Oxford (Mississippi, US), Sept. 27 : Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Friday called for putting more pressure on Pakistan to rein in terror elements in its tribal badlands, while his Republican opponent John McCain pitched for giving that country more aid.

Though the first of three presidential debates held on the University of Mississippi campus here focused primarily on the Wall Street meltdown, both Obama and McCain used the platform to call for a change in foreign policy strategy.

Oxford (Mississippi, US), Sept. 27 : Departing from a pre-arranged pact that they would engage in a debate on foreign policy, presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain on Friday engaged in a verbal duel on the ongoing Wall Street meltdown.

While McCain accused Obama of being an extreme liberal on spending, Obama countered by describing his Republican opponent as a protégé of President George W Bush in their first of three presidential debates.

Washington - Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain began their first presidential debate Friday night in a discussion that was largely expected to focus on foreign policy.

But the two candidates are expected to also hear questions about the financial crisis in the United States and President George W Bush's 700-billion-dollar rescue plan.

Moderator Jim Lehrer, a long-time news anchor for the Public Broadcasting System, said that the topic of foreign policy "by definition includes the global financial crisis."

New York, Sept. 26 : An editorial appearing in the New York Times has said that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama appears to be much clearer than his Republican rival John McCain on what ails the American economy, and what solutions are needed.

It says that the McCain proposed capping of executives’ pay at firms that get bailout money, is at best a “punitive idea, but one that does nothing to mitigate the crisis.”

New York, Sept. 26 : An actuarial firm in the United States has said that both John McCain and Barack Obama would be cleared for insurance coverage if they approached in their capacity as President of the United States.

Obama has a history of smoking, and McCain is 72 years old with a history of skin cancer. But neither candidate is a bad bet to live through two terms as president of the United States, according to a statistical analysis performed by an actuarial firm.

Washington, Sept. 26: The fate of the Bush administration's 700 billion dollar bailout package is still in suspense, even after the president met presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama, and Congressional leaders at the White House on Thursday.

The debate over the proposed bailout of the financial industry continued late into the night, with congressional Democrats saying they're still working toward an agreement and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke due to meet with lawmakers.