It's been a bit over a year since I stopped tweeting, but I am still very keen to hear from and engage with readers. The days of the "Voice of God" style of journalism should be long gone. Best way to reach me is daniel.hurst@theguardian.com - put "Reader feedback" as the subject.

The trade minister, Don Farrell, has asked his European counterparts to recognise Australia as a “great migrant nation” and not force its producers to stop using terms like prosecco and feta. Interview from Berlin here he has been in talks on Aus/EU FTA:

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DFAT adds: "We have repeatedly conveyed our concern to Chinese authorities about delayed consular visits.". (Next week marks the 50th anniversary of China-Aus diplomatic relations. Kevin Rudd in recent speech urged China to use the occasion to allow early release of Ms Cheng).

DFAT spox: "The Australian government will continue to advocate at the highest levels for Australians detained in China, including Ms Cheng Lei. Australia expects Chinese authorities to provide regular access to Australian citizens in line with our bilateral consular agreement.".

The Australian government is raising the case of detained journalist Cheng Lei with the Chinese government amid concerns she will face a third straight month without consular access

The Australian government has revealed it is considering using new sanctions powers against cyber-attackers for the first time, sparking calls for the Medibank hackers to be the initial targets

Mixed bag for kanji of the year: .1. War.2. Contentment .3. Enjoyment. 4. Expensive.5. Strife .via @justinmccurry .

In comments to @GuardianAus, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it had “most recently summoned the chargé on [Monday] to express our deep concern over the execution of Mohsen Shekari, the continued use of the death penalty, & the rights of religious minorities in Iran”.

New: Australia has summoned Iran’s top diplomat in Canberra to condemn the execution of an anti-government protester - the sixth time the Australian government has summoned Iran’s chargé d’affaires since the crackdown on protests began in September

The opposition foreign affairs spokesperson, Simon Birmingham, has conceded the Coalition must listen “carefully to Pacific island nations” as part of what needs to be a “rock solid” bipartisan commitment to climate funding for the region. Interview:

Come for the story so far on the China-Australia thaw. Stay for the oil painting of Whitlam and Mao:

“When I spoke to Chinese diplomats that week, they were very clear to me they had noted Penny Wong’s caution” . Some of the steps in the stabilisation of Australia's relationship with China that may have flown below the radar:.

21 December will mark the 50th anniversary of Australia under Whitlam opening diplomatic relations with PRC. Feature taking stock of where things stand with the Albanese government's "stabilisation" of the relationship - and the challenges that remain:

Kathryn Campbell, one of the senior public servants being questioned at robodebt royal commission, has been appointed Aukus joint project office lead at Defence Dept. (PM had said she would have a senior defence portfolio role after moved on from Dfat)

RT @lenoretaylor: Prosecutor alleges police ‘aligned with defence’ in Bruce Lehrmann case and claims ‘inappropriate interference’ https://….

Australia’s foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, will use a speech tomorrow to urge China to take up a US offer to put in place “guardrails” to prevent growing tensions from spiralling into war

Updated news wrap: The US will increase rotations of its air, land and sea forces to Australia and also plans to preposition munitions and fuel here. US says it will not allow Australia to have a capability gap before nuclear-powered submarines are ready

Australia should strike a deal with the US to have the first of its nuclear-powered submarines built in Connecticut as “there’s too much risk in doing it on our own”, the shadow defence minister, Andrew Hastie, has declared ahead of key talks this week

Govt looks for ways to compensate families of victims of alleged war crimes, 2 yrs after Brereton said payments should be offered quickly to restore “Australia’s standing”. Marles has been briefed several times as govt looks for way through "complexities"

Exclusive: A Coalition frontbencher conducting a “grassroots” survey about nuclear power is using a website registered by a business that helps an American small modular reactor company, records reveal