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US midterms: Polls show Democrats ahead in battle for Congress

Democrats lead Republicans in national polling ahead of Tuesday's United States midterm elections, with new surveys showing the party gaining ground in several closely contested Senate races as voters express dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump's handling of the economy. With all 435 House of Representatives seats and 35 Senate seats on the ballot, the elections will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress for the remaining two years of Trump's second term. A RealClearPolling average of surveys conducted through October 30 shows Democrats leading Republicans 52% to 43.1% on the generic congressional ballot, an 8.9-percentage-point advantage. An NBC News survey conducted October 28-30 found Democrats ahead 52% to 45%, while an Emerson College poll conducted October 24-26 put the gap at 10 points. The generic ballot measures nationwide preferences for congressional candidates rather than support in individual districts, meaning a nati...

UN calls for ending Myanmar violence on Rohingya anniversary

The UN on Friday called for end to violence in Myanmar. In a statement, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said: “25 August marks seven years since the forced mass displacement of Rohingya people and other communities from Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Around 1 million Rohingya are presently sheltering in Bangladesh and over 130,000 more across the region without immediate prospects for return.” Dujarric highlighted the ongoing "dire security and humanitarian situation" in Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine State, where escalating armed conflict continues to exacerbate the “pre-existing vulnerabilities” of the Rohingya and other communities. 
 "The (UN) Secretary-General calls on all parties to the conflict in Myanmar to end the violence and ensure the protection of civilians in accordance with applicable international human rights standards and international humanitarian law," he said. 
 The UN chief also renewed his appeal to "strengthen regional protection efforts" and "further support host countries, including through the 2024 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis in Bangladesh." The statement also reminded that Julie Bishop, the UN secretary-general's special envoy on Myanmar, is “engaging all stakeholders, including regional actors, to move towards an inclusive Myanmar-led process for sustainable peace and national reconciliation that are important steps to create conditions conducive to the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of the Rohingya people to Myanmar." A mass exodus of Rohingya people started on Aug. 25, 2017, after Myanmar’s military launched a brutal operation against the Muslim minority in the country’s northern region. Since then, approximately 1.2 million Rohingya fled to neighboring Bangladesh and live in Cox’s Bazar refugee camps.

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