Independent Australian news and analysis across politics, business, technology, world affairs and culture
There’s something about Robert Shaw that keeps pulling audiences back. On screen, he was the kind of presence that made every scene feel urgent—whether he was matching wits with a Bond villain or baiting a great white shark. Off screen, his life was just as gripping, marked by Shakespearean training, a novelist’s ambition, and a … Read more
There’s something refreshing about a lightweight boxer who shows up to red carpets in a dress and talks openly about breaking gender stereotypes. Harry Garside, Australia’s first Olympic boxing medalist in 33 years, has built a career that’s as much about challenging norms as it is about landing punches. Full name: Harrison Garside · Born: … Read more
For decades, Ita Buttrose has been one of Australia’s most trusted faces in media — a magazine pioneer, a television host, and the first woman to chair the ABC. But in recent public appearances, many have noticed her using a wheelchair or a walking stick, prompting questions about her health. Here’s a clear, fact-based look … Read more
If you’ve watched Australian rugby league over the past two decades, Sam Thaiday’s name is hard to miss. From leading the Brisbane Broncos as captain to becoming a familiar face on television, his career has taken several turns since hanging up his boots. This profile separates confirmed facts from lingering questions, covering his heritage, family, … Read more
When a schoolboy rugby player draws comparisons to Jonah Lomu and locks down an NRL future before his 18th birthday, it’s worth paying attention — meet Heamasi Makasini, the Wests Tigers winger whose Tongan heritage and rapid rise from rugby union to league have made him one of the most talked-about young talents in Australian … Read more
Few figures from history are as instantly recognizable — or as thoroughly misunderstood — as Marie Antoinette. The teenage Austrian archduchess who became Queen of France at 19 didn’t just wear elaborate gowns and build a miniature village at Versailles; she walked into a revolutionary storm that would end her life at the guillotine on … Read more
Not many international cricketers started their career as a pitch curator, but Nathan Lyon did. The off-spinner from Adelaide has become Australia’s most successful tweaker after Shane Warne, with over 530 Test wickets to his name. Test wickets: 530+ · Age: 37 (born 20 November 1987) · Test matches: 130+ · Bowling style: Right-arm off-break … Read more
If you have watched a T20 match recently, you have probably seen Suryakumar Yadav pull off a shot that defies geometry. The man they call SKY has redefined batting in the shortest format, becoming India’s go-to finisher while topping ICC batting rankings. Full name: Suryakumar Ashok Yadav · Born: 14 September 1990 (age 34) · … Read more
There aren’t many Formula 1 drivers who could step away from the grid, race in NASCAR, and then happily disappear into family life—all without a farewell tour. Kimi Räikkönen did exactly that. The 2007 world champion left the sport after a record 349 starts, and since then he’s been living life on his own terms. … Read more
The path from a living room screen to a real racetrack sounds like a movie plot — and for Jann Mardenborough, it literally became one. But the 2023 Gran Turismo film took creative shortcuts with his story, blending real wins, a devastating crash, and career twists into a Hollywood narrative that demands a fact-check. Current … Read more