TOP OF THE AGENDA

Biden falters as Trump repeats falsehoods

A second debate between the two candidates is scheduled for September, Credit: Reuters

Republicans were feeling buoyant after the CNN debate between their presumptive presidential candidate Donald Trump and incumbent Democrat President Joe Biden. Despite Trump's occasional false claims and evasions, including on a question about accepting the election result, his daughter-in-law Lara Trump, the co-chair of the Republican National Committee, praised him as "calm, concise, direct". Democrats were less impressed with President Biden who, while landing a few punches, also stumbled over some answers, which caused panic among some party members. The issue of mental and physical fitness that has been plaguing Mr Biden - and that was a question asked in the debate, too - was not put to rest. If anything, the 90-minute face-off made it worse, writes North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher, describing the 81-year-old as being on the ropes more often than not. 

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• In the spin room: The Biden campaign’s top surrogates were surrounded by a mob of reporters asking whether the party should back a different candidate for president, writes Kayla Epstein from Atlanta. 

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• Watch: US voters have their say on the debate. Here's a summary of its key moments.

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• Get the latest: Our live page brings you more reaction and analysis.

WORLD HEADLINES

• Religion in US classrooms: Oklahoma's top education official has ordered schools in the state to begin incorporating the Bible into lessons.

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• Kenyan protests: The country's High Court has approved the use of military force to quell anti-tax protests that have this week overwhelmed police.

• School stabbling: A Chinese bus attendant who tried to shield a Japanese mother and her child from a knife attack has died, after the incident outside a school in China’s Jiangsu province.

• Siberian wildfires: For the third time in five years, high-intensity fires are ravaging the Arctic Circle, releasing vast quantities of greenhouse gases.

UK ELECTION LATEST

The Gambling Commission has interviewed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's chief of staff Liam Booth-Smith as a witness in the saga over alleged bets on the timing of the general election. With less than a week to go until polling day, Reform UK is facing controversy after party campaigners were filmed making racist, homophobic and Islamophobic comments. Get the latest.

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