September 29, 2022

*) Kremlin proxies in Ukraine plead to Putin for annexation Kremlin-backed officials in Ukraine have appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to annex regions under their control, after the territories held votes that Kiev and its allies denounce as a "sham". Ukraine has called on the EU to hit Russia with more sanctions and NATO to send more weapons to the frontline, with the Moscow-backed separatist votes significantly raising the stakes. Russia is looking to annex Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine's south, and Donetsk and Luhansk in the east. The areas represent around 15% of Ukraine’s territory. *) US does not act fairly when it comes to NATO allies: Turkish president Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticised the US for its tilted stance amid tensions between Türkiye and Greece, calling out Washington for its unequal treatment of NATO allies. In a TV interview, he also said that according to drone footage, there are armoured vehicles stationed on Greek islands that are supposed to be demilitarised — a move he described as "unacceptable." Ankara has warned the US and Greece over the military deployments and sent a letter to the UN, Erdogan said, reminding the US that it “cannot find another ally like Türkiye”. *) Iran launches deadly attacks on Kurdish region of northern Iraq Iran's Revolutionary Guard has launched deadly attacks on the Kurdish region of northern Iraq targeting armed rebel groups, Iranian state media have reported. Iran’s attacks targeted Koysancak (Koy-san-jak), also known as Koya — east of Iraq’s Erbil — killing at least nine people and wounding 32 others, according to Kurdish regional authorities. The strikes come at a time when Iran is rocked by protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman who was detained by the Iranian morality police. *) Hurricane Ian pounds Florida as a monster storm Hurricane Ian has plunged much of coastal southwest Florida into darkness, with the monster storm bringing massive storm surges, wind and flo