Australia's media landscape is currently locked in a battle to define its very existence, but the biggest story on reader's minds has been about (surprise surprise) Donald Trump.

Earlier today it came to light that – verified off multiple US reporters – Donald Trump had a button installed in the Oval Office specifically to request cans of Diet Coke.

The button, mounted upon a large wooden box, sat beside two phones on Donald Trump's desk.

And when Mr Trump pressed the red button, a butler would emerge from another room, carrying a bottle of Diet Coke on a silver platter.

It seems even after he has left office, the bemusement of a Trump presidency is ongoing.

US headlines

• Pics of the week: Jubilation and anger as US welcomes new President
• Joe Biden removes Donald Trump's Diet Coke button from Oval Office
• Many White House staff to work from home in another break from Trump
• US top doctor makes dramatic switch as Biden takes charge

COVID-19 latest

• PM confirms Australia has 'prevented' third wave of coronavirus infections
• Mexican families resort to making their own ventilators
• New rules in force for international arrivals to Australia
• Victoria eases border measures with Sydney, regional NSW and Brisbane
• NSW marks fifth day of no new local COVID-19 cases

The big stories in Australia

Google is threatening to pull its search function completely from Australia as debate rages over a new media code that would force the search giant to pay for news content.

During Senate Hearings today, the head of Google in Australia said being forced to pay for news items would effectively "break" how the site works and is not in the spirit of the internet.

News companies – including the publisher of this website – argued that companies like Google and Facebook are running a "monopoly" on the market and can squeeze out original content at will.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed Australia has successfully prevented a third wave of coronavirus infections after outbreaks in numerous states.

"It is now clear that through the actions of every Australian, we have successfully prevented a third wave of infections, a rare achievement given the significant increase in global cases," Mr Morrison said today.

This was based on an update on the latest epidemiological data and medical advice from Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd who announced today Australia had gone six days in a row with no local transmission.

What else is happening around the world?

• Bali Bombing suspects set to be tried at Guantanamo
• Mexican families resort to homemade ventilators as COVID deaths reach all-time high
• World's earliest form of money has been unearthed
• One-of-a-kind Pokemon card sells for impressive sum

ASX drops after mid-week highs

– Aussie stocks have retreated after mid-week highs, closing the day down 0.34 per cent to 6,800 points.

– The day's biggest stock gain was felt by Lynas Rare Earths, which gained a huge 13.7 per cent.

– The day's biggest stock fall was felt by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, which dropped 6.75 per cent.

– The Aussie dollar is currently buying 77.4 US cents, remaining stable over the past week.

– Cryptocurrency Bitcoin is currently sitting at $41,133 AUD per coin. Bitcoin has been shedding $2,000 to $3,000 worth of value every day.

Today in History

Most-read story of the day

Readers on nine.com.au and 9News.com.au were clamouring to find out what Donald Trump wrote in his parting letter to Joe Biden.

Unfortunately for everyone – that remains private. But that didn't stop us reading everything we could about it.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Most talked about social media post

https://facebook.com/9News/photos/a.143997715648074/4074116225969517/?type=3&theater

Weather

Sport

Today was all about the Tokyo Olympics, after rumours were circulating that it was going to be cancelled again.

The Japanese government was said to have privately concluded this year's Tokyo Olympics will have to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report in The Times.

The Games, which were postponed from 2020 to 2021, are scheduled to be held in July and August.

"The Japanese government has privately concluded that the Tokyo Olympics will have to be cancelled because of the coronavirus," The Times' Richard Lloyd Parry wrote. "The focus is now on securing the Games for the city in the next available year, 2032."

The Australian Olympic Committee said on Friday that it still expects the Tokyo Games to be held this year.

"Both Japanese Prime Minister (Yoshihide) Suga and IOC President (Thomas) Bach have this week strongly reaffirmed their commitment to the Tokyo Olympic Games going ahead in July this year," the AOC said in a statement.

"The AOC is continuing its planning to ensuring the Australian Olympic Team arrives in Tokyo, competes and returns home safe and COVID-free.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Quiz and crossword

And if you are looking for something to take your mind off the news, see if you can beat the nine.com.au crossword here.

Or if you fancy yourself as a quiz master, try our quizzical. Today's is all about the crazy news week this has been.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed Australia has successfully prevented a third wave of coronavirus infections after outbreaks in numerous states.

"It is now clear that through the actions of every Australian, we have successfully prevented a third wave of infections, a rare achievement given the significant increase in global cases," Mr Morrison said today.

This was based on an update on the latest epidemiological data and medical advice from Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd who announced today Australia had gone six days in a row with no local transmission.

LIVE UPDATES: Victoria eases border restrictions with Greater Sydney, regional NSW and Brisbane

There have been 28,754 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 909 people have died.

There are now 34 people in hospital. More than 12.6 million tests have been undertaken in Australia.

Government monitoring third strain

Meanwhile Professor Michael Kidd has confirmed the government is closely watching a third strain of the COVID-19 virus that has mutated in Brazil and Japan.

The Deputy Chief Medical Officer said like the UK strain, this new variant appears to be more infectious.

"There is a third variant causing concern, it has been identified in Brazil and Japan today," Professor Kidd said.

READ MORE: Australia has enough doses to treat population three times

"One of the concerns with this variant is the concern about whether it leads to increased transmissibility of COVID 19, fortunately it does not seem to be causing more severe disease, but carries more risk of being transmitted.

"As a consequence we have increased the isolation requirements for people who are diagnosed with these new variant, from 10 days to 14 days before they get potential release from isolation."

READ MORE: Italy ponders suing Pfizer for COVID-19 vaccine delays

No plans for mandatory vaccine for front-line aged care workers

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said there are no current plans for the mandatory vaccine of people who live and work in aged care settings,

But Professor Kidd said he would "actively encourage" people in those settings to be vaccinated.

"We are actively encouraging the residents of aged care and people working in aged care, both the staff at the facilities but also the people coming into the facilities around the country to receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it start to rollout into their area," Prof Kidd said.

"We're anticipating a very high uptake amongst both residents and staff in order to protect the residents from COVID-19."

READ MORE: NSW marks fifth day of no new local COVID-19 cases

Safety the key to COVID-19 vaccine rollout

Mr Morrison has again stressed safety is paramount in the lead-up to the rollout of coronavirus vaccines in Australia.

"There are some uncertainties, which we've already discussed today, but what I can tell you is this – that the Therapeutic Goods Administration, Professor Skerrit, and that whole team, they will be making sure it's safe in terms of those vaccines, " he said.

"We're not rushing this, nor are we delaying it. We're getting it right. That's what matters. We're getting it right."

READ MORE: Victoria eases border measures with Sydney, regional NSW and Brisbane

Mr Morrison said an exhaustive logistical and organisational plan was being worked through for the rollout of the two-shot jab.

"You've got to get all your ducks in a row on this because remember there's two shots in the vaccine.

"You don't go and give the first one if you haven't got the confidence in the second one, and that can put a lot of pressure on your system – the refrigerated storage, the transportation, the training of the workers, the clinics."

You can get up-to-date information from the Federal Government's Coronavirus Australia app, available on the App Store, Google Play and the Government's WhatsApp channel.

Beyond Blue's Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service is a 24/7 service free of charge to all Australians. Visit the site here or call 1800512348

For coronavirus breaking news alerts and livestreams straight to your smartphone sign up to the 9News app and set notifications to on at the App Store or Google Play.

A family holidaying in the South Island spotted the person they believe is “New Zealand’s happiest road worker”.Josiah and Sarah-Ashleigh O’Connell were travelling with their baby from Christchurch to Nelson this afternoon when…

One person has died after a tractor rolled on a vineyard near Alexandra.A police spokeswoman said the incident happened about 1.50pm on a rural property in Earnscleugh.A funeral director is at the scene and the Otago Daily Times…

ANALYSIS: With new, more infectious variants of Covid-19 detected around the world, and at New Zealand’s border, the risk of further level 3 or 4 lockdowns is increased if those viruses get into the community. These include…

By Adam Jacobson, of RNZ Police are gearing up for another gun buyback, starting on February 1.The three-month programme – which will be based at police stations by appointment – aims to collect newly prohibited firearms, pistol…

A 14-year-old killed in a crash in Pāpāmoa has been remembered as a well-liked, ambitious young man.Hugo Shaw, of Cambridge, was killed when his bike collided with a truck in Pāpāmoa on Tuesday.An avid sportsman,…

New rules have come into force today for travellers entering Australia to prevent coronavirus outbreaks.

Those travelling to Australia must take a COVID-19 test 72 hours before boarding a flight.

LIVE UPDATES: Victoria eases border restrictions with Greater Sydney, regional NSW and Brisbane

Travellers must provide evidence at check-in that they have received a negative result provided by a laboratory.

Children who are four years of age or younger at the time of check-in are not required to have a test or present evidence of a negative test result.

People with a medical certificate that indicates they are unable to undergo a COVID-19 test are also among the exemptions.

In addition to this, masks will now be mandatory on international flights and in airports.

READ ALSO: Raft of new rules for domestic and international travel

Masks are not mandatory for children under 12, those with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a mask and those assisting people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the measures earlier this month, following a National Cabinet meeting to discuss how to prevent an outbreak of the highly-virulent UK strain of the virus in Australia.

Google is considering switching off its search function for Australian users if a proposed media bargaining code becomes law.

The tech giant's Australian managing editor Mel Silva said it was prepared to take the drastic action over a proposed media bargaining code.

The legislation aims to force digital platforms to pay media companies for news content, and follows a 12-month review into Google and Facebook by the competition watchdog.

"If the Code becomes law, Google would have no real choice but to stop providing Search in Australia. That's a worst-case scenario and the last thing we want to have happen — especially when there is a way forward to a workable Code that allows us to support Australian journalism without breaking Search," Ms Silva told a Senate hearing.

READ MORE: Watchdog throws spanner into Google's Fitbit plans

"Now that would be a bad outcome for us, but also for the Australian people, media diversity, and the small businesses who use our products every day."

"It's not a threat. It's a reality."

One of the largest companies in the world, Google has an estimated value of more than a trillion dollars.

Facebook also appeared at the senate hearing, repeating its threat that having to pay for news could see the content blocked altogether for Australian users.

Simon Milner, Vice President Public Policy at APAC for Facebook, said while traditional news "enriches" the Facebook community, it provides "almost no commercial value".

READ MORE: Aussie media companies call on Google, Facebook to pay for news content

"Clearly there's a range of ways in which people find out about what's going on in the world and some of that is by what they consume on Facebook. And some of that will be from what we might think of as kind of mainstream news sources," Mr Milner said.

"We've estimated that less than 5 per cent of Facebook's newsfeed actually involves that kind of content."

News organisations in Australia have accused Google and Facebook of profiting off their content without paying anything for it.

The Senate economics committee is examining the Federal Government's proposed media bargaining code bill.

Representatives from Nine, the publisher of this website, News Corp, Guardian Australia and the AAP will also give evidence.

The inquiry will also hear from Free TV Australia, the ABC and SBS, and the ACCC.

You can livestream the hearing at 9news.com.au.

Chris Janz, Chief Digital and Publishing Officer at Nine, compared Google and Facebook's net worth to being greater than that of the entire Australian stock market, and the nation's entire gross domestic product.

Mr Janz oversees the publishing of a broad range of local news, including this website alongside the Australian Financial Review, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age, Brisbane Times and more.

He referred to a recent "experiment" in which Google removed local news for some Australian users to test its impact.

"Google's ability to execute the so-called experiment demonstrates the truth of the core digital media ecosystem, you either play by their rules or not at all," Mr Janz said.

"For media organisations, this means having to accept your content appearing on Google's platforms, which provides Google with significant commercial returns without paying a single cent for the creation of that journalism."

READ MORE: Australia's most Googled terms of 2020

Google said this was an 'experiment' … 'to measure the impacts of news businesses and Google search on each other'.

"They effectively wiped local news off the face of the internet with one decision made out of California. They have power and they are not afraid to use it," Mr Janz added.

Google and Facebook executive will also give evidence at the hearing, where they will argue against the code. Google claims the proposed code will "break the way Google search works".

The Federal Government is undeterred by threats from Google that it may leave Australia if it is forced to pay for news content, Mr Morrison said.

At the Senate hearing today into the planned code for digital media platforms the tech giant hinted it may leave Australia if Federal Parliament passes the legislation.

"Let me be clear. Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia. That's done in our parliament. It's done by our government. And that's how things work here in Australia. And people who want to work with that, in Australia, you're very welcome. But we don't respond to threats."

Australian media executives say the code is essential for the survival of independent journalism.

Federal Parliament is expected to vote on the bill early this year after the committee delivers its report on February 12.

When Dr Anthony Fauci returned to the White House briefing room on Thursday, he did so without the sour reality of a hostile president watching him from metres away in the Oval Office.

Appearing at ease and jovial with reporters, the United States' top medical advisor admitted he was looking forward to greater transparency and evidence-based policies under Joe Biden's new administration.

"It was very clear that there were things that were said, be it regarding things like hydroxychloroquine, that were uncomfortable because they weren't based on scientific fact," he said.

READ MORE: Dr Anthony Fauci lays out Biden's support for WHO after Trump criticism

"I can tell you, I take no pleasure at all in being in a situation of contradicting the President," Dr Fauci told the room, appearing nonetheless to take some pleasure in no longer having to dance around President Donald Trump's turbulent ego.

"The idea that you can get up here and talk about what you know, what the evidence, what the science is – let the science speak," he added.

"It is somewhat of a liberating feeling."

He demurred somewhat on his rocky history with the previous administration.

But he made no attempt to veil his pleasure at the changing of guard.

For the 80-year-old infectious disease specialist, it was the latest act in a long history of serving seven US presidents.

Dr Fauci, who sat on Donald Trump's coronavirus task force and endured his public scorn, emerged to tout a new administration's plans and voice support for a new President's approach.

In some ways, it was a turnabout.

READ MORE: Biden signs burst of coronavirus orders, requires masks for travel

Though he was sidelined and ignored in the end, he still helped formulate a badly flawed Trump administration policy that failed to contain the virus.

But when things began to get bad, Mr Trump's aides restricted how much Fauci could appear on television to offer warnings and disinvited him from briefing the President in the Oval Office.

Dr Fauci and Mr Trump disagreed on how to approach the pandemic, what the correct message was for the American people and how to balance reopening with preventing further contagion.

Through it all, the President insisted he respected Dr Fauci but disagreed with his approach.

But at their relationship's nadir, Trump suggested he was considering firing Fauci.

Attacks from Trump's allies led to death threats and enhanced security.

It was a different scene on Thursday. Fauci awoke before 4am ET to address the World Health Organisation on the administration's behalf after Biden rejoined the body.

READ MORE: Trump returns to business empire ravaged by pandemic

In the State Dining Room several hours later, Biden and Fauci greeted each other warmly before Biden signed a series of executive actions meant to combat the pandemic.

He appeared for a number of television interviews. He was the first administration expert to stand in the briefing room under new management.

Dr Fauci himself said he was guaranteed a new approach.

"One of the things that was very clear as recently as about 15 minutes ago, when I was with the President, is that one of the things that we're going to do is to be completely transparent, open and honest," Fauci said.

"If things go wrong, not point fingers but to correct them. And to make everything we do be based on science and evidence."

"That was literally a conversation I had 15 minutes ago with the President," he said, clearly relieved the stark warnings he's been trying to convey about the pandemic for months would now come with the imprimatur of the White House.

"We are still in a very serious situation," Fauci said as he began his remarks, calling the recently passed death toll of 400,000 "historic in a very bad sense."

He suggested that the recent seven-day average of cases "looks like it might actually be plateauing in the sense of turning around," and the public health officials "think it's real."

But, he added, he's said this before.

"I'm sort of getting a déjà vu standing up here cause I said something like this almost a little bit less than a year ago when we were talking about the acceleration of cases in the late winter, early spring of 2020, when we were having New York City metropolitan area being the epicenter of what was going on. There are always lags, so please be aware of that," he said.

That, of course, was before then-President Trump decided Dr Fauci's urgent warnings were dampening Americans' spirits and, in turn, his political prospects.

By summer, Trump had taken to insisting the country was "rounding the corner" on the virus.

By the time another surge hit in the fall, Trump was in full denial.

Dr Fauci went for weeks without speaking with Trump.

Two days before the election, Trump suggested to a crowd in Florida he might fire him. The doctor continued to attend task force meetings with Mike Pence, and appeared at a briefing with Mr Pence in November, but his relationship had died with Trump — who'd taken to a new adviser, Dr. Scott Atlas, whose views were on the fringe.

On Thursday, Dr Fauci signaled the days of overconfidence and loose facts were over.

"One of the things new with this administration is if you don't know the answer, don't guess," he said.

"Just say you don't know the answer."