live Trump says Iran wants to ‘settle’ as U.S. pauses talks for Khamenei funeral
President Donald Trump said Iran is keen to reach a deal with the United States, claiming Washington had paused engagement to allow funeral ceremonies...
Key elections in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City are entering their final stretch, with the latest polls showing competitive contests that have attracted national attention in the Mayoral elections.
New Jersey
In the gubernatorial race, a recent AtlasIntel poll conducted between 25 and 30 October shows Democrat Mikie Sherrill narrowly leading Republican Jack Ciattarelli by 0.9% points, 50.2% to 49.3%, within the survey’s two-point margin of error. The poll surveyed more than 1,600 likely voters and indicates a nearly even split across the state.
Former President Barack Obama appeared at a rally for Sherrill on 1 November, highlighting the race’s importance for the Democratic Party. Early voting trends suggest slight Democratic momentum, with mail-in ballot returns reportedly outpacing Republican returns compared with the same stage in 2024.
Virginia
Governor Abigail Spanberger appears positioned for reelection, with a recent poll showing her leading Republican Winsome Earle-Sears 56% to 44%.
The state’s attorney general race remains close, with Democrat Jerra Jones polling at 51% against incumbent Jason Miyares’ 49%. Early voting indicates increased Democratic engagement compared with the 2024 cycle, though officials caution that past elections have seen significant changes on Election Day.
New York City
In the mayoral contest, polling shows incumbent Zohran Mamdani leading former Governor Andrew Cuomo 41% to 34%, with Republican Curtis Sliwa at 24%. The seven-point margin has narrowed since earlier polling, largely due to gains by Cuomo among older, moderate Democrats. Analysis indicates higher turnout among older voters than in the primaries, with increased participation from younger voters as well.
The race has drawn national attention, with former President Donald Trump criticising Mamdani in a recent interview. Mamdani, a self-identified democratic socialist, has received endorsements from New York Governor Kathy Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Former President Barack Obama also spoke with Mamdani by phone, praising his campaign and offering to serve as a “sounding board,” though he did not issue a formal endorsement.
Overall Trends
A recent poll shows 46% of registered voters would vote for the Democratic candidate in their district if the midterms were held today, compared with 44% for the Republican candidate, with 9% undecided or not planning to vote. The poll also found that 59% of Americans disapprove of President Trump’s job performance, while 64% say he is expanding presidential power too far.
While early voting data suggest some Democratic momentum, analysts emphasise that high turnout on Election Day could influence the outcome in all three contests.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has raised its forecast for the rapid emergence of a strong El Niño, warning the climate pattern is likely to drive higher global temperatures and intensify extreme weather in the months ahead.
India is investigating a data breach at Tata Electronics that exposed sensitive documents linked to Apple's unreleased iPhone 18 Pro, marking the government's first public comments on the incident.
Iran and the U.S. have concluded indirect talks in Doha without a major breakthrough, with discussions focused on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and frozen Iranian funds. Both sides are expected to meet again after the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
International politicians and religious leaders have paid respects to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei throughout the day, ahead of his six day funeral ceremony which begins on Saturday. His casket is currently on display at the Iman Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran.
Germany has requested urgent talks with China's ambassador following reports that Chinese authorities trained Russian soldiers, adding fresh strain to relations between Beijing and Europe amid the war in Ukraine.
Russia's Defence Ministry has said its forces are clearing the town of Lyman in Donetsk of Ukrainian forces, Moscow's state news agency Tass reported. Meanwhile, Russian attacks killed at least six people across three Ukrainian regions on Friday, regional officials said.
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to use next week's NATO summit in Ankara to advance his push for greater European responsibility in security, with a bilateral meeting planned with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as Paris seeks closer coordination with key allies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of American independence, saying Russia and the United States share a special responsibility for maintaining global security as the world's two largest nuclear powers.
China said on Saturday it had launched a coast guard patrol east of Taiwan, prompting a strong protest from Taipei, which accused Beijing of illegally expanding its authority and undermining regional stability.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 4 July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment