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Australians decide if Indigenous Voice is needed to advise Parliament on minority issues

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:09 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australians voted in a referendum Saturday on whether to enshrine in the nation’s constitution a mechanism for Indigenous people to advise Parliament on policies that affect their lives.Proponents said creating an Indigenous Voice via the constitution would recognize the special place that Indigenous people have in Australian history while giving them input in government policies.Opponents argued it would divide Australians along racial lines without reducing Indigenous disadvantages.Bipartisan support regarded as essential in Australia for successfully changing the constitution never emerged, and Indigenous leaders were divided on the idea.WHO ARE THE INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS?The Aboriginal people of Australia’s mainland are culturally distinct from Torres Strait Islanders who come from an archipelago off the northeast coast. So Australia’s Indigenous population is known collectively as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.They accounted for 3.8% of...

Dear Abby: Do I need to make a formal goodbye to an unwanted friend?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:09 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I have a friend I grew close to a few years ago. After she moved an hour away, we saw each other only occasionally.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I took in her cat and it was a big mistake. How do I get out of this? Advice | Dear Abby: Am I overreacting to my dinner guest’s unseemly request? Advice | Dear Abby: I suspect this girl is not really my fiance’s niece. Should I demand the truth? Advice | Dear Abby: I’m afraid she’ll get us kicked out of the restaurant. Any advice? Advice | Dear Abby: All these years later, I freak out when I hear her name I have come to realize that I’m no longer interested in the friendship. She focuses mostly on herself, and I no longer enjoy her company.I started communicating less and less often with her in an effort to let the relationship fade away, hoping the distance would allow for a more natural break. It has been a few y...

Stanford rallies from 29-point deficit, beats Colorado 46-43 in 2nd overtime on Karty field goal

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:09 GMT

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Joshua Karty connected on a 31-yard field goal in the second overtime after tying the game in regulation, Elic Ayomanor had a school-record 294 yards receiving and Stanford rallied from a 29-point halftime deficit for a 46-43 victory over Colorado early Saturday.It was the largest blown lead in Colorado history and the biggest comeback for the Cardinal.Safety Alaka’i Gilman picked off a floating Shedeur Sanders pass in the end zone to set the stage for Karty, who also drilled a 46-yarder with no time left in regulation.The Cardinal (2-4, 1-3 Pac-12) trailed 29-0 at halftime, with QBs Justin Lamson and Ashton Daniels unable to light a spark. That is, until the second half when Daniels — with Lamson contributing — led Stanford on eight straight scoring drives. The Cardinal had 408 of their 523 yards in the second half and OT. Daniels threw for 396 yards and four TDs. Ayomanor had 13 catches and three TDs, including one to tie up the first overtime and another for...

¿Quieres un auto nuevo? El IRS hace más fácil reclamar este crédito de hasta $7,500

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:09 GMT

WASHINGTON DC – Si has estado anhelando un nuevo auto pero no has podido dar el paso debido a los precios récords de los autos nuevos del 2023, este nuevo crédito fiscal podría hacerte la vida mucho más fácil.Y es que si bien el crédito fiscal para autos eléctricos ha estado vigente desde el 2022, a partir del 2024 los contribuyentes podrán reclamar el crédito de hasta $7,500 inmediatamente en vez de tener que esperar hasta declarar impuestos.El cámbio significa que los consumidores podrán transferir el crédito a un concesionario para reducir el precio del vehículo al momento de la compra.Además, la lista de vehículos elegibles fue expandida en enero de 2023, por lo que lo contribuyentes podrán recibir el beneficio para comprar autos como Chevrolet, Tesla o hasta Cadillac. ¿QUIÉNES CALIFICAN PARA LOS CRÉDITOS?Depende de tus ingresos. Para los vehículos eléctricos nuevos, los compradores no pueden tener un ingreso bruto ajustado superior a $150,000 si son solteros, $300,000 si ...

‘No’ votes ahead in early count in Australian referendum on whether to create an Indigenous Voice

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:09 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Polling closed in all but one Australian state Saturday with the “no” vote dominating early counting in the country’s first referendum in a generation, deciding whether to tackle Indigenous disadvantages by enshrining in the constitution a new advocacy committee.The proposal for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament bitterly divided Australia’s Indigenous minority as well as the wider community.The polls closed in a fifth state, Queensland, at 6 p.m. (08:00 GMT). Voting will close in Western Australia two hours later due to its unique time zone.Australian Broadcasting Corp. said that based on an early vote count, the states of New South Wales and Tasmania will reject constitutional change. The Voice would need majorities in each of the four remaining states plus a national majority to survive.Opinion polls in recent months have indicated a strong majority of Australians oppose the proposal. Earlier in the year, a majority supported the Voice before the “...

Early results in New Zealand election indicate Christopher Luxon poised to become prime minister

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:09 GMT

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Voting closed Saturday in New Zealand and ballot counting was underway in a general election, with early results indicating people were favoring a conservative change after six years of a liberal government led for most of that time by Jacinda Ardern.With more than one-third of the votes counted, former businessman Christopher Luxon was poised to become the nation’s next prime minister.Ardern unexpectedly stepped down as prime minister in January, saying she no longer had “enough in the tank” to do the job justice. She won the last election in a landslide, but her popularity waned as people got tired of COVID-19 restrictions and inflation threatened the economy.Her departure left Chris Hipkins, 45, to take over as leader. He had previously served as education minister and led the response to the coronavirus pandemic. The initial vote counting showed Luxon’s National Party with over 40% of the vote. Under New Zealand’s proportional voting syst...

NDP to debate Israel-Hamas conflict in emergency resolution, Singh to face review

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:09 GMT

OTTAWA — The New Democrats are set to debate the war between Israel and Hamas at their convention today, where party Leader Jagmeet Singh will face a leadership review. Several emergency resolutions that address the Middle East conflict condemn the attacks by Hamas militants, while one calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.With just 30 minutes for delegates to debate the resolutions, not all of them will be discussed. But a resolution that’s been given top priority calls for the party to pull out of the confidence-and-supply deal unless the Liberals commit to a universal and entirely public pharmacare program. Singh, who has been in the role since 2017, will also face a mandatory leadership review — his first since the 2021 election. At the last convention held in April of that year, 87 per cent of delegates voted against triggering a leadership race.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 14, 2023. The Canadian Press

Partial solar eclipse could be seen in B.C., but forecast may hamper view

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:09 GMT

VANCOUVER — Residents in southwestern British Columbia are in the best place to view the solar eclipse this morning.The event is known as a ring-of-fire eclipse, where the moon passes in front of the sun but doesn’t completely cover it, leaving a fiery rim around the dark moon.The eclipse starts at 8:08 a.m., peaks at about 9:20 a.m. and will be finished by 10:38 a.m. in Vancouver, though the weather forecast may be a damper for viewers.Environment Canada is predicting clouds and showers in much of southwest B.C., where the moon will block out 70 to 80 per cent of the sun, while the rest of the province will see 50 to 70 per cent coverage.Should the weather interfere, Laura Flinn, a physics instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, says North Americans don’t have long to wait for their next shot at seeing the phenomenon.A complete solar eclipse will happen on April 8, 2024, and will be viewable over parts of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoun...

Daily horoscope for October 14, 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:09 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Solar Eclipse peaks in Libra at 1:55 p.m. EDT today (10:55 a.m. PDT).Happy Birthday for Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023:You are a realist. You like balance in your life. You are a steady, calming influence on others. This year simplicity is the key to life. It’s time to create solid foundations. Take charge of your health. Explore martial arts or yoga. Stay grounded and levelheaded.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★This is one of the best days of the year to ask yourself what you can do to improve your closest relationships, especially with partners, spouses and dear friends. There’s always room for improvement. Tonight: Cooperation.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★On this New Moon Day, think about how you can improve your health. Also, what can you do to improve your job or the way you do your job? This is also the perfect day to think about how to improve how you care for your pet. Tonight: Work.GEMINI(May...

Harriette Cole: I worry I’ll lose my friend because of this workplace issue

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:09 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: My best friend at work and I are up for the same promotion. As far as I know, only one of us can get it, and it’s making me sick to my stomach to think of having to compete with her.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: Is it OK for me to hide my health concerns from my husband? Advice | Harriette Cole: It bothers me that there was so little reaction to my social media purge Advice | Harriette Cole: Should I tell my friend I’m worried about her boy? Advice | Harriette Cole: My husband berates me because he forgets what I tell him Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m tired of hearing about her kids’ private school We both deserve to advance at work, and I don’t think it’s smart for either of us to back down from trying for this promotion. The thing is, I don’t know how to talk about it with her.I worry that we won’t be friends after the decision i...