Tens of thousands of far right protesters are rallying in Madrid today to call on Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to stand down amidst government talks with Catalan separatists.

Protesters say the government is betraying Spain by discussing the Catalonian referendum for independence, despite its public comments condemning the failed bid.

12 separatists leaders face a landmark trial this week, standing accused of provoking Spain’s worst political crisis since it returned to democracy.

The appearance of a series of swastikas on a mural and a shop in Sydney's east is being investigated by police.

Officers were called to Queen Elizabeth Drive on Bondi Beach early on Sunday following reports of malicious damage.

Wentworth MP Kerryn Phelps and Liberal candidate for the federal seat Dave Sharma condemn the act, and both state via twitter anti-semitism, racism, and hatred in all its forms has no place in the community.

The national reconciliation movement is gaining momentum with the majority of Australians in favour of formally acknowledging the harsh realities of Australia’s shared history with its indigenous population.

Chief executive officer of Reconciliation Australia Karen Mundine says the bi-annual reconciliation barometer survey shows activists are effectively creating a national sense of pride for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk has faced questions from Labor councillors over the choice of a French sports consultancy by the Council of Mayors for South-East Queensland to compile a $62 billion infrastructure plan.

The People Mass Movement study was released in January by SEQ Mayors, of which Cr Quirk is the chairman, and detailed a 20-year infrastructure plan to prevent gridlock and link south-east Queensland into a comprehensive network of rail and road, and to prepare for a future Olympics bid.

Brisbane City Council has evicted a small Nepalese charity from its heritage-listed building after it failed to meet rental payments.

The United Hands Foundation Australia won the bet for the space in 2016 after Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk announced the engine room should be allocated to a charity run organisation.

Mr Quirk declined calls for him to personally cover the cost of the unpaid rent, and council says the charity failed the community by neglecting to take advantage of payment plans, business coaching and mentoring services.

Earth’s ecosystems could collapse within the century, according to a global scientific review that shows insects populations are under threat of extinction.

The total number of insects is declining 2.5 per cent per year and a third of insects are currently endangered after significant population collapses across Germany and Puerto Rico.

Researchers say insects are essential for the proper functioning of all ecosystems and their decline is further confirmation a sixth major extinction event is impacting life on Earth.

The United States has presented a draft resolution on Venezuela to the United Nations Security Council, and has announced their sponsorship of a campaign for Juan Guaido to be the head of the country's elected legislative body

17 Australian residents visiting family in China are missing and suspected to have been detained by the Chinese government as part of a national crackdown on ethnic muslim minorities.

Human rights advocates say some of the individuals are likely under house arrest, while others are detained in federal prisons and re-education centres in Xinjiang, alongside an estimated million other muslims that claim to be shackled and beaten by authorities.

Kate Miller-Heidke has taken out the vote to become Australia's entry into the 2019 Eurovision song contest.

Our homegrown, Kelvin Grove State College and Con alumni has been nominated by the Australian public, in the first nomination process of its kind.

The 37-year-old singer-songwriter performed her song Zero Gravity during the live TV final Eurovision Australia Decides on the Gold Coast on Saturday night.

The Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Tel Aviv, Israel in May.

Brisbane residents are relying on public transport more than ever, according to a Translink study showing a 6.5 percent increase in travellers over the last year.

Transport minister Mark Bailey says cheaper fares, the popularity of the Gold Coast’s light rail, the Redcliffe peninsula train line and the roll-out of the new generation rollingstock are responsible for the increase in popularity, creating almost a million additional trips across the network in December.