Independent Australian news and analysis across politics, business, technology, world affairs and culture
Alex Chen Ask five people what Kung Fu is, and you’ll get five different answers: a meditation in motion, a brutal fighting system, a Jackie Chan movie, a fitness fad. The real story is richer than any of those. Chinese martial arts are a family of hundreds of regional styles that took shape over centuries — the … Read more
Few cartoon ponies have made shyness feel like a superpower the way Fluttershy has. Since 2010 she has been the quiet heart of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic — the main character whose Element of Harmony is kindness, per Hasbro’s official profile. Species: Pegasus pony · Element: Kindness · Voiced by: Andrea Libman · … Read more
Scott Galloway has built a career out of telling uncomfortable truths about tech, money, and men — and the numbers around his wealth are as contested as his politics. Here’s what’s actually known about how he got rich, what he believes, and where the estimates get fuzzy. Reported net worth: $30M widely cited, unverified · … Read more
Ask any bantamweight fan who sets the pace in the UFC and Merab Dvalishvili’s name usually comes up before the round ends — the Georgian champion carries a 21-5-0 record and a scheduled rematch with Petr Yan at UFC 333 (Sherdog (MMA record database)). This profile separates the verified numbers from the gaps — his … Read more
When a beloved face from childhood TV disappears from the screen, the question fans ask is simple: what happened? The official answer came seven weeks after Michelle Trachtenberg was found unresponsive at age 39 – the medical examiner ruled her death natural from complications of diabetes mellitus (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)), but that ruling … Read more
Some actors look like trouble the moment they appear on screen, and Lee Van Cleef had the sharpest, most dangerous face in postwar Hollywood. He died in 1989 at age 64 with more than 170 screen credits, yet the man behind the menace was reportedly quiet, professional, and happiest working. Here is the evidence on … Read more
Few actors achieve a career lasting nearly seven decades; Christopher Plummer remained a leading man well into his eighties. He was beloved by audiences for The Sound of Music and respected by peers for his stage work. Born: December 13, 1929 — Died: February 5, 2021 (age 91) Quick snapshot 1Confirmed facts Died February 5, … Read more
Some quiz-show brains try to stare down the Chaser across the podium. Mara Lejins simply smiles — and that is exactly when contestants should worry. The Australian barrister joined The Chase Australia’s panel as “The Smiling Assassin” in 2022, bringing a prosecutor’s instinct to the clue wall. This profile traces how that path, from prosecution … Read more
Few royal profiles age as quickly as Princess Eugenie’s, because every few years she adds a plot twist — a wedding, a baby, a name nobody predicted. Born on 23 March 1990, she underwent scoliosis surgery at 12 and married Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle in 2018; she and Jack are now raising three children. … Read more
Every generation of Australian basketball fans has its own Andrew Gaze memory: the deep three-pointers, the Melbourne Tigers singlet, the flag he carried at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. He finished with 18,908 points in the NBL — the most in league history, according to NBL.com.au’s official career dossier — yet the question most people still … Read more