Independent Australian news and analysis across politics, business, technology, world affairs and culture
Alex Chen If you’ve ever admired the delicate, crepe-like flowers of a crape myrtle on holiday in the south of France or the US, you might have wondered whether you could grow one at home in the UK or Ireland. The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no—it depends heavily on your local climate … Read more
Few actors can claim a career that spans Australian soap operas, HBO prestige dramas, and a blockbuster video game adaptation. Murray Bartlett is one of them. Birth year: c. 1971 · Nationality: Australian · Notable role: Armond in The White Lotus (2021) · Emmy nomination: Outstanding Supporting Actor, 2022 · Known for series: Looking, The … Read more
Few rugby league players have managed the kind of transition Willie Mason has — from terrorising NRL defences to sitting behind a microphone and openly talking about mental health. This guide walks through his playing career, his current media and coaching roles, and his growing advocacy for ADHD awareness in Australia. Full name: William Marshall … Read more
If you’ve ever searched for Shaun Evans online, you’ve probably landed on a page about the “Hot Ones” host instead. The British actor best known for playing Endeavour Morse sparks confusion because his name closely matches a completely different person. Born: 6 March 1980 · Occupation: Actor · Known for: Endeavour (TV series) · Place … Read more
For years, fans of the hit ITV series Endeavour have been captivated by Shaun Evans’ portrayal of the young detective Morse. Yet off-screen, the actor has managed to keep his personal life almost entirely out of view. Full name: Shaun Evans · Date of birth: 6 March 1980 · Birthplace: Liverpool, England · Known for: … Read more
Fans keep returning to Bonnie Sveen’s name years after her most famous character drove off screen because she’s the kind of performer who makes you wonder what comes next. Best known for playing Ricky Sharpe on Home and Away, Sveen has spent the last decade weaving together a career that spans acting, filmmaking, and wildlife … Read more
Kate Bush turned pop music on its head when she soared to number one in 1978 with her self-written debut single, ‘Wuthering Heights’. Since then, her reclusive approach and experimental artistry have only deepened her influence, culminating in a cross-generational revival four decades later. Born 30 July 1958 Debut Album The Kick Inside (1978) Biggest … Read more
Tommy Robinson attracts more legal headlines than airtime, with a career defined by courtrooms rather than cameras. His real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, and his path from founding the English Defence League to a cycle of legal charges, health claims, and self-imposed exile in Spain separates confirmed facts from persistent rumors using official records and … Read more
Japan has long been a global leader in tsunami preparedness, but even the world’s best warning systems met their match on March 11, 2011. On that day, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Tohoku triggered waves that reached 40 meters (132 feet) high, claiming over 15,500 lives and displacing more than 450,000 people. … Read more
Few Australian politicians have made the leap from a shop floor to the shadow cabinet as swiftly as Ted O’Brien. His career path—starting as a management trainee baker, then running companies in Taiwan and China—gives him a rare perspective in Canberra. Born: 7 May 1974 · Party: Liberal · Electorate: Fairfax · Years in Parliament: … Read more