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The United States is in the grip of a horrifying surge in coronavirus cases, and President-elect Joe Biden is trying to get in front of the emergency, with announcements on mask wearing and the vaccine; and a Chinese diplomat says the Prime Minister over-reacted to an inflammatory tweet and puts the onus on Australia to fix the languishing relationship.

Australia will watch and learn from the UK, rather than rush to match Britain's roll out of a COVID vaccine beginning next week; and an Australian soldier says that confinement and neglect meant the deployment to COVID-hit Melbourne was worse than being sent overseas.

The Australian microbiologist joining the WHO search for the origins of coronavirus hopes to soon head to China and he expects good access, despite diplomatic tensions; and on paper, Australia's COVID recession is over, but on the ground, businesses aren't yet calling it a comeback.

Australia's row with China just gets worse - Chinese media is in overdrive, and its embassy here lashes Australia's attempt to “deflect public attention” from potential Australian war crimes. Can Australia salvage this? And Tasmanians call for a film about the Port Arthur massacre to be scrapped – some say it's in poor taste and will glorify the killer.

A new low in Australia's relationship with China, as a furious Prime Minister savages China in a row over an offensive tweet; and a growing chorus of concern over the government's plan to merge the Family and Federal Circuit courts.

Australian wine all-but locked out of China – as Beijing slaps on crushing anti-dumping charges. Is iron ore next? And the Chief of Army defies a backlash from veterans – defending plans to strip a commendation from thousands of special forces who served in Afghanistan.