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CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australians resoundingly rejected on Saturday a referendum proposal to create an advocacy committee to offer advice to Parliament on policies that affect Indigenous people — the nation's most disadvantaged ethnic minority. The government proposed the first constitutional change since 1977 as a step forward in Indigenous rights. But the vote divided Indigenous leaders as well as the wider community. More than 59% of voters opposed the so-called Voice to Parliament with almost half the votes counted by Saturday. The loss is unofficial but is not contested. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese blamed his political opponents' campaigning against...

Here in Australia, our politicians are promoting a divisive and racist change to our constitution by referendum - the creation of an indigenous "voice" with undefined powers. Voting is underway now.According to Reuters:SYDNEY, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Support for a proposal to amend Australia's constitution to enshrine recognition of Indigenous people has edged higher, according to a poll published on Tuesday, although most voters intend to reject the change in a referendum now underway.Early voting on whether to recognise Indigenous Australians in the constitution and create a "Voice to Parliament" to give them an avenue to advise the government on...

Former “The Voice” contestant Melanie Martinez has been accused of sexually assaulting her friend. Timothy Heller, an aspiring singer, wrote her allegations on Twitter against Martinez, who she described as her former “best friend” who took her in. “I felt like I owed her my life,” she wrote. Heller accused Martinez, who rose to stardom after she was a contestant on season three of “The Voice,” of being manipulative and selfish, always making things about her even when Heller was at “rock bottom.” “Her power and control over me grew and grew into me having a very hard time saying...

A YouTube star was injured at an Orlando concert by a suspect that was found dead, according to police. Attendees at the city’s Plaza Live first reported a shooter at around 10:30 p.m. on Friday night, when boy band Before You Exit and Christina Grimmie were slated to perform. Police identified the wounded victim as Grimmie, a 22-year-old singer who finished third on The Voice in 2014.

In the past I have not watched The Voice, but took a slight interest this year when one of the contestants expressed an interest in the music career of Ricky Skaggs. I'm kinda outing myself in this forum that is most anonymous, but Ricky is my first cousin. His father and my dad were brothers. A third brother, Okel, died as a young man in the battle for Guadalcanal - WWII. I had no idea the season final for The Voice was on last night when my wife yelled upstairs to let me know Ricky was on. The 4 minute...

My introduction to Frank Sinatra came by way of “New York, New York” (1979) and “My Way” (1969). Needless to say, I was not a fan. Even as a pre-teen, the over-produced bombast came across as someone, dare I say an old man, trying too hard. Besides, I was born in 1966 and came of age in the early 80s. By law, I was required to worship Springsteen, Seger, Zeppelin, Petty, Van Halen, Def Leppard, and AC/DC, not some crooner belting out anthems about how it’s up to you my way. With a memory as bad as mine, I don’t have...

ROME – Italy’s singing nun, Sister Cristina Scuccia, is the winner of “The Voice of Italy,” after becoming a global sensation starting in March when her rendition of Alicia Keys’ “No One” in the talent show’s blind audition got more than 50 million hits on YouTube and appreciative Tweets from Keys herself and Whoopi Goldberg. On Thursday night, wearing her nun’s habit, crucifix around her neck, and plain black shoes, the 25-year-old Sicilian nun won Italy’s version of “The Voice” with 62.3 percent of the vote. “My presence here is not up to me, it’s thanks to the man upstairs,”...

On Tuesday night's (Nov. 26) "The Voice" live show, the Top 8 contestants performed "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?," backed by Seattle's Starbucks Chorus, a vocal group that raises money for local charities. But after the performance, the Twitterverse erupted with complaints that the word "Lord" was dropped from the lyrics. Backstage, "Voice" coach Blake Shelton was still trying to get to the bottom of why it happened. "I don't know what, uh -- how it happened, or -- I'm learning about it just like you guys are," Shelton tells Zap2it. "I was sitting in my chair singing that song...

"Someone as refreshingly unique and unusual as second-place finisher—the Jewish, lesbian, banshee-voiced, wind-up box of endearing quirk Michelle Chamuel—would have been a much more invigorating choice for the show, and a winner who might have been able to put the series on the industry map."

Adam Levine had a few un-patriotic words after America voted off his contestants, Judith Hill and Sarah Simmons, from "The Voice" on Tuesday night. The Maroon 5 musician muttered "I hate this country" after two of his strong singers got the boot, but America opted to save his third — country singer Amber Carrington.

In last night's (May 9, 2012) season two finale of TV's hit show, "The Voice," NBC took first place in the 18-49 demographic share and third in total viewers with 9 million. The winner, Jermaine Paul, gave all the credit to Jesus. From MTV.com: Universal Records added a new artist to their roster Tuesday night (May 8) when Jermaine Paul of Team Blake was named season-two champ during the finale of "The Voice," which also featured some major star power appearances from the likes of Justin Bieber and Flo Rida. "I just wanted to say thank you for everyone that...

DAYTON, Ohio—Barack Obama is considering skipping the presidential primary debate scheduled for later this month in Ohio to instead spend time talking to voters, a newspaper reported last night. The U.S. senator from Illinois faces U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York in the March 4 primaries in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont. CNN announced last week that it would partner with the Democratic party in Ohio to bring a debate to the perennial battleground state on Feb. 27. "Sen. Obama has debated Sen. Clinton 18 times during this campaign — including four times in the last month,"...