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New York's New Chapter: What Zohran Mamdani's Victory Means for Cities Everywhere

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  Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Mayor-elect of New York City Analysis by Prashant Shukla, Member, Strategic Policy Committee (SPC), South Dublin County Council (SDCC), Ireland Zohran Mamdani's election as Mayor of New York City marks a significant moment in modern urban politics. At 34, he becomes the city's first Muslim and South Asian mayor, but the meaning of his victory goes far beyond identity. New Yorkers chose Mamdani because they wanted a decisive response to an issue that has steadily shaped daily life: the rising cost of living and the growing fear among residents that the city is becoming unlivable for all but the wealthy. As a member of the Strategic Policy Committee in South Dublin County Council, I observe similar anxieties across Irish towns and cities, though on a smaller scale. Housing shortages, wage pressures, and the cost of childcare are now universal concerns. In every urban centre, a shared question is emerging:  Who is the city for — the people who live in it, ...

India's High-Stakes Balancing Act - Navigating the New World Order

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  SCO 2025  Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent sojourn to Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, set against the jarring backdrop of escalating trade tensions with the United States, vividly underscores India's precarious yet purposeful position on the global stage. New Delhi finds itself at a critical inflexion point, tasked with mastering a sophisticated geopolitical tightrope walk to safeguard its economic future and strategic autonomy. The traditional paradigms of alliance and non-alignment are increasingly obsolete. India is now forging a path of "Multi-Alignment 2.0," a pragmatic and hard-nosed strategy that leverages diverse partnerships without compromising its sovereign interests. A Frosty Neighbourhood, A Necessary Forum: The China Conundrum India's relationship with China has rarely been one of easy camaraderie. The unresolved border along the Line of Actual Control remains a flashpoint, infrastructure development continues a...

Moving to Ireland While Working for a UK Company: A Guide for British Citizens

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As cross-border life becomes increasingly common across the island of Ireland, a growing number of British citizens are choosing to relocate from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland—often buying property and settling permanently—while continuing to work for employers based in the United Kingdom. This modern reality prompts an important set of questions: Where do you pay tax? What are your rights in Ireland? Must your employer change anything? And do you need to notify immigration authorities? This article provides a comprehensive guide for British citizens who live in Ireland but are employed in the UK, addressing taxation, immigration status, access to public services, and the benefits of becoming an Irish tax resident. 1. Establishing Tax Residency in Ireland Under Irish law, tax residency is based on physical presence: You are considered resident for tax purposes if you spend 183 days or more in Ireland in a single tax year, Alternatively, you qualify if y...