More than 30 supporters of Imran Khan’s party arrested
Lahore, Oct 6: Over 30 supporters of jailed former premier Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, including lawyers, were arrested after they managed to reach historic Minar-e-Pakistan premises on late Saturday night demanding the release of their leader, police said on Sunday. Lahore police said it also booked over 200 PTI leaders and workers, including Khan, under terrorism charges. Hundreds of containers were placed in different parts of Lahore, including all entry and exit points Saturday to foil the PTI’s protest. Police had also blocked all roads leading to the ruling Sharif family Jati Umra Raiwind Lahore residence. The government had also deployed Rangers in Lahore. A curfew-like situation was witnessed around the venue, Minar-e-Pakistan, which is closed to any general public entry indefinitely. However, several PTI workers and lawyers managed to reach the protest venue late on Saturday night and chanted slogans in favour of their incarcerated leader. Police arrested the protesters. (PTI)
UK PM’s chief of staff quits over reports about salary
London, Oct 6: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief of staff quit on Sunday, citing concerns that growing news reports about her role “risked becoming a distraction to the government.” Sue Gray’s resignation came after recent reports about tensions between her and Starmer’s chief adviser Morgan McSweeney, and that she was earning more than the prime minister. The BBC has reported that Gray’s annual salary was 170,000 pounds ($223,000), about 3,000 pounds more than Starmer is paid. Gray said she accepted a new role as Starmer’s envoy for the regions and nations. McSweeney will replace her as chief of staff at Downing Street. (AP)
Pope names 21 new cardinals
Rome, Oct 6: Pope Francis named 21 new cardinals Sunday, significantly increasing the size of the College of Cardinals and further cementing his mark on the group of prelates who will one day elect his successor. They include a man who will be the oldest cardinal – Monsignor Angelo Acerbi, a 99-year-old retired Vatican diplomat who was once held hostage for six weeks in Colombia by leftist guerrillas – and the youngest – the 44-year-old head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Melbourne, Australia, Bishop Mykola Bychok, named in a nod to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The new cardinals will get their red hats at a ceremony, known as a consistory, on December 8, an important feast day on its own that officially kicks off the Christmas season in Rome. It will be Francis’ 10th consistory to create new princes of the church and the biggest infusion of voting-age cardinals into the college in Francis’ 11-year pontificate. Acerbi is the only one of the new intake who is over 80 and hence too old to vote for new pope. Usually the college has a limit of 120 on voting-age cardinals but popes often exceed the cap temporarily to keep the body robust as existing cardinals age out. As of September 28, there were 122 cardinal-electors; that means the new infusion brings their numbers up to 142. (AP)