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In order to meet its obligation under federal food assistance rules, states have been ordered by the federal government to turn over names, birthdates and Social Security numbers of food assistance recipients; this request, however, has been placed on hold due to legal challenges against it.
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The Supreme Court blocked President Trump’s travel ban
As one national security expert explains, this represents a serious setback for those challenging the ban. “It is difficult to comprehend how the administration could justify a travel ban that does not directly target national security.”
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote extensively in his opinion about this subject. He noted that presidents may ban certain individuals from certain countries if he or she believes their entry would harm its interests, stating it is outside of court’s proper role to second-guess these determinations.
Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor disagreed with that interpretation. Citing statements made during Trump’s campaign that seemed directed against Muslims and his subsequent statements once in office that are derogatory of Muslims, as well as his ongoing derogatory comments since becoming president, they concluded that Trump’s ban failed Establishment Clause scrutiny and demanded Congress take up this issue, either through challenging the visa waiver process or specifically scrutinizing exemptions outlined within it.
The Druze believe in reincarnation
Druze people (with one million living in Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Palestine), according to their beliefs held among themselves, believe every soul reincarnates into another body at death – known as notq in Arabic – sometimes remembering previous lives or recalling who they were when living them out again.
May Malaeb, a nurse from Baysour in Syria’s Chouf region, can recall her previous life as a schoolgirl who was reincarnated into treating injured Druze fighters and civilians at her hospital job. Reincarnation helps keep people connected within communities where the Druze religion practices endogamy; May is living proof.
South Korea’s president-elect wins a stormy election
As South Korea grapples with economic stagnation and tension with its main trading partner, the US, its new president must confront multiple challenges extending beyond politics alone. He must also deal with widening income gaps, rising suicide rates, and an exceptionally low birthrate compared to developed nations.
Lee Jae-myung, who led the opposition campaign to unseat Yoon and has an established history of taking on authority, looks set to win this election. Yet he must prove himself: still facing multiple criminal trials including for bribery and involvement in property development scandal, many voters fear his promise of investigating those responsible for Yoon’s martial law declaration could be seen as political revenge by voters.
He has taken care to avoid upsetting male voters by advocating policies seen as feminist; yet young women say they don’t hear much from either himself or his main rival, Kim Moon-soo of the right-wing People Power Party.
A new report tries to capture the true cost of incarceration
A recent report attempts to estimate the true costs associated with incarceration, both direct and indirect costs for society as a whole. Research demonstrates that it can be costly both before and after someone enters prison or jail.
The report concluded that incarceration costs taxpayers more than just money spent on prison infrastructure and staff; families of incarcerated people also experience income losses, leading to housing instability and other complications for themselves and their loved ones – the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights has calculated that two out of every three families with someone behind bars cannot make ends meet financially.
This study conducted an in-depth analysis of both national and state budgets to demonstrate that spending on incarceration in most states was higher compared to other government services. While per-inmate costs can provide some indication as to whether spending is efficient, taking into account broader societal costs of imprisonment such as recidivism or harm caused to individuals or families is much harder to measure accurately.
