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Australia Unveils Initial US$2.8 Billion for New Nuclear Subs Facility

The USS Ohio docks in Brisbane, the first Ohio-class submarine to dock at the Port of Brisbane, Australia, 30 July 2025. EPA/DARREN ENGLAND
The USS Ohio docks in Brisbane, the first Ohio-class submarine to dock at the Port of Brisbane, Australia, 30 July 2025. EPA/DARREN ENGLAND
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Australia Unveils Initial US$2.8 Billion for New Nuclear Subs Facility

The USS Ohio docks in Brisbane, the first Ohio-class submarine to dock at the Port of Brisbane, Australia, 30 July 2025. EPA/DARREN ENGLAND
The USS Ohio docks in Brisbane, the first Ohio-class submarine to dock at the Port of Brisbane, Australia, 30 July 2025. EPA/DARREN ENGLAND

Australia unveiled AU$3.9 billion (US$2.8 billion) in spending on Sunday as a "down payment" on a new facility to build nuclear submarines under the tripartite AUKUS security pact with Britain and the United States.
The AUKUS pact aims to arm Australia with a fleet of cutting-edge submarines from the United States and would provide for cooperation in developing an array of warfare technologies, reported AFP.
The submarines, the sale of which will begin in 2032, lie at the heart of Australia's strategy of improving its long-range strike capabilities in the Pacific, particularly against China.
The deal could cost Canberra up to US$235 billion over the next 30 years, and also includes the technology to build its own vessels in the future.
Defense minister Richard Marles said the facility in Osborne, near the southern city of Adelaide, would be at the heart of that.
In the long term, an estimated AU$30 billion is expected to be spent on the facility.
"The transformation underway at Osborne shows Australia is on track to deliver the sovereign capability to build our nuclear-powered submarines for decades to come," he said.
The investment in the Submarine Construction Yard "is critical to delivering Australia's conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines", Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement.
"We are accelerating AUKUS opportunities to secure Australia's future defense capability and create lasting prosperity and jobs for the state," he added.
In September, Canberra also revealed a US$8 billion investment to be spent over a decade to transform a shipbuilding and maintenance precinct in Perth, Western Australia, into facilities for a future fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.
Australia had a major bust-up with France in 2021 when it cancelled a multi-billion-dollar deal to buy a fleet of diesel-powered submarines from Paris and went with the AUKUS program instead.
The pact was thrown into doubt last June when Washington said it was launching a review into whether it aligned with President Donald Trump's "America First" agenda.
In December, the Pentagon said it had cleared that hurdle and that Trump had ordered it "full steam ahead".

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World

Netanyahu Will Make Quick Trip to Speak at UN After Mamdani Urged His Arrest, Diplomat Says

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister and leader of the Likud party, speaks during the party's presentation of new team members for the upcoming elections, in Jerusalem, Israel, 08 September 2026. (EPA)
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister and leader of the Likud party, speaks during the party's presentation of new team members for the upcoming elections, in Jerusalem, Israel, 08 September 2026. (EPA)
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Netanyahu Will Make Quick Trip to Speak at UN After Mamdani Urged His Arrest, Diplomat Says

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister and leader of the Likud party, speaks during the party's presentation of new team members for the upcoming elections, in Jerusalem, Israel, 08 September 2026. (EPA)
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister and leader of the Likud party, speaks during the party's presentation of new team members for the upcoming elections, in Jerusalem, Israel, 08 September 2026. (EPA)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making a whirlwind 24-hour trip to speak at the annual UN gathering of world leaders this month because “there is no option” after New York’s mayor urged his arrest over the war in Gaza, Israel’s UN envoy said Tuesday.

Ambassador Danny Danon accused Mayor Zohran Mamdani of “doing politics” when he called the prime minister a “war criminal” and called for his arrest, which he had to withdraw because New York City does not have authority to take Netanyahu into custody.

“You know, it became very trendy to do politics by blaming Israel,” Danon added. He stressed, “For us, it’s important the prime minister will come.”

Netanyahu has become an increasingly polarizing figure over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Mamdani, whose office did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Tuesday, has pointed to the arrest warrant issued by the world’s top war crimes tribunal against Netanyahu in November 2024, accusing him and another Israeli official of crimes against humanity.

The International Criminal Court warrant said there was reason to believe Netanyahu used “starvation as a weapon of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid and intentionally targeting civilians in the campaign against Hamas — charges Israel denies.

While New York City does not have legal authority to execute an ICC arrest warrant, Mamdani has encouraged the federal government to do so. The US and Israel are not members of the court, and the Trump administration has imposed a series of sanctions on ICC staffers in a campaign to dismantle the tribunal.

Netanyahu is scheduled to arrive in New York late on Sept. 23, address the UN General Assembly the afternoon of Sept. 24 and fly back to Israel that night, Danon said.

Danon noted that the meeting of leaders from the 193 UN member nations is taking place during the Jewish holidays and an election campaign as Netanyahu tries to keep his job as prime minister.

Danon said protests against Netanyahu would “create more chaos” on New York streets during the high-level meetings the week of Sept. 22-28.

Last year, there was a mass walkout from the UN General Assembly hall when Netanyahu started to speak from the podium. This year, Danon said, “I expect that there will be something like another show.”

But the ambassador said Netanyahu is experienced, “and I’m sure he will deliver his speech despite those attempts.”

World

Trump Hails ‘Really Big Night’ After Far-Right Win in Germany

(L-R) Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and parliamentary group co-chairman Tino Chrupalla, top candidate of the AfD party in Saxony-Anhalt Ulrich Siegmund, and AfD party and parliamentary group co-chairwoman Alice Weidel pose for the media during a press conference in Berlin, Germany, 07 September 2026. (EPA)
(L-R) Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and parliamentary group co-chairman Tino Chrupalla, top candidate of the AfD party in Saxony-Anhalt Ulrich Siegmund, and AfD party and parliamentary group co-chairwoman Alice Weidel pose for the media during a press conference in Berlin, Germany, 07 September 2026. (EPA)
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Trump Hails ‘Really Big Night’ After Far-Right Win in Germany

(L-R) Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and parliamentary group co-chairman Tino Chrupalla, top candidate of the AfD party in Saxony-Anhalt Ulrich Siegmund, and AfD party and parliamentary group co-chairwoman Alice Weidel pose for the media during a press conference in Berlin, Germany, 07 September 2026. (EPA)
(L-R) Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and parliamentary group co-chairman Tino Chrupalla, top candidate of the AfD party in Saxony-Anhalt Ulrich Siegmund, and AfD party and parliamentary group co-chairwoman Alice Weidel pose for the media during a press conference in Berlin, Germany, 07 September 2026. (EPA)

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday hailed what he called a "really big" victory by Germany's far-right movement after the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party scored a dramatic upset in state elections.

"Wow! The Populist Party in Germany just had a really big night," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, before going on to bash the country's immigration regulations.

"They finally got tired of the absolutely horrible Immigration rules and regulations which have hurt Germany so badly."

Trump's celebratory post -- which did not name the party specifically -- came two days after the AfD emerged as the largest party in elections in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.

The anti-immigration, Russia-friendly and pro-Trump AfD party took almost 44 percent of the vote, and has vowed a "remigration and deportation offensive" targeting migrants.

The prospect of the first far-right government taking charge of a German state since World War II has deeply unsettled many migrants and minority groups.

The AfD in Saxony-Anhalt is labelled a "right-wing extremist" group by Germany's domestic intelligence agency, and its triumphant lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund's staff are known former members of a since-banned neo-Nazi organization.

Trump supporters have cheered on the AfD, with former US ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell celebrating the results as "a new day in Germany" and tech billionaire Elon Musk rushing to be among the first to celebrate AfD's victory with a resounding "Well done!"

"THEY ARE ON THE RISE, and not going to take it anymore! MGGA!!!," Trump posted on social media, a German variation on his "Make America Great Again" platform.

World

US Treasury Chief Bessent Backs Using US Financial Power as Foreign Policy Tool

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stands at the podium for a rehearsal before the Republican convention Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, in Dallas. (AP)
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stands at the podium for a rehearsal before the Republican convention Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, in Dallas. (AP)
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US Treasury Chief Bessent Backs Using US Financial Power as Foreign Policy Tool

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stands at the podium for a rehearsal before the Republican convention Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, in Dallas. (AP)
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stands at the podium for a rehearsal before the Republican convention Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, in Dallas. (AP)

US Treasury ‌Secretary Scott Bessent advocated on Tuesday for Washington's use of financial power as a foreign policy tool with the goal of advancing the interests of American allies, including in financial and political situations abroad.

"I believe that I can use the balance sheet of the US for foreign policy. So, we have a foreign policy goal and that is to create allies in the Western hemisphere," Bessent said in an event at the SMU Cox School of Business.

"Argentina was the front-runner ‌for that ‌and it was my belief that the Milei ‌government ⁠had sound policies," ⁠he said, referring to Argentine President Javier Milei's government.

Last year, the US provided Argentina with a multibillion-dollar support package to help stabilize its currency and bolster Milei ahead of midterm elections.

Bessent's comments marked an open acknowledgement of the Trump administration's willingness to use US financial resources to shape the politics ⁠and economies of foreign countries.

President Donald Trump's administration ‌has tried to sway political contests ‌across other parts of Latin America and has moved to increase ‌US presence and influence in the region.

Trump also ordered ‌the seizure of ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in a deadly raid and the US military has carried out multiple strikes on boats in the Caribbean that have killed dozens.

Rights advocates, both in ‌the US and around the world, say such actions are imperial and amount to extrajudicial killings. ⁠Trump ⁠casts them as attempts to advance US interests and counter drug trafficking and illegal immigration.

Bessent also spoke about the US having joined Japan in a rare joint yen-buying intervention on July 31, which signaled determination to prevent a selloff in the yen and Japanese government bonds from spilling over into global markets.

"When we intervened with the Japanese yen, I have pretty good insight into what the Japanese, what the Bank of Japan is going to do, what Japanese policy makers are going to do," Bessent said.

The Trump administration has also used tariffs as a foreign policy tool.