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US midterms: Polls show Democrats ahead in battle for Congress

Democrats lead Republicans in national polling ahead of Tuesday's United States midterm elections, with new surveys showing the party gaining ground in several closely contested Senate races as voters express dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump's handling of the economy. With all 435 House of Representatives seats and 35 Senate seats on the ballot, the elections will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress for the remaining two years of Trump's second term. A RealClearPolling average of surveys conducted through October 30 shows Democrats leading Republicans 52% to 43.1% on the generic congressional ballot, an 8.9-percentage-point advantage. An NBC News survey conducted October 28-30 found Democrats ahead 52% to 45%, while an Emerson College poll conducted October 24-26 put the gap at 10 points. The generic ballot measures nationwide preferences for congressional candidates rather than support in individual districts, meaning a nati...
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China to open world’s tallest bridge, rising 2,051 feet above canyon

China is preparing to unveil the world’s tallest bridge this summer, a massive suspension structure that will soon tower above one of the country’s most rugged landscapes. The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, located in the mountainous province of Guizhou in southwest China, is scheduled to open to traffic by June 30, 2025, officials confirmed this week. Once operational, the bridge will rise 2,051 feet (625 metres) above the Beipan River, surpassing France’s Millau Viaduct by nearly 950 feet and claiming the title of the world’s tallest bridge. The project is being hailed as a milestone in modern engineering and a symbol of China’s infrastructure ambitions, particularly in underdeveloped interior regions. “By then, this super project that spans the ‘earth crack’ will be the world’s first in both directions. It will become another landmark demonstrating China’s infrastructure strength,” said Zhang Shenglin, chief engineer at Guizhou Highway Group, speaking to China Daily. Construction of the bridge began on January 18, 2022, and has progressed rapidly despite the technical difficulties of building at extreme altitude. The bridge spans the Huajiang Grand Canyon, a deep and narrow gorge often referred to as an “earth crack” due to its geological structure. Designed as a steel truss suspension bridge, the structure stretches 9,482 feet (2,890 metres) in total length. Its main span—measuring 4,660 feet—is supported by two 860-foot towers, while suspension cables have been engineered to withstand powerful winds that sweep through the canyon. To minimise environmental impact and visual disruption, engineers used a slim-profile design. The bridge’s 93 steel truss segments weigh a combined 22,000 tonnes, approximately the same weight as three Eiffel Towers. According to state media, the bridge will reduce travel time across the canyon from two hours to just one minute, dramatically improving transportation links within the region. Guizhou has become a global leader in extreme bridge construction due to its mountainous geography. Nearly half of the top 100 tallest bridges in the world are now located in the province. Before the completion of the Huajiang Bridge, China already held 8 of the world’s 10 tallest bridges. The Duge Bridge, also in Guizhou, previously held the record at 1,854 feet above the same Beipan River. Experts attribute China’s rapid progress in such projects to its centralised planning system, which allows large-scale infrastructure to be fast-tracked with fewer regulatory hurdles compared to similar efforts in Western countries. For example, the Gordie Howe International Bridge between the US and Canada—scheduled to open in late 2025—will have taken over seven years to complete and will stand just 722 feet tall.

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