News Snapshot:
Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP Australian prime minister defends level of support for Solomon Islands and rest of Pacific amid tensions over security deal The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, says there will be no diplomatic thaw in relations with China until it lifts a block on ministerial meetings. “So long as China continues to refuse to have dialogue with Australian ministers and the prime minister, I think that’s an entirely proportional response,” Morrison told reporters on Saturday regarding reports he declined to meet China’s new ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian . “That would be a demonstration of weakness and I...
