At this time of year millions of Australians living at home, and abroad, unleash a peculiar brand of patriotism. Yet year after year the question of what being Australian really means is raised, and year after year we make little progress on finding an answer.

• Australia Day in London: where to celebrate
• Ode to Australia Day in London
• My first Australia Day abroad

Federal Independent MPs are poised to pull the rug from under the Labor government if its leadership changes.

• Australia ‘needs elephants’ to battle pests and fires
• Kevin Rudd just proud to be part of Australian government team
• Floods and fires ravage Australia

Australian actress Mia Wasikowska is among a cast of 11 women touted as Hollywood’s new leading ladies in an upcoming edition of Vanity Fair magazine.

• UN refugee boss to visit Australia
• Indonesians unhappy with Abbott asylum plan
• Douglas Mawson honoured in icy Antarctic ceremony

Seven British Supreme Court judges will spend weeks considering the extradition of Julian Assange after hearing that a decision in favour of the WikiLeaks founder will contradict legal precedents both in the UK and wider Europe.

• Julia Gillard calls UK Aussie Woman of the Year Award ‘pivotal’
• Australians could be told to earn £31K or leave the UK
• Julian Assange back in UK court on Wednesday

Children’s cookbook author Sabrina Parrini sat down recently with Nathan Motton to talk about her new book and why keeping children away from fast food starts at home.

• Pete Murray announces return to London
• One Night ‘Standeoke’ at London’s Walkabout Temple
• Red Hot Chili Peppers @ Knebworth 2012: WIN tickets!

Kate Matthews explored Slovenia and found it had a little something for everyone.

• Stay at someone else’s place
• A whirlwind weekend in Paris
• Keeping the Anzac spirit alive

Going skiing this winter? We look at the ins and outs of ski gear, and show you how to keep your cool in the cool.

• Catch the skiing bug!
• It all went Blanc in the south of France
• Sweet, shimmering Switzerland lakes

Can I start my own business in the UK on an Ancestral Visa?

• Australian Dollar continues to strengthen
• Greek debt deal will ease economic pessimism: Swan
• IR umpire approves Qantas engineer deal

Overview of Australia: general facts and statistics, history, standard of living and immigration policy.

• The states and territories of Australia
• The Australian lifestyle and culture
• Australian visas explained

Australian Twenty20 allrounder David Hussey concedes switch-hitting frustrates him as a bowler. But Hussey says he doesn’t want it outlawed as it’s the type of innovation that is attracting huge audiences to the new format.

• Socceroos stay put on European football deadline day
• Football – what’s not to love about it?
• Ian Thorpe clocks quickest comeback time