WORLD IN BRIEF: Pope Leo XIV diagnosed with lung cancer, ex-gang leader convicted for Tupac murder, Malawi fuel shortages disrupt transport

Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, the Vatican said. A Las Vegas jury convicted former gang leader Duane "Keffe D" Davis of first-degree murder in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur, with sentencing set for today. Fuel shortages in Malawi have entered their second week, disrupting transport and business. Here is what we know about each story as of October 14, 2026.

Contents

• Pope Leo XIV: lung cancer diagnosis and surgery
• Tupac Shakur murder: conviction and sentencing
• Malawi: fuel shortages hit transport

Pope Leo XIV: lung cancer diagnosis and surgery

Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery on Tuesday, October 13, at Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome. Doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung, and the Vatican said in a medical bulletin that tests confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, the same type that had been suspected before the operation. The Vatican said the removal was radical, meaning doctors took out all suspect tissue. The operation lasted about three hours.

The 71-year-old pope first disclosed a small, localized nodule on his lung during his Sunday prayer and announced that he would have it removed. Oncologists said before the operation that his prognosis would be excellent if the growth was caught at an early stage. The Vatican says he is recovering "as expected" and has started respiratory physiotherapy. Further tests on the removed tissue and his lymph nodes will show whether the cancer has spread. The Vatican has not released details on treatment. AP reported that the pope has offered an unusual level of openness about his health during his 17-month papacy.

Tupac Shakur murder: conviction and sentencing

A Clark County jury in Las Vegas found Duane "Keffe D" Davis, 63, guilty of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon on August 31, 2026, after about three hours of deliberation. The verdict followed an 11-day trial and capped a 30-year search for those responsible for the shooting of the rap star in September 1996. Davis, a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Judge Carli Kierny scheduled sentencing for October 13.

Prosecutors did not argue that Davis fired the shot. Under Nevada law, a person can be charged with murder for planning a killing even if they did not pull the trigger. Prosecutors said Davis supplied the gun used by his nephew and organized the pursuit. Davis has said he is innocent and plans to appeal. Al Jazeera reported that his defense argued the case rested largely on his own statements, including his 2019 memoir. Sentencing had not been reported at the time of writing, so the sentence should be confirmed before publication.

Malawi: fuel shortages hit transport

Fuel shortages in Malawi have entered their second week, with long queues at filling stations and motorists sleeping in their vehicles in the hope of getting fuel when a station is restocked. Africanews reported that minibus operators say rising fares have pushed some passengers to walk, and that businesses are losing customers as deliveries slow.

The government has blamed logistical disruptions along supply routes through Tanzania, where Malawi's imported fuel is transported to inland distribution points. It says deliveries are being processed and supply should resume shortly, but has not given a timeline. Malawi's fuel problems have deeper roots. The country depends heavily on imports and is short of the foreign currency needed to pay for them. Earlier this year, the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority acknowledged supply disruptions, while maintaining that the country had sufficient stock. The shortage is also affecting power supply, adding to pressure on households and businesses.

Readers planning travel in Malawi should confirm fuel availability and transport options before setting out.