US presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump faced off in the first presidential debate on Monday.
A small survey taken by CNN/ORC after the debate found 62 per cent of voters believed that Mrs Clinton had won the debate. Other media agencies were divided on the result; more effective surveys will be released later in the week. Research firm Nielsen estimated that over 81.4 million Americans tuned in to the debate, which would make it the most-watched presidential debate ever.
When asked about the second of their three planned debates, scheduled for October 10, Mr Trump said he would be less sympathetic: “I may hit her harder in certain ways. I really eased up because I didn’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings.”
US promises $364m humanitarian aid for Syria
A new US pledge of aid for Syria’s struggling masses, caught in the middle of a raging civil war will focus on providing food, safe water and medical care. The news may have been small comfort for the people of Aleppo, where Syrian forces advanced to the centre of the city after hammering it and its population with days of heavy air strikes.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), concerned for the evacuation of the injured and sick, has called for the creation of safe routes out of the city. A spokeswoman said blood and medicines were in short supply. Only 35 doctors are left to care for the hundreds who are trapped and injured.
ISIS bombings kill 17 in Baghdad
The Islamic State last night claimed responsibility for two suicide bombings in Shia Muslim areas of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. Eight people were killed and 29 injured in the Jadida district; the second attack killed nine people and injured 30 in the Bayaa area. Bombings in the city have increased as the Islamic extremist group loses ground to US-backed government forces north of the city.
Chevron contractors killed, missing in Angola helicopter crash
Four people died and two are missing after a helicopter crashed into the sea just off the oil-rich Cabinda enclave in Angola early this week. The five passengers and pilot all worked for US oil giant Chevron. The head of Chevron’s Angolan subsidiary John Baltz said the cause of the accident was being investigated. – Compiled from web sources by Alicia Camilleri, Nikolina Matijevic, Sinead Fogarty and Siri Linde
Screengrab from CNN broadcast shows Hillary Clinton driving home a point during her debate as Donald Trump feigns an air of boredom.
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An aspiring journalist with an interest in global and current affairs.
