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Iraq has opened its first Jewish museum dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Iraq's Jewish community. The Shamash Museum is located in Baghdad, in a former school on Al Rasheed Street. Locals and tourists have been thronging to the newly opened museum, where historical documents, photographs, old school records, academic certificates and personal records have been kept that highlight the community's cultural and economic contributions.&nbsp;The museum has been opened by Iraq's Jewish community and offers a rare glimpse into the community that once thrived in the country. Jews have been living in Iraq for 2,500 years and once made up nearly a quarter of Baghdad’s population. They helped shape Iraq's cultural, educational and economic life.&nbsp;The historic Shamash School was opened in 1928 and had 900 students by 1939. The school no longer existed in the building by 1951 and operated somewhere else till 1973. The museum has now been opened in the same building. Screens have been set up at the museum that display recorded interviews and other videos in which people of the Jewish community talk about their history and experiences. According to local reports, more than 1,000 people visited the museum on opening day.<h2>Dwindling Jewish community in Iraq</h2>&nbsp;The history of the Jews dates back to the Babylonian exile more than 2,500 years ago. The population peaked in the early 1900s when the Jews comprised nearly a quarter of Baghdad’s population. Around 100,000 to 150,000 Jews are estimated to have lived in the country before they were attacked and murdered under the 1941 Farhud (pogrom). Operation Ezra and Nehemiah saw around 120,000 Iraqi Jews leaving for Israel between 1950 and 1951.&nbsp;Today, only four to six Jews live in Baghdad and around 50 Jewish families reside in Iraqi Kurdistan. They also have a head, a woman named Khalida Elyahu, who is a dentist at a health centre in Baghdad. She is the chairwoman of the Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews, a body responsible for administering the Jewish community’s financial affairs.

A Jewish museum has opened in Iraq, highlighting the community's cultural and economic contributions to the country. Only a handful of Jews remain in Iraq today from nearly 150,000 that once lived in the country.

Iraq has opened its first Jewish museum dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Iraq's Jewish community. The Shamash Museum is located in Baghdad, in a former school on Al Rasheed Street. Locals and tourists have been thronging to the newly opened museum, where historical documents, photographs, old school records, academic certificates and personal records have been kept that highlight the community's cultural and economic contributions. The museum has been opened by Iraq's Jewish community and offers a rare glimpse into the community that once thrived in the country. Jews have been living in Iraq for 2,500 years and once made up nearly a quarter of Baghdad’s population. They helped shape Iraq's cultural, educational and economic life. The historic Shamash School was opened in 1928 and had 900 students by 1939. The school no longer existed in the building by 1951 and operated somewhere else till 1973. The museum has now been opened in the same building. Screens have been set up at the museum that display recorded interviews and other videos in which people of the Jewish community talk about their history and experiences. According to local reports, more than 1,000 people visited the museum on opening day. Dwindling Jewish community in Iraq The history of the Jews dates back to the Babylonian exile more than 2,500 years ago. The population peaked in the early 1900s when the Jews comprised nearly a quarter of Baghdad’s population. Around 100,000 to 150,000 Jews are estimated to have lived in the country before they were attacked and murdered under the 1941 Farhud (pogrom). Operation Ezra and Nehemiah saw around 120,000 Iraqi Jews leaving for Israel between 1950 and 1951. Today, only four to six Jews live in Baghdad and around 50 Jewish families reside in Iraqi Kurdistan. They also have a head, a woman named Khalida Elyahu, who is a dentist at a health centre in Baghdad. She is the chairwoman of the Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews, a body responsible for administering the Jewish community’s financial affairs.

A Jewish museum has opened in Iraq, highlighting the community's cultural and economic contributions to the country. Only a handful of Jews remain in Iraq today from nearly 150,000 who once lived in the country.

Iraq opens its first Jewish museum as country's community faces extinction

The stereotypical image of the hacker as a man in a hoodie may not be accurate anymore. A bunch of AI agents might do more cyberattacks in the near future than humans. In fact, that's already happening. &nbsp;Artificial Intelligence is fast becoming one of the greatest cybersecurity threats in 2026. AI has now shifted from a tool that assists with tasks to an active participant in cyberattacks. The most recent case is the record $6.3 billion Binance cryptocurrency hack on October 29. Binance said the attackers used a compromised internal AI tool to gain control of wallet engineers' computers. This enabled unauthorised use of a wallet-signing service. The FBI has blamed North Korean hackers, which it denies.<h2>How AI is helping cyberattacks</h2>AI agents are often built on open-source penetration-testing frameworks. They run on commercial large language models (LLMs) like Anthropic's Claude and China's DeepSeek. They find vulnerabilities and exploit them, harvesting credentials and stealing data with limited human oversight. Worryingly, one needs no sophisticated tech skills: a few prompts to an AI agent would do.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fbi-joins-investigation-into-binance-security-breach-1793435755029/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/fbi-joins-investigation-into-binance-security-breach-1793435755029/embed</a><h2>Rise of agentic activity with speed and scale&nbsp;</h2>CrowdStrike, a US cybersecurity firm, reported a nearly threefold rise in likely agentic AI intrusions in the second half of 2026, compared to the first half. Anthropic, the parent of Claude AI, &nbsp;and others say malicious actors disguise attacks as authorised penetration testing to bypass AI safeguards.The open-source CyberStrikeAI framework lets attackers run dozens of agents at once. They autonomously handle reconnaissance, vulnerability scanning, exploitation, command-and-control and data theft.Tokyo-based security firm Trend Micro found one operator running 44 agents against at least 19 organisations, 16 in Japan. The agents generated Japanese-language forms and fake login pages. Kaspersky found CyberStrikeAI targeting schools and universities in Africa and Latin America.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/binance-hack-and-the-safety-of-cryptocurrency-how-and-why-your-wallet-is-under-threat-and-what-you-can-do-about-it-1793608528201">Binance hack and the safety of cryptocurrency: How and why your wallet is under threat, and what you can do about it</a> China-linked group Vapor Panda used another framework, ARTEX, against over 200 organisations, including ministries and defence bodies, in 14 countries, with nine intrusions confirmed.South Korean police arrested a seven-member ring that used ARTEX from late August. The group breached about 90 organisations and stole roughly 8.2 million records.A single Chinese-speaking operator outsourced almost an entire campaign to AI agents, Reuters reported. Mixing DeepSeek and Anthropic's Claude Code through a platform called Cairn, the agents attacked over 1,200 sites and breached those of more than 100 companies. The cost was minimal: about $5,000 worth of AI tokens.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/binance-6-3-billion-crypto-heist-fake-job-interview-north-korea-1793774387720">Binance claimed hackers used job interview to orchestrate $6.3 bn attack</a><h2>Multi-agent frameworks are helping cyberattacks, adapting on their own against blocks</h2>A Spanish- and English-speaking operator used a dual-agent design against at least 15 Argentine healthcare organisations, CrowdStrike said. A "Supervisor" Claude Code agent directed an "Executor" agent. In one intrusion, the agent reached a domain controller and harvested password hashes in about 20 minutes, unaided.&nbsp;Agents switch tactics when blocked. The Reuters report said agents facing a hardened application pivoted to a weaker control panel and exploited a flaw there.AI is accelerating and scaling existing hacking tactics rather than inventing new ones. Agents excel at rapid iteration, parallel tasking, localised social engineering and sustained probing.AI is now a force multiplier for skilled and unskilled actors alike. It increases the speed, volume and reach of attacks, giving defenders less time.

AI agents and bots are now active participants in cyberattacks, as revealed in the record $6.3 billion Binance hack. Even unskilled actors can now hack faster and at scale than defenders can respond.

The stereotypical image of the hacker as a man in a hoodie may not be accurate anymore. A bunch of AI agents might do more cyberattacks in the near future than humans. In fact, that's already happening. Artificial Intelligence is fast becoming one of the greatest cybersecurity threats in 2026. AI has now shifted from a tool that assists with tasks to an active participant in cyberattacks. The most recent case is the record $6.3 billion Binance cryptocurrency hack on October 29. Binance said the attackers used a compromised internal AI tool to gain control of wallet engineers' computers. This enabled unauthorised use of a wallet-signing service. The FBI has blamed North Korean hackers, which it denies. How AI is helping cyberattacks AI agents are often built on open-source penetration-testing frameworks. They run on commercial large language models (LLMs) like Anthropic's Claude and China's DeepSeek. They find vulnerabilities and exploit them, harvesting credentials and stealing data with limited human oversight. Worryingly, one needs no sophisticated tech skills: a few prompts to an AI agent would do. https://www.wionews.com/videos/fbi-joins-investigation-into-binance-security-breach-1793435755029/embed Rise of agentic activity with speed and scale CrowdStrike, a US cybersecurity firm, reported a nearly threefold rise in likely agentic AI intrusions in the second half of 2026, compared to the first half. Anthropic, the parent of Claude AI, and others say malicious actors disguise attacks as authorised penetration testing to bypass AI safeguards. The open-source CyberStrikeAI framework lets attackers run dozens of agents at once. They autonomously handle reconnaissance, vulnerability scanning, exploitation, command-and-control and data theft. Tokyo-based security firm Trend Micro found one operator running 44 agents against at least 19 organisations, 16 in Japan. The agents generated Japanese-language forms and fake login pages. Kaspersky found CyberStrikeAI targeting schools and universities in Africa and Latin America. Also read: Binance hack and the safety of cryptocurrency: How and why your wallet is under threat, and what you can do about it China-linked group Vapor Panda used another framework, ARTEX, against over 200 organisations, including ministries and defence bodies, in 14 countries, with nine intrusions confirmed. South Korean police arrested a seven-member ring that used ARTEX from late August. The group breached about 90 organisations and stole roughly 8.2 million records. A single Chinese-speaking operator outsourced almost an entire campaign to AI agents, Reuters reported. Mixing DeepSeek and Anthropic's Claude Code through a platform called Cairn, the agents attacked over 1,200 sites and breached those of more than 100 companies. The cost was minimal: about $5,000 worth of AI tokens. Also read: Binance claimed hackers used job interview to orchestrate $6.3 bn attack Multi-agent frameworks are helping cyberattacks, adapting on their own against blocks A Spanish- and English-speaking operator used a dual-agent design against at least 15 Argentine healthcare organisations, CrowdStrike said. A "Supervisor" Claude Code agent directed an "Executor" agent. In one intrusion, the agent reached a domain controller and harvested password hashes in about 20 minutes, unaided. Agents switch tactics when blocked. The Reuters report said agents facing a hardened application pivoted to a weaker control panel and exploited a flaw there. AI is accelerating and scaling existing hacking tactics rather than inventing new ones. Agents excel at rapid iteration, parallel tasking, localised social engineering and sustained probing. AI is now a force multiplier for skilled and unskilled actors alike. It increases the speed, volume and reach of attacks, giving defenders less time.

AI agents and bots are now active participants in cyberattacks, as revealed in the record $6.3 billion Binance hack. Even unskilled actors can now hack faster and at scale than defenders can respond.

AI is the new cybersecurity threat: How automated agents and AI bots are helping hackers

Saudi Arabia has rolled over its $3 billion financing facility to Pakistan for a longer period, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Wednesday, providing relief to Islamabad as it faces external debt repayment pressures.&nbsp;The financing was originally provided in April to help Pakistan repay $3.5 billion owed to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It matured on October 31 under its three-month term.&nbsp;"It has been extended and for a reasonable period. You don't need to worry as to for how long given the kind of strategic relationship we have," Aurangzeb told reporters in Islamabad, Dawn reported.&nbsp;The rollover comes as prospects of a proposed $10 billion US backstop facility appear to have weakened. Riyadh had earlier extended a separate $5 billion financing facility to Pakistan until 2028.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chandigarh-couple-at-centre-of-fresh-us-sanctions-over-helping-iran-evade-oil-sanctions-1793864752969">Chandigarh couple at centre of fresh US sanctions over helping Iran evade oil sanctions</a><h3>Pakistan looks to reduce external debt</h3>Aurangzeb also told the Senate Standing Committee on Finance that the government was targeting a $4 billion reduction in external debt during the current fiscal year, followed by another $3.5 billion next year. This compares with a $4.5 billion reduction in the previous fiscal year.&nbsp;He said Pakistan was looking to replace expensive short-term borrowing with longer-term financing through bonds and private placements to reduce refinancing risks.&nbsp;The minister said the country's external debt had been rising by $5 billion to $6 billion annually, increasing from $45 billion in 2014-15 to around $100 billion. However, the annual increase had slowed to about $1 billion over the past two years.&nbsp;Pakistan's liquid foreign exchange reserves stand at approximately $26.86 billion. Of this, the State Bank of Pakistan holds $21.47 billion, while commercial banks account for around $5.41 billion.&nbsp;The rollover follows Pakistan's repayment of $3.5 billion to the UAE in April after Abu Dhabi sought immediate repayment. The move had put pressure on Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves, prompting Islamabad to seek financial support from Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia has rolled over its $3 billion financing to Pakistan, offering relief to Islamabad as prospects of a proposed $10 billion US backstop facility appear to have weakened.

Saudi Arabia has rolled over its $3 billion financing facility to Pakistan for a longer period, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Wednesday, providing relief to Islamabad as it faces external debt repayment pressures. The financing was originally provided in April to help Pakistan repay $3.5 billion owed to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It matured on October 31 under its three-month term. "It has been extended and for a reasonable period. You don't need to worry as to for how long given the kind of strategic relationship we have," Aurangzeb told reporters in Islamabad, Dawn reported. The rollover comes as prospects of a proposed $10 billion US backstop facility appear to have weakened. Riyadh had earlier extended a separate $5 billion financing facility to Pakistan until 2028. Also Read: Chandigarh couple at centre of fresh US sanctions over helping Iran evade oil sanctions Pakistan looks to reduce external debt Aurangzeb also told the Senate Standing Committee on Finance that the government was targeting a $4 billion reduction in external debt during the current fiscal year, followed by another $3.5 billion next year. This compares with a $4.5 billion reduction in the previous fiscal year. He said Pakistan was looking to replace expensive short-term borrowing with longer-term financing through bonds and private placements to reduce refinancing risks. The minister said the country's external debt had been rising by $5 billion to $6 billion annually, increasing from $45 billion in 2014-15 to around $100 billion. However, the annual increase had slowed to about $1 billion over the past two years. Pakistan's liquid foreign exchange reserves stand at approximately $26.86 billion. Of this, the State Bank of Pakistan holds $21.47 billion, while commercial banks account for around $5.41 billion. The rollover follows Pakistan's repayment of $3.5 billion to the UAE in April after Abu Dhabi sought immediate repayment. The move had put pressure on Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves, prompting Islamabad to seek financial support from Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia has rolled over its $3 billion financing to Pakistan, offering relief to Islamabad as prospects of a proposed $10 billion US backstop facility appear to have weakened.

Saudi Arabia rolls over $3 billion financing to Pakistan as $10 billion US backstop fades

US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar celebrated her re-election with a victory dance alongside her husband and supporters at Karmel Mall in Minneapolis, the nation's first Somali shopping centre.&nbsp;The Minnesota Democrat secured a fifth term in Congress, where she has served since 2019. Supporters gathered at the mall, a popular spot for Omar, to celebrate her latest election victory.&nbsp;In her first reaction, Omar said Americans would not allow President Donald Trump to silence them. She described her re-election as a clear mandate and a rejection of what she called political targeting.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH: Rep. Ilhan Omar celebrates after winning re-election to a fifth term in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District.

Omar, the first Somali-American elected to Congress, comfortably held her Minneapolis-area seat. https://t.co/cuuZqPeguz&mdash; Clash Report (@clashreport) <a href="https://x.com/clashreport/status/2118079302398824788?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Federal investigation and questions over finances</h2>Omar's campaign season was marked by controversies, including questions surrounding her family's finances. She has been at the receiveing end of Trump adminsitration's anti-immigration rhetoric.&nbsp;&nbsp;On October 12, the US Department of Justice confirmed that Homeland Security Investigations had carried out a search under a judicially authorised warrant as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation. However, the department did not say that the investigation was related to Omar or provide details about the purpose of the search.&nbsp;Separately, a report by the New York Post raised questions about the financial disclosures of Omar's husband, Tim Mynett.&nbsp;According to the report, Mynett initially valued his venture capital firm, Rose Lake Capital, and his now-closed California wine business, eStCru, at up to $30 million in Omar's 2024 financial disclosure.&nbsp;However, her 2025 disclosure showed no income from the venture capital firm and between $200 and $1,000 from the wine business, which shut down in April. The report linked the changes to the ongoing probe, while Omar has described herself as "working class".&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chandigarh-couple-at-centre-of-fresh-us-sanctions-over-helping-iran-evade-oil-sanctions-1793864752969">Chandigarh couple at centre of fresh US sanctions over helping Iran evade oil sanctions</a><h2>Allegations over marriage</h2>Omar has also faced allegations for years that she entered into a sham marriage with her biological brother, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, to help him obtain a green card.&nbsp;According to the New York Post, federal prosecutors are examining whether her 2009 marriage to Elmi involved an attempt to bypass US immigration laws.&nbsp;Investigators are also reportedly looking into whether Omar or her late father, Nur Omar Mohamed, provided false information in immigration documents, including details about her birth date, the newspaper reported, citing sources familiar with the investigation.&nbsp;Omar moved to the United States from Somalia with her family in 1995 and reportedly became a US citizen at the age of 17 through her father's naturalisation in 2000.

Ilhan Omar secured a fifth term in Congress, celebrating her victory in Minneapolis as she vowed that Americans would not allow President Donald Trump to silence them.

US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar celebrated her re-election with a victory dance alongside her husband and supporters at Karmel Mall in Minneapolis, the nation's first Somali shopping centre. The Minnesota Democrat secured a fifth term in Congress, where she has served since 2019. Supporters gathered at the mall, a popular spot for Omar, to celebrate her latest election victory. In her first reaction, Omar said Americans would not allow President Donald Trump to silence them. She described her re-election as a clear mandate and a rejection of what she called political targeting.

Ilhan Omar secured a fifth term in Congress, celebrating her victory in Minneapolis as she vowed that Americans would not allow President Donald Trump to silence them.

Watch: Ilhan Omar breaks into a dance after securing fifth-term victory amid long-running Trump feud

The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on two Indian nationals accused of running a large maritime fraud network that helped Iran's shadow fleet of oil tankers evade international restrictions.&nbsp;The US Treasury Department identified the accused as Suniel Kumar Sharma and his wife, Jaspreet Preeti Shahid, who allegedly operated the network from Chandigarh. The sanctions also target two other Indian citizens who head businesses run by the couple, along with nine entities linked to Sharma.&nbsp;According to the Treasury, the network helped Iranian vessels operate under false flags and obtain fraudulent maritime certifications. Some of the vessels were involved in transporting Iranian petroleum on behalf of the country's military and its proxies.<h3>How the alleged maritime fraud worked</h3>The Treasury said the couple operated through what it described as the "Sharma criminal Network", which allegedly deceived maritime regulatory authorities in several jurisdictions to establish fake flagging authorities and maritime classification societies.&nbsp;The network claimed to represent countries across different continents, including Guyana, Eswatini and Laos, allowing vessels in Iran's shadow fleet to evade restrictions on their operations.&nbsp;“Purporting to represent nations from nearly every continent, from Guyana to Eswatini and Laos, Sharma and Shahid have allowed the Iranian shadow fleet, including those operating on behalf of the Iranian military and its proxies, to evade international restrictions on their operation,” the statement said.&nbsp;Sharma and Shahid's activities date back to at least 2014, when they allegedly attempted to impersonate the flagging authority of the Caribbean nation of Dominica.&nbsp;The US Treasury said false flags and fake certifications allow vessels involved in illicit activities to bypass international rules designed to protect crew members and prevent environmental damage.It added that falsely flagged ships do not have valid protection and indemnity insurance. As a result, vessels in Iran's shadow fleet could potentially cause billions of dollars in damage to the economies of countries whose territorial waters they enter.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nithya-raman-wins-la-mayoral-race-becomes-city-s-first-asian-american-mayor-1793852549254">Nithya Raman wins LA mayoral race, becomes city's first Asian-American mayor</a><h3>US widens sanctions against Iran</h3>The latest action is part of Washington's expanding sanctions campaign against Iran, which intensified in August. At the time, the US announced that it would pursue the country's "economic asphyxiation" alongside its military campaign.&nbsp;The Treasury Department also sanctioned Turkey-based Fugo Ground Services Inc. for its continued support of Iran's heavily sanctioned aviation sector.&nbsp;"As we have said many times, under Operation Economic Outcast, you are either with us or against us," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.&nbsp;"We know where you are, and we will sanction those who continue supporting the Iranian regime, whether by land, sea, or air."&nbsp;Bessent has previously warned that Washington could impose sanctions on any country or company assisting Iran, regardless of its relationship with the United States.

The US has sanctioned two Indian nationals accused of running a Chandigarh-based maritime fraud network that helped Iranian oil tankers evade international restrictions through fake flags and maritime certifications.

The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on two Indian nationals accused of running a large maritime fraud network that helped Iran's shadow fleet of oil tankers evade international restrictions. The US Treasury Department identified the accused as Suniel Kumar Sharma and his wife, Jaspreet Preeti Shahid, who allegedly operated the network from Chandigarh. The sanctions also target two other Indian citizens who head businesses run by the couple, along with nine entities linked to Sharma. According to the Treasury, the network helped Iranian vessels operate under false flags and obtain fraudulent maritime certifications. Some of the vessels were involved in transporting Iranian petroleum on behalf of the country's military and its proxies. How the alleged maritime fraud worked The Treasury said the couple operated through what it described as the "Sharma criminal Network", which allegedly deceived maritime regulatory authorities in several jurisdictions to establish fake flagging authorities and maritime classification societies. The network claimed to represent countries across different continents, including Guyana, Eswatini and Laos, allowing vessels in Iran's shadow fleet to evade restrictions on their operations. “Purporting to represent nations from nearly every continent, from Guyana to Eswatini and Laos, Sharma and Shahid have allowed the Iranian shadow fleet, including those operating on behalf of the Iranian military and its proxies, to evade international restrictions on their operation,” the statement said. Sharma and Shahid's activities date back to at least 2014, when they allegedly attempted to impersonate the flagging authority of the Caribbean nation of Dominica. The US Treasury said false flags and fake certifications allow vessels involved in illicit activities to bypass international rules designed to protect crew members and prevent environmental damage. It added that falsely flagged ships do not have valid protection and indemnity insurance. As a result, vessels in Iran's shadow fleet could potentially cause billions of dollars in damage to the economies of countries whose territorial waters they enter. Also Read: Nithya Raman wins LA mayoral race, becomes city's first Asian-American mayor US widens sanctions against Iran The latest action is part of Washington's expanding sanctions campaign against Iran, which intensified in August. At the time, the US announced that it would pursue the country's "economic asphyxiation" alongside its military campaign. The Treasury Department also sanctioned Turkey-based Fugo Ground Services Inc. for its continued support of Iran's heavily sanctioned aviation sector. "As we have said many times, under Operation Economic Outcast, you are either with us or against us," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. "We know where you are, and we will sanction those who continue supporting the Iranian regime, whether by land, sea, or air." Bessent has previously warned that Washington could impose sanctions on any country or company assisting Iran, regardless of its relationship with the United States.

The US has sanctioned two Indian nationals accused of running a Chandigarh-based maritime fraud network that helped Iranian oil tankers evade international restrictions through fake flags and maritime certifications.

Chandigarh couple at centre of fresh US sanctions over helping Iran evade oil sanctions

Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim Senator after the US midterm elections, as Democrats gained control of Congress. His wife, Dr Sarah Jukaku, joined him in the celebrations. She is of Indian origin, belonging to the southern state of Karnataka. Meanwhile, El-Sayed is the son of Egyptian immigrants. A viral video from a podcast shows him talking about his marriage and his India connection. He shared that at a family function, one of his uncles asked him about choosing an Indian woman.&nbsp;Speaking on the "Meet The Real Abdul El-Sayed" podcast, posted on YouTube in August this year, he said that his uncle asked him, "There are 80 million Egyptians, and you went and married an Indian woman?" To this, he replied in a lighter vein, "Amu (uncle in Arabic), there are a billion of them, so statistically speaking, this was a high probability." In another interview, El-Sayed even said that he considers himself "more Indian than Arab" after being married to his wife for 20 years.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-bad-guys-lost-abdul-el-sayed-slams-trump-vance-in-first-reaction-after-historic-win-in-us-midterm-election-1793774375980">Abdul El-Sayed's first reaction after historic win, says we turned 'inshallah' into ‘Alhamdulillah’</a>&nbsp;Dr Jukaku hails from an Indian-American family that migrated to the US from Bhatkal in Karnataka. Her grandfather, Jukaku Shamshuddin, served as deputy minister for finance in the erstwhile Mysore State under then chief minister BD Jatti. Shamshuddin was also regarded as the first lawyer from the Bhatkal region. Her father studied medicine in Bengaluru and later moved to the US. El-Sayed and Dr Jukaku got married in May 2006. The couple has two daughters, Emmalee and Serene.<h2>El-Sayed took shots at JD Vance and Donald Trump in his victory speech</h2>El-Sayed scripted history this week after becoming a US Senator-elect from Michigan. He will be sworn into office in January 2027 as the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate. He delivered an impassioned speech to his supporters on election night. El-Sayed said, “Michigan, we did it! My name is Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, and I am so proud and honoured to stand here as your senator-elect from the great state of Michigan.”&nbsp;He further said, "Up until right about now, you might have noticed I always say 'inshallah,' or 'God willing,' whenever the outcome of this race was mentioned... But tonight, we can turn that 'inshallah' into an 'alhamdulillah' [praise be to God]."&nbsp;Taking a shot at Vice President JD Vance, El-Sayed said, "JD, habibi, there is this delicious irony in the fact that you're constitutionally obligated to swear me in, in January." He also took a jab at Donald Trump and said, "Donald, I know you struggle with my name, so after JD swears me in, you can just go on and call me Senator."

Abdul El-Sayed, who is the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate, is married to Dr Sarah Jukaku, who has Indian roots. In a podcast, he talked about being married to her. Jukaku's parents migrated to the United States from Karnataka.

Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim Senator after the US midterm elections, as Democrats gained control of Congress. His wife, Dr Sarah Jukaku, joined him in the celebrations. She is of Indian origin, belonging to the southern state of Karnataka. Meanwhile, El-Sayed is the son of Egyptian immigrants. A viral video from a podcast shows him talking about his marriage and his India connection. He shared that at a family function, one of his uncles asked him about choosing an Indian woman. Speaking on the "Meet The Real Abdul El-Sayed" podcast, posted on YouTube in August this year, he said that his uncle asked him, "There are 80 million Egyptians, and you went and married an Indian woman?" To this, he replied in a lighter vein, "Amu (uncle in Arabic), there are a billion of them, so statistically speaking, this was a high probability." In another interview, El-Sayed even said that he considers himself "more Indian than Arab" after being married to his wife for 20 years. Also Read: Abdul El-Sayed's first reaction after historic win, says we turned 'inshallah' into ‘Alhamdulillah’ Dr Jukaku hails from an Indian-American family that migrated to the US from Bhatkal in Karnataka. Her grandfather, Jukaku Shamshuddin, served as deputy minister for finance in the erstwhile Mysore State under then chief minister BD Jatti. Shamshuddin was also regarded as the first lawyer from the Bhatkal region. Her father studied medicine in Bengaluru and later moved to the US. El-Sayed and Dr Jukaku got married in May 2006. The couple has two daughters, Emmalee and Serene. El-Sayed took shots at JD Vance and Donald Trump in his victory speech El-Sayed scripted history this week after becoming a US Senator-elect from Michigan. He will be sworn into office in January 2027 as the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate. He delivered an impassioned speech to his supporters on election night. El-Sayed said, “Michigan, we did it! My name is Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, and I am so proud and honoured to stand here as your senator-elect from the great state of Michigan.” He further said, "Up until right about now, you might have noticed I always say 'inshallah,' or 'God willing,' whenever the outcome of this race was mentioned... But tonight, we can turn that 'inshallah' into an 'alhamdulillah' [praise be to God]." Taking a shot at Vice President JD Vance, El-Sayed said, "JD, habibi, there is this delicious irony in the fact that you're constitutionally obligated to swear me in, in January." He also took a jab at Donald Trump and said, "Donald, I know you struggle with my name, so after JD swears me in, you can just go on and call me Senator."

Abdul El-Sayed, who is the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate, is married to Dr Sarah Jukaku, who has Indian roots. In a podcast, he talked about being married to her. Jukaku's parents migrated to the United States from Karnataka.

'I am more Indian than Arab': Abdul El-Sayed on his Indian-origin wife

The US military is finishing preparations for a possible resumption of major combat operations in Iran, including sending more military assets to the region, Axios and other US media outlets reported. With the midterm election results of November 1 turning Donald Trump into a lame-duck president, Congressional authorisation for further funding for the Iran war is uncertain when the new session begins in January. This leaves Trump with only a small window to strike Iran one last time before he faces legislative battles or ends up resorting to executive orders to have his way.The war and the subsequent disruption of oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz have led to higher fuel prices and an increased cost of living in the US, which became a key election issue. Trump also conceded that the war had hurt the Republican Party in the elections, but said he would do it again if needed to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon: “We had no choice. You can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” he said.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/multiple-explosions-reported-on-iran-s-qeshm-island-as-trump-says-deal-with-tehran-could-happen-1793659873623">US attacks Iran's Qeshm Island even as Trump says deal with Tehran 'could happen'</a><h2>US military preparations</h2>According to a Wall Street Journal report, the US military has been making preparations for a potential strike for weeks. Thousands of pounds of munitions have been amassed. Additional air defence assets and warships are being mobilised in the region. A third aircraft carrier strike group and an additional Marine Expeditionary Unit are moving towards the Middle East. This adds up to 10,000 more troops being deployed to the region.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-war-america-s-desperate-attack-on-iran-on-eve-of-midterm-polls-1793724269458/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-war-america-s-desperate-attack-on-iran-on-eve-of-midterm-polls-1793724269458/embed</a><h2>Trump has three main options, and all are messy</h2>As per Axios, Trump might have to choose one of three main options, all of which are unpopular or messy. Resuming strikes on Iran could keep fuel prices high, with no guarantee of military gains. Negotiating a deal is risky, as Iran has sensed political weakness in Trump following the elections and refuse to make concessions or raise its demands.Maintaining the status quo through the US naval blockade and continuing the maximum economic pressure campaign through sanctions is another option. This amounts to letting Iran rot. But these measures in the past have not made Iran flinch.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-exempts-ships-from-india-china-iraq-and-qatar-from-strait-of-hormuz-restrictions-1793798008693">Iran exempts ships from India, China, Iraq, and Qatar from Strait of Hormuz restrictions</a><h2>Trump officials are divided: Some want Hegseth out; Vance openly blames the war for poll loss</h2>The midterms drubbing has divided US administration officials over the next course of action on Iran, with some wanting the ouster of Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary and the public face of the American war effort.&nbsp;A Wall Street Journal report said some US officials are pushing Trump to launch fresh military strikes on Iran and then push for peace. This would allow him to extricate himself from the war during the lame-duck period. Another group wants Trump to cut his losses and wind down the war.Vice President JD Vance openly linked the Republican Party's electoral rout to the war, identifying it as a key reason behind the blue wave that saw Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. “The reason we lost is the war,” Vance wrote on X.He argued that the conflict had cost Republicans the Senate for the next six years. Terming US relations with Israel as a political liability, Vance had privately accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “being wrong on everything” regarding Iran, the Axios report said. Most senior officials reportedly shared Vance's position, the report said.

After Republican midterm losses, President Trump is facing mounting pressure to end the Iran war, one way or the other. And all his options are messy.  

The US military is finishing preparations for a possible resumption of major combat operations in Iran, including sending more military assets to the region, Axios and other US media outlets reported. With the midterm election results of November 1 turning Donald Trump into a lame-duck president, Congressional authorisation for further funding for the Iran war is uncertain when the new session begins in January. This leaves Trump with only a small window to strike Iran one last time before he faces legislative battles or ends up resorting to executive orders to have his way. The war and the subsequent disruption of oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz have led to higher fuel prices and an increased cost of living in the US, which became a key election issue. Trump also conceded that the war had hurt the Republican Party in the elections, but said he would do it again if needed to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon: “We had no choice. You can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” he said. Also read: US attacks Iran's Qeshm Island even as Trump says deal with Tehran 'could happen' US military preparations According to a Wall Street Journal report, the US military has been making preparations for a potential strike for weeks. Thousands of pounds of munitions have been amassed. Additional air defence assets and warships are being mobilised in the region. A third aircraft carrier strike group and an additional Marine Expeditionary Unit are moving towards the Middle East. This adds up to 10,000 more troops being deployed to the region. https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-war-america-s-desperate-attack-on-iran-on-eve-of-midterm-polls-1793724269458/embed Trump has three main options, and all are messy As per Axios, Trump might have to choose one of three main options, all of which are unpopular or messy. Resuming strikes on Iran could keep fuel prices high, with no guarantee of military gains. Negotiating a deal is risky, as Iran has sensed political weakness in Trump following the elections and refuse to make concessions or raise its demands. Maintaining the status quo through the US naval blockade and continuing the maximum economic pressure campaign through sanctions is another option. This amounts to letting Iran rot. But these measures in the past have not made Iran flinch. Also read: Iran exempts ships from India, China, Iraq, and Qatar from Strait of Hormuz restrictions Trump officials are divided: Some want Hegseth out; Vance openly blames the war for poll loss The midterms drubbing has divided US administration officials over the next course of action on Iran, with some wanting the ouster of Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary and the public face of the American war effort. A Wall Street Journal report said some US officials are pushing Trump to launch fresh military strikes on Iran and then push for peace. This would allow him to extricate himself from the war during the lame-duck period. Another group wants Trump to cut his losses and wind down the war. Vice President JD Vance openly linked the Republican Party's electoral rout to the war, identifying it as a key reason behind the blue wave that saw Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. “The reason we lost is the war,” Vance wrote on X. He argued that the conflict had cost Republicans the Senate for the next six years. Terming US relations with Israel as a political liability, Vance had privately accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “being wrong on everything” regarding Iran, the Axios report said. Most senior officials reportedly shared Vance's position, the report said.

After Republican midterm losses, President Trump is facing mounting pressure to end the Iran war, one way or the other. And all his options are messy. &nbsp;

Dirty war ahead? Trump has options of renewed strikes on Iran or letting it rot, but officials are divided after US midterms rout

For Indian students planning to study in the US, a Democratic victory in the midterm elections offers a possible counterweight to Donald Trump’s immigration agenda. But it is unlikely to bring any immediate relief to those worried about student visas, post-study work opportunities and the prospect of staying in the country after graduation.Democrats have taken control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The shift gives them greater room to question the administration’s immigration decisions and challenge proposals affecting international students. Trump, however, remains in office, and his administration will continue to oversee visa and immigration policy.The concern is particularly significant for Indian students, many of whom see the opportunity to work in the US after graduation as an important part of their education plans.According to the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors 2025 report, the number of Indian students in the US stood at 363,019 during the 2024-25 academic year. As many as 143,740 were on Optional Practical Training (OPT), up 47.3 per cent from the previous year. OPT allows eligible international students to work in jobs related to their field of study for up to 12 months after graduation. Those with qualifying STEM degrees can seek an additional 24 months.<h2>A $70,000 proposal adds to uncertainty</h2>In a proposed rule published on October 8, the Department of Homeland Security proposed a $70,000 fee for an F-1 student's first participation in OPT and $30,000 for any subsequent OPT participation. Under the proposal, the institution recommending the student would be responsible for paying the fee. However, universities could pass some of the additional cost on to students or employers.The public comment period closes on November 9. The proposed fees are not yet in force. DHS will review the submissions before deciding whether to issue a final rule, which, under the proposal, would take effect 60 days after publication.Democrats could use their new congressional majority to summon administration officials, question the financial implications and press for changes. But they cannot simply strike down the proposal through a change in congressional control.<h2>The H-1B question is far from settled</h2>For many Indian graduates, OPT is a stepping stone to an H-1B visa, which allows them to continue working in the US through employer sponsorship. The prospect of securing one has become another source of uncertainty amid the administration’s immigration restrictions.The green-card backlog is a separate concern. Indian professionals face particularly long waits for employment-based permanent residency, partly because US law generally limits each country's share of family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant visas to 7 per cent of the annual combined total.Student visa figures offer another indication of the difficulties facing Indian applicants. An analysis of US State Department data by Abroad Brief found that the US issued 30,317 F-1 student visas to Indian nationals in 2025, down from 76,695 in 2024. The decline was particularly sharp between May and August, when issuances fell from 58,694 to 22,149.For Indian students, the election result may have changed the political equation in Washington, but the uncertainty around studying and working in the US remains. A Democratic majority could put pressure on the Trump administration over its immigration decisions, particularly the proposed OPT fees and employment visa restrictions. Whether that pressure leads to any change is another matter.The new Congress takes office on January 3, 2027. Until then, students waiting on visa decisions or preparing to enter the US will have little choice but to follow developments closely. The bigger question is whether the Democrats will use their new power to challenge policies that could make studying and working in the US more difficult for international students.

Democrats’ midterm victory could put Trump’s proposed $70,000 OPT fee under scrutiny, but Indian students hoping for relief on US visas and post-study work face continued uncertainty.

For Indian students planning to study in the US, a Democratic victory in the midterm elections offers a possible counterweight to Donald Trump’s immigration agenda. But it is unlikely to bring any immediate relief to those worried about student visas, post-study work opportunities and the prospect of staying in the country after graduation. Democrats have taken control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The shift gives them greater room to question the administration’s immigration decisions and challenge proposals affecting international students. Trump, however, remains in office, and his administration will continue to oversee visa and immigration policy. The concern is particularly significant for Indian students, many of whom see the opportunity to work in the US after graduation as an important part of their education plans. According to the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors 2025 report, the number of Indian students in the US stood at 363,019 during the 2024-25 academic year. As many as 143,740 were on Optional Practical Training (OPT), up 47.3 per cent from the previous year. OPT allows eligible international students to work in jobs related to their field of study for up to 12 months after graduation. Those with qualifying STEM degrees can seek an additional 24 months. A $70,000 proposal adds to uncertainty In a proposed rule published on October 8, the Department of Homeland Security proposed a $70,000 fee for an F-1 student's first participation in OPT and $30,000 for any subsequent OPT participation. Under the proposal, the institution recommending the student would be responsible for paying the fee. However, universities could pass some of the additional cost on to students or employers. The public comment period closes on November 9. The proposed fees are not yet in force. DHS will review the submissions before deciding whether to issue a final rule, which, under the proposal, would take effect 60 days after publication. Democrats could use their new congressional majority to summon administration officials, question the financial implications and press for changes. But they cannot simply strike down the proposal through a change in congressional control. The H-1B question is far from settled For many Indian graduates, OPT is a stepping stone to an H-1B visa, which allows them to continue working in the US through employer sponsorship. The prospect of securing one has become another source of uncertainty amid the administration’s immigration restrictions. The green-card backlog is a separate concern. Indian professionals face particularly long waits for employment-based permanent residency, partly because US law generally limits each country's share of family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant visas to 7 per cent of the annual combined total. Student visa figures offer another indication of the difficulties facing Indian applicants. An analysis of US State Department data by Abroad Brief found that the US issued 30,317 F-1 student visas to Indian nationals in 2025, down from 76,695 in 2024. The decline was particularly sharp between May and August, when issuances fell from 58,694 to 22,149. For Indian students, the election result may have changed the political equation in Washington, but the uncertainty around studying and working in the US remains. A Democratic majority could put pressure on the Trump administration over its immigration decisions, particularly the proposed OPT fees and employment visa restrictions. Whether that pressure leads to any change is another matter. The new Congress takes office on January 3, 2027. Until then, students waiting on visa decisions or preparing to enter the US will have little choice but to follow developments closely. The bigger question is whether the Democrats will use their new power to challenge policies that could make studying and working in the US more difficult for international students.

Democrats’ midterm victory could put Trump’s proposed $70,000 OPT fee under scrutiny, but Indian students hoping for relief on US visas and post-study work face continued uncertainty.

Indian students in US: Will Democrats challenge Trump’s proposed OPT fees and visa policies after midterm win?

Joshua Wong, one of the most prominent faces of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, has been sentenced to another 10 years in prison for “foreign collusion,” under controversial national security law. Already serving a sentence in another case, the 30-year-old activist is now expected to remain behind bars until late 2036.&nbsp;Wong gained international recognition for leading protests against Beijing's growing control over Hong Kong. His activism also made him the subject of a Netflix documentary and brought him appearances on magazine covers across the world.&nbsp;Born in 1996 to middle-class Christian parents, Wong grew up in Hong Kong shortly before the territory was handed over by Britain to China in 1997.&nbsp;He entered activism at the age of 13, when he joined protests against a proposed high-speed rail link connecting Hong Kong with mainland China.&nbsp;His campaign against a proposed national education curriculum in 2012 brought him wider attention. Wong helped mobilise around 120,000 protesters who blocked the government headquarters, eventually forcing authorities to withdraw the plan.&nbsp;He later became known for promoting non-violent protests, civil disobedience, strikes and boycotts.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nithya-raman-wins-la-mayoral-race-becomes-city-s-first-asian-american-mayor-1793852549254">Nithya Raman wins LA mayoral race, becomes city's first Asian-American mayor</a><h3>Role in Hong Kong's democracy protests</h3>Wong emerged as a leading figure during the 2014 Umbrella Movement, when he joined fellow student leaders Nathan Law and Alex Chow in demanding democratic reforms.&nbsp;Although the movement failed to secure concessions from Beijing, it established Wong as one of Hong Kong's most recognisable pro-democracy activists.&nbsp;In 2016, he founded the political party Demosisto to demand greater self-determination for Hong Kong. The party argued that the city's residents, rather than Beijing, should decide its political future. However, unlike more radical activists, Wong did not call for Hong Kong's independence from China.&nbsp;He also took part in the massive pro-democracy protests in 2019, which were sometimes marked by violent clashes. Beijing responded by introducing a national security law in Hong Kong in 2020.Following the law's implementation on June 30, 2020, Demosisto disbanded.&nbsp;Wong has spent more than 2,000 days in prison across multiple convictions linked to his activism. He was due to be released in January, but the latest 10-year sentence has further extended his time behind bars. He is now not expected to walk free until late 2036.

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been sentenced to another 10 years in prison for foreign collusion, extending his jail term until late 2036 after years of campaigning against Beijing's control over the territory.

Joshua Wong, one of the most prominent faces of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, has been sentenced to another 10 years in prison for “foreign collusion,” under controversial national security law. Already serving a sentence in another case, the 30-year-old activist is now expected to remain behind bars until late 2036. Wong gained international recognition for leading protests against Beijing's growing control over Hong Kong. His activism also made him the subject of a Netflix documentary and brought him appearances on magazine covers across the world. Born in 1996 to middle-class Christian parents, Wong grew up in Hong Kong shortly before the territory was handed over by Britain to China in 1997. He entered activism at the age of 13, when he joined protests against a proposed high-speed rail link connecting Hong Kong with mainland China. His campaign against a proposed national education curriculum in 2012 brought him wider attention. Wong helped mobilise around 120,000 protesters who blocked the government headquarters, eventually forcing authorities to withdraw the plan. He later became known for promoting non-violent protests, civil disobedience, strikes and boycotts. Also Read: Nithya Raman wins LA mayoral race, becomes city's first Asian-American mayor Role in Hong Kong's democracy protests Wong emerged as a leading figure during the 2014 Umbrella Movement, when he joined fellow student leaders Nathan Law and Alex Chow in demanding democratic reforms. Although the movement failed to secure concessions from Beijing, it established Wong as one of Hong Kong's most recognisable pro-democracy activists. In 2016, he founded the political party Demosisto to demand greater self-determination for Hong Kong. The party argued that the city's residents, rather than Beijing, should decide its political future. However, unlike more radical activists, Wong did not call for Hong Kong's independence from China. He also took part in the massive pro-democracy protests in 2019, which were sometimes marked by violent clashes. Beijing responded by introducing a national security law in Hong Kong in 2020. Following the law's implementation on June 30, 2020, Demosisto disbanded. Wong has spent more than 2,000 days in prison across multiple convictions linked to his activism. He was due to be released in January, but the latest 10-year sentence has further extended his time behind bars. He is now not expected to walk free until late 2036.

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been sentenced to another 10 years in prison for foreign collusion, extending his jail term until late 2036 after years of campaigning against Beijing's control over the territory.

Who is Joshua Wong? Hong Kong pro-democracy face gets 10 more years in prison

President Donald Trump may have made the decision to launch the war that damaged voter support for the Republican Party and contributed to a devastating midterm defeat. However, the historic losses have intensified efforts within the party to find someone else to hold accountable: Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. The House could vote as early as next week on whether to impeach the Pentagon chief.Google has extended its voluntary employee exit programme to several countries as the tech giant looks to manage costs while increasing investments in artificial intelligence. According to Reuters, the company expanded the buyout offers in June to employees in Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Switzerland. However, the news agency could not establish how many workers have accepted the offers."In 2025, some of our teams introduced a voluntary exit program with severance," a Google spokesperson said in a statement quoted by Reuters.Delhi wakes up to "hazardous" air quality on Thursday morning (Nov 5), with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 482 at 8:01 am, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. Seven monitoring stations in the national capital recorded AQI levels above 400, which falls in the severe category. Punjabi Bagh logged the highest reading at 446, followed by Narela at 434, Rohini at 431, RK Puram at 416, Bawana at 412, North Campus (Delhi University) at 408 and Patparganj at 405.Stay with us for the latest news, breaking updates and developments as they unfold.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Democratic victory in the US midterm elections gave Ukraine "hope" of increased support from Washington. He spoke in an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF after visiting Madrid on Thursday and Berlin on Tuesday.&nbsp;The remarks come amid US-led efforts to revive peace negotiations that have raised concerns in Kyiv over the future of American support. Talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States are due to resume in the United Arab Emirates on November 10 and 11 under US mediation.

Zelensky sees 'hope' in US midterm outcome for Ukraine support

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday urged Latin American leaders to help Ukraine obtain urgently needed equipment to repair its power infrastructure damaged by Russian attacks. "Every power plant in Ukraine has been damaged in one way or another by attacks," he told a summit in Madrid, adding that repair crews were working around the clock. "We need equipment that works with our power grid, and we need it fast," he said, citing potential supplies of transformers from Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia, and power cables from Chile.&nbsp;

Zelensky urges Latin American leaders to help repair Ukraine's power grid

US First Lady Melania Trump called for a new, "more enduring" ceasefire in Ukraine as she hosted officials from the war-torn country and its invader, Russia, at the White House on Thursday. Trump earlier helped negotiate a six-day ceasefire in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, which ended on Sunday.&nbsp;"I hope Oleshky inspires greater peace. Every significant transformation begins with a small spark," she told reporters. She said she had written personal letters to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.&nbsp;

Melania Trump calls for 'more enduring' ceasefire in Ukraine at White House

The Karnataka government has issued orders enhancing the Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees and pensioners. The DA has been increased from 15.75 per cent to 18 per cent of basic pay, with a retrospective effect from July 1, 2026.&nbsp;The same enhancement has been extended to retired employees and family pensioners. "At a time when the cost of living continues to rise, it is our responsibility to safeguard the financial well-being and dignity of those who serve and have served our State," the government said in a statement.

Karnataka hikes DA for state employees, pensioners to 18 per cent

Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan has said his party is open to allying the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections but made it clear that if a consensus is not reached, the party will field its own candidates on all 403 seats. Speaking to reporters, Paswan said formal discussions regarding seat-sharing have not yet begun, but he hopes for a positive outcome within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).&nbsp;"Formal discussions regarding an alliance have not yet begun. If a consensus is reached within an alliance - which is what we hope for - and things proceed accordingly, that would be a positive development. However, I want to be very clear: I am part of an alliance at the central level," he said. Highlighting his party's track record, Paswan noted that LJP (RV) has contested both as an alliance partner and independently depending on the political landscape.&nbsp;

Chirag Paswan says LJP open to UP alliance, will field candidates on all 403 seats if no consensus

Around 600,000 people had taken to the streets by 5:00 pm (1600 GMT) Thursday to protest the cost of living in Paris and across France, the interior ministry said. The ministry earlier in the afternoon had put the figure at 270,000 people at 180 rallies nationwide, not including the capital.&nbsp;

Around 600,000 take to streets across France over cost of living, interior ministry says

IT giant Meta has reportedly joined Microsoft and Google in offering voluntary exits to employees with hefty severance packages. The development comes amid the widespread layoffs across tech companies in the past few months, with several firms offering voluntary exit options to staff. &nbsp;

After Google, Microsoft, Meta Offers Voluntary Exits To Employees Amid Widespread Layoffs

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has rejected claims by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas that Iran was interfering in the Yemen conflict, accusing the bloc of contributing to human rights violations through sanctions and blockades, IRNA news agency is reporting. &nbsp;

Iran rejects EU allegations of military involvement in Yemen

The US and Israeli militaries have drawn up plans for renewed strikes on Iran, according to the New York Times. The United States is ready to resume major combat operations against the country when ordered by Trump, NYT reported.

US and Israeli militaries have drawn up plans for ‘short, intensive’ operation against Iran: NYT

The Joint List alliance of Arab-led parties says it will back Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to form a new government after last week’s election. &nbsp;

Joint List says it will back Eisenkot to form Israel’s next government

US president Donald Trump on Thursday expressed uncertainty about vice president JD Vance running in the 2028 presidential election after the midterm results favoured Democrats in Congress, fuelling speculation about Vance's political ambitions. &nbsp;

‘Maybe he won’t run’: Trump on JD Vance’s 2028 presidential bid after midterm setback for Republicans

A Delhi court on Thursday sentenced five members of the Bharat Bhushan gang to life imprisonment under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for their involvement in a series of armed robberies, extortion and other offences across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), observing that their conduct posed a threat to society and left little scope for reformation. &nbsp;

Delhi court sentences five members of Bharat Bhushan gang to life imprisonment under MCOCA

The Eiffel Tower in Paris was closed to the public on Thursday amid weeks of protests that have rocked France. The shutdown was prompted by a nationwide strike that disrupted several services, including schools and train operations, according to the monument's official website.

Eiffel Tower announces closure as France unrest intensifies

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Thursday announced an anti-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) protest in Kochi, Kerala, on November 7, renewing the call for the cancellation of the voter roll revision exercise. The protest, titled “Jantar Mantar at Kochi”, will be held at Rajendra Maidan from 4 pm, CJP said in a post on the social media platform X. &nbsp;

‘Jantar Mantar at Kochi’: CJP announces anti-SIR stir on November 7; Dipke to attend

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Thursday hit out at JD Vance after the US vice president blamed the war on Iran for the Republican Party's losses in the midterm elections.

‘Boss prepping next phase’: Iran jabs team Trump as Vance blames war for midterms loss

At 1 p.m. local time (7 a.m. ET), 270,000 people were taking part in nearly 200 demonstrations across France in the nationwide day of action organized by labor unions, according to the Interior Ministry.

270,000 attend protests in France – excluding Paris, says Interior Ministry

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda on Thursday reviewed the progress of construction and operationalisation of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir. During the review, the minister assessed infrastructure development, procurement of medical equipment and furniture, recruitment of faculty and other personnel, and preparedness for commencement of medical and academic activities.He was informed that construction is nearing completion, with all major buildings done. Nadda emphasised that AIIMS Awantipora is a priority project and directed agencies to maintain momentum and complete remaining construction works by March 2027. The Phase-I buildings, including the OPD Registration Block, OPD Block, residential buildings and designated hostels, have been completed, with handover processes underway.&nbsp;

JP Nadda reviews AIIMS Awantipora, targets OPD launch before December 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met and interacted with members of the Indian contingent that participated in the Asian Para Games 2026 in Japan, congratulating the para-athletes for their historic performance and record medal haul of 114 medals.The interaction was held at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi, where Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also joined. India concluded its campaign with a record 114 medals, including 30 gold, 35 silver and 49 bronze, marking its best-ever performance at the continental event and surpassing the previous tally of 108 from the last edition. A total of 168 para-athletes represented India at the 2026 Games, compared to 309 at Hangzhou.&nbsp;

PM Modi meets para-athletes after record 114-medal haul at Asian Para Games

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Thursday met Vietnam's newly appointed Ambassador to India, Trinh Minh Manh, ahead of the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Manila, highlighting diplomatic engagements before the regional gathering in the Philippines later this month.In a post on X, Gor shared details of the meeting and expressed appreciation for the interaction ahead of the upcoming summit. "Great meeting the new Ambassador from Vietnam to India. Enjoyed my discussion with @VNinINDIA Ambassador Trinh Minh Manh ahead of the upcoming ASEAN Summit," he said.&nbsp;

Sergio Gor holds talks with Vietnam, Germany ambassadors before Manila summit

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday demanded that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which he said is against the law and the spirit of the Constitution, be scrapped immediately and that the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, resign.Speaking at a protest organised by KPCC at Freedom Park in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah warned that any attempt to weaken the democratic system and infringe on the voting rights of eligible voters cannot be tolerated. He said the fight is being waged across the country with two main demands: scrapping of SIR and the CEC's resignation. "This is not just an issue related to revision of electoral rolls, but a crucial fight for protection of the Constitution, democracy and voters' rights," he said. &nbsp;

Siddaramaiah demands scrapping of electoral roll revision, CEC's resignation

India's expanding renewable energy capacity could save the country nearly $240 billion in cumulative coal and natural gas import spending by 2030, strengthening energy security and cutting exposure to swings in international fuel prices, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).In its 'India Renewable Energy Market Report 2026', the agency said renewable electricity had already reduced cumulative spending on coal and gas imports by more than $100 billion between 2011 and 2025."Assuming fuel prices remain broadly consistent with average levels observed during 2024-2025, cumulative savings could approach USD 240 billion by 2030," the IEA said.&nbsp;

India's renewable push to save $240 billion in fuel imports by 2030, IEA says

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reaffirmed her plan to return to Dhaka in December, even as a death sentence awaits her on arrival from India. "If death is my destiny, I would rather die on the soil of my own country, among my own people," she told The Associated Press. "So, I will return to Bangladesh. That decision has not changed."&nbsp;Hasina fled to New Delhi in 2024 after a mass student-led uprising toppled her government; in 2025 a Bangladeshi special tribunal handed her a death sentence for crimes against humanity over a crackdown that, per UN data cited by AP, killed nearly 1,400 people. She has denied wrongdoing and rejected the verdict. "I know that I may be arrested when I return. I may be imprisoned, tortured or even killed. I am fully aware of those possibilities. But I cannot spend the rest of my life watching my people suffer from a distance," she said.&nbsp;Hasina also alleged at least 20,000 Awami League members had been killed since August 2024 and voiced concern over the growing influence of hard-line groups in Bangladesh. Asked whether she expected foreign governments to press for her safe return, she said: "I do not need the blessing of a foreign power to return to my own country."

Hasina says she will 'rather die on soil of my own country' than stay away

NATO officials met on Thursday with representatives from France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States to discuss ways to end the war in Ukraine, a NATO spokesperson said.&nbsp;"Following up on discussions in Miami and Oslo, NATO representatives will meet with representatives from France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States today in Brussels to discuss the way forward on bringing about a just and sustainable end to the war in Ukraine," said NATO Spokesperson Allison Hart.&nbsp;Ukraine's lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, said talks hosted by the European Commission would continue for a second day in Brussels, focused on post-war reconstruction, funding for 2027 and security guarantees backed by Kyiv's Western allies.&nbsp;

NATO, Western allies meet in Brussels to chart path to end Ukraine war

Thailand has banned a book about the country, with its exiled editor saying the move stems from its coverage of the Thai monarchy, a subject shielded from criticism by a strict defamation law critics say is used to silence dissent.&nbsp;The second edition of the "Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Thailand," published in English in August, was edited by Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a prominent academic and royal critic based in Japan. It includes chapters on the monarchy in the 21st century and the state's use of the lese-majeste law.&nbsp;The 2019 first edition was not banned, Pavin said, adding that the update was meant to "reflect changes in Thai politics" since the 2020 youth-led pro-democracy protests that featured unprecedented calls to reform the monarchy and the military.&nbsp;"Topics like this are why they decided to ban it," he said. "Thailand's democracy is backsliding, and book bans are a clear indicator of that." An order signed by National Police Chief Samran Nualma said the book carries articles that "adversely affect national security and might cause unrest in the country," and gave police authority to seize and destroy it.&nbsp;Those found guilty of importing or distributing the book face up to three years in prison, a maximum fine of 60,000 baht ($1,800), or both.

Thailand bans handbook on the country, citing national security, amid monarchy row

Delhi is reportedly exploring another round of artificial rain to tackle worsening air pollution, with the government prepared to consider cloud seeding if air quality deteriorates further after Diwali and Chhath Puja. The national capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 367 on Thursday, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category. Several neighbourhoods reported severe pollution levels, with Jahangirpuri recording an AQI of 459. IIT Delhi and Punjabi Bagh followed at 445 each.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/live-blog-latest-news-india-and-world-live-updates-gop-eyes-hegseth-impeachment-after-midterm-defeat-delhi-aqi-touches-482-1793856530153">Read more.</a>

Delhi to conduct artificial rain? Here’s what the govt is planning after Diwali, Chhath Puja

France’s national blood service has reported a cyber-attack in which hackers accessed refrigeration control systems and raised temperatures at three storage facilities holding vital blood products.The French Blood Establishment (EFS) said the attack took place overnight on Monday. Hackers reportedly increased temperature and defrosting thresholds to “very high levels”. However, alarm systems alerted technicians in time, preventing the stored products from being compromised.The affected facilities were operated by EFS contractors. Plasma bags used for transfusions and medicine manufacturing were shifted to other locations as a precaution.The incident comes amid a wider wave of cyber-attacks targeting refrigeration systems across Europe. Supermarkets in nearly a dozen countries, including Germany, Italy, Romania and the UK, have reported disruptions, with some refrigerators reaching temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius.French authorities, including the national cybersecurity agency ANSSI and the health ministry, have been alerted. The motive behind the attacks remains unknown, and no group has claimed responsibility.

France blood banks hit by cyber-attack, hackers tamper with cold stores

Eleven personnel of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Fire Services, who went missing after two rescue boats overturned in a rain-swollen lake in Telangana’s Khammam district, have been rescued safely, officials said on Thursday (Nov 5). The personnel were part of an operation to save 10 fishermen stranded in Bethupalli tank in Sattupalli mandal. Five of them were rescued late Wednesday night, while the remaining six were brought to safety in the early hours of Thursday.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/11-sdrf-personnel-rescued-after-two-boats-capsize-during-operation-to-save-fishermen-in-telangana-1793870102639">Read more.</a>

11 SDRF personnel rescued after two boats capsize during operation to save fishermen in Telangana

The US consulate in Hong Kong said Thursday that it "strongly condemns" the additional 10-year prison sentence given to democracy activist Joshua Wong."The United States strongly condemns the Hong Kong High Court's sentencing of Joshua Wong to an additional 10 years of imprisonment and calls for his immediate release," AFP quoted a consulate spokesperson as saying.&nbsp;

Hong Kong: US consulate condemns sentencing of pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong

China issued a warning on Thursday against "irresponsible" remarks on Hong Kong's judicial affairs, shortly after the United States condemned the sentencing of pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong."Relevant parties should earnestly respect China's sovereignty, respect Hong Kong's legal system, stop making irresponsible remarks regarding the trial of HKSAR judicial cases," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news briefing, using the city's official acronym.

China tells countries to stop 'irresponsible' comments on Joshua Wong trial

Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim Senator after the US midterm elections, as Democrats gained control of Congress. His wife, Dr Sarah Jukaku, joined him in the celebrations. She is of Indian origin, belonging to the southern state of Karnataka. Meanwhile, El-Sayed is the son of Egyptian immigrants. A viral video from a podcast shows him talking about his marriage and his India connection. He shared that at a family function, one of his uncles asked him about choosing an Indian woman.

In the wake of an inconclusive general election, Israel's President Isaac Herzog has commenced the second day of crucial political consultations with newly elected Knesset factions to determine which leader is best positioned to form the nation's next government. These formal discussions, which commenced the previous evening with smaller parliamentary factions, including Religious Zionism, Shas, Yisrael Beytenu and Zehut, are being broadcast live from the presidential compound in Jerusalem, according to a report published by The Times of Israel.

Herzog holds second day of consultations with parties to select Israel's next PM

The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on two Indian nationals accused of running a large maritime fraud network that helped Iran's shadow fleet of oil tankers evade international restrictions.The US Treasury Department identified the accused as Suniel Kumar Sharma and his wife, Jaspreet Preeti Shahid, who allegedly operated the network from Chandigarh. The sanctions also target two other Indian citizens who head businesses run by the couple, along with nine entities linked to Sharma.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chandigarh-couple-at-centre-of-fresh-us-sanctions-over-helping-iran-evade-oil-sanctions-1793864752969">Read full story here</a>

Above a maze of tents in a crowded displacement camp in Gaza, homemade wind turbines made from scrap metal and salvaged debris spin in the sea breeze, bringing electricity to struggling Palestinians.In the southern Khan Yunis camp, Kamal Al-Dabary, a former engineering student, has put his skills to work for families who, like most Gazans, live in displacement with no direct access to the tiny territory's shattered power grid.According to the World Bank, more than 90 percent of Gaza's power generation and distribution capacity was destroyed in April 2026, much of it in Israeli strikes that devastated homes and infrastructure.Sitting on the ground, Dabary tinkered with electrical wires, metal parts and basic tools on a plastic table.

Gaza turns rubble into power with homemade wind turbines

US First Lady Melania Trump will host officials from Moscow and Kyiv at the White House on Thursday, ahead of talks in Abu Dhabi aimed at ending the Ukraine war.The talks have revived hopes for peace, as Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine grinds through its fifth year, and a recent rapprochement between presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin has raised concerns the United States could turn its back on Kyiv.Moscow's adviser for international economic cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, and human rights ombudsman Yana Lantratova plan to meet Melania Trump on Thursday "provided that all logistical arrangements work out", Russia's state-owned TASS news agency reported Wednesday, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

US first lady to host Ukrainian, Russian officials at White House

Joshua Wong, one of the most prominent faces of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, has been sentenced to another 10 years in prison for “foreign collusion,” under controversial national security law. Already serving a sentence in another case, the 30-year-old activist is now expected to remain behind bars until late 2036. Wong gained international recognition for leading protests against Beijing's growing control over Hong Kong. His activism also made him the subject of a Netflix documentary and brought him appearances on magazine covers across the world. Born in 1996 to middle-class Christian parents, Wong grew up in Hong Kong shortly before the territory was handed over by Britain to China in 1997.&nbsp;He entered activism at the age of 13, when he joined protests against a proposed high-speed rail link connecting Hong Kong with mainland China. His campaign against a proposed national education curriculum in 2012 brought him wider attention. Wong helped mobilise around 120,000 protesters who blocked the government headquarters, eventually forcing authorities to withdraw the plan. He later became known for promoting non-violent protests, civil disobedience, strikes and boycotts.<a href=" https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-joshua-wong-hong-kong-pro-democracy-face-gets-10-more-years-in-prison-1793860831139">Read more</a>

India has launched a $1.5-billion scheme to develop 92 gigawatt-hours of energy storage capacity as it seeks to accelerate its shift towards renewable energy, the government said Wednesday.India is the third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases and remains deeply dependent on polluting coal to meet its soaring energy demand.Energy demand in India, home to more than 1.4 billion people, is expected to continue rising rapidly even as the government pursues its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.The scheme, which runs from 2026-27 to 2030-31, will support 60 gigawatt-hours of pumped hydro storage, 30 GWh of battery storage, and two GWh using emerging technologies, the government said.

India launches $1.5 billion energy storage plan

Paraguay’s opposition has launched an impeachment bid against President Santiago Pena following a banking crisis that has left nearly three million customers unable to access their money after the Central Bank took control of digital lender Ueno. Thirty-five lawmakers submitted impeachment articles in the 80-member lower house on Wednesday (Nov 4), accusing Pena of misconduct, conflicts of interest and alleged irregularities in the handling of the bank's collapse.&nbsp;They have sought an extraordinary congressional session on Thursday to debate the motion. The opposition needs at least 53 votes in the lower house for the proceedings to advance. The motion would then require approval from 30 of the 45 senators. Pena's ruling Colorado Party holds a majority in both chambers, making the outcome uncertain.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ueno-bank-crisis-why-are-millions-protesting-as-paraguay-s-president-faces-impeachment-1793855090526">Read more</a>

Ueno Bank crisis: Why are millions protesting as Paraguay’s president faces impeachment?

Native American women won historic victories in Tuesday's (Nov 3) US midterm elections, with Deb Haaland elected governor of New Mexico and Peggy Flanagan elected to the US Senate from Minnesota. Haaland, a member of Laguna Pueblo, is the first Native American woman elected governor of a US state. Flanagan, who is Ojibway and a member of White Earth Nation, is the first Native American woman elected to the Senate. Both wins came as Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress. This also comes as the country celebrates Native American Month to commemorate the community's achievements.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/haaland-and-flanagan-shatter-barriers-in-us-midterm-wins-during-native-american-heritage-month-1793854053057">Read more</a>

Haaland and Flanagan shatter barriers in US midterm wins during Native American Heritage Month

Google has extended its voluntary employee exit programme to several countries as the tech giant looks to manage costs while increasing investments in artificial intelligence. According to Reuters, the company expanded the buyout offers in June to employees in Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Switzerland. However, the news agency could not establish how many workers have accepted the offers. "In 2025, some of our teams introduced a voluntary exit program with severance," a Google spokesperson said in a statement quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-microsoft-google-expands-voluntary-exit-programme-to-employees-in-5-countries-amid-ai-spending-1793847101005">Read more</a>

After Microsoft, Google expands voluntary exit programme to employees in 5 countries amid AI spending

Catch the latest updates: House Republicans eye Pete Hegseth impeachment post-midterms, Google expands voluntary exit buyouts to five countries for AI funding, and Delhi's AQI hits a hazardous 482.

President Donald Trump may have made the decision to launch the war that damaged voter support for the Republican Party and contributed to a devastating midterm defeat. However, the historic losses have intensified efforts within the party to find someone else to hold accountable: Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. The House could vote as early as next week on whether to impeach the Pentagon chief. Google has extended its voluntary employee exit programme to several countries as the tech giant looks to manage costs while increasing investments in artificial intelligence. According to Reuters, the company expanded the buyout offers in June to employees in Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Switzerland. However, the news agency could not establish how many workers have accepted the offers. "In 2025, some of our teams introduced a voluntary exit program with severance," a Google spokesperson said in a statement quoted by Reuters. Delhi wakes up to "hazardous" air quality on Thursday morning (Nov 5), with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 482 at 8:01 am, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. Seven monitoring stations in the national capital recorded AQI levels above 400, which falls in the severe category. Punjabi Bagh logged the highest reading at 446, followed by Narela at 434, Rohini at 431, RK Puram at 416, Bawana at 412, North Campus (Delhi University) at 408 and Patparganj at 405. Stay with us for the latest news, breaking updates and developments as they unfold.

Catch the latest updates: House Republicans eye Pete Hegseth impeachment post-midterms, Google expands voluntary exit buyouts to five countries for AI funding, and Delhi's AQI hits a hazardous 482.

Latest News India and World highlights: Arab Parties back Gadi Eisenkot to form next government in Israel, Delhi AQI touches 482

Native American women won historic victories in Tuesday's (Nov 3) US midterm elections, with Deb Haaland elected governor of New Mexico and Peggy Flanagan elected to the US Senate from Minnesota. Haaland, a member of Laguna Pueblo, is the first Native American woman elected governor of a US state. Flanagan, who is Ojibway and a member of White Earth Nation, is the first Native American woman elected to the Senate. Both wins came as Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress. This also comes as the country celebrates Native American Month to commemorate the community's achievements.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-elections-trump-blames-midterm-losses-on-cost-of-iran-war-not-the-war-itself-1793849356117/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-elections-trump-blames-midterm-losses-on-cost-of-iran-war-not-the-war-itself-1793849356117/embed</a>&nbsp;<h3>Haaland's win</h3>&nbsp;Haaland was among the first two Native American women elected to the US House in 2018. In 2021, she became the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary, as interior secretary. Her gubernatorial campaign focused on affordability, economic security and environmental protections, including a proposed moratorium on large-scale data centres and stronger safeguards for New Mexico's natural resources.&nbsp;Speaking at a casino hotel on Laguna Pueblo land near Albuquerque on Tuesday night (Nov 3), she recalled that her grandmother was taken to boarding school. Her grandparents, she said, survived a time when the federal government tried to strip them of their languages, traditions and identities. "Yet … we are still here," she said. She told children watching, including those in rural communities and on reservations, that their dreams matter.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-midterm-elections-2026-results-full-list-of-indian-american-candidates-who-won-who-lost-vivek-ramaswamy-ro-khanna-suhas-subramanyam-pia-dandiya-1793763643177">US midterm elections 2026 results: From Ramaswamy to Ro Khanna - Full list of Indian-American candidates who won and who lost</a><h3>Flanagan's win</h3>&nbsp;Flanagan served in the Minnesota House before becoming lieutenant governor in 2019. Her Senate campaign centred on tribal sovereignty, federal treaty and trust responsibilities to tribal nations, and the rising cost of living.&nbsp;Speaking to indigenous news outlets Wednesday (Nov 4), she said she understands her responsibility as an Anishinaabekwe in the Senate to ensure the federal government upholds treaty rights and trust responsibilities. Native people have long influenced electoral outcomes, she said, and are now running for office and winning.&nbsp;Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew congratulated Flanagan on social media, saying Canadians are ready to rebuild the relationship with the US. Flanagan said she looks forward to working with Kinew to strengthen ties between Manitoba and Minnesota.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/they-did-a-good-job-trump-changes-tone-after-us-midterm-election-results-offers-rare-praise-for-democrats-1793780007783">'They did a good job': Trump changes tone after US Midterm Election Results, offers rare praise for Democrats</a><h3>Other races</h3>&nbsp;Data from Advanced Native Political Leadership (ANPL), shared with CBC News, show at least 359 Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian candidates ran across 36 states in 2026, up from 268 across 25 states in 2024.&nbsp;Alaska's Senate race between Yup'ik politician Mary Peltola and Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan remains undecided. Alaska is still counting ballots under ranked-choice voting, and early reports show a close contest. Results are expected at the end of November as mail-in ballots arrive. Peltola became the first Alaska Native elected to Congress in 2022.&nbsp;In Oklahoma, Chickasaw candidate N'kiyla Jasmine Thomas lost her Senate bid to Republican Kevin Hern. In Kansas, Sharice Davids, a member of Ho-Chunk Nation, won re-election to the US House. She and Haaland were the two Native American women elected to Congress in 2018.&nbsp;ANPL senior director Jordan James Harvill said the wins reflect a growing movement of Native women seeking office. He said Native women do the hidden work that holds communities together and that the victories show they belong in the country as well as being capable of leadership.

Deb Haaland and Peggy Flanagan achieved historic victories in the 2026 midterms, becoming the first Native American women elected governor of a US state and US senator, respectively.

Native American women won historic victories in Tuesday's (Nov 3) US midterm elections, with Deb Haaland elected governor of New Mexico and Peggy Flanagan elected to the US Senate from Minnesota. Haaland, a member of Laguna Pueblo, is the first Native American woman elected governor of a US state. Flanagan, who is Ojibway and a member of White Earth Nation, is the first Native American woman elected to the Senate. Both wins came as Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress. This also comes as the country celebrates Native American Month to commemorate the community's achievements. https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-elections-trump-blames-midterm-losses-on-cost-of-iran-war-not-the-war-itself-1793849356117/embed Haaland's win Haaland was among the first two Native American women elected to the US House in 2018. In 2021, she became the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary, as interior secretary. Her gubernatorial campaign focused on affordability, economic security and environmental protections, including a proposed moratorium on large-scale data centres and stronger safeguards for New Mexico's natural resources. Speaking at a casino hotel on Laguna Pueblo land near Albuquerque on Tuesday night (Nov 3), she recalled that her grandmother was taken to boarding school. Her grandparents, she said, survived a time when the federal government tried to strip them of their languages, traditions and identities. "Yet … we are still here," she said. She told children watching, including those in rural communities and on reservations, that their dreams matter. Also read: US midterm elections 2026 results: From Ramaswamy to Ro Khanna - Full list of Indian-American candidates who won and who lost Flanagan's win Flanagan served in the Minnesota House before becoming lieutenant governor in 2019. Her Senate campaign centred on tribal sovereignty, federal treaty and trust responsibilities to tribal nations, and the rising cost of living. Speaking to indigenous news outlets Wednesday (Nov 4), she said she understands her responsibility as an Anishinaabekwe in the Senate to ensure the federal government upholds treaty rights and trust responsibilities. Native people have long influenced electoral outcomes, she said, and are now running for office and winning. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew congratulated Flanagan on social media, saying Canadians are ready to rebuild the relationship with the US. Flanagan said she looks forward to working with Kinew to strengthen ties between Manitoba and Minnesota. Also read: 'They did a good job': Trump changes tone after US Midterm Election Results, offers rare praise for Democrats Other races Data from Advanced Native Political Leadership (ANPL), shared with CBC News, show at least 359 Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian candidates ran across 36 states in 2026, up from 268 across 25 states in 2024. Alaska's Senate race between Yup'ik politician Mary Peltola and Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan remains undecided. Alaska is still counting ballots under ranked-choice voting, and early reports show a close contest. Results are expected at the end of November as mail-in ballots arrive. Peltola became the first Alaska Native elected to Congress in 2022. In Oklahoma, Chickasaw candidate N'kiyla Jasmine Thomas lost her Senate bid to Republican Kevin Hern. In Kansas, Sharice Davids, a member of Ho-Chunk Nation, won re-election to the US House. She and Haaland were the two Native American women elected to Congress in 2018. ANPL senior director Jordan James Harvill said the wins reflect a growing movement of Native women seeking office. He said Native women do the hidden work that holds communities together and that the victories show they belong in the country as well as being capable of leadership.

Deb Haaland and Peggy Flanagan achieved historic victories in the 2026 midterms, becoming the first Native American women elected governor of a US state and US senator, respectively.

Paraguay’s opposition has launched an impeachment bid against President Santiago Pena following a banking crisis that has left nearly three million customers unable to access their money after the Central Bank took control of digital lender Ueno.Thirty-five lawmakers submitted impeachment articles in the 80-member lower house on Wednesday (Nov 4), accusing Pena of misconduct, conflicts of interest and alleged irregularities in the handling of the bank's collapse. They have sought an extraordinary congressional session on Thursday to debate the motion.The opposition needs at least 53 votes in the lower house for the proceedings to advance. The motion would then require approval from 30 of the 45 senators. Pena's ruling Colorado Party holds a majority in both chambers, making the outcome uncertain.<h2>Why is Pena facing impeachment?</h2>The controversy centres on Pena’s former association with Grupo Vazquez, the business group controlling Ueno Bank. The conservative economist, who took office in 2023, held shares in the group until March 2025.Opposition lawmakers have accused his administration of conflicts of interest, misuse of pension funds and attempts to cover up institutional failures linked to the bank's collapse.“Never before has anyone harmed 3 million people in a single day in the Republic of Paraguay, and you achieved it, Mr. President,” opposition lawmaker Rocío Vallejo said during a congressional session.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨🇵🇾Paraguay protests erupt over Ueno bank collapse 

Paraguay police fired water cannons and tear gas near Congress as violent protests paralyzed downtown Asunción following the sudden crash of digital lender Ueno Bank.

The bank's insolvency froze accounts for nearly 3 million people.

Writer: Bri https://t.co/M8eolXWhU1&mdash; Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) <a href="https://x.com/MarioNawfal/status/2118205002913099952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Depositors protest as bank remains shut</h2>The Central Bank intervened in Ueno after finding that it had breached minimum solvency requirements, citing a severe capital shortfall. The lender has around three million customers in a country of 6.5 million people and manages close to $850 million in public funds.The takeover triggered protests and long queues outside bank branches in Asuncion, with customers unable to withdraw their savings.“I lost my entire life savings,” 68-year-old depositor Marcelino Vergara told AFP.Pena has sought to calm public anger, insisting that Paraguay’s financial system remains stable. He also enacted a law allowing depositors to access guaranteed funds, with payments expected within five days.The crisis has also forced the resignation of Central Bank chief Carlos Carvallo. Arrest warrants were issued for eight Ueno executives, while authorities ordered their assets frozen as investigations widened.Paraguay’s banking association has said lenders are handling an influx of customers moving their accounts from Ueno and that the wider banking system continues to operate normally.

Paraguay's opposition has moved to impeach President Santiago Pena after the Ueno Bank crisis left nearly 3 million customers unable to access their money, sparking protests.

Paraguay’s opposition has launched an impeachment bid against President Santiago Pena following a banking crisis that has left nearly three million customers unable to access their money after the Central Bank took control of digital lender Ueno. Thirty-five lawmakers submitted impeachment articles in the 80-member lower house on Wednesday (Nov 4), accusing Pena of misconduct, conflicts of interest and alleged irregularities in the handling of the bank's collapse. They have sought an extraordinary congressional session on Thursday to debate the motion. The opposition needs at least 53 votes in the lower house for the proceedings to advance. The motion would then require approval from 30 of the 45 senators. Pena's ruling Colorado Party holds a majority in both chambers, making the outcome uncertain. Why is Pena facing impeachment? The controversy centres on Pena’s former association with Grupo Vazquez, the business group controlling Ueno Bank. The conservative economist, who took office in 2023, held shares in the group until March 2025. Opposition lawmakers have accused his administration of conflicts of interest, misuse of pension funds and attempts to cover up institutional failures linked to the bank's collapse. “Never before has anyone harmed 3 million people in a single day in the Republic of Paraguay, and you achieved it, Mr. President,” opposition lawmaker Rocío Vallejo said during a congressional session.

Paraguay's opposition has moved to impeach President Santiago Pena after the Ueno Bank crisis left nearly 3 million customers unable to access their money, sparking protests.

Kerala-born Nithya Raman has defeated incumbent Karen Bass in the Los Angeles mayoral race, becoming the city's first Asian-American mayor. She is set to take charge as the 44th mayor of Los Angeles, according to Decision Desk HQ.&nbsp;Raman secured 51.1 per cent of the votes, while Bass received 48.33 per cent, the election projection outlet reported. She will also become the second woman to be elected to the city's highest political office.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Decision Desk HQ projects Nithya Raman wins the CA Los Angeles Mayor Nonpartisan General Election

#DecisionMade: 7:49 PM EST

Follow live results here: https://t.co/1kpbRZUYUv https://t.co/LHwjhhfjjz&mdash; Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) <a href="https://x.com/DecisionDeskHQ/status/2118143603528900679?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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She will lead Los Angeles during the final years of US President Donald Trump's presidency and oversee the city's preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympics.&nbsp;Often compared with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Raman entered the race at the last minute despite having endorsed Bass for re-election just weeks earlier. Her campaign drew on strategies used by other candidates aligned with the democratic socialist movement. Raman is not new to Los Angeles politics. She first entered the political arena in 2020, when she defeated incumbent City Council member David Ryu. The victory marked the first time in more than a decade that a sitting council member had lost a re-election bid.&nbsp;She also became the first candidate backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) to win a seat on the Los Angeles City Council.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-microsoft-google-expands-voluntary-exit-programme-to-employees-in-5-countries-amid-ai-spending-1793847101005">After Microsoft, Google expands voluntary exit programme to employees in 5 countries amid AI spending</a><h2>From Kerala to US politics: Raman's early life and education</h2>Born in Kerala in 1981, Raman moved to the United States at the age of six and became a naturalised American citizen at 22.&nbsp;She graduated from Harvard University before earning a master's degree in urban planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).&nbsp;Raman founded Transparent Chennai, an urban research firm focused on improving sanitation. After moving to Los Angeles in 2013, she worked with the city's administrative officer and co-founded the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition.&nbsp;She also served as executive director of Time's Up Entertainment before expanding her political career in Los Angeles.

Kerala-born Nithya Raman has defeated incumbent Karen Bass to win the Los Angeles mayoral race, making history as the city's first Asian-American mayor.

Kerala-born Nithya Raman has defeated incumbent Karen Bass in the Los Angeles mayoral race, becoming the city's first Asian-American mayor. She is set to take charge as the 44th mayor of Los Angeles, according to Decision Desk HQ. Raman secured 51.1 per cent of the votes, while Bass received 48.33 per cent, the election projection outlet reported. She will also become the second woman to be elected to the city's highest political office.

Kerala-born Nithya Raman has defeated incumbent Karen Bass to win the Los Angeles mayoral race, making history as the city's first Asian-American mayor.

Nithya Raman wins LA mayoral race, becomes city's first Asian-American mayor

Dozens of military veterans from both parties won seats in Congress on Tuesday (Nov 3), in a midterm election that gave Democrats control of the House and Senate. The new majority will take over committees that oversee the Pentagon, write the annual defence policy bill and question military leaders under oath. Committee assignments become official when the new Congress organises in January.&nbsp;News agency Associated Press called the Senate for Democrats late Tuesday after Democrat Josh Turek defeated Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson for Iowa's open seat, vacated by Sen. Joni Ernst. A call went to the House for Democrats as well.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-elections-trump-blames-midterm-losses-on-cost-of-iran-war-not-the-war-itself-1793849356117/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-elections-trump-blames-midterm-losses-on-cost-of-iran-war-not-the-war-itself-1793849356117/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, an Army veteran who won reelection, is in line to chair the Senate Armed Services Committee, now led by Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, an Air Force veteran.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/us-stocks-rally-as-dow-surges-1-569-points-after-democratic-midterms-sweep-biggest-post-midterm-gain-in-44-years-1793827951339">US stocks rally as Dow surges 1,569 points after Democratic midterms sweep; biggest post-midterm gain in 44 years</a>&nbsp;<h3>Notable veteran wins</h3>&nbsp;Navy veteran Elaine Luria reclaimed Virginia's 2nd District from fellow Navy veteran Rep. Jen Kiggans in a rematch. Army veteran Fred Wellman unseated Rep. Ann Wagner in Missouri's 2nd District, and Navy veteran Zach Dembo won Kentucky's 6th.&nbsp;Rebecca Bennett, a Navy and Air National Guard veteran, won a competitive New Jersey district. In New York's 17th, Democrat Cait Conley, a former Army officer with three Bronze Stars, defeated Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, who conceded Tuesday night.&nbsp;Republican veteran Chris McGowan kept Iowa's 4th District in Republican hands, citing Iowa Public Radio and Decision Desk HQ. Army veterans Jack Reed and Tom Cotton were re-elected in Rhode Island and Arkansas, Army Reserve veteran Ed Markey won in Massachusetts, and Army National Guard veteran Barry Moore won Alabama's open Senate seat.&nbsp;The veterans' group With Honour counted 258 veterans on congressional ballots, 227 for the House and 31 for the Senate.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-s-behind-the-wave-of-doctors-and-nurses-winning-congressional-seats-in-the-us-midterms-1793835693448">Why are so many doctors and nurses heading to Congress after midterm elections?</a><h3>Races still open</h3>&nbsp;In South Carolina's 1st District, retired Navy Rear Adm. Nancy Lacore, fired by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, held a narrow lead with nearly all votes counted. Her campaign said she had won after a potential recount faded, but the outlet said some news organisations had not called the race, so its tally treats it as uncalled. In Texas' 22nd, Trever Nehls led with about 96% of the estimated vote counted in the race to succeed his twin brother, Rep. Troy Nehls.&nbsp;<h3>Retirements and losses</h3>&nbsp;Nebraska's 2nd District, held by retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Don Bacon was flipped to Democrat Denise Powell, per the AP. In Montana, Air Force veteran Alani Bankhead lost the open Senate race to Republican Kurt Alme in a three-way contest that included independent Seth Bodnar, a former Green Beret. About one in six members of the outgoing Congress served in uniform. Results remain unofficial until states announce them.

Dozens of military veterans won seats in the 2026 midterm elections, powering a Democratic takeover of the US House and Senate and reshaping congressional defence oversight.

Dozens of military veterans from both parties won seats in Congress on Tuesday (Nov 3), in a midterm election that gave Democrats control of the House and Senate. The new majority will take over committees that oversee the Pentagon, write the annual defence policy bill and question military leaders under oath. Committee assignments become official when the new Congress organises in January. News agency Associated Press called the Senate for Democrats late Tuesday after Democrat Josh Turek defeated Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson for Iowa's open seat, vacated by Sen. Joni Ernst. A call went to the House for Democrats as well. https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-elections-trump-blames-midterm-losses-on-cost-of-iran-war-not-the-war-itself-1793849356117/embed Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, an Army veteran who won reelection, is in line to chair the Senate Armed Services Committee, now led by Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, an Air Force veteran. Also read: US stocks rally as Dow surges 1,569 points after Democratic midterms sweep; biggest post-midterm gain in 44 years Notable veteran wins Navy veteran Elaine Luria reclaimed Virginia's 2nd District from fellow Navy veteran Rep. Jen Kiggans in a rematch. Army veteran Fred Wellman unseated Rep. Ann Wagner in Missouri's 2nd District, and Navy veteran Zach Dembo won Kentucky's 6th. Rebecca Bennett, a Navy and Air National Guard veteran, won a competitive New Jersey district. In New York's 17th, Democrat Cait Conley, a former Army officer with three Bronze Stars, defeated Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, who conceded Tuesday night. Republican veteran Chris McGowan kept Iowa's 4th District in Republican hands, citing Iowa Public Radio and Decision Desk HQ. Army veterans Jack Reed and Tom Cotton were re-elected in Rhode Island and Arkansas, Army Reserve veteran Ed Markey won in Massachusetts, and Army National Guard veteran Barry Moore won Alabama's open Senate seat. The veterans' group With Honour counted 258 veterans on congressional ballots, 227 for the House and 31 for the Senate. Also read: Why are so many doctors and nurses heading to Congress after midterm elections? Races still open In South Carolina's 1st District, retired Navy Rear Adm. Nancy Lacore, fired by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, held a narrow lead with nearly all votes counted. Her campaign said she had won after a potential recount faded, but the outlet said some news organisations had not called the race, so its tally treats it as uncalled. In Texas' 22nd, Trever Nehls led with about 96% of the estimated vote counted in the race to succeed his twin brother, Rep. Troy Nehls. Retirements and losses Nebraska's 2nd District, held by retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Don Bacon was flipped to Democrat Denise Powell, per the AP. In Montana, Air Force veteran Alani Bankhead lost the open Senate race to Republican Kurt Alme in a three-way contest that included independent Seth Bodnar, a former Green Beret. About one in six members of the outgoing Congress served in uniform. Results remain unofficial until states announce them.

South Carolina Democratic Senate candidate Annie Andrews and Democratic Congressional candidate Nancy Lacore.

US midterm blue wave: Veteran wins power Democratic takeover of defence oversight

Debris from the Learjet 60 aircraft that crashed near a busy highway in Florida on Sunday (Nov 1) reportedly tore through the roof of a woman's house and landed in her kitchen. The house is less than a mile from the crash site. Pictures obtained by local media show twisted aircraft metal on the kitchen floor of Ana Escobar's home. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office has retrieved the suspected wreckage and will be examining it.&nbsp;Meanwhile, another person claims debris from the jet landed at his workplace located over six kilometres away from the highway. Peter DiMaira found what are supposedly pieces of the plane's tail. He informed the sheriff's office about them. People who live in the mobile home community near the crash site are also reportedly finding fragments of the plane in the area.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/florida-crash-learjet-fragments-found-3-6km-from-crash-site-indicate-they-fell-when-plane-was-midair-1793761344301">Learjet fragments found 3-6km from crash site indicate they fell when plane was midair</a><h2>Wreckage from Learjet recovered from far-off places</h2>&nbsp;Earlier, the National Transportation Safety Board confirmed that they had found several pieces from the plane scattered at a distance of three to six kilometres from the crash site. This includes the jet's left elevator that helps control the aircraft's up-and-down movement. Since the pieces were found so far away from the crash site, NTSB board member Tom Chapman said this shows that the plane broke up while it was still in the air.&nbsp;"The function of the elevator is to control pitch up and down," Chapman said. He added, "At those speeds, I don't know if it would be effective even if it had still been attached to the aircraft. But knowing that it was lost is a very important piece of evidence in terms of pointing us toward other things to investigate."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/learjet-may-have-broken-up-before-crashing-in-florida-fragments-could-be-found-at-other-places-ntsb-says-1793673770646">Florida crash: Learjet may have broken up before fatal dive, pilot heard praying in audio</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">😲✈️Learjet CRASH DEBRIS BUSTED Through ROOF of HOME in South Florida

Debris from the fatal Learjet 60 crash in Palm Beach County, Florida, broke off midair and crashed through the roof of a West Palm Beach home, landing inside the kitchen.
NTSB finds tail pieces nearly 4 miles away.&mdash; American Crime Stories™ (@AmericanCrime01) <a href="https://x.com/AmericanCrime01/status/2118039278047400195?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2026</a></blockquote>
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<h2>NTSB recovering wreckage from the crater</h2>&nbsp;The investigators are still trying to determine whether the pieces broke off because of the pressure exerted on it during the thunderstorms, or whether the coming apart of the pieces contributed to the deadly descent which killed all nine people on board. NTSB is trying to access the wreckage from the crater that has shut down the Military Trail near Cresthaven Boulevard. Lexzxblynhnao vxwzszf s utility pole near the massive impact crater to reach the debris. The water will be pumped out to locate critical aircraft components that could be present.&nbsp;https://www.wionews.com/videos/blow-by-blow-account-of-florida-jet-crash-looked-like-a-missile-going-down-1793639676268/embed&nbsp;Investigators hope to find a cockpit voice recorder that could provide more evidence of what went wrong with the plane. An audio clip previously revealed the panic inside the cockpit, with the co-pilot saying in the distress call, "We’re descending 8,000 – mayday, mayday – we’re descending 10,000ft per minute." Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras says, "We’re going to crash into the ground," as the Captain, is heard praying.&nbsp;The victims include entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife, Helen Sharp, their two children - Emma, four, and Charlie, two- Anita Maria Cetina, a nanny, and two family friends, Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr.

Florida crash wreckage has been discovered at the home of a woman and at a man's workplace. While the house is less than a kilometre from the crash site, the second site is over six kilometres away. NTSB is working to recover critical components from the crater.

Debris from the Learjet 60 aircraft that crashed near a busy highway in Florida on Sunday (Nov 1) reportedly tore through the roof of a woman's house and landed in her kitchen. The house is less than a mile from the crash site. Pictures obtained by local media show twisted aircraft metal on the kitchen floor of Ana Escobar's home. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office has retrieved the suspected wreckage and will be examining it. Meanwhile, another person claims debris from the jet landed at his workplace located over six kilometres away from the highway. Peter DiMaira found what are supposedly pieces of the plane's tail. He informed the sheriff's office about them. People who live in the mobile home community near the crash site are also reportedly finding fragments of the plane in the area. Also Read: Learjet fragments found 3-6km from crash site indicate they fell when plane was midair Wreckage from Learjet recovered from far-off places Earlier, the National Transportation Safety Board confirmed that they had found several pieces from the plane scattered at a distance of three to six kilometres from the crash site. This includes the jet's left elevator that helps control the aircraft's up-and-down movement. Since the pieces were found so far away from the crash site, NTSB board member Tom Chapman said this shows that the plane broke up while it was still in the air. "The function of the elevator is to control pitch up and down," Chapman said. He added, "At those speeds, I don't know if it would be effective even if it had still been attached to the aircraft. But knowing that it was lost is a very important piece of evidence in terms of pointing us toward other things to investigate." Also Read: Florida crash: Learjet may have broken up before fatal dive, pilot heard praying in audio

Florida crash wreckage has been discovered at the home of a woman and at a man's workplace. While the house is less than a kilometre from the crash site, the second site is over six kilometres away. NTSB is working to recover critical components from the crater.

Florida crash: Learjet debris tore through roof of home, landed in kitchen, more found at a man's workplace

Google has extended its voluntary employee exit programme to several countries as the tech giant looks to manage costs while increasing investments in artificial intelligence.&nbsp;According to Reuters, the company expanded the buyout offers in June to employees in Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Switzerland. However, the news agency could not establish how many workers have accepted the offers.&nbsp;"In 2025, some of our teams introduced a voluntary exit program with severance," a Google spokesperson said in a statement quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;"This past summer, in June, we expanded this program globally in a few countries to support our important work ahead," the spokesperson added.&nbsp;The move comes as Alphabet, Google's parent company, looks to shift resources towards key business areas despite growing its workforce in recent quarters.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-s-best-guy-pete-hegseth-on-the-chopping-block-why-republicans-are-now-turning-against-him-after-midterms-disaster-1793839796953">Trump's 'best guy' Pete Hegseth on the chopping block? Why Republicans are now turning against him after midterms disaster</a><h3>Google buyouts exclude key AI divisions</h3>The latest offers follow similar voluntary exit programmes introduced in some Google divisions in the US and Britain since 2025. Executives had presented them as an option for employees who no longer felt aligned with the company's pace or direction.&nbsp;In one instance, Google also offered voluntary exit packages to employees in a division facing layoffs.However, workers in Google Cloud and AI research unit DeepMind have been excluded from previous buyout programmes. Chief Financial Officer Anat Ashkenazi has identified AI and cloud computing as key hiring priorities during quarterly earnings presentations.&nbsp;Google's move comes amid wider workforce restructuring in the technology sector as companies increase spending on AI.&nbsp;Last month, Microsoft opened a voluntary exit programme for around 60,000 employees, covering roughly a quarter of its workforce. India was among only four countries included in the scheme.&nbsp;The eligible group represents more than a quarter of Microsoft's 223,000 full-time employees reported as of June 30. The company is simultaneously increasing AI investments and restructuring its workforce.

Google has expanded its voluntary employee buyout programme to five countries as it seeks to manage costs and prioritise AI investments, following similar workforce restructuring moves by Microsoft.

Google has extended its voluntary employee exit programme to several countries as the tech giant looks to manage costs while increasing investments in artificial intelligence. According to Reuters, the company expanded the buyout offers in June to employees in Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Switzerland. However, the news agency could not establish how many workers have accepted the offers. "In 2025, some of our teams introduced a voluntary exit program with severance," a Google spokesperson said in a statement quoted by Reuters. "This past summer, in June, we expanded this program globally in a few countries to support our important work ahead," the spokesperson added. The move comes as Alphabet, Google's parent company, looks to shift resources towards key business areas despite growing its workforce in recent quarters. Also Read: Trump's 'best guy' Pete Hegseth on the chopping block? Why Republicans are now turning against him after midterms disaster Google buyouts exclude key AI divisions The latest offers follow similar voluntary exit programmes introduced in some Google divisions in the US and Britain since 2025. Executives had presented them as an option for employees who no longer felt aligned with the company's pace or direction. In one instance, Google also offered voluntary exit packages to employees in a division facing layoffs. However, workers in Google Cloud and AI research unit DeepMind have been excluded from previous buyout programmes. Chief Financial Officer Anat Ashkenazi has identified AI and cloud computing as key hiring priorities during quarterly earnings presentations. Google's move comes amid wider workforce restructuring in the technology sector as companies increase spending on AI. Last month, Microsoft opened a voluntary exit programme for around 60,000 employees, covering roughly a quarter of its workforce. India was among only four countries included in the scheme. The eligible group represents more than a quarter of Microsoft's 223,000 full-time employees reported as of June 30. The company is simultaneously increasing AI investments and restructuring its workforce.

Google has expanded its voluntary employee buyout programme to five countries as it seeks to manage costs and prioritise AI investments, following similar workforce restructuring moves by Microsoft.

The 2026 US midterm elections have delivered a significant political message about America's changing electorate. While Democrats made sweeping gains, the voting patterns across racial, ethnic, age and gender groups reveal how Donald Trump's Republican coalition faced challenges in retaining the support it had built during the 2024 presidential election. From young voters and Black Americans to Hispanic communities and college-educated voters, several demographic groups moved towards Democratic candidates. The findings from the Associated Press' AP Voter Poll, alongside other national voter surveys and exit-poll analyses, offer a closer look at how Americans voted and the groups that helped shape the outcome.<h2>Young voters: A significant shift towards Democrats</h2>Young Americans emerged as one of the clearest Democratic constituencies in the 2026 midterms. According to the AP Voter Poll, approximately 70 per cent of voters under 30 supported Democratic candidates in their local US House races, compared with roughly 30 per cent who backed Republicans.&nbsp;This marked a substantial change from the 2024 presidential election, when young voters were approximately evenly divided between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. However, young voters accounted for only around 10 per cent of the electorate, limiting the overall electoral impact of their political shift. The findings also suggest that opposition to Trump was an important factor. Around six in 10 voters under 30 said expressing opposition to the president was one reason behind their congressional vote.<h2>Black voters: Democrats regain ground</h2>Black voters remained one of the Democratic Party's strongest constituencies, with the 2026 findings suggesting that Republicans struggled to retain the gains Trump had made in 2024. Approximately nine in 10 Black voters supported Democratic House candidates, compared with roughly eight in 10 who backed Harris in 2024. The shift was particularly visible among Black men. Only around one in 10 Black men supported Republican congressional candidates in 2026, compared with approximately one-quarter who had voted for Trump in 2024. State-level contests also reflected this support. In Georgia, approximately nine in 10 Black men and Black women backed Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in the gubernatorial election.<h2>Hispanic voters: Another important shift</h2>Hispanic voters also moved towards Democrats, reversing some of the Republican gains recorded during the 2024 presidential election. The AP Voter Poll found that roughly six in 10 Hispanic voters supported Democratic candidates in their local House races, while approximately one-third backed Republicans. The change was particularly significant in Texas, where Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the Senate race. Roughly six in 10 Hispanic voters in the state supported Talarico, compared with approximately three in 10 who backed Paxton.&nbsp;Hispanic women were another important constituency. A separate national voter survey reported by The Wall Street Journal found that Latino women supported Democratic congressional candidates by a 36-percentage-point margin, compared with a 21-point margin in 2024.<h2>Asian American voters: A key part of the Democratic gains</h2>Asian American voters and other communities of colour also featured prominently in the Democratic resurgence. A post-election survey of 10,141 voters, including 2,130 Asian American and Pacific Islander voters, found that Asian Americans had swung decisively towards Democrats. Researchers highlighted both their participation and their changing political preferences.&nbsp;The findings are important because Asian American voters are not a politically uniform constituency. Their political preferences can vary considerably across ethnic communities, generations, immigration backgrounds and economic circumstances. It is therefore important not to treat Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as a single voting bloc or assume that the national trend applies equally to every community.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-s-best-guy-pete-hegseth-on-the-chopping-block-why-republicans-are-now-turning-against-him-after-midterms-disaster-1793839796953">Trump's 'best guy' Pete Hegseth on the chopping block? Why Republicans are now turning against him after midterms disaster</a><h2>Indian American voters: A distinct political story</h2>Indian Americans deserve separate attention within the broader Asian American electorate. A Carnegie Endowment for International Peace survey conducted with YouGov in October 2026 found that 62 per cent of Indian American citizens intended to support Democratic congressional candidates, compared with 19 per cent who favoured Republicans. Among Indian Americans in states holding Senate elections, 63 per cent supported the Democratic candidate, compared with 21 per cent for the Republican.&nbsp;However, these figures represent pre-election voting intentions, not verified final voting results. The survey covered 1,000 Indian American adults, including 861 US citizens in the voting analysis. The findings nevertheless suggest that the Republican gains among Indian Americans during the 2024 presidential election had not translated into sustained support for Republican congressional candidates.<h2>Women voters: Democrats strengthen their advantage</h2>Women remained an important Democratic constituency in the 2026 midterms. Exit-poll analysis reported by The Wall Street Journal found that women favoured Democratic congressional candidates by 16 percentage points, twice their eight-point Democratic advantage in the 2022 midterms.&nbsp;The gender divide was also evident among men. Republicans, who enjoyed a 14-point advantage among male voters in 2022, were ahead by just one percentage point in 2026. This suggests that the Democratic gains were not limited to women or traditional minority constituencies. The party also made substantial progress among male voters.<h2>Rural versus urban voters: Geography still matters</h2>The urban-rural divide remained an important feature of American electoral politics, although younger voters offered an interesting exception to traditional voting patterns. According to Tufts University's Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), 79 per cent of young urban voters backed Democratic House candidates, compared with 73 per cent of young suburban voters.&nbsp;Even among young rural voters, Democrats secured 57 per cent support against 37 per cent for Republicans. This was a notable reversal from 2024, when 60 per cent of rural young voters supported Trump, compared with 38 per cent who backed Harris. These figures concern young voters specifically and should not be confused with the voting preferences of the entire rural and urban electorate.<h2>College versus non-college voters: The education divide narrows</h2>Education continued to shape voting preferences, but Republicans lost ground among some traditionally supportive groups. The Wall Street Journal's analysis of the national voter survey found that college graduates supported Democrats by a 25-point margin, compared with a 10-point advantage in 2022. Meanwhile, Republicans retained an advantage among voters without college degrees, but that margin narrowed from 12 percentage points in 2022 to six points in 2026.&nbsp;White men without college degrees remained one of the Republican Party's strongest constituencies, although the GOP advantage among this group also declined substantially. The results suggest that educational attainment remained a significant political dividing line, but it was not enough to protect the Republican coalition from broader electoral shifts.

US midterms 2026: Explore how Black, Latino, Asian American, Indian American, women, young, rural and college-educated voters backed Democrats and Republicans

The 2026 US midterm elections have delivered a significant political message about America's changing electorate. While Democrats made sweeping gains, the voting patterns across racial, ethnic, age and gender groups reveal how Donald Trump's Republican coalition faced challenges in retaining the support it had built during the 2024 presidential election. From young voters and Black Americans to Hispanic communities and college-educated voters, several demographic groups moved towards Democratic candidates. The findings from the Associated Press' AP Voter Poll, alongside other national voter surveys and exit-poll analyses, offer a closer look at how Americans voted and the groups that helped shape the outcome. Young voters: A significant shift towards Democrats Young Americans emerged as one of the clearest Democratic constituencies in the 2026 midterms. According to the AP Voter Poll, approximately 70 per cent of voters under 30 supported Democratic candidates in their local US House races, compared with roughly 30 per cent who backed Republicans. This marked a substantial change from the 2024 presidential election, when young voters were approximately evenly divided between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. However, young voters accounted for only around 10 per cent of the electorate, limiting the overall electoral impact of their political shift. The findings also suggest that opposition to Trump was an important factor. Around six in 10 voters under 30 said expressing opposition to the president was one reason behind their congressional vote. Black voters: Democrats regain ground Black voters remained one of the Democratic Party's strongest constituencies, with the 2026 findings suggesting that Republicans struggled to retain the gains Trump had made in 2024. Approximately nine in 10 Black voters supported Democratic House candidates, compared with roughly eight in 10 who backed Harris in 2024. The shift was particularly visible among Black men. Only around one in 10 Black men supported Republican congressional candidates in 2026, compared with approximately one-quarter who had voted for Trump in 2024. State-level contests also reflected this support. In Georgia, approximately nine in 10 Black men and Black women backed Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in the gubernatorial election. Hispanic voters: Another important shift Hispanic voters also moved towards Democrats, reversing some of the Republican gains recorded during the 2024 presidential election. The AP Voter Poll found that roughly six in 10 Hispanic voters supported Democratic candidates in their local House races, while approximately one-third backed Republicans. The change was particularly significant in Texas, where Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the Senate race. Roughly six in 10 Hispanic voters in the state supported Talarico, compared with approximately three in 10 who backed Paxton. Hispanic women were another important constituency. A separate national voter survey reported by The Wall Street Journal found that Latino women supported Democratic congressional candidates by a 36-percentage-point margin, compared with a 21-point margin in 2024. Asian American voters: A key part of the Democratic gains Asian American voters and other communities of colour also featured prominently in the Democratic resurgence. A post-election survey of 10,141 voters, including 2,130 Asian American and Pacific Islander voters, found that Asian Americans had swung decisively towards Democrats. Researchers highlighted both their participation and their changing political preferences. The findings are important because Asian American voters are not a politically uniform constituency. Their political preferences can vary considerably across ethnic communities, generations, immigration backgrounds and economic circumstances. It is therefore important not to treat Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as a single voting bloc or assume that the national trend applies equally to every community. Also Read: Trump's 'best guy' Pete Hegseth on the chopping block? Why Republicans are now turning against him after midterms disaster Indian American voters: A distinct political story Indian Americans deserve separate attention within the broader Asian American electorate. A Carnegie Endowment for International Peace survey conducted with YouGov in October 2026 found that 62 per cent of Indian American citizens intended to support Democratic congressional candidates, compared with 19 per cent who favoured Republicans. Among Indian Americans in states holding Senate elections, 63 per cent supported the Democratic candidate, compared with 21 per cent for the Republican. However, these figures represent pre-election voting intentions, not verified final voting results. The survey covered 1,000 Indian American adults, including 861 US citizens in the voting analysis. The findings nevertheless suggest that the Republican gains among Indian Americans during the 2024 presidential election had not translated into sustained support for Republican congressional candidates. Women voters: Democrats strengthen their advantage Women remained an important Democratic constituency in the 2026 midterms. Exit-poll analysis reported by The Wall Street Journal found that women favoured Democratic congressional candidates by 16 percentage points, twice their eight-point Democratic advantage in the 2022 midterms. The gender divide was also evident among men. Republicans, who enjoyed a 14-point advantage among male voters in 2022, were ahead by just one percentage point in 2026. This suggests that the Democratic gains were not limited to women or traditional minority constituencies. The party also made substantial progress among male voters. Rural versus urban voters: Geography still matters The urban-rural divide remained an important feature of American electoral politics, although younger voters offered an interesting exception to traditional voting patterns. According to Tufts University's Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), 79 per cent of young urban voters backed Democratic House candidates, compared with 73 per cent of young suburban voters. Even among young rural voters, Democrats secured 57 per cent support against 37 per cent for Republicans. This was a notable reversal from 2024, when 60 per cent of rural young voters supported Trump, compared with 38 per cent who backed Harris. These figures concern young voters specifically and should not be confused with the voting preferences of the entire rural and urban electorate. College versus non-college voters: The education divide narrows Education continued to shape voting preferences, but Republicans lost ground among some traditionally supportive groups. The Wall Street Journal's analysis of the national voter survey found that college graduates supported Democrats by a 25-point margin, compared with a 10-point advantage in 2022. Meanwhile, Republicans retained an advantage among voters without college degrees, but that margin narrowed from 12 percentage points in 2022 to six points in 2026. White men without college degrees remained one of the Republican Party's strongest constituencies, although the GOP advantage among this group also declined substantially. The results suggest that educational attainment remained a significant political dividing line, but it was not enough to protect the Republican coalition from broader electoral shifts.

Black, Latino and young voters shifted towards Democrats in the 2026 US midterms. Here's how race, gender, age, education and geography shaped America's voting choices

US midterms: Did Trump lose young voters, women and minorities? Here's how Americans voted

President Donald Trump may have made the decision to launch the war that damaged voter support for the Republican Party and contributed to a devastating midterm defeat. However, the historic losses have intensified efforts within the party to find someone else to hold accountable: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The House could vote as early as next week on whether to impeach the Pentagon chief.&nbsp;Several Republican lawmakers and allies, concerned by Tuesday's election results, are quickly shifting responsibility towards Hegseth. Behind closed doors, they argue that he played a major role in persuading Trump to attack Iran without a clear exit strategy or a plan to handle the political consequences. The growing effort to hold Hegseth accountable comes even as Republican strategists in both the House and Senate privately acknowledge that the party's problems went well beyond the war.&nbsp;&nbsp;The losses were comparable to those suffered in 2008 and could take years to overcome. However, party leaders and many Republican lawmakers remain reluctant to directly criticize Trump for the outcome. Even among House Republicans who managed to survive Tuesday's electoral setback, there is little expectation that they will distance themselves from the president with two years remaining in his term. Their loyalty to Trump, however, does not necessarily extend to Hegseth, the combative defense secretary who has struggled to build relationships on Capitol Hill since taking charge of the Pentagon.&nbsp;House Republicans are expected to vote on a measure directly condemning the defense secretary within days. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a well-known anti-Trump Republican, told CNN that he intends to initiate a vote to impeach Hegseth when Congress returns next week. Several Republicans have accused Hegseth, an outspoken supporter of the war, of exaggerating America's ability to secure a quick and easy victory.&nbsp;<h2>‘The real reason we lost is the war’: JD Vance</h2>On Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance made an unusual statement, saying that “the reason we lost is the war,” although he did not directly blame any individual for the decision to launch the conflict. “The pivot is starting” on the war and Hegseth, a former senior Pentagon official said. “This has been primarily a Department of War-led effort because you chose to take military action to resolve a foreign policy matter.”&nbsp;Despite the growing pressure against Hegseth, Trump's confidence in his defense secretary has not visibly weakened. Multiple White House officials told CNN that the president has continued asking allies about Hegseth's performance.Trump personally likes Hegseth and has told aides that he believes the defense secretary should resist efforts to impeach him or investigate his decision-making. “Just two days ago the president was in the room with him, telling him, ‘You’re my best guy. You’re the best guy I have,’” one of the officials said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-s-behind-the-wave-of-doctors-and-nurses-winning-congressional-seats-in-the-us-midterms-1793835693448">What's behind the wave of doctors and nurses winning congressional seats in the US midterms?</a><h2>Trump defends Hegseth, says ‘doing a very good job’</h2>Trump may also have another reason to retain Hegseth if he decides to pursue additional strikes against Iran. A source familiar with the president's thinking told CNN that Democrats' new majority in the Senate could make it more difficult for the administration to secure confirmation for replacement Cabinet officials. When questioned Wednesday about Hegseth's position, Trump defended the military campaign and dismissed suggestions that he intended to remove the defense secretary, saying he believed Hegseth was “doing a very good job.” “If I had it to do again, I’d have to do it again,” Trump said of his decision to go to war.&nbsp;Trump has not announced any plans to dismiss senior administration officials. Nevertheless, following the GOP's disappointing midterm performance, several allies and advisers expect him to eventually make changes within his administration. Some people within Trump's circle are already viewing the potential impeachment effort against Hegseth as another reason to make him the administration's fall guy. They argue that he is likely to become a primary target of Democratic scrutiny over the war regardless.

Pete Hegseth faces a potential impeachment vote as Republicans blame his role in the Iran war for the GOP's devastating midterm election losses

President Donald Trump may have made the decision to launch the war that damaged voter support for the Republican Party and contributed to a devastating midterm defeat. However, the historic losses have intensified efforts within the party to find someone else to hold accountable: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The House could vote as early as next week on whether to impeach the Pentagon chief. Several Republican lawmakers and allies, concerned by Tuesday's election results, are quickly shifting responsibility towards Hegseth. Behind closed doors, they argue that he played a major role in persuading Trump to attack Iran without a clear exit strategy or a plan to handle the political consequences. The growing effort to hold Hegseth accountable comes even as Republican strategists in both the House and Senate privately acknowledge that the party's problems went well beyond the war. The losses were comparable to those suffered in 2008 and could take years to overcome. However, party leaders and many Republican lawmakers remain reluctant to directly criticize Trump for the outcome. Even among House Republicans who managed to survive Tuesday's electoral setback, there is little expectation that they will distance themselves from the president with two years remaining in his term. Their loyalty to Trump, however, does not necessarily extend to Hegseth, the combative defense secretary who has struggled to build relationships on Capitol Hill since taking charge of the Pentagon. House Republicans are expected to vote on a measure directly condemning the defense secretary within days. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a well-known anti-Trump Republican, told CNN that he intends to initiate a vote to impeach Hegseth when Congress returns next week. Several Republicans have accused Hegseth, an outspoken supporter of the war, of exaggerating America's ability to secure a quick and easy victory. ‘The real reason we lost is the war’: JD Vance On Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance made an unusual statement, saying that “the reason we lost is the war,” although he did not directly blame any individual for the decision to launch the conflict. “The pivot is starting” on the war and Hegseth, a former senior Pentagon official said. “This has been primarily a Department of War-led effort because you chose to take military action to resolve a foreign policy matter.” Despite the growing pressure against Hegseth, Trump's confidence in his defense secretary has not visibly weakened. Multiple White House officials told CNN that the president has continued asking allies about Hegseth's performance. Trump personally likes Hegseth and has told aides that he believes the defense secretary should resist efforts to impeach him or investigate his decision-making. “Just two days ago the president was in the room with him, telling him, ‘You’re my best guy. You’re the best guy I have,’” one of the officials said. Also Read: What's behind the wave of doctors and nurses winning congressional seats in the US midterms? Trump defends Hegseth, says ‘doing a very good job’ Trump may also have another reason to retain Hegseth if he decides to pursue additional strikes against Iran. A source familiar with the president's thinking told CNN that Democrats' new majority in the Senate could make it more difficult for the administration to secure confirmation for replacement Cabinet officials. When questioned Wednesday about Hegseth's position, Trump defended the military campaign and dismissed suggestions that he intended to remove the defense secretary, saying he believed Hegseth was “doing a very good job.” “If I had it to do again, I’d have to do it again,” Trump said of his decision to go to war. Trump has not announced any plans to dismiss senior administration officials. Nevertheless, following the GOP's disappointing midterm performance, several allies and advisers expect him to eventually make changes within his administration. Some people within Trump's circle are already viewing the potential impeachment effort against Hegseth as another reason to make him the administration's fall guy. They argue that he is likely to become a primary target of Democratic scrutiny over the war regardless.

Republicans turn against Pete Hegseth over the Iran war as Representative Thomas Massie prepares an impeachment push following major GOP midterm losses

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