Morning Digest: Trump says ‘largely true’ Iran war caused midterms’ loss; ECI separates online Form 6, accompanying declaration for States undergoing SIR; and more

U.S. President Donald Trump. File. | Photo Credit: Reuters Trump says ‘largely true’ Iran war caused midterms lossPresident Donald Trump said on Wednesday (November 4, 2026) the ‌Iran war has been worth ​it despite acknowledging its role ⁠in losses in U.S. midterm elections in which his Republican Party lost control ‌of Congress. “The Iran thing we had to do, and ‌we continue to do it,” ‌he told ⁠reporters.ECI separates online Form 6, accompanying declaration for States undergoing SIRThe Election Commission of India (ECI) has separated Form 6, used for fresh voter registration, and an accompanying declaration in its online version in States where the SIR exercise is underway. Earlier in September, it had already withdrawn the declaration from its digital platforms in States where SIR had been completed.Vance tries to distance himself from Iran war after Republican Party’s deep losses in midterm electionsJ.D. Vance publicly broke from President Donald Trump’s defence of the Iran war on Wednesday (November 4, 2026) after the Republican Party’s deep losses in the midterm elections, attempting to distance himself from voters’ clear rebuke of the President as the Vice President faces questions about his own political ambitions.Spend more time in India: Rijiju takes jibe at Rahul, list conditions for Congress to ‘win more MPs’Taking a jibe at Rahul Gandhi, Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday (November 4, 2026) listed some conditions for Congress, saying if the Opposition party wants to “win more MPs”, then their senior leader must spend more time in India and stop meeting anti-India people.Nirmala Lakshman’s book ‘The Tamils : A Portrait of a Community’ wins Sharjah awardNirmala Lakshman, author, journalist and Director of The Hindu Group, has won the Sharjah Award for the Best International Book in the Best International Non-Fiction Book category for “The Tamils : A Portrait of a Community”. The award was presented by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority.Falling fertility rate makes two-child penalties outdated in India, says Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court on Wednesday (November 4, 2026) held that laws penalising having more than two children have lost their relevance due to the falling fertility rate in India. “We are of the strong opinion that laws that penalise having more than two children have lost their relevance. The foundation of such laws, that is, the fear of overpopulation, has crumbled due to demographic changes in the past few decades,” a Bench headed by Justice P.S. Narasimha observed in a 37-page judgment.Nine rescue personnel feared missing as boats capsize in Telangana’s swollen PeddacheruvuAround nine personnel belonging to two rescue teams, including five State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel, went missing after their two inflatable boats reportedly capsized in the swollen Peddacheruvu in Sathupalli mandal of Khammam district on Wednesday (November 4, 2026) evening.Cess levied as increment to sales tax remains within State’s scope, says Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court held on Wednesday (November 4, 2026) that an additional tax levied by a State legislature on the sale or purchase of goods will not fall outside the State’s competence. A seven-judge Bench confirmed a 1975 ruling (S. Kodar versus State of Kerala) that a cess levied as an increment to an existing sales tax has to be judged in the same way as the principal tax.Israel President urges compromise after divisive electionIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday (November 4, 2026) doubled down on accusations of foreign interference in last week’s election, despite calls for compromise from the President. More than a week after Israel’s first election since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, President Isaac Herzog began meeting with party leaders to decide whether to give Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or his rival Gadi Eisenkot the first chance to form a government in the deeply polarised country.U.P. to match Assembly voter lists with Panchayat and Urban local body rolls to find missing votersChief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh has directed that voter lists of all Assembly constituencies of the State be matched with Panchayat and Urban Body electoral rolls in order to find eligible citizens missing from the rolls during the Special Summary Revision of Voter Lists 2027. Published - November 05, 2026 06:43 am IST