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Marles discusses AUKUS pact amid US defense concerns

Richard Marles meets US officials in Washington for talks on AUKUS amid growing concerns over submarine delivery timelines

Published

1 month ago

August 27, 2025

Ahron Young

Richard Marles meets US officials in Washington for talks on AUKUS amid growing concerns over submarine delivery timelines

In Short:
– Defence Minister Marles met US officials to discuss the Canberra-Washington relationship and AUKUS pact review.
– Australia is investing $380 billion in nuclear-powered submarines amid concerns over delays and increased defence spending.

Defence Minister Richard Marles met US counterparts in Washington DC for important talks regarding the Canberra-Washington relationship.

Discussions included US Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Marles and his US counterparts addressed the ongoing review of the AUKUS pact, which involves Australia acquiring nuclear-powered submarines from the US and Britain.

The deal includes at least eight submarines, with three to five being second-hand US Virginia-class models. There is growing concern over delays in the delivery of the first submarine, originally scheduled for the early 2030s.

AUKUS Review

The review of the AUKUS agreement is set to conclude in the coming weeks. In recent months, Australia made a second $800 million payment towards the deal.

The total expected investment in these submarines could reach up to $380 billion. Additionally, the Trump administration is advocating for increased Australian defence spending to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific.

News

Electric vehicles transform last mile delivery market

Australia’s last-mile delivery is rapidly adopting electric vehicles, fueled by green initiatives and insights from expert Joe Sofra.

Published

3 minutes ago

October 1, 2025

ticker NEWS

Australia’s last-mile delivery is rapidly adopting electric vehicles, fueled by green initiatives and insights from expert Joe Sofra.

The shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) for last mile delivery is accelerating globally, with Australia expected to see significant growth.

Companies and retailers are increasingly adopting greener solutions, driven by supporting government initiatives.

Joe Sofra from ANC discussed the current state of the last mile EV market.

#ElectricVehicles #Sustainability #LastMileDelivery #Innovation #Australia

News

Trump gives Hamas ultimatum for Gaza peace plan acceptance

Trump gives Hamas deadline to accept Gaza peace plan amid rising pressure from Arab states and ongoing conflict in the region

Published

14 hours ago

October 1, 2025

Ahron Young

Trump gives Hamas deadline to accept Gaza peace plan amid rising pressure from Arab states and ongoing conflict in the region

In Short:
– Trump gives Hamas three to four days to accept a U.S.-backed Gaza peace plan, warning of consequences.
– Hamas calls the plan biased and insists on a complete Israeli withdrawal before considering any agreement.

U.S. President Donald Trump has given Hamas three to four days to accept a U.S.-backed peace plan for Gaza, warning of severe consequences if they reject it.The plan, shared by mediators Qatar and Egypt, emerged after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed it during a visit to the White House. Hamas, which was not part of the talks, is expected to review the proposal that calls for disarmament, a previously rejected demand.

Trump stated that support for the plan came from both Israeli and Arab leaders, and he emphasised the need for Hamas to respond promptly. The proposal includes a ceasefire, hostage exchanges, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and disarmament of Hamas, along with a transitional government.

A Hamas source described the plan as biased towards Israel and containing unacceptable conditions.

The group maintains that a complete Israeli withdrawal is a prerequisite for their agreement to any deal, while they are unwilling to disarm.

Pressure Mounts

Hamas faces significant pressure as foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Qatar, and Egypt have supported the initiative. Turkey’s intelligence head is also set to join discussions in Doha, marking a new level of mediation.

Despite expressing initial support, Netanyahu is cautious about the plan’s implications for Palestinian statehood and faces pressure from his coalition. Public sentiment in Gaza reflects a desire for peace, albeit with scepticism about the sincerity of both Trump and Netanyahu’s commitments.