Independent Australian news and analysis across politics, business, technology, world affairs and culture
Thomas Walsh 
If you’ve ever tried to plan a rugby calendar around a British & Irish Lions year, you already know the trick: something has to give. The Rugby Championship takes a sabbatical in 2026, which means Super Rugby Pacific steps into the spotlight as the southern hemisphere’s marquee senior competition. This guide covers the format shake-up, … Read more
A bowl of chicken noodle soup should feel like a warm blanket from the inside out, not a sad, salty afterthought. The difference between a broth that heals and one that disappoints often comes down to a few small, fixable mistakes. Prep time: 15 minutes · Cook time: 45 minutes · Servings: 6 · Calories … Read more
There is something uniquely Irish about the phrase “top of the town”—it could be the highest street in a village or the name of a pub where everyone knows your order. Across Ireland and Northern Ireland, three distinct venues answer to that name, each with its own personality. Number of active Top of the Town … Read more
Anyone who’s tried a lash growth serum for more than a few weeks already knows: results don’t come cheap, and safety concerns can linger. Babe Lash Serum, one of the most popular eyelash enhancers, promises longer, fuller lashes with biotin and amino acids, but a class-action lawsuit over alleged false advertising and a key ingredient … Read more
If you’re shopping for a Kia Sportage in Ireland right now, you’re probably staring at a wide spread of prices and wondering what you’re actually supposed to pay. The short answer is that a new 2026 Sportage starts at €44,900 and runs up to €53,000 for the hybrid GT-line, while decent used examples start from … Read more
Whether you’re measuring furniture, working on a DIY project, or just satisfying a curiosity, converting inches to centimeters comes up more often than you’d expect. The good news: it’s one of the simplest conversions in all of measurement science, locked in place by an international agreement from 1959. Below, you’ll find the exact 15.24-centimeter answer, … Read more
When Luis Suarez put Inter Miami ahead 2-0 in their final Group A fixture, a comfortable night seemed on the cards. Then Palmeiras flipped the script entirely, scoring twice in the final ten minutes to snatch a 2-2 draw at Hard Rock Stadium. Both teams advanced to the Round of 16, leaving 80,000 fans with … Read more
Ask any smoker who’s spent time in China, and they’ll likely remember the red-and-gold pack with the Chinese character for double happiness sitting in jacket pockets and ashtrays everywhere. That pack—Double Happiness—has since traveled well beyond its origin, drawing curious buyers who want to know what the fuss is about. This guide cuts through the … Read more
When the Indiana Pacers walked into Milwaukee’s arena for Game 4 of the 2025 Eastern Conference First Round, they left with something they hadn’t done in years: a commanding 3-1 series lead. The final score, 129-103, tells part of the story—Myles Turner dropping 23 points and 4 blocks, Giannis fighting through for 28 points and … Read more
Face swap AI has democratized putting your face in music videos, movie scenes, and viral memes — with leading tools delivering watermark-free results instantly in-browser, no account required. I’ve tested the top free tools side by side so you know exactly what works, what has limits, and which one fits what you’re trying to do. … Read more