Nonpartisan analysts say Democrats stand a good chance of winning the US House of Representatives and possibly the Senate in the November 3 midterm elections, which would give them a slice of power in Washington after two years ​of Republican control.

Democrats argue that Republicans have allowed President Donald Trump’s administration to declare war and control spending, even ‌though the US Constitution reserves those powers for lawmakers, according to Reuters.

Here are some ways a Democratic Congress could hem in Trump’s foreign policy.

CURB THE IRAN WAR

Trump did not secure approval from Congress before he launched the war with Iran on February 28, and Democrats have voted repeatedly to end the fighting unless he ​does so. One of these resolutions passed with support from a handful of Republicans, but Trump’s administration ignored it.

With control ​of the House or the Senate, Democrats could cut defense spending to pressure Trump to obtain permission ⁠from Congress to continue the war. They could also require administration officials to testify publicly about their plans.

FRESH SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE

Trump ​has largely halted direct US financial and military aid to Ukraine, despite broad support from Democratic and Republican lawmakers as it fights ​a Russian invasion.

Most recently, he has angered members of Congress, including many Republicans, by lifting sanctions on Russian diesel and waiving sanctions on Russian energy only weeks after signing them into law.

With a victory in both chambers in November, Democrats would be able to decide what gets voted on and when.

That ​could allow them to approve new aid to Ukraine, which likely would pass with the two-thirds majorities needed to overcome a ​Trump veto.

They could also target other Trump activities. For example, Representative Gregory Meeks of New York, who could head the House Foreign Affairs Committee ‌if Democrats ⁠win control, has introduced bipartisan legislation to block Trump’s plan to bring Russian diesel back into the global market.

END MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL

Support for Israel has plummeted among Democrats over its conduct in the Gaza war, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians. The ongoing violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s close alliance with Republicans have also been ​factors.

Democrats could limit or end military ​aid to Israel, which amounted ⁠to $3.8 billion in the most recent fiscal year. That is more than was provided to any other country.

Nearly half of House Democrats voted this summer to cut off aid to Israel. Some ​of those who voted against that effort, such as Meeks, have backed limits on providing weapons ​like heavy bombs ⁠to Israel.

LIMIT MILITARY SPENDING AND RESTORE FOREIGN AID

Democrats are far more likely than Trump’s Republicans to limit military spending. Trump asked for an unprecedented 67% increase in the military budget this year, to $1.5 trillion, but Democrats blocked it in the Senate, citing his refusal to ⁠consult Congress ​about the Iran war and his steep cuts to social programs.

Trump has also ​withheld or canceled billions of dollars in foreign aid approved by Congress. Many Democrats have been angered by the cuts and say they will try to restore ​funding.

Senior UAE diplomat Lana Nusseibeh entered the race ​to become the next United Nations secretary-general on Wednesday, injecting a prominent Middle Eastern candidate into a contest that has ‌struggled to produce a consensus choice among the Security Council’s most powerful members.

Nusseibeh, a former UAE ambassador to the UN for more than a decade, told Reuters she would seek to restore the world body’s role as a diplomatic problem-solver at a time of mounting global crises.

“It’s clear that today we need a secretary-general that ​can recommit to the future of multilateralism and the future of the United Nations as a problem-solver rather than as a ​spectator to the world’s crises,” she said shortly before going public with her candidacy.

Nusseibeh, the UAE minister of ⁠state for foreign affairs, is a late entrant to the race. An informal Security Council poll had placed former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan ​as the narrow frontrunner, sources have said.

Although Grynspan has led the informal “straw polls,” last week she and all other candidates received two or more opposing ​votes from the ultimately decisive five permanent members of the council — Britain, China, France, Russia and the US.

Council members are negotiating over whether to hold another poll this Friday or at a later stage.

ENTREPRENEURIAL DIPLOMACY

Nusseibeh, 48, said she was approached by multiple countries during the last UN General Assembly to put herself forward. She previously ​led the UAE’s successful campaign for election to the Security Council. Diplomats in New York say she is respected as a competent manager.

“It’s recognized ​today that we need someone who offers generational change for the organization,” she said.

Her UN tenure overlapped with the outbreak of the Gaza war in 2023 ‌when she ⁠secured the adoption of Resolution 2720 paving the way for the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Nusseibeh said she secured support for the resolution by arranging a visit by council members to the Rafah border crossing to see for themselves the situation on the ground, describing the move as part of her “creative entrepreneurial diplomacy” that characterizes her approach.

RELENTLESS DIPLOMACY

As a top UAE diplomat, Nusseibeh has championed Abu Dhabi’s assertive foreign policy and heavy focus on countering ​political Islam.

The UAE has faced criticism ​over Sudan after UN sanctions ⁠monitors described allegations that it provided military support to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces as credible. The UAE denies the allegations.

Asked how the allegations might affect her candidacy, Nusseibeh said she had taken leave from her ​UAE post and would focus on Sudan’s humanitarian crisis.

A Nusseibeh victory would make her the second UN ​chief from the Middle ⁠East, after Egypt’s Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

“I come from a country that is younger than the United Nations but our region is one that has been facing severe challenges,” she said.

She would also become the first woman to lead the UN, though Nusseibeh said she was not running on her gender.

“I think ⁠it would be ​great if the next secretary-general was a woman but I’m not running because I’m ​a woman; I’m running because I am stubbornly optimistic about the future of the United Nations and I believe we need someone who is relentless in the pursuit of diplomacy ​to open doors.”

Governments across Europe and Asia have warned their citizens to exercise caution in France following violent protests over the rising cost of living and declining public services that erupted into riots over the weekend.

The unrest on Saturday saw clashes between protesters and police, looting at shops and a town hall set on fire, prompting several countries to update their travel advisories.

Italy urged its citizens in France to avoid large crowds and exercise extreme caution. Its foreign ministry also advised travellers to register their presence through an official website or mobile application to help authorities locate them if necessary.

Germany warned that further riots could occur in the coming days and urged its nationals to follow instructions from local police. It also cautioned that people could face fines or claims for damages if they failed to leave unauthorised demonstrations when ordered to do so.

The Czech Republic advised its citizens to stay away from demonstrations, marches and public gatherings, citing a deterioration in the security situation, the Czech news agency CTK reported.

Poland similarly urged visitors to avoid areas where demonstrations were taking place, although it made no changes to its overall assessment of France as a travel destination.

The Netherlands has also advised travellers to avoid protests, according to its travel guidance, last updated on October 7.

Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway issued similar warnings, urging their citizens in France to avoid demonstrations and follow instructions from local authorities.

Outside Europe, Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry said it was monitoring the demonstrations. While travel to France remained unrestricted, it advised Malaysians to consider postponing non-essential trips until the situation improved.

Malaysia’s embassy in Paris also urged citizens in France to remain vigilant and exercise caution.

The warnings reflect growing concern among foreign governments over the potential for further violence as France faces public anger over living costs and pressure on public services. Authorities have urged visitors and residents to monitor local developments and follow police instructions.