Afghanistan five years after the Taliban return

Five years after the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, women face severe restrictions, forcing many to rely on secret schools and online learning to maintain their education. Meanwhile, the U.S. military faces scrutiny over the extended deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln, where crew members report poor living conditions and mental health struggles. In the United States, a recent surge in executions—driven largely by Florida—coincides with declining public support for the death penalty. Ghana’s parliament has passed legislation criminalizing LGBT individuals and their allies, creating a climate of fear that has prompted many to flee the country. Elsewhere, scientists have developed a biodegradable balloon to combat marine plastic pollution, and researchers have identified that jogging with a pushchair may actually reduce overuse injuries in runners by distributing weight more effectively across the body.