Interview
Cardinals in: choosing the next pope
- The Roman Catholic Church conclave to select a successor to Pope Francis is scheduled to occur between 15 and 20 days following his death, with Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presiding over the process.
- The incoming pontiff's identity may dictate the Church's future trajectory regarding right-wing populism and China, forcing a choice between confrontational or accommodating stances, as well as decisions on clerical power devolution and the rigor of abuse handling.
- Despite Pope Francis having hand-picked most of the conclave, conservative cardinals, potentially forming a coalition with American and African bishops, may assert themselves; while historical cycles suggest a conservative reaction to a liberal pope, conclaves remain unpredictable.
- Disappearances in Mexico rose sharply during the six-year term of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, with the daily rate increasing from an average of 37 to 40 since October.
- Investigations into a discovered ranch site linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel are ongoing, with officials citing no evidence of mass extermination despite cremation traces, while the government's war on drugs is noted as a factor in gang fragmentation and the disappearance epidemic.
- President Claudia Sheinbaum, elected in October, has pledged to enhance security by establishing a national database of unidentified bodies, eliminating the 72-hour reporting window for missing persons, and upgrading the National Search Commission with drone technology.
- Challenges to resolving disappearances include a severe shortage of forensic specialists and public indifference, creating uncertainty regarding whether recent discoveries will lead to proper investigation or lasting policy change.
- The Minecraft film is recognized as Hollywood's first 2025 hit with a trajectory similar to the Super Mario Bros movie, successfully drawing the 11-to-16 age demographic, though some operators express concern regarding unruly teen behavior.
- The trend of teenage group movie consumption, previously seen with a Minions film three years ago, is viewed as encouraging for cinemas, with projections indicating a high likelihood of similar video game-based releases in the next 12 months.