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Midday News Bulletin 7 November 2024

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SBS NEWS OK AUDIO 16X9 DAY Source: SBS News

US vice president Kamala Harris pledges a peaceful transfer of power to Donald Trump; Australia to ban children under the age of 16 from social media; And in sports, Australian Olympian 'Raygun' to retire from breakdancing.


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TRANSCRIPT

In this bulletin;

  • US vice president Kamala Harris pledges a peaceful transfer of power to Donald Trump;
  • Australia to ban children under the age of 16 from social media;
  • And in sports, Australian Olympian 'Raygun' to retire from breakdancing.

US vice president Kamala Harris, has called on her Democratic Party supporters to accept Donald Trump's victory in the U-S presidential election.

Ms Harris made her concession speech to supporters at her alma mater, Howard University, in Washington DC.

Mr Trump won almost 72-million votes compared to just over 67-million for Ms Harris, winning just over half of the popular vote.

He has garnered 295 electoral college votes so far, compared to 226 for the US vice president with around 90-percent of the vote counted.

Ms Harris told her supporters not to despair as she vowed to help with the transfer of power from the Biden administration to the Trump administration.

"We must accept the result of this election. Earlier today I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory. I also told him that we will help him and his team with their transition and we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power."

Earlier, Ms Harris and US president Joe Biden both called president-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on his victory.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has scored a decisive victory in the US presidential election, winning just over half of the popular vote.

Rival Democratic Party contender Kamala Harris won nearly 48 percent of the vote, despite opinion polls showing the pair were neck and neck.

Mr Trump won five of the seven battleground states, and he is ahead in Nevada and Arizona as vote counting goes on.

Republicans have retaken control of the US Senate and they also lead the contest to control the House of Representatives, although a final result could take days.

Mr Trump told supporters at his victory speech in Florida that he had a unprecedented mandate for change.

"There's never been anything like this in this country and maybe beyond and now it's going to reach a new level of importance because we're going to help our country heal, to help our country heal. We have a country that needs help and it needs help very badly. We're going to fix our borders. We're going to fix everything about our country.''

The Federal Government plans to ban children under the age of 16 from using social media with legislation to be introduced in Parliament later this month.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will take the proposal to the states and territories at a National Cabinet meeting tomorrow.

The office of the eSafety Commissioner will provide oversight and enforcement for the ban, which will start 12 months after the legislation is passed.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the laws will be world leading.

"Social media is doing harm to our kids, and I'm calling time on it. I've spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles. They like me are worried sick about the safety of kids online. They like me want to know that the government has your back."

Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong has congratulated Donald Trump for what she has called a decisive victory in the US presidential election.

She says the Australian Government looks forward to working with the incoming Trump administration on the alliance with the US and shared interests.

Senator Wong says Australia plans to prioritise the AUKUS defence partnership with the US and UK on nuclear powered submarines.

The Foreign Minister has told the ABC that the Australian Ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, will stay on despite past disagreements with Mr Trump.

"Mr Rudd has been doing an outstanding job, an excellent job, as Ambassador and he has worked with both Republicans and Democrats. In fact, the legislation that was passed by the Congress in relation to AUKUS, with bipartisan support, was driven by Mr Rudd, and I'm confident he will continue to engage with both Republicans and Democrats."

Mr Rudd has deleted past tweets which were critical of Mr Trump.

Australian Olympian Rachael "Raygun" Gunn has retired from breakdancing after her performance at this year's Paris Olympics was ridiculed.

She has told 2-Day FM that she will still do breakdancing, but she won't compete.

Ms Gunn has a PhD in gender studies and cultural studies related to breakdancing.

However, she faced widespread criticism and bullying after scoring zero points at the Olympics.

Ms Gunn says the episode has been reallly upsetting and she didn't have any control over how people saw her.


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