Your noon Briefing

Welcome to your noon digest of what’s been making news and what to watch for.

Hello readers. Here is your noon round-up of today’s top stories so far and a long read for lunchtime.

TWAM-20180224 EMBARGO FOR TWAM 24 FEB 2018NO REUSE WITHOUT PERMISSIONPIC BY CPL JASON WEEDING 15 Major-General Andrew James (Jim) Molan AO, Commander of the deployable joint force headquarters 1st Division, addresses logistic troops from 3rd Brigade Administrative Support Battalion (3BASB) after their three weeks combined arms training activity (CATA) supporting unites and sharpening their bush skills at high range training area, 15/03/2001. Pic Corporal Jason Weeding.

Battle lost

The battle for control over the South China Seas has been lost, with nothing short of all-out war capable of dislodging Chinese forces from a string of heavily fortified ­islands, ­Liberal senator and former senior army officer Jim Molan says.

Meantime, a deepening spat over allegations of Chinese meddling in Australian politics has led to cases of wine piling up at Chinese ports and nationalists calling for tougher trade retaliations. The episode shows how China is willing to use its economic leverage to force foreign governments to reverse positions it views as antagonistic. It has deployed similar tactics in its trade fight.

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Craig McLachlan (R) and his partner Vanessa Scammell (L) pictured leaving restaurant Balcon by Tapavino in Sydney on the Monday 12th of March 2018.Picture: Christian Gilles

Suppression bid fails

A judge has denied an application to suppress the identities of three women who are potential witnesses in actor Craig McLachlan’s defamation case. The 52-year-old actor launched defamation proceedings in February against the ABC and Fairfax media following the publication of several stories detailing alleged incidents of indecent assault and bullying suffering by three women during the production of the Rocky Horror Show in 2014.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding. 19 May 2018 Pictured: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle. Photo credit: Ben Birchall/WPA/MEGA TheMegaAgency.com [phone]

Loved up

An evening of wild celebrations, bawdy jokes and lethal cocktails on the night of the royal nuptials featured a startling observation from George Clooney.

“I’m really enjoying this wedding because they actually seem to be in love, whereas I go to all these celebrity weddings and nobody seems to be in love at all.”

George Clooney

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 27: Will Power of Australia, driver of the #12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet celebrates after winning the 102nd Running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 27, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Chris Graythen/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Will to power

Will Power became the first Australian to win the Indy 500, pulling away in the final moments to win the 102nd running of the famous race.

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Captain Cook Cruises, Fiji / Lau cruise Image supplied by Captain Cook Cruises

The long read: Fantastic voyages

‘No itinerary has ever left me more stunned by the world or unsure of my place in it.’ Settle in for some prime time armchair travel, as our writers recall their most extraordinary cruise itineraries.

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Comment of the day

“Everyone tradie I have ever worked with since becoming one myself has hated bracket creep and felt that working overtime is a waste of time because the government took too much of it.

“But that’s actual a Labor value, to crush personal ambition and entrepreneurship so that no will work over time and there are therefore more jobs for everyone.”

Sleepy Lizard, in response to ‘Newspoll: Voters snub Bill Shorten’s tax attack’.