'After the midterms, Democrats and Republicans face an urgent need for renewal'
Democrats know that they did not so much win on November 3 as Trump lost, and that their party's own image is dismal, writes Le Monde columnist Gilles Paris.
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Macron appoints Guillaume Cerutti to head the Château de Versailles
Cerutti, who recently served briefly as president of the Pinault collection, will replace Christophe Leribault, who was named director of the Louvre in February.
With midterms over, fears of renewed US war with Iran
Despite his party's heavy defeat, Trump continued to threaten Iran overnight Tuesday into Wednesday. Throughout the campaign, he had repeatedly invoked the Islamic Republic, alternating between threats of further strikes and teemps to downplay the danger.
2026 US midterms: Democrats achieve unprecedented victories in governor races
Republicans were defeated in Texas and Ohio, while, for the first time, a Native American woman will lead New Mexico.
French interior minister acknowledges 'failure' at parliamentary inquiry into October 17 unrest
Questioned by French MPs on Tuesday, November 3, Lauren Nuñez acknowledged a 'failure to anticipate' the violence of October 17, which he 'linked to the simultaneous occurrence of events' on that day.
Poland's crisis over Constitutional Tribunal points to fierce campaign ahead of elections
On Tuesday, the general assembly of the institution saw the centrist camp of Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the nationalist opposition stand firm in their positions.
2026 midterms: James Talarico, the Christian Democrat who sent a political earthquake through Texas
The 37-year-old seminarian emphasized his faith to win over moderate voters and secure a Senate seat in a state that had been a Republican stronghold for decades. Attacks on his appearance or past comments in support of minorities ultimately did not hurt his campaign.
2026 US midterms: Trump suffers historic defeats from Texas to Michigan
The Republicans' crushing defeat was above all a rejection of Trump himself, his administration, his war in Iran alongside Israel, and institutionalized corruption. He failed to address voters' overriding concern: the cost of living.
Israel's president urges compromise after divisive election
Isaac Herzog urged party leaders to avoid new elections on Wednesday. He will hold an initial two days of consultations and then give a contender 28 days to form a government, with a potential 14-day extension.
French bank hit by cyberattack, losses estimated at €118 million
Regional bank Crédit Mutuel Arkéa did not disclose the amount of the loss, stating on Wednesday that the incident was now 'under control.'
Cyberattack targets French blood banks
No blood products were compromised after there was an attempt to raise temperatures to extremely high levels at several blood banks in France.
2026 midterms: Democrats' spectacular win augurs two years of confrontation
Tuesday's historic results are not a blank check for the 2028 presidential election. Tensions are already clear between the new progressive figures and the party's old guard. Democrats will also have to choose their battles, between radical initiatives and more traditional oversight of the executive branch.
El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate race to become first Muslim US senator
The progressive Democrat's victory in a key battleground state marks a breakthrough for the party's left wing ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
2026 US midterms: Trump buckles down for two years as a lame-duck president
Even before the Democrats' sweeping midterm victory, the American president had largely ignored Congress. He had warned that he would use his veto and grant pardons. But Donald Trump will be forced to confront his own decline, as the conversation about the future of the Republican Party intensifies.
Democrats take control of Congress in spectacular rejection of Trump
The results from across the country were a major blow to President Trump, who spent nearly every day of the last month holding rallies to energize his supporters but was unable to stop a wipeout.
Democrat Troy Jackson unseats longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine
Jackson, 58, who became the party's nominee only in July, will succeed Collins, who was seeking her sixth term representing the state in the Senate.
Map 2026 midterms: Live results
American voters headed to the polls on Tuesday, November 3, to elect the entire House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate.
Talarico flips Texas Senate seat in historic win for Democrats
The former teacher and Presbyterian seminarian, 37, is the first Democrat to win statewide office in Texas since 1994.
Faced with SpaceX dominance, Europe races to build independent access to space
With Elon Musk’s space company no longer offering launches aboard its Falcon 9 rocket beyond 2028, Europe must successfully ramp up production of Ariane 6 and hope new launch vehicles emerge if it wants to deploy the hundreds of satellites it has planned.
Democrat Chris Pappas will become first openly gay male US senator
The Human Rights Campaign hails a 'historic win' as Pappass defeats Republican former senator John Sununu for the New Hampshire seat.
Trappes attack: When does one stop being an 'immigrant' in France? That depends on one's origins
Following the political and media reactions that followed the October 23 attack, sociologist Christophe Bertossi examines, in an opinion piece for Le Monde, how some citizens are condemned to having to constantly prove they belong in French society.
Democrats win control of Senate in stunning rebuke for Trump
The midterm elections were seen as a referendum on Trump's tumultuous and divisive two years in power. As the polls began closing on Tuesday, House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the country was 'on the brink of a dramatic change of direction.' Trump said his Republican Party would have won in a…
In Ukraine, Russia intensifies strikes on civilian targets
A bombing in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region on Monday struck a school that was also serving as a humanitarian aid distribution center that day, killing at least 33 people and leaving around 50 missing, according to the latest figures.
PSG thrash Villarreal 6-0 in Champions League
Paris Saint-Germain set a record for the fastest team to score four times in a match in Europe'e elite club competition. Prior to kickoff, a minute of silence was held in tribute to Jesús de Miguel, the Tenerife player who died following a collision in a Spanish second-division game on Monday.
Spain's transport minister resigns after deadly train crash that killed 69 people
Oscar Puente also withdrawing from the country's upcoming general election, 'whether or not I bear direct responsibility' for two fatal train crashes in Spain this year.
Trump says US military aid to Israel will be 'cut off at the end of the year'
On midterm election day, the US president announced in an interview with Fox News, with no apparent consultation or detail, his intention to end the annual $3.8 billion in support to Israel.
UK tightens policy on legal immigration
Foreign nationals with legal status will now, in most cases, have to wait 10 years before becoming eligible for permanent residency. High earners will benefit from a shorter period, while asylum seekers who arrive on 'small boats' must have spent at least 20 years in the UK to qualify.
'Macron's great mistake was failing to build a new political force, as though he alone could hold it together'
As his presidency draws to a close, Emmanuel Macron is watching his reforms unravel one after another. He now faces the same predicament as former president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, writes columnist Françoise Fressoz.
America's great transformation in the age of brute force
In her brilliant new work, Maud Quessard, an expert on US foreign policy, analyzes how the United States is becoming an empire without checks and balances and is upending the world order.
Video investigation October 24 protests: How did police respond to the far right?
At nationwide protests on Saturday, October 24, French far-right activists targeted civilians protesting, with little response from the riot police, a 'Le Monde' investigation has found.
California decides whether to tax billionaires, a highly-anticipated vote amid rising inequality
In the US, debates over taxing wealth arise when the accumulation of riches becomes exorbitant. Voters in the Golden State will decide on Tuesday on an unprecedented 5% wealth tax targeting billionaires.
Trump announces end of $3.8 billion annual security assistance to Israel
The US president said Israel was 'fine' with him ending the assistance, which began in 2019 and was signed under his predecessor, Barack Obama, three years earlier. 'We'll help Israel if they need it,' he added.
'Dubai Papers': Paris trial for 'large-scale tax fraud operation' begins
The trial of nine executives from the Hélin International firm, three lawyers and a French certified public accountant began on Monday in Paris. They stand accused of systematically helping more than 300 French taxpayers evade taxes for years using sophisticated schemes.
In New York, child care and school fees are so exorbitant that starting a family has become a luxury
'Priced out in America' (3/3). Child care for young children can account for 30% to 40% of a New York family's budget. To avoid paying tens of thousands of dollars a year, most families turn to public assistance programs, which have only been in place for the past 12 years.
Philippe Jaenada wins Prix Goncourt for 'L'Inconnue du quai de Javel'
The 62-year-old author receives France's most prestigious literary award for his 13th novel, an investigation into the 1949 murder of a young woman, Louise Cansot.
Ukrainian Alla Didur receives 2026 News Fixer Award, presented by Kurt Schork foundation
Having worked for several international media outlets in Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in February 2022, the fixer from Odesa is honored in particular for her work with Le Monde.
2026 US midterms: The erosion of Donald Trump's popularity over two years
Since he returned to the White House on January 20, 2025, Donald Trump has made a series of striking and controversial decisions: Launching a trade offensive, toughening immigration policy, implementing budget cuts and demonstrating military force abroad. This timeline traces the sequence of these actions and assesses…
Paris department store BHV: 'Unions hope court-ordered receivership will finally end disastrous management'
When Frédéric Merlin took over the department store in 2023, BHV Marais was already struggling. But his decision to partner with Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein delivered the final blow, Le Monde columnist Isabelle Chaperon writes.
Achille Mbembe, historian: 'We must counter the misconception that democracy is anti-African'
In an interview with Le Monde, the director of the Innovation Foundation for Democracy advocates for a model specific to the African continent.
France in talks with Kabul on returning migrants
France does not formally recognize, or maintain diplomatic relations with, the Taliban government formed after the armed group took power in 2021. But it has joined about 20 EU countries to speed up the return of Afghans, specifically those who have been convicted by courts.
Police dismantle protest camp in Madrid, say authorities and activists
The camp in the emblematic Puerta del Sol square sprang up on September 26 following the police eviction of a retiree from her lifelong home. That sparked nationwide protests against runaway housing costs and a lack of tenant protections.
US attacks Iran's Qeshm Island, US media report
Qeshm, the largest island in the Strait of Hormuz, is the latest target in a series of limited strikes Washington has secretly carried out against Iran in recent weeks.
French high schoolers' accelerated political awareness: 'I quickly realized I had to arm myself intellectually to avoid being discredited'
These are their first protests, debates or experiences in activism. For many young people in France, the high school movement has coincided with a heightened political awareness that has transformed their daily lives, six months ahead of a presidential election in which most of them will not be able to vote.
French high school protests: 'Today, public spending allocates €2 to pensions for every €1 invested in the future'
The anger among high school students is partly due to the fact that a significant portion of the national education budget is dedicated to paying pensions for former civil servants and therefore does not benefit them, explains charity director Alexandre Lourié in an opinion piece for Le Monde.
Disillusioned by identity politics, the American left rediscovers socialism
Long shaped by a focus on minority issues, the Democratic Party's framework has begun to shift, notably under the influence of Senator Bernie Sanders and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Rubio meets with Venezuela's foreign minister, urges release of more political prisoners
It was Oliver Blanco's first US visit after being named to his post last week. Discussions included Trump's three-phase plan for Venezuela.
Depression: Gender inequality is at the root of women's vulnerability
In a report published on Monday, November 2, France's High Council for Gender Equality finds that women's higher risk of depression is the product of social conditions, with women facing greater exposure to inequality and violence throughout their lives.
Novelist John Green caught in the crosshairs of Trump-era censorship
The author of the best-selling novel 'The Fault in Our Stars' has been a particular target of the surge in book bans sweeping parts of the United States. His new novel, 'Hollywood, Ending,' which once again focuses on youth, will be released in France in January.
'Super El Niño' continues to intensify: 'It has already reached unprecedented levels'
This natural cyclical phenomenon, which originates in the Pacific Ocean, is triggering a cascade of extreme weather events. All indicators point to a major episode, though its peak is still to come. On Saturday, Bolivia's president declared a state of emergency.
In Poland, the 'Coalition of the Willing' holds first large-scale military exercise
The Koalicja exercise is set to take place in Nowa Deba, in southeastern Poland, from November 9 to 22. Nearly 2,800 soldiers, mostly French, are expected to be deployed to test the alliance's ability to mobilize in the event of a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Vermont embodies the devastating effects of the US housing crisis: 'If I could open 100 more beds, they'd be taken immediately'
'Priced out in America' (2/3). A lack of new construction, soaring mortgage rates and competition from second homes and short-term rentals: The US housing market is becoming increasingly strained.
Spanish authorities identify all 69 victims of train crash
The victims include 54 Spanish nationals and 15 foreigners – four US citizens, two Australians, two Japanese and one each from Argentina, Canada, France, Mexico, Portugal, Tunisia and the Czech Republic.
Paris department store BHV receives bankruptcy protection
The iconic Parisian department store BHV was placed in administration on November 2, 2026, marking the latest twist in a long-running saga for this struggling company.
Tocqueville in 2026: 'Should we examine the recent developments in American society to analyze how democracies die?'
The French publisher Calmann-Lévy is reissuing Alexis de Tocqueville's 'Democracy in America' (1835). In a new preface, Dominique Schnapper, a sociologist and political scientist at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences, examines American political life under President Trump. Here are excerpts.
2026 US midterm elections: Trump's broken promises expose Republicans to backlash in midterms
The war in Iran and the soaring cost of living, despite the US president's pledges to curb inflation and to avoid drawing the country into another foreign military venture, have raised deep concerns within the Republican camp.
How France's protests marked a turning point in the presidential race
With less than six months to go before the election, the protest movement sparked by high school students has taken center stage. The government's inability to address the anger has made it a scapegoat, while the far-right Rassemblement National and the radical left La France Insoumise have been buoyed by the growing…
Letter from Paris | How dystopia has become real life
Twice a month, M magazine's editorial director, Marie-Pierre Lannelongue, fills you in on the latest about fashion, culture, travel and more.
Calls mount to ban French TV channel CNews after racist killing
On Monday, a petition calling for the closure of CNews, a channel part of conservative French billionaire Vincent Bolloré's group often described as France's answer to Fox News, surpassed 500,000 signatures.
2026 US midterms: A quick guide to understanding the midterm elections
In addition to the partial renewal of Congress, a key issue for the future of Donald Trump's presidency, some American voters will also elect their local representatives and vote on referendums on Tuesday, November 3.
Le Monde's cartoon of the day, by Niels Bo Bojesen
This cartoon by Niels Bo Bojesen, a Danish member of Cartooning for Peace, appeared on the front page of Le Monde on November 2.
American care workers squeezed by inflation: 'Gas and food are through the roof'
'Priced out in America' (1/3). Caregivers have been a driving force behind US job growth, yet their often precarious, low-paid jobs have become a symbol of the country's widening income gap. We met with several in North Carolina.
Parents accused of torturing, killing and abandoning child stand trial, three decades later
Halima El Bakhti and Ahmed Touloub are appearing before a criminal court in the Loire Valley from Monday, charged with acts of torture and barbarity against their daughter Inass, age 4, whose body was found on August 11, 1987. The child was not identified until 2017, thanks to a sibling's DNA.
New fridge cyberattack hits supermarkets across Europe
Refrigeration temperatures soared, destroying many food products in the latest in a series of cyberattacks on store refrigerators and suspicious actions around supermarkets in Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden.
Belgian PM offers to quit over budget impasse, king defers decision
Flemish conservative Bart De Wever has been locked in protracted coalition talks to agree on a federal budget for next year. King Philippe deferred his decision until after a new meeting on Friday
'From Mbappé to Hello Kitty, the stream of apologies reveals how much multinationals depend on China'
Caught in the crossfire for having described Mao Zedong, without naming him, as a 'dictator,' Kylian Mbappé apologized but remains banned from Chinese television channels and advertisements. It is a textbook example of Beijing imposing its national narrative on brands around the world, writes Le Monde columnist…
Evacuated Ukrainians from Oleshky: 'We don't know where to go, but one thing is certain: We will survive'
During a six-day ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv, around 700 people managed to leave Oleshky, which has been occupied by Russian forces for four years and is located right on the front lines. The abandoned population was suffering from severe shortages of food and medicine.
French high schoolers return from break with protest turnout uncertain but vows to 'keep up pressure'
Despite the government's commitments, high school and university groups have called for school blockades starting Monday or Tuesday. However, as the pressure from exams and university admissions mounts, some students are having doubts.
Post-Orban Hungary faces challenge of rebuilding public trust
Civil society, which had been the target of constant denigration campaigns and a particularly repressive legislative arsenal under Viktor Orban, is breathing more freely since the change in power. However, all its stakeholders remain cautious regarding the new government led by Péter Magyar.
France expels five Britons arrested for harrassing migrants
The five men, from an 'ultra-right movement,' were arrested on Thursday while broadcasting live footage online near the northern Channel port of Dunkirk, said the local prefecture. They were carrying tear gas, pepper spray canisters, a stick and a baton.
Bulgarian president wins runoff vote as Black Sea attacks raise stakes
The race for the largely ceremonial post pitted Iliana Yotova, an ally of Prime Minister Rumen Radev and who favors dialogue with Moscow, against Andrey Gyurov, a banker and former caretaker prime minister backed by the pro-Western opposition.
US midterms: In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed's Democratic rival backs Republican Senate candidate in stunning move
Haley Stevens announced on Sunday that she is supporting Republican Mike Rogers in the race for the Senate in the northeastern US state, breaking with her own party's candidate. This decision follows months of tension and could jeopardize Democrats' hopes of winning the Senate.
'I might let my children vote for me': Inside the minds of France's undecided voters
Too many candidates, disillusionment with Macron, fears of a far-right victory... Although many voters are interested in politics, they've become deeply disillusioned and still don't know who they will vote for in the 2027 presidential elections.
Baltic volunteer forces play vital role in countering the Russian threat
Thirty-five years after challenging Soviet rule in the name of democracy, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania now rely in part on volunteer citizen organizations that attract tens of thousands of members to help defend their countries.
Cyberattacks hit Russia and Ukraine after truce ends
Starting in Ukraine and followed hours later by similar incidents reported in Russia, the cyberattacks came as the longest truce of the war, limited to Ukraine’s Kherson region, ended on Sunday. According to Kyiv, Russia refused an offer to extend it.
Tens of thousands protest in India's capital against voter roll revision
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi led tens of thousands through New Delhi, accusing election authorities of purging more than 133 million names from voter rolls to benefit Narendra Modi's ruling party.
Nine killed in jet crash in Palm Beach, Florida
The Learjet 60 plane had departed from Austin, Texas, and was headed for the Bahamas. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that all nine people on board were killed in the crash, which occurred near Cresthaven, a neighborhood in Palm Beach County.
'Netanyahu's opposition has too often chosen to be as uncompromising as he is toward Palestinians'
The choice in Israel is clear: Either allow Benjamin Netanyahu to dismantle the rule of law, or form a coalition that includes the Arab parties, historian Jean-Pierre Filiu argues.
Portuguese police clash with housing protesters, with at least 13 arrested and dozens injured
Protesters carrying red carnations, the symbol of Portugal’s 1974 revolution, accused police of ‘dictatorship’ tactics as officers broke up housing camps in Lisbon and Porto.
Judge dismisses Trump's lawsuit to block Alaska Senate race if Democrats win
A federal judge on Sunday threw out a lawsuit seeking to block certification of Alaska's US Senate race if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses one of the country's most closely watched races.
Longest truce of Ukraine war, in Oleshky, set to end
The pause in fighting enabled a humanitarian mission to the Russian-occupied city located in the eastern Kherson region.
Why the 'elite overproduction' theory is misunderstanding young people's anger
The idea that there is a causal link between an excess of elites and social crises has provided conservative circles with an explanation for youth malaise, one that many sociologists have challenged. According to them, disenchantment stems from the failure of the promised equality of opportunity to materialize.
Russia arrests one after US warns of planned attack on Moscow
The US embassy in Moscow had said it was aware of a 'credible threat of a mass casualty event' at a popular museum and park in the Russian capital.
France launches 'attempted murder' probe after Molotov cocktail attack on riot police
No suspects have been arrested at this point. The attack happened during clashes after a third weekend of France-wide demonstrations against soaring living costs.
Biodiversity COP17: Leading negotiator Steven Guilbeault believes harmful subsidies will be 'main battleground in the coming years'
The former Canadian environment minister, who helped shape the landmark 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, shared his positive assessment of the biodiversity conference that concluded on October 31 in Armenia.
The debate over a factoryless French industry is making a comeback
Should investment focus on breakthrough technologies, such as AI or biotechnology, and abandon the 'old' industries? The position recently defended by Jean Tirole, recipient of the 2014 Nobel Prize in Economics, has sparked conversation.
Romanians tackle the problem of online disinformation
The first round of the 2024 presidential election, which was ultimately annulled, exposed widespread online manipulation. Once primarily active in street protests, Romanian civil society is now heavily engaged in fighting misinformation on social media.
'I am protesting so that we can protest': Festive and determined demonstrators march across France amid heavy police presence
Around half a million people marched across France on Saturday, according to organizers (320,000 according to the authorities). Protesters continued to press their initial demands, even as concerns grew about obstruction and intimidation by the government and police.
Behind India's Gen Z protests, 'a huge gap' between aspirations and reality
Geographer Avishek Jha, who studies youth unemployment and social movements in India, explains the structural roots of the crisis behind months of protests led by the Cockroach People's Party.
With his constant provocations, the far-right mayor of France's Carcassonne is over the line. Or is he?
The elected official from the southwest grew in politics alongside Marine Le Pen. Ruling his city with a firm hand, he has charmed her far-right party's activists, whilst alienating others with his provocative statements and actions .
What's new in Athens? Restaurants, bars, galleries, shops: Le Monde's top picks
After several years of stagnation linked to the financial crisis of the 2010s, the Greek capital is waking up. A new generation of entrepreneurs and creators has been settling in both its historic center and its residential neighborhoods. They are opening restaurants, hotels, boutiques and cultural venues that, rooted…
Trump says US still has 'to take care of' one or two targets in Iran
The US president says strikes could be done 'in 10 minutes,' having previously threatened an attack after the US midterms. Tehran warns of 'immediate' reprisal if attacked.
Maria Vorontsova, Vladimir Putin's daughter, leads fight against aging
While Russia wages war in Ukraine at a staggering cost in human lives, the Russian leader is pouring substantial funds into scientific research on longevity. This project is overseen by his eldest daughter, a prominent endocrinologist.
Donatella della Porta, political scientist: 'Footage of France's youth protests is so powerful that it has an impact across Europe'
While the crackdown on youth protests has been particularly harsh in France, the Italian academic argues in an interview that a distinctly French element is at play. She also observes a broader trend, from the United States to Europe, toward 'counterinsurgency operations' instead of 'traditional crowd control.'
The 'Bridge to Nowhere' finally connects China and North Korea
After years of tense relations with Beijing, Pyongyang delayed the construction of a final stretch of road for 12 years, holding up a project designed to boost trade between the two countries.
FBI accuses North Korea of $6 billion crypto theft from Binance
FBI confirms earlier suspicions that a North Korea-affiliated group called TraderTraitor was behind the hack.
Mystery surrounding death of Botticelli's muse solved by science after more than five centuries
Simonetta Vespucci, the legendary model of the 15th-century Florentine artist, did not die of tuberculosis, as historians had believed. By studying the painter's works, scientists have reached a new conclusion regarding the cause of her death at age 23.
Poland's president holds crisis talks without PM Tusk after dramatic showdown at constitutional court
The refusal by the president to swear in new court judges, who were nominated by parliament, has spawned a constitutional crisis in the country.
How Democrats moved away from 'woke' themes in the midterm campaign
Democrats have set aside social issues such as LGBTQ+ rights and fighting racial and gender inequality to focus on the cost of living. Republicans, however, continue to weaponize these topics against them.
Thousands of Germans join Europe's 'Gen-Z' protests
The 'GenZ reglet!' group organized protests in dozens of cities across Germany, inspired by movements across Europe, including France and Italy.
Mass demonstrations across Italy bring disparate protest movements together
A nationwide general strike took place on October 30, organized by the grassroots trade union Unione Sindacale di Base to protest against the rising cost of living and the worsening housing crisis.