Diya Hadid

The International Cricket Council's announcement comes more than three years after the Taliban seized power of Afghanistan. Because the Taliban don't allow women to play sports, most female Afghan athletes, including cricketers, sought asylum abroad. Most cricket players went to Australia after prominent sportswomen lobbied on their behalf.

But the International Cricket Council has long faced criticism from women's rights activists for admitting Afghanistan as a member, even though allowing women to play is a condition of joining the council. The council didn't say how much money would be in the fund for the exiled women players, when it would begin, or how long it would last. Dee Hadid, NPR News, Mumbai.

But the International Cricket Council has long faced criticism from women's rights activists for admitting Afghanistan as a member, even though allowing women to play is a condition of joining the council. The council didn't say how much money would be in the fund for the exiled women players, when it would begin, or how long it would last. Dee Hadid, NPR News, Mumbai.

The New Delhi caretaker chief minister said on X that many victims were Hindu pilgrims who were heading to the Mahakum Festival in India's north. The festival lasts for six weeks and gathers tens of millions of worshippers. This stampede comes after more than 30 people died at the Kumbh Mela last month in another stampede.

The New Delhi caretaker chief minister said on X that many victims were Hindu pilgrims who were heading to the Mahakum Festival in India's north. The festival lasts for six weeks and gathers tens of millions of worshippers. This stampede comes after more than 30 people died at the Kumbh Mela last month in another stampede.

Critics of the Hindu nationalist BJP, which rules both the federal government and the state where the festival takes place, say not enough has been done to accommodate the crowds of pilgrims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X that he was distressed by the stampede. Diya Hadid, NPR News, Mumbai.

Critics of the Hindu nationalist BJP, which rules both the federal government and the state where the festival takes place, say not enough has been done to accommodate the crowds of pilgrims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X that he was distressed by the stampede. Diya Hadid, NPR News, Mumbai.

The pews were barely half full in one of Syria's most important churches. It wasn't clear if worshippers were staying away out of fear or whether the bare pews simply reflected a years-long exodus of Christians from Syria amid nearly a decade and a half of war. Syria's war ended abruptly earlier in December after Muslim rebels led by Group HTS overran Damascus.

The pews were barely half full in one of Syria's most important churches. It wasn't clear if worshippers were staying away out of fear or whether the bare pews simply reflected a years-long exodus of Christians from Syria amid nearly a decade and a half of war. Syria's war ended abruptly earlier in December after Muslim rebels led by Group HTS overran Damascus.

The group's leader and Syria's interim ruler, Ahmed al-Shara, says that Syria's large minorities, including Christians, will be safe and protected. But Christians worry that extremists among the rebels will target them and their churches. Diya Hadid, NPR News, Damascus.

The group's leader and Syria's interim ruler, Ahmed al-Shara, says that Syria's large minorities, including Christians, will be safe and protected. But Christians worry that extremists among the rebels will target them and their churches. Diya Hadid, NPR News, Damascus.