will not recognize the referendum’s results, including Serbia, which has close ties with Russia.
