World News

A study in Nature Health suggests that replacing some sodium chloride in table salt with potassium chloride could prevent nearly 4 lakh deaths in India annually. Given the generous use of salt in Indian cooking, high sodium intake can cause body to retain water, raising blood pressure and increasing pressure on blood vessel walls. This raises risk of heart attack.

Indian-American lawyer Marissa Roy defeated Republican John McKinney to become Los Angeles’ next city attorney. The daughter of an Indian immigrant mother and a white American father, Roy grew up in Monrovia, Los Angeles County. She previously represented Los Angeles County as outside counsel in more than a dozen legal cases against the first administration of US President Donald Trump.

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña resigned following the collapse of ​Ueno Bank, leaving three million customers, in a country of 6.5 million people, unable to access their accounts. Peña, who was a shareholder in Ueno's parent company, said, "I do so with the stability of our country, social peace...in mind." The bank was put under resolution over a severe capital shortfall.

India and the Philippines are nearing a $700-800 million deal for around five additional BrahMos missile systems, comprising nearly 60 missiles, Reuters reported. The proposed agreement follows a $375 million agreement signed in 2022. Manila is strengthening its military and coastal defence infrastructure amid escalating tensions with China over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's position weakened on Thursday after an ultra-Orthodox Jewish party withheld its support for any candidate, while two Arab-led parties backed his rival, Gadi Eisenkot, as the next PM. Israel's October 27 election ended in a deadlock, with neither leader securing a majority in Parliament. Netanyahu's bloc has 53 seats, against 48 for Eisenkot's opposition bloc.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor congratulated Kerala-born Nithya Raman on winning the Los Angeles mayoral election. Referring to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, he wrote, "America's two biggest cities will be run by people of Indian origin!" Tharoor added, "I'm sure they'll do a far better job than their counterparts...in India, who are reduced to powerlessness by a British-era system."

British PM Andy Burnham has ruled out inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit scheduled to be held in the UK in November 2027. Asked whether Putin would be invited, Burnham responded, "No." Russia remains a G20 member despite Western efforts to isolate it following its invasion of Ukraine. G20 host nations traditionally invite all members.

Hotel Arbez, in La Cure on the France-Switzerland border, offers guests an unusual stay across two countries. The international boundary passes through parts of the building, including its staircase, dining area and some bedrooms. Built in the 19th century, the property later became a hotel and continues to attract visitors interested in its remarkable location and history, too.

The US midterm elections saw African American, Hispanic and young, college-educated voters shift towards Democratic candidates, according to the AP Voter Poll. Approximately 70% of voters under 30 supported Democratic candidates in their local US House races. Meanwhile, nearly nine in 10 African American voters and roughly six in 10 Hispanic voters backed Democratic House candidates.