What are the 10 biggest news stories from today?
The top ten biggest news stories from today, Thursday, November 5, 2026, covering major global elections, geopolitical shifts, environmental crises, and diplomatic developments:
1. U.S. Midterms: Democrats Win Full Control of Congress in Major Blow to Trump
The Democratic Party has successfully seized control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections. The historic "blue wave" saw several key Senate seats flip in traditionally red or battleground states, including Texas, Kansas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Among the night’s historic firsts, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan became the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate. In the wake of the defeat, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson announced he will not run for minority leader in the next Congress.
2. Donald Trump Announces Planned End to $4 Billion Annual Aid to Israel
In a surprise announcement during midterm coverage, President Donald Trump stated that the United States will end its annual $4 billion financial assistance package to Israel by the close of 2026. Trump claimed he reached an agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arguing that Israel is wealthy enough to purchase its own military equipment. However, the announcement has drawn fierce criticism from both U.S. lawmakers and Israeli opposition figures, given that the current bilateral Memorandum of Understanding is legally slated to run until 2028.
3. Global Oil Prices Slump After Democratic Sweep of Congress
World oil prices fell sharply today following the U.S. midterm results. Investors are reacting to the Democratic victory with bets that a divided Washington will prompt a swift exit from the unpopular U.S. military conflict with Iran. The prospect of de-escalation in the Middle East has significantly eased anxieties over potential energy supply disruptions and drove down crude futures.
4. Spanish Transport Minister Resigns Following High-Speed Train Disasters
Spain's Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, has resigned following immense political and public pressure over two deadly high-speed rail accidents this year. The latest crash, which occurred outside Madrid last week, killed 69 people. Compounded by a head-on collision in January that claimed 41 lives, Puente conceded that a minister cannot remain in office after two disasters of such severity. He also withdrew his candidacy from the upcoming general elections scheduled for November 29.
5. Cyclone Murasu Batters Andhra Pradesh Coast, India
Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu has wreaked havoc across south coastal Andhra Pradesh, leaving at least two people dead and displacing more than 12,000 residents to rehabilitation centers. This is the second severe cyclone to hit the region in less than a week, following the deadly path of Cyclone Arnab. Murasu brought 110–120 km/h winds, damaging over 300 homes and destroying standing crops across 52,000 hectares of land.
6. New Delhi Air Quality Plummets to "Severe" Levels
New Delhi continues to choke under a dense blanket of toxic smog, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting a "Severe" 447 in several congested neighborhoods. Despite Stage II restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) being strictly implemented, meteorological factors and agricultural burning have worsened conditions. In neighboring Rajasthan, the city of Bikaner registered a staggering, hazardous AQI of 1,357.
7. Sudan and Ethiopia Escalate Diplomatic Row with Mutual Expulsions
Tensions have flared between Khartoum and Addis Ababa, leading to reciprocal diplomatic expulsions. Ethiopia ordered six Sudanese diplomats to leave its consulate in Asosa within 48 hours. Sudan immediately retaliated by ordering Ethiopian diplomats in El Gedaref to depart. The friction escalated after Sudan filed a formal complaint with the UN Security Council, accusing Ethiopia of providing logistical and drone support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group.
8. U.S. and China Defense Officials Meet in Washington for Crisis Prevention
Military and defense officials from the U.S. and China concluded their first meeting in Washington under the newly established Crisis Communications and Prevention Working Group. The bilateral talks focused on establishing reliable, direct channels to manage incidents and reduce risks of accidental military escalations, primarily addressing hotspots such as the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.
9. British MPs Warn of "Dangerous" Economic Dependence on Chinese Minerals
The UK Parliament’s Business, Innovation, Science, and Trade Committee issued a stark report today, warning that Britain remains dangerously vulnerable to economic coercion due to its reliance on China for critical minerals. The report asserts that the UK cannot successfully re-arm, expand its AI infrastructure, or reach net-zero goals without immediately diversifying its supply chains. The committee proposed a five-part plan to "precision de-risk" the country's mineral security.
10. South Africans Go to the Polls in High-Stakes Local Elections
South Africans voted in highly anticipated local elections that are being called a critical test for the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Public frustration over deteriorating infrastructure—specifically persistent water outages, rolling electricity blackouts, and poor service delivery—has led analysts to predict that support for the ANC could drop to historic lows.
Citations (26)
- educationtimes.com
Backs: “The Democratic Party has successfully seized control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections.”
- theguardian.com
Backs: “The Democratic Party has successfully seized control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections.”
- indiatimes.com
Backs: “The historic "blue wave" saw several key Senate seats flip in traditionally red or battleground states, including Texas, Kansas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina, and South Carolina.”
- dailynews.lk
Backs: “Among the night’s historic firsts, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan became the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate. In the wake of the defeat, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson announced he will not run for minority leader in the next Congress.”
- cbsnews.com
Backs: “In the wake of the defeat, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson announced he will not run for minority leader in the next Congress.”
- indiatoday.in
Backs: “In a surprise announcement during midterm coverage, President Donald Trump stated that the United States will end its annual $4 billion financial assistance package to Israel by the close of 2026. Trump claimed he reached an agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arguing that Israel is wealthy enough to…”
- zettaghana.com
Backs: “In a surprise announcement during midterm coverage, President Donald Trump stated that the United States will end its annual $4 billion financial assistance package to Israel by the close of 2026. Trump claimed he reached an agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arguing that Israel is wealthy enough to…”
- ukrmedia.news
Backs: “Trump claimed he reached an agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arguing that Israel is wealthy enough to purchase its own military equipment. However, the announcement has drawn fierce criticism from both U.S.”
- headtopics.com
Backs: “However, the announcement has drawn fierce criticism from both U.S. lawmakers and Israeli opposition figures, given that the current bilateral Memorandum of Understanding is legally slated to run until 2028.”
- bworldonline.com
Backs: “World oil prices fell sharply today following the U.S. midterm results. Investors are reacting to the Democratic victory with bets that a divided Washington will prompt a swift exit from the unpopular U.S.”
- thestandard.com.hk
Backs: “Investors are reacting to the Democratic victory with bets that a divided Washington will prompt a swift exit from the unpopular U.S. military conflict with Iran. The prospect of de-escalation in the Middle East has significantly eased anxieties over potential energy supply disruptions and drove down crude futures.”
- livemint.com
Backs: “Investors are reacting to the Democratic victory with bets that a divided Washington will prompt a swift exit from the unpopular U.S. military conflict with Iran. The prospect of de-escalation in the Middle East has significantly eased anxieties over potential energy supply disruptions and drove down crude futures.”
- cp24.com
Backs: “Spain's Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, has resigned following immense political and public pressure over two deadly high-speed rail accidents this year. The latest crash, which occurred outside Madrid last week, killed 69 people.”
- babel.ua
Backs: “Spain's Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, has resigned following immense political and public pressure over two deadly high-speed rail accidents this year. The latest crash, which occurred outside Madrid last week, killed 69 people.”
- theguardian.com
Backs: “The latest crash, which occurred outside Madrid last week, killed 69 people. Compounded by a head-on collision in January that claimed 41 lives, Puente conceded that a minister cannot remain in office after two disasters of such severity.”
- thehindu.com
Backs: “Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu has wreaked havoc across south coastal Andhra Pradesh, leaving at least two people dead and displacing more than 12,000 residents to rehabilitation centers. This is the second severe cyclone to hit the region in less than a week, following the deadly path of Cyclone Arnab.”
- downtoearth.org.in
Backs: “This is the second severe cyclone to hit the region in less than a week, following the deadly path of Cyclone Arnab. Murasu brought 110–120 km/h winds, damaging over 300 homes and destroying standing crops across 52,000 hectares of land.”
- aa.com.tr
Backs: “This is the second severe cyclone to hit the region in less than a week, following the deadly path of Cyclone Arnab. Murasu brought 110–120 km/h winds, damaging over 300 homes and destroying standing crops across 52,000 hectares of land.”
- wikipedia.org
Backs: “Murasu brought 110–120 km/h winds, damaging over 300 homes and destroying standing crops across 52,000 hectares of land. 6.”
- abplive.com
Backs: “New Delhi continues to choke under a dense blanket of toxic smog, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting a "Severe" 447 in several congested neighborhoods. Despite Stage II restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) being strictly implemented, meteorological factors and agricultural burning have…”
- indiatoday.in
Backs: “Despite Stage II restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) being strictly implemented, meteorological factors and agricultural burning have worsened conditions. In neighboring Rajasthan, the city of Bikaner registered a staggering, hazardous AQI of 1,357.”
- sudantribune.com
Backs: “Tensions have flared between Khartoum and Addis Ababa, leading to reciprocal diplomatic expulsions. Ethiopia ordered six Sudanese diplomats to leave its consulate in Asosa within 48 hours.”
- scmp.com
Backs: “Military and defense officials from the U.S. and China concluded their first meeting in Washington under the newly established Crisis Communications and Prevention Working Group. The bilateral talks focused on establishing reliable, direct channels to manage incidents and reduce risks of accidental military…”
- parliament.uk
Backs: “The UK Parliament’s Business, Innovation, Science, and Trade Committee issued a stark report today, warning that Britain remains dangerously vulnerable to economic coercion due to its reliance on China for critical minerals. The report asserts that the UK cannot successfully re-arm, expand its AI infrastructure, or…”
- theguardian.com
Backs: “South Africans voted in highly anticipated local elections that are being called a critical test for the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Public frustration over deteriorating infrastructure—specifically persistent water outages, rolling electricity blackouts, and poor service delivery—has led analysts to…”
- okayafrica.com
Backs: “South Africans voted in highly anticipated local elections that are being called a critical test for the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Public frustration over deteriorating infrastructure—specifically persistent water outages, rolling electricity blackouts, and poor service delivery—has led analysts to…”