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Pope Francis 1936–2025
Right-wing Catholics breathe morning air in papal election

Empowered by President Trump’s re-entry into the White House, many hard-right Catholics see their chance to try to get a more conservative pope elected, Politico reports.

Voices both inside and outside the Vatican have called Pope Francis a heretic, anti-pope and even the Antichrist, outraged by his views on same-sex marriage and migration.

“The hope is for a pope who concentrates more on Catholic issues such as abortion resistance and family rather than climate change and migration,” says Gloria von Thurn und Taxis, a German business executive and Catholic activist.

Conservative influencers have highlighted Bishop Athanasius Schneider of Kazakhstan, who claims that a political elite is orchestrating a “mass invasion” of refugees to Islamize the West, and Trump-friendly American Cardinal Raymond Burke.

Coronavirus  Covid research
China suggests Covid-19 may have originated in the US

China says Covid-19 may have originated in the US. The country writes this in a white paper on its pandemic management, Reuters reports.

The US is accused of politicising the issue of the origin of Covid-19. The book states that the US should not continue to “pretend to be deaf and dumb”, but should respond to the legitimate concerns of the international community.

“Significant evidence suggests that Covid-19 may have emerged in the US earlier than the officially stated timeline, and earlier than the outbreak in China”, the report states.

Donald Trump and his administration have previously said that a lab leak in Wuhan, China, is likely behind the pandemic. In April, the White House launched a website where they asserted the claim and criticized Anthony Fauci, Joe Biden’s leading infectious disease expert. There was also criticism of the WHO.

Political situation in Turkey
Hundreds arrested in connection with protests in Istanbul

More than 400 people have been arrested in connection with large protests in Istanbul on Thursday, AFP reports, citing a statement from the opposition CHP party's lawyers.

Large parts of the Turkish city have been closed to prevent people from protesting on May Day. Metros, buses and ferries were canceled on Wednesday and around 100 people were arrested for trying to protest in Taksim Square. Demonstrations have been banned at the site for more than ten years.

In addition to the usual May Day demonstrations, many protested against incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the arrest of opposition politician Ekrem Imamoglu.

Climate Threat  Global Challenges
Solar Power Boom in Pakistan – Driven by the Grassroots

Over the past two years, Pakistan has undergone one of the fastest transitions to solar power in the world, reports CNN.

Cheap Chinese solar panels are flooding into the country. In 2024, 17 gigawatts were imported, more than double the previous year, making the country the world's third largest importer.

This is not happening because of any decree from above – it is described as a grassroots revolution where Pakistanis are choosing solar power on their own initiative, not least because of high electricity prices.

– Contrary to the idea that renewable energy only works with subsidies, or is “forced on” the global south, Pakistanis are choosing it because it is economically reasonable, says Harjeet Singh at the Satat Sampada Climate Foundation.