Republicans regained control of the U.S. Senate late Tuesday, flipping Democratic-held seats and securing GOP incumbents. The pivotal moment came in Nebraska, where incumbent GOP Sen. Deb Fischer narrowly defeated independent Dan Osborn. Republicans also flipped a seat in West Virginia, with Jim Justice replacing retiring Sen. Joe Manchin. Democratic attempts to oust Republicans Ted Cruz of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida failed. Cruz’s victory in Texas, a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat in nearly 30 years, was fueled by his support for reproductive rights amid strict abortion laws. In Ohio, Republican Bernie Moreno defeated Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, marking the first loss for an incumbent senator in the cycle. As Democrats fought to retain their majority, attention shifted to critical states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. With the Senate split 50-50, control could hinge on just one seat, with the vice president holding the tie-breaking vote. Historic victories also marked the night. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland became the first Black women elected to the Senate, while Andy Kim of New Jersey became the first Korean American senator. Meanwhile, Sarah McBride of Delaware made history as the first openly transgender person elected to Congress. Amid these battles, the economy, immigration, and the future of democracy emerged as key issues for voters. With former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris on the presidential ballot, Congress’s role in certifying election results remains critical. As vote counting continues in several key races, both parties are closely watching outcomes in Montana, Arizona, Nevada, and other battleground states. Records show that if Democrats take the House and Republicans take the Senate, it would be the first time that the chambers of Congress have both flipped to opposing political parties. (Source: AP)

Republican Donald Trump defeated Democrat Kamala Harris in the battleground state of North Carolina in Tuesday's U.S. presidential election, Edison Research projected, moving him one step closer to completing an improbable political comeback. The outcome remained uncertain in six other states expected to determine the winner. But Trump was showing strength across broad swaths of the country. He had won 227 Electoral College votes to Harris' 165 as of 11:30 p.m. ET (0430 GMT on Wednesday). A candidate needs a total of at least 270 votes in the state-by-state Electoral College to claim the presidency. Decision Desk HQ projected Trump would also win Georgia, narrowing her path to victory through the Rust Belt trio of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, though she was behind in all three states. Trump picked up more support from Hispanics, traditionally Democratic voters, and among lower-income households that have keenly felt the sting of price rises since the last presidential election in 2020, according to exit polls from Edison. Trump won 45% of Hispanic voters nationwide, trailing Harris with 53% but up 13 percentage points from 2020. Voters whose top issue was the economy voted overwhelmingly for Trump, especially if they felt they were worse off financially than they were four years ago. About 31% of voters said the economy was their top issue, and they voted for Trump by a 79%-to-20% margin, according to exit polls. Some 45% of voters across the country said their family's financial situation was worse off today than four years ago, and they favored Trump 80% to 17% for Harris.

The forecast of the results of the U.S. presidential election has led to a surge in stock markets worldwide. On Wednesday morning, benchmark share indices in Japan and Australia were trending upward. Meanwhile, as investors closely monitored the U.S. election results, the value of the U.S. dollar also rose against major currencies. The outcome of this election is expected to have a significant impact on the global economy, especially in Asia. It remains uncertain whether the results will be known during the trading hours in Asia, as the vote count in the swing states could take some time. In the U.S. presidential election, voting has already concluded in over 40 of the country’s 50 states. Forecasts of the results are gradually beginning to emerge. However, the wait for results from some states could be extended further. So far, in the early results, Donald Trump is leading. His Republican Party has approximately secured 210 electoral votes. Meanwhile, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris has won 113 electoral votes. A total of 270 electoral votes is required to win the election. Trump is currently ahead based on the results from his stronghold states. The results from the battleground states are still unknown. Donald Trump is set to win in states such as Texas, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Arkansas, and South Carolina. Kamala Harris is winning in states like Delaware and Rhode Island. According to BBC, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, Minnesota, North Carolina, Arizona, and Nevada are witnessing fierce competition between the two candidates, with very narrow vote margins in these states.

The United States stands on the brink of a new chapter in its history, as American citizens cast their votes to elect their 47th president. Voting has already concluded in several states, and the counting has begun. Polls in a few other states will close within a few hours.  According to the data available so far, Republican candidate Donald Trump is leading by a significant margin over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Contrary to the predictions of a close race suggested by opinion polls, reality shows a different picture. The initial vote counts indicate that Democrats have lost substantial support, primarily due to policies of the Biden administration. As of 8 AM Bangladesh time on Wednesday, Kamala trails significantly in the crucial Electoral College votes needed to secure the presidency. Trump, on the other hand, is well on his way to the White House, having secured more than half the required path. With 270 electoral votes needed to win, Trump has already garnered 210, while Harris has received only 113, according to CNN. Voting took place continuously from morning to evening on Tuesday, November 5, local time, across all 50 states. Due to time zone differences, voting times vary across states, with Indiana and Kentucky finishing first, both showing strong support for Trump. Voting began at 7 AM in Los Angeles, California, at the YMCA center on Oxford and Third Street, where a majority of voters are of Bangladeshi and South Asian descent. Voters lined up well in advance, and the lines grew longer as the day progressed. Many voters noted they had never seen such a turnout before, and despite the wait, they expressed no discomfort. American media outlets are announcing results state by state as the final stages of voting conclude and results gradually emerge. Although election officials previously hinted that this year’s results might be delayed, it appears that, while formal results may take time, the winner could be clear much sooner.

Vote counting has begun in various states, and results are already coming in. So far (as of 8:30 a.m. Bangladesh time on Wednesday), Republican candidate Donald Trump has received 178 electoral votes, while Democratic candidate Kamala Harris has received 99 electoral votes, according to AP News. Voting continued non-stop from morning until night on Tuesday, November 5, U.S. local time, across all 50 states. Due to time zone differences, voting began and concluded at different times in each state. Indiana and Kentucky were the first states to complete their voting.

The voting for the U.S. presidential election is underway, and the whole world is watching this highly anticipated event. However, a few countries are paying especially close attention to the outcome, as Washington's relationship with them may depend on who comes to power. According to U.S. media outlet CNBC, the results of this election could affect the state of war and peace in certain parts of the world, along with significant economic matters. This election is particularly crucial for countries like Ukraine and Russia in Europe, and China in Asia. China is following the U.S. presidential election with the utmost concern, as it is America’s biggest economic rival. Republican candidate Donald Trump has already declared that, if elected, he will increase tariffs, particularly targeting China. Analysts believe this move could intensify the "trade war." China’s trade has been showing signs of slowing down recently, so they may prefer a scenario where Trump does not return to power. However, it’s still unclear what exactly would happen if Kamala Harris were to win. Russia and Ukraine are also closely watching the U.S. election. Both of these war-torn nations are monitoring to see if Trump wins. Analysts suggest that a Trump victory might reduce U.S. support for Ukraine, impacting the ongoing conflict. Trump himself has claimed he could end the war in "24 hours" if he wished, hinting he may cut off aid and push Ukraine to negotiate with Russia, potentially ceding some territories to Moscow. If Kamala Harris wins, it is expected that U.S. support for Ukraine will continue as before. Meanwhile, Middle Eastern countries like Israel and Iran are also eyeing the U.S. election results. If Trump wins, U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East could shift significantly. While both candidates have voiced support for Israel and warned Iran, Trump is particularly favored by Israelis, having declared himself a "protector" of Israel. During his first term, Trump was very popular among Israelis, and he currently holds an edge over Harris on Israel-related issues, according to polls. Analysts believe a Trump win could spell trouble for Iran, as he may grant Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu permission to strike Iran's nuclear program—a decision that current President Joe Biden vetoed. If Harris wins, she is likely to follow Biden’s approach.

Kamala Harris, from an immigrant family, stands on the brink of making history. If elected as President of the United States, she would become the first woman in the 200-year history of American democracy to hold the position. Kamala Harris's journey to presidential candidacy has been dramatic. In the U.S., candidates typically undergo a long and highly competitive process to run for the presidency. However, Kamala Harris's path demonstrates how fortunate circumstances can sometimes propel a candidate to the forefront without much direct competition. Originally, current President Joe Biden, the declared Democratic candidate, withdrew from the race due to age and health concerns and proposed his running mate, Kamala, as his successor. Kamala received the Democratic Party's official nomination, an unprecedented move in U.S. history. As Vice President, she’s already familiar with the White House, but if she wins this election, she'll be switching seats to take on the role of President. In the 2020 presidential election, Kamala made history by becoming the first woman and the first Black person to serve as Vice President. She was born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, was a cancer researcher and civil rights activist, and her Jamaican-American father, Donald Jasper Harris, was an economist. After her parents separated during her childhood, Kamala was raised by her mother in San Francisco, where she first learned about fighting for rights and cultural appreciation. She began studying law at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and completed her degree at the University of California. In 2014, she married lawyer Doug Emhoff. Kamala was first an attorney and then, in 2017, was elected as a Democratic senator representing California, one of the largest U.S. states. In just four months of campaigning, she gained immense public support and delivered a strong performance in her first presidential debate against Donald Trump. Her rapid rise has become a significant challenge for Trump. To Trump, Kamala represents a major challenge among immigrant and middle-class Americans. More than half of voters are women, a key base of support for Kamala Harris, making her a formidable contender in this election.