Author: Press Room

The rally took place on Catalan national day, under the motto “Let’s return to the street.” ADVERTISEMENTAround 60,000 people gathered in Barcelona to march in support of Catalan independence, according to the Guardia Urbana, the city’s municipal police force, the lowest number since 2012.The holiday marks the fall of Barcelona in the Spanish War of Succession in 1714 and has become the date for huge rallies by the region’s secessionist movement.But this year’s march drew half of the 115,000 people who took part in Barcelona last year. And it was a far cry from the 1.8 million people who took…

A group of lawyers is calling for a first-of-its-kind inquiry into whether New Zealand spy agencies are helping Israel’s war in Gaza.In a letter to the inspector-general of intelligence and security on Thursday, they said the country was in danger of aiding international crimes.Inspector-General Brendan Horsley confirmed he was considering the request. Horsley has previously said he would look into conflict-related spying this year.One of the three lawyers who made the call, University of Auckland associate professor Treasa Dunworth, said the IGIS was thorough and she thought he would appreciate their argument that Government Communications Security Bureau and Security Intelligence…

“I would like to highlight the risk entailed in focusing solely on pragmatism or placing merit above all things, namely the unintended consequence of justifying the exclusion of those on the margins from benefiting from progress,” the Pope said. ADVERTISEMENTSingapore’s president and government officials have welcomed Pope Francis on the final leg of his trip through Asia and Oceania, as he praised the country’s economic strength but urged that the weakest be cared for too. He is expected to spend two days in Singapore, departing on Friday. During the visit on Thursday, the Pope praised Singapore’s economic development as a testament to…

During the opening of the fourth summit of the Crimean Platform, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine became a target for Russia when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. ADVERTISEMENTUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for maximum support from the 60 participants at the Fourth Summit of the Crimea Platform in Kyiv. He reminded the representatives present that the war began with the occupation of Crimea, adding that its freedom is essential to lasting peace in Ukraine. Zelenskyy reiterated his preconditions for peace in Ukraine which he said involved “no frozen occupations” or “people left in captivity.”The summit was initiated by Zelenskyy in 2021…

Senior citizens will be given more support and choice to live their golden years in dignity.After a breakthrough deal with the coalition, the federal government will help Australians live at home for longer and improve conditions and protections for people residing in aged care facilities.A $5.6 billion reform package will be the largest improvement to aged care in 30 years, according to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.”This is about caring for the generation that cared for us,” he said in Canberra on Thursday.”We will deliver historic aged care reforms to ensure the viability and quality of our aged care system and…

An Air New Zealand flight destined for Singapore got as far as Sydney before being turned around due to an “onboard computer issue” yesterday. In a statement, Air New Zealand’s chief operational integrity and safety officer captain David Morgan said flight NZ284 from Auckland to Singapore was returned to Auckland on Tuesday evening after pilots “identified an onboard computer issue that required maintenance”. “The decision was made to return to Auckland in order for our team to conduct the appropriate maintenance actions and ensure the aircraft can return to service as quickly as possible. He said the issue “did not…

The European Commission, European Parliament and the Council is set to start negotiating the 2025 budget in November; but is the Erasmus+ scheme imperilled? ADVERTISEMENTHeated discussions are set to start next week as MEPs vote in Strasbourg on the EU 2025 budget. The European Parliament and European Commission are likely to fight back against cuts – including to the Erasmus+ program – agreed by the Council before the three institutions are set to wrangle the 2025 budget in November. The Council proposed reducing Erasmus+ by almost €295 million each year when setting its own position in June, making way for…

Taylor Swift won the biggest award at the MTV Video Music Awards — the trophy for video of the year for Fortnight, featuring Post Malone.In her speech she talked about her “boyfriend, Travis”, thanking for him for being on set of the music video and cheering her on. Fans rewarded the mention of NFL star Travis Kelce with loud screams.”Everything this man touches turns to happiness and fun and magic,” she said, before shifting gears to the 2024 Presidential election and instructing her fans who are over 18 to register to vote.Swift took home seven awards, bringing her to a…

Auckland Airport is overhauling its international check-in systems, replacing counters with more self-service kiosks and bag drops.A mix of kiosks and desks had been available at both of the airport’s terminals for years – but an airport spokesperson announced the shift away from counters and towards more of the “smarter check-in technology” would begin this summer.About 100 existing check-in counters would be replaced over the next few years, “upgrading the experience for travellers at New Zealand’s gateway airport” and speeding up the process, the spokesperson said.Auckland Airport chief customer officer Scott Tasker said self-service check-in was “far quicker than you’d…

Donald Trump has suggested that Taylor Swift will lose fans after she publicly endorsed Kamala Harris in the US presidential election.After pop megastar Swift, 34, endorsed his Democrat rival Harris in the run-up to voting season, Trump insisted that she “couldn’t possibly” have supported former candidate Joe Biden but would “pay a price” for her opinions.Speaking during a phone-in to the Fox and Friends show, he said: “I was not a Taylor Swift fan. It was just a question of time. She couldn’t possibly endorse Biden.”You look at Biden, you couldn’t possibly endorse it.”But she’s a very liberal person. She…