00:01U.S. Democrats seize control of both the Senate and the House, winning in Republican strongholds
00:06for the first time in generations. The Supreme Court allows the ombudsman to continue its probe
00:12into Martin Romualdez's plunder case. The Philippines tries to ease tensions with China
00:17ahead of the 49th ASEAN Summit. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signs an executive order
00:22allowing school heads to suspend and resume classes. And Filipino tennis star Alex Ayala
00:28starts her Hong Kong Open bid on a high, defeating Australia's Emerson Jones.
00:41Democrats seize control of both the Senate and the House, scoring sweeping victories in
00:45Republican strongholds for the first time in generations. This as tens of millions of voters
00:50deliver a scathing rebuke to President Donald Trump. The Democratic wave underscores voters'
00:56deep frustration with Trump's stewardship of the economy. Another factor is his unpopular
01:01war against Iran launched in February, which drove gas prices up sharply. In poll after
01:06poll, voters express anxiety about the cost of living and anger at the way Trump has handled
01:11the issue. In Kansas, the first Democratic senator is elected since the Great Depression nearly
01:17a century ago. In South Carolina, a state that Trump carried by nearly 18 points in 2024, Democrats
01:23turn aside his handpicked Senate candidate. And in Texas, the biggest Republican state,
01:28Democrats ended a decades-long losing streak, winning a Senate seat and ousting three-term
01:33Governor Greg Abbott. Once seated in January, Democrats are expected to use their power to
01:38investigate Trump's administration, family, and allies, and demand concessions on major
01:43legislation. The Democratic Senate can block Trump's nominees, including any U.S. Supreme Court
01:48justice should the vacancy arise. Democrats are also on track to take control of the U.S. House
01:53of Representatives after flipping at least eight Republican seats in states. Despite worries
01:58Trump might seek to overturn the election results, the President accepts the outcome, congratulating
02:03Democrats in an interview with Fox News. He also says he would work with Democrats on issues
02:08such as immigration, though he threatens to veto any quote, insane bills they would pass.
02:15The Supreme Court allows the Office of the Ombudsman to continue its investigation into the plunder
02:19case of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The SC on Bank denies Romualdez's certiorari petition
02:25challenging the Ombudsman's preliminary investigation. A preliminary investigation is the stage when
02:30prosecutors review evidence and decide whether there is enough basis to file a case in court.
02:35His petition also questioned the agency's requests for a preliminary whole departure order and a freeze
02:40order, as well as its alleged use of inadmissible evidence. Romualdez is facing a corruption case
02:46due to alleged P7.44 billion in kickbacks from contractors of government projects. The Supreme Court's
02:52decision does not mean Romualdez has been found guilty of plunder. Romualdez is the first cousin of
02:57President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
03:01The Philippines and China engage in diplomatic talks to ease tensions ahead of the 49th ASEAN Summit.
03:06The Department of Foreign Affairs says Foreign Secretary Maria Teresa Lazaro and Chinese Foreign
03:11Minister Wang Yi had a frank, pragmatic, and constructive phone call to discuss the state
03:16of bilateral ties at length. State news agency Xinhua said that during the meeting,
03:21Wang urged the Philippine side to faithfully implement its one-China policy and exercise
03:25prudence in its words and actions on maritime issues. Lazaro and Wang last spoke formally in July
03:312026 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Minister's meeting. That meeting was preceded by a
03:36confrontation in a union show that injured a Filipino soldier. This time, the phone call
03:41happens after Chinese Ambassador to Manila Jing Chuan said the Philippines is fortunate that China
03:46does not use force in its disputes with the Philippines. At the ASEAN Defense Minister's Meeting Plus,
03:52China sent only its Manila-based defense attache.
03:56President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signs an executive order allowing school heads to suspend and resume
04:01classes. Publicized Tuesday, November 3, EO No. 130 introduces a framework for the suspension and
04:08resumption of face-to-face classes through the following mechanisms, automatic, localized, and granular.
04:13The EO also seeks to ensure the quote,
04:16Uninterrupted delivery of quality education through risk-informed, science-based, locally
04:21responsive policies that support learning continuity. But the order is still pending
04:25formal implementing guidelines. Through granular suspensions, a school can suspend classes even
04:31if there is no suspension order by a local chief executive. This must be based on documented site-specific
04:37conditions that may pose a threat to the safety, health, and welfare of students and school personnel.
04:42School heads can also declare resumption of face-to-face classes. The granular suspension
04:47and resumption of classes must still be in coordination with the local chief executive.
04:53Filipino tennis star Alex Ayala starts her Hong Kong Open bid on a high after defeating
04:58Australia's Emerson Jones 6-4-63 on Tuesday, November 3. Ayala also rose to world number 17 just a few
05:05months after her previous career high ranking of number 18 in August. She was originally supposed to go
05:11head-to-head with America's Alicia Parks, but Parks was forced to withdraw from the competition at the
05:16last minute due to a shoulder injury. Ayala will face Czechia's Teresa Valentova on Thursday,
05:21November 5 in the round of 16.
05:25And that's today's wrap. I'm JC Gotinga. Thank you for watching. Click the link below for the full story. For
05:31more updates,
05:31download the Rappler app.
