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Wednesday, October 14, 2026

PTI chairman challenges emergency, governor's rule in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Peshawar, Oct 14 (PTI): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Wednesday challenged the imposition of emergency and governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the Peshawar High Court, seeking restoration of the party-led provincial government. President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday proclaimed an emergency under Article 232 and imposed governor's rule under Article 234 of the Constitution, with the federal government accusing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial administration of failing to effectively tackle rising militancy. The petition, filed under Article 199 of the Constitution, challenged the federal government's October 11 proclamation as well as the deployment of Pakistan Army troops, formation of an 11-member technocratic advisory council and removal of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. The PTI chairman also sought the immediate restoration of Afridi and his cabinet with full executive powers and asked the court to set aside all actions taken under the emergency, including the establishment of an Area Development Secretariat in 12 districts. The petition argued that the emergency proclamation violated Article 232(1) of the Constitution as no prior resolution seeking such a measure had been passed by the provincial assembly. “No such resolution was ever moved, debated, or passed by the provincial assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” it said, arguing that transferring the provincial assembly's legislative powers to Parliament without fulfilling the constitutional requirement infringed upon provincial autonomy. The petition also challenged the deployment of army troops under Article 245, contending that it could not override the civilian administration or be invoked without a lawful request from the provincial government. It also sought the release of Afridi and other PTI leaders, alleging that their detention was unlawful. Gohar Ali Khan further sought the complete record used to justify the emergency, including the governor's report and the summary submitted to the federal cabinet. He also challenged the advisory council headed by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and the Area Development Secretariat, alleging they created parallel administrative structures. PTI AYZ SKS SKSSKS(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/pti-chairman-challenges-emergency-governor-s-rule-in-pakistan-s-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-1871447

India Calls On Russia, Ukraine To Ensure Safety Of Black Sea Shipping

Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru India has urged both Russia and Ukraine to ensure safe passage for commercial shipping through the Black Sea as attacks on merchant vessels put Indian seafarers at risk and threaten to disrupt vital food and energy supplies. New Delhi says discussions with both sides are under way. "The targeting of commercial shipping and seafarers in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways must be restored at the earliest," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last week. India accounts for more than 12% of the global seafaring workforce, with 311,936 maritime professionals, according to a 2026 industry report. And attacks on commercial vessels in and around the Black Sea in recent months have highlighted the risks facing civilian crews. The Turkish-owned MV Royad Mammadov, a cargo ship carrying grain from Ukraine, caught fire and sank following an attack on Monday, killing two crew members. The three Indian nationals aboard the vessel survived, but sustained injuries and were taken to Romania to receive medical treatment. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blamed Russia for launching the strike. The Defense Ministry in Moscow separately said it had struck two Ukrainian cargo vessels in the Black Sea but did not specifically identify the ships. The Liberian-flagged oil tanker Aframax Rio was also recently attacked by unmanned vessels off Russia's Black Sea coast near Sochi, according to Russian authorities. The vessel was carrying 23 Indians, but all of them were rescued. <h2>Can diplomacy deliver safety?</h2> Anil Wadhwa, a former Indian diplomat, said India's proposal to halt attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea covered energy infrastructure, safe passage for grain and energy exports, and an end to strikes on merchant vessels. "Securing an ironclad guarantee depends entirely on a broader cessation of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine in the maritime theater," Wadhwa told DW. India's close relations with Russia and expanding engagement with Ukraine give New Delhi access to both sides, but do not guarantee either will honor a shipping arrangement. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has described India's proposal for a possible ceasefire with Russia as the "broadest" of the four offers Kyiv has received. Russia has not publicly endorsed a binding safe-passage deal proposed by India, despite welcoming New Delhi's peace efforts. Rajan Kumar of the Center for Russian and Central Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University said India could use its diplomatic leverage with Moscow to help bring the two sides towards an agreement. "India could play a constructive role in facilitating dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, particularly on the issue of ensuring the safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea," Kumar told DW. <h2>Working with other powers to reach a deal</h2> He argued that India should also work with other influential countries from the Global South, particularly China, Brazil and South Africa. "A coordinated approach with these countries could enhance their collective diplomatic leverage and strengthen their capacity to persuade both parties to adopt mutually acceptable arrangements for maritime security," said Kumar. India's initiative comes as US President Donald Trump announced an "energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine over the weekend, although its scope and implementation mechanism remain unclear. Harsh Pant, vice president of the New Delhi-based think tank Observer Research Foundation, said Trump's intervention could help India's efforts but might produce a narrower agreement that fails to address New Delhi's wider concerns. "The energy ceasefire could be an initial confidence-building measure, whereas a Black Sea shipping arrangement requires additional commitments on attacks against merchant vessels, ports, maritime routes and the security of commercial traffic," Pant told DW. "India need not compete with Washington for the public credit of mediation. It could instead press for the inclusion of broader maritime provisions in any US agreement.” <h2>Will India face a higher import bill?</h2> Wadhwa said the proposed energy truce could also benefit Indian seafarers if it secured safe passage for energy cargoes. "Although Ukraine alleges that the Russians have already breached this so-called truce, there will be pressure on both sides to allow energy cargoes safe passage. India is bound to gain as far as its crews are concerned in such a scenario," he said. The disruption to Black Sea shipping also has other implications for India such as delays in shipments of key commodities and higher transport costs. "A prolonged Black Sea disruption would elevate India's import bill mainly via higher freight on Russian crude and constrained soft oil supplies, with the strongest near-term transmission to domestic edible oil prices and food inflation," said Lekha Chakraborty, professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy. <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live. </div>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/india-calls-on-russia-ukraine-to-ensure-safety-of-black-sea-shipping-1871444

Three Indians Die In Germany Apartment Fire; Romanian Resident Arrested On Murder Suspicion

Three Indian nationals were killed in a fire at a residential building in Bochum, Germany, police said on Wednesday. A 41-year-old Romanian resident of the building has been arrested on initial suspicion of murder, while investigators are probing the circumstances surrounding the incident. The victims were two women aged 25 and 27, and a 26-year-old man, according to the police. Five other people suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to hospitals in Bochum for treatment. Fire investigators have ruled out a technical defect as the cause of the blaze and are proceeding on the assumption that it was arson. However, authorities are yet to establish whether the fire was deliberately set or occurred accidentally. <h2>How The Fire Broke Out</h2> The fire broke out early Tuesday morning. Emergency responders discovered the bodies of the three Indian nationals in an apartment on the second floor of the building. Police received information about the incident at 4:16 am, following which rescue and firefighting operations were launched. According to local media reports, the rescue operation was particularly challenging because the flames had spread upwards through the stairwell. This prevented firefighters from using the staircase to evacuate residents, as they would ordinarily do. <h2>Romanian Resident Arrested</h2> Police arrested a 41-year-old Romanian resident of the apartment building on initial suspicion of murder. A homicide squad is investigating the case. Although investigators have ruled out a technical defect as the cause of the fire, they have yet to determine whether it was deliberately started or occurred accidentally. <h2>Police Had Responded To Dispute At Building Days Earlier</h2> According to local media reports, police were called to the same building on Sunday following a dispute. Authorities had also responded to several other incidents at the property in the past. However, initial information suggests that those incidents were unrelated to the fire.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/three-indians-die-in-bochum-apartment-fire-romanian-resident-arrested-on-murder-suspicion-1871441

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Pope Leo XIV Has Lung Cancer, Vatican Says; Lower Lobe Of Right Lung Removed In Surgery

The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, a form of cancer, after surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung during an operation at Rome’s Gemelli hospital. The Holy See Press Office announced the diagnosis following the procedure, which had been scheduled after doctors detected a nodule during a routine medical examination. The 71-year-old pontiff had disclosed the planned surgery just days earlier, describing the growth as “contained” and saying it had been detected “at a very early stage”. However, an examination of the tissue removed during the operation confirmed the suspected diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma. The Vatican said the surgery was successful, with no complications reported. Pope Leo XIV woke up normally following the procedure and was transferred back to his room after a brief period of observation. His official schedule has been cleared until October 20 to allow him time to rest and recover. <h3>Surgery Successful</h3> According to the Holy See Press Office, the medical team removed the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung using a video-assisted surgical technique. The operation was carried out to ensure the complete removal of the affected tissue. The Vatican’s statement detailed the procedure and the pontiff’s condition afterwards. “The Holy Father underwent thoracic surgery as scheduled. To ensure a radical procedure, the lower lobe of the right lung was removed using a video-assisted technique. The intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as suspected by the pre-operative tests." "The Holy Father was in the operating theatre for approximately three hours; the operation itself lasted about ninety minutes. The operation was successful and there were no complications. Following the operation, the Pope woke up normally and, after a brief period of observation, returned to his room on the tenth floor,” it added. The Vatican also identified the doctors who conducted the surgery and managed the pontiff’s anaesthesia. “The surgical team was led by Professor Stefano Margaritora, assisted by Professor Elisa Meacci, Dr Maria Teresa Congedo and Dr Leonardo Petracca Caravella. The anaesthesia team consisted of Professor Massimo Antonelli, Dr Giovanni Punzo and Dr Giuseppe Bello,” it added. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BUfqFAWQygw?si=7-QPo-8qA0bxuEfl" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> ALSO READ: <a title="Mamata Banerjee Allegedly Targeted With Knife During Durga Puja Pandal Visit, Woman Detained" href="https://ift.tt/jx5g2tb" target="_self">Mamata Banerjee Allegedly Targeted With Knife During Durga Puja Pandal Visit, Woman Detained</a> <h3>Pope Revealed Diagnosis</h3> Pope Leo XIV had personally informed the public about his upcoming operation after leading the traditional Angelus blessing on Sunday. Addressing people gathered in St Peter’s Square from the balcony overlooking the square, he said the lung growth was “contained” and had been identified “at a very early stage”. Although lung nodules are relatively common and can be benign, further examination was necessary to determine the nature of the growth. In the Pope’s case, the histological examination conducted during surgery confirmed pulmonary adenocarcinoma, in line with the findings of pre-operative tests. The Vatican had indicated that the pontiff had not displayed signs of infection or illness before the procedure. The diagnosis was confirmed only after doctors examined the tissue removed from his right lung. With the operation completed, the immediate focus is on his recovery. His schedule remains cleared until October 20, giving him time to recuperate before resuming official engagements. ALSO READ:<a title=" CJP Leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka Sent To 5-Day Judicial Custody" href="https://ift.tt/dCWNnOS" target="_self"> CJP Leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka Sent To 5-Day Judicial Custody</a> <h3>November Trip In Focus</h3> The timing of the surgery has drawn attention because the Pope is expected to travel to Latin America in early November. Cardinal Kikuchi Tarcisio Isao of Tokyo said on social media that he had met Leo on Monday and that the pontiff felt “nothing wrong” physically. According to the cardinal, the Pope wanted to undergo the procedure promptly because of his upcoming international travel commitments and his hope of proceeding with the planned visit. The trip is particularly significant because it includes Peru, where Leo served as a missionary before spending several years as a bishop. His connections to the country make the proposed visit an important part of his itinerary. The Vatican has not indicated in the provided statement whether the diagnosis will affect the planned journey. His recovery and medical condition will be important considerations ahead of the November visit. <h3>What Is Lung Adenocarcinoma?</h3> Lung adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that develops in glandular cells. It is a common form of lung cancer and belongs to a broader group of cancers that can originate in glandular tissue across different organs. Adenocarcinoma can occur in several parts of the body, including the lungs, breast, colon and rectum, oesophagus, pancreas, prostate and stomach. The condition is identified through medical investigations, including the examination of tissue samples.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/pope-leo-xiv-diagnosed-with-lung-cancer-after-surgery-vatican-confirms-adenocarcinoma-rome-hospital-1871305

Saudi National Arrested For Planting Recording Device At OpenAI San Francisco Office

A Saudi national employed by OpenAI has been arrested in the US after allegedly planting a recording device inside one of the artificial intelligence company's San Francisco offices, the company and federal prosecutors said on Tuesday. OpenAI said its security team discovered a sophisticated recording device hidden inside an office late last month and referred the matter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The US Department of Justice said the employee, 35-year-old engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan, was arrested on October 9. He had worked at OpenAI since July 2025 and is accused of placing the device inside a television in an executive conference room, according to AFP. <h2>OpenAI Employee Allegedly Hid Device In Television</h2> According to the Justice Department, Alfozan allegedly wrapped a USB device in toilet paper before inserting it into the television. Investigators also found that security footage captured him near the conference room on multiple occasions, despite him not being authorised to attend meetings held there. Prosecutors alleged that Alfozan used a productivity tool to search for information about OpenAI's office buildings, meeting rooms, calendars, schedules and the locations of individuals. A chatbot account associated with his spouse also reportedly contained queries about remote audio recording and encrypting memory cards, the Justice Department said. <h2>OpenAI Says No Evidence Of Data Theft</h2> The company's security team discovered a second device while searching an unattended bag belonging to Alfozan, according to the Justice Department. Security footage also allegedly showed him inside the restricted conference room, appearing to look behind the television where the recording device had been placed. It remains unclear whether the device captured any information. OpenAI told AFP that it had found no evidence that Alfozan had improperly accessed or extracted model weights, source code or customer data. The allegations have not established that any information was successfully recorded or transmitted outside the company. <h2>Arrest Comes Amid Global AI Race</h2> The case comes as countries and technology companies compete to gain an advantage in artificial intelligence. The Trump administration has pushed to describe the race as one for "superintelligence", underlining its national security implications. "This serious situation underscores why winning the global super intelligence race is a national security prerogative," Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton said in the Justice Department's statement. "The intelligence community remains committed to safeguarding America's cutting-edge intellectual property from foreign threats," Clayton added. Saudi Arabia has also emerged as a significant investor in the AI sector. Its state-backed AI company, Humain, invested $3 billion in Elon Musk's xAI shortly before SpaceX acquired the AI division in February. Now known as SpaceXAI, the division announced last year that it was partnering with Humain to build a 500-megawatt data centre in Saudi Arabia. <h2>Engineer Faces Up To Five Years In Prison</h2> The Justice Department said Alfozan had been charged with using or attempting to use an electronic, mechanical or other device to intercept oral communications. The offence carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The department did not accuse Alfozan or Saudi Arabia, a close US ally, of espionage in its statement. A LinkedIn account matching Alfozan's name and professional background indicates that he previously worked at Meta, the company that owns Facebook, as well as an AI start-up and a venture capital firm. He also studied at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Alfozan is expected to appear at a federal court hearing on October 19. The case follows an earlier US prosecution involving alleged spying for Saudi officials. In 2022, former Twitter employee Ahmad Abouammo was found guilty of spying for Saudi officials who sought to identify critics on the platform.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/openai-saudi-national-arrested-for-planting-recording-device-at-san-francisco-office-1871295

US State Secretary Rubio to travel to Uzbekistan, India from Oct 17-22; visit to Jamnagar on cards

Washington, Oct 14 (PTI): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to India next week to further strengthen energy cooperation, the Department of State said on Tuesday. Rubio will first visit Samarkand in Uzbekistan, and will then travel to Mumbai and Jamnagar in India from October 17-22, it said. This will be Rubio’s second visit to India since May, when he attended the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting hosted by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi. “He will meet with senior government officials to strengthen the US-India strategic partnership, exchange views on regional and global dynamics, and discuss prospects for enhanced energy cooperation,” the State Department said. Rubio will also meet with business leaders to promote opportunities for commercial investment and economic cooperation, it said. Rubio’s visit to Jamnagar is crucial as it is home to Reliance’s refinery, the world’s largest single-site facility with a capacity to process 1.4 million barrels per day of crude oil. In March, President Donald Trump announced that the US will build its first refinery in 50 years with investment from Reliance Industries. The refinery will come up at Brownsville in Texas at a cost of USD 300 billion, Trump said. In Samarkand, Rubio will participate in the C5+1 Ministerial to highlight how strategic cooperation through this diplomatic platform promotes a more peaceful and prosperous future for the United States and the countries of Central Asia. The Secretary will also participate in bilateral engagements with senior officials from all C5 countries -- Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the Kyrgyz Republic. A US commercial delegation comprising over 200 business leaders will accompany Rubio, ushering in a new era of strengthened commercial cooperation for the United States and Central Asia. PTI SKU KSIKSI(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-state-secretary-rubio-to-travel-to-uzbekistan-india-from-oct-17-22-visit-to-jamnagar-on-cards-1871289

Kimberly Guilfoyle Resigns As US Ambassador To Greece Amid Allegations

Edited by: Wesley Dockery Kimberly Guilfoyle has stepped down as US ambassador to Greece. White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia earlier told reporters that Guilfoyle had been asked to resign, calling her "an incredible asset to the team." Zacharia, continued by adding, "we wish her well," though did not say whether she had already stepped down. Guilfoyle's position became untenable after the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on her supposed threats against Greece and her acceptance of improper gifts. Most recently, WSJ published an article with screenshots of text messages documenting her attempts to receive cash from a Republican donor in exchange for influence in the Trump administration. <h2>Trump before firing: 'We're not happy'</h2> The past week has seen much speculation as to whether Guilfolyle would have to go, with the Associated Press (AP) revealing that President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were "extremely pissed off" over the former Fox News host's conduct. On Monday, Trump said "we're looking at it" when asked if Guilfoyle could be fired, adding, "we're not happy." Rubio initially defended Guilfoyle and continued to do so in Greece last week, saying, "Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here." Ultimately, however, he lashed out at journalists for asking about the allegations against Guilfoyle, accusing them of seeing their own reporting as "gospel" and insisting that he would not comment until he knew the whole story. There have been mixed reports suggesting that the State Department's investigator general might look into the matter, though this has not yet been confirmed. Top Democrats in the House of Representatives and the Senate have called for investigations. <h2>Guilfoyle calls posting 'honor of a lifetime,' vows to 'defend reputation'</h2> After news broke of Guilfoyle's fall from grace within the White House, she released a lengthy post on X, lauding her own performance and calling her posting to Athens "the honor of a lifetime" as well as thanking Trump and Rubio for putting their trust in her. Guilfoyle also said she wanted to, "address the recent allegations against me," writing: "These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity. I have dedicated my professional life to fighting for justice, standing up for what is right, and defending the values that make America exceptional. I will not allow false accusations to define my decades of public service." Her most vocal accuser, Eric Deters, has vowed to sue Guilfoyle and her attorneys for defamation over her denials of wrongdoing in dealings with him. <h2>What exactly is Guilfoyle accused of?</h2> Guilfoyle, a TV personality who was formerly married to California Governor Gavin Newsom and later engaged to Trump's eldest son Don Jr., has been accused of numerous improprieties during her tenure in Greece. Greece is an important NATO ally for the US, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean and in terms of Red Sea shipping security. Among other things, she is said to have bragged about luxury travel and the perks of chumming with energy company executives before threatening that the US could easily undermine Greek democracy if it did not get what it wanted from the host country. She also appeared to favor shady deals with individual Greek construction and energy company execs, going so far as to bring their lobbyists to top-level diplomatic meetings. Guilfoyle was further reported to have alienated embassy staffers with her behavior and reportedly exploded after not being invited to a Greek-themed event at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, demanding she be allowed to attend. The straw that broke the camel's back, however, was a media offensive started by GOP donor Eric Deters, who grew weary of Guilfoyle's insistence that he pay off her credit card in exchange for influence that she had been unable to deliver. Deters began doing media interviews with any outlet that would listen after the WSJ story broke, publishing embarrassing text chains in which Guilfoyle implored him to transfer $100,000 (€89, 400) to her American Express account, writing, "Honey please, I need you to get this done for me today." Deters, who said he had already paid her $300,000 and gotten nothing in return, told numerous US media outlets the deal was "absolutely a quid pro quo" and that he had warned Guilfoyle that he would go public about their dealings if she could not rectify the situation. If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google, so you'll always see our verified news first. <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> (Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.) </div>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/kimberly-guilfoyle-resigns-as-us-ambassador-to-greece-amid-allegations-1871283