Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

Pope Leo XIV’s lung cancer was discovered by chance after tests for another reason, the surgeon who operated on him has said, as the pontiff recovered from the removal of a tumour at Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital. Dr Stefano Margaritora, director of thoracic surgery at the hospital foundation, said the 71-year-old pope had felt well and had shown no respiratory symptoms before the cancer was found. “The Holy Father falls into the category of people who discover they have lung cancer entirely by chance — not because they are undergoing preventive screening, but because they undergo examinations for other reasons,”…

At least 17 people, including a seven-year-old girl, have been killed and 25 injured in a stampede at a Hindu religious festival in north Kolkata, officials said. The incident happened on Saturday evening at a Durga Puja pandal, a temporary pavilion housing idols of the goddess Durga, in West Bengal. West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari said six of the victims had been identified. The injured were taken to hospital, police said. A police statement attributed the disaster to “heavy crowds of pandal hoppers amid rainfall”. A senior officer at the scene said an announcement caused further commotion after the…

Citi has said interest rates may have a greater influence on the economy than stock market valuations, highlighting the importance of borrowing costs to economic performance. The bank’s assessment suggests that movements in interest rates could matter more for the wider economy than changes in the value placed on shares.

Val Chmerkovskiy has been given a one-week suspension from Dancing with the Stars after a social media post appeared to reference Will Smith’s Oscars slap. BBC Studios, which produces the programme, said the professional dancer would not take part in the next live episode on Tuesday October 20. The controversy followed an exchange involving judge Carrie Ann Inaba and professional dancer Jenna Johnson, who is married to Chmerkovskiy. Inaba had criticised Johnson and her celebrity partner Harry Shum Jr for including a lift in their routine. Chmerkovskiy subsequently posted: “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.” The…

Businesses in Seattle’s Ballard neighbourhood were evacuated on Saturday after firefighters detected dangerous levels of carbon dioxide inside a commercial building, officials said. The Seattle Fire Department was called to 5429 Ballard Avenue Northwest shortly after 10.25am following the activation of a carbon dioxide alarm. Its dispatch log showed a hazmat team and specialist decontamination units were sent to the scene. ([web.seattle.gov](https://web.seattle.gov/sfd/realtime911/getRecsForDatePub.asp?action=Today&rad1=des&utm_source=openai)) Nearby premises were cleared as a precaution while crews investigated the source of the leak. Hazmat personnel later recorded elevated carbon dioxide levels and worked to isolate the release. The leak had been secured by about 12.30pm, and…

A 13-year-old boy has been arrested and charged over alleged sexual offences involving women and girls on walking trails in Sydney’s northern beaches. NSW Police allege there were 11 separate incidents in the Narrabeen area involving people aged between 13 and 54, mostly between October 1 and 12. The boy was arrested after attending Mona Vale police station at about 7.30pm following a public appeal, police said. He has been charged with three counts of behaving in an offensive manner near a public place and eight counts of sexually touching another person without consent. Police began investigating after three alleged…

A body has been found in the search for 17-year-old Kristijonas Demcenko, who went missing from Milngavie, north of Glasgow, on Monday. Police Scotland said the death is not being treated as suspicious. The discovery was made on Friday in the Mugdock Country Park area, four days after Kristijonas was last seen at about 2.30pm at the junction of Mugdock Road and Douglas Street. CCTV showed him walking towards Mugdock Road car park. He was wearing a black jacket, black jeans and black trainers with white soles, and was carrying a black bag. A search was launched after he was…

New York radio hosts The Kid Mero and Kazeem “Kaz” Famuyide have criticised the leadership of Hot 97 during a 15-minute on-air rant, despite continuing to work for the station. The presenters of “Mornings with Mero” accused the owners of failing to support the station’s talent, while also complaining about outdated technology and the treatment of freelancers. Famuyide described Hot 97 as “the worst place I’ve ever worked at”, a view Mero appeared to agree with during the broadcast. The pair also raised concerns about talented personalities leaving the influential hip-hop station amid contract disputes. They claimed that some freelancers…

Two people have died after a house fire in Grand Prairie, Texas, in the early hours of Saturday morning. Fire crews were called to the 3600 block of Green Hollow Drive shortly before 5am following reports that two people might be trapped inside the property. The house was fully ablaze when firefighters arrived, with the roof already collapsing. A man was found inside and taken out through a window before being rushed to hospital. He was later pronounced dead. Firefighters continued searching for a second victim, but the walls began to give way. A woman was subsequently found inside the…

A seven-night Cook Islands getaway combines three nights at Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort with four nights at Sanctuary Rarotonga – On the Beach, offering travellers a stay across two of the Pacific destination’s most distinctive islands. The itinerary begins on Motu Akitua, a small island in Aitutaki Lagoon, where Premium Beachfront Bungalows sit beside Sunset Beach. Guests have access to kayaks, paddleboards, snorkelling equipment and bicycles, with the lagoon just a short distance from each veranda. The package also includes selected dining and drinks experiences, including a sunset bottle of Lindauer Brut, an Island Goddess cocktail, and pizza served…