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Many millions of Hindus are gathered along the shores of their holiest river, the Ganges, in one of the world's largest religious gatherings, the Kumbh Mela. Over a few weeks, up to 70 million Hindus swim in the chilly waters — many of them on what India's astrologers deem to be "auspicious" bathing days.

Thousands of people trying to leave Sri Lanka's Jaffna peninsula are trapped by ethnic conflict. The peninsula is held by the Sri Lankan government. The territory just to the south is in the hands of Tamil Tiger rebels.

In the last six months alone, extra-judicial executions, suicide bombings and fighting have claimed many hundreds of lives in Sri Lanka. The death of a Hindu Tamil priest underlines the sheer viciousness of the conflict.

Though Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld recently said the situation in Iraq is calming down, insurgents continue to attack government officials, the country's infrastructure and its new security forces in particular. Some 890 U.S. troops have died in Iraq since March 2003. Hear NPR's Philip Reeves and NPR's Steve Inskeep.

Biden will ask Congress for billions to support Israel and Ukraine after making his case in a public address. Alsu Kurmasheva is the second U.S. journalist to be detained by Russia this year.

The Iraqi National Assembly agrees on a president and two vice presidents during its third meeting, breaking weeks of deadlock. Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani is the new Iraqi president; a Shiite and Sunni were chosen as the two vice presidents.

The International Atomic Energy Agency continues deliberations on Iran's nuclear program. Efforts by the United States to get an international consensus on tackling Iran are undermining one of its increasingly important alliance with India. Iran is an ally of energy-hungry India.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, lost 25 Republican votes in his third failed bid to become speaker of the House. Jordan could not quell the opposition to his candidacy.

At a ceremony in Baghdad, Iraq's Cabinet ministers are officially sworn in, but holes remain. Key posts reserved for representatives of Iraq's Sunni Arab community have still not been filled amid continued wrangling between the Sunnis and leaders of the Shiite majority.

Two days before Afghanistan's presidential elections, the impact of two of the country's most powerful warlords is a subject of speculation. In the north, Abdulrashid Dostum is among the presidential candidates. Another, Heart's Ismail Khan, continues to wield much influence. Hear NPR's Philip Reeves and reporter Rachel Martin.