What's Going On Around The World Today

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is considered the winner of last night’s Democratic presidential debate. Israeli officials announced plans to seal off parts of Jerusalem amid ongoing violence. And Marlon James is the first Jamaican author to win the prestigious Man Booker prize.

HERE ARE THE TOP STORIES

Democratic candidates in the 2016 U.S. presidential race squared off in their first debate last night.

While there were five people on stage, all eyes were on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Vermont senator Bernie Sanders. The other three candidates were former Virginia senator Jim Webb, former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley, and former Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee.

Here’s a quick recap:

  • Clinton was widely seen as the winner, remaining “unflappable throughout the debate, showcasing her political experience and her command of the issues,” CNN writes.

  • Speaking of issues, gun control was among last night’s biggest topics. Sanders is described as left-wing on most issues (such as the economy and health care), but he’s considered moderate when it comes to gun policy, Vox reports. The candidate tried to defend his record by explaining he represented a conservative rural state where a lot people own guns.

  • O’Malley endured criticism after he confused Russian president Vladimir Putin with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, which caused a flurry of Twitter reactions.

  • The other two candidates largely failed at gaining much attention. Webb complained repeatedly about wanting more speaking time and Chafee, in what appeared to be a direct jab at Clinton, said he had “no scandals” to his name, POLITICO writes.

Black Lives Matter only got a lackluster question last night, which disappointed activists. Marijuana advocates are expecting a lot from Sanders. And here are some more highlights from last night as well as a full transcript.

And a little extra.

Last night was a critical moment for Clinton. “She put on a dominant performance amid questions about her use of a personal email account for government business while she was Secretary of State,” BuzzFeed News writes. Clinton is widely seen as the Democratic frontrunner.

“Enough with the emails,” Sanders said in response, bringing down the house, adding that he was tired of hearing about the emails. “Me too, me too!” Clinton answered before the two shook hands.

Meanwhile over in the Republican field: billionaire and frontrunner Donald Trump will host popular sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live on Nov. 7.

WE’RE KEEPING AN EYE ON

Israeli police have been authorized to seal off the Palestinian areas of Jerusalem in the wake of multiple stabbing attacks over the past few weeks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a package of “aggressive” measures after a cabinet meeting in response to the continued violence. It’s a controversial decision that Human Rights Watch said would add tension to an already volatile situation, the Guardian writes. Hundreds of Israeli military troops were sent to cities to assist police forces.

What else?

Social media platforms are playing a role in this uprising. Viral videos are inciting young Palestinians, most of whom seem to be acting alone without the support of any organized groups, the New York Times writes. Most of the weapons used are appliances found at home, such as small knives, a potato peeler, or a screwdriver.

Many of the attacks are being filmed with smart phones and shared widely on the internet. Twitter hashtags such as #JerusalemIntifada or “intifada of the knives” are sprouting up on Palestinian social media, BBC News reports.

If you want the latest news and stories, download the BuzzFeed News app for iOS and Android.

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS?

The British operation to prevent Julian Assange from escaping the Ecuadorean embassy seems to has fallen victim to the UK’s spending cuts.

An Ecuadorean government memo reveals that a conservative British government minister suggested two months ago that the spiralling costs of the three-year diplomatic stand-off over the WikiLeaks founder were unsustainable in the current economic climate, BuzzFeed News’ James Ball and Paul Hamilos write.

The Ecuadorian embassy in London has housed Assange since 2012. A meeting took place just weeks before the government decided to withdraw the police guard (which was announced Monday) from outside the building, according to leaked documents seen by BuzzFeed News.

Basketball star Lamar Odom was found unconscious in a Nevada brothel.

The NBA free agent was rushed to a Las Vegas hospital yesterday after paramedics found him in an “unresponsive” state, BuzzFeed News’ Claudia Koerner and Adolfo Flores write.

Dennis Hof, the owner of the brothel where Odom was found, told BuzzFeed News that the basketball star might have taken “too much herbal viagra.” Odom is currently going through divorce proceedings with his estranged wife, and reality star, Khloé Kardashian.

Quick things to know:

  • Russia and the U.S. will hold another round of talks to avoid conflict between both countries’ air campaigns in Syria. (Wall Street Journal)

  • U.S. President Barack Obama is rethinking a pullout of American troops in Afghanistan, senior officials say. (New York Times)

  • Britain will cancel a £5.9 million Saudi prison contract, which has been called “grossly hypocritical.” (BuzzFeed News)

  • Nestlé is illegally bottling water amid California’s drought, a lawsuit says. (BuzzFeed News)

  • Marlon James has become the first Jamaican writer to win the Man Booker prize for his fictional account of the attempted murder of Bob Marley. (The Guardian)

  • A gunshop owner was ordered to pay millions after selling a weapon that injured two police officers. (BuzzFeed News) And here are seven questions Britain has for the U.S. about gun control, answered by America. (BuzzFeed News)

  • Apple could face up to $862 million in damages after a U.S. jury found that the company used technology owned by the University of Wisconsin-Madison without permission. (Reuters)

  • The first formal clinical trial of a prenatal stem cell therapy will launch in Europe next January. (BuzzFeed News)

  • It’s not just you: Giant corporate mergers are incredibly boring. (BuzzFeed News)

  • Twitter will lay off 336 people, which is 8% of its workforce, in an effort to put its company “on a stronger path to grow.” (BuzzFeed News)

  • Gloria Steinem, an 81-year-old feminist icon, is Vice’s newest (and oldest) correspondent. (New York Times) And this is what happens when you photoshop men out of work environments. (BuzzFeed)

Happy Wednesday

When San Diego couple Stephanie and Brian Tobe decided whom to invite to their wedding, it’s safe to assume that U.S. President Barack Obama wasn’t on the list. But he wedged his way in anyway.

Right before the ceremony, the couple spotted a ~familiar figure~ playing golf, BuzzFeed’s Julie Gerstein writes. Afraid they’d miss the president altogether, the lovebirds ran down to the golf course to meet Obama, who offered Brian some pretty solid advice: don’t step on the bride’s wedding dress. All hail the Wedding Crasher in Chief.

This letter was edited and brought to you by Claire Moses and Brianne O’Brien. You can always reach us here.

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