Independent Australian news and analysis across politics, business, technology, world affairs and culture
Catherine Roy There are few Hollywood stars whose personal life became as much a part of the story as the films they made, and Elizabeth Taylor lived in a blur of cameras, hospital rooms, wedding chapels, and fundraising galas. This article looks past the headlines at the woman who turned seven husbands, serious illness, and a pioneering … Read more
When Rip Torn died in July 2019 at age 88, the world lost an actor whose career defied easy labels—the gruff Agent Zed in Men in Black, the Emmy-winning Artie on The Larry Sanders Show, and a man whose real name, Elmore Rual Torn Jr., was as distinctive as his nickname. In the pages that … Read more
Most people don’t think twice about the cardboard box their delivery arrives in. Anthony Pratt, the Australian-born billionaire who built a global empire turning waste paper into packaging, has spent decades making sure they don’t have to. Known as the “cardboard king,” he runs the world’s largest privately owned recycling and packaging company — and … Read more
Imagine a straw-stuffed figure with a rumpled suit, a twinkle in his button eyes, and a way with words that’s part rural wisdom, part nonsense. That’s Worzel Gummidge, the scarecrow who first appeared in Barbara Euphan Todd’s 1936 book Worzel Gummidge or The Scarecrow of Scatterbrook (TV Tropes (literature wiki)), and here’s how this oddball … Read more
Eliud Kipchoge has captured the world’s imagination with his record-shattering sub-2 hour marathon and Olympic gold medals, becoming a symbol of human potential. This article sorts through verified facts and lingering questions about his career, earnings, and what makes him the greatest marathoner of all time. Official marathon world record: 2:01:09 (Berlin 2022) · Sub-2 … Read more
Bryce Courtenay became a bestselling novelist later than most — he published his first book, The Power of One, at age 56. That debut went on to sell millions and cement his place as one of Australia’s most beloved authors. But the line between Courtenay’s life story and his fiction is surprisingly blurry. We separate … Read more
Few 16‑year‑olds can say they already landed a national fashion collaboration, but Embreigh Courtlyn is one of them. The Alabama‑born TikTok creator has built a multi‑platform audience of millions and, in 2026, partnered with Target on a clothing line. Age: 16 (born April 20, 2010) · Birthplace: Alabama · TikTok Followers: 6.3 million · Instagram Followers: 1 million · … Read more
When someone wears a mask for his entire career, it’s easy to forget that he was a person with a real story. MF DOOM, the British-American rapper who hid his face behind a metal mask, lived one of the most fascinating—and tragic—lives in hip-hop. This article lays out the verified facts of his life, his … Read more
Barbara Palvin has been a familiar face in fashion for over a decade, but the road from a Budapest street discovery to the Victoria’s Secret runway hasn’t been without its share of rumors and label debates. This article separates what’s been confirmed about her career and personal life from the unsubstantiated gossip that keeps circling … Read more
Few rock bands have weathered as many lineup storms as AC/DC, yet the core question for fans remains surprisingly tricky: who’s actually in the band right now, and how many of the original members are still around? Between the tragic loss of Bon Scott, the passing of Malcolm Young, and a rotating cast of drummers, … Read more