Myanmar's military-led government extends state of emergency, forcing delay in promised election

The Derrick
 
Myanmar's military-led government extends state of emergency, forcing delay in promised election

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military-controlled government has extended the state of emergency it imposed when the army seized power from an elected government 2 1/2 years ago, state-run media said Monday, forcing a further delay in elections it promised when it took over.

MRTV television said the National Defense and Security Council met Monday in the capital, Naypyitaw, and extended the state of emergency for another six months starting Tuesday because time is needed to prepare for the elections. The NDSC is nominally a constitutional government body, but in practice is controlled by the military.

MIAMI -- A property manager for Donald Trump, who is accused of collaborating with the former president to hinder U.S. government efforts to retrieve classified documents at his Palm Beach estate, appeared in Miami federal court Monday to face obstruction charges.

The National Institutes of Health is starting some studies to test possible treatments for long COVID. Millions of people are estimated to have the mysterious condition. The studies are small but each will tackle multiple possible therapies for things like brain fog, sleep disturbances and the theory that lingering virus may be at least partly to blame. The studies are part of the RECOVER project, which had to unravel what the most common and burdensome symptoms of long COVID are before doing studies.

A Fulton judge on Monday rejected a sweeping push from former President Donald Trump to gut the Fulton County district attorney’s investigation of interference in Georgia’s 2020 presidential election, which is expected to result in criminal charges in the weeks ahead.

Twitter has reinstated Kanye West’s account after he was suspended eight months for a series of antisemitic posts.

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 31, 2023--

Israel’s Supreme Court says that a full panel of 15 justices would hear petitions in September against a contentious judiciary law that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government passed last week that spurred mass protest. The court said Monday that a hearing concerning the law striking down the high court’s ability to annul government decisions considered “unreasonable” would take place Sept. 12 with a full bench of 15 justices. The Supreme Court typically hears cases with smaller panels, but appears to have opted for a full complement of judges in light of the highly delicate nature of the matter.

A tropical depression is expected to form in the next day or so to the far east of the Caribbean as odds drop for a “short-lived” tropical cyclone to form off North Carolina, the National Hurricane Center said Monday.

Attorney General Chris Carr has told a growing number of Republican activists and elected officials that he will run for governor in 2026 to succeed incumbent Brian Kemp, a close political ally who can’t run for a third term.

Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis is taking aim at China with a 10-point economic plan he's calling a “Declaration of Economic Independence.” The Florida governor unveiled his plan Monday at a warehouse in New Hampshire. He promised to boost the economy and fight for the middle class, in part by wresting control from China. His plan calls for ending China's preferential trade status, banning imports of goods made from stolen intellectual property and preventing companies from sharing critical technologies with China. It's the third major policy proposal put forth by DeSantis, whose campaign has struggled in recent weeks.

If you believe Janelle Monae’s hyper-sexual expression is a front, think again. These days, Monae is unapologetically living her truth in a bold manner while trying to avoid negativity. The star, once known for sporting custom-made suits, has shed that attire to nearly bare all like on the cover of her fourth studio album “The Age of Pleasure,” where she’s seen swimming in a topless pool. Other instances of her exposing herself onstage have drawn criticism, which the singer brushes off. Monae spoke recently with The Associated Press about her supportive mother, side-stepping criticism and her upcoming 26-city tour that kicks off in Seattle on Aug. 30.

Hunter Biden’s former business partner has appeared for closed-door testimony on Capitol Hill, with Republicans planning to question him about claims that President Joe Biden was directly involved in his younger son’s financial dealings. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee is holding a hourslong, transcribed interview Monday with Devon Archer as part of its expanding congressional inquiry into the Biden family businesses as the party explores a potential impeachment inquiry into the president. Archer served with Hunter Biden on the board of the Ukrainian gas company Burisma. And he is seen by Republicans as a key witness in their so-far fruitless search to connect the president to his son’s various international business transactions.

Matildas fans had to hope for a new scorer with Sam Kerr sidelined yet again. Hayley Raso scored twice in the first half of a 4-0 win over Canada to keep Australia in contention in the Women’s World Cup it is co-hosting. Raso’s opening goal in the 9th minute was her first at a World Cup. Raso says “When I saw the girls put all their hands up, I actually didn’t hear that it was a goal,. I just fell to my knees.” She completed a brace in the 39th to give Australia a 2-0 lead over the Olympic champions. Mary Fowler and Steph Catley added goals in the second half of the win-or-go-home, group-stage game for the Matildas.

For six months in 2020, powerful police spy planes circled Baltimore for 12 hours a day, capturing nearly every movement of the city's residents.

For the first time, California’s leading air regulator acknowledged major roadblocks to meeting its ambitious carbon emissions target for 2030, a goal the agency set just months ago in a sweeping plan to tackle climate change.

The Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is showcasing some of the best soccer on the planet — and some of the best photographs. Associated Press photographers are covering every match at the month-long tournament, including Zambia's Lushomo Mweemba celebrating a goal against Costa…

A Wisconsin judge has dismissed a GOP state lawmaker’s challenge over military voting records, saying that the lawsuit should have been brought against a local elections official, not the statewide elections commission. Rep. Janel Brandtjen, the former head of the Assembly elections commission who has embraced election conspiracy theories, sued in November to stop military absentee ballots from being counted. Brandtjen and a local veterans group also wanted to obtain a list of military voters to see if local clerks were keeping accurate records, as required by law. A Waukesha County judge refused to sequester military ballots in November and ultimately dismissed the lawsuit on Friday.

The actor behind Jar Jar Binks suffered from severe depression and contemplated taking his own life as a result of backlash to the controversial “Star Wars” character.

The Atlanta Braves have reinstated left-hander A.J. Minter from the 15-day injured list and optioned right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver to Triple-A Gwinnett. Minter had been out since July 12 while recovering from left shoulder inflammation. He will return to his late-innings role in the Braves’ bullpen for Monday night’s opener of an interleague series against the Los Angeles Angels. Minter is 3-5 with a 4.91 ERA and 10 saves. Smith-Shawver, a 20-year-old rookie, allowed three runs in five innings and did not receive a decision in Sunday’s 8-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. He is 1-0 with a 4.56 ERA in five games.

A Wisconsin judge has dismissed a GOP state lawmaker’s challenge over military voting records, saying that the lawsuit should have been brought against a local elections official, not the statewide elections commission. Rep. Janel Brandtjen, the former head of the Assembly elections commission who has embraced election conspiracy theories, sued in November to stop military absentee ballots from being counted. Brandtjen and a local veterans group also wanted to obtain a list of military voters to see if local clerks were keeping accurate records, as required by law. A Waukesha County judge refused to sequester military ballots in November and ultimately dismissed the lawsuit on Friday.

The actor behind Jar Jar Binks suffered from severe depression and contemplated taking his own life as a result of backlash to the controversial “Star Wars” character.

The Atlanta Braves have reinstated left-hander A.J. Minter from the 15-day injured list and optioned right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver to Triple-A Gwinnett. Minter had been out since July 12 while recovering from left shoulder inflammation. He will return to his late-innings role in the Braves’ bullpen for Monday night’s opener of an interleague series against the Los Angeles Angels. Minter is 3-5 with a 4.91 ERA and 10 saves. Smith-Shawver, a 20-year-old rookie, allowed three runs in five innings and did not receive a decision in Sunday’s 8-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. He is 1-0 with a 4.56 ERA in five games.

Nigeria coach Randy Waldrum knew his Super Falcons were in for a tough time when the groups for the Women's World Cup were drawn. Co-host Australia and Olympic champion Canada were ranked way higher than his team and only two of the four teams in the group can advance to the knockout stages. Waldrum says “When I first saw the group, it was like ‘oh my gosh, this is such a difficult group.’” After holding the Olympic gold medalists to a 0-0 draw and upsetting the highly-favored Matildas 3-2, Nigeria's 0-0 draw against Ireland on Monday was enough to finish second in Group B and secure a spot in the Round of 16.

Vice President Kamala Harris plans to visit southeast Wisconsin this week. She will making a stop in Pleasant Prairie on Thursday to tout broadband and affordable connectivity before going to Milwaukee for a pair of campaign receptions. The White House announced the planned stops on Sunday. There were no immediate details about the campaign events. Harris will be joined by Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo for the stop in Pleasant Prairie, near the Illinois border. The visit comes a little over a month after President Joe Biden’s administration announced that Wisconsin will receive more than $1 billion in federal money to expand high-speed internet access.

At about its halfway point, the record-breaking hot and extreme summer of 2023 is both unprecedented and unsurprising. Killer heat. Deadly floods. Smoke from wildfires that chokes. Scientists say they've been talking about this for a long time but the really hot seawater worries them. And there’s no relief in sight. Forecasters predict a hotter than normal August and September. Records are being demolished. People are dying. Scientists say it's mostly climate change with a bit of El Nino. After a summer like this at least one expert wonders why the world continues to burn fossil fuels.

An advocacy group for journalists wants to get involved with Disney’s free speech lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press says a win by the Florida governor could embolden other governments across the U.S. to take actions against journalists when they exercise their First Amendment rights. The committee on Friday asked a judge for permission to file a friend-of-the-court brief in the lawsuit brought by Disney against DeSantis in federal court in Tallahassee. The lawsuit claims the Florida governor violated the company’s free speech rights by taking over Disney World’s governing district after Disney opposed the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson sat out of practice Monday and could sit out again Tuesday after undergoing nose surgery. The former Florida star was the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft. Indy was expected to hold its first practice in full pads Monday. But Richardson, who started only one full season with his home state Gators, was not available. It's unclear whether Richardson could miss even more time than this week's first two workouts. Richardson's absence comes at the same time the Colts and 2021 NFL rushing champ Jonathan Taylor have been embroiled in a contract dispute.

During the peak of Covid-19, the number of homeschooled students increased by 60%. Even though schools have fully reopened now, homeschool still remains a preferred choice for a significant segment of American households.

Nearly half of all American students started the 2021-22 school year behind one grade level, thanks to the challenges of COVID and school shutdowns, according to the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). Many students still remained behind their normal school level in the following year.

As Democratic presidential primary candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. challenges President Joe Biden, the stories he tells on the campaign trail about himself, his life’s work and what he stands for are often the opposite of what his record shows. Kennedy rose to prominence during the coronavirus pandemic because of his strident opposition to vaccines, but he insists he’s not anti-vaccine. Kennedy has associated with influential people on the far right — including Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon and Michael Flynn — to raise his profile. Yet, he portrays himself as a true Democrat inheriting the mantle of the Kennedy family.

New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, who is currently serving as acting governor while Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy is out of the state, has been taken to a hospital for an undisclosed medical issue. Murphy spokesperson Mahen Gunaratna said in a statement Monday that 71-year-old Oliver was taken to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston and is unable to carry out the duties of acting governor. Under the state constitution, Democratic Senate President Nicholas Scutari will serve as acting governor. Gunaratna said Oliver was receiving “medical care” but declined to elaborate. Murphy’s office has said he’s on a family vacation in Italy, where he owns a home.

Through Saturday, July 15

The discovery of a whale carcass in Hong Kong waters has sparked an outpouring of grief on social media. Many comments blamed the mammal’s death on sightseeing activities. The scientific officer of Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong said Monday that an initial check found a new wound on the whale’s back. But the cause of death would have to be confirmed by a necropsy. Chan didn't confirm whether the dead mammal was the whale that has attracted groups of whale watchers since it was first spotted in the city’s waters in mid-July. He said if that whale had died it would be a pity but also a good chance for the public to think about other species in nature.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 31, 2023--

Today in Sports, August 1 - American Greg Louganis becomes 1st diver to score 700 (752.67) in 11 dives

This Date in Baseball, August 1 - Cal Ripken Jr. becomes the second major leaguer to play 2,000 straight games