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Democrats made sweeping gains in Tuesday’s midterms, while uncertainty over the Iran war and Poundland’s future continued to test Washington and Britain.
Thursday, November 5, 2026. Democrats’ midterm gains reached beyond Congress into state governments, while the Iran war continued to shape Washington’s politics and Poundland remained at risk of collapse. In Europe, bomb threats diverted a passenger flight, and Yemen’s conflict entered another month of attrition.
The clearest result from Tuesday’s United States midterms was the scale of Democratic gains in state politics. With vote counting still under way, Democrats were on track to control 51 of the country’s 99 state legislative chambers and govern states home to 75 percent of Americans. Those gains could give the party greater influence over laws on wages, abortion, schools and elections. They also reduce the number of states where Republicans control the governor’s office and both legislative chambers. Voters also weighed in directly on reproductive rights. Nevada and Virginia approved constitutional amendments protecting those rights. In Missouri, voters rejected a measure that would have rolled back protections approved in 2024. Idaho voters rejected an effort to repeal the state’s abortion ban, leaving its restrictions in place. The results brought fresh attention to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s position. Reports offered competing assessments of his prospects: one said President Donald Trump could consider replacing him before Democrats take control of the Senate in January; another argued Hegseth could remain valuable to Trump because he backs the use of military power and carries out presidential orders. Hegseth has faced criticism over his handling of the Iran war and strained relations with Congress. The election results could intensify impeachment efforts, though the excerpts did not establish that Trump had decided to remove him. Trump’s own legal case was before a Manhattan court. His lawyers asked judges to overturn his 2024 criminal hush-money conviction. A New York jury found him guilty on 34 felony counts. His attorneys argued that the prosecution was politically charged. The election results also showed up in local decisions about technology infrastructure. Voters in several states approved measures to restrict or pause data-center construction, including multiple local measures in Ohio and Maine. Some newly elected governors have also backed limits. The outcomes could slow data-center growth and make technology projects more difficult to advance in some places. Overseas, suspected bomb threats affected several aircraft in Europe. An Aer Lingus flight travelling from Dublin to Rome diverted to a French military base. Bomb-disposal teams began examining the aircraft, and all passengers and crew were safe. In the Middle East, Iran’s state media published guidance on sheltering and avoiding radioactive contamination in the event of a nuclear attack. The guidance followed online speculation about a possible United States nuclear strike. Trump said he did not need nuclear weapons, and the report cited no confirmed United States plan to use them. The United States announced a separate round of sanctions against people and companies in India and Turkiye. The Treasury accused them of helping Iran evade restrictions on oil exports and airline services. The measures freeze any United States-based assets held by those targeted and generally bar Americans from doing business with them. In Yemen, a month had passed since the internationally recognised government began Operation Dawn of Yemen on October 5. The campaign aimed to retake territory held by the Houthis, with support from a Saudi Arabia-led coalition. Sanaa remained largely calm apart from recurring air strikes, while fighting and Houthi territorial gains continued in other provinces. Researchers described the campaign as a new phase of attrition. Britain’s Poundland faced a separate fight for survival. The discount retailer’s United States owner, Gordon Brothers, said the business remained financially vulnerable and was discussing offers with potential buyers. Poundland had filed a notice to appoint administrators, giving it 10 working days to seek a rescue deal. The future of around 12,000 employees remained uncertain. A second bidder, Xyra Group, proposed paying £12.5 million of Poundland’s £30 million loan immediately and deferring the balance. The offer came as Gordon Brothers considered bids. The company’s possible collapse would also affect suppliers. In Britain’s water sector, regulators and the government warned South West Water that missed targets for reducing leaks and repairing burst pipes were putting customer supplies at greater risk during severe drought. The company loses 113.5 million litres of water a day. Reservoir levels were critically low in parts of its service area. The British government also opened a consultation on rules for shared electric bikes. Proposals include local licensing for operators and rules on parking and fleet size. Riders could face fines for dangerous or drunk riding, riding underage or on pavements, and running red lights. In technology, Apple’s eighth-generation iPad mini added an 8.5-inch OLED screen, a faster A20 Pro chip, improved speakers and water resistance. It starts at £699, substantially more than its predecessor. The display still refreshes at 60 hertz, and the device does not have Face ID. Mercedes-AMG’s first battery-only AMG, the GT 4-Door Coupe, uses three compact motors and the company’s AMG.EA platform. The car reached 60 miles an hour in about 2.3 seconds during testing in Spain, where it was driven on roads and a track. Its systems are designed to manage handling, braking and ride control. And in British television, Channel 4 said Married at First Sight UK would not return, with its budget going to new programming. The decision followed a BBC Panorama investigation into allegations by three women against men they were paired with on the show. The men deny the allegations.
Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football. The 41-year-old Portugal forward’s national-team career began in 2003, and he said he would pass on the number seven shirt. England captain Harry Kane extended his contract with Bayern Munich through June 2029. Kane joined from Tottenham Hotspur in 2023 and said he was happy to remain in Munich with his family. He scored 73 goals in 65 matches during the 2025, 26 season. In basketball, Victor Wembanyama scored a career-high 52 points and grabbed 24 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Dallas Mavericks 112-111. A late free throw decided the game, giving San Antonio its sixth straight win. French club Lens suffered a 9-1 home defeat to Como in the Champions League. The report called it the heaviest defeat by a French club in European competition. It was Lens’s third consecutive loss in Europe. Former Formula 1 champion Alan Jones has died aged 80. He won the 1980 world title, becoming the first driver to win it with Williams, and took 12 grand prix victories. Jones continued competing in other forms of motorsport until 2002. That's the day. The Actual News.
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