Daily News Summary – 2026-11-04 – 2

Millions of Americans voted with control of Congress at stake. Democrats are favored to win the House, while the Senate remains a toss-up, with key battlegrounds in North Carolina, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

The 2026 midterms delivered historic firsts: Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim US senator, Keisha Lance Bottoms the first Black woman governor, and Chris Pappas the first openly gay male senator. Democrats also won most governorships.

European leaders welcomed the Democratic victory, with Spain's Pedro Sánchez calling it a rejection of hate. Iran said American voters said no to war, while Russia and China responded cautiously.

North Korea officially denied FBI allegations that state-backed hackers stole $6.3bn from Binance, calling the claims 'absurd rhetoric'. Kim Yo-jong dismissed the attribution, while the FBI maintains its evidence.

A helicopter collision at Pheriche near Mount Everest killed a 47-year-old Indian tourist and injured two others. The two Airbus AS350 helicopters clipped rotor blades, prompting an investigation into pilot communication.

The UK government announced a 3.9% rise in minimum wage rates but paused equalisation for 18-20 year-olds, drawing criticism over Labour manifesto breach claims. Business groups welcomed the cautious approach.

Binance is investigating a suspected record $6.3bn hack, with crypto firms freezing about $3bn in funds. Tether and Circle froze over $2.3bn in stablecoins, and the exchange pledged to cover all losses.