Breakfast News Recap: Democrats seize Congress as Ukraine diplomacy and Iran tensions intensify

Democrats have won control of both chambers of the United States Congress after a sweeping midterm result, a major setback for President Donald Trump and Republicans. Party leaders said they would use their new strength to restrain Trump, while the result also handed Democrats a series of key wins in swing states and districts.  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗

In California, Democrat Randy Villegas defeated Republican incumbent David Valadao in the 22nd congressional district, adding to the party's gains in the House. The broader result also prompted Trump to say he may work with Democrats, even as he renewed his push for permanent daylight saving time and urged Senate action on the Sunshine Protection Act.  🔗  🔗  🔗

Ukraine remained at the centre of diplomacy and battlefield concern. Ukrainian authorities raised to 40 the death toll from a Russian strike on an aid distribution point in the Zaporizhia region, while President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had a detailed 90 minute conversation with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as preparations intensified for talks in Abu Dhabi. Zelenskyy also said the Democratic gains in Washington could improve prospects for more US support.  🔗  🔗  🔗

The White House is set to host Russian and Ukrainian officials on Thursday in a meeting involving First Lady Melania Trump, ahead of the Abu Dhabi discussions. In a separate development, Melania Trump and Louisiana State University announced a $5 million endowment for FOSTERING THE FUTURE scholarships, aimed at supporting foster care students.  🔗  🔗

Iran and the wider Middle East saw fresh political and security manoeuvring. Tehran warned that any response to renewed US attacks would have no geographical restrictions, after Donald Trump said strikes could resume after the midterm elections. Reza Pahlavi used a Brussels visit to urge the European Union to increase pressure on Iran, while South Korea said it would seek parliamentary approval to expand its anti piracy mission closer to the Strait of Hormuz.  🔗  🔗  🔗

Israel's political scene was also in motion after President Isaac Herzog accepted the certified results of the parliamentary election and began coalition consultations. Israeli opposition figures blamed Benjamin Netanyahu for weakening support for Israel in the United States after Democrats took Congress, linking the domestic result in Washington to wider diplomatic fallout.  🔗  🔗

Elsewhere, Syria and Saudi Arabia signed a defence cooperation agreement and agreed more than $403m in Saudi loans for Syrian sectors, signalling a further thaw in ties. In Africa, Ethiopia ordered six Sudanese diplomats to leave within 48 hours and closed Sudan's consulate in Assosa amid border tensions.  🔗  🔗

Rights and security stories continued to surface in Europe and Asia. Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong was sentenced to 10 more years in prison after pleading guilty in a national security case, while Serbian authorities detained nine active police officers and one former officer over alleged excessive force against protesters. In Berlin, police opened an investigation after Hubert Aiwanger, the 55 year old head of the Free Voters and Bavarian economy minister, was found dead in a hotel.  🔗  🔗  🔗

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Health officials also moved a British healthcare worker who tested positive for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo back to the United Kingdom for specialist treatment. In Ireland, 13 SuperValu stores were affected by cyberattacks that disrupted supermarket fridges and freezers across Europe, forcing chilled and frozen food to be removed from sale.  🔗  🔗

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