The AUKUS nuclear submarines deal – Australia's most expensive defence project – is facing major hurdles, a report by British MPs warns.

Under the defence pact, estimated to cost more than $360 billion in coming decades. – the Australian navy would acquire eight nuclear-propelled (but not armed) submarines from the US and UK.

But in a report published overnight, the UK House of Commons Defence Committee warned that the British government needs to inject more money and political impetus for AUKUS to become a reality.

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"We have deep concerns cracks are already beginning to show when it comes to funding. The investment pipeline has already faltered," said its chair, Tan Dhesi MP.

Australia signed up to AUKUS in 2021 to counter rising Chinese power in the Asia Pacific.

The former Coalition government and current Albanese government said the long range and ability to remain hidden underwater for months of nuclear submarines would help maintain stability in the Asia-Pacific.

Under part of the agreement, Australia and Britain are collaborating to develop and construct a new class of nuclear-powered attack submarine, known as SSN-AUKUS.

But the Royal Australian Navy's plan to take delivery of five vessels by the early 2040s, built in South Australia, faces major hurdles.

"For the UK, delivering SSN-AUKUS will be a lengthy and complex undertaking requiring a sustained financial commitment from government across several electoral cycles," the report said.

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Alarm bells have also been sounded on the plan by the US Navy to sell Australia up to five of its Virginia-class nuclear submarines by 2035.

Faltering production rates at US shipyards were a "a matter of concern", and "a potential risk" to the deal, the House of Commons report said.

Australian taxpayers have so far given a combined $10 billion to the US and Britain to bolster their shipbuilding industries as part of AUKUS.

The final cost for Australia has been estimated at about $368 billion by the mid-2050s.

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When Donald Trump knocked down the East Wing of the White House without authorisation, few Republican politicians were willing to publicly back his ambitious renovations.

But after the major security breach during the White House Correspondents' dinner on Saturday, they have changed their tune.

Soon after, an armed gunman allegedly tried to kill the president, Trump said the scare justified the need for a ballroom in the White House.

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And now prominent Republicans are agreeing with him.

Senator Rand Paul, a prominent conservative who has often clashed with the Trump administration, will introduce legislation to allow the ballroom to go ahead.

"Tomorrow, I'll bring my bill to the floor that allows it to proceed without new taxpayer costs and make it easier for Congress to review major White House projects going forward," he said.

A separate bill would set aside US$400 million in taxes to build the ballroom.

"Many people I think originally saw it as a vanity project… I don't see it that way," Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said.

"I'm convinced if there had been a presidential ballroom adjacent to the White House, the guy would have never gotten in."

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Even one high-profile Democrat has joined the chorus.

"We were there front and centre," Senator John Fetterman said. 

"That venue wasn't built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the US government. 

"After witnessing last night, drop the TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) and build the White House ballroom for events exactly like these."

Fetterman has been increasingly stepping away from his party by siding with Republicans on major issues.

Trump's renovations of the White House have been blocked by a federal judge because he did not have congressional approval to do so.

"The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families," Judge Richard J Leon wrote in his decision.

"He is not, however, the owner!"

In a scathing judgment, Leon declared the president could not carry out extensive renovations without congressional approval.

"No statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have," the judge wrote.

Leon said while presidents were able to carry out "care, maintenance and repair", the existing laws "bring to mind things like replacing the lightbulbs, fixing broken furniture, and changing the wallpaper".

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Trump has said his ballroom is being funded by donations, but will not reveal who has done so.

The secrecy behind the project has attracted the ire of Democrats.

"Who is funding Trump's $400m unlawful ballroom and what are they getting in return?" Representative Dan Goldman said.

"The White House is blatantly avoiding oversight by shielding their secret contracts and anonymous donors, all without Congressional authorisation or any meaningful conflict of interest protections."

The White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) is not a government organisation and would not be obliged to hold its event at the White House.

Today WHCA President Weijia Jiang said the Hilton Hotel had donated the uneaten dinners from the cancelled event.

"They freeze-dried the steak and lobster for longer shelf life before giving them to two shelters for abused women and children," she wrote on X.

"HUGE thank you to the staff that worked through the night under terrible circumstances."

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Cole Tomas Allen, 31, was arrested after exchanging fire with law enforcement and the Secret Service at the Washington Hilton.

He has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president. 

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Farmers in South Australia are being forced to resort to shooting mice with rifles or burning their precious crops as a mouse plague ravages southern Australia.

Videos of hordes of mice sweeping across the country have been shared on social media, with millions making their way from Western Australia in an easterly direction.

It is another huge blow for farmers, who have already been ravaged by wild weather and the fuel crisis, and experts warn it could threaten $3 billion in grain and food exports to Asian neighbours.

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The plague has already hit the wheatbelt region in Western Australia, and is now making its way towards South Australia, which is recovering from an intense period of rain and floods.

These conditions are perfect for mice plagues to occur, due to the warmer temperatures and larger amount of crops they feed off.

Some farmers have been forced to take drastic action, with one shooting mice on his property with a rifle, and another has been forced to burn the crops he had already grown after he found hundreds of holes burrowed by mice.

"Look how busy these little bastards have been," the farmer said as he posted a video of the remains.

In previous mouse plagues, especially in the 1980s, farmers used flamethrowers to kill the swarms of mice attacking their crops.

Experts fear the plague will continue as it spreads across South Australia and even into Victoria.

The impact could pass from the farmers to millions of Aussies as it could massively impact Australia's trade with many Asian neighbours.

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"This is another kick in the guts, not only for our farmers impacted, it's the community, it's anybody. It's small business, it's supermarkets, it's the baker," Andrew Weidemann from Grain Producers Australia said.

Australia's grain export industry brings in $3 billion, but this could be in jeopardy if the plague continues.

An emergency application was launched with the federal chemical regulator – Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority – asking to double the lethal ingredient in baits from 25 grams to 50 grams.

"Our research shows that with the 50-gram bait, you kill over 80 per cent of the mice, 80 per cent of the time," Henry said.

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Aussies around the country will today withdraw cash as part of protest "Cash Out Day", designed to highlight the importance of cash to the lives of millions in Australia.

While cash use has declined in recent years, data released this month by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) showed the number of cash payments had risen to 15 per cent, and that half of all Aussies use cash at least once a week.

The RBA highlighted that older Australians and those in regional areas were more likely to be reliant on cash, and Aussies are being urged to show they still value cash in hand by withdrawing some cash today.

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Jason Bryce, a financial journalist and supporter of Cash Out Day, claimed it was important for Aussies to show cash is still king.

"Aussies have become increasingly concerned that banks are trying to herd us towards a cashless society," he said.

"Yes we like tag and go, yes we like to use our phone and our cards, but nobody's voted for a cashless society, no one's voted for the government or banks to take our cash away."

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Regional communities have been hit by several banks closing branches, further hampering people's access to cash.

And while the federal government introduced a cash mandate this year, requiring businesses to accept cash as payment for essential goods, they have also moved to remove surcharges for card payments.

Bryce claimed the mandate was "way too weak" and said the removal of surcharges will help move people away from cash.

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He said all Aussies should be worried by this news.

"The banks continue to close ATMs and continue to close bank branches, and that's got to stop," he said.

"All of these are bad for the future of cash in our economy. Cash is so important for so many people."

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