Iraq Marks Sovereignty Day as US Troops Complete Withdrawal

Iraqis celebrated Sovereignty Day on Thursday as US troops completed their withdrawal from the country, Al Jazeera reported. Night-time celebrations filled the air as Iraqis observed the start of a four-day holiday. The withdrawal marks the end of the US military presence in Iraq, though the report did not specify the number of troops involved or the timeline of the withdrawal.

In Australia, the federal government's Thriving Kids program began its rollout today, but Queensland's state government missed the deadline to sign up, according to The Guardian. The program provides supports to children up to 8 years old with mild to moderate autism or developmental delays. Queensland children will be made ineligible for the program as a result. Also in Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that Greens leader David Shoebridge's goal to 'replace Labor' is 'somewhat concerning', The Guardian reported. Additionally, Anika Wells was named in Time's 'influential rising stars' list.

An Israel-bound plane was the scene of a stabbing on Wednesday, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu describing the pilot as a 'hero', according to BBC News. Passengers and crew overpowered the attacker and safely landed the plane in Saudi Arabia. The attacker was another pilot, the prime minister said. No further details were provided on the condition of the stabbed pilot or the motive.

The US Supreme Court allowed the execution of Christa Pike to proceed, BBC News reported. The death by lethal injection was scheduled to happen earlier on Wednesday before a lower court paused the execution. The Supreme Court's decision lifted the pause, allowing the execution to go ahead. Pike's case had drawn attention due to her being a woman on death row.

In Texas, a 40-year-old man, Benny Caldera Jr, was arrested early Wednesday on suspicion of plotting to attack the Texas state capitol, The Guardian reported. The Texas Department of Public Safety said it received 'credible information about an individual planning a violent attack' for Thursday in Austin. Caldera is being held on bond. Authorities did not provide further details on the nature of the alleged plot.

In California, police are searching for additional victims after two bodies were discovered in a remote area of Lancaster, north of Los Angeles, The Guardian reported, citing the Los Angeles Times. The bodies were found in a shallow grave while authorities were investigating a missing persons case. Officials are looking for additional victims. Meanwhile, in the UK, Oasis have taken legal action to stop the sale of unheard recordings valued at more than £1m, The Guardian reported. The collection, which includes 63 live shows, hours of rehearsals, and candid conversations between Noel and Liam Gallagher, was pulled from auction after legal action by the band. Littleton Auctions in Worcestershire, England, had expected the tapes to sell for up to £1.6m.

Finally, Estonian slackline athlete Jaan Roose is preparing to walk a highline above central Seoul on Thursday, The Guardian reported. Roose, a three-time slackline world champion, will navigate a 160-metre long ribbon suspended 120 metres above the city, between the Koreana hotel and the Dong-A Museum, near Gyeongbokgung palace.