This is blowing up somewhat

Attending: Fiji Home Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua, Vanuatu's Police Minister Andrew Napuat, Solomon Islands Police Minister Jimson Tanangada + Tonga Trade Minister Viliami Uasike Latu along with senior police officers from PNG, Kiribati and Nauru + Samoa’s Ambassador to China

you have to hand it to Doval, he doesn't flinch while "briefing" a stony-faced Putin on Modi's meeting with Zelensky in Ukraine

As usual, a must watch

spectacular

For those asking for the extended Xinhua precis of the "new chapter" speech from China’s Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong at his meeting with Pacific Police ministers and others:

fascinating

Don Farrell announcing Australia has concluded free trade deal with United Arab Emirates. Tariffs slashed on Australian goods entering the UAE. Farrell also says it will facilitate investment into critical minerals sector by UAE’s sovereign wealth fund

Fuzhou trying to elbow out Pinkenba in the "subtropical Pacific policing training hub built at considerable government expense" stakes

Joint AUKUS statement says the three countries are “exploring opportunities” with Japan to work on maritime autonomous systems, and confirms they’re talking with South Korea, NZ and Canada to “identify possibilities for collaboration” on Pillar II

Pacific Minister Pat Conroy visiting both Solomon Islands and PNG in coming days - interestingly, he'll go to Bougainville while in PNG. First Australian Minister to visit since the 2019 independence referendum (Payne visited earlier that year, in June)

when your bold suit selection absolutely pays off

Must be fairly demoralising reading for Australian live lobster industry: still no resolution, and China wants to introduce a range of new requirements relating to "monitoring, testing, registration and auditing" before trade can resume- surely a process that could take months?