Pope Leo recovering well after cancer surgery, Vatican says
The 71-year-old pontiff is recovering in Rome’s Gemelli hospital after surgery to remove a cancerous growth on his lung.

The 71-year-old pontiff is recovering in Rome’s Gemelli hospital after surgery to remove a cancerous growth on his lung.




![US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth participates in a ceremony in remembrance of US military prisoners of war and those missing in action at the Pentagon in Washington, DC on September 18, 2026 [Jonathan Ernst/Reuters]](https://aljazeeranews-mggx1uo47w.edgeone.app/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-09-18T155041Z_1888227381_RC2RLNA0ZT7Y_RTRMADP_3_USA-DEFENSE-POWS-1790718298.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)





Pupils have been protesting after the implementation of a new dress code restricting the hijab in Azerbaijan’s schools.
Pope Leo XIV describes capital punishment as an ‘attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person’ in post on X.
Ireland Catholic residents react to UK ban on Protestant march
The senior rabbi, whose party is in Netanyahu’s coalition, has caused uproar in Israel by calling Zionism disastrous.
Rabbi Dov Lando’s comments expose tensions over Zionism, conscription and Netanyahu’s ultra-Orthodox allies.

Funeral prayers were held at Gaza City’s Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church for a Palestinian mother and daughter.
The multi-vehicle crash occurred in the Salama area, 90km southeast of Nairobi, killing mostly Catholic pilgrims.
Families who lived through one of the Troubles’ worst flashpoints fear its legacy is reaching another generation.
At the same time in Yemen, the Saudi-backed government army says it is inflicting heavy losses on the Houthis in Taiz.
Fearing outright demolition, Muslims volunteer to take down parts of the city’s Shahi Mosque themselves.