UK could recognise Palestinian state in September

SBS Australia

3 days ago

TRANSCRIPT
UK announces it will recognise Palestinian state in September - unless Israel takes certain steps
YouTube now to be included in Australia's social media ban for children
In cycling, Lorena Wiebes achieves back-to-back wins in the fourth stage of the Tour de France Femmes UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the UK will recognise a Palestinian state in September – unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza and takes steps toward long-term peace. Pressure to formally recognise Palestinian statehood has mounted since French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his country will become the first major Western power to recognise a Palestinian state in September. Mr Starmer says Britain was always planning to recognise a Palestinian state - as part of a two-state solution, but recent events has now moved up that timeline. "With that (two-state) solution now under threat, this is the moment to act, so today as part of that process towards peace, I can confirm the UK will recognise a state of Palestine by the United Nations' General Assembly in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term sustainable peace." A United Nations-backed global hunger monitor has issued an alert saying the worst-case scenario of a famine in Gaza is now unfolding as Israeli human rights groups accuse their government of genocide. The World Health Organisation has recorded 74 malnutrition-related deaths in Gaza for 2025, with 63 occurring in July alone. The alert from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, also known as the I-P-C does not formally classify Gaza as being in famine, but the organisation says it will now conduct an urgent analysis which could lead to this classification. It comes as Israeli human rights groups B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights Israel have cited their government's restriction on aid in declaring that Israel is now committing a genocide in Gaza. Executive Director of B'Tselem, Yuli Novak, says the weight of evidence has given them no option. "Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. For the past 22 months we have witnessed unprecedented levels of civilian killings of deliberate starvation, forced mass displacement and the total destruction of most infrastructure necessary for human and social existence." The Israeli government categorically denies committing genocidal acts and claims there is no starvation in Gaza. The federal government has confirmed that video-sharing platform YouTube will now be included in the social media ban for children. The website was initially spared from the ban for under-16-year-olds as part of an exemption for health and education services. But the eSafety commission in June cited research that found children were exposed to harmful content on YouTube more than any other platform. Under the new laws, which are due to come into effect in December, social media companies will face fines of up to almost $50 million for failing to take reasonable steps to bar those under 16 from using their platforms. In a statement, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the government is on the side of families and it time to act to limit the negative impact on Australian kids from using the online platforms. While the ban has been welcomed by some, others have expressed concern about whether it will work and the impact it could have on marginalised children, particularly those in rural or regional Australia who use the internet to seek community. Those working in creative industries have expressed concern about the use of artificial intelligence technology and its impact on jobs. A new study released by the Media and Entertainment Arts Alliance has found more than half of industry creatives, including actors, musicians, and journalists, are "extremely concerned" about the use of the technology. The findings come weeks before the federal government is expected to sit down with industry stakeholders and discuss the use of AI software to boost productivity at its economic roundtable. Artificial intelligence experts warn the discussion may not result in swift action on AI regulation, pointing to delays in formulating law in the United States. In the survey of more than 730 workers in creative industries, misinformation ranked as the top AI concern for respondents, followed by the loss of human creativity, the theft of work, and a lack of transparency about the technology. In cycling, Dutch rider Lorena Wiebes stormed to her second consecutive stage victory at the Tour de France Femmes, winning the fourth leg with a dominant sprint finish. She launched her move around 250 metres from the line and proved untouchable, sealing another emphatic stage victory. Fellow Dutch rider Marianne Vos took second place, with Ireland's Lara Gillespie finishing third. Wiebes says she is feeling ecstatic.
"I'm just super happy that today it worked out once again. And the team also delivered for me good. The last straight was a bit chaotic. It was really a fight for position. I'm happy that I could find my way out. Again, I started a bit too early, but otherwise, I was a bit afraid to get boxed in."