Independent Australian news and analysis across politics, business, technology, world affairs and culture
Features, explainers and long-form stories from across Australia.
The thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger, was a carnivorous marsupial that combined dog-like features with tiger stripes and a backward-facing pouch — but by 1936, it had been hunted to extinction. Today, it remains a symbol of lost biodiversity and a target for de-extinction science. Scientific name: Thylacinus cynocephalus · Common names: Tasmanian tiger, Tasmanian wolf, … Read more
Few things worry an England cricket fan more than the sight of Jofra Archer in the stands rather than on the pitch. Since his explosive debut in 2019, Archer’s career has been a story of breathtaking speed and punishing injuries. Born: April 1, 1995 · Bowling style: Right-arm fast · Fastest recorded delivery: 96.53 mph … Read more
Few Broadway figures have reshaped the musical landscape quite like Lin-Manuel Miranda. From the streets of Washington Heights to the halls of the White House, his work has sparked conversations about identity, representation, and who gets to tell America’s story. Birth name: Lin-Manuel Miranda · Born: January 16, 1980 (New York City, USA) · Ethnicity: … Read more
There is a quiet intensity about Jasprit Bumrah that feels out of step with his unassuming beginnings. Born in Ahmedabad on 6 December 1993, he lost his father at age five and was raised by his mother on a tight budget — yet today he is widely regarded as the most complete fast bowler in … Read more
If you’ve been watching The Summer I Turned Pretty and found yourself rooting for Jeremiah Fisher, you’re not alone. Behind the fan discussions lies a mix of verified facts and unanswered questions—about the character’s sexuality, the actor’s real age, and what’s actually confirmed—so here’s a clear guide to what we know for sure and what … Read more
Most people know Woody Guthrie as the man who wrote “This Land Is Your Land.” But the folk singer’s life was far more complicated — and more controversial — than that one anthem suggests. From a Dust Bowl childhood to a tragic illness, from a hospital visit by a young Bob Dylan to a forgotten … Read more
When news broke that Nipsey Hussle had been shot outside his own clothing store in the Crenshaw neighborhood of Los Angeles, it wasn’t just a music fan’s loss — the community lost an architect of its future. The rapper, entrepreneur, and activist left behind a legacy of block ownership, STEM investment, and Grammy-winning music that … Read more
Few business stories in recent memory have taken as sharp a turn as that of Jack Ma, the charismatic co-founder of Alibaba who went from state-critic to near-total public silence after his October 2020 speech criticizing regulators, leading to Ant Group IPO halt and his disappearance. This article traces the verifiable timeline of his disappearance, … Read more
The Wayans family practically wrote the playbook on comedy dynasties, and Shawn Wayans has been a core player since the early days of In Living Color. Born in New York City in 1971, he climbed from DJ booth to co-writer and star of Scary Movie, a film that became the highest-grossing movie directed by an … Read more
For Vera Farmiga, being Ukrainian‑American isn’t a background detail—it’s the lens through which she built her career. Born to Ukrainian immigrants in New Jersey, she didn’t speak English until kindergarten, setting the stage for an Academy Award–nominated actress who moves from high art to horror with equal grace. Birth name: Vera Ann Farmiga · Date … Read more