Democrats seize control of House

BBC:
The Democratic Party has won control of the House of Representatives in the US mid-term elections. The White House conceded the Democrats had picked up the 15 net seats needed to wrest power from the Republicans - for the first time in 12 years.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said the American people had "voted for Democrats to take our country in a new direction - and that is exactly what we intend to do". Ms Pelosi - who stands to become the first female House speaker - said the Democrats would "restore integrity and honesty" to Washington and lead the "most ethical Congress in history".

In some good news for the Republicans, Arnold Schwarzenegger has held on to his gubernatorial seat in California for a second term.

Democrat Deval Patrick has taken the governorship in Massachusetts, becoming the first black governor of the state and only the second elected black governor of any state.

Keith Ellison, a Democrat, has become the first Muslim to be elected to the US Congress by winning a Minnesota seat in the House of Representatives.
He overcame personal attacks emphasising his past association with Louis Farrakhan, leader of the radical Nation of Islam group.
The 43-year-old lawyer sought to downplay his religion and ran on a populist platform.

And other head line news : Pop star Britney Spears and her husband, Kevin Federline, have filed for divorce, court officials in Los Angeles say.