Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch will be dealing with the fallout from the local elections next week, whilst rapper Sean Combs goes on trial in New York.
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This week’s news agenda has been all about local elections and Kneecap, but what’s to come next week? An A-list celebrity will be in court, it’s the anniversary of a major historical event, and a new world leader might be elected.
1. The local election reactions could decide some politicians’ futures
Robert Jenerick looks on as Kemi Badenoch hugs her husband after beating Robert to become the new leader of the opposition Conservative Party. CREDIT: AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali.
The results from Thursday’s local elections will be coming throughout Friday, and possibly into the weekend. Most of the elections are for local councillors, but there’s also six votes for new local authority mayors, and one by-election for a seat in parliament. By Monday, we’ll have a clear picture of the results.
You’ll want to watch how they reverberate around Westminster next week. The Conservative party has by far the most seats to lose and it’s leader Kemi Badenoch’s first proper test in elections since she took over from Rishi Sunak last November.
The party attempted to lower expectations throughout the campaign after a historic defeat in last year’s general election. Early results show the Conservatives losing council seats to Reform UK, but the party’s co-chair, Nigel Huddleston, says Badenoch’s position is “solid.”
However, some Westminster insiders are speculating that Robert Jenrick – who Badenoch beat in the final round of the last Conservative leadership contest – is eyeing up her job again, so Badenoch’s reaction could decide her future as leader.
Early results suggest it was a good night for Reform. They’ve already won key votes like the Runcorn Helsby by-election, giving the party its first female MP. Expect to hear regularly from the party’s leader Nigel Farage.
2. The race to find the new Pope will begin (and probably end)
Cardinals attend a mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. CREDIT: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini.
On Wednesday, the conclave to replace Pope Francis – who died on Easter Monday – will begin. 135 cardinals – who are one step down from the Pope in church hierarchy – are eligible to vote and will be locked away to elect the next Pope.
The new Pope will need two thirds of the votes, so the cardinals will keep voting until someone reaches that threshold. The cardinals will vote inside the Sistine Chapel, isolated from the outside world, with updates communicated via a chimney until a new Pope is selected.
That’s right, a chimney! People will be travelling from across the world to watch the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. After each vote, the ballots are burnt. If nobody gets the two thirds majority needed, a chemical’s added to make the smoke black. When somebody does reach the threshold, meaning the new Pope has been found (assuming they accept), a chemical is added to turn the smoke white.
In theory, the conclave can last forever – the longest ever took almost three years! But in modern times, it’s usually over within a few days, so in all likelihood we’ll know who the next Pope is by the end of next week.
Cardinals Parolin – a moderate who was a close ally to Francis; Tagle – a liberal often described as the ‘Asian Francis’; and Erdo – a conservative who’s likely to undo a lot of Francis’ reforms – are considered frontrunners. However, frontrunners don’t mean much in the conclave. Both Francis and John Paul II were surprise picks before becoming influential, popular Popes.
3. MPs will be be discussing safer drug use
Injection kits and doses of naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses, in a supervised consumption room in Bogota, Colombia, similar to The Thistle in Glasgow (CREDIT: AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
On Wednesday, the Scottish Affairs Committee will begin an inquiry into a pilot of a Safer Drug Consumption Facility in Glasgow. The pilot facility, which is called The Thistle, offers a place for people to take drugs supervised by nurses and social workers, but it doesn’t provide the drugs.
The Thistle hopes to make drug use safer, and the inquiry will hear from experts in psychology, substance abuse and public health to try and see if that’s the case. They’ll also talk about the legal and policy issues the Thistle has faced, and what can be learnt from the pilot.
While the big-ticket drugs legislation – recreational cannabis legalisation – isn’t a high priority for most major parties, Scotland’s leading the charge towards a more liberal approach to drugs. Whatever it finds, this inquiry will add to the national conversation about drug reform.
4. We’ll see patriotism and reflection for the 80th anniversary of VE Day
Henry Rice, a 98-year-old veteran of the Normandy landings, gets a hug from Katie Ashby, founder and lead vocalist of D Day Darlings. CREDIT: AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth.
Thursday will be the 80th anniversary of VE Day – the day World War Two ended in Europe. In London, there’ll be events throughout the week, including a Bank Holiday Monday street party on HMS Belfast, and a concert in St James’ Park on Thursday.
From Labour’s union flag branding to Nigel Farage’s flag-waving pub trips, patriotism is in fashion for politicians. They’ll want to be seen at VE Day events and making tributes in Parliament. It’ll also be a time for reflection on the fragility of peace in Europe, as talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war continue.
5. The Diddy trial will begin
Diddy will be on trial in New York from Monday. CREDIT: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP.
Rapper Sean Combs, better known as Diddy, will be on trial in the US from Monday. His charges include sex trafficking and racketeering – which means participating in illegal schemes. The charges came after Diddy was accused of abuse by multiple people, including his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. The trial won’t be televised but City News will keep you updated on any major events.
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HeadlineDrugs, Diddy and democracy: five reasons to care about the news next week
Short HeadlineDrugs, Diddy and democracy: next week’s news
StandfirstA major celebrity in court, the election for a leader of over a billion people, and a big anniversary: here's what next week has in store.
This week’s news agenda has been all about local elections and Kneecap, but what’s to come next week? An A-list celebrity will be in court, it’s the anniversary of a major historical event, and a new world leader might be elected.
1. The local election reactions could decide some politicians’ futures
Robert Jenerick looks on as Kemi Badenoch hugs her husband after beating Robert to become the new leader of the opposition Conservative Party. CREDIT: AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali.
The results from Thursday’s local elections will be coming throughout Friday, and possibly into the weekend. Most of the elections are for local councillors, but there’s also six votes for new local authority mayors, and one by-election for a seat in parliament. By Monday, we’ll have a clear picture of the results.
You’ll want to watch how they reverberate around Westminster next week. The Conservative party has by far the most seats to lose and it’s leader Kemi Badenoch’s first proper test in elections since she took over from Rishi Sunak last November.
The party attempted to lower expectations throughout the campaign after a historic defeat in last year’s general election. Early results show the Conservatives losing council seats to Reform UK, but the party’s co-chair, Nigel Huddleston, says Badenoch’s position is “solid.”
However, some Westminster insiders are speculating that Robert Jenrick – who Badenoch beat in the final round of the last Conservative leadership contest – is eyeing up her job again, so Badenoch’s reaction could decide her future as leader.
Early results suggest it was a good night for Reform. They’ve already won key votes like the Runcorn Helsby by-election, giving the party its first female MP. Expect to hear regularly from the party’s leader Nigel Farage.
2. The race to find the new Pope will begin (and probably end)
Cardinals attend a mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. CREDIT: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini.
On Wednesday, the conclave to replace Pope Francis – who died on Easter Monday – will begin. 135 cardinals – who are one step down from the Pope in church hierarchy – are eligible to vote and will be locked away to elect the next Pope.
The new Pope will need two thirds of the votes, so the cardinals will keep voting until someone reaches that threshold. The cardinals will vote inside the Sistine Chapel, isolated from the outside world, with updates communicated via a chimney until a new Pope is selected.
That’s right, a chimney! People will be travelling from across the world to watch the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. After each vote, the ballots are burnt. If nobody gets the two thirds majority needed, a chemical’s added to make the smoke black. When somebody does reach the threshold, meaning the new Pope has been found (assuming they accept), a chemical is added to turn the smoke white.
In theory, the conclave can last forever – the longest ever took almost three years! But in modern times, it’s usually over within a few days, so in all likelihood we’ll know who the next Pope is by the end of next week.
Cardinals Parolin – a moderate who was a close ally to Francis; Tagle – a liberal often described as the ‘Asian Francis’; and Erdo – a conservative who’s likely to undo a lot of Francis’ reforms – are considered frontrunners. However, frontrunners don’t mean much in the conclave. Both Francis and John Paul II were surprise picks before becoming influential, popular Popes.
3. MPs will be be discussing safer drug use
Injection kits and doses of naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses, in a supervised consumption room in Bogota, Colombia, similar to The Thistle in Glasgow (CREDIT: AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
On Wednesday, the Scottish Affairs Committee will begin an inquiry into a pilot of a Safer Drug Consumption Facility in Glasgow. The pilot facility, which is called The Thistle, offers a place for people to take drugs supervised by nurses and social workers, but it doesn’t provide the drugs.
The Thistle hopes to make drug use safer, and the inquiry will hear from experts in psychology, substance abuse and public health to try and see if that’s the case. They’ll also talk about the legal and policy issues the Thistle has faced, and what can be learnt from the pilot.
While the big-ticket drugs legislation – recreational cannabis legalisation – isn’t a high priority for most major parties, Scotland’s leading the charge towards a more liberal approach to drugs. Whatever it finds, this inquiry will add to the national conversation about drug reform.
4. We’ll see patriotism and reflection for the 80th anniversary of VE Day
Henry Rice, a 98-year-old veteran of the Normandy landings, gets a hug from Katie Ashby, founder and lead vocalist of D Day Darlings. CREDIT: AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth.
Thursday will be the 80th anniversary of VE Day – the day World War Two ended in Europe. In London, there’ll be events throughout the week, including a Bank Holiday Monday street party on HMS Belfast, and a concert in St James’ Park on Thursday.
From Labour’s union flag branding to Nigel Farage’s flag-waving pub trips, patriotism is in fashion for politicians. They’ll want to be seen at VE Day events and making tributes in Parliament. It’ll also be a time for reflection on the fragility of peace in Europe, as talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war continue.
5. The Diddy trial will begin
Diddy will be on trial in New York from Monday. CREDIT: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP.
Rapper Sean Combs, better known as Diddy, will be on trial in the US from Monday. His charges include sex trafficking and racketeering – which means participating in illegal schemes. The charges came after Diddy was accused of abuse by multiple people, including his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. The trial won’t be televised but City News will keep you updated on any major events.
The first direct negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian officials since the breakdown of talks in 2022 have begun in Istanbul, as both sides revisit unresolved demands amid continued fighting on the ground
A devastating fire at Bicester Motion, a historic motoring and aviation centre located on a former RAF base in Oxfordshire, has claimed the lives of two firefighters and a member of the public.
