Australia and the UK recommit to each other, and AUKUS | Evening News Bulletin 26 July 2025

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Australia and the U-K lock in behind AUKUS with a new agreement... a second Australian is issued with an arrest warrant by Hong Kong national security police... and a record-breaking century from Tim David leads Australia to a series-clinching win in the West Indies


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TRANSCRIPT

Australia and the United Kingdom have signed a 50-year defence deal to underpin the AUKUS agreement.

The countries have committed to strengthen their ties to AUKUS, despite the US reviewing the 368 billion dollar pact.

Joined by the British Secretary of Defence John Healey for the signing of the agreement in Geelong, Defence Minister Richard Marles says AUKUS is one of the most important treaties since federation.

"And in doing this, AUKUS will see 20,000 jobs in Australia. It will see in building a submarine in this country, the biggest industrial endeavour in our nation's history, bigger even than the Snowy Hydro Scheme. And in military terms, what it will deliver is the biggest leap in Australia's capability really since the formation of navy back in 1913."

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Australian academic Chongyi Feng has become the second Australian to be the subject of arrest warrant of Hong Kong's national security police, citing his roles in a political group that authorities claim promotes Hong Kong independence from China.

Another Australian resident, Wong Sau-wo, was also among the 19 individuals outside Hong Kong that were issued with arrest warrants, for their involvement with an pro-democracy group, Hong Kong Parliament.

SBS News has reached out to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment.

Professor Feng, who is also close friend of detained Chinese Australian writer Yang Hengjun, told SBS News while he feels safe being in Australia, the federal government must remain cautious when interacting with China.

"Issuing an arrest warranty is an act of political prosecution against an Australian citizen. So we need to be fully aware of the nature of (China's) authoritarian regime when dealing with Xi Jinping or the People's Republic of China."

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Thousands of voters in Taiwan are going to the polls today [[July 26]].

The controversial election, known as the Great Recall Vote, is being held just one year after the self-governing island's presidential election.

Liang-chun Lin is a filmmaker who is campaigning for the removal of 31 opposition politicians accused of having close links with China.

In an interview with SBS Chinese, she's accused the Opposition of paving the way for the Chinese Communist Party to rule Taiwan.

"(Mandarin to English) Right after being appointed last year, seventeen lawmakers from Kuomintang went to Beijing to meet the top official that Xi Jinping appointed to oversee united front work. When they came back to Taiwan, they passed various laws that could reduce the costs for the Chinese Communist Party to invade Taiwan in the future, as if they were paving the ways for the CCP to rule Taiwan."

Taiwan's Opposition denies the allegations, and is urging people to vote no in the Recall vote.

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Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached in December, has been ordered by a court in Seoul to pay 104 citizens for psychological harm during his declaration of martial law last year

This marks the first court ruling in South Korea that recognise citizens' right to compensation for damages caused by the declaration of martial law.

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U-S President Donald Trump has landed in Scotland ahead of the opening of a new Trump golf course in Aberdeenshire, and for talks with leaders.

Air Force One touched down at Prestwick Airport just before 8:30pm on Friday local time.

Mr Trump was greeted by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray before boarding Marine One to travel to his Turnberry resort on the west coast.

His visit is expected to spark protests across the country, prompting Scotland Police to request extra officers from other forces.

Mr Trump will spend time at both Turnberry and his golf property near Aberdeen, but the trip also includes meetings with U-K Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss trade.

"I'll be meeting with the EU on Sunday and we'll be working on a deal. We'll see if we can make a deal. (European Commission President) Ursula (von der Leyen) will be here, highly respected woman, so we look forward to that. It'll be good.”

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In cricket, Australia has taken an unbeatable three-nil lead in its best of five Twenty20 series against the West Indies in the Caribbean- courtesy of a record-breaking century from Tim David.

David has hit 102 not out from just 37 balls- the fastest-ever century from an Australian batsman, guiding the Aussies to their target of 215 with 23 balls and six wickets to spare in game three of the series in St Kitts.

David hit eleven sixes and six fours, and put on an unbeaten partnership of 128 with new all-rounder Mitchell Owen.

Australia was in trouble when the pair came together with the score at 4 for 87 in the ninth over.







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