A man fills in his ballot as he votes in the U.S. midterm elections at a polling place in Westminster, Colorado November 4, 2014. Credit: REUTERS/Rick Wilking

As Americans Vote, Republicans Look For Gains In The Senate -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Voters in the United States took to the polls on Tuesday, casting ballots in midterm elections that could return control of the Senate to Republicans, complicating President Barack Obama's last two years in office.

Obama's low job approval rating, partisan gridlock in Washington and a U.S. economy that is not growing broadly enough to help many in the middle class are the major issues before voters in elections for 36 senators, 36 governors and all 435 members of the House of Representatives.

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MIDDLE EAST

Heavy fighting between Kurds, IS continues in Kobani . Peshmerga, Syrian rebels battle Islamic State in besieged Kobani .

U.S. officials consider striking another militant group in Syria, Jabhat al-Nusra .

322 Iraqi tribesmen killed by Islamic State militants in western Iraq .

Iraqi forces insist Baghdad airport, lifeline to the world, is secure .

French FM urges anti-ISIS coalition to ‘save’ Syria’s Aleppo from Assad, jihadists .

Anti-ISIL coalition told to help Syria rebels .

Nasrallah vows to defeat Syria 'extremists' . Hezbollah chief says ultra hardline Sunni militants will be defeated .

Lack of stability in Gaza risks return to war, says U.N. .

U.S. drone strikes, clashes kill 20 in Yemen: tribal sources .

Four killed as Saudi Arabia hunts gunmen who attacked Shi'ites . Death toll from Saudi Arabia Ashoura shooting rises to eight .

‘Death to America’ rallies sweep Iran . Iran celebrates 35th anniversary of U.S. Embassy hostage crisis.

ASIA

Taliban trying to destabilize region beyond Afghanistan .

IS fears grow in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Major U.S. army division ends operations in Afghanistan 13 years after it arrived.
4 killed in northwest Pakistan bombings .

South Koreans' support for reunification grows despite attack concerns .

No talks planned between North Korea, US .

Refugees attacked as tensions escalate on Nauru and Manus .

India moves two warships away from Kolkata port after terror alert .

Thai military distributes rifles to fight insurgents in south.

Pirate Bay co-founder 'TiAMO' arrested in Thailand .

AFRICA

Fighting rages in Libya's Benghazi . Heavy fighting near seaport of Libyan city Benghazi, navy ship hit.

Burkina Faso army says it will cede power .

Report: Ebola spreading in Sierra Leone 9X faster than in September . New Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone raises fears of new infection chain .

Libya closes Benghazi's commercial port due to clashes: port official .

Soldiers, separatists fight in Mali despite truce .

Boko Haram suspected after suicide blast, prison break in Nigeria .

Gold, diamonds fuelling conflict in Central African Republic: U.N. panel .

Pro-government Kenyan Muslim cleric shot dead in Mombasa.

Oscar Pistorius prosecutors appeal against ‘shockingly light’ jail term .

EUROPE

NATO, EU call on Russia for peaceful solution in Ukraine .

Ukraine rebel leader sworn in after disputed election .

Ukraine crisis: President Poroshenko's threat after rebel polls .

Ukraine to send reinforcements to key cities in case of rebel attacks . Ukraine's Poroshenko orders extra army units to protect cities from possible assault .

Russia plans nuclear summit boycott .

No talks set for Obama, Putin in Asia but informal discussions likely: U.S. official .

Czech president shocks nations in expletive-filled interview .

Spain's constitutional court bans Catalonia's 'independence consultation' vote . Catalonia vows to hold independence vote despite latest court blow .

Eurozone economic forecast cut by European Commission .

France intensifies probe into drone flights .

AMERICAS

US News: Live Updates

US mid-terms: Battle for the Senate as polls open .

Senate control at stake in today’s midterm elections .

US trade deficit widens in September .

Fugitive Mexican mayor suspected in abduction of 43 students captured .

EU ready to help Colombia peace efforts .

In violent Venezuela, bulletproof everything .
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Isis and Jihadi terrorists 'post 90 tweets every minute' to spread propaganda .

ISIS introduces ‘price scheme’ for selling enslaved women and girls .

FBI head: Difficult to ID Islamic State recruits .

Suspected Russian insurgent appears in U.S. court in Virginia on terror charges .

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Oil prices fall further after Saudi discount . Saudis cut crude prices to U.S. in December amid shale boom .

Facebook says government requests for user data rises 24 percen t.

Is Xiaomi worth $40 billion?