- Canadians opt for costlier holiday destinations as Cuba flights are suspended
- House and Senate midterm races remain undecided as ballots are counted
- Shoppers urged to discard Baxters soup at risk of bursting can closures
- Russian court sentences 15-year-old girl to five years in penal colony for attempted railway arson
- Donald Trump appoints Stephen Miller as new White House chief of staff
- EU foreign policy chief asserts Ukraine’s vital role in Europe’s security architecture.
- US imposes new sanctions on Iran amid ongoing nuclear tensions.
- Iran war influences Democratic gains in US midterm elections
UK public borrowing exceeds official forecast in September
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Government borrowing overshot official projections in September, which is a sign of the difficult fiscal position that the Chancellor faces as she puts the finishing touches on her first tax and spending budget.
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What’s the Latest: Canadians choosing pricier destinations over Cuba amid crisis: travel agents
Canadian airlines have indefinitely suspended flights to Cuba due to severe fuel shortages triggered by the United States‘ oil blockade. Travel agents report a notable shift in Canadian travellers opting for pricier destinations like Mexico and the Dominican Republic as a result.
Canadian airlines indefinitely suspended flights to Cuba earlier this year following the U.S. oil blockade that resulted in severe fuel shortages. Statistics Canada reported a significant decline in Canadian visits to Cuba, dropping from over a million annually before the pandemic to approximately 127,000 in the first quarter of this year.
In response to ongoing travel disruptions due to the U.S. oil blockade on Cuba, the Canadian government continues to advise its citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to the island. As travel agents report a significant decline in bookings for Cuba, clients are shifting their preferences to alternative destinations such as Mexico and the Dominican Republic, leading to earlier reservations for better pricing.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain how the suspension of flights and the U.S. oil blockade will impact Cuba’s long-term tourism recovery.
Canadians opt for costlier holiday destinations as Cuba flights are suspended
As the winter holiday season approaches, Canadian travellers are increasingly turning to more expensive destinations, moving away from Cuba. This shift follows significant travel disruptions caused by the United States’ oil blockade, which resulted in fuel shortages on the island and led Canadian airlines to suspend flights indefinitely. Travel agents report that Canadians are exploring alternatives, with Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and other Caribbean locales seeing a surge in interest.
Ashley Harold, a travel agent at Flight Centre Canada, noted that “Canadians are really spreading their winter travel across a much wider mix of destinations.” She mentioned cruise options and tours to warmer places like Costa Rica and Peru as attractive prospects for those seeking sunny escapes. Additionally, there has been a notable increase in domestic tourism, with Canadians opting to explore local winter destinations.
Statistics Canada indicates a significant decline in Canadian visits to Cuba; from over a million annually before the pandemic, numbers dropped to approximately 700,000 in 2025, with only 127,000 visits recorded in the first quarter of this year. The decline followed the imposition of the oil blockade and a subsequent travel advisory from the Canadian government, which continues to recommend avoiding non-essential travel to Cuba.
John Wood, president of Durham Travel, reported a dramatic fall in travel sales to Cuba, dropping from over $389,000 last year to just $24,000 this year. In contrast, sales for the Dominican Republic have increased significantly, reflecting a shift in Canadian holiday preferences. “The Dominican Republic appears to have absorbed most of the difference from Cuba,” Wood stated, while also addressing concerns regarding crime in Mexico.
As prices for all-inclusive packages rise, travellers accustomed to Cuba’s affordability may need to adjust their expectations. Harold highlighted that trips to popular Caribbean destinations have increased in cost, with comparable trips to Mexico and the Dominican Republic averaging around £1,800. She concluded, “I think this is a great opportunity for Canadians to branch out a little bit more with their travels and experience something new.”
Get you up to speed: These House and Senate midterm races don’t have winners yet
In the 2026 midterm elections, Democrats secured control of the Senate and gained numerous House seats. Ongoing races in two Senate contests and several House districts are yet to be projected, with final results expected after further ballot counting.
The exact margins of control in the House remain unclear, with more than two dozen races still uncalled, including GOP-held districts and a few Democratic seats at risk of flipping. In Alaska and Mississippi, crucial Senate races are still pending, with results expected as mail and affidavit ballots continue to be counted over the next several days.
Democratic leadership has expressed confidence in their newfound majority, with Senate Democrats preparing to advance their agenda in the upcoming session. Meanwhile, elections officials in Alaska and Mississippi are working to complete the tallying of outstanding ballots, with final results expected over the next two weeks.
What remains unclear — The final results of the two undecided Senate races and several House races have yet to be confirmed due to outstanding ballots and the ranked-choice voting system in Alaska.
House and Senate midterm races remain undecided as ballots are counted
Washington — The makeup of Congress shifted dramatically in the 2026 midterm elections, as Democrats decisively won control of the Senate and picked up dozens of House seats — in what’s on track to be one of the largest midterm routs in recent decades.
The exact margins of Congress are not yet clear, as winners have not yet been projected in two Senate races and more than two dozen House races. They include GOP-held districts with razor-thin margins, a few Democratic seats that could flip to Republicans and several races in California and other Western states that still need to count ballots.
Here’s a look at the congressional races that WTX US News has not yet projected, including where the results stand:
Senate Toss-Ups
Democrats are set to enter next year with at least 54 Senate seats, compared to Republicans’ 44. Two Senate races still haven’t been called — one has long been viewed as a battleground, and the other came out of nowhere.
Alaska Senate: Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan is running for reelection against Democrat Mary Peltola, a razor-thin race rocked by a last-minute scandal over how another Dan Sullivan got on the ballot. The count could drag on due to both outstanding ballots and Alaska’s ranked choice voting system, which allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate is the top choice of a majority of voters, the last-place candidate is eliminated and the counting process moves to a second round. Final results aren’t expected until 15 days after Election Day. Both the Sullivan and Peltola campaigns have argued they have the upper hand.
Mississippi Senate: The race between GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Scott Colom was not widely expected to be competitive, but it remains a toss-up. State officials say thousands of mail ballots are outstanding and can legally arrive within five days of the election, and there are an unknown number of “affidavit” ballots from voters whose eligibility needs to be checked. Colom and Hyde-Smith have both predicted that they’ll emerge victorious.
Democrats on Defense
The dozens of red districts that Democrats flipped were the primary story of Tuesday night, but a few Republican House candidates are still trying to swim against the tide, either due to redistricting or a favorable local political makeup.
Maine’s 2nd District: This red, pro-Trump district is one of Republicans’ top opportunities to flip a House seat, after moderate Democratic Rep. Jared Golden’s decision not to run for reelection set the stage for a contest between former GOP Gov. Paul LePage and Democrat Matt Dunlap. Even though Dunlap conceded, officials in Maine say the race will proceed to a ranked-choice tabulation because LePage was just shy of the 50% mark. The tabulation will start Nov. 9.
Florida’s 9th District: This was one of four districts that Florida Republicans tilted to the right in a pre-midterm redistricting campaign — and the only one that hasn’t yet been projected as a Democratic win. Democratic Rep. Darren Soto is trying to stave off a challenge from Republican Dan Green.
Louisiana’s 6th District: This formerly blue-leaning, majority-Black district was redrawn after the Supreme Court voided the state’s maps, finding that mapmakers relied too heavily on race and narrowing the Voting Rights Act. It’s now significantly redder, but since no candidate is close to a majority under the state’s “jungle” primary system, it could go to a runoff next month.
GOP-Held Battlegrounds
Several races held by Republicans still don’t have projections — including in districts that Democrats are hoping to flip.
Colorado’s 4th District: Firebrand Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert is running against Democrat Eileen Laubacher. Boebert switched to the district two years ago, after narrowly winning reelection in a more competitive district in 2022.
Florida’s 7th District: Republican Ryan Elijah is running against Democrat Bale Dalton, after Elijah defeated the scandal-plagued GOP Rep. Cory Mills in a primary. The district has historically leaned red.
Florida’s 26th District: GOP Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart is trying to fend off a challenge from Democrat Nicole Locklin in South Florida.
Florida’s 27th District: It’s a battle between two former Miami-area news anchors — GOP Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar and Democrat Eliott Rodriguez. Salazar made waves earlier this year when she warned President Trump’s immigration policies could alienate Latino voters.
Minnesota’s 1st District: Republican Rep. Brad Finstad is locked in a tight battle against Democrat Jake Johnson, after Finstad won by 17.2 points in 2024. Under state law, candidates who are behind by less than 0.25 points can request a recount.
Tennessee’s 4th District: GOP Rep. Scott DesJarlais is defending his seat against Democrat Victoria Broderick. It’s a red district, though it was made somewhat less red in redistricting.
North Carolina’s 3rd District: GOP Rep. Greg Murphy is running against Democrat Raymond Smith. The district was made slightly bluer during redistricting last year, but it still favors Republicans.
North Carolina’s 5th District: GOP Rep. Virginia Foxx is facing Democrat Chuck Hubbard. First elected over 20 years ago, Foxx is the longest-serving member of the Tar Heel State’s congressional delegation, which was shaken up in the midterms, with Democrats flipping several House seats and a Senate seat.
North Carolina’s 7th District: Republican Rep. David Rouzer is running against Democrat Kimberly Hardy.
North Carolina’s 10th District: Republican Rep. Pat Harrigan faces Democrat Ashley Bell.
South Carolina’s 2nd District: Longtime Republican Rep. Joe Wilson is running against Democrat Zyon Khalifa.
Arizona’s 2nd District: In a rematch of 2024, Republican Rep. Eli Crane is running against Democrat Jonathan Nez.
Please hold…
Results could take a while in some House districts, either because ballots still need to be counted or because of runoffs. In some California districts, both candidates belong to the same party, so they don’t have any implications for the makeup of Congress.
Alaska’s At-Large District: Republican Rep. Nick Begich is running against Bill Hill, an independent endorsed by Democrats, and a few other candidates. Remember: Alaska has ranked-choice elections, so further tabulation may be needed.
California’s 4th District: In the Napa Valley area, longtime Rep. Mike Thompson is running against businessman and fellow Democrat Eric Jones.
California’s 7th District: This seat was changed significantly by redistricting. Democratic Rep. Doris Matsui is running against another Democrat, Mai Vang.
California’s 23rd District: Republican Rep. Jay Obernolte is running against Democrat Tessa Hodge.
California’s 40th District: After California’s redistricting campaign last year scrambled the House districts in Southern California, incumbent Republican Reps. Ken Calvert and Young Kim are running against each other to represent parts of Orange County and the Inland Empire.
Washington’s 4th District: Republican Amanda McKinney and Democrat John Duresky are running for the district held by retiring Rep. Dan Newhouse, one of the only remaining Republicans who voted to impeach Mr. Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot.
Washington’s 5th District: In Eastern Washington, GOP Rep. Michael Baumgartner is running against Democrat Carmela Conroy.
Louisiana’s 5th District: Democrat Patricia Moore and Republican Gabe Firment are headed to a December runoff in this deeply conservative district. It’s currently held by GOP Rep. Julia Letlow, who was elected to the Senate this week.
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