Five explosions heard on Iran's Qeshm Island near Strait of Hormuz
Iran's IRNA news agency reported five explosions on Qeshm Island in the country's south, with the blasts heard in Hormuz and Bandar Abbas. Their nature and cause remain unclear. The reports came shortly after the Revolutionary Guard said it had shot down a US drone and taken control of two others near the Strait of Hormuz. The Guard said its electronic warfare systems disabled two MQM-170 reconnaissance drones south of the island, a claim the reports do not independently confirm.
Why it matters A large share of Gulf oil exports passes through the Strait of Hormuz, so any military escalation nearby worries markets and shipping. Unconfirmed accounts of drones and explosions raise the risk of heightened tension between Tehran and Washington.
Trump calls midterms the most important of our lifetimes on eve of vote
US President Donald Trump said Monday that Tuesday's midterm elections are the most important of our lifetimes. The vote could shift the balance of power in Congress and affect his ability to carry out his agenda over the remaining two years of his term. CNN Arabic also reported that Trump said a settlement with Iran is possible.
Second round of US-Russia-Ukraine talks expected in Abu Dhabi
Axios reports that the United States will take part in a second round of high-level three-way talks with Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi. The meetings are scheduled for November 10 and 11, according to the outlet.
