Following are the top foreign stories at 2000 hours

     FGN81: US-4THLD ELECTIONS

     ****Democrats trounce Trump's Republicans, wrest control of both chambers of US Congress

     Washington: In a stinging rebuke to President Donald Trump, American voters on Tuesday gave the opposition Democratic Party control of the US Congress and flipped key gubernatorial posts in widely watched elections that will have consequences far beyond America.****

     FGN85: IRAN-INDIA-SHIPS

     ****Iran exempts ships from India and 3 other nations from transit restrictions in Strait of Hormuz

     Dubai: Iran has exempted commercial ships from four countries, including India and China, from transit restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, a top Iranian official has said, amid continued attacks on vessels attempting to cross the strategic waterway.****

     FGN79: ISRAEL-3RDLD ELECTIONS

     ****Israel approves election results amid fraud claims, President Herzog begins govt consultations

     Jerusalem: Amid allegations of vote theft and electoral fraud, Israel's Central Election Committee (CEC) chairman Noam Sohlberg presented the results of the October 27 election to President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday, setting in motion consultations on the formation of a new government.****

     FGN77: BANGLA-PROTEST

     ****Bangladesh deploys additional paramilitary forces as garment workers’ protests continue

     Dhaka: Activists of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Wednesday took to the streets in "anti-protest" campaigns while authorities deployed additional paramilitary forces as garment workers’ protests over higher wages continued for a fifth day.****

     FGN83: NEPAL-POLICE-CHIEF-APPOINTMENT

     ****Nepal govt appoints Manoj Kumar KC as new police chief

     Kathmandu: The Nepal government on Wednesday appointed Additional Inspector General Manoj Kumar KC as the new police chief, replacing Dan Bahadur Karki, who has been made security adviser to Prime Minister Balendra Shah.****

     FGN75: PAKISTAN-PM-WEST ASIA

     ****Pak PM Sharif says Islamabad working for West Asia peace

     Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said Islamabad was making all efforts to promote peace in West Asia despite the challenges facing the region.****

     FGN46: US-ELECTIONS-LD TRUMP

     ****They did a good job: Trump on Democrats' midterm victory

     Washington: US President Donald Trump congratulated Democrats for doing “a good job” after the party clinched victory in the midterm elections.****

     FGN70: US-ELECTIONS-PROFILES INDIANS

     ****US midterm elections: Meet the Indian-Americans who won

     Washington: Several Indian-Americans have made a strong showing in the US midterm elections, with five winning seats in the House of Representatives so far and Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller securing another term.****

     FGN72: CHINA-US-ELECTIONS

     ****US midterm elections: China says it will continue working with America

     Beijing: China on Wednesday reacted cautiously to the Democratic Party's gains in the US midterm elections, saying it will continue working with America to uphold and implement the important consensus reached between the top leaders of the two countries.****

     FGN65: US-ELECTIONS-INDIAN AMERICANS

     ****Indian-Americans make strong showing in US midterm elections

     Washington: Indian-American Democratic lawmakers Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, Suhas Subramanyam and Pramila Jayapal have been re-elected to the US House of Representatives, while Pia Dandiya has made her debut in the US Congress, marking a strong showing by the community in the midterm elections.****

     FGN57: NEPAL-2NDLD MISRI

     ****India foreign secy Misri meets Nepal foreign minister, discusses bilateral ties

     Kathmandu: India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Wednesday met Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal and discussed ways to further deepen the multifaceted partnership and strengthen the longstanding ties of friendship between the two countries, Nepal's Foreign Ministry said.****

     FGN60: SAUDI-LD INDIAN

     ****Second Indian national injured in Oct 10 Riyadh airport attack dies

     Dubai: A second Indian national, who was critically injured in the October 10 attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, has died, the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday.****

     FGN38: US-ELECTION-RAMASWAMY

     ****Trump-backed Indian-American Vivek Ramaswamy loses Ohio governor's race

     Washington: Indian-American Vivek Ramaswamy, who was backed by US President Donald Trump, lost Ohio's gubernatorial race to Democrat Amy Acton.****

     FGN23: US-ELECTIONS-DANDIYA

     ****Pia Dandiya wins US House of Representatives from Florida

     Washington: Indian American Pia Dandiya won the election to the US House of Representatives from Florida’s 22nd congressional district, defeating Casey Askar, a Marine veteran.****

     FGN61: US-ELECTION-TEXAS-RAILROAD

     ****Republican candidate criticised for racist post concedes defeat in a Texas election

     Washington: Republican candidate Bo French, who faced widespread criticism on social media over his racist posts, has conceded defeat in the Texas Railroad Commissioner election to Democrat Jon Rosenthal.****

     FGN56: US-ELECTIONS-BERA

     ****Indian-American Ami Bera wins US House from California

     Washington: Indian-American Democratic lawmaker Ami Bera has won reelection to US House in California's 3rd Congressional District, defeating Republican Robb Tucker.****

     FGN22: US-ELECTIONS-SUHAS

     ****Suhas Subramanyam re-elected as US Congressman from Virginia

     Washington: Suhas Subramanyam, who served as an advisor to former president Barack Obama, has been re-elected as a member of the US House of Representatives.****

     FGN49: ANTIGUA-JAISHANKAR

     ****Jaishankar highlights importance of digital public infrastructure at Commonwealth meet in Antigua and Barbuda

     St John's: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has highlighted the significance of digital public infrastructure for "good governance and financial responsibility" at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Executive Session in Antigua and Barbuda.****

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)