INTERNATIONAL: Australia, the United States and United Kingdom (AUKUS) have officially signed the Exchange of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information Agreement on Monday in Canberra, giving Australia access to nuclear-powered submarines technology.

Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton, British High Commissioner Victoria Treadell and U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Michael Goldman have signed the documents at Parliament House in Canberra. Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison says that it the first time that the U.S. and U.K. have shared this information with a third country, ever. For Australia, it is omething worth securing. Something Australia has long sought.

Last September, Australia has canceled a deal with France's Naval Group, opting instead to build at least 12 nuclear-powered submarines in a deal with the United States and Britain. The new alliance, dubbed AUKUS, is designed to give Australia access to nuclear-powered submarines for the first time.The decision has caused a major bilateral rift with France recalling its ambassadors from Australia and the United States in protest.

^{PHOTO: SOUNDBITES FROM AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER SCOTT MORRISON / AUSTRALIA'S DEFENCE MINISTER PETER DUTTON, UNITED STATES CHARGE D'AFFAIRES MICHAEL GOLDMAN AND BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER VICTORIA TREADELL SIGNING AUKUS FORMAL AGREEMENT}