Wednesday, November 4, 2026 · 11 stories
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Pune Metro Line 3, a 23-km corridor connecting Shivajinagar with Hinjawadi IT hub. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the new line will reduce daily travel time for thousands of commuters and improve commuters' quality of life. The corridor was inaugurated through a video conference and was inauguted by the prime minister.
A pregnant wild elephant, estimated to be around 35 years old, was found dead on private land near Gopalaswamy Betta in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve, raising concerns over wildlife safety in the region. The carcass was found in a private agricultural plot near the forest boundary in Gundlupet taluk. Forest officials suspect that the elephant may have died following a violent confrontation with another wild elephant. The post-mortem examination revealed the presence of a foetus in the elephant's abdomen, but preliminary information about its age was not consistent. This incident comes amid growing concern over a series of wildlife-related incidents in Bandipuri, with a tiger reportedly killed and a missing elephant carcass found missing.
UK's Commons Science and Technology Committee has warned that women are being harmed by risky cosmetic procedures such as lip fillers and Brazilian butt lifts that face less regulation than a ballpoint pen. The committee found that regulation has failed to keep pace with the explosion in high-street cosmetic treatments. High-risk procedures such like Liquid BBLs and Liquid Boob Jobs (LBJs) are being carried out without proper training and should be restricted to appropriately qualified medical professionals. The MPs also warned that cosmetic products designed for adults are increasingly being promoted and used by children due to social media pressure. The report sets out steps for the Government to take to protect consumers and follows a series of deaths of Britons from risky cosmetic operations.
Voters across the country are heading to the polls for the 2026 midterms in order to determine the control of Congress. NPR station photographers are documenting the election in their communities. Despite deep political division and deep political divisions, the control over Congress is at stake. NPR does not offer or accept money for coverage or interviews, any offers made by an NPR employee is not an NPR representative.
The Virginia voters have voted on three constitutional amendments, including a referendum on abortion, marriage, and voting rights. Question 1 would add reproductive freedom as a fundamental right to Virginia's Constitution, allowing for decisions about pregnancy care, childbirth, care after delivery, birth control, abortion, miscarriage management and fertility treatment. Question 2 would remove the state's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and replace it with protections for lawful marriages between two adults, regardless of sex, gender or race. Question 3 would restore voting rights to those released from incarceration for felony convictions, removing the need for the governor to restore these rights. However, a rejection of the amendment would not end same-sexual marriage under the Supreme Court's current ruling. A court challenge is pending on whether lawmakers can retroactively repeal a requirement to distribute proposed amendments to circuit court clerks for public posting is also challenging the marriage amendment.
The US midterm elections are set to determine the fate of President Donald Trump's second term, with surveys and analysts suggesting Democrats will win the House of Representatives from Republicans. While control of the Senate remains uncertain, there are nearly 10 closely contested statewide races, most in Republican strongholds. The close US-Israel alliance has been a focus in Michigan, where Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is running a closely watched campaign for Senate. The president has sought to energise his base with rallies and offered a $5,000 cheque to each US adult if Republicans retain control of Congress, which would require approval. Observers have warned that if Republicans lose, they may challenge the results. The US Justice Department is deploying 1,000 election monitors and observers to all 50 states in its largest election day monitoring effort in history.
At least 300,000 minimum wage earners in Western Visayas and Soccsksargen will receive higher pay beginning November 19. The National Wages and Productivity Commission approved new wage orders based on cost of living, inflation, and the Philippine peso's purchasing power. In Western Visaysas, nonagricultural workers will receive P590 per day, up from P550, while agricultural workers will also receive an additional P500 per month, raising their monthly minimum wage from P6,500 to P7,000. In Soccskargen, a P41 daily wage increase will be implemented in two tranches, with a second increase of P25 taking effect on January 1, 2027.
The leaders of 21 Pacific Rim economies are set to gather in Shenzhen, China, for the APEC summit in two weeks. Despite growing geopolitical tensions, the summit remains one of the few forums bringing Washington, Beijing and smaller economies together. China's challenge is to ensure all voices are heard. Shenzhen has seen a significant transformation since it was designated as one of China's first special economic zones in 1980, becoming a Silicon Valley.
Crypto exchange Binance has released a report detailing the largest digital asset theft in history, with hackers stealing approximately $6.34 billion in cryptocurrency on October 29. The multi-stage operation began months earlier in June, using remote software engineering workflows, search engine advertising manipulation, and internal artificial intelligence systems to compromise hot wallets. The scale and speed of the extraction have exposed critical vulnerabilities in corporate cybersecurity frameworks. The FBI attributed the cyberattack to North Korean state-sponsored hacking groups. Binance plans to increase investments in AI-enabled threat detection and establish a dedicated security research fund in collaboration with leading artificial intelligence firms. The incident has led to increased scrutiny over remote recruitment security in the technology sector and the resilience of centralized exchange architecture.
Iran and the United States are still far apart on a deal to end their war, according to a senior Iranian official. Qatar has stepped up efforts to bridge differences and prevent a potential escalation after the US midterm elections. The United States carried out 'defensive' strikes on Iran's Qeshm island, targeting surface-to-air missiles used against US assets, a US official said. Qatar is working to narrow gaps between Tehran and Washington, with mediators visiting Tehran for discussions on a draft US-Iran deal. Iranian demands include waiving oil sanctions, ending the US naval blockade and releasing frozen Iranian funds. US President Donald Trump renewed threats of possible military action against Iran, raising doubts about whether he would follow through on a threatened resumption of military strikes against Iran. Oil prices rose about 1.3% following hopes of diplomacy.
US President Donald Trump announced that he made a deal with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington would stop $4 billion in annual funding to Israel after this year, but will still sell weapons to its close Middle East ally. The announcement was made during the US midterm elections, which will determine who controls Congress. However, some analysts suggested that this move was part of a political effort to remove a "bad talking point" from left-wing Democrats who used the US financial support to criticise Republicans. The US public's support for Israel has declined since the Gaza war, largely due to the conflict with Iran. Public support for the country has also decreased, particularly among Democrats.
