Promising signs for AUKUS ahead of meeting | Evening News Bulletin 20 October 2025

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Source: SBS News

In this bulletin, signs AUKUS is assured, hours before the Prime Minister meets with Donald Trump, dozens of deaths reported in Israeli strikes on Gaza, with allegations of ceasefire breaches on both sides. And in sport, India backs Kohli to bounce back from poor performance in the last ODI.


Key Points
  • AUKUS expected to be upheld in current form at Albanese, Trump meeting
  • Deaths reported as Israel, Hamas trade allegations of ceasefire breaches
  • India supports star Virat Kohli on his World Cup ODI cricket campaign
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TRANSCRIPT

Ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's first formal bilateral talks with U-S President Donald Trump, there is increasing confidence within the federal government that the U-S will decide to keep the AUKUS security partnership.

Anthony Albanese has landed in the US for the highly anticipated meeting, with Australian ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd greeting the prime minister after he touched down at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington DC this afternoon.

Tariffs on Australian goods are set to feature highly in discussions, along with a potential deal on critical minerals and the fate of the trilateral AUKUS security pact.

But Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite has told Sky News that despite the unpredictability surrounding the outcome of the Pentagon's review into AUKUS, there is known support within the administration for the trilateral agreement.
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The Gaza Government Media Office says Israel has killed 97 people and injured 230 more as a fragile ceasefire is rocked from both sides by allegations of breaches.

The violence threatens to undermine a ceasefire already under pressure - with Hamas failing to return some hostage bodies and Israel responding with restrictions on aid.

The death toll has climbed in recent days after Israel launched a series of strikes it says were reprisals for Hamas two killing two soldiers - an allegation Hamas denies.

Palestinian journalist Ajeb Mohammed says he witnessed the latest strikes.

"We were sitting here, safe and sound, and as you can see, the place is closed off to us. No one enters or leaves. We are all journalists. No strangers were entering or staying with us. Then the bombing happened right next to us, in the middle of the chalet. Our colleague, the broadcasting engineer, was martyred, and our colleague's child son was also martyred."
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Liberal leader Sussan Ley has delivered her second major economic speech, promising personal income tax cuts, a revival of productivity and industrial relations reform.

Her attempt to refocus debate on economic management during her speech to the Centre for Independent Studies follows the coalition's internal struggles after its election loss, amid fears of defections to One Nation.

Ms Ley says early work on tax cut plans has begun but hasn't provided any specifics beyond saying low and middle income tax cuts would come first.

The Opposition Leader has argued the changes are necessary because the current government is living beyond its means, and it's not fair on Australians.

"Now this is not a passing policy preference. It is more than just a commitment to lower taxes. I have never been more convinced, more determined and more passionate about anything I have ever done in public life than I am today about making this pledge to the Australian people. Every instinct in my being tells me that Australians should keep more of what they earn."
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The Victorian government has announced a six-month pilot that will give patients in regional Australia real-time access to specialist care.

The Royal Melbourne Hospital and Austin Health will lead the pilot, which is set to begin in December in partnership with regional and rural health services.

Premier Jacinta Allan says the initiative aims to deliver care for more than 250 patients who would otherwise be admitted as an inpatient to a hospital ward.

She says the hope is that patients will be spared from having to travel to metro areas for care.

"More Victorians are looking for in-home care options - seeking that out. And the evidence tells us that for many patients those who can recover at home have better outcomes. They are in their home environment. They're surrounded by family and friends. They might have their pets around them. And also to because of that environment, we know that they recover better as well."
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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth says the U-S has attacked another suspected drug-smuggling vessel, killing three people he alleges were linked to a Colombian guerilla group.

Hegseth says the vessel was traveling in international waters in an area under the purview of the US Southern Command, which oversees US military operations in Latin America.

The United States has had warships deployed in the Caribbean off Venezuela since August and has attacked at least six boats it said were running drugs toward the United States, killing at least 27 people so far.

Two people are also being deported back to to their native Ecuador and Colombia after they survived a military strike in the Caribbean, with Vice President J-D Vance accusing them of being drug traffickers.

“If you look at the war on terrorism, you look at any other global conflict, what we do with combatants in those wars depends very heavily on the circumstances on the ground. Sometimes we cooperate with allies, sometimes we bring them back to the United States. Sometimes we take them elsewhere. That's exactly how we're handling this."
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To sport and in cricket news, India are backing Virat Kohli to hit his straps quickly, despite the veteran's first-up flop in Sunday's seven-wicket ODI loss to Australia in Perth.

Kohli made an eight-ball duck as India posted an underwhelming 9-136 from 26 overs in the rain-affected series opener at Perth Stadium.

Kohli has retired from Test and T20 international cricket, so ODIs are now the only time he will turn out for India.

The 36-year-old is aiming to make it to the 2027 ODI World Cup in Africa.

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