This week in Australian foreign affairs: Marles in New Zealand for South Pacific Defence Ministers' Meeting; new financial and cyber sanctions imposed on Russian citizens for cybercrime; new humanitarian assistance package to support civilians in Lebanon, and more.

Sudan’s escalating civil war has led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with millions facing severe food insecurity and displacement. The conflict has resulted in widespread violence, including attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers, and has exacerbated regional instability.

Recent protests in the UK during this summer’s general election and beyond reveal an ongoing battle against disinformation. While social media play a role in its dissemination, it is how elites engage with disinformation that truly matters.