Voting for the US midterm elections takes place on 3 November 2026, with every seat in the House of Representatives and 35 Senate seats up for election, along with many governorships and state and local offices. Nearly 27 million Americans had already cast ballots by 25 October through early voting or mail-in ballots. Voters will decide which party controls both chambers of Congress for the next two years, and Republicans currently hold both. Pennsylvania is described as a key swing state. Rising living costs and healthcare weigh on voters, according to reporting.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia from his role as head of strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 28 Oct, with no replacement or explanation announced. The dismissal follows the earlier ouster of Lieutenant General Joseph McGee. At the same time, U.S. officials are warning Middle Eastern partners to ready for possible renewed strikes against Iran after the 3 Nov mid‑term elections, while a third aircraft carrier and additional troops are moving toward the Persian Gulf.
Distributed Denial of Secrets, a nonprofit leak site, released data on more than 40,000 Department of Homeland Security employees on 28 Oct, according to the group. The records reportedly include names, phone numbers and email addresses for staff at ICE, CBP, Homeland Security Investigations, CISA and other DHS components, plus job titles tied to special operations, surveillance and undercover work. The group says an entity calling itself Department of Peace supplied the material. DHS says it is aware of a potential breach and is working to address it. The group calls this the third major government data leak in the past month.
North Korea launched roughly ten short-range ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area on its east coast on 29 Oct, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said. The projectiles flew about 250 kilometres before landing in waters east of the peninsula. Japan's Defense Ministry said it detected a suspected ballistic missile launch, and its Coast Guard urged ships to avoid any debris. South Korea has increased surveillance and is coordinating with the United States and Japan. The launch comes amid heightened tension after landmine blasts on 21 Sep injured three South Korean soldiers at the border, which Seoul blames on Pyongyang and Pyongyang denies.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning the United States' economic embargo on Cuba, passing with 130 votes in favour, 17 against and 25 abstentions. The vote marks the lowest level of support for the measure since 1995, with Western nations such as Germany, Italy and Latvia abstaining for the first time in 34 years. Cuban President Miguel Diaz‑Canel and Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez accused Washington of coercion and attempts to seize Cuba’s wealth, while U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz denied any blockade and said U.S. ports remain open.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Washington may allow more Russian diesel onto the market, depending on Moscow's conduct. He framed the suspension of US sanctions on Russian diesel exports, announced earlier this month, as an incentive for Moscow to end the war in Ukraine. Under a deal between Trump and Putin, Russia is to export 800,000 metric tons of diesel in October and November, followed by another million tons. Analysts say the volumes are too small to materially lower prices against global demand of about 28 million barrels per day. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sharply criticised the deal.
Qatari mediators have presented Iran with a new draft to end the conflict with the United States and Israel. The plan sets a seven-day timeline with daily confidence-building steps and would involve several guarantor countries, possibly starting early next week. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is in close contact with intermediaries and could implement the plan in less than a week, while a senior Iranian official called Doha's ideas unacceptable and not an offer. Earlier talks in Tehran with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey ended without a deal, and US President Donald Trump suggested Iran may be delaying until after the 3 Nov midterm elections.
Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers union, died at her home on Wednesday at age 96, according to her family, which said she had cancer. Huerta worked with César Chávez to organize farm workers from the early 1960s and was long a vice-president of the union. She coined the slogan "Sí, se puede!" and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012. Earlier this year she publicly said Chávez had sexually abused her in the 1960s, an account reported by several outlets. Her family has asked for privacy and says arrangements to honor her life will be announced later.
Brent crude fell to 114.40 dollars a barrel in early Asian trading, after gaining more than 1 percent the previous session. US WTI crude dropped 1 percent to 102 dollars a barrel. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran remained open to negotiations. Qatari mediators presented Iran with a new draft proposal to end the war, which a senior Iranian official rejected, according to an official briefed on the talks.
Xreal has reduced the price of its Aura smartglasses to $1,099 through the end of the year, down from the $1,279 preorder price announced last month. Customers who preordered at the higher price will be refunded the difference automatically, according to Xreal general manager Ralph Jodice. The glasses weigh 95 grams, run Android XR on a tethered compute puck, and will ship in mid-November in the United States, Canada and South Korea, with Japan following on 2 Nov. Xreal and Google describe the device as offering more than 150 dedicated XR experiences.
A group led by Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management has offered $7.35 per share in cash to buy Wendy's and take it private, a premium of about 19 to 20 percent over Tuesday's close. The bid values the fast-food chain at around $1.4 billion. Trian partners with restaurant operator Flynn Group and investment firms BlueFive Capital and Sixth Street Partners, and Trian already holds a 16.3 percent stake. Wendy's shares rose about 15 percent in morning trading on Wednesday, 28 Oct. The company has reported same-store sales declines for six straight quarters and is due to report third-quarter earnings on 5 Nov. A special committee is expected to assess the proposal.