US President Joe Biden spoke today for the first time since the US election result was known and Donald Trump’s victory was certain.

Addressing the nation from the White House lawns, President Biden, in his trademark blue suit and white striped tie, said “The people have voted and have chosen their President and have done so peacefully. And in a democracy, the will of the people always prevails.”

“Yesterday, I spoke with President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his victory, and I assured him that I would direct my entire administration to work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition. That is what the American people deserve,” he said.

He went on to say that, “Yesterday, I also spoke with Vice President Kamala Harris. She has been a partner and a public servant. She ran an inspiring campaign and everyone got to see what I had seeing early on and which I respect so much – her character. She gave her whole-hearted effort, and she and her entire team needs to be proud of the campaign they ran.”

Speaking about the mood of the nation, the US President said, “I know for some people, this is a time for victory and celebration, while for others it may be a time of loss and despair. Campaigns are a contest of competing visions The country chooses one or the other. And we all must accept the choice that the country made.”

Reaching out to fellow Americans, the President had a piece of advice – “I have said this many times – that you cannot love your country only when you win. You can’t love your neighbour only when you agree,”

The President went on to make a request to all Americans. “There’s something I hope you all can do, no matter who you voted for… to see each other not as adversaries, but as fellow Americans. Bring down the temperature.”

Speaking further to the American people, President Biden had words of advice for Donald Trump, though he did not name him directly. He said, “I hope that we can later lay to rest the question about the integrity of the American electoral system. It is honest, it is fair, it is transparent, and it can be trusted – whether we win or lose. I also hope we can restore the respect for all our election workers, who have busted their necks and took risks at the outset. We should thank them.”

Assuring the nation of a peaceful transition of power at the White House, President Biden said, “The people have done their duty as citizens. Now I will do my duty as President. I will fulfill my oath and honour the Constitution. On January 20, 2025, we will have a peaceful transfer of power in America.”

“To all our incredible staff, supporters, cabinet members… to all the people who have been hanging out with me for the last 40 years, God knows I love you. Thank you so very much. You have put in so much over the past 4 years. I understand that this is a difficult time, you’re hurting… I hear you and I see you. But don’t forget all of what we have achieved and accomplished. This has been a historic presidency. Not because I was President, but because of all that you all have done. This has been a presidency for all Americans,” President Biden said concluding his speech.
 

Two village defence guards have been kidnapped and killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district. The attack comes days after at least 12 people were injured in a grenade attack at a Sunday market in Srinagar. 

Officials said the two members of a village defence committee, Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar, were kidnapped from a forest area in Kishtwar on Thursday and then shot dead. “A massive search operation has been launched to hunt down the terrorists,” said an official. 

Village defence committees were set up by the Jammu and Kashmir Police to train local residents to protect their villages from terrorists.

An encounter also broke out in north Kashmir’s Sopore on Thursday after security forces launched an anti-terrorist operation. Sources said two to three terrorists are believed to be trapped.

Chief Minister’s Appeal

After the explosion in Srinagar on Sunday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had urged security forces to do “everything possible” to end a spate of attacks in the Union Territory at the earliest. 

“The last few days have been dominated by headlines of attacks and encounters in parts of the valley. Today’s news of a grenade attack on innocent shoppers at the ‘Sunday market’ in Srinagar is deeply disturbing. There can be no justification for targeting innocent civilians. The security apparatus must do everything possible to end this spurt of attacks at the earliest so that people can go about their lives without any fear,” Mr Abdullah had said in a post on X. 

Two migrant workers were also shot at in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam last week. Three attacks on migrant workers had taken place in less than a fortnight before that, the deadliest of which was the killing of seven people, including a local doctor and two workers from Bihar, at a tunnel construction site in Ganderbal district on October 20.