As Omicron tears across the country, more than 1.5 million Australians have contracted COVID-19. Only eight other countries are recording more cases relative to their population size. What went wrong?

COVID numbers have raced past previous records in some Australian states, as governments ease pandemic restrictions and tell Australians to live with the new Omicron variant. Meanwhile, Britain is struggling with its biggest wave yet of the virus, as Omicron cases double every two to three days. We ask what lies in store for health systems as the new wave hits.

Australia has joined countries like the US, Canada and the UK in a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. But will it make any difference to the Games and is China worried? And Scott Morrison claims government policies are getting more first time buyers into homes. But the evidence shows governments have only entrenched an intergenerational wealth divide and it risks undermining the superannuation system.

Countries were quick to close off their borders after South Africa announced that it had discovered a new strain of Covid-19. But the Omicron variant has already seeded around the world. What have we learnt about it in the week since it was uncovered? And how will it shape the third year of the pandemic?

Australian troops and police have raced to the Solomon Islands after its government requested help to quell days of violence. The strife follows continuing tension over the Prime Minister’s 2019 decision to drop recognition of Taiwan in favour of China. But frustrations over lagging development are at work too.

The dark side of Melbourne’s anti-pandemic law protests, as police lay charges for incitement over calls for the execution of Victorian Premier Dan Andrews. Other politicians though are accused of legitimising extremists in the crowd. How dangerous is the situation?

As the Glasgow Summit wraps up, Australian farmers are facing more extreme weather events thanks to climate change. So what do the rising temperatures mean for the nation’s food bowl? And with lockdowns over, why aren’t we seeing a spike in COVID cases here??

Scott Morrison doesn’t deny leaking private text messages with the French President. An unprecedented new low, says France, already fuming over Australia’s cancellation of a massive submarine deal. What does it mean for global trust in the Australian leader? And how can the relationship be fixed?

After a troubled gestation, Australia has a plan for net zero emissions by 2050, in time for Scott Morrison to take to the Glasgow climate summit. But criticism has been quick and sharp, and other leaders want more from Australia. What is the plan, and why has it failed to impress?

Australia’s climate policy is still not settled and observers say the obsession over a 2050 climate target is “other worldly” and a fraud, if it allows fossil fuels to flourish. But with the UN Climate conference imminent, what are other nations bringing to the table?