China's nuclear threat over security alliance

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( September 17, 2021 [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [Australia could be ‘nuclear war target’ in new Aukus defence pact, warns furious China]( Australia could become the target of a nuclear strike by China following the security agreement with the US and UK which will lead to it acquiring a nuclear-powered submarine fleet. According to the Global Times, a newspaper viewed as a mouthpiece of the Communist Party in Beijing, Chinese military experts fear the vessels could be upgraded with a nuclear arsenal, despite assurances they will only carry conventional weapons. Chinese military experts have supposedly warned of a potential strike on Australia. This is reportedly because it would be relatively easy for Washington and London to equip the vessels with ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads. 2 / [Ministers plan post-Brexit return of imperial pounds and ounces in review of EU laws]( Government to legislate to end compulsory metric measures ‘in due course’ 3 / [Two men charged with murder of journalist Lyra McKee in Derry]( Men aged 21 and 33 charged over the killing 4 / [Andrew Neil says he quit GB News because he didn’t want to work for ‘British Fox’]( Veteran journalist admits channel’s launch was not ‘startling success’ 5 / [Police watchdog probes case of Black man, 70, left in hospital after being stopped for faulty brake light]( Metropolitan Police say pensioner was involved in 'struggle' with officer on routine patrol The Big Question Why are France and Australia at odds over submarines? France has hit out at Australia’s decision to abandon a £43bn deal for French submarines in favour of a new security pact with the UK and US, with foreign affairs minister Jean-Yves Le Drian complaining the move is “stab in the back” and that his country’s trust has been “betrayed”. The offending alliance will involve the three nations in building a nuclear-powered submarine fleet and collaborating on wide-ranging projects related to cyber-warfare, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Joining in the row, the EU’s high representative, Josep Borrell, said the bloc had not been consulted on the security pact, even as Brussels unveiled its own Indo-Pacific strategy. So what does all this mean for international relations? [Read the full story >]( Watch / [Timelapse footage shows Arc de Triomphe covered in fabric]( NUMBER OF THE DAY £1.1 billion The bid from Philip Morris International (PMI), the company which produces Marlboro cigarettes, has confirmed for inhaler maker Vectura and which has become unconditional QUOTE OF THE DAY “It’s a great feeling to be back home. I’ve been away for seven weeks so it’s nice to be back." – US Open winner Emma Raducanu on returning home to Bromley Other stories you might like [Chinese astronauts return to Earth from nation’s longest mission yet on homegrown space station]( [Violence against women and girls should be treated with same priority as terrorism, says watchdog]( [California wildfire threatens world’s largest tree – 275ft General Sherman]( If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.