Greater Western Water has been thrown a last-minute financial lifeline by the Victorian Government after a botched billing system rollout triggered an estimated $150 million in losses and left the utility unable to cover its interest bill.

Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Australia, His Eminence Makarios, has used his 2025 Christmas message to warn that digital devices and artificial intelligence are quietly taking over people’s daily lives.

Life Saving Victoria has launched a targeted water safety pilot with the backing of Knox City Council, aiming to protect culturally diverse residents, older Victorians and people living with disability from the growing risk of drowning.

For millions of Italians who now live permanently overseas, Christmas no longer automatically means a plane ticket back to Italy and a big family lunch at their parents’ house.

From the Vatican to Berlin and Ottawa, global political and religious leaders are turning Christmas 2025 into a plea for ceasefires, compassion and solidarity, urging people to lay down weapons and rebuild trust after a year scarred by war, economic strain and terror attacks from Ukraine to Bondi Beach.

Australia’s political leaders and international diplomats based here have used their 2025 Christmas messages to speak directly to a country still grieving after the Bondi terror attack, while reaching out to multicultural communities whose hearts straddle Australia and homelands in conflict.​