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Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress, while election results and cyberattacks shaped news around the world.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress, while election results and cyberattacks shaped news around the world. The result gives President Donald Trump’s opponents new power in Washington, as markets and businesses assess what comes next.
Democrats won control of the House of Representatives and the Senate in the midterm elections. With some races still uncalled, they had secured 228 House seats and 54 Senate seats. Those totals could change, but the party has already flipped Republican-held seats in several states. The victories give Democrats greater power to block legislation, investigate the Trump administration and challenge appointments. Voter anger over living costs and tariffs featured in accounts of the result, alongside opposition to Trump’s confrontation with Iran. Several candidates also won historic firsts, though the available reports did not detail them. The gains extended beyond the congressional races. Initial results showed voters backing measures to restrict data-center development and electing candidates who support tighter oversight of artificial intelligence. Those votes could delay projects in states including Texas, though analysts cited in the reporting did not expect Democrats to stop data-center construction permanently. In Alabama, voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing student-initiated, student-led prayer in public schools and calling for the Pledge of Allegiance in schools. The measure does not describe school-led prayer; it addresses prayer initiated and led by students. In other United States news, a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rule took effect late Tuesday for passengers flying to the United States. Travelers must attest that they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the previous 21 days. The measure is scheduled to remain in place through December 18 unless changed sooner. The agency said the risk to the United States public remained low and reported no cases linked to the outbreak in the country as of November 2. A study of more than 256,000 adults with prediabetes and obesity found that people prescribed GLP-1 drugs had lower rates of several health outcomes than people taking metformin. The observational study found an association, not proof that the drugs caused the difference. An outside endocrinologist cautioned that people’s health and access to care could have influenced the results. Overseas, Israel’s Central Elections Committee certified last week’s parliamentary election results after reviewing 9,069 polling stations. It said it found no irregularities that affected the outcome. The Netanyahu-led bloc holds 53 seats, Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc holds 48, and Arab-led parties won 19. None of the blocs has the 61 seats needed for a majority. South Africa held local elections on Wednesday, with around 30 million people registered to vote across the country’s nine provinces. The economy was a key issue. Gauteng drew particular attention because of longstanding governance challenges. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, residents of Kolwezi sued a large Chinese-owned mine and the government over alleged pollution. The case could become one of the country’s most significant environmental lawsuits. In neighboring Chad, thousands of people who fled fighting in Sudan faced mistrust and hostility from other Sudanese refugees. Their arrival has unfolded alongside accusations that fighters linked to the Rapid Support Forces targeted civilians from other ethnic groups. A United States Marine died Tuesday following a training incident at Camp Schwab in northern Okinawa, Japan. The 3rd Marine Division said the Marine’s identity was being withheld until the family was notified. An investigation is underway. Cybersecurity incidents affected supermarkets in Germany, Romania and the United Kingdom on Monday. The attacks targeted refrigeration systems, and reports of similar incidents had come from at least nine European Union countries. The European Union said it was coordinating with national authorities. Officials said the motive was unknown, and no one had claimed responsibility. The attacks came as companies and governments faced other questions about the effects of technology. Scammers have used artificial-intelligence-generated images and invented stories to tell people that they have found their missing pets. They then demand money or gift cards, and in some cases threaten to harm the animals if owners refuse to pay. Some employers are creating graduate jobs focused on building, managing and applying artificial intelligence tools. A PwC analysis of 2.4 million United States entry-level job listings found that roles most affected by AI were more likely to ask for skills usually associated with senior jobs. In financial markets, the United States dollar fell to a one-month low after the Democrats’ election victory. Treasury yields declined and gold prices rose. Investors weighed the prospect of political gridlock and closer scrutiny of AI companies. British retailer Marks and Spencer reported a profit of £355 million for the six months to September 26, compared with £3.4 million a year earlier. The company was still recovering from a 2025 cyberattack, whose effects continued to weigh on clothing and homewares. It said stock availability had recovered and it expected performance to improve in the second half. Australia’s High Court ruled that Uber must pay 81 million Australian dollars in payroll tax in New South Wales for the years 2015 to 2020. The court found, by a six-to-one decision, that payments Uber made to drivers counted as wages under state law. The ruling ended the company’s challenge to the tax assessment. In Australia, department-store chain David Jones was expected to enter administration after talks between its owner and its largest landlord ended without agreement. The retailer had not paid rent since September and had been considering store closures and changes to its trading terms, as it faced losses and weak consumer spending. Washington also excluded South Africa and Rwanda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The decision ended their duty-free access to the United States market under the program. Exporters in both countries were assessing possible job losses and lower profit margins, while economists said the wider economic impact was likely to be limited. And in Britain, celebrity hairstylist and entrepreneur John Frieda died at the age of 75, his salon announced. He created Joanna Lumley’s ‘Purdey’ hairstyle and developed hair-care lines including Frizz Ease and Sheer Blonde.
Wales recalled Harry Wilson, Joe Rodon and Rubin Colwill for its final Nations League matches against Norway and Portugal. Goalkeeper Joe Duncan received his first senior call-up. Jordan James was unavailable because of injury. In football, West Ham appointed Scott Parker as head coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract. He replaced Nuno Espirito Santo and was due to take charge for the first time when West Ham visited Cardiff City on Wednesday. Seventeen-year-old British tennis player Mika Stojsavljevic earned her first WTA Tour main-draw win at the Hong Kong Open. She beat Sofia Kenin 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 after entering as a lucky loser. Stojsavljevic said she learned about an hour before the match that she would play. The NBA told two United States senators that Rwanda’s army-funded APR basketball team had been removed from the 2026 Basketball Africa League because of United States sanctions on Rwanda’s army. The team will remain barred while the sanctions are in place. Former FIFA governance committee chief Miguel Maduro said FIFA president Gianni Infantino could not seek a fourth term in 2027 because the organization’s statutes limit presidents to three terms. FIFA’s Council ruled in 2022 that Infantino’s 2016-to-2019 period did not count toward the limit. Advocacy group FairSquare is urging member associations to challenge his eligibility. That's the day. The Actual News.
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