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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tariffs, farm policy and taxes have emerged as the main points of division among candidates competing in Iowa. With agriculture central to the state's economy, positions on trade barriers and farm support are drawing sharp contrasts, while tax plans are also separating the field as voters weigh who best represents rural interests.

A new Marquette Law School poll is set to offer a preview of upcoming Wisconsin races and voter attitudes on election integrity. The survey is expected to gauge how candidates are positioned and how much weight election-related concerns carry among state voters, giving campaigns and observers an early read on the political landscape.

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.

Sylvester Stallone has opened up about the extreme measures he took to get in shape for his iconic role as Rocky Balboa, admitting he suffered from bulimia and used steroids during the filming of the 1976 classic. He described the physical toll of crash dieting and overtraining as a brutal price for fame.

In Alaska politics, calling someone a product of the 'Lower 48' is considered one of the harshest insults, and the label is now playing a central role in the state's Senate race. Candidates are trading accusations over their ties to the state, with Alaska voters known to prize local roots and distrust outsiders seen as importing outside interests.

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.

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.

Vivek Ramaswamy and Amy Acton are facing off in Ohio's 2026 governor's race, with Democrats viewing the contest as one of their few realistic chances to flip a governorship this cycle. Coverage focuses on the sharp clashes between the Republican and Democratic candidates and what the outcome could signal for both parties heading into future elections.

Education freedom accounts — state-funded accounts that let families pay for private schooling — are emerging as a talking point in the race for Texas Comptroller, the office that would administer any such program. Coverage in Austin connects the candidates' positions on school choice to how the comptroller would oversee payments and eligibility if the program expands.

Attention is turning to Indiana's Fourth Congressional District ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Local coverage is framing the district as one of the congressional races to watch in Indiana, though no candidates, primaries, or campaign developments have yet been detailed. With the midterms approaching, voters are beginning to look ahead to who will run and what issues will shape the contest.

Elections for the president's post of the Rajasthan Cricket Association are drawing wide attention after five candidates from prominent political families entered the fray. The contest has turned the state cricket body's polls into a proxy battleground for political influence, with observers watching whether lineage or cricket administration credentials will decide the outcome.