B B C News Briefing - 3 November 2026 - by Alex Binley - Polls have opened aw. Indonesia's wildfires are causing a diplomatic dilemma. And read on to find out what "mogging" means.cross the US as Americans vote in the midterm elections - we'll bring you everything you need to know.

 

is email online 3 November, 2026

Alex Binley Hello. Polls have opened aw. Indonesia's wildfires are  causing a diplomatic dilemma. And read on to find out  what "mogging" means.cross the US as Americans  vote in the midterm elections - we'll bring you  everything you need to know.

TOP OF THE AGENDA How elections could define Trump's closing chapter Trump made his closing pitch on Monday in front of the  Reflecting Pool in Washington DC, which has been the  subject of a controversial renovation. Credit: Getty Images Early risers in the US have been casting their ballots as Americans vote to decide who will control Congress for the final two years of Donald Trump's presidency. Here's our simple guide to what's up for election. There is confidence among Democrats that they could take control of the House, writes North America editor Sarah Smith, and polls suggest the Senate may also be in play for the party - but winning that is likely to be a much harder task. As the clock ticks down on Trump's second term, we explain why the stakes are high for the president, while Sarah questions "whether a change in control of Congress... would really curb his presidency at all". Read Sarah's analysis Latest updates: As more and more polling stations open, we'll bring you the latest, and the results when they start coming in.    California: The Supreme Court has rejected a request from the Trump administration to stop the state counting 20,000 votes it disputes.    Iran war: The US has launched strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, US officials have told CBS, the BBC's US partner.   US MIDTERMS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Record costs: Estimates suggest $12bn (£9bn) will be spent on what looks set to be the most expensive midterms campaign ever. These are the top donors. Watch: Ever wondered why US elections are always on a Tuesday? There's an almost 200-year-old reason why.  Key timings: Here's when we'll know the results, and why some are announced within hours but others could take days or even weeks.

WORLD HEADLINES Russian bombing kills 29 at Ukraine aid centre, Kyiv says President Zelensky said that after the first strike on a school "used for humanitarian needs", there was another attack on a shelter. Read more > North Korea denies being behind $6.3bn Binance hack The record attack is the latest to be linked to the secretive state which has been accused of relying on cyber-crime to help finance it. More on this > What we know about the Florida plane crash Investigators believe parts of the private jet may have broken off in the air before it nosedived. Who are the victims? > Tenerife striker De Miguel dies after on-field collision The player suffered head and chest injuries during a match against Andorra, in an incident with the goalkeeper who was sent off. What happened > Scientists detect signals at smallest scale ever explored Nicknamed the zeptoverse by scientists, it's a world 100 billion times smaller than an atom - but how small is it? Zeptoverse explained >

NEWS FROM THE UK Trade agreement: The UK and EU have agreed a draft deal on removing post-Brexit checks from food and agriculture exports. Here's what that could mean. Slavery legacy: At a meeting with leaders of Commonwealth countries, the PM will join the King to discuss the UK issuing a formal apology for the slave trade. Toxic chemicals: Jewellery advertised as sterling silver on online marketplaces was found to contain harmful substances, our investigation found.   BEYOND THE HEADLINES Why Indonesia's toxic haze is giving its neighbours a political headache The haze stemming from wildfires in Indonesia has  drifted into Singapore and Malaysia. Credit: Reuters For weeks, residents of maritime South East Asia have been living in a toxic smog caused by wildfires burning in Indonesia, which is triggering respiratory illnesses and headaches in the population. But it's causing a different type of headache for the region's governments - the leaders of Singapore and Malaysia are split between their anxious citizens and an irascible neighbour which does not like criticism. Can Indonesia's government be pressured to act, or will the region have to wait for the problem to blow over? Read more

SOMETHING DIFFERENT Apex predators Early humans had to evolve to contend with the deadly threat of giant birds. Here's how

And finally...  "Mogging" has been named as Collins English Dictionary's word of the year. But do you know what it means? Find out here and take our quiz to see if you know what the five other words on the shortlist mean.

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