While the global trend in forced marriage and child brides has seen numbers fall in recent years, the picture emerging from America is more disturbing, writes Bette BrowneMore than 12m girls around the world, some not even teenagers, are married before the age of 18.There were at least 207,468 such marriages in the States between 2000 and 2015, or an average of almost 40 a day.Child marriage, defined as any formal marriage or informal union where one or both parties are under 18, is banned outright in only two US states.But now a number of states have been galvanised into action to try to halt the practice.While on a global scale the US figures may not seem that alarming, you have to take into account that America is overall a wealthy country, whereas most child marriages in developing countries are entered into due to severe economic hardship.But the numbers emerging in recent years tell a different story, highlighted by research undertaken by groups such as … [Read more...] about Leave us kids alone: A look at child marriage in the US and beyond
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US artist reveals Melbourne nudes
Renowned US photographer Spencer Tunick has released images he took of hundreds of stark naked Melburnians. The photo project, Return of the Nude, took place back in July during the Chapel Street Provocare arts festival, but it is not until now that the New York-based artist has released the photographs. In total, 860 people took part, having been hand picked by Tunick from 12,000 applicants so as to achieve a cross-section of ethnicities, ages and sexual orientations. "I believe these final images have captured an extraordinary moment in the timeline of Melbourne," Tunick said in a statement. The images show nude participants in different locations across the suburb of Prahran - a Woolworths car park, Greville Street and Bromley Ballroom. In some photos participants are in sheer red cloth and in another they are painted from head to toe in bright colours. "I worked quickly in order to keep them from freezing and I think I got some beautiful artwork," Tunick told Nine News at the time. … [Read more...] about US artist reveals Melbourne nudes
Vote on US Withdrawal From Yemen War Comes ‘Too Late,’ But Still Sends Message
Under the resolution passed by the Senate, the White House must withdraw all of the Pentagon's forces from the Yemeni theater within 30 days or seek authorization from Congress for forces to be deployed. The bill did contain a provision stipulating that American forces fighting Al-Qaeda in Yemen would not be subject to the removal order. © REUTERS / Khaled AbdullahNumber of People Killed in Yemen Six Times Higher than UN Estimates - NGO Though the data are piecemeal, estimates indicate that the 3.5-year armed conflict has killed at least 57,538 people, AP reported in November, noting that this estimate is likely to increase to 70,000 or 80,000 once death tolls from the first nine months of 2015 are analyzed. The death count — which includes combatant and civilian deaths — likely underestimates the true tally because of how difficult it is to obtain reliable data on the … [Read more...] about Vote on US Withdrawal From Yemen War Comes ‘Too Late,’ But Still Sends Message
Trump Says US ‘In No Hurry’ in Negotiations With North Korea
"Many people have asked how we are doing in our negotiations with North Korea — I always reply by saying we are in no hurry, there is wonderful potential for great economic success for that country… Kim Jong Un sees it better than anyone and will fully take advantage of it for his people," Trump said in a tweet. "We are doing just fine!" ….Kim Jong Un sees it better than anyone and will fully take advantage of it for his people. We are doing just fine! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2018 READ MORE: North Korea to Expel US Citizen Detained for Illegally Entering State — Reports Earlier in the week, the US Treasury Department sanctioned three senior North Korean government officials over alleged human rights abuses. The situation on the Korean Peninsula has improved since the beginning of this year, with North … [Read more...] about Trump Says US ‘In No Hurry’ in Negotiations With North Korea
US Senate subcommittee seeks FBI probe of former USOC chief
A US Senate subcommittee is seeking FBI investigation of former US Olympic Committee chief executive Scott Blackmun for making "materially false statements" to lawmakers probing sexual abuse in gymnastics. Republican Senator Jerry Moran, the chairman of the Senate subcommittee on commerce, and Senator Richard Blumenthal, the highest ranking Democrat on the panel, issued a joint statement on Friday saying they had referred the matter to the FBI. The move comes after a damning report released on Monday that said the USOC failed to react swiftly when first warned of allegations surrounding former gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar in 2015. Instead, according to the report commissioned by the USOC and carried out by Boston law firm Ropes and Gray, they concealed the doctor's crimes until the scandal erupted into public view in late 2016. Nassar was jailed for life earlier this year afer abusing more than 250 athletes, inducing several stars of the United States' gold medal-winning teams … [Read more...] about US Senate subcommittee seeks FBI probe of former USOC chief