News Wrap: Democrats hold onto U.S. Senate seat in Nevada as vote counting continues

In our news wrap Saturday, Democrats held onto one more Senate seat while control of the House remains unknown, Qatar is suspending its efforts to mediate between Israel and Hamas, 26 people died in a train platform bombing in Pakistan, windy conditions are sparking wildfires on both U.S. coasts, and a FEMA worker was fired for advising her team to avoid homes with signs supporting Trump.
John Yang:
Good evening. I’m John Yang. Democrats have held onto one more Senate seat. Overnight, Nevada’s Jacky Rosen was declared the winner in her bid for reelection. We still don’t know the size of the Republicans majority in the Senate. The race in Arizona has yet to be called and there’s the possibility of a recount in Pennsylvania.
Also still unknown is which party will control the House, 23 races are still too close to call. So far, Republicans have 212 seats and Democrats 200, 218 are needed for a majority. And President-elect Trump won another state. He was declared the winner in Nevada overnight. It’s the first time in 20 years the state has gone Republican. Only Arizona remains to be called.
And the White House said today that President Biden will host the President-elect in the Oval Office on Wednesday. It’s a tradition that Mr. Trump broke four years ago after Mr. Biden defeated him.
Qatar is suspending its efforts to mediate a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, saying that neither side is negotiating in good faith. This comes hours after two Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed at least 16 people, including women, children and local journalists. One hit a school turned shelter in the east. The other hit tents in a hospital courtyard in the south.
Yousef al-Nono, Displaced man (through translator): They attack unarmed people, displace people, keeping to themselves. But nothing can be said except we can only rely on God. May God grant us patience. Even if we all get killed, we will stay steadfast here.
John Yang:
And the United Nations warns that famine is imminent in northern Gaza. The agency’s World Food Program says the price of food is 10 times higher than it was before the war, if it can be found at all.
On Israel’s other front in Lebanon, airstrikes hit several buildings in the coastal city of Tyre. At least seven people were killed and 46 others injured. Several buildings were destroyed. The Israeli military says it was targeting Hezbollah command centers and offices.
Twenty-six people were killed and dozens injured in Pakistan when a suicide bomber blew himself up on a train platform in Ketta. A separatist group claimed responsibility. They said the target was troops who were at the station. The station has a gate meant to detect explosives, but there are other entrances that don’t have the same security measures.
On both U.S. coasts, dry, windy conditions are sparking dangerous wildfires. In New Jersey, blazes are threatening structures and creating hazy conditions. At least four fires are burning, though no evacuations have been ordered. And firefighters in Southern California say lighter winds are helping them battle the Mountain Fire, which broke out on Wednesday. It’s destroyed more than 130 structures, most of them homes. Thousands of people have been evacuated.
The FEMA administrator said today she’s fired a worker for advising her assistance team not to go to homes with signs supporting Donald Trump. This was in the aftermath of September’s Hurricane Helene. In a statement, Administrator Deanne Criswell said the former employee’s actions were reprehensible and vowed to take steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
And 21st century technology is unlocking the mysteries of one of history’s most famous volcanic disasters. Narratives about victims of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the year 79 have been based on where they were positioned in the ruins of Pompeii. But DNA testing shows that four bodies found in a group once thought to be a family are actually unrelated, and what was thought to be a mother and her child are in fact an adult male and a biologically unrelated boy. Researchers say new ways of processing genetics will allow them to continue to paint a more accurate picture of Pompeii.
Still to come on PBS News Weekend, what the new Trump administration is expected to do with climate policy. And how schools are navigating a spike in threats of violence.