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ExplainedPolitics· Developing

What happened in the 2026 Texas midterm elections?

Democrats swept top statewide offices in Texas during the 2026 midterms, ousting Governor Greg Abbott and flipping a U.S. Senate seat amid widespread voter discontent over household costs.

Politics· Developing

Abortion rights ballot measures win in Nevada, Virginia and Missouri

Voters in Nevada, Virginia, Missouri and Idaho passed or strengthened protections for women’s reproductive freedom Reproductive rights were on the ballot on Tuesday night as voters weighed in on several abortion-related measures, delivering a largely successful night for reproductive rights advocates encompassed by a historic blue wave. In Nevada, voters approved an amendment enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution, permanently protecting access to abortion through the second trimester after a second referendum on the measure. Continue reading...

World· Verified

Melania Trump welcomes Russian and Ukrainian officials following localized truce

Melania Trump, US President Donald Trump’s wife, joined representatives from Russia and Ukraine on Thursday at a White House event to recognise a recent six-day ceasefire she helped broker in the Russian-controlled city of Oleshky. The event followed US officials’ ramped-up efforts to secure a deal to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which began when Russian forces invaded Ukraine in early 2022. A trilateral meeting with officials from the US, Ukraine and Russia is planned for...

World· Verified

Israel coalition talks favor Eisenkot after Arab parties offer support

Israel’s largest Arab list on Thursday said it would back Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government, bolstering his chances of being picked over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who lost the support of an allied religious party. President Isaac Herzog was holding a second day of consultations with political parties after the October 27 election, in which neither Netanyahu — a polarising right-winger who has led Israel through three years of war — nor Eisenkot — a former military chief promising to restore national unity — secured enough votes for a majority. Herzog will himself choose whom to ask to form a new government, but traditionally the mandate is given to the person recommended by more parties, which would be Eisenkot. Arab-majority lists won an unprecedented 19 seats in the election, making them potential kingmakers if Eisenkot’s opposition chooses to work with them — something which remains unclear. Both Arab lists on Thursday said they were backing Eisenkot. The Joint List, which bagged 11 seats, said in a statement that “it will inform Herzog this evening of its decision to recommend that Gadi Eisenkot be tasked with forming the government”. Raam, which won eight seats, also endorsed Eisenkot. Ultra-Orthodox exemptions Meanwhile, United Torah Judaism, which backed Netanyahu after the previous five elections, in its meeting with Herzog declined to recommend Netanyahu again as prime minister, although it also did not side with Eisenkot. The party informed Herzog “that it has decided not to recommend any member of Knesset to form a government”, the president’s office said in a statement, referring to the 120-member parliament in which United Torah Judaism has won seven seats. Alongside Shas, another ultra-Orthodox party, they have pushed to maintain the exemption from military service for religious students. Netanyahu has preserved the exemption but stopped short of enshrining it in law, in the face of major resentment from many other Israelis, as reservists serve multiple tours due to the wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. “In whatever government is next formed, our immediate item is sorting out the status of Torah students,” United Torah Judaism lawmaker Isaac Pindrus said. Eisenkot, who has tried to appeal to secular Israelis from left to right, has been adamant about ending exemptions from military service. Some of his opposition allies have criticised the ultra-Orthodox — who make up about 14 per cent of the population but have far higher birthrates than secular Israelis — as a drain on the state. Observers say United Torah Judaism’s tactic is likely aimed mostly at punishing Netanyahu and showing that their votes cannot be taken for granted, while they would still serve in a government if he were to form one. Arab parties play key role Once Herzog gives his mandate to a lawmaker, the person will have 28 days to form a government, with a potential 14-day extension. If the lawmaker fails, Herzog will then task someone else. Netanyahu’s bloc, including United Torah Judaism, has 53 seats in the new parliament, compared to 48 for Eisenkot’s bloc. Arab-majority parties scored historic gains on the back of anger over Netanyahu’s hard-right government, whose ministers have vowed to treat Arab Israelis much like Palestinians in war-ravaged Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Eisenkot could form a government with the Arab parties’ numbers but would risk losing support from some in the opposition, notably Avigdor Liberman, a former Netanyahu aide turned outspoken critic, who nonetheless shares the outgoing government’s hawkish views on the Palestinians. Netanyahu has relentlessly attacked the opposition for even the prospect of an alliance with Arab lawmakers. In a video on Wednesday filmed in the prime minister’s office, Netanyahu alleged there were “serious suspicions” that foreign powers put money into the election and questioned the loyalty of Arab citizens.

World· Developing

Paraguay leader Santiago Pena steps down following failure of digital bank

Paraguayan President Santiago Pena resigned on Thursday as calls for his removal swelled following the collapse of digital lender Ueno that left millions of customers unable to access their accounts. “I do so with the stability of our country, social peace, and the need to preserve our democratic institutions in mind,” he said in a video recorded address on Thursday. Pena, an ally of US President Donald Trump, is stepping down after the opposition called an extraordinary session to begin the...

Politics· Verified

Donald Trump concedes midterm defeat following sweeping Democratic wins

Administration had waged aggressive bid to sow doubt about midterms results but worst fears were not realized In the months leading up to the midterm elections, Donald Trump’s administration waged an aggressive effort to sow doubt about the results, intimidate voters and election officials, and signal they would use the power of the federal government to challenge the electoral process. But when the results came in Tuesday night, revealing a massive blowout for the GOP, Trump did something almost unprecedented: he accepted the results. Trump said he was “absolutely willing” to accept the outcome and looked forward to working with Democrats. With the exception of the 2024 election, which he won and Republicans performed well in, Trump has raised doubt about every presidential race and midterm since his first election in 2016. Continue reading...

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