Iraq is poised to drastically lower its legal marriage age from 18 to just nine for girls and 15 for boys, sparking significant backlash both domestically and internationally. The proposed amendment, championed by conservative Shia Islamist parties, would allow for child marriage and grant religious leaders greater control over family issues, effectively stripping women of vital rights such as divorce, child custody, and inheritance. This proposed amendment would further exacerbate the already prevalent issue of child marriage in Iraq, where over 28% of women are married by the age of 18. While many countries around the world have set the legal age for marriage at 18, Iraq’s proposed amendment would place it among a handful of countries with the lowest legal marriage ages, prompting concerns about the safety and well-being of young girls.
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Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, has claimed he can’t afford to buy food after a judge ordered him to transfer assets, including his Mercedes, to two election workers he defamed. Giuliani, who has been ordered to pay $150 million in a defamation case, is seeking $250,000 through a crowdfunding campaign, claiming he is being persecuted for his support of Donald Trump and has been left with “not much” money. Despite this, Giuliani recently drove to vote in his Mercedes and maintains that he did not defame the election workers.
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A federal judge in Louisiana has blocked the state’s new law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in every public classroom, deeming it unconstitutional. The judge ruled that the law’s purpose is overtly religious, rejecting the state’s argument that the Ten Commandments hold historical significance to U.S. law. The decision, which grants a preliminary injunction against the law, finds that the state’s requirement would violate the First Amendment by establishing a religion and coercing students into religious participation. This ruling aligns with a 1980 Supreme Court decision that found a similar Kentucky law unconstitutional, highlighting the ongoing debate over the intersection of religion and public education.
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Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, 45, was arrested in South Carolina for the murder of Steven Douglas Lloyd, 34, in Tennessee. Hamlett allegedly staged the killing as a fatal bear attack in an attempt to steal Lloyd’s identity. Hamlett had befriended Lloyd, who had a mental health disorder and was known to live on the streets, and lured him to a wooded area where he killed him. Authorities identified Hamlett through his fingerprints and determined he had been using Lloyd’s identification to evade capture on a parole violation.
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A group of individuals carrying Nazi flags and shouting antisemitic slurs disrupted a performance of “The Diary of Anne Frank” in Michigan, causing fear and distress among attendees. This incident follows a pattern of growing antisemitism in the United States, which has seen a tripling of threats against Jewish individuals since last year. The demonstration underscores the importance of remembering and learning from the Holocaust, especially in light of the resurgence of hate crimes targeting Jewish communities both in the US and abroad.
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Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has expressed concern over the Republican Party’s apparent admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing it as a “homoerotic fascination” with the authoritarian leader. Johnson, a former ally of President-elect Donald Trump, believes this fascination is misplaced, emphasizing Putin’s dangerous and tyrannical nature. He warns that this influence could lead to detrimental policies regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, potentially undermining support for democracy and freedom. Johnson believes a negotiated peace deal with Russia could be disastrous, potentially sacrificing Ukraine’s sovereignty and jeopardizing global security.
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Republicans have secured a majority in the House, handing Donald Trump a trifecta of control over the federal government. With both the presidency, Senate, and House of Representatives under Republican control, Trump’s vision for the country is now poised to become reality.
The enthusiasm among Trump supporters is palpable, with promises of a booming economy, lower inflation, and a renewed sense of American strength echoing across the nation. However, the reality on the ground is far more nuanced. While Trump’s previous term saw a period of economic growth, the current economic climate is marred by high inflation and rising interest rates.… Continue reading
Today, I am pleased to announce my nomination of Tali Farhadian Weinstein and Chief Judge Frances Marie Tydingco-Gatewood to the United States District Courts for the Southern District of New York and Guam, respectively. Both nominees are highly qualified individuals with extensive legal experience, demonstrating a deep commitment to the rule of law and our Constitution. These nominations continue my administration’s commitment to building a judiciary that reflects the diversity of our nation, highlighting the rich tapestry of backgrounds and expertise that strengthens our nation’s legal system. These nominations mark the fifty-sixth round of judicial nominations, bringing the total number of announced nominees to 261.
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A Dutch appeals court has overturned a 2021 ruling that required Shell to reduce its emissions by 45% by 2030, upholding the company’s appeal. While acknowledging climate change as a human right, the court determined that Shell, while responsible for emission reductions, has the right to decide how those cuts will be made. Although the court acknowledged the need to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, it deemed Shell’s existing emissions reduction plans sufficient. Friends of the Earth Netherlands, the organization that initiated the lawsuit, expressed disappointment but maintains its commitment to holding major polluters accountable for their role in climate change.
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A 20-year-old Wisconsin man, Jalin White, has been arrested and charged with child abuse and neglect after allegedly throwing an eight-month-old baby against a wall. The infant sustained severe injuries, including a fractured skull, broken ribs, and a broken collarbone, and is not expected to survive. White initially gave conflicting explanations for the child’s injuries but ultimately admitted to throwing the baby in a fit of rage after losing a basketball video game. The incident occurred while White was watching the child in a room he shared with the child’s mother.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood