Obama and Romney in spiky debate

President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney trade blows in the second of three debates, with voters posing the questions in New York.


M23 rebel in North Kivu town of Rubare near Rutshuru. 5 Aug 2012Rwanda leads DRC rebels, says UN

Rwanda's defence minister is effectively commanding the M23 rebellion in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, a leaked UN report says.

Artist's conception of planet around Alpha Centauri BExoplanet found 'just next door'

Astronomers spot the nearest known planet outside our Solar System, circling a star in the Alpha Centauri system just four light-years away.

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Political baseUS Election 2012

The race for the White House begins

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  • A Parkour athlete performs a back-flipLeap of faith

    The youths being trained to jump off buildings by the Russian church


  • Man at a cafe in Chengdu, ChinaFear and loneliness

    The human cost of China's switch to free markets


  • Man holds up help signExecutive meltdown

    Are the rewards worth the excessive stress?


  • Villagers wait near an almost dried up-well borewell at Dolara village in Thane districtIn pictures

    Rising concern over the drought-hit Indian state of Maharashtra


  • Tim Burton with a Frankenweenie posterTim Burton

    'I've never made a scary movie,' insists Frankenweenie creator


  • Market vendors at a stall in Hebron Old CityStifled economy

    How promise of prosperity failed to deliver for West Bank Palestinians


  • Woman leaves civil service exam Yes minister

    The high-flyer who tried to fix China's civil service - and failed


Comment & Analysis

  • Soutik BiswasIndian outsider

    Soutik Biswas asks if Arvind Kejriwal is changing Indian politics


Election Daily Diet

16 October

Which city has endured 73,000 political ads this year?

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World Service Podcasts

  • Lighted candles in the shape of the word 'Paz' meaning 'peace'Business Daily

    Could peace talks help Colombia become a new tiger economy?


Elsewhere on BBC News

  • Rural school pupils in TanzaniaWe pledge...

    Can the world really keep its promises on schools?

Programmes

  • A smartphoneFast Track Watch

    Mobile roaming bills – How to cut the costs of keeping in touch when travelling overseas


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