Today’s news
Hello and welcome back to our live coverage of Australian and world news this Friday, September 25. Here’s what you need to know today.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the UN General Assembly, and ramped up his pitch for a seat on its Security Council as he acknowledged the challenge of managing the “furious pace” of artificial intelligence development.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York earlier this morning. He said accusing Israel of genocide was “the greatest lie of the century”. As he walked to the podium, scores of delegates walked out. A majority of seats sat empty as he spoke.
- Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House for a bilateral meeting.
- Australia will press criminal charges against OpenAI “if possible”, senior minister Murray Watt said this morning, and the government will develop new laws to improve the notification system for similar breaches after the company alerted Services Australia to a June breach via email in September.
Albanese’s closing remarks
And to conclude, here are Albanese’s final remarks to the United Nations.
Mr President, Australia’s purpose in its relations with the United Nations is clear and our approach is principled.
We listen with respect, we partner as equals, and we protect what matters most.
We engage across regions, listen to different perspectives, and build trust.
We champion the rights, sovereignty and agency of all, particularly smaller and mid-sized nations.
We are a reliable, practical and transparent partner. And we play our part to protect the people of the world by taking on the difficult challenges shaping their lives and the health of their planet – with innovative ideas and approaches.
Australia helped create the United Nations to bring an end to an era of destructive conflict.
And to build something better, for all of us.
A world where prosperity is driven by shared opportunity.
And peace is secured by collective responsibility.
Australia is stepping up to play our part.
Two-state solution only path to peace in Palestine, says PM
The prime minister has moved on to Australia’s recognition of the State of Palestine.
“It was motivated by the determination to try and end a cycle of violence that has stolen too many innocent lives,” Anthony Albanese says.
“We know the only viable path to peace and security in Palestine, in Israel and in the broader Middle East, is through a two-state solution.”
He says Australia will continue to speak out against threats to peace, including illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the role of Hamas terrorists in Palestine’s future.
Albanese condemns Russia in UN speech
Anthony Albanese says Australia is committed to upholding international law, using the UN platform to condemn Russia.
“We oppose Russia’s continued illegal, unprovoked and immoral invasion of Ukraine and reiterate our calls for Russia’s immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal and an end to attacks upon civilians and civilian infrastructure,” the prime minister told the UN General Assembly.
“This week Australia endorsed the 2026 International Crimea Platform Joint Statement reaffirming our respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.”
Albanese also noted the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom, who was killed by an Israeli strike, though did not name the country as he urged humanitarians be protected.
“Last year, following the killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and the deaths of over 1000 other humanitarian workers in the last three years, Australia and eight partner nations led the development of a declaration for the protection of humanitarian personnel,” he said.
“Now supported by 130 countries, that declaration outlines practical measures to ensure stronger accountability, safer access, and better protection for aid workers operating in conflict zones.”
PM touts tech reforms after AI breach
The prime minister has acknowledged the challenge of managing the “furious pace” of artificial intelligence development.
Anthony Albanese is now touting Australia’s tech reforms, just a day after announcing to the world that a rogue OpenAI agent had hacked a government service.
He said more than 20 countries had followed Australia’s teen social media ban, which he spoke about at the UN General Assembly last year, and spruiked the impending digital duty of care as giving power back to users.
“The technological development that must now be the subject of public discussion is artificial intelligence,” he said, noting the benefits of AI in boosting productivity and driving technology developments.
Albanese: Global multilateral system ‘under immense strain’
The prime minister says the global multilateral system is under “immense strain” and in need of reform, but should not be abandoned.
“We must embrace change and reform… building beyond multilateralism with new coalitions and partnerships to address and solve complex problems,” Anthony Albanese says.
He says Australia is showing leadership in the Indo-Pacific, naming diplomatic efforts with Pacific nations, Japan, India and the Republic of Korea.
“We are elevating relationships that help to build sovereign capability and offer nations sovereign choice, free from coercion, so that our partners can address the big issues confronting them: economic security, human development, energy security, transnational crime, sovereign capabilities, trade and investment, and science and technology.
“We are developing these new partnerships while continuing to work closely with our principal ally, the United States, and our major trading partner in China. Australia stands for a safer world where no country dominates and no country is dominated.”
Australia wants to play its part in addressing international challenges
Anthony Albanese has moved on to make his direct pitch for the temporary Security Council spot for 2029-30, emphasising Australia’s role as a middle power.
“We understand that the UN mission cannot be entrusted solely to the great powers, or the biggest countries, or even the loudest voices alone,” the prime minister says.
“Nor can it be subcontracted to the world’s richest companies or dictated by the pace of technology.
He says Australia wants to play its part in addressing the “tough times” facing the world.
“As a member of the UN Security Council, Australia will safeguard the rules that protect us all by upholding international law, including the UN Charter, and the sovereignty of all states.
“We will amplify the voices of small states and middle powers to ensure a wider range of perspectives shape the council’s decisions.”
Albanese ramps up pitch for seat on Security Council
Anthony Albanese’s trip is culminating with an address to the UN General Assembly, which he will use to hammer home his pitch for Australia to gain a seat on the Security Council.
The prime minister has begun his speech, joining other leaders in giving national statements as the summit in New York winds up, by urging greater collaboration between nations on the “new challenges we face: climate change, emerging technology and the breakdown of international rules”.
“In this moment, we need to lean in and strengthen and modernise the fundamental parts of the UN system that help to build peace and promote economic development and sustainability,” he says.
He says global prosperity and economic justice were the surest ways to minimise potential conflict.
“We can reaffirm our national sovereignty – and our shared humanity. We can seize and share and shape the opportunities this moment holds, in the interests of our citizens. But we can only do it together.”
Xi state dinner the ‘hottest ticket in town’, says Trump
A tech-heavy guest list, the fashion choices of those on it and their body language will be closely monitored as the state dinner honouring China’s President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at the White House gets ready to kick off.
US President Donald Trump has already labelled the dinner “the hottest ticket in town” during this week’s United Nations General Assembly. “Everyone wants to be there.”
Trump and Xi may have focused on tensions over artificial intelligence, trade and Taiwan.
First lady Melania Trump’s menu features a first course of yellow squash veloute with wild mushrooms, fresh herbs, crispy pancetta and drizzled scallion oil.
Watch: Anthony Albanese addresses UN
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the UN General Assembly in New York this morning. Watch his full speech here.
Taskforce to investigate breach met only hours after it was convened
The taskforce launched yesterday to investigate the OpenAI Medicare hack met just hours after being convened as the government races to assess the adequacy of Australia’s laws in protecting against rogue agents.
Australia’s national cybersecurity coordinator, Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness, said experts across government had already met and were closely considering how Australia needed to adapt as AI technology rapidly evolves.
“We’ll work very quickly through understanding gaps, opportunities, and challenges that we’ll need to address, and then to bring those forward to government,” she told ABC TV this morning.
“As the coordinator, my role… is to coordinate nationally significant incidents. So, understanding how we respond to… unauthorised agent behaviour. Understanding how do we detect, respond as efficiently and effectively as we can to ensure that we minimise harm and mitigate the consequences, and also that we are resilient to move through it and not be impacted by these incidents.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
