New York Times: Francis, the first Latin-American Pope, dies at 88

Key quotes from Pope Francis’s papacy reflect his emphasis on humility and care for the poor. He consistently asks others to "Pray for me," acknowledging his own imperfections, a mantra he shared in his first tweet and Instagram post. Additionally, shortly after his election in March 2013, he expressed a desire for "a poor church for the poor," setting a significant tone for his leadership. Full Article

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon paid tribute to Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday after battling health issues, including pneumonia. Luxon described the Pope as a “man of humility” and acknowledged his legacy of commitment to the vulnerable, social justice, and interfaith dialogue. Condolences were also expressed by Winston Peters and Helen Clark, who honored the Pope’s contributions to peace and justice, extending support to those mourning his loss...

A North Shore woman reported encountering a suspicious individual claiming to conduct a storm damage survey for Auckland Council following Cyclone Tam. The resident noted that the visitor lacked identification and was the only one to arrive, prompting her to verify with the council, which confirmed that no staff are conducting house-to-house checks. Auckland Councillor Richard Hills advised residents to request ID from anyone claiming to represent the council and to report any suspicious activity...

Three young Kiwis, Luca Ririnui, Kelly Brown, and Jared Lasike, have gained acceptance to prestigious universities including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and MIT. Among them, Luca Ririnui, a former Mount Maunganui College student, faces a significant decision after being admitted to these top-tier institutions. This achievement highlights the remarkable academic journeys of these individuals as they prepare to study at some of the best educational facilities in the world. Full Article

An NZME board nominee, Philip Crump, shared insights on how a board led by Jim Grenon would enhance the editorial direction of the NZ Herald, advocating for a shift from gatekeeping to content curation to foster quality and trust. Crump emphasized that Grenon, a businessman and Canadian expatriate, is not a political extremist and clarified that the Herald would not mirror Grenon's previous media venture, Centrist. He also criticized the current NZME board for resisting...

For the second consecutive Formula One race, Liam Lawson's performance was impacted by a time penalty, resulting in a 12th place finish at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Although Lawson crossed the line in 11th position at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, a 10-second penalty for overtaking Alpine's Jack Doohan by leaving the track ultimately dropped him down the grid, finishing behind teammate Isack Hadjar, who secured 10th place. Lawson expressed disappointment over his race, noting...