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Anthony Albanese has come face-to-face with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for the first time since the so-called 'melon-gate' controversy.
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Albanese → see → controversy
Albanese initially sparked outrage after discussing a gift of luxury Shizuoka crown melons from Takaichi during an appearance on comedian Nikki Osborne's Bush Deep podcast in July.
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Albanese → spark → July
When Osborne joked that the Japanese leader had 'come in looking like Pamela Anderson' because she brought 'two melons', Albanese gestured towards his chest and replied: 'She brought two, and they are beautiful.'
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they → joke → two
The remark later ignited a political firestorm, with critics accusing the Prime Minister of making an inappropriate comment about the Japanese leader.
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critics → ignite → leader
Albanese rejected calls to apologise, arguing he had not insulted Takaichi and noting it was the podcast host who introduced the joke.
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who → reject → joke
His office also insisted his hand gestures had been misinterpreted.
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gestures → insist → ?
Tokyo largely sought to defuse the controversy.
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Tokyo → seek → controversy
Japan's ambassador to Australia, Kazuhiro Suzuki, said Australian officials had assured his government that Albanese 'did not make the comments in the way that has been reported'.
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that → say → way
Any lingering awkwardness appeared absent when Albanese and Takaichi met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, in their first face-to-face meeting since the controversy erupted.
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controversy → linger → meeting
Anthony Albanese (left) met with Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi (right) on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York
The meeting came as Takaichi delivered a stark assessment of the state of global affairs, using her address to the General Assembly to argue the world's post-war institutions are struggling to keep pace with modern challenges.
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institutions → meet → challenges
'The stable post-Cold War era is now a thing of the past,' she told delegates.
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she → tell → delegates
Takaichi reserved some of her strongest criticism for the UN Security Council, declaring that the body was 'not functioning for international peace' and arguing its structure still reflected 'the international situation as it stood in 1945'.
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it → reserve → 1945
She called for reforms, saying the council must be transformed 'without delay' and expanded to include more permanent and non-permanent members so it better reflects today's world.
The intervention came as Albanese launches Australia's campaign for a coveted non-permanent seat on the Security Council for 2029-30.
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Albanese → call → 2029
Japan's push for structural reform comes amid criticism from several countries over the council's response to major international crises.
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push → come → crises
Takaichi was particularly critical of Russia's use of veto powers on matters related to the war in Ukraine.
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Takaichi → relate → Ukraine
Australia is seeking one of the council's rotating seats, with Albanese arguing that a safer world is one 'governed by rules, not by power and force alone' and pledging to work through the United Nations on conflict prevention, climate security and the governance of emerging technologies.
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world → seek → technologies
The leaders met for the first time following Albanese's 'melon-gate' controversy
Albanese will address the United Nations later this week.
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Albanese → meet → Nations
Nearly 130 world leaders are attending the high-level event, with the US Secret Service, NYPD and other agencies coordinating one of the year's largest security operations.
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Service → attend → operations
Adding to the disruption, police responded to a suspicious package at East 43rd Street and Third Avenue, just blocks from the UN headquarters.
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police → add → headquarters
The incident sparked building evacuations and road closures, with authorities shutting 42nd Street through 44th Street between Second and Lexington Avenues.
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authorities → spark → Avenues
The Macquarie Bank event where Albanese had spoke earlier was about 1.5 kilometres away.
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Albanese → speak → ?
The NYPD initially urged the public to steer clear of the area.
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NYPD → urge → area
Expect road closures and delays,' the department posted.
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department → expect → closures
Police later expanded the exclusion zone, stating: 'Due to a suspicious package, 42nd Street through 44th Street is closed between 2nd Avenue and Lexington Avenue.
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Street → expand → Avenue
It is understood officers were investigating an unattended suitcase.
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officers → understand → suitcase
Specialist units were deployed while nearby buildings were cleared and streets were cordoned off.
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streets → deploy → ?
The Aporia
