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Record number of Australians enroll to vote in referendum on Indigenous Voice to Parliament

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:02:34 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A record number of Australians enrolled to vote in a referendum that would create an Indigenous advocacy body, as the first ballots for constitutional change are set to be cast in remote Outback locations next week, officials said on Thursday.The referendum to be held on Oct. 14 would enshrine in Australia’s constitution an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. The Voice would be a group of Indigenous representatives who would advise the government and legislators on policies that effect the lives of the nation’s most disadvantaged ethnic minority.When enrollments closed on Monday, 97.7% of eligible Australians had signed up to vote, Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said.That was the largest proportion of any electoral event in the 122 years that the Australian government has existed. The previous record was 96.8% for the federal election in May last year. Rogers said high public interest in the Voice was a factor in the large enrollment.“There is a ...

Mother of 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher in Virginia could be jailed for failing drug tests

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:02:34 GMT

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — The mother of a 6-year-old who shot his teacher in Virginia could be jailed Thursday for failing drug tests while awaiting sentencing on federal weapons charges that she used marijuana while possessing a firearm. A bond revocation hearing is set in federal court in Newport News for Deja Taylor. Her son used her gun to shoot Abby Zwerner in her classroom in January. The first-grade teacher was seriously wounded and has endured multiple surgeries.Taylor pleaded guilty in June to using marijuana while possessing a firearm. Authorities say she also lied about her drug use on a federal background check form when she bought the gun that her son brought to school.A judge had set an October sentencing date and released Taylor on bond under the conditions that she submit to drug tests and receive addiction treatment. But Taylor has twice tested positive for marijuana and once for cocaine, federal prosecutors wrote in a filing with the court this month. She also misse...

Man set to be executed for 1996 slaying of University of Oklahoma dance student

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:02:34 GMT

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma is set to execute an inmate Thursday morning for the 1996 slaying of a University of Oklahoma dance student, a case that went unsolved for years until DNA from the crime scene matched a man serving time for burglary.Anthony Sanchez, 44, is scheduled to receive a three-drug injection at 10 a.m. CDT at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. He took the unusual step earlier this year of opting not to present a clemency application to the state’s Pardon and Parole Board, which many viewed as his last chance to have his life spared. His former attorneys blamed Sanchez’s decision on his spiritual adviser, the Rev. Jeff Hood, an anti-death penalty advocate who has befriended death row inmates across the country.Sanchez’s new attorney, Eric Allen of Columbus, Ohio, has requested a stay of execution in federal court, claiming he needs more time to go through boxes of evidence in the case. So far, that request has been rejected by a federal ...

EU-China: Commission and China hold second High-Level Digital Dialogue

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:02:34 GMT

The Commission has held its second High-level Digital Dialogue with China. Co-chaired by Vera Jourova, Vice-President for Values and Transparency, and Vice-Premier of China, Zhang Guoqing, this dialogue hosted in Beijing covered key issues such as platforms and data regulation, artificial intelligence, research and innovation, cross-border flow of industrial data, or the safety of products sold online. The Commissioner for Justice and consumer rights, Didier Reynders, also participated in the discussions by video message.Both parties engaged in a thorough discussion on crucial areas of digital policy and technologies. The Commission provided an update of EU regulatory developments including the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act.Both sides exchanged views about Artificial Intelligence. The Commission presented developments on the Artificial Intelligence Act and stressed the importance of an ethical use of this technology in full respect of universal human rights, in th...

Residents on Palos Verdes Peninsula concerned after 2 homes red tagged due to shifting soil

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:02:34 GMT

Residents who live on the Palos Verdes Peninsula are on edge, worried about the unstable ground beneath their homes some 10 weeks after landslides destroyed nearly a dozen homes in Rolling Hills Estates. Two homes on the peninsula have already been red tagged, meaning the residences are currently uninhabitable and the future is uncertain for a number of other homeowners.  “We’re all worried, we’re all calling for help,” resident Eva Albuja told KTLA’s Rick Chambers.  For many others in the Sea View neighborhood of Palos Verdes, that feeling is understandable. The ground under some of the homes has moved, with huge cracks appearing on some properties and the streets and sidewalks shifting.  “It’s rapid and we’re worried,” Albujua, who lives just down the block from the two red-tagged homes, said. “We’re worried about our homes. Everyone is very upset. We're all talking about it every night and we don’t want to leave our homes. We’ve been here over 20 years.”  ...

Southern California student protests school flag ban by handing out hundreds of Pride flags

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:02:34 GMT

After the Temecula Valley Unified School District approved a controversial flag ban policy on campuses, one student protested the new rule by handing out hundreds of Pride flags to classmates.The move has now sparked a campaign to support Moxxie, a 16-year-old junior at Great Oak High School in Temecula, with people donating Pride flags, pins and stickers to the teen.After a 3-2 approval on Sept. 12, only state and U.S. flags can be displayed at schools within the district. All other flags would require the superintendent’s approval.Some critics believe the new policy will be used to censor LGBTQ+ support and target pride flags.Following the decision, Moxxie, has been handing out Pride flags and stickers at his school. Despite being a standout AP student, Moxie said he doesn’t feel very supported by his school district.Pride flags being handed out by Moxxie, a 16-year-old high school student in Temecula, to his classmates in protest of the school district’s flag ban policy. (KTLA)Pr...

Tangerine Dream Scores in Hollywood

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:02:34 GMT

Tangerine Dream Scores in Hollywood: Tangerine Dream‘s name is often mentioned in the same breath as Kraftwerk, because they both pioneered electronic music back in the late ’60s/early ’70s, and probably because they’re both German.But honestly, the similarities kind of end there. While Kraftwerk revel in sparse arrangements that seem to attempt to convey the human experience as something entirely robotic, Tangerine Dream create lush, orchestral art. It’s little wonder they’ve long been a top choice when movie creators are looking for scores.We did a “Not Another DJ” column with them in May, and bandleader Thorsten Quaeschning told us that, “It’s an everlasting evolving and morphing process, learning from every note ever played and combining things that were explored and set as rules inside our microcosm. We are combining Synthesizer from all decades, hardware, modular, software to come as close to the sound, created in our heads and i...

Investigation underway into fatality on Highway 92 in San Mateo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:02:34 GMT

SAN MATEO – An investigation was underway Wednesday night into a traffic fatality on State Route 92 in San Mateo, according to the California Highway Patrol.The fatality was reported around 10:05 p.m. on eastbound 92 at Delaware Street, a CHP spokesperson said.Additional details about the fatality were not immediately available.As of 10:40 p.m., all eastbound lanes were closed and traffic was being diverted to Delaware Street.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | 2 teens filmed themselves laughing, hitting, killing former California police chief, officials say Crashes and Disasters | Man killed in hit-and-run crash on Highway 101 Crashes and Disasters | One killed, one badly injured in fiery Oakland freeway collision Crashes and Disasters | Motorcyclist who died in East Bay collision with pickup truck is identified Crashes and Disasters | Fairfield man sentenced for San Pablo fatal crash Check back for...

La administración Biden enviará más personal militar a la frontera sur por reciente aumento de migrantes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:02:34 GMT

(CNN) — El Departamento de Defensa de EE.UU. está enviando 800 nuevos miembros del personal en servicio activo a la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México, además de los 2.500 miembros de la Guardia Nacional que ya están en el lugar, para brindar apoyo a las autoridades federales que enfrentan un aumento de cruces fronterizos.Los funcionarios del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS, por sus siglas en inglés) hicieron el anuncio este miércoles por la noche en una llamada con periodistas mientras abordaban el reciente aumento en los encuentros con inmigrantes.El Ejército estadounidense ha brindado apoyo al DHS durante mucho tiempo en la frontera y un aumento de personal en el área no tiene precedentes. Por lo general, las tropas han desempeñado una función de apoyo, más que de aplicación de la ley.Aumentan los cruces de migrantes en la frontera sur de Estados Unidos: se registran más de 8.000 aprehensionesInmigrantes que cruzaron el río Grande hacia Estados Unidos están bajo...

Agencia de inmigración mexicana desplegará más agentes en rutas de trenes por crisis de migrantes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:02:34 GMT

(CNN) — El Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) de México dijo que desplegará más agentes de inmigración para las rutas de trenes a medida que el país lidia con un aumento de migrantes que hacen autostop en trenes en dirección norte para acercarse a la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México.Funcionarios del INM también se reunirán con representantes del operador ferroviario más grande del país, Ferromex, para discutir nuevas medidas para enfrentar la crisis.Ferromex suspendió este martes el servicio de varias líneas de tren en dirección norte luego de reportar media docena de heridos y muertes de migrantes.La red mexicana de trenes de carga conocida como “La Bestia” suspende parte de sus operaciones en medio de la crisis de migrantesEl INM dijo que propuso fortalecer la coordinación de Ferromex con las autoridades para evitar que los migrantes arriesguen sus vidas.Este mes, el INM dijo que hubo un flujo migratorio de hasta 3.000 personas que abordaron el tren de m...