News in Review 2025 — Australia
The year that was 2025 in Australia was marked by significant social and political developments relating to security, public order, federal elections, human rights and international alliances. The country faced challenges ranging from mass demonstrations
Albanese government retreats on rural speed-limit cuts after fierce backlash
The Albanese government has abruptly withdrawn its proposal to reduce rural speed limits to as low as 70 km/h, following a wave of public anger and rare internal dissent from Labor MPs. The plan, part
NSW to roll out digital birth certificates for young people aged 16–21
Young people in New South Wales will soon be able to access a digital birth certificate on their mobile phone for the first time, as part of a major step towards modernising identity documents across
Half of Australia’s students missing a month of school as fears about the future surge
A landmark national report has revealed an alarming shift inside Australia’s classrooms, with more than half of government secondary students missing at least a month of school each year. The first State of Australia’s Children
Major student debt relief begins for three million Australians as Albanese government rolls out $16bn initiative
A sweeping cost-of-living boost has begun reaching millions of Australians, with the Albanese government activating its long-promised plan to cut student debt for roughly three million people. The $16 billion initiative—legislated in July—will be implemented
Australian home prices poised to break all records in 2026
Australia’s housing market is set to enter unprecedented territory, with both house and unit prices in every capital city projected to hit new all-time highs by the end of 2026, according to Domain’s Forecast Report
Australia concedes defeat in high-stakes battle to host COP31, handing victory to Turkey
Australia is preparing to concede defeat in its bid to host next year’s major United Nations climate summit, COP31, despite months of lobbying, millions of dollars in preparatory work, and strong public advocacy from senior
History responds: 145,000 Greeks fill the cinemas
In just four days, 145,000 tickets were sold in Greek cinemas — an achievement that goes well beyond commercial success and firmly into the realm of a cultural moment. History responds: 145,000 Greeks fill the cinemas. Public interest in the film about Ioannis Kapodistrias cannot be explained in box-office terms
Greek rapper Negros Tou Moria cracks Guardian’s top two Global Albums of 2025
Greek rapper Negros Tou Moria has emerged as one of the standout figures in global music this year, with his latest album Mavri Ellada ranked No. 2 on The Guardian’s Best Global Albums of 2025
Holiday traffic normalizes after Tuesday’s gridlock
After yesterday’s disruptions, traffic on the Athens–Lamia and Athens–Corinth highways is expected to return to normal today, Wednesday, as farmers and traffic police coordinated to improve vehicle flow ahead of Christmas. On Tuesday, drivers faced
Mitsotakis meets Abbas in Ramallah: Greece supports peace in Gaza
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday in Ramallah, ahead of his visit to Jerusalem and participation in the Greece–Cyprus–Israel trilateral summit. Support for the Palestinian Authority and
Trilateral Summit sends clear message to Ankara: “Do not even think of reviving empires”
A strong geopolitical message was sent from Jerusalem on Monday following the completion of the 10th Trilateral Summit between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a pointed warning to those “who
PASOK intensifies internal debate over potential alliances – Geroulanos rules out ND, Kastanidis open to Tsipras dialogue
Intense discussions are underway within PASOK ahead of the party’s upcoming congress, as leaders debate the strategic direction and potential alliances. Former minister Pavlos Geroulanos has firmly rejected any possibility of a coalition with the
Greek Prime Minister to visit Jerusalem for trilateral summit with Cyprus and Israel, talks also planned with Palestinian leadership
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will travel to Jerusalem on Monday to take part in a high-level trilateral summit between Greece, Cyprus and Israel, as regional diplomacy intensifies amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Eastern
Why the EU drifted into irrelevance and how anti-democratic governance accelerated the decline
The European Union’s slide into geopolitical and economic irrelevance has nothing to do with Donald Trump. Here’s Why the EU drifted into irrelevance and how anti-democratic governance accelerated the decline. It is structural, self-inflicted, and rooted in an increasingly anti-democratic system of governance that prioritises regulation over innovation, symbolism over
EU Parliament rebukes Turkey’s involvement in EU defence
Two letters—one from the European Parliament’s Legal Service and another from its President, Roberta Metsola—have shaken the €150 billion SAFE programme for European defence. EU Parliament rebukes Turkey’s involvement in EU defence. The EU Commission
Encroachment by acquisition: Strategic alarm over property purchases in Thrace
Amid rising geopolitical tensions and demographic shifts in Southeast Europe, a growing wave of property acquisitions by Turkish and Bulgarian nationals in Northern Greece, especially in the Evros border region, is raising strategic alarm. This
A decisive battle for Odessa is coming up
Despite acknowledging Moscow’s entrenched positions, Western leaders continue to push for a negotiated outcome, one that, in practice, would amount to little more than a temporary pause in hostilities rather than a genuine peace. A
Two Turkish military operatives killed by India
Two Turkish military operatives killed by India. Turkey sent drone operators to assist Pakistan’s attacks on India Two Turkish military operatives were reportedly killed during Operation Sindoor, which has revealed that Turkey not only supported
Lawmakers to Trump: Turkey threatens Greece and Cyprus, action urged against Erdoğan
A group of U.S. lawmakers have expressed deep concern over Turkey’s ongoing aggressive behaviour both within and beyond its borders. In a detailed letter, they urge former President Donald Trump to confront Turkish President Recep
Pope Leo XIV: A New Chapter in the History of the Catholic Church
In a landmark moment for the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a 69-year-old Chicago native, has been elected as Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American to ascend to the papacy. The announcement
