The Morning Briefing: Friday, November 6, 2026
Trump says a Ukraine deal is close after meeting Putin envoy Dmitriev, the Nasdaq selloff spreads to Asia, Democrats map their challenge to Trump, a Wisconsin infant dies of measles, Ronaldo ends his Portugal career, and Paraguay's president faces a removal inquiry.
Here are the developments to start Friday, November 6, 2026: a possible deal to end the war in Ukraine, a market selloff that spread to Asia overnight, Democrats mapping their plans for the next Congress, a measles death in Wisconsin, the end of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal career, and a president in Paraguay facing removal from office.
Trump says Ukraine deal is close after meeting Putin envoy
President Donald Trump said Thursday he met privately with Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and said the war in Ukraine was very close to being settled. Trump spoke to reporters at the White House and declined to say what he and Dmitriev discussed. He added that ending the war might involve all of Europe.
The meeting came after Dmitriev attended a White House event hosted by first lady Melania Trump with Russian and Ukrainian officials, held to mark a six-day ceasefire she helped broker in Oleshky, a Russian-held city in southern Ukraine. The ceasefire ran from October 27 to November 1 and allowed about 800 civilians to leave the city. Trump said he did not meet the Ukrainian delegation on Thursday. A United States delegation is set to mediate talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11.
Selloff spreads to Asia after Nasdaq’s worst day in 18 months
Wall Street had its worst session since early 2025 on Thursday, and the selling spread across Asia overnight. The Nasdaq Composite fell 5.52 percent to 24,315, its worst day in 18 months and its largest single-session point loss on record, down 1,422 points. The S&P 500 fell 4.36 percent to 7,353.73, its worst day since April 2025, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1,833 points, or 3.44 percent, to 51,523.
Chip stocks led the fall. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index dropped about 12 percent, Nvidia fell about 9 percent and AMD about 17 percent. The Nasdaq is now about 12 percent below its record close, which puts it in correction territory. The Cboe Volatility Index rose nearly 70 percent, from 16.61 to 28.18. In Asia on Friday, South Korea’s Kospi fell as much as 8.6 percent, Japan’s Nikkei fell about 5.1 percent and Taiwan’s market fell more than 8 percent during the day. Investors pointed to worries about the pace of spending on artificial intelligence data centers and to the chance of tighter rules after Democrats won control of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Democrats map a challenge to Trump as Republicans look to 2028
Democrats are preparing to use their new majorities in Congress to press President Donald Trump on the war in Iran, health care and tariffs when the new Congress convenes in January, The Hill reported Thursday. Democrats are projected to hold at least 250 seats in the House and 54 in the Senate. Hakeem Jeffries of New York is expected to become speaker of the House.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said voters delivered a clear mandate to lower living costs and rein in the president’s policies. Jeffries said Democrats would move to reverse Medicaid cuts, extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, end the war in Iran and stop the tariffs. On the Republican side, Vice President JD Vance said the war in Iran cost the party Congress, an assessment Trump called largely true. The Mississippi Senate race is still uncalled, with Democrat Scott Colom leading Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith by 1,813 votes. The new Congress convenes on January 3.
Wisconsin infant dies of measles, the first in the state since 1990
An infant in Wisconsin has died of measles, the first measles death in the state since 1990, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services said Thursday. The coroner listed measles as the immediate cause of death. The department said it would not release more information about the child to protect the family’s privacy.
The death is the third measles death reported in the United States this week, according to CNN. Wisconsin has recorded 431 measles cases in 13 counties this year, the most in the state in more than 35 years. State health departments have reported eight measles deaths in the country in 2026, though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed four so far.
Ronaldo ends his Portugal career after 23 years
Cristiano Ronaldo announced Thursday that he is retiring from international soccer, ending a 23-year career with Portugal. The 41-year-old made 234 appearances and scored 146 goals for his country, both men’s international records. His last match was a 1-0 Nations League win over Wales on September 24.
Ronaldo said in a video posted on social media that the time had come to hand back the number 7 shirt. The announcement followed a dispute with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus over playing time. Ronaldo left the national team camp on September 30 and did not return. Ronaldo will keep playing at club level for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where his contract runs to June 2027. With Portugal he won the European Championship in 2016 and the Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
Paraguay president faces removal inquiry after bank collapse
Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña is under criminal investigation after the collapse of a major digital bank, prosecutors announced Thursday, and he faces possible removal from office. Peña is set to defend himself before the Senate on Friday, according to the Associated Press.
Reporting based on coverage by Reuters, the Associated Press, CNN, The Hill and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
