Mayor

The first stage of the Kaohsiung mayoral debate is under way, with KMT candidate Ko Chih-en opening her statement by declaring that Kaohsiung is her hometown, seeking to counter attacks on her local roots. The debate is drawing wide attention as candidates lay out their visions for the southern Taiwanese city ahead of the election.

Paige Cognetti, the mayor of Scranton, took part in a debate for Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District race, aired on C-SPAN. The contest for the swing district in northeastern Pennsylvania is drawing attention as both parties vie for the seat. Viewers are discussing the candidates' performances and positions on local and national issues.

In Ourense, Spain, the PSOE and BNG opposition parties are calling on mayor Gonzalo Pérez Jácome to lower tariff prices and set a firm reopening date for the As Burgas thermal pool, following an announcement by the mayor about the facility's future. The parties say residents deserve clear commitments on both pricing and timing rather than open-ended promises.

Nepali media report that Kathmandu mayor Balen Shah has taken a tough stance as Inspector General of Police Dan Bahadur Karki and the Cholendra case come under pressure. Coverage ties the police leadership dispute to wider political turbulence, with references to Sudan and Rabi circulating in the discussion.

Residents of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, are watching forecasts of strong rains and thunderstorms expected from Thursday through the weekend. Mayor Carmen Lilia Canturosas has coordinated an emergency operations meeting, and city officials have launched a prevention plan ahead of the storms. Rain is forecast to reach the local fair on Friday, and flood monitoring is taking effect across the border in Webb County, Texas. Authorities on both sides of the border are urging residents to stay alert as the heat wave is expected to end.

Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim is making headlines on several fronts. He sold shares in oil companies for around $1.15 billion, according to Reforma. He is also presenting a project to rescue the Paseo de San Francisco in Puebla with Mayor Pepe Chedraui, though the city council says it does not yet know its scope. Separately, Slim publicly opposed Mexico's welfare pension for older adults, calling it 'totally irrational,' while his grandson Arturo Elías Slim married Paula Albarrán in Mexico City's historic center.

Nepal's Home Ministry has reportedly received fresh evidence related to the Sudan scandal, along with a list of former prime ministers including Madhav Kumar Nepal and Baburam Bhattarai, with Kathmandu mayor Balen Shah also drawn into the discussion. The claims are circulating widely across Nepali social media, intensifying calls for accountability from senior political figures.

Kazuko Kori, the mayor of Yamagata City in Japan, is drawing attention in local discussion. No further details about the reason for the interest are available beyond the headline mentioning her name and mayoral title. She has served as the city's mayor and remains a notable figure in Yamagata prefecture politics.

The Congress of the Council of Europe has announced it will submit observations to the European Court of Human Rights as a third-party intervener in the case of Ekrem İmamoğlu against Türkiye. The move means the Congress will formally present its views to the Strasbourg court as it considers the Turkish opposition politician's complaint, adding an international institutional voice to the proceedings.

Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti sat down with City & State Pennsylvania for a question-and-answer interview in which she discusses her push for reform in city government. The conversation covers her agenda for Scranton, Pennsylvania's sixth-largest city, and her administration's efforts to change how it operates. Cognetti frames her administration as serious about overhauling local government practices.

A CalMatters opinion piece argues that the Los Angeles mayoral race between Karen Bass and Rick Caruso-endorsed rival has largely avoided the identity politics that have long shaped the city's elections. The commentary suggests the contest is being fought on issues rather than ethnic or demographic lines, a notable departure from LA's historically fraught racial political landscape.

Russia has announced trilateral negotiations with Ukraine and the United States for November in the United Arab Emirates. The news is drawing attention alongside skepticism: a specialist told CNN Brasil the resumption of Ukraine-Russia negotiations amounts to theater. In Brazil, negotiations are also in the news as São Paulo mayor Ricardo Kassab asked President Lula for fiscal balance, warning of hostility risk.

The Michoacán prosecutor's office has arrested the welfare secretary of Uruapan in connection with the assassination of Mayor Carlos Manzo. The arrest marks a significant development in a case that has shocked Mexico and drawn national attention to insecurity in Michoacán. Officials gave few details, and further information about the suspect's alleged role has not been released.

New polling numbers on the Los Angeles mayoral race are drawing attention, with people sharing and debating what the results suggest about the city's political direction. The details of which candidate leads and by how much are not specified in the coverage being circulated, but the topic is generating political discussion online.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham appear at odds over two key Labour questions. Healey has said Britain rejoining the EU is 'not in my lifetime', while Burnham has suggested a shorter path back. On welfare cuts, Healey expects action sooner, whereas Burnham insists there is 'no timetable'. Commenters read the divide as a signal of competing leadership ambitions within the party.

The Chicago Maroon, the University of Chicago's student newspaper, has published a guide to the Chicago Board of Education elections. The guide is aimed at helping voters understand the candidates and issues ahead of the vote, which is notable as Chicago moves toward an elected school board after decades of a mayor-appointed one.

Candidates for Connecticut's Fourth congressional district faced off in a Thursday debate, trading sharp disagreements over President Trump, New York mayoral figure Zohran Mamdani, and the US conflict with Iran. The exchange highlighted how national issues — from immigration-aligned politics to the Iran war — are shaping campaign messaging in local races, with contenders staking out distinct positions for voters.

A road in New York City widely known for its dangers is drawing attention, with the claim that mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani cannot fix it despite taking office. The story highlights the limits of city leadership over infrastructure safety problems that have persisted for years.

Around 150,000 consumers in Dnipro remain without electricity following Russian shelling, deputy mayor Makovtsev said, adding that some should be reconnected by 15:00 and the rest by the end of the day. Metro train service in the city was also temporarily suspended from 10:00 as crews work to restore damaged infrastructure.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham says he wants to offer more 'regional empowerment' ahead of a devolution summit. The prime minister is in Glasgow meeting Scottish and Welsh leaders to discuss the 'next stage of devolution'. Burnham's intervention signals pressure for deeper powers for England's regions as the UK government's devolution plans come under scrutiny.

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter's administration, under Mayor Her, is seeking funding to secure the future of car-sharing services in the city. The move raises questions about how shared-mobility programs will be sustained in St. Paul and what role city money should play in keeping them available to residents.

Israel has barred New York City comptroller Brad Lander from travelling in the country following his detention in the occupied West Bank. Lander, a prominent Democratic politician and mayoral figure in New York, was reportedly held by Israeli authorities before being ordered out of the territory. The move has drawn attention to Israel's treatment of foreign officials and activists in the West Bank and is likely to fuel debate in the United States over the country's policies toward Palestinians.