Independent Australian news and analysis across politics, business, technology, world affairs and culture
Alex Chen There’s a certain magnetic pull that a 3,000-foot granite wall exerts on the human imagination — especially when that wall is El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Few places on Earth offer such a dramatic canvas for human ambition, from the first rope-and-piton ascent in 1958 to Alex Honnold’s historic free solo in 2017. Whether … Read more
Few actors manage to pull off a pivot as bold as Luke Grimes did when he swapped his Yellowstone ranch for a Nashville recording studio — the actor best known for playing Kayce Dutton has quietly built a second career as a country musician rooted in personal loss and fatherhood. Here’s what you need to … Read more
Tamika Upton’s journey from leaving the Newcastle Knights to becoming the stand-alone captain of the Brisbane Broncos for the 2026 season has been one of the most compelling stories in women’s rugby league. After returning to Brisbane in 2025, she delivered a record-breaking premiership-winning year, scoring 20 tries across 13 games. Born: 17 March 1997 … Read more
Few careers have undergone as dramatic a shift as Sean Combs’ — from the Bad Boy Records throne to a federal courtroom. After a 10-week trial that ended in July 2025, a Manhattan jury convicted Combs on two counts of transportation for prostitution, according to ABC News (news outlet). Full name: Sean Combs · Net … Read more
If you grew up watching Dance Moms, you probably remember Mackenzie Ziegler as the tiny, energetic kid doing back handsprings—today, at 21, she’s swapped the dance studio for a recording booth and built a career as a pop singer, actress, and social media powerhouse with more than 14 million Instagram followers. This fact‑checked update walks … Read more
Eartha Kitt lived several lives in one: a South Carolina cotton picker who became a Broadway star, a sultry singer whose “Santa Baby” still plays every December, and a political activist who risked her career to speak truth to power. Her story is one of remarkable talent, fierce independence, and a price paid for honesty. … Read more
Paul Keating isn’t the kind of former prime minister who fades quietly into the background. Even decades after leaving office, he remains a sharp voice on politics and a fixture in public life, a journey from 24th Prime Minister to speaker, commentator, and family man anchored in verified facts. Born: 18 January 1944 · Prime … Read more
There’s a quiet authority in the way Michael Carrick moves from the pitch to the dugout—one that mirrors his playing days as Manchester United’s midfield metronome. Now back at Old Trafford as permanent head coach, his journey from academy coach to first-team manager has been deliberate, and his record so far suggests a leader who … Read more
Most people first heard Taylor Frankie Paul’s name in 2022, when a candid confession about her marriage blew up online. Since then, she’s become the face of Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, opened up about a PTSD diagnosis, and publicly stepped away from the Mormon faith, and this article tracks the key moments … Read more
There’s something about a 20-year-old winning back-to-back Norm Smith Medals that makes you stop and wonder: is this normal? Will Ashcroft did it in 2024 and 2025, becoming the first player since Dustin Martin to achieve the feat. This profile lays out his family background, career milestones, salary context, and what makes the Ashcroft name … Read more