Australia news LIVE: Albanese to meet Trump in US visit next week; Suspect in Kirk killing charged with aggravated murder

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7.22am

‘A series of warm phone calls’: Trump and Albanese ‘working through’ schedules to lock in meeting

By Emily Kaine

Minister for Housing Clare O’Neil has confirmed that Albanese and Trump are “working through” their schedules but are “intending to meet” when Albanese visits the US next week.

Minister for Housing Clare O’Neil during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra.

“The President and our Prime Minister enjoy a really warm relationship,” O’Neil told Sunrise this morning.

“It’s certainly what’s been intended now, and we’ve got, you know, two incredibly busy people here. They’re working it through and intending to meet. I’ve had a series of really warm phone calls. And of course, we’ve got that warm and rich relationship between the two countries.”

The Australian PM will visit the US for the opening session of the UN General Assembly next week. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the US President appeared to confirm that a meeting would be held between the two leaders.

7.01am

Trump met by protest as he touches down in UK for state visit

By David Crowe

Trump and his wife Melania landed in Air Force One at London Stansted Airport a little over an hour ago for a state visit that will feature a formal banquet, an overnight stay at Windsor Castle and thousands of protesters who will rally against him.

US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are greeted by The Viscount Hood, Lord-in-Waiting, centre, right, as they arrive at Stansted Airport near London on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST).

The US president and first lady were welcomed by viscount Henry Hood, the lord-in-waiting to the King. Also in the welcoming party were Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Jennifer Tolhurst, the King’s lord-lieutenant of Essex.

The Trumps were transferred to a US Marine helicopter and flown to Winfield House, the residence of the US ambassador to Britain.

Protest groups prepared for Trump’s arrival by unfurling a giant banner on the lawns outside Windsor Castle showing Trump and notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, highlighting a scandal that has dogged the president this year.

Activists from the protest group Everyone Hates Elon put up a banner of Trump and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is hoping to gain better trade terms in talks with Trump on Thursday, after sealing a trade agreement in May that secured a 10 per cent tariff on most UK exports to the US.

Follow the coverage from our Europe correspondent David Crowe.

6.46am

Suspect in Kirk shooting charged with aggravated murder

By Emily Kaine

Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old man accused of assassinating US conservative activist Charlie Kirk last week, has been charged with aggravated murder and could face the death penalty if convicted, a prosecutor has announced.

Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said Robinson left his DNA on the trigger of the rifle that fired the shot that killed Kirk.

Kirk was gunned down on September 10 as he spoke with students at a university in Utah. Prosecutors allege Robinson shot Kirk in the neck with a bolt-action rifle from the roof of a nearby campus building.

Gray said Robinson discarded the rifle and his clothing and asked his roommate to conceal evidence.

Robinson also left a note under a keyboard saying he planned to kill Kirk and confessed after the shooting, documents show.

He was also charged with felony discharge of a firearm, punishable by up to life in prison, and obstructing justice, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

With AP

6.46am

Trump hints at plans to meet Albanese next week

By Emily Kaine

Trump appears to have confirmed he will meet with Anthony Albanese during the prime minister’s visit to the US next week.

In a fiery exchange with an ABC journalist who asked about Trump’s business dealings while in office, the US president said: “In my opinion, you are hurting Australia very much right now. And they want to get along with me. You know, your leader is coming over to see me very soon. I’m going to tell him about you, you set a very bad tone.”

It comes just days before Albanese is due to arrive in the US for the opening session of the UN General Assembly.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump.

While a meeting between the two is yet to be scheduled, Albanese told ABC Perth on Tuesday: “We’ll see each other in New York. He [Trump] is hosting a reception on Tuesday night of next week. As well, we’ll see each other at various forums that are taking place between now and the end of the year. It’s summit season.”

The leaders are expected to discuss AUKUS, as well as opportunities for Australia and the US to cooperate on critical minerals – an issue the two discussed in a phone call earlier this month.

6.45am

What’s making news this morning

By Emily Kaine

Good morning and welcome to the national news live blog for Wednesday, the 17th of September. My name is Emily Kaine, and I’ll be helming our coverage for this morning. Here’s what is making headlines today.

Trump has confirmed he will meet with Anthony Albanese while the Australian PM is in the US next week. Albanese will attend a reception hosted by Trump on Tuesday in New York, however a meeting between the two has yet to be scheduled.
Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspect in the killing of Charlie Kirk, has been charged with aggravated murder. Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said Robinson’s DNA was found on the trigger of the gun used to kill Kirk.
Divisions in the Coalition have deepened as more MPs have joined in calls for Opposition Leader Sussan Ley to drop her support for net zero. South Australian Liberal MP Tony Pasin and Queensland Nationals senator Matt Canavan both told this masthead they backed demands to dump the target.