António José Seguro wins Portugal presidential runoff against far right
Centre-left António José Seguro secured a landslide win in Portugal’s presidential runoff, defeating far-right rival Andre Ventura and becoming th...
Key elections in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City are entering their final stretch, with the latest polls showing competitive contests that have attracted national attention in the Mayoral elections.
New Jersey
In the gubernatorial race, a recent AtlasIntel poll conducted between 25 and 30 October shows Democrat Mikie Sherrill narrowly leading Republican Jack Ciattarelli by 0.9% points, 50.2% to 49.3%, within the survey’s two-point margin of error. The poll surveyed more than 1,600 likely voters and indicates a nearly even split across the state.
Former President Barack Obama appeared at a rally for Sherrill on 1 November, highlighting the race’s importance for the Democratic Party. Early voting trends suggest slight Democratic momentum, with mail-in ballot returns reportedly outpacing Republican returns compared with the same stage in 2024.
Virginia
Governor Abigail Spanberger appears positioned for reelection, with a recent poll showing her leading Republican Winsome Earle-Sears 56% to 44%.
The state’s attorney general race remains close, with Democrat Jerra Jones polling at 51% against incumbent Jason Miyares’ 49%. Early voting indicates increased Democratic engagement compared with the 2024 cycle, though officials caution that past elections have seen significant changes on Election Day.
New York City
In the mayoral contest, polling shows incumbent Zohran Mamdani leading former Governor Andrew Cuomo 41% to 34%, with Republican Curtis Sliwa at 24%. The seven-point margin has narrowed since earlier polling, largely due to gains by Cuomo among older, moderate Democrats. Analysis indicates higher turnout among older voters than in the primaries, with increased participation from younger voters as well.
The race has drawn national attention, with former President Donald Trump criticising Mamdani in a recent interview. Mamdani, a self-identified democratic socialist, has received endorsements from New York Governor Kathy Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Former President Barack Obama also spoke with Mamdani by phone, praising his campaign and offering to serve as a “sounding board,” though he did not issue a formal endorsement.
Overall Trends
A recent poll shows 46% of registered voters would vote for the Democratic candidate in their district if the midterms were held today, compared with 44% for the Republican candidate, with 9% undecided or not planning to vote. The poll also found that 59% of Americans disapprove of President Trump’s job performance, while 64% say he is expanding presidential power too far.
While early voting data suggest some Democratic momentum, analysts emphasise that high turnout on Election Day could influence the outcome in all three contests.
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised American freestyle skier Hunter Hess after the athlete said he felt conflicted about representing the United States at the Winter Olympics in Italy, sparking a public clash that highlights growing political tensions surrounding the Games.
Iran would retaliate by striking U.S. military bases across the Middle East if it comes under attack by American forces, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday (7 January), stressing that such action should not be seen as targeting the countries hosting those bases.
U.S. skiing great Lindsey Vonn underwent surgery in an Italian hospital on Sunday after her attempt to win Olympic downhill gold ended in a violent crash just seconds into the race at the Milano Cortina Winter Games.
A Japanese city near Mount Fuji has cancelled its annual cherry blossom festival, saying growing numbers of badly behaved tourists are disrupting daily life for residents.
Several avalanches struck northern Italy on Saturday, killing at least three people, as rescue officials warned the death toll could rise with unstable conditions persisting across the Alps.
Hong Kong’s most prominent media tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced on Monday (9 February) to a total of 20 years in prison on national security charges. The verdict covers two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count related to publishing seditious materials.
Russian overnight drone attacks killed at least three people in Ukraine’s east and south on Monday (9 February), with officials reporting casualties in the Kharkiv, Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Sunday (8 February) he was in favour of banning the use of social media by children under 15 of age, as a growing number of European countries consider similar restrictions.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 9th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A South Korean Army AH-1S Cobra attack helicopter crashed on Monday (9 Febuary) during a training flight in the northern county of Gapyeong, killing both crew members on board, the military said.
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