Friday briefing: A shaky debate performance from Joe Biden has Democrats panicking

In today's newsletter: In the first presidential debate of this campaign, the incumbent looked slow on his feet and could not match the energy of his mendacious opponent, Donald Trump

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Good morning.

Despite being a rematch, it was a night of many firsts for Joe Biden and Donald Trump, who took part in the earliest presidential debate in modern US history. It was the first debate since John F Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960 that took place without an audience. It was the first time two US presidents have debated each other for the presidency and the first time, reportedly, that Biden and Trump have been in the same room since their last debate in October 2020. And we all remember how well that went - with Trump turning up with Covid and Biden seen as a clear winner.

UK election | A Reform UK activist in the constituency where Nigel Farage is standing has been secretly filmed making extremely racist comments about Rishi Sunak, as well as using Islamophobic and other offensive language. Farage said he was dismayed" by the views expressed.

France | Marine Le Pen has said she expects her far-right National Rally (RN) party to win an absolute majority in France's general election. In an interview with a local newspape, Le Pen said Emmanuel Macron won't have much choice" but to appoint her protege, 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, as prime minister because he will have a mandate from the French people".

Health | One person has died and more than 120 others have been hospitalised in the UK amid an E coli outbreak linked to lettuce in sandwiches, wraps and salads sold in major supermarkets and retail chains, health officials have said.

Environment | Thousands of polluted landfills across England could be leaking toxic chemicals into the environment and harming people who live nearby, experts have warned.

Iran | The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, has announced fresh sanctions against Iran's petroleum sector in response to what he described as an expansion of the country's nuclear programme which has provoked renewed fears that it is preparing to build an atomic bomb.