Blackpool CC, a historic cricket ground that has hosted legendary players, is facing challenges. The Lancashire men's team's recent defeats and relegation, coupled with internal club disputes and economic struggles in the town, cast a shadow over its future, despite efforts to engage refugees and attract new talent.
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) stated that 2.4 million refugees will require resettlement in 2025, a figure down 6% from last year. This comes as several countries, including the US, have significantly reduced their resettlement quotas, creating a dire shortage of options for those unable to return home.
The US is seeking new host countries for over 1,000 Afghan refugees stranded at a military base in Qatar since August 2021. The refugees, who worked with US forces, face a difficult choice between returning to Afghanistan or being relocated to a country in crisis, as Qatar demands their departure by September 2026.
Afghanistan's foreign ministry says Afghans who assisted the US war effort and have been stranded at a US base in Qatar can safely return home, amid reports the Trump administration is discussing sending them to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Around 1,100 Afghan refugees who worked alongside US forces during the 20-year war have been in limbo at Camp As-Sayliyah in Doha for the past year. The State Department says it's working to identify third-country resettlement options on a voluntary basis.
