Lab-raised mosquitoes dropped by drones to protect Hawaii’s native bird species
Hawaii turns to lab-grown mosquitoes and drones in a race to stop the extinction of its iconic honeycreeper birds....
Iraq’s parliament passed amendments to the country’s personal status law on Tuesday that critics claim could legalize child marriage, sparking intense backlash from human rights activists and lawmakers.
The amendments grant Islamic courts greater authority over family matters, including marriage, divorce, and inheritance. While Iraqi law currently sets the legal marriage age at 18, the changes allow clerics to decide cases based on Islamic law, which in some interpretations permits marriage for girls as young as nine.
Advocates of the amendments, largely conservative Shiite lawmakers, argue that the changes align family law with Islamic principles and reduce Western influence. However, opponents, including women’s rights groups, warn the amendments undermine Iraq’s 1959 Personal Status Law, which unified family law and established protections for women and children.
“This will leave disastrous effects on the rights of women and girls,” said Intisar al-Mayali, a human rights activist, citing concerns over early marriage, custody disputes, and inheritance issues.
Voting Chaos and Legislative Controversy
The session was marred by accusations of procedural violations, with some lawmakers alleging that the legal quorum was not met. All three controversial laws on the agenda — including the personal status amendments, a general amnesty law, and a land restitution law for Kurdish territorial claims — were bundled into a single vote, sparking further criticism.
“Half of the lawmakers present in the session did not vote, which broke the legal quorum,” said a parliamentary official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Protests erupted in the chamber, with some members climbing onto the podium in objection.
Independent MP Raid al-Maliki expressed dissatisfaction with the voting process, stating, “We strongly support the civil status law, but combining it with other laws in one vote might lead to a legal appeal at the Federal Court.”
Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani defended the outcome, calling the laws’ passage “an important step in enhancing justice and organizing the daily lives of citizens.”
Broader Implications and Security Developments
The general amnesty law, another divisive measure, is seen by critics as benefitting Sunni detainees and potentially shielding individuals involved in corruption. Meanwhile, the land restitution law aims to address Kurdish territorial disputes but has also drawn controversy.
In a separate incident on Tuesday, three officers, including the national security chief of the al-Tarmiyah district, were killed, and four others wounded in an explosion at an ammunition depot during a military operation targeting Islamic State activity north of Baghdad.
The parliamentary session and security developments highlight the ongoing challenges Iraq faces in navigating legislative reforms and maintaining stability amid political and social tensions.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
Hawaii turns to lab-grown mosquitoes and drones in a race to stop the extinction of its iconic honeycreeper birds.
Foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Türkiye held a phone conversation on 25 July to discuss their strategic alliance, regional security, and the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process.
On July 25, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with outgoing Slovak Ambassador Milan Lajcak to review bilateral cooperation and regional developments as the envoy concludes his mission in Baku.
The Embassy of the Republic of Sudan in Baku has issued a statement to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sudan and Azerbaijan, celebrated on 25 July 2025.
A Kazakh military helicopter carrying three crew members vanished from radar during a scheduled flight over the Almaty Region on Friday, according to the country's defence ministry.
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