Republicans Suffer US Midterm Loss as Divide Widens Over Iran War and Inflation

UPDATED: Nov 5, 2026 22:28 ISTA Republican setback in the US midterm elections has exposed a divide within Donald Trump's camp. Vice President JD Vance attributed the electoral defeat to the ongoing war in Iran, rising living costs, and voter dissatisfaction. While acknowledging that the conflict drove up short-term gasoline prices and affected poll outcomes, Trump maintained he would strike Iran again to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Democrats, having secured control of Congress, have pledged to challenge the administration's agenda and focus on making life more affordable for everyday Americans, leaving questions over whether Trump will reconsider his military policy or escalate action. Read MoreVIDEOS FROM OTHER SECTIONSLATEST VIDEOSMP Bridge Built at ₹8.86 Crore Lacks Road, Left Unused for 3 Years, 50 Villages Cut OffA 308-metre bridge constructed at a cost of 8 crore 86 lakh rupees over the Dudhi River in Madhya Pradesh's Narmadapuram district has remained disused for three years due to the absence of an approach road. The structure was planned to link between 40 and 50 villages across Narmadapuram and Narsinghpur districts. Instead, commuters, farmers, and patients are forced to travel through mud, waterlogging, and potholes. While local residents expressed frustration over official apathy, the district bridge construction department stated that it completed its assigned contract of the bridge and immediate approach stretches, leaving further road connectivity decisions to the state administration.Shah Challenges Rahul On Vote Chori; Ansari Warns Of Nepal-Style Unrest | Big RowUnion Home Minister Amit Shah challenged Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to a parliamentary debate over electoral integrity allegations during the Bharatiya Janata Party's campaign in Karnal, Haryana. The confrontation coincided with political friction over Jharkhand Minister Dr. Irfan Ansari's remarks referencing regional unrest in Bangladesh and Nepal, which drew counteroffensives from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. In response, Congress called for a direct debate between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi while alleging parliamentary microphone muting. Concurrently, internal disciplinary actions led to the suspension of more than 200 Youth Congress office-bearers across eight states. Parliamentary discussions also evaluated floor decorum, speaking allocations, and attendance metrics. On policy matters, the central government detailed revisions to the Agnipath military recruitment scheme, introducing an optional two-year retention framework for non-absorbed Agniveers seeking permanent integration. Separately, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri secured an unopposed election to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh, and United States midterm election results were analyzed.EC Drops SIR Declaration From Form 6 Amid Internal Rift, Shah-Rahul Spar Over Voter ListThe Election Commission has initiated internal course corrections following dissent flagged by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's decisions. The commission removed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) declaration from online Form 6 across all states, making it a separate document, alongside restoring oversight on foreign visits and IT modules. Meanwhile, the political confrontation over the voter list revision escalated, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah daring Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to a debate in Parliament, while the opposition protested Union Minister Lalan Singh's claim that voter IDs could replace Aadhaar cards for welfare scheme benefits.Delhi Air Quality, Stadium Renovation Move India vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI to VizagThe first One Day International between India and Sri Lanka, scheduled for December 13, has been moved from Delhi to Visakhapatnam. The venue change follows a formal request by the Delhi and District Cricket Association to the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Authorities cited planned renovation work at the Arun Jaitley Stadium alongside potential weather disruptions in the national capital during December as reasons for relocating the fixture. The development comes amid recurring concerns regarding worsening winter air quality in Delhi, which has previously impacted sporting events.