candidates

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his address to the United Nations General Assembly to denounce Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist mayoral candidate in New York City. The attack on a local American politician from a global diplomatic stage drew immediate attention and criticism, with commentators debating why Netanyahu singled out Mamdani and what it says about his effort to frame opponents of Israeli policy.

Republican candidates and officeholders are publicly distancing themselves from Donald Trump as polling shows weakening support, particularly in competitive districts. Lawmakers are reportedly avoiding joint appearances and softening ties with the former president ahead of upcoming elections. Commentators see the move as an effort to protect vulnerable seats, while Trump allies dismiss the polls and warn that abandoning him could hurt the party with its base.

Several Democratic candidates are making Christian faith a prominent theme of their 2026 midterm campaigns, a strategy aimed at countering Republican dominance among religious voters. NPR reports the candidates are speaking openly about their beliefs on the campaign trail, hoping faith-forward messaging will broaden their appeal ahead of the elections.

Attention is turning to who might succeed Christine Lagarde as president of the European Central Bank. Four possible scenarios are being sketched for the post-Lagarde era, laying out potential candidates and pathways for the eurozone's top monetary policy job as her term eventually winds down.

President Trump has dramatically expanded ICE's enforcement operations, and candidates in competitive congressional and state races are now struggling to craft a clear response. With immigration a defining issue heading into upcoming elections, battleground contenders are divided between appealing to voters concerned about border security and those alarmed by aggressive deportation tactics, leaving many campaigns searching for a message that resonates.

The race to select the next UN secretary-general is under way, with candidates framed as needing to be a 'mediator-in-chief' for a divided world. Commentary on the contest argues it highlights the multiple crises confronting the United Nations, from wars to institutional gridlock, as member states weigh who can restore the organisation's diplomatic clout.

Germany has selected Munich as its candidate city to bid for hosting the Olympic Games. The decision makes Munich the city that will represent Germany in the international competition to become an Olympic host, reviving the city's connection to the Games decades after it staged the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Large political rallies have brought crowds into the streets across Brazil one week ahead of the country's elections. Supporters of rival candidates have taken to public squares in a final push before voters go to the polls. The vote is being closely watched, with the outcome expected to shape the country's political direction.

With crime dominating Brazil's election campaign, residents of Rio de Janeiro are organizing their own responses to gang activity in neighborhoods where state protection falls short. The issue has become central to the presidential race, with candidates' security policies under scrutiny amid persistent violence in the city's favelas and peripheries.

The German Olympic Committee has named Munich as its chosen bid city, moving Germany a step closer to a future Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Bavarian capital, which hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics, now emerges as the country's candidate to pursue hosting duties, with details of the bid and potential Games year expected to be outlined in the coming period.

Several Democratic congressional candidates are openly campaigning on their Christian faith, arguing it can connect with religious voters who have leaned Republican in recent elections. The approach tests whether Democrats can narrow the GOP's advantage among churchgoing Americans in upcoming races, and observers are watching closely to see whether faith-forward messaging translates into electoral gains.

Fabien Roussel, leader of the French Communist Party, has pledged not to attack Jean-Luc Mélenchon too harshly ahead of the presidential election. His campaign director, senator Ian Brossat, told La Tribune that "we will not fall into aggressiveness." The olive branch toward the veteran left-wing rival is drawing attention as the French left weighs unity against competition in the race.

Rival political rallies have filled streets across Brazil as campaigning reaches its peak one week before national elections. Supporters of competing candidates took to major cities in a show of strength, with campaigns intensifying sharply in the final stretch. The large turnouts underline how closely contested and polarised the race has become ahead of voting day.

Pope Leo visited Lourdes in France and said the Catholic Church must heal its 'wounds, infidelities, and painful errors.' The pilgrimage site, famous for the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858, drew attention for the Pope's frank language about institutional failings and the call for repentance and renewal within the Church.

A sticker business owner endorsed by Donald Trump is running for Congress, and reporting has surfaced an unusual backstory behind the candidate. The profile has drawn attention for how an unconventional entrepreneur with the former president's backing could win a seat, fuelling debate about the kind of candidates Trump-endorsed primaries are producing.

A new survey in the Netherlands finds that 8 in 10 people aged 16 to 34 say their smartphone use harms their everyday life. The finding has drawn attention for how candid young adults are about the negative impact of their own screen habits, feeding into wider debate about phone addiction, sleep, concentration and mental wellbeing among younger generations.

NPR's The Sunday Story examines whether clergy candidates could help Democrats become competitive in Republican-leaning states. The piece explores how candidates with religious backgrounds might connect with voters in communities where the party has struggled, raising questions about faith, values and electoral strategy. It is fueling discussion about whether Democrats should recruit more faith leaders to run for office.

Bloomberg reports that four scenarios are being sketched out for a potential succession plan at the European Central Bank once Christine Lagarde's tenure ends. The piece outlines possible candidates and pathways for who might lead the institution next, a topic of growing interest as the end of Lagarde's term approaches.

A study using artificial intelligence at the Large Hadron Collider challenges the theory that the universe has ten dimensions. The AI analysis of particle collision data casts doubt on predictions from string theory, which requires extra spatial dimensions beyond the four we observe. If confirmed, the findings would force physicists to rethink one of the leading candidate frameworks for unifying quantum mechanics and gravity.

Germany will bid to host the Olympic Games, with Munich named as the candidate city. Details on which edition of the Games and the formal timeline of the bid have not yet been confirmed, but the announcement puts Munich forward as Germany's candidate for a future Olympics. Attention is expected to focus on financing, infrastructure and public support as the bid develops.

Munich was selected on Saturday ahead of the Cologne/Rhine-Ruhr region as the German candidate city in a national bid to host the Summer Olympic Games in 2036, 2040 or 2044. It would be a return of the Olympics to Munich, which hosted the 1972 Summer Games. Cologne/Rhine-Ruhr lost out in the domestic selection, with a final international decision still to come.

A Latina Republican lawmaker is breaking with her party on immigration policy as she campaigns for reelection. The question now is whether the split will win over swing voters in her district or cost her support among her own base. It highlights how immigration remains a volatile issue for Republican candidates, especially in competitive races where Hispanic voters' loyalties are being actively courted by both parties.

Saturday Night Live opened its new season with a sketch mocking the relationship between Donald Trump and New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. The Washington Post covered the bit, which played on the two men's political rivalry and Trump's comments about the race. The sketch has drawn attention as Mamdani's candidacy remains a focal point of national political conversation.

Germany has selected Munich as its candidate city to host a future Summer Olympic Games. The decision puts Munich, which hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics, forward as Germany's choice for a bid, though which Games edition the city will target and the strength of its prospects remain to be confirmed.

NPR reports on Democratic congressional candidates who are making their Christian faith central to their campaigns, asking whether the strategy will pay off at the ballot box. The story highlights how some Democrats are openly embracing religious language, traditionally associated with Republican campaigns, to connect with voters in competitive races.

A fatal shooting involving US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Maine has turned immigration enforcement into a central issue in the state's Senate race. Candidates are now facing pressure to lay out their positions on ICE operations and use of force, with voters and advocacy groups weighing in as the campaign picks up. The incident has sharpened the broader national debate over immigration policy.

ICE's aggressive immigration enforcement is creating a political dilemma for vulnerable Republicans just weeks ahead of the midterm elections, Politico reports. Candidates in competitive districts must choose between backing the hardline crackdown that energises the party base and distancing themselves from raids and deportations that alienate swing voters and immigrant communities.

Germany has selected Munich as its candidate city to host the Summer Olympics, targeting the 2036, 2040 or 2044 Games. The decision means Munich, which staged the 1972 Olympics, would lead Germany's bid when the International Olympic Committee awards the host role for those editions. The move puts Germany back in contention to host the Games for the first time since 1972.

Montenegrin commentary argues that Brussels is closely monitoring the country's EU accession process and that the rules of the game are clearly defined. Part of the reforms required on the road to European Union membership are affecting the political space, with the EU showing it will not turn a blind eye to how candidates meet its standards.