Daily Recap November 3, 2026

Polls decide control of Congress, Newsom warns federal agents, Bhatt judge keeps murder charges, and AMD's record sales lead a 14-story Election Day

Election Day dominated a 14-story Tuesday at Virginia Times, from polls opening to decide control of Congress and a scanner failure in Westchester to Gov. Newsom's warning to federal agents, alongside the Bhatt trial, record AMD sales, a guilty plea in an Ethiopia spy case, and new strikes and diplomacy in the Russia-Ukraine and Iran conflicts.


Maryland Man Pleads Guilty in Ethiopia Spy Case

1 Maryland Man Pleads Guilty in Ethiopia Spy Case

Washington · Crime

A Silver Spring man who held a Top Secret clearance and worked as an IT contractor at three federal agencies pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring to spy for Ethiopia. Prosecutors say Abraham Teklu Lemma sent classified U.S. information to Ethiopian officials for more than two years while working at the State Department, the Justice Department and the National Reconnaissance Office.

↑ Back to top


Newsom Warns Federal Agents Against Ballot Meddling After ICE Post

2 Newsom Warns Federal Agents Against Ballot Meddling After ICE Post

California · Elections 2026

California Gov. Gavin Newsom warned federal agents on Election Day that they would face state prosecution for interfering with voting. His posts on X followed an ICE warning to illegal voters, which Newsom echoed nearly line for line, and he told federal agents a presidential pardon would not shield them from state charges.

↑ Back to top


AMD Sales Hit Record $13.4B as Data Center Business Nearly Doubles

3 AMD Sales Hit Record $13.4B as Data Center Business Nearly Doubles

Santa Clara · Business/Tech

Advanced Micro Devices posted record third-quarter revenue of $13.4 billion, up 45%, as Data Center sales nearly doubled to $8.5 billion. The chipmaker expects about $17 billion in fourth-quarter revenue, while gaming sales fell 40%.

↑ Back to top


Trump Says Israel Will Stop Getting $4 Billion a Year From the U.S.

4 Trump Says Israel Will Stop Getting $4 Billion a Year From the U.S.

Washington · Trump Administration

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States will stop paying Israel about $4 billion a year after the end of this year, telling Fox News that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed months ago to end the payments because Israel no longer needs the money.

↑ Back to top


Melania Trump to Bring Russia, Ukraine Envoys to White House

5 Melania Trump to Bring Russia, Ukraine Envoys to White House

Washington · Ukraine

First lady Melania Trump will bring Russian and Ukrainian representatives together at the White House on Thursday and deliver remarks on the Oleshky ceasefire at 11 a.m. ET, the White House said. The meeting follows the localized ceasefire she secured in October.

↑ Back to top


Pfizer Raises Full-Year Forecast After Third Quarter

6 Pfizer Raises Full-Year Forecast After Third Quarter

New York · Business/Tech

Pfizer reported third-quarter revenue of $16.6 billion on Tuesday and raised its full-year 2026 guidance to $62 billion to $64 billion, as Eliquis, Padcev and other newer medicines offset steep falls in Paxlovid and Comirnaty sales.

↑ Back to top


Naresh Bhatt Trial: Judge Refuses to Toss Murder Charges

7 Naresh Bhatt Trial: Judge Refuses to Toss Murder Charges

Manassas · Virginia

Prosecutors rested their case against Naresh Bhatt on Monday, and Judge Kimberly A. Irving denied a defense motion to dismiss the charges. Mamta Kafle Bhatt's brother was the final witness, and the defense is set to begin its case Wednesday.

↑ Back to top


Ballot Scanners Down Across Westchester on Election Day

8 Ballot Scanners Down Across Westchester on Election Day

White Plains · Elections 2026

Ballot scanners stopped accepting paper ballots across Westchester County on Tuesday morning, the county Board of Elections said, and voters were told to complete paper ballots that were placed in secure orange emergency bags to be counted.

↑ Back to top


Polls Open as Americans Decide Control of Congress

9 Polls Open as Americans Decide Control of Congress

Washington · Elections 2026

Americans began voting Tuesday in midterm elections deciding control of Congress, all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats and 36 governorships, after a record 57 million early ballots. Virginia polls were open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

↑ Back to top


New Jersey Governor Warns Ports Against Accepting Russian Diesel

10 New Jersey Governor Warns Ports Against Accepting Russian Diesel

Trenton · New Jersey

Gov. Mikie Sherrill told New Jersey port and terminal operators that buying or unloading Russian diesel would likely break federal law. Her letter argues a Treasury license issued Oct. 9 conflicts with a 2022 import ban and urges operators to turn away tankers carrying the fuel.

↑ Back to top


US Strikes Iran's Qeshm Island, Officials Say, as Trump Downplays War

11 US Strikes Iran's Qeshm Island, Officials Say, as Trump Downplays War

Qeshm Island · Iran

U.S. forces struck Iran's Qeshm Island on Monday in the latest of several secret, limited strikes, U.S. officials said. Trump played down renewed war after the midterms, while Tehran said the next move belongs to Washington.

↑ Back to top


Russia Pounds Ukraine's Grid; Zelenskyy Says Kharkiv Hospital Hit

12 Russia Pounds Ukraine's Grid; Zelenskyy Says Kharkiv Hospital Hit

Kyiv · Ukraine

Russia launched a massive overnight attack on Ukraine's power system, leaving many cities with emergency blackouts. Zelenskyy said Russia fired 289 drones, 17 ballistic missiles and 59 cruise missiles and struck a Kharkiv hospital, injuring 73.

↑ Back to top


Russia Says It Downed 856 Drones; Yaroslavl Refinery Hit, 2 Hurt

13 Russia Says It Downed 856 Drones; Yaroslavl Refinery Hit, 2 Hurt

Moscow · Russia

Russia's Defense Ministry says air defenses brought down 856 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 184 near Moscow. In Yaroslavl, a drone attack on an oil refinery injured two workers, damaged the facility and sparked a fire, according to regional Governor Mikhail Yevrayev.

↑ Back to top


US to Mediate Ukraine-Russia Talks in Abu Dhabi, Witkoff Says

14 US to Mediate Ukraine-Russia Talks in Abu Dhabi, Witkoff Says

Washington · Ukraine

The United States will mediate working-level talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10-11, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said Monday in a post on X, with discussions on post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts and next steps toward peace.

↑ Back to top


Editor’s Note: This recap was prepared with the assistance of AI tools. Virginia Times gathered the source material from multiple sources and thoroughly reviewed the information before publication.

Comments
Advertisements
VIRGINIA TIMES

Have something to promote?

Bring your business, services or event to our readers.

Advertise with us
- Advertisement -
VT Newsroom
VT Newsroom
VT Newsroom is the editorial team of Virginia Times, published by Global News Break LLC. We cover Virginia, Washington and the world — politics, public policy, business, sports, entertainment and community news — reporting from primary sources and official statements whenever possible.

Latest news

Related news

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here