faced off since the 2020 presidential election and the earliest a debate has ever been held in an election year. at times it was tetchy with them sparring over immigration, abortion and foreign policy. the two etched out sharply differing views on russia's war on ukraine, and the role of nato. at one point president biden said mr trump was a convicted felon — mr trump called mr biden a criminal. immigration was a key issue in the debate, with the two clashing with their different views. let's take a listen. i don't know what he said at the end of that sentence, i don't think he knows what he said either. we have the safest border in the history of our country, all you had to do was leave it. he decided to open up the border and are contrary to people that are from prisons. people that are from mental institutions and insane asylums, terrorists. we have the largest number of terrorists coming to our country right now, all over the world, notjust in south america but all of the world that come from the middle east, everywhere. all of the world they are pouring in. i everywhere. all of the world they are pouring in.- they are pouring in. i made sure we — they are pouring in. i made sure we were _ they are pouring in. i made sure we were never - they are pouring in. i made sure we were never in - they are pouring in. i made sure we were never in a - sure we were never in a situation _ sure we were never in a situation where you had no circumstance where you could come — circumstance where you could come across the border with the police _ come across the border with the police there are now. we increased the number of asylum offices, — increased the number of asylum offices, the border patrol men, endorsed — offices, the border patrol men, endorsed my position. we found ourselves— endorsed my position. we found ourselves in a situation where when — ourselves in a situation where when he — ourselves in a situation where when he was president he was taking — when he was president he was taking babies from their mothers and putting them in cages— mothers and putting them in cages and making sure that famiiies— cages and making sure that families were separated. that is not — families were separated. that is not the _ families were separated. that is not the right way to go. this debate has also addressed the concerns that us voters have on both candidates. donald trump was asked — more than once — whether he would accept the results of the election. if it is a fair and wiggle and good election, absolutely. i would have much rather accepted these, but the fraud and everything else was ridiculous and if you want to have a news conference on it in a week. i will absolutely, there is nothing i would rather do. it would be much is here for me to do that than running again. i was not really going to run until i saw the horrible job he did. in the case ofjoe biden, it was the age question. he is now 81 and would be 86 at the end of a second term. i spent half my career being criticised for being the youngest person in politics, i was the second youngest person ever elected in the united states senate and i'm the honest. this guy is three years younger and a lot less competent. look at what i've done, what i turned around in what a horrible situation he left me. let's speak to our washington chief presenter, caitriona perry, who is in atlanta at the cnn spinroom. caitriona, tell us more about the first head—to—head betweenjoe biden and donald trump. this was tagged as being potentially a pivotal moment in this years campaign and it may have been just that. this years campaign and it may have beenjust that. it this years campaign and it may have been just that. it was the first timejoe biden and donald trump met each other on eight debate stage since they last met in 2020. also the bus time in the history of debate in this project we have a current president debating a past president debating a past president which played out in a lot of how the debate went for the 90 minutes or so. lots of discussion and poking at each other�*s records and a catalogue of what they had achieved or not achieved in their time in office and very little actually forward focusing into what they may do should either of them being re—elected again. there are a lot of topics in the hour and a half, possibly due to the fact that they were timed to give in the short answer is, two minutes by answer and one minute for rebuttal before the microphones were muted of a new development in this debate. joe biden was always going to come under the microscope for the question of age which the trump campaign has been raising for months now. he did stumble on the number of occasions during the number of occasions during the debate, appearing to lose his way and lose his train of thought at one point when answering a question about medicare, something donald trump was quick to jump medicare, something donald trump was quick tojump on later in the debate and saying he couldn't understand whatjoe biden had said he doubted joe biden had said he doubted joe biden could either. for his part, donald trump was pressed repeatedly on whether he would accept the election result if he was to lose in november, he was pushed repeatedly before he gave an answer to that and he somewhat reluctantly set if the elections were free and wiggle than he would. it was also pushed on whether he would get outs to january 6 individuals who were convicted of crimes in relation to storming the capital and he refused to answer that question. the debate focused on a lot of topics, economy obviously a big one, immigration and foreign policy as well. was also sparkling and spiky with both men exchanging insults with each other a lot of the time. joe biden accusing donald trump of having the morals of an ali cupper, donald trump saying living in america was like living in america was like living in america was like living in a rats nest —— ali cat. at one point it descended into the two men big ring over the better golf handicap. the campaign continues, donald trump is in virginia and will hold a rally tomorrow, joe biden in north carolina where he will hold a valley as well. it's a long way to november and will wait to see what happens next. ., ., . , will wait to see what happens next. ., ., ., , ., ~ next. caitriona perry, thank ou next. caitriona perry, thank you very — next. caitriona perry, thank you very much _ next. caitriona perry, thank you very much indeed. - let's get more reaction to the debate now and our la correspondent, emma vardy, is in las vegas, where she's been at the watch parties. what was the reading that was watching from a distance? i’m watching from a distance? i'm the watching from a distance? in the everywhere correspondent. we did a quick look across town and spent the first part of the evening at a republican watch party, the second part during the commercial break we got in the commercial break we got in the car and headed to a democratic watch party and they couldn't have been more different. as soon as you walk into the room of the republican watch party at a swanky restaurant, people are clicking cocktail glasses, there is a celebratory atmosphere. lots of trimmings around, and everyone rang read and a lot of cheering each time trump speaks. for his supporters they feel he did brilliantly tonight, they love his perception of strength and his perception of strength and his putdowns ofjoe biden. in the new president democratic watch party, a completely different atmosphere, people taking things more seriously and listening to what each candidate has to say, less tackling and cheering if you like. lots of people holding their heads in their hands when they hear donald trump speak almost before he answered a question in aquatic supporters were groaning at some of his answers and you just get the feeling that america is so polarised now that for either side, to support one candidate is to despise the other and vice—versa. it is very difficult for each side to cit i annelee a small number of undecided voters in the middle and i don't think the debate tonight will happily change that much —— a really small number. staying with the democratic watch party. what was the reaction to some of the lies that former president trump mentioned tonight? the fact checking, there was no pushback from the two moderators. was the reaction from those watching? groans, people holding their head in their hands, lots of cackling and lots of derision at what they were seeing on the monitor. the debate format was a lot more extent, less free—flowing than before and for some people they felt that made it clear, you could hear what people have to say more but less of a back—and—forth style debate with seen previously. was interesting to hear from previously. was interesting to hearfrom democrats is there is an admission that there is this concern overjoe biden's presentation, the perceptions about his age but voters tonight said to me that doesn't change things, they said we are where we are and he is our best chance and we must back him stop there is that admittance that the two candidates are different and that is a concern and many people will a lot of watch the debate all the way through like we did, lots of people willjudge it on the clips they see go viral on social media and that will be the takeaway for tonight. the republican — the takeaway for tonight. the republican watch party, the comment byjoe biden about donald trump being a convicted felon, what was the reaction when that was mentioned? the?t when that was mentioned? they have heard _ when that was mentioned? they have heard it _ when that was mentioned? they have heard it all— when that was mentioned? they have heard it all before - when that was mentioned? tie have heard it all before and you hear a lot of responses time and time again, when you talk to republicans supporters of trump and that is that the case against him was politically motivated, that it was a witch—hunt as trump calls it in his own words and his supporters absolutely see it those terms. those kinds of putdowns by biden which may delight democratic supporters, don't worry trump supporters. they don't feel in any way shameful about it. of course it's not what they focus on but they explain it away as a politically motivated prosecution and that's good enough for them.— prosecution and that's good enough for them. emma vardy, thank you _ enough for them. emma vardy, thank you very _ enough for them. emma vardy, thank you very much. _ let's speak to robin swanson, democratic strategist. live from sacramento. welcome to the programme. first off, you're reading on what you saw this evening in america? what this evening in america? what we saw was — this evening in america? what we saw was more _ this evening in america? what we saw was more of _ this evening in america? what we saw was more of the - this evening in america? what we saw was more of the same | we saw was more of the same from donald trump, he is a world—class conman who lies with ease and confidence. that doesn't stop him much on every issue he told big whoppers and did not get called out for it like you said by the moderators. i think there will be pushback over the coming 24—hour is on a lot of the things he said, we are seeing a lot of fact checking say that what he said on abortion was wrong, what is set on immigration was wrong, what he said onjobs was immigration was wrong, what he said on jobs was wrong. so immigration was wrong, what he said onjobs was wrong. so he is never without confidence, clearly he is all about style and swagger also i think the biggest difference isjoe biden is substance over style and no—one will givejoe biden a ton of style points from tonight, but i think he's running on a record. is running on a record of increasing jobs tjy on a record of increasing jobs by 15.6 million in america. he is running on protecting a woman's right to reproductive health. he is running on a record of protecting middle—class families. that is what is going to matter at the end of the day with voters and thatis end of the day with voters and that is what is really important for democrats to talk about until november. lise important for democrats to talk about until november.- about until november. use a substance — about until november. use a substance and _ about until november. use a substance and it's _ about until november. use a substance and it's the - about until november. use a substance and it's the policy| substance and it's the policy and the —— use a substance. and we look the performance, there were a couple of slipups from joe biden. engine in medicare instead of perhaps i think the word it was searching for was pandemic. how will that have been read by the white house? these men are only three years apart in age so the talk about the age difference or one being older than the other is really kind of irrelevant. again, he is running on a record and nobody elected joe biden because he was an amazing orator. they elected him because he is reliable, because they trust him and they elected him because there is a conman running on the other side and people do not trust up. on the other side you had a man who interacted onjanuary 6, supported an insurrection and tonight called them patriots. i believe he used the word peaceful patriots to describe them tonight. again, the con goes on and i think america has had enough of it.— had enough of it. obviously i think in the _ had enough of it. obviously i think in the next _ had enough of it. obviously i think in the next few - had enough of it. obviously i think in the next few days i had enough of it. obviously i | think in the next few days we will see how the polls react to this first debate. it's very early days for atb debate like this. strategically was joe biden's camp this. strategically wasjoe biden's camp right to push for this? i biden's camp right to push for this? ~ �* , biden's camp right to push for this? ~ �*, . ., this? i think it's important to net the this? i think it's important to get the issues _ this? i think it's important to get the issues out _ this? i think it's important to get the issues out and - this? i think it's important to get the issues out and i - this? i think it's important to j get the issues out and i think there is one more debate upcoming in a couple of months. we will see where that goes, but it's important that voters know where the vision is for joe biden and where it is for donald trump and to draw that contrast. that was the idea behind having this debate was to draw a distinct contrast between someone who divides the country and someone who is working to unite the country. robin swanson, thank you very much indeed. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. reform uk have condemned campaigners for the party who were apparently recorded making racist, homophobic and islamophobic comments while campaigning to elect nigel farage as mp. our political correspondent, hannah miller, told us more about this story. these were comments recorded by a channel for news when they sent an undercover reporter to work alongside campaigners and clocked in where nigel garages standing to be an mp. the really kind of two groups of accusations that are going on here, the first is comments made by a man identified as andrew parker, who makes racist slurs about the prime minister, rishi sunak and suggests people coming across the channel in boats, they should be target practice used on them, essentially suggesting that they ought to be shot. now, nigel farage, the reform uk leader has described those comments as very prejudiced and very wrong and said that andrew parker will not be welcome working on his campaign infuture. but then there is a separate set of allegations. i should also say andrew parker says that he hadn't made his views known to reform uk and apologise for bringing the party into disrepute, if that is what has happened. the second set of allegations, though, are about homophobic comments. a police car appears to go past and this footage filmed by channel 4 news displaying a pride flag and there are some homophobic comments that are made by a more senior figure, slightly closer to nigel farage, someone who he has known. nigel farage has again said that that person won't be working on his campaign infuture. but he described the comments initially as crass and then kind of had to be pushed into admitting that perhaps they could be described as homophobic. so his response on the one hand to the racist language really quite clear—cut, less clear cut around some of the other accusations, perhaps. but this is something that nigel farage clearly doesn't want to be seen to be associated with as he is standing for the eighth time to try to become an mp. and nigel farage says he's sorry if anyone has been offended by the comments. a lot of what has been said is nonsense, a lot of it is the way people talk. where i find people that were genuinely offensive, idealwith people that were genuinely offensive, ideal with it. people that were genuinely offensive, idealwith it. —— i dealwith offensive, idealwith it. —— i deal with it. european union leaders have nominated ursula von der leyen for a second 5—year term as head of the european commission. ms von der leyen's nomination still needs approval from the european parliament in a secret ballot. antonio costa of portugal's socialists and democrats party has been chosen as the president of the european council. the liberal estonian prime minister, kaja kallas, will be the eu's foreign policy chief, to replace the outgoing josep borrell of spain. let's get some of the day's other news now. at least six people have been killed in a crash at a level crossing in slovakia. the emergency services said an express train hit a bus as it crossed the tracks. all the deaths are understood to be passengers from the bus, with a further five people injured. there are unconfirmed reports that the lights and barriers at the crossing weren't working. the bolivian president, luis arce, has denied any involvement in — or knowledge of — a failed coup led by the former army chief, juanjose zuniga on wednesday. president arce said general zuniga had acted on his own accord. shortly before he was arrested, general zuniga told reporters he'd been ordered to stage the uprising by president arce, saying he wanted to boost his own popularity. the high court in kenya has declined to outlaw the deployment of the military to help the police quell protests that have shaken the country for several days. the bar association had argued that sending the military onto the streets was unconstitutional. doctors say at least 23 protestors were killed earlier this week during demonstrations that saw parts of the parliament set on fire. the us supreme court has rejected a bankruptcy plan for the maker of the opioid oxycontin, purdue pharma. under the plan, billions of dollars would have been released to programs fighting opioid addiction, which has become a leading cause of death in america. in return, the sacklerfamily, which owns purdue pharma, would have got immunity from further lawsuits. our north america correspondent, nada tawfik, has been following the developments. u nfortu nately we unfortunately we do not have that clip but once we do we will get more from nada tawfik. workers at tata say they've been told the company will take steps to cease operations at the port talbot steel plant in south wales earlier than expected — next month — because of a planned strike by unite. around 1,500 workers are due to begin indefinite action over the firm's plans to cut thousands ofjobs. our wales correspondent hywel griffith reports. the blast furnaces dominate the skyline