Midday News Bulletin 8 November 2024

Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with
SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT
In this bulletin;
US central bank chief pledges to not resign under new presidency;
The US president elect makes his first high profile appointment;
And in sport, Squash champion Geoff Hunt, and Paralympic skier Michael Milton inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame.
The head of the US central bank says there’s no need for him to resign.
Overnight, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the second time this year.
It lowered its key lending rate by one quarter of a percentage point to a range of 4.5 percent to 4.75 percent as inflation cools and the employment slows down.
Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell took a question from a journalist about some of Donald Trump’s advisers suggesting he should resign.
But Mr Powell says inflation is coming down so there’s no need for him to step aside.
“Hi, Victoria Guida of Politico, some of the president elect’s advisers have suggested that you should resign. If he asked you to leave, would you go?”
Jerome Powell: “No.”
Victoria Guida: “Can you follow up, dud you think that legally you’re not required to leave?”
Jerome Powell: “No. It’s on a sustainable path back to 2 per cent, so the job is not done on inflation.”
—
US president elect Donald Trump has made his first high profile appointment since winning the US presidential election this week.
He has appointed his campaign election manager, Susie Wiles, as chief of staff to manage his office.
Mr Trump says it is the first time a women has been appointed to the post.
The president-elect is considering high-level appointments to his cabinet.
Former Bush administration official Kevin S. Kellems says there are a range of people who Mr Trump can chose from in what will be a competitive race.
“In Trump’s orbit there really are really a number of establishment, more mainstream and very experienced foreign policy and national security hands as well as some new stars if you will. Mike Waltz as a potential Secretary of Defense, Congressman, would be a terrific choice. You also have people like Mike Pompeo, both of whom I think would be confirmed by the Senate, who I think appreciate the role of NATO, and the US’s leadership role in the world.”
—
The Australian boss of social media giant Meta says it is prepared to work with the Federal Government over its plans to ban children from using social media.
The Albanese Government will introduce the draft law into Parliament later this month.
The laws will ban children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms like Meta.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the onus will be on social media companies to stop age restricted users from having an account.
“This is new ground as new technology is changing our lives, governments have to respond. That’s what we are doing And this minister is leading that work in a way that is constructive. I just pay tribute to Minister Rowland.”
—
Israeli forces have stepped up bombardment across the Gaza Strip and ordered more evacuations, as well as strikes on Lebanon that injured United Nations peacekeepers.
Five UN peacekeepers were injured in an Israeli drone attack that targeted a car in Lebanon’s Sidon, while three citizens were killed in the attack.
Palestinian health officials said at least 10 people had been killed and several others wounded in an Israeli air strike on a school housing displaced families in a refugee camp in Gaza City.
Dozens of families have fled Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza as Israel tanks advanced as part of a month-long push into the area.
—
Three people have been in charged in relation to the death of One Direction singer Liam Payne in Argentina last month.
31 year old Mr Payne fell from a hotel balcony in the capital Buenos Aires.
Authorities says those charged over Mr Payne’s death include a suspected drug dealer, a hotel employee, and a person who was close to the singer.
All are accused of playing a role in giving Payne the drugs, with the hotel employee accused of giving Payne cocaine during his stay, and the alleged drug dealer believed to have provided the drug two days before his death.
The person who was visiting with Payne is also charged with abandonment of a person followed by death.
—
Australian sporting legend status will be bestowed on former squash world number one Geoff Hunt and Paralympic skier and cycler Michael Milton.
The pair are the 50th and 51st stars to be elevated by the Sports Australia Hall of Fame and will be celebrated at a dinner in Melbourne next week.
They will join champion cricketer, Sir Donald Bradman, swimmer Dawn Fraser, cyclist Sir Hubert Opperman, and more recent recipients runner Cathy Freeman, cricketer Shane Warne and swimmer Ian Thorpe.
Mr Hunt won more than 80 percent of the 215 tournaments he played.
Mr Milton has won six Paralympic gold medals and has clocked the fastest speed of any Australian skier.