4 h. ago ‘Maga Catholics’ are gaining ground in the US. Now their sight is set on the Vatican

Conservative US Catholics like Steve Bannon look to win ‘war that lasts decades’ with pope antithetical to FrancisOnce the papal conclave starts, the cardinals choosing Pope Francis’s successor will be strictly shut off from the world until a new pope is named. But the coming days before the conclave begins on May 7 will see competing factions of Catholics, including many laypeople, campaigning in the Vatican and the US to influence the church’s future – none with more urgency than those discontented with Francis’s liberal reign.American Catholics will fight to play a central role. Soon after the news of Francis’s death reached faithful the world over, the American counter-revolution mobilized, Vatican watchers say. Red-eyes to Rome were booked. Long-distance phone calls were made. Various cardinals likely received sudden dinner invitations. Continue reading...

Economics

62 h. ago ‘One mistake and their Germanness is gone’: how idea of stripping citizenship for crimes spread across Europe

Recent proposals put forward in countries such as Sweden, Finland and Germany reflect wider shift, say analystsThe plans, hatched by Sweden’s rightwing government with support of its far-right backers, made waves around the world. Politicians said they were working to strip citizenship from dual nationals who had been convicted of some crimes.It was a hint of a broader conversation taking place in capitals around the world. As far-right and nationalist parties steadily gain political ground, analysts say that citizenship is increasingly being linked to crime, giving rise to a shift that risks creating two classes of citizens and marginalising specific communities. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago The left is rising, and the far right is reeling. Will I finally see the Finland I dreamed of? | Mike Watson

My adopted home has been a dark place of late. But in last week’s local elections, voters turned against cruel politics – and raised hopes of a more progressive futureThe Finns say “spring comes in swinging” – when winter gives way to spring, and green shoots meet the final flurries of snow, often well into April. In Finnish politics, too, some hope is beginning to emerge after a long, dark winter.In municipal, regional and mayoral elections held across the country last week, rightwing populist parties were roundly defeated, while parties on the left gained ground. In particular, the far-right Finns party saw its vote share collapse, from 20% in the general election of 2023 to as low as 7.6% now. This leaves the coalition government of which it forms a part severely weakened and the centre-left Social Democratic party (SDP) with the biggest vote share nationwide (23%). When the Finns party leader, Riikka Purra, admitted defeat on results night, she complained that a punainen aalto, ...

Politics

2 w. ago Married at First Sight icon to appear on new reality show with 'never seen before' twist

Married at First Sight Australia star Lucinda Light is set to return to our screens later this month with a new reality show that has a huge twist fans will have never seen before

Politics

4 w. ago Brits set for two scorching weeks with NO rain in sight thanks to spring 'anti

New weather maps show a dry spell covering the majority of the UK from now until April 13 - as forecasters predict there will be no rain in sight across Britain for an entire fortnight

Politics

last month Defiant Djokovic on verge of making more history against teenage star

Veteran proving his resilience again but faces test against Jakub Mensik if he is to become third man to win 100 titlesNovak Djokovic departed Indian Wells two weeks ago with serious concerns. Aside from his one encouraging result this year, a supreme performance in his Australian Open quarter-final win over Carlos Alcaraz, the first few months of his 38th year had been grim. Father time had undeniably gained ground on him.The hamstring injury Djokovic suffered against Alcaraz eventually forced him to withdraw from his subsequent semi-final against Alexander Zverev after only one set. After tearing his medial collateral ligament at the French Open last year, this setback marked his second grand slam withdrawal inside a year after two decades of good health. Continue reading...

Politics