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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.