现在离美国大选还有一个月多一点时间，今天，总统奥巴马和共和党候选人罗姆尼在摇摆州卡罗拉多举行首次总统辩论。民调显示全国范围看两人势均力敌，但总统奥巴马在最重要的战场州处于领先。约翰尼·戴蒙德在华盛顿报道。

Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have spent days preparing for this one and half an hour debate, consuming briefings, practising attack lines and sparring with proxies. Half of the debate will be on the economy, healthcare and government will take up the rest of the time. With Barack Obama maintaining a slim lead in opinion polls and criticism of Mitt Romney's campaign and style increasing, the pressure is on Mr. Romney to make a strong impression.

巴拉克·奥巴马和米特·罗姆尼花了几天时间来准备这场为时一个半小时的辩论，包括概述、练习攻击性言论及巧妙应对。辩论的一半时间都集中在经济问题上，其余一半用在医疗和政府问题上。民调显示奥巴马以微弱优势领先，对罗姆尼竞选及风格的批评日增，罗姆尼因表现强硬而颇受压力。

The Portuguese government has announced a series of tax increases aimed to reducing its budget deficit. Income tax will rise by an average of 2 percentage points and there will be new taxes on the capital gains, tobacco and luxury goods. The measures replaced controversial social security reforms that were dropped after massive street protests last month.