Gulf

Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate in the 2026 US midterm elections, the first time the party has held both chambers in 50 years. Democrats also flipped at least 24 House districts, seven Senate seats and five governorships, according to Associated Press data. In Texas, Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Governor Greg Abbott, who was seeking a record fourth term. Voters cited inflation, the cost of living and dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump as key concerns, and Republicans had flipped no Democratic-held seats by the time of the latest reporting.

Iran says it could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days if Washington accepts its conditions, a senior Iranian official said on 2 Nov. The strait has been blockaded since the war began in February, halting shipping that normally carries about one-fifth of global oil. Qatari-mediated indirect talks ended on 2 Nov without a breakthrough, and oil prices fell more than six percent that day. On 3 Nov, Iran's Revolutionary Guards reported three tankers hit mines in the strait, and a senior Iranian official said the two sides remain far from a deal.

A fire near the Ras Tanura refinery in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province was contained, Bloomberg News reports, citing a person familiar with the matter. The Houthi movement says it struck the refinery with a ballistic missile on 27 Oct, a claim Saudi authorities have not confirmed. Saudi-led coalition forces say they shot down three Houthi missiles aimed at the Eastern Province and intercepted two ballistic missiles fired at Riyadh, where shrapnel damaged a building, a construction project and a car. The refinery handles 550,000 barrels per day. Damage details remain unclear.