Bridge over troubled waters :Joe Biden could bring Catholics together, not only in the US

News media have called the race for Biden after several days of watching and waiting for the counting of ballots to produce a clear result.

The issue remains very much in doubt, with key states still counting ballots

Biden says he remains opposed to abortion personally, but he has promised to abolish the Hyde Amendment, which bans federal funding for abortion.

The traditional back and forth badinage of the evening was absent, replaced by a sober and serious tone.

The exchanges did not bring much clarity to the contours or the specifics of the national discussion, but they did send international editor Christopher Altieri casting about for disinfectant.