Should N.Y. Bathhouses Be Allowed to Offer Space for Sex?

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Two state lawmakers have proposed repealing a health code that prohibits establishments like bathhouses from allowing sexual activity.

This screenshot has been taken from this NYT article. | Public gay bathhouses were essentially outlawed in New York City in 1985 during the AIDS crisis.
Before gay kickball leagues, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Grindr or even Stonewall, there was the steamy world of bathhouses.

Operating 24 hours a day, bathhouses were havens for gay men, where they could be entertained by the likes of Bette Midler and Barry Manilow, go for a swim and engage in sexual activity.

But at the height of the AIDS crisis some 40 years ago, public health officials in New York shuttered adult saunas and bathhouses to try to stop the spread of disease.

Now a group of gay state lawmakers are spearheading a push to bring back what they describe as vital cultural spaces.

“It’s 2026, not 1986,” said Tony Simone, a State Assembly sponsor of the bill whose district in Manhattan includes Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen. “We have modern medicine and education. It’s ridiculous that this is legal in Florida, in Texas, but not in New York City.” » | Grace Ashford | Saturday, August 8, 2026

États-Unis : le procès de Nicolas Maduro fixé au 1er juin 2027

LE FIGARO : Le procès de Nicolas Maduro pour trafic de drogue et narcoterrorisme débutera le 1er juin 2027 à New York, selon la date fixée lors d’une audience préparatoire. L’ancien président vénézuélien est détenu aux États-Unis depuis janvier.

L'ouverture du procès à New York du président vénézuélien déchu Nicolas Maduro pour trafic de drogue a été programmée pour le 1er juin 2027 lors d'une audience préparatoire mercredi. Capturé par les Etats-Unis à Caracas au début de l'année et incarcéré depuis le 3 janvier dans une prison de Brooklyn, l'ex-chef d'Etat, âgé de 63 ans, est poursuivi pour quatre chefs d'accusation, dont narcoterrorisme. Son épouse Cilia Flores, 69 ans, fait face à trois chefs d'accusation. Les deux nient les faits qui leur sont reprochés. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mercredi 22 2026

Benjamin Netanyahu Is a War Criminal

July 22, 2026 | The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu for a reason. He should be arrested and stand trial.

My administration examined every legal avenue available to determine whether New York City could execute that warrant. The law is clear: we do not have that authority. The federal government does. So we are calling on the United States to uphold international law, cooperate with the ICC, apprehend Benjamin Netanyahu and transfer him to The Hague to face justice.

We cannot end this genocide on our own. But we can use every tool available to defend humanity and uphold justice. That is the responsibility of this city. And it is my commitment as mayor.



Related article here.

Mamdani Calls Netanyahu a ‘War Criminal’ and Calls on U.S. to Arrest Him

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Mayor Zohran Mamdani challenged the United States to execute an international arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, which New York itself cannot do.

This screenshot is from this NYT article. | Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that New York cannot arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, but the United States should. Credit: Dave Sanders for The New York Times
Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday night challenged the federal government to execute an international arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, calling him a “war criminal” and “the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people” in a striking video statement.

The mayor said the city Law Department explored whether the New York Police Department could arrest the Israeli prime minister during his expected visit to the city in September but that the city did not have “independent legal authority” to do so.

The mayor’s announcement came days after he told Lulu Garcia-Navarro last week on “The Interview,” a New York Times show, that he had been in “active conversation” with the city’s lawyers about executing a warrant issued for Mr. Netanyahu in 2024 by the International Criminal Court.

On Tuesday, Mr. Mamdani said in the video that those conversations had led his administration to determine that it did “not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant.”

Seated between the flags of the United States and New York City, Mr. Mamdani looked directly into the camera and solemnly told New Yorkers that Israel’s prime minister had no place visiting New York.

“Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large,” Mr. Mamdani said. “While we cannot end the genocide on our own, we can decide whether our silence will become another weapon, and we can examine every tool we have to defend the humanity and dignity of all people.” » | Liam Stack | Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Zohran Mamdani is a hero. A man of principle. It is refreshing to hear a politician speak with such clarity and moral authority. New Yorkers are indeed blessed to have a mayor like Zohran. — © Mark Alexander

Mamdani Joins the New York City Pride March during LGBTQ+ Pride Month

Jun 29, 2026 | Pride Month celebrations peaked with big parades in New York, San Francisco and some other cities on Sunday. (AP Video by Aron Ranen and production by Vanessa A. Alvarez)

„Historischer Sieg für die Mieter der Stadt“: Mieten für eine Million Wohnungen in New York werden eingefroren

TAGESSPIEGEL: Die Mieten Hunderttausender Wohnungen in der US-Ostküsten-Metropole dürfen ab 1. Oktober nicht mehr erhöht werden. Die Entscheidung ist ein großer Erfolg für den neuen Bürgermeister Zohran Mamdani.

In der für ihre extrem hohen Lebenskosten berühmt-berüchtigten US-Metropole New York werden die Mieten von rund einer Million Wohnungen eingefroren. Dies beschloss am Donnerstag das für die Mietregulierung dieser Wohnungen zuständige Gremium.

Die Entscheidung ist ein großer Erfolg für den neuen Bürgermeister Zohran Mamdani. Der linksgerichtete Politiker hatte sein Amt im Januar mit dem Versprechen angetreten, das Leben in der 8,5-Millionen-Einwohner-Metropole erschwinglicher zu machen. » | Tagesspiegel | Freitag, 26. Juni 2026

1928 - Kitty Gordon's NY Fashion Show | Remastered Sound

Nov 27, 2018 | Kitty Gordon (1878–1974) presenting her newest collection, available at her shop in New York. Recorded on November 6, 1928 - Movietone News Story 1-430. Music played by the band:

Music 1 - Roses of Yesterday (1928 Hit Record)
Music 2 - The Blue Danube
Music 3 - Mendelssohn's Wedding March

‘We Will Not Forget…’: Zohran Mamdani Makes Big Promise To LGBTQ+ New Yorkers In Pride Month Speech

June 10, 2026 | Zohran Mamdani delivered a defiant Pride Month message, promising that New York City will continue standing with LGBTQ+ residents despite what he described as growing federal attacks on queer and trans rights.

Speaking before advocates and community leaders, Mamdani vowed that City Hall would not back down, outlining his vision for protecting vulnerable New Yorkers and preserving the city’s legacy as a haven for the LGBTQ+ community.


Eat your heart out, Donny! Mamdani has got it all: good looks, intelligence, sound and fair principles, determination, a generous spirit, and a great sense of humour. In other words, he’s got it all! — © Mark Alexander

Mamdani’s Advice to Royals: Give That Priceless Diamond Back to India

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Mayor Zohran Mamdani and King Charles did not meet privately. But if they had, the mayor said, he probably would have raised the issue of the Koh-i-Noor Diamond. [sic]

Hours before greeting King Charles III in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani was asked about the royal visit during a news conference in the Bronx.

The mayor quickly distanced himself, saying that he would be attending a ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum “alongside a number of other elected officials” and that would be the extent of his interaction with the king.

But what would he say to King Charles if they were to have a private meeting?

“I would probably encourage him to return the Koh-i-Noor Diamond,” Mr. Mamdani said.

The mayor’s decision to invoke the 105.6-carat diamond — taken from an 11-year-old Indian prince in the 1840s when India was a British colony and presented to Queen Victoria — was in character.

Mr. Mamdani was born in Uganda, also once part of the British Empire, to Indian parents who have helped to shape his political views. His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a leading scholar of anticolonialism. His mother, Mira Nair, is an award-winning filmmaker whose movies have examined the colonial experience. India has lobbied for the diamond, part of the crown jewels in the Tower of London, to be returned.

Mr. Mamdani is also the city’s first democratic socialist mayor, and he has said his goal is to uplift the city’s working-class residents. » | Jeffrey C. Mays | Wednesday, April 29, 2026

À LIRE AUSSI :

Zohran Mamdani demande à Charles III de rendre un diamant réclamé par l'Inde : Le maire de New York Zohran Mamdani a appelé mercredi le roi Charles III à «rendre» le diamant Koh-i-Noor, joyau de la couronne obtenu en Inde par l’Empire britannique au XIXe siècle. »

La femme du maire de New York Zohran Mamdani au cœur d’une polémique après avoir «liké» des posts sur l’attaque du 7 Octobre

LE FIGARO : Le premier maire musulman de la ville, qui a déjà condamné à plusieurs reprises l’offensive terroriste du Hamas en Israël, a défendu son épouse en affirmant qu’elle n’était pas une personnalité publique.

La femme du nouveau maire du New York est au cœur d’une polémique. Rama Duwaji, une Américaine d’origine syrienne mariée à Zohran Mamdani depuis janvier 2025, est accusée d’avoir aimé plusieurs publications sur le réseau social Instagram qui défendent l’attaque des terroristes du Hamas le 7 octobre 2023. C’est le site d’information en ligne , un média américain ayant son siège à Washington, qui a d’abord rapporté ces informations.

Les posts en question ont été publiés le 7 et le 8 octobre, dans la foulée de l’attaque qui a fait 1200 morts civils et militaires ainsi que 250 otages. Le premier a été publié par un compte tenu par The Slow Factory, une association qui revendique militer « pour les libertés culturelles des communautés autochtones des pays du sud» et qui met en valeur «les voix et les idées de la majorité mondiale (Noirs, Autochtones et autres personnes de couleur) afin de partager leurs connaissances en dehors des frontières, des institutions et des systèmes oppressifs ». La publication « likée » contient l’image d’un bulldozer utilisé par les combattants du Hamas qui a servi à détruire un grillage sécurisé sur la frontière entre Gaza et Israël. » | Par Mayeul Aldebert | lundi 9 mars 2026

Réservé aux abonnés

‘Dirty’ and ‘Infested* with Drugs’: The New York Jail Holding Maduro and Mangione

THE GUARDIAN: High-profile names have been housed in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan detention center, which is said to be unsafe and inhumane

After US military forces seized Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas during a controversial pre-dawn raid, they were ultimately spirited to one of this country’s most infamous jails: the Metropolitan detention center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York.

The deposed Venezuelan president and Flores will almost certainly reside in the MDC until their federal trial on drugs and weapons charge – inducting them into a notorious group that counts Sean “Diddy” Combs, Ghislaine Maxwell, Sam Bankman-Fried and Mexican drug kingpin “El Chapo” as either current or former members.

The facility, located in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, holds prisoners with pending cases in the United States district court for the eastern district of New York as well as those serving brief sentences. » | Victoria Bekiempis | Wednesday, January 7, 2026

FOR CLARITY, A NOTE TO NON-NATIVE SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH: The choice of the word “infested’ in connection with drugs is very unusual. The word ‘infested’ is more correctly used in connection with insects, pests, or vermin, etc. I would have probably used the word ‘saturated’. — Mark

FULL SPEECH: Bernie Sanders Slams Billionaires, Swears In Zohran Mamdani as NYC Mayor

Jan 1, 2026 | U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders delivered a forceful populist speech at the inauguration of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, denouncing billionaires, inequality, and political elites before administering Mamdani’s oath of office. Joined by Mamdani’s wife Rama Duwaji, the moment signaled a bold progressive shift at City Hall. For more details, watch our story and subscribe to our channel, DRM News. …

Ski et luge à Central Park, lac gelé... Les images féeriques de New York sous la neige

LE FIGARO : VIDÉO - Entre ski de fond et luge, les New Yorkais ont profité de la neige à Central Park dimanche. La ville n’a pas connu de neige aussi tôt depuis 2019.

New York a enfilé son premier manteau blanc de l’année. Batailles de boules de neige, ski, course à pied ou luge... Les New-Yorkais ont afflué dans l’emblématique Central Park après les premières chutes de neige de l’hiver dimanche. » | Par Juliette Picard | lundi 15 décembre 2025

À New York, la proposition de supermarchés publics de Zohran Mamdani suscite déjà des doutes

LE FIGARO : Le futur maire veut lancer cinq supermarchés publics (un par arrondissement) pour lutter contre la vie chère et la faim. Une promesse qui interroge distributeurs, experts et acteurs de terrain.

Des supermarchés publics offrant des prix bas pour lutter contre la vie chère : l'une des mesures phares du prochain maire démocrate de New York, Zohran Mamdani, n'a pas encore vu le jour que surgissent déjà doutes et interrogations. Élu sur une promesse de réduction du coût de la vie dans la mégapole américaine, le jeune édile de 34 ans, qui prendra ses fonctions le 1er janvier, s'est engagé notamment à venir en aide au 1,4 million de New-Yorkais en situation d'insécurité alimentaire. Mais son plan de création de cinq supermarchés publics (un par arrondissement) suscite déjà des critiques du secteur et la perplexité des experts, qui le jugent pour le moment encore très imprécis. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 28 novembre 2025

The Debate: Radical Change? Mamdani Wins New York as Voters Turn on Trump across US • FRANCE 24 English

Nov 6, 2025 | One year after a presidential election where Donald Trump swept swing states and secured majorities in both houses of the US Congress, a first test has produced a radically different result. 34-year-old Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani has blown past establishment candidates for mayor of New York, unveiling his transition team this Wednesday. We ask about Mamdani's win and the highest turnout in the city's municipal elections in more than half a century.

Travel Back to New York City in 1911 - Restored Footage

Nov 1, 2025 | Restored footage from 1911 showing different areas around New York City such as City Hall Park, Chinatown, Herald Square, and Broadway filmed by cameramen working for the Swedish company Svenska Biografteatern.

Around this time, Svenska Biografteatern sent a team of cameramen around the world to film famous locations.

Footage frame rate increased, upscaled and “colorized” by HistoryColored using AI technology.

Footage originally from: New York 1911, Wikimedia Commons Music: With the Dawn / Megan Wofford / Epidemic Sound

„Ich bin Trumps schlimmster Albtraum“: Zohran Mamdani wird Bürgermeister von New York

BERLINER ZEITUNG: Der 34-jährige linke Demokrat Zohran Mamdani setzt sich in New York klar gegen Ex-Gouverneur Andrew Cuomo durch – und wird als erster Muslim an die Spitze der US-Metropole gewählt.

Der 34-jährige Zohran Mamdani hat die Bürgermeisterwahl in New York City gewonnen. Nach Prognosen von US-Medien setzte sich der Demokrat aus dem linken Spektrum der Partei am Dienstag deutlich gegen seine Rivalen durch. Nach Auszählung von 91 Prozent der Stimmen kommt Mamdani auf 50,4 Prozent. Damit wird er der erste Muslim an der Spitze New York Citys.

„Diese Stadt ist Eure Stadt, und diese Demokratie gehört auch Euch“, sagte Mamdani am Abend in seiner Siegesrede vor jubelnden Anhängern. In seiner Ansprache versprach Mamdani, dass New York nun „in diesem Moment politischer Finsternis“ das Licht sein werde. Im Wahlkampf nannte er sich selbst den „schlimmsten Albtraum“ von US-Präsident Donald Trump.

Trump reagierte auf Mamdanis Wahlsieg mit den Worten, er selbst habe nicht auf dem Wahlzettel gestanden. Auch der Shutdown sei daran schuld, dass die Republikaner nicht gewonnen hätten. » | Sophie Barkey | Mittwoch, 5. November 2025

«Ce n’est pas seulement une victoire pour les démocrates» : Mamdani triomphe à New York mais le parti recentre son message ailleurs

LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - Le candidat socialiste a remporté comme prévu la mairie de New York, mais en Virginie et dans le New Jersey, les candidats démocrates ont remporté les élections sur des programmes débarrassés des discours woke.

L’élection de Zohran Mamdani à la mairie de New York a moins marqué le virage à gauche de l’Amérique urbaine qu’il n’a confirmé le discrédit qui entoure l’appareil du parti démocrate, représenté face à lui par l’ancien gouverneur Andrew Cuomo. Mais la victoire simultanée de deux démocrates centristes aux postes de gouverneurs de Virginie et du New Jersey, et le succès du référendum de redécoupage électoral décidé par le gouverneur de Californie Gavin Newsom, a parallèlement indiqué une autre voie que la gauche pour renouveler un parti à la recherche de ses repères.

Un an après la victoire de Donald Trump, ces premiers scrutins étaient attendus comme des oracles, en particulier par les démocrates. La campagne victorieuse de Mamdani a été saluée comme celle d’un populisme de gauche, mêlant des discours exaltants, un programme un peu vague, et des promesses de lendemains radieux. «Le soleil s’est peut-être couché sur notre ville ce soir… mais je vois poindre l’aube d’un jour meilleur pour l’humanité », a lancé le vainqueur de l’élection mardi soir dans un discours exalté, citant le syndicaliste et socialiste américain Eugene Debs. » | Par Adrien Jaulmes | mercredi 5 novembre 2025

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Rama Duwaji: Who Is the Wife of NYC's Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani?

BBC: At 28, Rama Duwaji will be the youngest first lady New York City has ever had - thrust into the spotlight as her husband Zohran Mamdani won the mayoral race on Tuesday night.

And in his victory speech, the mayor-elect had a special shoutout for his wife standing beside him.

"And to my incredible wife, Rama, hayati," he said, using the Arabic word for "my life". "There is no one I would rather have by my side in this moment, and in every moment."

Duwaji is a New York-based artist with Syrian roots whose work often explores Middle Eastern themes. Her work has appeared on BBC News, and in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Vice and London's Tate Modern museum.

"Rama isn't just my wife; she's an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms," Mamdani wrote in a post on 12 May, announcing they had been married three months earlier.

"Omg she's real," Duwaji joked in a comment on that post.

The couple met on dating app Hinge, "so there is still hope in those dating apps," Mamdani said in an interview with The Bulwark. » | Max Matza | BBC News | Thursday, June 26, 2025. Updated: Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Zohran Mamdani Wins New York City Mayoral Election | BBC News

Nov 5, 2025 | Zohran Mamdani, 34, has won New York City's race for mayor in a contest that rallied young voters and sparked debate about the future direction of the Democratic Party.

The Ugandan-born Mamdani, a Democrat, beat former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, to become the youngest person in over a century to lead the largest city in the US.

"My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty," he told the crowd during a victory speech, touting voters' "mandate for change" and "mandate for a city we can afford".

A self-described democratic socialist, he made affordability the central message of his campaign, pledging to expand social programmes paid for by new taxes on high earners and corporations.

Democrats also won governor races in Virginia and New Jersey, and in California voters backed a proposition to redraw the congressional electoral map ahead of next year's midterm elections.