Independent Australian news and analysis across politics, business, technology, world affairs and culture
Few television characters arrive with quite as much behind-the-scenes conversation as Monica Dutton. The woman who plays her, Kelsey Asbille, has traveled an unusual path from Disney Channel slapstick to the brutal landscapes of the Dutton family ranch, all while navigating a public debate about her heritage that predates her Yellowstone fame. Here’s a clear-eyed … Read more
When a self-made millionaire tells millions of listeners he probably has ADHD but has never been formally diagnosed, it’s fair to ask how much of the story is fact and how much is narrative. Steven Bartlett, the 32-year-old founder of Social Chain and youngest-ever Dragon on Dragons’ Den, has built a public persona that’s equal … Read more
Joan Cusack became famous for stealing scenes with a single raised eyebrow, but behind the smirk was an actress who chose family over fame. Now, with her return for Toy Story 5 in 2025, fans are rediscovering the woman behind the smirk and asking why she left in the first place. Born: October 11, 1962, … Read more
There are few Australian rock personalities as instantly recognizable as the man who calls himself Angry, but behind the stage name is Gary Stephen Anderson – a singer, actor, and charity worker whose career has spanned five decades. Born 5 August 1947 in Melbourne, he’s best known as the lead singer of Rose Tattoo and … Read more
Few figures in modern Iranian politics stir as much debate as Reza Pahlavi, the former crown prince who has spent decades in exile. Born in Tehran on 31 October 1960, he is the eldest son of Mohammad Reza Shah and Farah Pahlavi (Wikipedia). Today, he advocates for a secular democratic Iran from his home in … Read more
Walk into any gym where women’s boxing is taught today, and you’re standing on ground Christy Martin helped clear. She turned professional in 1989, two decades before women’s boxing reached the Olympics, and built a career that forced the sport to recognize her. Born: June 12, 1968 · Nickname: The Coal Miner’s Daughter · Boxing … Read more
When Robert Francis Prevost stepped onto the Vatican balcony on May 8, 2025, the world got its first American-born pontiff. The man who took the name Leo XIV brings a biography shaped by missionary work in Peru and decades inside the Augustinian order, but what little he has said publicly leaves plenty of room for … Read more
When a beloved talk-show host’s health suddenly becomes a legal puzzle, it’s hard to separate fact from rumor. For Wendy Williams, the 2024 announcement of frontotemporal dementia and aphasia was only the beginning of a story that has since taken unexpected turns — including a brand-new medical evaluation that could change everything. Here’s what we … Read more
Few television characters have become as beloved as Samantha Stephens, the charming witch from Bewitched, but the woman behind the twitch, Elizabeth Montgomery, led a life far richer than her famous nose-wiggle suggested. Separating verified facts from persistent rumors around her cause of death, personal relationships, and lasting legacy reveals a complex figure who was … Read more
When a 20-year-old midfielder scores the winner in an FA Cup final, the football world takes notice. Kobbie Mainoo did exactly that for Manchester United against Manchester City in 2024, cementing his place in club history. But a few months later, injury concerns have sidelined him, sparking questions about his future. We sort through the … Read more