Worldwide

Oman: Afghan women gain temporary reprieve

20 Mar 2025
More than eighty Afghan women studying in Oman on US-funded scholarships have received a temporary extension of support until 30 June, after an abrupt funding cut by the Trump administration. The scholarships, provided through USAID, were…

USA: safe return for astronauts

20 Mar 2025
After an unexpected nine-month extension aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore safely returned to Earth on Tuesday. They splashed down off Florida’s coast in a SpaceX Dragon capsule alongside…

Somalia: president narrowly avoids al-Shabaab bomb

20 Mar 2025
On 18 March Somalia’s president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, narrowly survived a roadside bombing in Mogadishu. The massive explosion killed at least ten people, including several presidential bodyguards and one journalist. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility, highlighting security vulnerabilities…

Australia: two beaches closed due to toxic foam

20 Mar 2025
Two beaches in South Australia have been closed after dead fish and an off-white foam appeared onshore, while surfers reported feeling unwell. Authorities suspect that a microalgal bloom, fuelled by unusual weather, has caused these problems.…