The US House of Representatives is expected to vote on Friday on the President Joe Biden's 'Build Back Better Act'. The reconciliation bill devoted to climate change and social programs, and the bipartisan infrastructure bill has been already passed in the Senate in August.

US House expected to vote on Biden's social spending & climate change bill

The&nbsp;organiser&nbsp;of a&nbsp;pay-to-view&nbsp;autopsy&nbsp;in the United States defended the&nbsp;event&nbsp;Wednesday, after an outcry by the family of the dead man who did not know he would be dissected in front of a live audience.

Around 70 people forked over up to $500&nbsp;each to watch in person an anatomist cut up the body of 98-year-old David Saunders in a hotel ballroom in Oregon last month.

Over the course of several hours, Saunders' organs,&nbsp;including his brain&nbsp;were removed by Dr. Colin Henderson, a retired professor of anatomy, in a procedure he said he had performed frequently during his teaching career, local broadcaster King 5 reported.

Video filmed by the channel shows audience members donning surgical gloves and appearing to touch the body.

"It was very educational," the outlet quoted an attendee named Monica as saying. "It was very respectful to the person that donated their body."

The&nbsp;event&nbsp;was organized by Death Science, which calls itself "an independent education platform that works with educators to teach beyond the classroom."

Tickets for the double-header&nbsp;event&nbsp;said the morning would be "a forensic&nbsp;autopsy&nbsp;on a full human cadaver."

That would be followed in the afternoon by "a formal anatomical dissection (which) will offer us a unique look at what is under our skin, through our bodies and how it all works together."

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"There will be several opportunities for attendees to get an up-close-and-personal look at the cadaver," the ticketing page said. "Cadaver access before, after and during breaks."

In a statement to AFP, Death Science founder Jeremy Ciliberto said the aim of the&nbsp;event&nbsp;"was to create an educational experience for individuals who have an interest in learning more about human anatomy."

No laws broken

King 5 reported that family of the dead man had no idea his body would be cut up in front of a paying audience.

The news outlet cited the Louisiana funeral director who handled the corpse as saying the family thought it would be used for medical research when it was passed on to Med Ed Labs, a company that solicits corpse donation for "the advancement of medicine and science," according to its website.

Bodies donated for medical science, typically to universities that train medical professionals, are cremated after use and the ashes are returned to next-of-kin. The process removes burial and other costs typically incurred with a funeral.

Ciliberto said his company was not privy to any agreement between the dead man's family and Med Ed Labs, but that the company had confirmed to him "that the provided cadaver was donated for research, medical and educational purposes."

Obteen Nassiri of Med Ed Labs told AFP his company had been unaware of the commercial audience for the&nbsp;autopsy-dissection, and would not have provided the cadaver if they had known.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/i-aint-paying-tom-hanks-turned-down-jeff-bezos-offer-to-take-blue-origin-space-flight-426654">Also read |&nbsp;'I ain't paying': Tom Hanks turned down Jeff Bezos' offer to take Blue Origin space flight</a>

"We were under the impression this donor would be used to train students interested in science, paramedics, medical examiners, coroners offices in anatomical dissections and the study of the human body," he said.

Nassiri said he had spoken with the family. "We’re taking full responsibility and assuming full costs for the return of the body to the family for cremation."

Ciliberto said while he had no further pay-per-view autopsies scheduled at this time, he would take "additional steps" in future collaborations.

"We understand that this&nbsp;event&nbsp;has caused undue stress for the family and we apologize for that," he said.

A spokesman for police in Portland, where the&nbsp;event&nbsp;took place, said&nbsp;

The organiser of a pay-to-view autopsy in the United States defended the event Wednesday, after an outcry by the family of the dead man who did not know he would be dissected in front of a live audience.

The organiser of a pay-to-view autopsy in the United States defended the event Wednesday, after an outcry by the family of the dead man who did not know he would be dissected in front of a live audience. Around 70 people forked over up to $500 each to watch in person an anatomist cut up the body of 98-year-old David Saunders in a hotel ballroom in Oregon last month. Over the course of several hours, Saunders' organs, including his brain were removed by Dr. Colin Henderson, a retired professor of anatomy, in a procedure he said he had performed frequently during his teaching career, local broadcaster King 5 reported. Video filmed by the channel shows audience members donning surgical gloves and appearing to touch the body. "It was very educational," the outlet quoted an attendee named Monica as saying. "It was very respectful to the person that donated their body." The event was organized by Death Science, which calls itself "an independent education platform that works with educators to teach beyond the classroom." Tickets for the double-header event said the morning would be "a forensic autopsy on a full human cadaver." That would be followed in the afternoon by "a formal anatomical dissection (which) will offer us a unique look at what is under our skin, through our bodies and how it all works together." Also read | Happy Holi on Diwali: CM of Sindh in Pakistan gets trolled for mixing up festivals "There will be several opportunities for attendees to get an up-close-and-personal look at the cadaver," the ticketing page said. "Cadaver access before, after and during breaks." In a statement to AFP, Death Science founder Jeremy Ciliberto said the aim of the event "was to create an educational experience for individuals who have an interest in learning more about human anatomy." No laws broken King 5 reported that family of the dead man had no idea his body would be cut up in front of a paying audience. The news outlet cited the Louisiana funeral director who handled the corpse as saying the family thought it would be used for medical research when it was passed on to Med Ed Labs, a company that solicits corpse donation for "the advancement of medicine and science," according to its website. Bodies donated for medical science, typically to universities that train medical professionals, are cremated after use and the ashes are returned to next-of-kin. The process removes burial and other costs typically incurred with a funeral. Ciliberto said his company was not privy to any agreement between the dead man's family and Med Ed Labs, but that the company had confirmed to him "that the provided cadaver was donated for research, medical and educational purposes." Obteen Nassiri of Med Ed Labs told AFP his company had been unaware of the commercial audience for the autopsy-dissection, and would not have provided the cadaver if they had known. Also read | 'I ain't paying': Tom Hanks turned down Jeff Bezos' offer to take Blue Origin space flight "We were under the impression this donor would be used to train students interested in science, paramedics, medical examiners, coroners offices in anatomical dissections and the study of the human body," he said. Nassiri said he had spoken with the family. "We’re taking full responsibility and assuming full costs for the return of the body to the family for cremation." Ciliberto said while he had no further pay-per-view autopsies scheduled at this time, he would take "additional steps" in future collaborations. "We understand that this event has caused undue stress for the family and we apologize for that," he said. A spokesman for police in Portland, where the event took place, said

US pay-to-view autopsy organiser defends $500 event

A study of death data has revealed that the United States had the second steepest decline in life expectancy among high-income countries last year. Published in the British Medical Journal, the study analysed premature death in 37 countries.&nbsp;

The researchers also compared observed life expectancy in 2020 with what would have been expected for the year based on historical trends from 2005-2019.&nbsp;

Life expectancy dropped in 31 of these countries due to the pandemic.&nbsp;

The study says that a reduction in life expectancy in men and women was observed in all the countries studied except New Zealand, Taiwan, and Norway, where there was a gain in life expectancy in 2020.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/europe-once-again-at-epicentre-of-coronavirus-pandemic-who-426681">Also read |&nbsp;Europe once again at epicentre of coronavirus pandemic: WHO</a>

"No evidence was found of a change in life expectancy in Denmark, Iceland, and South Korea. The highest reduction in life expectancy was observed in Russia," said the study.&nbsp;

The trend in the US was one of the worst as men saw life expectancy fall by nearly 2.3 years, from about 76.7 to 74.4.&nbsp;Women lost more than 1.6 years of life expectancy, from about 81.8 to 80.2.

The findings suggest that the US did not do so well in protecting the young generation from the pandemic. The country’s life expectancies have dropped at a faster pace than any time since at least World War II.&nbsp;

Keeping in mind the current scenario, US is falling further behind many other rich countries. The pandemic is not the only factor. Homicides and drug overdose have also contributed to several deaths last year.&nbsp;

A study of death data has revealed that the United States had the second steepest decline in life expectancy among high-income countries last year. Published in the British Medical Journal, the study analysed premature death in 37 countries.

A study of death data has revealed that the United States had the second steepest decline in life expectancy among high-income countries last year. Published in the British Medical Journal, the study analysed premature death in 37 countries. The researchers also compared observed life expectancy in 2020 with what would have been expected for the year based on historical trends from 2005-2019. Life expectancy dropped in 31 of these countries due to the pandemic. The study says that a reduction in life expectancy in men and women was observed in all the countries studied except New Zealand, Taiwan, and Norway, where there was a gain in life expectancy in 2020. Also read | Europe once again at epicentre of coronavirus pandemic: WHO "No evidence was found of a change in life expectancy in Denmark, Iceland, and South Korea. The highest reduction in life expectancy was observed in Russia," said the study. The trend in the US was one of the worst as men saw life expectancy fall by nearly 2.3 years, from about 76.7 to 74.4. Women lost more than 1.6 years of life expectancy, from about 81.8 to 80.2. The findings suggest that the US did not do so well in protecting the young generation from the pandemic. The country’s life expectancies have dropped at a faster pace than any time since at least World War II. Keeping in mind the current scenario, US is falling further behind many other rich countries. The pandemic is not the only factor. Homicides and drug overdose have also contributed to several deaths last year.

Life expectancy fell sharply in US due to pandemic, homicides and drug overdose

A report by a leading environmental group in the US has claimed that many people are at risk of developing liver diseases due to the contaminated tap water that they have been consuming. As a part of the report, the researchers discovered 56 new contaminants, including pesticides and radioactive materials. These contaminants are consumed by Americans on a daily basis.

The researchers analysed data from nearly 50,000 water systems from across the US to come to a conclusion.

The problem is mainly caused by the decaying infrastructure and the pollution from toxic "forever chemicals." This can be found in water, air, food or even in shampoo or makeup, claims the report.&nbsp;

There are several thousand types of forever chemicals, or what is called Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).

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Once these chemicals are ingested, they can accumulate in the body. Few studies have revealed that exposure to PFAS can lead to problems with fertility, developmental delays in children, increased risks of obesity. It can also lead to certain cancers, including prostate, kidney and testicular.&nbsp;

EWG senior scientist Tasha Stoiber said, "It speaks to the fact that we don’t have nearly strong enough regulations in place to protect drinking water, and the regulation process is much too slow."

“We’re testing for things that are already in our drinking water after the fact … and we’re not keeping pace with these chemicals.”

US President Joe Biden's administration has announced a strategy to regulate PFAS chemicals. However, it is yet to be implemented.&nbsp;

A report by a leading environmental group in the US has claimed that many people are at risk of developing liver diseases due to the contaminated tap water that they have been consuming.

A report by a leading environmental group in the US has claimed that many people are at risk of developing liver diseases due to the contaminated tap water that they have been consuming. As a part of the report, the researchers discovered 56 new contaminants, including pesticides and radioactive materials. These contaminants are consumed by Americans on a daily basis. The researchers analysed data from nearly 50,000 water systems from across the US to come to a conclusion. The problem is mainly caused by the decaying infrastructure and the pollution from toxic "forever chemicals." This can be found in water, air, food or even in shampoo or makeup, claims the report. There are several thousand types of forever chemicals, or what is called Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Also read | 'I ain't paying': Tom Hanks turned down Jeff Bezos' offer to take Blue Origin space flight Once these chemicals are ingested, they can accumulate in the body. Few studies have revealed that exposure to PFAS can lead to problems with fertility, developmental delays in children, increased risks of obesity. It can also lead to certain cancers, including prostate, kidney and testicular. EWG senior scientist Tasha Stoiber said, "It speaks to the fact that we don’t have nearly strong enough regulations in place to protect drinking water, and the regulation process is much too slow." “We’re testing for things that are already in our drinking water after the fact … and we’re not keeping pace with these chemicals.” US President Joe Biden's administration has announced a strategy to regulate PFAS chemicals. However, it is yet to be implemented.

US: People at risk of developing harmful diseases due to contaminated tap water

As the political crisis intensifies in Ethiopia, the United States government has suspended an important trade deal with the country. The suspension comes amid escalating sexual violence by soldiers in Tigray. Who will be affected by this decision? WION tells you.

Ethiopia's textile industry to suffer if US suspends trade deal over Tigray war

Pfizer's kid-size COVID-19 injection received final approval from US health regulators on Tuesday, paving the way for a substantial extension of the country's vaccination campaign to include children as young as 5.

The Food and Drug Administration has previously approved the injections for children aged 5 to 11.&nbsp;

The dosages given to teenagers and adults are just a third of what is given to teens and adults.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on the other hand, makes explicit recommendations on who should receive FDA-approved vaccines. 
 
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-vaccine-mandate-deadline-looms-new-york-city-braces-for-workers-shortage-425259" hreflang="en">As vaccine mandate deadline looms, New York City braces for workers’ shortage</a>

Dr Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, made the news just hours after an advisory council unanimously recommended that Pfizer's vaccines should be made available to the 28 million children in that age bracket.&nbsp;

During a day of live-streamed deliberations, the CDC assembled a panel of independent experts to analyse the existing data on the state of the outbreak in children, the efficiency of Pfizer's vaccine, and its likely adverse effects.&nbsp;

Since the FDA approval, "there hasn't been a moment that teams have not been picking, packing and shipping vaccines," Jeff Zients, the White House pandemic coordinator, said Monday. 
 
Watch | Rise in COVID-19 cases among children in Israel trigger noticeable jump

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/rise-in-covid-19-cases-among-children-in-israel-trigger-noticeable-jump-419987/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"We are planning on some vaccinations towards the end of this week," he said, adding that the programme will be "really hitting full strength the week of November 8."

Last week, FDA officials debated whether every young kid required vaccination.

COVID-19-infected children are more likely to develop high-risk diseases, including obesity or diabetes.

However, otherwise healthy youngsters can get critically ill, and the CDC's advisors eventually advised the injections for all of them, including those who had already recovered from a COVID-19 infection.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Pfizer's kid-size COVID-19 injection received final approval from US health regulators on Tuesday, paving the way for a substantial extension of the country's vaccination campaign to include children as young as 5.

Pfizer's kid-size COVID-19 injection received final approval from US health regulators on Tuesday, paving the way for a substantial extension of the country's vaccination campaign to include children as young as 5. The Food and Drug Administration has previously approved the injections for children aged 5 to 11. The dosages given to teenagers and adults are just a third of what is given to teens and adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on the other hand, makes explicit recommendations on who should receive FDA-approved vaccines. Also Read: As vaccine mandate deadline looms, New York City braces for workers’ shortage Dr Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, made the news just hours after an advisory council unanimously recommended that Pfizer's vaccines should be made available to the 28 million children in that age bracket. During a day of live-streamed deliberations, the CDC assembled a panel of independent experts to analyse the existing data on the state of the outbreak in children, the efficiency of Pfizer's vaccine, and its likely adverse effects. Since the FDA approval, "there hasn't been a moment that teams have not been picking, packing and shipping vaccines," Jeff Zients, the White House pandemic coordinator, said Monday. Watch | Rise in COVID-19 cases among children in Israel trigger noticeable jump "We are planning on some vaccinations towards the end of this week," he said, adding that the programme will be "really hitting full strength the week of November 8." Last week, FDA officials debated whether every young kid required vaccination. COVID-19-infected children are more likely to develop high-risk diseases, including obesity or diabetes. However, otherwise healthy youngsters can get critically ill, and the CDC's advisors eventually advised the injections for all of them, including those who had already recovered from a COVID-19 infection. (With inputs from agencies)

COVID-19 vaccine for children: US gives final nod to Pfizer jabs for 5-11 age group

China "resolutely opposes" Washington's revocation of China Telecom Corp Inc's licence to operate in the United States, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said in a statement on Wednesday.

"In recent years, the United States has repeatedly sanctioned Chinese companies on the grounds of national security and disregarding facts," the regulator wrote.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-making-rapid-progress-in-development-of-silos-missiles-that-could-launch-nuclear-weapons-report-426276">China making rapid progress in development of silos missiles that could launch nuclear weapons: Report</a>

"This is an unreasonable suppression of Chinese enterprises by abuse of state power and a serious breach of international economic and trade rules," it added.

MIIT urged Washington to reverse its decision.

Late last month the US&nbsp;Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to revoke the authorization for China Telecom’s US&nbsp;subsidiary to operate in the United States, citing national security concerns. The decision means China Telecom Americas must now discontinue US&nbsp;services within 60 days.

The US&nbsp;government said in April 2020 that China Telecom targets its mobile virtual network to more than 4 million Chinese Americans; 2 million Chinese tourists a year visiting the United States; 300,000 Chinese students at American colleges; and the more than 1,500 Chinese businesses in America.

Soon after Washington's decision, a spokesperson for China's commerce ministry said that Beijing had issued a formal complaint about it.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-reference-to-heated-exchange-with-wfp-elon-musks-cryptic-poem-goes-viral-on-chinese-social-media-426129">A reference to heated exchange with WFP?, Elon Musk's cryptic poem goes viral on Chinese social media</a>

In March, the FCC began efforts to revoke authorization for China Unicom Americas, Pacific Networks and its wholly-owned subsidiary ComNet to provide US&nbsp;telecommunications services.

In May 2019, the FCC voted unanimously to deny another state-owned Chinese telecommunications company, China Mobile, the right to provide US&nbsp;services.

China "resolutely opposes" Washington's revocation of China Telecom Corp Inc's licence to operate in the United States, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said in a statement on Wednesday.

China "resolutely opposes" Washington's revocation of China Telecom Corp Inc's licence to operate in the United States, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said in a statement on Wednesday. "In recent years, the United States has repeatedly sanctioned Chinese companies on the grounds of national security and disregarding facts," the regulator wrote. Also Read | China making rapid progress in development of silos missiles that could launch nuclear weapons: Report "This is an unreasonable suppression of Chinese enterprises by abuse of state power and a serious breach of international economic and trade rules," it added. MIIT urged Washington to reverse its decision. Late last month the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to revoke the authorization for China Telecom’s US subsidiary to operate in the United States, citing national security concerns. The decision means China Telecom Americas must now discontinue US services within 60 days. The US government said in April 2020 that China Telecom targets its mobile virtual network to more than 4 million Chinese Americans; 2 million Chinese tourists a year visiting the United States; 300,000 Chinese students at American colleges; and the more than 1,500 Chinese businesses in America. Soon after Washington's decision, a spokesperson for China's commerce ministry said that Beijing had issued a formal complaint about it. Also Read | A reference to heated exchange with WFP?, Elon Musk's cryptic poem goes viral on Chinese social media In March, the FCC began efforts to revoke authorization for China Unicom Americas, Pacific Networks and its wholly-owned subsidiary ComNet to provide US telecommunications services. In May 2019, the FCC voted unanimously to deny another state-owned Chinese telecommunications company, China Mobile, the right to provide US services.

China opposes US revocation of China Telecom licence

The United States' Federal Aviation Administration said that it had issued a special information bulletin alerting manufacturers, operators and pilots that action may be needed to address potential interference with sensitive aircraft electronics caused by the use of 5G telecommunications technology.

US aviation regulator warns of potential interference from 5G spectrum plan

An Apple employee who was fired&nbsp; last month after leading fellow workers in publicly sharing instances of what they called harassment and discrimination has filed a charge with the US&nbsp;National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

In documents related to the charge that were viewed by Reuters, former Apple program manager Janneke Parrish alleged that Apple fired her to stymie her efforts to organise fellow workers.

"Apple Inc. terminated Parrish's employment based upon false and pretextual reasons and in fact terminated her employment in (an) attempt to nip-in-the-bud the successful organising campaign that Parrish and her coworkers established to address and redress employees'&nbsp;workplace concerns," Parrish wrote in a cover letter accompanying her charge with the labor board.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/apples-most-back-ordered-new-product-is-not-what-you-expect-425165">Apple's most back-ordered new product is not what you expect</a>

In an interview last month, Parrish said the iPhone maker informed her that she had been terminated for deleting material on company equipment while she was under investigation over the leaking of a company town hall to media. She told Reuters she denies leaking.

Apple said in response to the interview comments at the time that it did not discuss specific employee matters. It has said that it is "deeply committed to creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace" and that it takes "all concerns" from employees seriously.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-officials-request-apple-pulls-down-quran-app-in-china-421257" hreflang="en">After officials’ request, Apple pulls down Quran app in China</a>

Apple has recently experienced other examples of employee unrest. In September, two Apple employees told Reuters they had also filed charges Apple has said that it is "deeply committed to creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace" and that it takes "all concerns" from employees seriously against the company with the NLRB.

The workers accused Apple of retaliation and halting discussion of pay among employees, among other allegations.

The NLRB investigates all charges it receives and prosecutes employers if it finds the cases have merit. 
&nbsp;

An Apple employee who was fired last month after leading fellow workers in publicly sharing instances of what they called harassment and discrimination has filed a charge with the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

An Apple employee who was fired last month after leading fellow workers in publicly sharing instances of what they called harassment and discrimination has filed a charge with the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In documents related to the charge that were viewed by Reuters, former Apple program manager Janneke Parrish alleged that Apple fired her to stymie her efforts to organise fellow workers. "Apple Inc. terminated Parrish's employment based upon false and pretextual reasons and in fact terminated her employment in (an) attempt to nip-in-the-bud the successful organising campaign that Parrish and her coworkers established to address and redress employees' workplace concerns," Parrish wrote in a cover letter accompanying her charge with the labor board. Also Read | Apple's most back-ordered new product is not what you expect In an interview last month, Parrish said the iPhone maker informed her that she had been terminated for deleting material on company equipment while she was under investigation over the leaking of a company town hall to media. She told Reuters she denies leaking. Apple said in response to the interview comments at the time that it did not discuss specific employee matters. It has said that it is "deeply committed to creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace" and that it takes "all concerns" from employees seriously. Also read | After officials’ request, Apple pulls down Quran app in China Apple has recently experienced other examples of employee unrest. In September, two Apple employees told Reuters they had also filed charges Apple has said that it is "deeply committed to creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace" and that it takes "all concerns" from employees seriously against the company with the NLRB. The workers accused Apple of retaliation and halting discussion of pay among employees, among other allegations. The NLRB investigates all charges it receives and prosecutes employers if it finds the cases have merit.

Fired Apple employee files complaint with US labour agency

Key Democratic Senator Joe Manchin is asking for more time to get “clarification” on the economic impact of President Joe Biden’s social spending package and other Democrats.

Democrat Manchin calls Biden's $1.75 trillion spending proposal a "shell game"

Days before it became clear that Republican Glenn Youngkin would win Virginia’s gubernatorial race, pollsters, pundits and political strategists were trying to explain why a race that was the Democrat Terry McAuliffe’s to lose was on its way to being lost.

Some explanations were more convincing than others.

Least convincing was the suggestion that Youngkin, a former private equity executive, won by dogwhistling Dixie. The pro-McAuliffe Lincoln Project even tried to troll a Youngkin event in Charlottesville with tiki-torch bearers, but they were exposed. That theory fails to explain why Youngkin ever would have thought he could win by moving to the hard right in a state where no Republican has won statewide office in a dozen years, and which Joe Biden won last year by 10 points.

Another explanation is that early political reversals for an incumbent party are normal. Republican Chris Christie of New Jersey won a similar bellwether gubernatorial election in 2009, almost a year into Barack Obama’s first term. That win anticipated the GOP’s historic 63-seat gain in the 2010 House elections, but it did not keep Obama from getting his signature legislation enacted, much less from being reelected.

Then there is the fact that McAuliffe ran a lousy campaign. State races are about state issues. McAuliffe’s focus was to paint Youngkin as a Trumpkin, going so far as to invent a fictional Youngkin-Trump joint campaign event. Youngkin focused on issues like cutting taxes on groceries and giving parents more of a say in their kids’ education. Voters typically want governors to solve problems, not serve as moral avatars.

Finally, there’s Joe Biden. He is manifestly inept. He cannot get his party to pass a popular infrastructure bill. On inflation, Afghanistan and the southern border, he has offered benign assurances that have been summarily contradicted by events. No president elected after World War II lost more public support in his first few months of office than he has, according to Gallup. Biden’s losses are particularly steep among independents. If Biden doesn’t recover, this is bound to have down-ballot effects.

The last three explanations are true as far as they go. But they don’t sufficiently capture the Democrats’ deeper problem, which is the persistent and justified perception of a party too often composed of fake moderates and dissembling radicals. Middle-of-the-road voters — the kind who still decide elections in purplish places like Virginia — sense they’ve been bamboozled.

Who’s a fake moderate? Biden campaigned as the most centrist Democrat in last year’s primary field. He is trying to govern as the most socially transformational president since Lyndon B. Johnson. Attorney General Merrick Garland looks like a fake moderate, too willing to cite the power of the federal government after angry parents at school board meetings were labeled domestic terrorists. Whatever happened to Democrats as civil libertarians?

As for dissembling radicals, note the way in which the controversy over critical race theory is treated by much of the left as either much ado about an obscure scholarly discipline or, alternatively, a beneficent and necessary set of teachings about the past and present of systemic racism in America.

But CRT is neither obscure nor anodyne. It is, according to many of its leading theoreticians, a “politically committed movement” that often explicitly rejects notions of merit, objectivity, colorblindness and neutrality of law among other classically liberal concepts.

That’s no reason to ban teaching it or any other way of looking at the world. But it is dishonest to argue that it is anything less than ideologically radical, intensely racialized and deliberately polarizing. It is even more dishonest to suggest that it exists only in academic cloisters. We live in an era of ubiquitous race-based “affinity groups,” incessant allegations of white supremacy, and pervasive censorship and self-censorship in everything from words that can be said and documentaries that can be watched, to jokes that can be laughed at.

No wonder the debate over CRT-influenced pedagogies in public schools — which liberals insist don’t even exist in the state’s public schools, although they clearly do — had such a galvanic effect on the Virginia race. It exposed the myth that the illiberal currents at play in the United States today are solely a Republican phenomenon. They are not.

It’s fair to debate which kind of illiberalism is worse. But the Democrats’ political problem is either dishonesty about the kind of country they want, a lack of self-awareness, or some combination of both. An America in which group identity takes precedence over individual merit, racial categories become moral categories, success based on achievement is denigrated as “privilege” based on ancestry, blind justice is attacked as systemically biased, and independent thinking risks being treated as heresy, will eventually cease to be a free, fair and just country.

Many liberals who have tasted the progressive moonshine get the point. But too many still feel obligated to take sides against Trumpism when the real enemy is illiberalism writ large, whatever the source. The tragedy of the Republican Party is that too few conservatives had the nerve to fight the enemy within. Voters penalized the party in 2018 by losing the House, and in 2020 by losing the presidency.

The tragedy of the Democratic Party may yet be its own loss of nerve against its in-house extremists. Whether it’s this week or next year, the political penalties are likely to be steep.

Days before it became clear that Republican Glenn Youngkin would win Virginia’s gubernatorial race, pollsters, pundits and political strategists were trying to explain why a race that was the Democrat Terry McAuliffe’s to lose was on its way to being lost.

Days before it became clear that Republican Glenn Youngkin would win Virginia’s gubernatorial race, pollsters, pundits and political strategists were trying to explain why a race that was the Democrat Terry McAuliffe’s to lose was on its way to being lost. Some explanations were more convincing than others. Least convincing was the suggestion that Youngkin, a former private equity executive, won by dogwhistling Dixie. The pro-McAuliffe Lincoln Project even tried to troll a Youngkin event in Charlottesville with tiki-torch bearers, but they were exposed. That theory fails to explain why Youngkin ever would have thought he could win by moving to the hard right in a state where no Republican has won statewide office in a dozen years, and which Joe Biden won last year by 10 points. Another explanation is that early political reversals for an incumbent party are normal. Republican Chris Christie of New Jersey won a similar bellwether gubernatorial election in 2009, almost a year into Barack Obama’s first term. That win anticipated the GOP’s historic 63-seat gain in the 2010 House elections, but it did not keep Obama from getting his signature legislation enacted, much less from being reelected. Then there is the fact that McAuliffe ran a lousy campaign. State races are about state issues. McAuliffe’s focus was to paint Youngkin as a Trumpkin, going so far as to invent a fictional Youngkin-Trump joint campaign event. Youngkin focused on issues like cutting taxes on groceries and giving parents more of a say in their kids’ education. Voters typically want governors to solve problems, not serve as moral avatars. Finally, there’s Joe Biden. He is manifestly inept. He cannot get his party to pass a popular infrastructure bill. On inflation, Afghanistan and the southern border, he has offered benign assurances that have been summarily contradicted by events. No president elected after World War II lost more public support in his first few months of office than he has, according to Gallup. Biden’s losses are particularly steep among independents. If Biden doesn’t recover, this is bound to have down-ballot effects. The last three explanations are true as far as they go. But they don’t sufficiently capture the Democrats’ deeper problem, which is the persistent and justified perception of a party too often composed of fake moderates and dissembling radicals. Middle-of-the-road voters — the kind who still decide elections in purplish places like Virginia — sense they’ve been bamboozled. Who’s a fake moderate? Biden campaigned as the most centrist Democrat in last year’s primary field. He is trying to govern as the most socially transformational president since Lyndon B. Johnson. Attorney General Merrick Garland looks like a fake moderate, too willing to cite the power of the federal government after angry parents at school board meetings were labeled domestic terrorists. Whatever happened to Democrats as civil libertarians? As for dissembling radicals, note the way in which the controversy over critical race theory is treated by much of the left as either much ado about an obscure scholarly discipline or, alternatively, a beneficent and necessary set of teachings about the past and present of systemic racism in America. But CRT is neither obscure nor anodyne. It is, according to many of its leading theoreticians, a “politically committed movement” that often explicitly rejects notions of merit, objectivity, colorblindness and neutrality of law among other classically liberal concepts. That’s no reason to ban teaching it or any other way of looking at the world. But it is dishonest to argue that it is anything less than ideologically radical, intensely racialized and deliberately polarizing. It is even more dishonest to suggest that it exists only in academic cloisters. We live in an era of ubiquitous race-based “affinity groups,” incessant allegations of white supremacy, and pervasive censorship and self-censorship in everything from words that can be said and documentaries that can be watched, to jokes that can be laughed at. No wonder the debate over CRT-influenced pedagogies in public schools — which liberals insist don’t even exist in the state’s public schools, although they clearly do — had such a galvanic effect on the Virginia race. It exposed the myth that the illiberal currents at play in the United States today are solely a Republican phenomenon. They are not. It’s fair to debate which kind of illiberalism is worse. But the Democrats’ political problem is either dishonesty about the kind of country they want, a lack of self-awareness, or some combination of both. An America in which group identity takes precedence over individual merit, racial categories become moral categories, success based on achievement is denigrated as “privilege” based on ancestry, blind justice is attacked as systemically biased, and independent thinking risks being treated as heresy, will eventually cease to be a free, fair and just country. Many liberals who have tasted the progressive moonshine get the point. But too many still feel obligated to take sides against Trumpism when the real enemy is illiberalism writ large, whatever the source. The tragedy of the Republican Party is that too few conservatives had the nerve to fight the enemy within. Voters penalized the party in 2018 by losing the House, and in 2020 by losing the presidency. The tragedy of the Democratic Party may yet be its own loss of nerve against its in-house extremists. Whether it’s this week or next year, the political penalties are likely to be steep.

Opinion: Why Democrats are in trouble

China has made unprecedented progress in its nuclear military capabilities. In the latest, there has been rapid construction of silo fields at different sites. Why is this alarmin? Watch our report to know more!

China makes progress in Silo field construction, US-based think tank tracks developments

&nbsp;Negotiations to revive Iran's 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers will fail unless US&nbsp;President Joe Biden can guarantee that Washington will not again abandon the pact, the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council said on Wednesday.

"The US&nbsp;President, lacking authority, is not ready to give guarantees. If the current status quo continues, the result of negotiations is clear," Ali Shamkhani said in a tweet.

Iran is expected to give an exact date this week for the resumption of talks with the powers, scheduled for end of November according to Iranian top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri-Kani.

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In April, Iran and six powers started talks in Vienna to reinstate the deal, which then-US&nbsp;President Donald Trump ditched three years ago before reimposing sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy.

However, the talks were put on hold after Iran`s presidential election in June that brought anti-Western hardliner Ebrahim Raisi to power.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-doubts-alleged-us-determination-to-revive-nuke-deal-fm-425894">Also read |&nbsp;Iran doubts alleged US determination to revive nuke deal: FM</a>

A main disagreement in Vienna has been over Iran's requirement for the United States to give guarantees that it would not renege on the nuclear agreement in the future.

The United States and European powers have urged Iran to return to negotiations, warning that time is running out as the Islamic Republic's uranium enrichment programme is advancing well beyond the limits set by the nuclear pact.

In reaction to Trump's reimposition of sanctions, Tehran breached the deal by rebuilding stockpiles of enriched uranium, refining it to higher fissile purity and installing advanced centrifuges to speed up output.

&nbsp;

Negotiations to revive Iran's 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers will fail unless US President Joe Biden can guarantee that Washington will not again abandon the pact, the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council said on Wednesday.

Negotiations to revive Iran's 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers will fail unless US President Joe Biden can guarantee that Washington will not again abandon the pact, the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council said on Wednesday. "The US President, lacking authority, is not ready to give guarantees. If the current status quo continues, the result of negotiations is clear," Ali Shamkhani said in a tweet. Iran is expected to give an exact date this week for the resumption of talks with the powers, scheduled for end of November according to Iranian top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri-Kani. Also Read | Ethiopia declares nationwide emergency as insurgents threaten the capital In April, Iran and six powers started talks in Vienna to reinstate the deal, which then-US President Donald Trump ditched three years ago before reimposing sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy. However, the talks were put on hold after Iran`s presidential election in June that brought anti-Western hardliner Ebrahim Raisi to power. Also read | Iran doubts alleged US determination to revive nuke deal: FM A main disagreement in Vienna has been over Iran's requirement for the United States to give guarantees that it would not renege on the nuclear agreement in the future. The United States and European powers have urged Iran to return to negotiations, warning that time is running out as the Islamic Republic's uranium enrichment programme is advancing well beyond the limits set by the nuclear pact. In reaction to Trump's reimposition of sanctions, Tehran breached the deal by rebuilding stockpiles of enriched uranium, refining it to higher fissile purity and installing advanced centrifuges to speed up output.

Iran warns nuclear talks would fail unless Biden provides guarantees

A new report has revealed the rapid progress of China's three silos fields. Will it overtake the US and Russia?

Veil of secrecy around China's expansion of nuclear warhead stockpile

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has officially approved Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for children from the ages of 5 to 11. This means that up to 28 million children in the age group will be eligible for the shots.

US CDC approves Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11

US President Joe Biden has criticised Russia and China for missing the crucial United Nations climate change conference, COP26.

US President Biden criticises China and Russia for missing COP26 Climate Summit

An armed anti-Taliban group has registered in the United States in an attempt to build a global resistance against the Taliban. The group registered with the Justice Department to carry out political lobbying in the US.

Anti-Taliban group registers with US to build Afghan resistance

A recent report has revealed that members of the previous Afghan government have&nbsp;joined the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-Khorasan branch (ISIS-K) to fight against the Taliban.

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal,&nbsp;the members of&nbsp;intelligence body of the previous government are now working with ISIS-K to survive.&nbsp;

These people mostly include US-trained Afghan spies.&nbsp;

The report also highlights how the former Afghan spies are joining ISIS-K to have a stable source of income. These people were left broke after the government collapsed.&nbsp;

The report comes at a time when Afghanistan has already been witnessing a surge in assassinations and bomb blasts.&nbsp;

Also, as many as 65 terrorists affiliated to Islamic State (IS) have surrendered to Taliban-led authorities.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/isis-k-could-have-the-capability-to-attack-the-us-within-6-12-months-pentagon-424310">Also read |&nbsp;ISIS-K could have the capability to attack the US within '6-12 months': Pentagon</a>

In October, a US Department of Defence official had revealed that ISIS-K might strike American targets in as little as six months, while Al Qaeda can also improve its capabilities.

Colin Kahl, the undersecretary of Defense for policy, said before the Senate Armed Services Committee that neither terror organisation poses an immediate danger, but that they must be treated seriously since that might change in a short period.&nbsp;

"I think the intelligence community currently assesses that both ISIS-K and al Qaeda have the intent to conduct external operations, including against the United States. But neither currently can do so," Kahl said.&nbsp;

"We could see ISIS-K generate that capability in somewhere between six or 12 months. I think the current assessment by the intelligence community is that al Qaeda would take a year or two to reconstitute that capability."

(With inputs from Agencies)

A recent report has revealed that members of the previous Afghan government have joined the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-Khorasan branch (ISIS-K) to fight against the Taliban.

A recent report has revealed that members of the previous Afghan government have joined the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-Khorasan branch (ISIS-K) to fight against the Taliban. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the members of intelligence body of the previous government are now working with ISIS-K to survive. These people mostly include US-trained Afghan spies. The report also highlights how the former Afghan spies are joining ISIS-K to have a stable source of income. These people were left broke after the government collapsed. The report comes at a time when Afghanistan has already been witnessing a surge in assassinations and bomb blasts. Also, as many as 65 terrorists affiliated to Islamic State (IS) have surrendered to Taliban-led authorities. Also read | ISIS-K could have the capability to attack the US within '6-12 months': Pentagon In October, a US Department of Defence official had revealed that ISIS-K might strike American targets in as little as six months, while Al Qaeda can also improve its capabilities. Colin Kahl, the undersecretary of Defense for policy, said before the Senate Armed Services Committee that neither terror organisation poses an immediate danger, but that they must be treated seriously since that might change in a short period. "I think the intelligence community currently assesses that both ISIS-K and al Qaeda have the intent to conduct external operations, including against the United States. But neither currently can do so," Kahl said. "We could see ISIS-K generate that capability in somewhere between six or 12 months. I think the current assessment by the intelligence community is that al Qaeda would take a year or two to reconstitute that capability." (With inputs from Agencies)

US-trained Afghan government members join ISIS-K to 'resist' Taliban, reveals report

While addressing COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow President Joe Biden said that the US is ready to be a leader again in the fight against climate change. Biden also apologised for former US President Donald Trump's climate actions.

US ready to lead world in climate fight, says Biden at COP26 summit

New Yorkers head to the polls Tuesday in a mayoral election that is virtually guaranteed to elect Black former policeman Eric Adams as the next leader of America's biggest city.

The centrist Democrat is expected to trounce Republican candidate and volunteer crime fighter Curtis Sliwa in the liberal-voting bastion to become just the second African American to lead the Big Apple.

New York mayor is often described as the most difficult job in the United States after president.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/virginia-goes-to-polls-in-too-close-to-call-bellwether-election-426138">Virginia goes to polls in too-close-to call bellwether election</a>

If the 61-year-old Adams wins, he will succeed unpopular progressive Bill de Blasio, whose two-term limit ends December 31.

Adams will be tasked with leading the city's recovery after the pandemic, which has killed more than 34,000 residents and closed hundreds of thousands of businesses.

As mayor for more than eight million people, he will oversee America's largest municipal budget, crippled by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19 crisis</a>, and its biggest police force and public school system.&nbsp;

The moderate candidate defeated progressive rivals in June's Democratic primary by mainly pledging to crack down on violent crime that soared during the pandemic.

He promised to tackle wealth inequalities and reform the education system, as well.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-mayors-race-in-chaos-after-elections-board-counts-135000-test-ballots-394914">New York mayor’s race in chaos after elections board counts 135,000 test ballots</a>

Adams will also have to grapple with a severe lack of affordable housing, violent chaos at the notorious Rikers Island prison and the effects of more extreme weather events on New York City's creaking infrastructure.

One of his trickiest balancing acts will be trying to reform police practices while keeping onside a heavily unionized force that feels it has been underappreciated during the de Blasio era.

Adams opposes defunding the police, a policy that is a rallying cry for many on the American left. He is also seen as being friendly towards the business community and has not called for higher taxes for wealthy residents.

Reforming the police&nbsp;

He was born into poverty in Brooklyn in 1960, and was raised in a large family living in a working-class neighborhood of Queens. His mother was a cleaner, and his father was a butcher.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-trump-thunders-about-last-election-republicans-worry-about-the-next-one-421889">As Trump thunders about last election, Republicans worry about the next one</a>

&nbsp;

Adams briefly ran errands for a gang as a teenager. When he was 15, he was beaten by two NYPD officers after they arrested him for criminal trespassing.

That sparked his determination to join the NYPD so he could reform it from the inside. Adams entered the force in the mid-1980s, serving 22 years and rising to become a captain.

In 1995, he co-founded "100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care," an advocacy group designed to fight against racism in the police and that still exists today.

Adams retired in 2006, winning election to the New York State Senate that year. He served until 2013, when he was elected Brooklyn borough president, providing a springboard for his mayoral ambitions.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-prime-minister-fumio-kishida-declares-victory-after-very-tough-election-425730">Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida declares victory after 'very tough' election</a>&nbsp;

Adams credits veganism with reversing his 2016 diabetes diagnosis and released a book last year that aims to turn African Americans to a plant-based diet.

Polls open at 6:00 am and close at 9:00 pm. Almost 170,000 people out of some five million registered voters have already cast ballots in early voting.

New Yorkers head to the polls Tuesday in a mayoral election that is virtually guaranteed to elect Black former policeman Eric Adams as the next leader of America's biggest city.

New Yorkers head to the polls Tuesday in a mayoral election that is virtually guaranteed to elect Black former policeman Eric Adams as the next leader of America's biggest city. The centrist Democrat is expected to trounce Republican candidate and volunteer crime fighter Curtis Sliwa in the liberal-voting bastion to become just the second African American to lead the Big Apple. New York mayor is often described as the most difficult job in the United States after president. Also Read | Virginia goes to polls in too-close-to call bellwether election If the 61-year-old Adams wins, he will succeed unpopular progressive Bill de Blasio, whose two-term limit ends December 31. Adams will be tasked with leading the city's recovery after the pandemic, which has killed more than 34,000 residents and closed hundreds of thousands of businesses. As mayor for more than eight million people, he will oversee America's largest municipal budget, crippled by the COVID-19 crisis, and its biggest police force and public school system. The moderate candidate defeated progressive rivals in June's Democratic primary by mainly pledging to crack down on violent crime that soared during the pandemic. He promised to tackle wealth inequalities and reform the education system, as well. Also Read | New York mayor’s race in chaos after elections board counts 135,000 test ballots Adams will also have to grapple with a severe lack of affordable housing, violent chaos at the notorious Rikers Island prison and the effects of more extreme weather events on New York City's creaking infrastructure. One of his trickiest balancing acts will be trying to reform police practices while keeping onside a heavily unionized force that feels it has been underappreciated during the de Blasio era. Adams opposes defunding the police, a policy that is a rallying cry for many on the American left. He is also seen as being friendly towards the business community and has not called for higher taxes for wealthy residents. Reforming the police He was born into poverty in Brooklyn in 1960, and was raised in a large family living in a working-class neighborhood of Queens. His mother was a cleaner, and his father was a butcher. Also Read | As Trump thunders about last election, Republicans worry about the next one Adams briefly ran errands for a gang as a teenager. When he was 15, he was beaten by two NYPD officers after they arrested him for criminal trespassing. That sparked his determination to join the NYPD so he could reform it from the inside. Adams entered the force in the mid-1980s, serving 22 years and rising to become a captain. In 1995, he co-founded "100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care," an advocacy group designed to fight against racism in the police and that still exists today. Adams retired in 2006, winning election to the New York State Senate that year. He served until 2013, when he was elected Brooklyn borough president, providing a springboard for his mayoral ambitions. Also Read | Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida declares victory after 'very tough' election Adams credits veganism with reversing his 2016 diabetes diagnosis and released a book last year that aims to turn African Americans to a plant-based diet. Polls open at 6:00 am and close at 9:00 pm. Almost 170,000 people out of some five million registered voters have already cast ballots in early voting.

New York poised to elect Black ex-cop Adams as mayor

The US state of Virginia prepared to vote Tuesday for its next governor in a margin-of-error skirmish seen as the first major test of President Joe Biden's political brand.

A harbinger of the parties' prospects in next year's midterm elections, the race between Democratic former governor Terry McAuliffe and Republican tycoon Glenn Youngkin has narrowed in recent weeks and is squarely in toss-up territory.&nbsp;

"At this point, the outcome of this race will all depend on voter turnout," McAuliffe said in an 11th hour mailout to voters late Monday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/obama-warns-of-republican-threat-to-democracy-in-us-battleground-virginia-423393">Obama warns of Republican threat to democracy in US battleground Virginia</a>

"Republicans are fired up to elect their guy, and now, with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> rallying up his base of right-wing extremists on the eve of election day, Glenn Youngkin is sure to have a strong showing tomorrow."

A McAuliffe win would reignite Washington Democrats' faltering push for twin infrastructure and social welfare mega-bills that are the cornerstone of Biden's $3 trillion vision for remaking the economy.

With both packages bogged down by infighting in Congress, moderates would likely see defeat in Virginia as a warning from the electorate to ease up on the president's historic spending plans.&nbsp;

On the Republican side, defeat for Youngkin could finally touch off a reckoning of a different sort on the party's previously unshakeable fealty to twice-impeached Trump, who lost Virginia by 10 points.

'Left, liberal, progressive'&nbsp;

As he tries to mount a return to an office he held four years ago, McAuliffe must negotiate significant headwinds, with the majority party in Washington usually incurring losses during a president's first term. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Youngkin has been performing his own high-wire act, as the vast majority of Republicans believe Trump's false claims that the presidency was stolen in a fraudulent election, making acknowledging the truth politically risky.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-trump-thunders-about-last-election-republicans-worry-about-the-next-one-421889">As Trump thunders about last election, Republicans worry about the next one</a>

&nbsp;

While he was seeking the nomination, Youngkin conjured the spirit of the former president, refusing to say whether he would have voted to certify Biden's election victory after the failed insurrection by Trump supporters on January 6.

But the wealthy former investment banker, 54, has managed to distance himself from Trump at the business end of the campaign, focusing on local "culture war" issues like abortion, mask mandates and the teaching of America's racial history.&nbsp;

"This is a moment for Virginians to push back on this left, liberal, progressive agenda and take our commonwealth back," Youngkin told a rally in state capital Richmond on Monday.

Trump has not shown up to campaign in person, although he has angrily denied a rift with Youngkin and released an incendiary statement on Monday smearing McAuliffe as a "low-life politician who lies, cheats, and steals."

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-unveils-crackdown-on-methan">US unveils crackdown on methane, starting with oil and gas rules</a>

In contrast, a number of other big-name Democrats have wooed Virginians in recent days, including former president Barack Obama, First Lady Jill Biden and the party's rising star Stacey Abrams.

'Soccer dad'&nbsp;

McAuliffe took an early lead in the race but his seven-point cushion has been tightening since summer, and the latest polling average by political analysis website FiveThirtyEight shows Youngkin ahead by one point.

If the polls are an accurate reflection of voter intention, experts believe it could take days to determine the winner.&nbsp;

Leaning into his image as the establishment candidate, McAuliffe has sold himself as a former incumbent who brought back jobs after the worldwide financial crisis of 2008, and has pledged to repeat the trick for the pandemic.

The 64-year-old has sought to nationalize the race -- voicing irritation over deadlock in Washington and making the vote a referendum on Trump and Trumpism.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-nuke-sniffer-plan">US 'nuke sniffer' plane flies over South China Sea: Report</a>

Biden joined McAuliffe in Arlington last week, blasting Youngkin as "an acolyte of Donald Trump" and warning that extremism "can come in a smile and a fleece vest."

Mark Bayer, a congressional aide for two decades and a former chief of staff to Senator Ed Markey, warned that convincing Virginians that Youngkin is nothing more than a Trump mini-me could prove a tall order.

"Despite being endorsed by Trump and making strongly positive statements about him, Youngkin -- at least stylistically, if not politically -- doesn't appear to be a Trump clone," Bayer told AFP.

"Youngkin's 'soccer dad' persona is appealing to swing voters, even as his conservative politics are firmly Republican."

The US state of Virginia prepared to vote Tuesday for its next governor in a margin-of-error skirmish seen as the first major test of President Joe Biden's political brand.

The US state of Virginia prepared to vote Tuesday for its next governor in a margin-of-error skirmish seen as the first major test of President Joe Biden's political brand. A harbinger of the parties' prospects in next year's midterm elections, the race between Democratic former governor Terry McAuliffe and Republican tycoon Glenn Youngkin has narrowed in recent weeks and is squarely in toss-up territory. "At this point, the outcome of this race will all depend on voter turnout," McAuliffe said in an 11th hour mailout to voters late Monday. Also Read | Obama warns of Republican threat to democracy in US battleground Virginia "Republicans are fired up to elect their guy, and now, with Donald Trump rallying up his base of right-wing extremists on the eve of election day, Glenn Youngkin is sure to have a strong showing tomorrow." A McAuliffe win would reignite Washington Democrats' faltering push for twin infrastructure and social welfare mega-bills that are the cornerstone of Biden's $3 trillion vision for remaking the economy. With both packages bogged down by infighting in Congress, moderates would likely see defeat in Virginia as a warning from the electorate to ease up on the president's historic spending plans. On the Republican side, defeat for Youngkin could finally touch off a reckoning of a different sort on the party's previously unshakeable fealty to twice-impeached Trump, who lost Virginia by 10 points. 'Left, liberal, progressive' As he tries to mount a return to an office he held four years ago, McAuliffe must negotiate significant headwinds, with the majority party in Washington usually incurring losses during a president's first term. Youngkin has been performing his own high-wire act, as the vast majority of Republicans believe Trump's false claims that the presidency was stolen in a fraudulent election, making acknowledging the truth politically risky. Also Read | As Trump thunders about last election, Republicans worry about the next one While he was seeking the nomination, Youngkin conjured the spirit of the former president, refusing to say whether he would have voted to certify Biden's election victory after the failed insurrection by Trump supporters on January 6. But the wealthy former investment banker, 54, has managed to distance himself from Trump at the business end of the campaign, focusing on local "culture war" issues like abortion, mask mandates and the teaching of America's racial history. "This is a moment for Virginians to push back on this left, liberal, progressive agenda and take our commonwealth back," Youngkin told a rally in state capital Richmond on Monday. Trump has not shown up to campaign in person, although he has angrily denied a rift with Youngkin and released an incendiary statement on Monday smearing McAuliffe as a "low-life politician who lies, cheats, and steals." Also Read | US unveils crackdown on methane, starting with oil and gas rules In contrast, a number of other big-name Democrats have wooed Virginians in recent days, including former president Barack Obama, First Lady Jill Biden and the party's rising star Stacey Abrams. 'Soccer dad' McAuliffe took an early lead in the race but his seven-point cushion has been tightening since summer, and the latest polling average by political analysis website FiveThirtyEight shows Youngkin ahead by one point. If the polls are an accurate reflection of voter intention, experts believe it could take days to determine the winner. Leaning into his image as the establishment candidate, McAuliffe has sold himself as a former incumbent who brought back jobs after the worldwide financial crisis of 2008, and has pledged to repeat the trick for the pandemic. The 64-year-old has sought to nationalize the race -- voicing irritation over deadlock in Washington and making the vote a referendum on Trump and Trumpism. Also Read | US 'nuke sniffer' plane flies over South China Sea: Report Biden joined McAuliffe in Arlington last week, blasting Youngkin as "an acolyte of Donald Trump" and warning that extremism "can come in a smile and a fleece vest." Mark Bayer, a congressional aide for two decades and a former chief of staff to Senator Ed Markey, warned that convincing Virginians that Youngkin is nothing more than a Trump mini-me could prove a tall order. "Despite being endorsed by Trump and making strongly positive statements about him, Youngkin -- at least stylistically, if not politically -- doesn't appear to be a Trump clone," Bayer told AFP. "Youngkin's 'soccer dad' persona is appealing to swing voters, even as his conservative politics are firmly Republican."

Virginia goes to polls in too-close-to call bellwether election

United States sent a convoy of military planes including a 'nuke sniffer' plane over South China Sea, said a report in South China Morning Post (SCMP). The reported sortie has taken place just a month after a US nuclear submarine hit an underwater object in the South China Sea in October.

The SCMP report quoted experts from an unnamed think tank who, based on satellite images, said that the convoy of US military planes included Constant Phoenix, the 'nuke sniffer', an E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft, two P-8A maritime patrol planes, and one EP-3E electronic warfare and reconnaissance aircraft.

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On October 2, USS Connecticut, a US nuclear submarine hit an unidentified object underwater in South China Sea. The incident, that had taken place in contentious South China Sea had hit headlines everywhere.

China had slammed the incident as 'irresponsible' and had demanded that it be declared whether there was a nuclear leak as a result of the collision.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/south-china-sea-indo-pacific-find-mention-during-indian-pm-modis-meet-with-asean-leaders-424701">South China Sea, Indo-Pacific find mention during Indian PM Modi’s meet with ASEAN leaders</a>

China claims the entirety of South China Sea as being part of it territorial waters based on the so-called 'nine-dash line'. Chinese assertiveness and even aggressive moves has raised tension in the region. China currently has disputes with Japan and Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam and others over the issue of South China Sea.

The US and other western countries have taken a stand against China in South China Sea and have batted for freedom of navigation. US and other navies often carry freedom of navigation exercises in South China Sea eliciting angry reactions from Beijing.

United States sent a convoy of military planes including a 'nuke sniffer' plane over South China Sea, said a report in South China Morning Post (SCMP). The reported sortie has taken place just a month after a US nuclear submarine hit an underwater object in the South China Sea in October.

United States sent a convoy of military planes including a 'nuke sniffer' plane over South China Sea, said a report in South China Morning Post (SCMP). The reported sortie has taken place just a month after a US nuclear submarine hit an underwater object in the South China Sea in October. The SCMP report quoted experts from an unnamed think tank who, based on satellite images, said that the convoy of US military planes included Constant Phoenix, the 'nuke sniffer', an E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft, two P-8A maritime patrol planes, and one EP-3E electronic warfare and reconnaissance aircraft. × On October 2, USS Connecticut, a US nuclear submarine hit an unidentified object underwater in South China Sea. The incident, that had taken place in contentious South China Sea had hit headlines everywhere. China had slammed the incident as 'irresponsible' and had demanded that it be declared whether there was a nuclear leak as a result of the collision. Also Read | South China Sea, Indo-Pacific find mention during Indian PM Modi’s meet with ASEAN leaders China claims the entirety of South China Sea as being part of it territorial waters based on the so-called 'nine-dash line'. Chinese assertiveness and even aggressive moves has raised tension in the region. China currently has disputes with Japan and Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam and others over the issue of South China Sea. The US and other western countries have taken a stand against China in South China Sea and have batted for freedom of navigation. US and other navies often carry freedom of navigation exercises in South China Sea eliciting angry reactions from Beijing.

US 'nuke sniffer' plane flies over South China Sea: Report

U.S. President Joe Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet to discuss the waning relationship on the sidelines of the G20 summit. At a time when tensions are escalating between NATO allies, U.S. and Turkey the meeting is expected to discuss a wide range of issues. VOA White House correspondent Patsy Widakuswara brings in all the latest developments.

U.S. President Biden, Turkish President Erdogan to discuss waning relationship on sidelines of G20

The Pentagon said that it was monitoring the Ukraine region closely amid reports of a new build-up of Russian troops on the country’s border.

US enhances monitoring Russian military build-up near Ukraine

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