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Sushmita Pathak
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Sushmita Pathak

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Saturday

A Hindu-Muslim dispute tests centuries of interfaith culture in India's Varanasi

An aerial view shows Gyanvapi mosque (left) and Kashi Vishwanath temple on the banks of the Ganges River in Varanasi, India. Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP hide caption

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Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP

Asia

A Hindu-Muslim dispute tests centuries of interfaith culture in India's Varanasi

Both faith communities have long shared this sacred city. But some Hindus have taken legal action over a mosque they claim holds idols of Hindu deities.

A Hindu-Muslim dispute tests centuries of interfaith culture in India's Varanasi

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Thursday

Asia

A city in India has been a melting pot of different faiths. What's testing that?

In the northern Indian city of Varanasi or Benaras, a religious dispute is threatening the city's interfaith harmony.

A city in India has been a melting pot of different faiths. What's testing that?

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Saturday

Across South Asia, this sweet drink is synonymous with summertime refreshment

A vendor in Old Delhi mixes a pink beverage of Rooh Afza diluted with milk. Sushmita Pathak for NPR hide caption

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Sushmita Pathak for NPR

World

Across South Asia, this sweet drink is synonymous with summertime refreshment

Invented in 1907 to beat the effects of extreme heat, Rooh Afza — a ruby-red, plant-based concentrate — is diluted with water, milk or ice and is a summertime favorite in India, Pakistan and beyond.

Across South Asia, this sweet drink is synonymous with summertime refreshment

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Sunday

Saturday

Thursday

How Asia's ex-richest man lost nearly $50 billion in just over a week

Gautam Adani, billionaire and chairman of Adani Group, speaks during an event at Israel's Port of Haifa, on Tuesday. The Indian billionaire, whose business empire was rocked by allegations of fraud by short seller Hindenburg Research, said his company will make more investments in Israel. Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg via Getty Images

World

How Asia's ex-richest man lost nearly $50 billion in just over a week

Indian businessman Gautam Adani was a few billion dollars shy of Elon Musk. But he tumbled down the billionaires' list after a U.S. firm accused the Adani Group of pulling off an epic con.

Monday

Thursday

These female health-care workers won a huge WHO honor. They'd like a raise, too

Female community health care workers protest in New Delhi, India, in August 2020. The women are part of a government program called Accredited Social Health Activists — and are demanding higher pay and better working conditions. In May, the program won an award from the World Health Organization. T. Narayan/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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T. Narayan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

These female health-care workers won a huge WHO honor. They'd like a raise, too

India's all-female task force of community health-care workers won the World Health Organization's Global Health Leaders Awards. But instead of recognition, some want a better salary and benefits.

Friday

Breaking the Ramadan fast: In one city, a special stew with goat and rose petals

Around the world, the dawn-to-dusk daily Ramadan fast — expected to start this week — is usually followed by a feast. In Hyderabad, that feast is dominated by a special dish called haleem — a steaming mixture of goat meat, lentils, wheat and spices that cooks for hours. Sushmita Pathak/NPR hide caption

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Sushmita Pathak/NPR

Goats and Soda

Breaking the Ramadan fast: In one city, a special stew with goat and rose petals

In Hyderabad, India, the dominant dish after the daily dawn-to-dusk fast is haleem, a stew that takes hours to prepare. Some say it's so hearty you could fast for two days after a dish.

Breaking the Ramadan fast: In one city, a special stew with goat and rose petals

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Wednesday

Food

In southern India, haleem is a cherished Ramadan tradition — and not just for Muslims

In southern India's Hyderabad, Ramadan means haleem: a spicy meat & lentil stew with Arab roots. In the past few decades, the dish has become a cherished Ramadan tradition, and not just for Muslims.

In southern India, haleem is a cherished Ramadan tradition — and not just for Muslims

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Saturday

'Writing With Fire' is up for an Oscar. But its subjects say they're misrepresented

Being a female journalist and a Dalit, Meera Devi is no stranger to discrimination and threats of violence. "I have got threats against my life. There have been threats against shutting down our newspaper. They raise doubts about my reporting and investigate if I'm really a journalist." Black Ticket Films hide caption

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Black Ticket Films

Goats and Soda

'Writing With Fire' is up for an Oscar. But its subjects say they're misrepresented

The documentary tells the story of a news outlet run by women from marginalized communities. The directors are thrilled by the nomination. But the reporters say their full story wasn't told.

Monday

Obituaries

Popular Bollywood singer, Lata Mangeshkar, dies at 92

Lata Mangeshkar recorded more than 25,000 songs for Indian movie musicals. She died in Mumbai, where she had been hospitalized with pneumonia and COVID-19.

Popular Bollywood singer, Lata Mangeshkar, dies at 92

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Thursday

Here's how India is celebrating Diwali

People watch a laser show on the banks of the river Sarayu during Deepotsav celebrations on the eve of the Hindu festival of Diwali in Ayodhya on Wednesday. The five-day festival celebrates the victory of light over darkness. Sanjay Kanojia/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Sanjay Kanojia/AFP via Getty Images

World

Here's how India is celebrating Diwali

Hindus in India and across the world are celebrating Diwali, the five-day festival of lights. Here's what celebrations look like across India.

Wednesday

A 15-year-old girl invented a solar ironing cart that's winning global respect

Vinisha Umashankar and her solar ironing cart. She came up with the idea when she was 12 — then worked with engineers to create a prototype. Now she's in Glasgow, Scotland, to speak at the COP26 climate change conference. Umashankar Sathyakumar hide caption

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Umashankar Sathyakumar

Goats and Soda

A 15-year-old girl invented a solar ironing cart that's winning global respect

Vinisha Umashankar came up with the idea of solar power instead of charcoal to heat street irons. "Iron-Max" was a finalist for Prince William's Earthshot Prize, and this week, she spoke at COP26.

Saturday

Thursday

5 Things To Know About Biden's Quad Summit With Leaders Of India, Australia And Japan

The last Quad meeting, in March, was virtual. President Biden, Yoshihide Suga, Japan's prime minister (top right), Scott Morrison, Australia's prime minister (bottom left), and Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, will meet in person in the U.S. on Friday. Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg via Getty Images

World

5 Things To Know About Biden's Quad Summit With Leaders Of India, Australia And Japan

President Biden will meet on Friday with the leaders of Japan, Australia and India. Their agenda includes the pandemic and climate change. But analysts say the Quad group is mainly about China.

Friday

Asia

India's Vaccination Drive Has Gathered Speed, But Millions Remain Vulnerable

India has sped up its COVID vaccination after a deadly spring outbreak. Half of those eligible have received at least one shot. But millions are still vulnerable as fears of a new wave loom.

India's Vaccination Drive Has Gathered Speed, But Millions Remain Vulnerable

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Tuesday

Whatever Happened To ... The Teen Hailed For Cycling 700 Miles With Her Injured Dad?

In this screen grab from video posted by BBC News Hindi, Jyoti Kumari, then 15, rides with her father during their 700-mile journey to their family's village of Sirhulli in eastern India. BBC News Hindi hide caption

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BBC News Hindi

Goats and Soda

Whatever Happened To ... The Teen Hailed For Cycling 700 Miles With Her Injured Dad?

The 17-year-old wanted to bring her father home to his village after he was injured in the city where he worked. She was praised as a national hero and given honors and prizes. How is she doing now?

Sunday

Tuesday

India's Pandemic Death Toll Estimated At About 4 Million: 10 Times The Official Count

Performing last rites before the cremation of a family member who died of COVID-19. Anupam Nath/AP hide caption

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Anupam Nath/AP

Goats and Soda

India's Pandemic Death Toll Estimated At About 4 Million: 10 Times The Official Count

That's the number of "excess deaths" from January 2020 to June 2021, reflecting the true toll of COVID-19, say researchers in a new study. Why the big disparity?

India's Pandemic Death Toll Estimated At About 4 Million: 10 Times The Official Count

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Global Health

India's COVID-19 Death Toll May Be 10 Times The Official Figure, Study Suggests

A new epidemiological study suggests the death toll in India from COVID-19 could be as much as 10 times the official figure — making the count closer to 5 million people.

India's COVID-19 Death Toll May Be 10 Times The Official Figure, Study Suggests

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Saturday

India's Single-Screen Cinemas Were Struggling Before COVID-19. Now They're Dying Out

Edward Theatre's entrance, as seen from the street opened in 1914 in Kalbadevi, and was named after King Edward V, who visited Mumbai the same year. It initially started with stage plays, with a total of 509 wooden seats, distributed between three separate levels. Until a few years ago, the theatre turned cinema hall, played mostly B- grade Bollywood films. Viraj Nayar for NPR hide caption

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Viraj Nayar for NPR

World

India's Single-Screen Cinemas Were Struggling Before COVID-19. Now They're Dying Out

Before multiplex cinemas, India had tens of thousands of single-screen movie houses. But the way Indians watch movies has changed, and the pandemic forced many old cinemas to shut their doors forever.

India's Single-Screen Cinemas Were Struggling Before COVID-19. Now They're Dying Out

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Thursday

Friday

Skateboarding Gives Freedom To Rural Indian Teen In Netflix Film — And In Real Life

Asha Gond (center right) rides her skateboard. When she first began skateboarding, neighbors would catcall that skateboarding is for boys and urge her parents to marry her off. Vicky Roy hide caption

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Vicky Roy

Goats and Soda

Skateboarding Gives Freedom To Rural Indian Teen In Netflix Film — And In Real Life

A new Netflix movie called Skater Girl chronicles the journey of an Indian teenage girl who discovers a life-changing passion for skateboarding. It's also the story of Asha Gond.

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