First Round - Obama Wins!!

US presidential rivals Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama have attacked each other over foreign policy and the economy, in their first debate.  Asked about a proposed $700bn (£380bn) bail-out of the US economy, Mr Obama said it was the "final verdict" on eight years of Republican policies.  On Iraq, Mr McCain praised the "surge" strategy, while Mr Obama said the US military had not been "used wisely".  Neither landed a knockout blow but polls suggested Mr Obama may have won.  An immediate telephone poll by CNN and Opinion Research Corp found 51% said Mr Obama had done the better job, to 38% for Mr McCain.  A poll of uncommitted voters by CBS News found that 39% gave Mr Obama victory, 25% thought John McCain had won, and 36% thought it was a draw.  Both campaigns claimed victory, with Mr McCain's team saying their candidate had shown a "mastery on national security issues" while Mr Obama's aides said he had passed the commander-in-chief test "with flying colours".

Chinese Astronaut walks in Space...

Three Chinese astronauts orbiting the Earth are about to take part in their country's first space walk.  One astronaut will leave the vessel for 20 minutes to conduct experiments while a second will don a spacesuit but remain in the spacecraft as back-up.  The operation will be broadcast live on television across China.  Conducting operations outside a spacecraft is essential if China is to fulfil its goal of building an orbiting station in the next few years.  The 42-year-old fighter pilot Zhai Zhigang is due to carry out the manoeuvre at 1630 Beijing Time (0830 GMT) on Saturday.  The Shenzhou VII capsule soared into orbit on a Long March II-F rocket from Jiuquan spaceport in north-west China.  The rocket put the Shenzhou capsule in a near-circular orbit more than 300km above the Earth.

Mugabe calls for Lift of Sanctions

In a remorse mood, Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has urged the lifting of what he called illegal sanctions against his country.  Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, he said the sanctions were hampering Zimbabwe's economy.  After his re-election in disputed polls this year, Western countries tightened measures against individuals and firms seen to be supporting Mr Mugabe.  At the UN, he also called for reform of the Security Council, saying it had become the tool of powerful countries.  Zimbabwe's economy has gone into a sharp crisis in recent years, with annual inflation officially standing at 11,000,000%.

Zulu Reed Dance Outdated!

The traditional Zulu reed dance is sexist and outdated, South Africa's Young Communist League (YCL) says.  YCL spokesman Castro Ngobese said the cultural practice in honour of the Zulu King Shaka makes women "chained prisoners of backwards traditions".  But traditionalists say the annual ceremony gives dignity to participants.  The YCL dedicated this year's Heritage Day events to a young girl who was raped during last weekend's reed dance celebrations in northern KwaZulu-Natal.  The South African press reported on Tuesday that a 14-year-old Zulu maiden who had been participating in the ceremony at King Goodwill Zwelithini's palace over the weekend was dragged outside and gang-raped.