mayors

Benjamin Netanyahu used his speech at the United Nations in New York to denounce Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist running to be New York City mayor. The attack drew immediate reaction online, with critics calling it foreign interference in a US election and supporters of Mamdani pushing back against the Israeli prime minister's remarks.

France's far right has made gains in indirect Senate elections, where mayors and local councillors choose half of the upper house's seats. The results point to the National Rally's continued expansion beyond its traditional strongholds. Observers see the vote as another sign of the party's growing normalization and mainstream acceptance in French politics.

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, says he will make social care reform a central pledge at the next election, according to Reuters. Burnham has long campaigned for overhaul of England's funding and provision of adult social care, an issue successive governments have promised but failed to resolve. The announcement puts pressure on national political parties ahead of the next UK general election.

Political analysis site Frozen Garlic examines the contest for Taipei City mayor, framing it as a battle between a Kuomintang princeling and a Democratic Progressive Party outsider. Although Taipei has long been a KMT stronghold, support for the DPP's candidate Puma Shen is described as rising rapidly and unexpectedly, prompting discussion about whether the party's traditional dominance in the capital is under threat.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has put forward a proposal to create an NHS-style social care system for England, arguing that care should be provided free at the point of use in the same way as health services. The idea reignites a long-running debate over how England funds and organises adult social care, an issue that has defied successive governments' reform attempts.

School systems around the world are taking sharply different approaches to artificial intelligence in education. In New York, mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has voiced support for vetoing AI use in schools, while Estonia is embracing the technology with enthusiasm in its classrooms. The contrast highlights how governments are struggling to set common rules on AI for students and teachers.

Roberto Roscioli of Forza Italia and the centre-right has won the mayoral by-election in Reggio Calabria, leading with around 53% of the vote as counting progressed. Governor Roberto Occhiuto celebrated the result, while senator and general Roberto Vannacci failed in his bid to shake up the centre-right with his Futuro Nazionale list. Turnout collapsed to 22.34%, underlining voter disillusionment in the city.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has avoided direct questions about the Heathrow third runway, a project now reportedly facing a four-year delay. The Heathrow expansion has long divided Labour figures, with Burnham among the party's prominent opponents of airport expansion, and his refusal to comment is drawing attention amid fresh questions over the scheme's timetable and the government's growth-versus-climate balancing act.

New York's taxi drivers union is calling on mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani to create a dedicated health fund for taxi drivers, following a series of driver deaths. The union argues that years of financial hardship and lack of benefits have taken a toll on drivers' health, and is pushing the incoming administration to make the fund a priority.

An independent candidate won the first round of the Kraków mayoral election, finishing ahead of the candidate backed by Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The result is a setback for Tusk's governing coalition in a major city and forces a second-round runoff. Commenters are weighing what it means for the government's standing ahead of future national votes.

Kathmandu mayor Balen Shah is reportedly being provided tight security, with claims that the United States has given him special importance or status. The report also links his name to US President Donald Trump, Rabi Lamichhane, and Sudan, suggesting wider political discussion in Nepal. Nepali audiences are actively sharing and reacting to these unconfirmed claims about the mayor's international profile.

Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, said it is crucial for Britain to have stability in its public finances. The remark came as concerns over borrowing and fiscal policy weigh on UK markets and the political debate, with calls for the government to reassure investors and keep debt under control.

Andy Burnham has signalled he would fight the next election on a platform of raising taxes to fund social care reform. The Greater Manchester mayor has long argued that care should be funded through general taxation rather than left to individuals, and the comments suggest he intends to make the issue central to his pitch. The stance sets up a potential clash within Labour over tax policy and puts social care reform back on the political agenda.

Donald Trump has again spoken warmly about New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a progressive Democrat, in what Politico describes as the latest such display of cordiality between the two. The outlet argues the timing is awkward for Republicans, who have sought to portray Mamdani's brand of democratic socialism as a threat ahead of coming electoral contests.

Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has been warned that he cannot wait until the next general election to begin the process of rejoining the European Union. The message reflects growing impatience among pro-EU voices who argue the groundwork for closer ties with Brussels must start now rather than be deferred until after the next election.

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has pledged to put forward a plan for social care reform at the next UK election. The pledge, reported by Reuters and other outlets, addresses the long-running crisis in England's care system, where funding shortfalls and workforce shortages have left many unable to afford support. Burnham has long campaigned for a national care service, and the promise positions social care as a likely election battleground.

French prosecutors' office (PNF) has laid out the stakes in its requisitions against Rachida Dati: a conviction would cost her her elective mandate as mayor, her status as a serving magistrate, and even her work as a business lawyer, with five years of ineligibility and professional bans under consideration. Commenters are highlighting how sweeping the consequences of a guilty verdict would be for the Justice Minister.

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.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has set out a plan for universal free social care, urging the government to 'rip the plaster off' and confront the issue of how to fund and reform the system. The proposal would remove means-testing and charges for care, positioning Burnham as a voice for bolder reform in the Labour Party ahead of potential leadership discussion.

Former Chicago mayor and White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel has put forward a five-point ethics plan while arguing that his party should look to Republican-led states for lessons on education policy. His remarks add to a broader debate among Democrats about how to regain ground on schools and restore public trust, with Emanuel positioning himself as a voice urging the party toward more pragmatic positions.

Former Chicago mayor and White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel is reportedly considering a run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028. Emanuel, who served as ambassador to Japan under President Biden, has been making public appearances and commentary that fuel speculation about his ambitions, and political observers are debating whether his centrist profile fits the party's future.