candidates

The European Union is preparing accession roadmaps for Ukraine and three other candidate countries, according to Politico Europe. The plans would set out the steps each country must take to join the bloc, covering reforms, rule-of-law requirements and alignment with EU law. Enlargement has gained urgency since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the roadmaps signal Brussels is moving from promises toward concrete timetables, though actual membership will still require unanimous approval from all member states.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his address at the UN General Assembly to attack Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for New York City mayor. The remarks drew attention because a foreign leader weighing in on an American municipal election is unusual, and reactions split sharply along political lines, with critics calling it interference and supporters defending his comments.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has resigned from the presidency and will lead his ruling party into snap elections as a candidate for prime minister. The move, reported by Al Jazeera, marks an unusual reversal of roles in Serbian politics and comes as the country heads to an early vote, prompting debate about Vucic's continued grip on power despite the formal change of office.

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.

The contest to select the next United Nations Secretary-General is intensifying as world leaders gather in New York for the General Assembly's high-level week. Diplomatic lobbying and positioning around the top UN job are drawing attention alongside the annual speeches, with candidates and member states vying for support in what is shaping up to be a closely watched race.

Republicans are publicly distancing themselves from Donald Trump as polling shows weakening support for the party and its candidates. Lawmakers in competitive races are reportedly avoiding campaign appearances with Trump and playing down his influence, reflecting concern within the party that his low approval numbers could drag down their own prospects in upcoming elections.

Several Democratic candidates are making Christian faith a prominent part of their midterm election campaigns, a strategic shift aimed at countering Republican dominance among religious voters. NPR reports the trend, noting candidates are openly discussing their faith on the trail. Observers see it as an attempt by the party to broaden its appeal and blunt attacks portraying Democrats as hostile to religion.

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.

An election for Hamas's Gaza leadership has ended in deadlock after ballots were returned blank, leaving the position unfilled. The outcome signals internal division or reluctance within the movement's Gaza ranks at a sensitive moment for the group. Details about the candidates, the number of voters, and next steps in the selection process were not immediately available.

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.

Magdalena Andersson, leader of Sweden's opposition Social Democrats and former prime minister, says she cannot form a government in the current political situation. The announcement rules her out of attempts to build a governing coalition amid a stalemate following the recent election, leaving Sweden's next government uncertain.

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.

A new poll on France's 2027 presidential election suggests no candidate currently manages to unite French voters ahead of a potential second round. The survey is drawing attention as political parties begin positioning themselves well ahead of the vote, with none of the likely contenders commanding broad national support.

The European Union is drawing up membership action plans for its most promising enlargement candidates, according to Politico. The plans would set out concrete steps for the strongest hopefuls on the path to joining the bloc. Enlargement has gained renewed momentum as the EU weighs how to integrate countries of the Western Balkans and Ukraine's neighborhood.

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.

Food safety has moved into the political arena as a series of major outbreaks and product recalls raise public concern. With voters watching how authorities handle contaminated food and regulatory lapses, candidates and officials are being pressed on inspection standards and response. The issue is now being framed as part of the broader election debate.

Moderna has begun a Phase 1 clinical trial of an Ebola vaccine targeting the Zaire strain responsible for the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The trial marks the first human testing of the candidate, which uses the same mRNA technology behind Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine. Coverage is highlighting the company's growing pipeline and the urgent need for new Ebola countermeasures in central Africa.

The New York Times is asking which party is winning the race for control of Congress. The question points to ongoing competition between Democrats and Republicans for seats in the House and Senate, a contest that will shape legislative power in Washington. No further details about specific races, candidates or polling figures were given.

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.

Leaders of the mass protests against Benjamin Netanyahu's government are debating whether to convert months of street demonstrations into an organised political force. The question facing them is whether the outrage that filled Israel's squares can be channelled into parties, candidates and votes, or whether a movement built in the streets can survive the transition to electoral politics.

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.

Germany has selected Munich as its candidate city to host a future Olympic Games. The decision puts Munich forward in the international competition to become the official host, and it revives the city's connection to the Olympics after it staged the 1972 Summer Games. Details on which edition Germany intends to target have not yet been made clear.

Brussels is preparing accession roadmaps for four countries, laying out the steps each candidate must take toward joining the European Union. The move signals continued momentum in the EU's enlargement process, though the headline does not specify which countries are involved or the timeline. Details on the candidates and the conditions attached to their paths remain unclear.

Fresh polling in the Texas Senate race is drawing attention as observers weigh the state's political direction ahead of the election. Commenters are sharing and debating the numbers, discussing what they suggest about candidate strength and whether the contest may be tighter than expected in a state long dominated by Republicans.

The German Olympic Committee has named Munich as its choice to bid for a future Olympic Games. The Bavarian capital previously hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics and would now move forward as Germany's candidate city, with the decision confirming where the country's bid efforts will be concentrated.

Donald Trump's expansion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement has become a defining issue for candidates in US battleground states, who are struggling to craft a clear message on immigration enforcement. The Los Angeles Times reports that the surge in ICE activity has put politicians on both sides under pressure to respond to voters' concerns about deportations and border policy heading into upcoming elections.

IranWire reports that plans are being drawn up to replace Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as Iran's future leader once the war ends. According to the exclusive report, moves are underway within Iran's political establishment to sideline Mojtaba, long seen as a leading contender to succeed his father, and to install an alternative candidate in the succession.

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.

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.

The Guardian reports that artificial intelligence has emerged as a defining issue for potential Democratic contenders ahead of the 2028 US presidential election, laying out where prospective candidates stand on the technology. Early positioning on AI regulation, jobs and safety is becoming a way for hopefuls to differentiate themselves, showing the debate is moving from policy circles into campaign strategy well before primaries begin.

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.

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.