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What are Australia’s plans for Indigenous Voice?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:05 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australians expect to vote this year in a referendum that would enshrine in the nation’s constitution a mechanism for Indigenous people to advise Parliament on policies that effect their lives known as the Voice.Proponents say embedding the Voice in the constitution would recognize the special place that Indigenous people have in Australian history while giving them input in government policies.Skeptics and opponents say Australians need more details before they vote on a proposal that risks dividing the nation along racial lines without reducing Indigenous disadvantage.As Australia’s first referendum in a generation approaches, the bipartisan support regarded as essential to successfully changing the constitution has yet to emerge and Indigenous leaders remain divided.Here are some questions and answers about key issues behind the referendum:____WHO ARE INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS?Australia is unusual among former British colonies in that no treaty was ever si...

Ethics agency to better protect gymnasts for LA Olympics

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:05 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — Created to help protect athletes after the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal, the sport’s international investigations agency has set new safeguarding standards with a view to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.The Gymnastics Ethics Foundation published a “Gymnasts 2028” strategy Thursday to better protect athletes from harassment and abuse, investigate complaints, prosecute disciplinary cases and monitor national federations.“The idea is to really put gymnasts at the center of our thinking throughout everything we do,” Alex McLin, the independent foundation’s director, told The Associated Press in an interview.The GEF was created and funded by the sport’s governing body, the International Gymnastics Federation, in the fallout from the scandal of long-time U.S. team doctor Larry Nassar, who is now in prison.Since 2019, the foundation has worked to address systemic issues it describes as “the inherent power imbalances between gymnasts, coaches, judges, and administrators, ...

Ford says EV unit losing billions, should be seen as startup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:05 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co.’s electric vehicle business has lost $3 billion before taxes during the past two years and will lose a similar amount this year as the company invests heavily in the new technology.The figures were released Thursday as Ford rolled out a new way of reporting financial results. The new business structure separates electric vehicles, the profitable internal combustion and commercial vehicle operations into three operating units.Company officials said the electric vehicle unit, called “Ford Model e,” will be profitable before taxes by late 2026 with an 8% pretax profit margin. But they wouldn’t say exactly when it’s expected to start making money.Chief Financial Officer John Lawler said Model e should be viewed as a startup company within Ford. “As everyone knows, EV startups lose money while they invest in capability, develop knowledge, build (sales) volume and gain (market) share,” he said.Model e, he said, is working on second- and even...

Germany plans to buy Australian-made combat vehicles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:05 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany plans to buy more than 100 Australian-made combat vehicles as it moves ahead with plans to modernize its armed forces, the government said Thursday.German and Australian officials signed an agreement to cooperate on the procurement of the new combat reconnaissance vehicles, based on the Boxer family of armored fighting vehicles and equipped with a 30-millimeter gun. The aim is for deliveries to start in 2025, the Defense Ministry said. It didn’t give a price for the purchase. However, it said the money will come from a special 100 billion-euro ($108 billion) fund for the modernization of the military that Germany approved after Russia invaded Ukraine last year.The new vehicles will replace the German army’s Wiesel 2 armored vehicles, the Defense Ministry said.Germany’s military is widely acknowledged to be suffering from years of neglect and in particular from aging, poorly functioning equipment.The German government has faced criticism for making a...

Uganda LGBTQ leader says gay bill threatens homelessness

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:05 GMT

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — A prominent leader of Uganda’s LGBTQ community said Thursday he was worried about becoming “homeless,” describing anguished calls by others like him who are concerned for their safety after the passing of a harsh new anti-gay bill.“I am worried about being evicted,” said Frank Mugisha, head of the banned LGBTQ support group Sexual Minorities Uganda. “I am worried about being evicted from the place where I live, because I don’t own property. I could become homeless.”The legislation “would make it impossible to me to live in this country and work here,” he said. Mugisha spoke to The Associated Press amid growing pressure from the United Nations, the United States and others who are urging President Yoweri Museveni to block the legislation passed by lawmakers on Tuesday. The bill prescribes the death penalty for the offense of “aggravated homosexuality” and life imprisonment for “homosexuality.” Aggravated homosexuality is defined as cases...

Thursday Forecast: Temps in low 40s with morning t-storms and lingering rain

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:05 GMT

CHICAGO — Cloudy Thursday with morning thunderstorms, dropping temps and lingering rain. Winds: NNE 10-15 G20. High: 41. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here TONIGHT: Mainly cloudy tonight. Winds: NE 5-10 G15. Low: 34.Friday Forecast: Mostly cloudy, slight afternoon rain chance, night rain likely. Winds: ENE 10-15 G20. High: 43.Full forecast details at the WGN Weather Center

These are the highways in Illinois with the most fatalities

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:05 GMT

Americans travel billions of cumulative interstate miles every year—statistically, accidents are almost a certainty. Still, many traffic crashes and subsequent fatalities are avoidable. In 2020, nearly 39,000 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes on U.S. roadways—an increase of roughly 7% from 2019, according to the most recent data released in 2022 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.In nearly half of all fatal crashes, drivers were either speeding, impaired by alcohol, not wearing a seat belt, or some combination of those three, according to NHTSA.Highway driving, in particular, can lead to more serious or fatal accidents than on other roadways because vehicles are traveling at much greater speeds. Looking to avoid the Kennedy Expressway construction? Here’s what you should know President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has earmarked tens of billions of dollars for programs that will improve road safety in the U.S., inclu...

World's first 3D-printed rocket fails to reach space in third launch attempt

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:05 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Aerospace company Relativity Space launched the world's first 3D-printed rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Wednesday.The private company launched its Terran 1 rocket, called "GLHF" (Good Luck, Have Fun), from Launch Complex 16, a former missile site, at 11:25 p.m. In this frame grab from livestreamed video provided by Relativity Space, Terran 1 sits on a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Fla., late Wednesday, March 22, 2023. The rocket is made almost entirely of 3D-printed parts. (Relativity Space via AP)In this frame grab from livestreamed video provided by Relativity Space, Terran 1 launches from Cape Canaveral, Fla., late Wednesday, March 22, 2023. The rocket is made almost entirely of 3D-printed parts. (Relativity Space via AP)In this frame grab from livestreamed video provided by Relativity Space, Terran 1 launches from Cape Canaveral, Fla., late Wednesday, March 22, 2023. The rocket is made almost entirely of 3D-printed parts. (Relativity S...

Warm and windy ahead of Friday morning rain/storms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:05 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Humidity and warmth will continue to pool over Central Texas ahead of our next cold front expected to arrive early tomorrow morning.Today will look and feel similar to what we felt yesterday - warm (80s) and humid under a mostly to partly cloudy sky. Southerly winds will get a touch stronger this afternoon with sustained speeds ranging between 15-25 mph and gusts up to 30 mph.Overnight into the pre-dawn hours Friday, a broken line of storms and showers will move into the Hill Country. This line of storms will move southeast through the area through mid- to late morning, with a low threat of wind or hail damage. Once the line clears to the east by midday, sunshine and dry skies will filter in.Low risk of severe storms midnight - 7 a.m. Friday in the Hill CountryLow risk of severe storms in the eastern counties 7 a.m. - 12 p.m. east of I-35Overall, rainfall totals look minimal with most of us not favored to see more than a quarter of an inch. Isolated higher rainfall ...

City of Austin to discuss regulations for e-scooters in downtown

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:05 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- E-scooters are one of the most popular forms of transportation for people trying to get around Austin's busy downtown, but how the scooters are being used is a cause for concern for some city council members. City council member Mackenzie Kelly, district 6, placed an item on Thursday's agenda that would direct the city manager to explore possible regulations for the organization and management of the micro-mobility devices. "We use them everyday"Kaylin Pyles and Caitlin Horvath both live in downtown and they said they use e-scooters everyday. "Like if we're going to Congress, like somewhere we want to get to where we don't have to worry about parking our cars," Horvath explained. They like the scooters for the convenience, especially when traffic is congested and parking is a premium in downtown and along south Congress. The duo said they will park their scooters in an appropriate spot and standing up when they are done with them, but that's not always the case for ...