Your morning Briefing

Welcome to your morning roundup of what’s making news and the must-reads for today.

Good morning readers. Here is your two-minute digest of what’s making news today.

China's ambassador to Australia Cheng Jingye at an Australia-China Business Council event in Canberra, Thursday, June 15, 2017. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING

China attacks ‘spycatcher’ Turnbull

The Chinese government has launched an extraordinary intervention into Australia’s politics, attacking the government, senior bureaucrats and journalists, and lashing out against a “Cold War mentality”, following Malcolm Turnbull’s crackdown on foreign interference and fuelled by resentment over the foreign white paper. In a blunt appraisal, the Chinese embassy yesterday issued a rebuke of “so-called Chinese influence” following what it described as “unjustifiable accusations” against the communist nation. Meantime, it has emerged that Sam Dastyari hounded senior defence officials with more than 115 questions about Chinese interests since 2013.

“Some Australian politicians and government officials also made irresponsible remarks to the detriment of political mutual trust between China and Australia.”

Chinese embassy spokesman

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Australian Opposition Leader Bill Shorten reacts during House of Representatives Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, December 6, 2017. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING

PM seeks more scalps

The PM is ramping up pressure on Bill Shorten over the citizenship scandal after Labor staged a stunning backdown to refer two of its senior MPs to the High Court, fuelling demands for three more Labor backbenchers to face the same fate today. Malcolm Turnbull was battling to secure the numbers last night to refer the three Labor MPs to the court over their British citizenship, setting up a dramatic clash as parliament seeks to rule on the dispute after a final vote on same-sex marriage today. Stay abreast of all the latest developments from parliament in our live blog, PoliticsNow.

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President Donald Trump holds up a proclamation to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Jerusalem ‘is Israel capital’

Donald Trump has recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, describing the move as an obvious and overdue recognition of reality. But he said the decision, which has sparked anger across the Middle East and amongst Palestinians, would not diminish America’s push for a peace agreement between Israel and Palestine.

“This is a long overdue step to advance the peace process and to work towards a lasting agreement.”

Donald Trump

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Illustration: Rod Clement

Feeney’s brain fades

It’s remarkable really what Labor Member for Batman, the forgetful David Feeney, can actually get done when he sets his mind to it, according to Margin Call. Feeney is still only 47 but can’t seem to remember a thing. Where is that citizenship paperwork that the formerly faceless man says clears him to sit in the House of Reps? And how many houses do he and his Maurice Blackburn Cashman lawyer wife Liberty Sanger actually own?

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ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 06: Steve Smith of Australia speaks to the media at the post match press conference after day five of the Second Test match during the 2017/18 Ashes Series between Australia and England at Adelaide Oval on December 6, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Captains courageous?

As the crowd dispersed at Adelaide Oval yesterday afternoon, Steve Smith appeared on the video screen at the cathedral end, rigid and square-shouldered, rictus stretched across his face. Gideon Haigh asks: Who would be a captain?

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Kudelka’s view

Jon Kudelka Letters Page Cartoon for 07-12-2017Version: (650x366)COPYRIGHT: The Australian's artists each have different copyright agreements in place regarding re-use of their work in other publications.Please seek advice from the artists themselves or the Managing Editor of The Australian regarding re-use.