标签： Asia

In a controversial statement, Israeli Minister for Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli has called on Jewish Americans in New York to consider relocating to Israel following the election of Zohran Mamdani as the city’s first Muslim mayor. Chikli described Mamdani’s victory as a pivotal moment that threatens the historical sanctuary New York has provided to Jewish refugees. He labeled Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist and assemblyman from Queens, as a “Hamas supporter” and drew parallels between his views and those of extremist groups, referencing the 9/11 attacks. Chikli’s remarks have sparked widespread debate, particularly given his past controversial stances on ethnic cleansing and settlements in Gaza and southern Lebanon. Mamdani, who immigrated to the U.S. from Uganda as a child, ran a left-wing campaign with a strong pro-Palestinian stance, which he maintained despite accusations of antisemitism. His victory was bolstered by his position on Israel’s actions in Gaza, which he has termed genocide. Although he later retracted a statement about arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mamdani’s views resonated with many voters. In his victory speech, he pledged to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia, receiving support from prominent Orthodox Jewish leader Rabbi Moishe Indig. The election has highlighted deep divisions and the growing influence of progressive politics in New York.

Nepal’s Election Commission announced on Wednesday that 125 political parties have registered to participate in the country’s first parliamentary elections since a mass uprising in September 2025 toppled the government. The polls, scheduled for March 2026, mark a critical juncture for the Himalayan nation as it seeks to rebuild its political landscape. While many established parties are in the fray, the election also sees the emergence of new movements, particularly those spearheaded by youth activists who played a pivotal role in the anti-corruption protests earlier this year. Registration remains open until November 18, after which the final list of participating parties will be released. The September protests, initially sparked by a temporary social media ban, quickly escalated into a nationwide outcry against economic hardship and government corruption. The unrest resulted in violent clashes, claiming at least 73 lives and causing significant damage to government institutions. In the aftermath, former chief justice Sushila Karki was appointed interim prime minister to oversee the transition until elections. Despite the commission’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful and impartial election, deep public distrust of established parties poses a significant challenge to the credibility of the process. The political instability has further strained Nepal’s fragile economy, with the World Bank warning of a projected economic growth decline to 2.1 percent in 2026. With 82 percent of the workforce engaged in informal employment and a GDP per capita of $1,447 in 2024, the stakes for Nepal’s political and economic future remain high.

Georgia Pickering, a Labour Party councillor and managing director of CMS Strategic, has been embroiled in controversy following allegations that she claimed involvement in placing a story in *The Times* suggesting Iran was funding Palestine Action. The claims, reported by *Private Eye*, were vehemently denied by both CMS Strategic and the Labour Party. The article, published in June 2025, coincided with the UK government’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organization after activists targeted an RAF base and CMS Strategic’s office. Pickering, who chairs the Bracknell Forest Council’s Overview & Scrutiny Commission and co-chairs the Labour in Communications’ defence and aerospace policy network, has been a Labour councillor since May 2023. The controversy has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, given CMS Strategic’s ties to Israeli arms firm Elbit, a frequent target of Palestine Action protests. A Labour Party spokesperson dismissed the allegations as “categorically untrue,” emphasizing that all relevant declarations had been made in accordance with council rules. Meanwhile, Palestine Action dismissed the *Times* article as “baseless” and “ridiculous,” while three prisoners linked to the group launched a hunger strike over alleged mistreatment in custody.