For many, today marks the return to a new working year — and tuning back into the news cycle.
After the rollercoaster ride of 2020, everyone deserved a brief break but here's what you may have missed.
COVID-19 continued to surge
Unfortunately, coronavirus didn't end with 2020 — just the opposite.
In Australia, cases in the community were detected in New South Wales and Victoria, causing a return to restrictions and border closures.
Meanwhile, overseas there were reports the health systems in the US and UK were about to be swamped by COVID patients as case numbers spiked and the death toll climbed.
Where are we at with a vaccine?
Despite new COVID-19 outbreaks in NSW and Victoria, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the nation's vaccine plans had not changed and the rollout would begin in March.
"On the vaccine, you don't rush the [rollout]," he said. "That's very dangerous for Australians. Those who suggest that, I think it's a naive suggestion.
"Public health is our number one priority.
"There will be no shortcuts. The standards must be maintained and upheld."
Mr Morrison said Australia is in a comparatively good position compared to the rest of the world.
The Federal Government has deals to buy millions of doses of vaccine from Pfizer, Novavax and Oxford University/AstraZeneca, if approved by regulatory authorities.
In the US, president-elect Joe Biden warned it may take years for all Americans to be vaccinated against COVID-19 if the current rate of the rollout continues, while a vaccine shortage is resulting in booster shots being delayed in the UK.
Globally, Israel has taken an early lead in the race to vaccinate its citizens.
Final days of Trump in office
US president-elect Joe Biden is still on track to be sworn into office on January 20.
Continuing challenges by Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the election results have failed, although not for lack of trying.
US senator Ted Cruz announced he would spearhead a drive by nearly a dozen Republican senators to challenge Mr Biden's victory when electoral college results are tallied in Congress on January 6.
But over the break, a majority of Republicans in the Senate defied Mr Trump for the first time, overriding a veto to push through a bill on defence spending.
Also, Majority Senator Leader Mitch McConnell did not allow a vote on a Trump-backed plan to increase COVID-19 relief payments from $US600 to $US2,000, a move that later saw his home vandalised.
The national anthem changed
Advance Australia Fair was given a tweak.
From now on, we will be singing "For we are one and free" instead of "For we are young and free".
The change to the second line is the first amendment to the anthem since 1984, when it replaced God Save the Queen.
"It is time to ensure this great unity is reflected more fully in our national anthem," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, though predictably, not everyone agreed.
Brexit finally happened
After years of negotiations, the United Kingdom officially left the European Union.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the deal gave Britain control over its money, borders, laws and fishing grounds, while the EU said it protected its single market and contained safeguards to ensure the UK did not unfairly undercut the bloc's standards.
A deal has prevented tariffs on goods — roughly half of the $900 billion of annual EU-UK commerce — and duties being imposed, which could have cost both sides dearly.
It also means the free movement of people between the UK and the EU will end, while Australians with British passports lose the right to work in the EU.
Other ramifications include ending mutual recognition of professional qualifications, the UK is no longer bound by judgements made by the European Court and British firms have to file forms and customs declarations for the first time in years.
Australia's fourth-hottest year
Australia had its fourth-hottest year on record for mean and minimum temperatures, according to the Bureau of Meteorology's preliminary data for 2020.
As we begin 2021, it is looking a little greener, with above-average rainfall forecast.
The grain harvest is tipped to be the second-largest on record and water storage levels are up.
Expect more rain as the La Niña peaks before its expected decline during the first quarter of 2021.
