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

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:36 GMT

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.The announcement amounted to an admission that the army does not exercise enough control to stage the polls and has failed to subdue widespread opposition to military rule, which includes increasingly challenging armed resistance as well as nonviolent protests and civil disobedience, despite the army having a huge advantage in manpower and weapons.The state of emergency was declared when tro...

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Aug. 6-12

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:36 GMT

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Aug. 6-12:Aug. 6: Children’s music performer Ella Jenkins is 99. Actor-director Peter Bonerz is 85. Actor Louise Sorel (“Days of Our Lives”) is 83. Actor Ray Buktenica (“Rhoda”) is 80. Actor Dorian Harewood is 73. Actor Catherine Hicks (“Seventh Heaven”) is 72. Singer Pat MacDonald of Timbuk 3 is 71. Actor Stepfanie Kramer (“Hunter”) is 67. Actor Faith Prince is 66. Singer Randy DeBarge of DeBarge is 65. Actor Leland Orser (“ER”) is 64. Actor Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All At Once,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”) is 61. Country singers Peggy and Patsy Lynn of The Lynns are 59. Actor Jeremy Ratchford (“Cold Case”) is 58. Actor Benito Martinez (“American Crime,” “The Shield”) is 55. Country singer Lisa Stewart is 55. Writer-director M. Night Shyamalan (“The Sixth Sense”) is 53. Actor Merrin Dungey (“Summerland,” ″Alias”) is 52. Singer Geri Halliwell Horner of Spice Girls is 51. Actor Jason O’Mara (“Life on Mars”) is 51. Actor Vera Farm...

Tugs tow burning cargo ship to new location on North Sea while salvage crews ponder next steps

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:36 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A cargo ship carrying thousands of cars that has been burning on the North Sea for nearly a week was towed Monday to a new location further from the Dutch coast to wait for salvage crews to decide their next steps, the government said.The Fremantle Highway arrived earlier than expected at an anchorage 16 kilometers (10 miles) north of the Dutch islands of Schiermonnikoog and Ameland, thanks to favorable currents, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management said.A salvage team is planning to board the burning vessel “as soon as possible” to carry out an inspection, the ministry added.The ship carrying 3,783 new vehicles, including 498 electric vehicles, from Germany’s Bremerhaven to Singapore has been burning since Tuesday. Firefighters decided not to douse the flames with water for fear of making the nearly 200-meter (656-foot) ship unstable as it floats close to North Sea shipping lanes and a world-renowned migratory bird habitat.A photo ...

UAE state oil firm moves up net zero climate target to 2045

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:36 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A state-run oil giant in the United Arab Emirates said Monday it has moved up its target for achieving net zero emissions in its operations to 2045, as the country prepares to host U.N. climate talks later this year.The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, known as ADNOC, said it is also committed to acheiving zero methane emissions by 2030. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term.Earlier this year, ADNOC earmarked $15 billion for an array of green initiatives, including the development of hydrogen power, carbon capture facilities and the planting of mangroves. The company had previously committed to net zero — the balancing of greenhouse gas emissions to the point that the amount removed from the atmosphere is equal to the amount emitted — by 2050.The UAE, an OPEC member that produces over 3 million barrels of crude oil a day, will host the global climate talks known as COP28 from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1...

Greek prime minister seeks improved relations with Turkey but says Ankara needs to drop aggression

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:36 GMT

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Greece’s prime minister said Monday that his government wants to take full advantage of a developing positive political climate with neighboring Turkey in order to improve bilateral relations despite a string of decades-old disputes. But Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that doesn’t mean Turkey has “substantially changed” its stance on key differences between the two countries and needs to “decisively abandon its aggressive and unlawful conduct” against Greece’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.Turkey and Greece remain at odds over maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean, a dispute that affects irregular migration into the European Union, mineral rights and the projection of military power.Mitsotakis said that he agreed with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11-12 to initiate new “lines of communication” and to maintain “a period of calm.”High-level talks between the the two co...

RFK Jr. says he’s not anti-vaccine. His record shows the opposite. It’s one of many inconsistencies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:36 GMT

Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic because of his strident opposition to vaccines. Yet, he insists he’s not anti-vaccine. He 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.As he 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 actually shows.Though Kennedy’s primary challenge to a sitting president is widely considered a long-shot, he’s been sucking up media attention due to his famous name and the possibility that his run could weaken Biden ahead of what is expected to be a close general election in 2024. He’s drawn praise from Republican presidential candidates like Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Meanwhi...

Inside a Canadian man’s massive psychic scam

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:36 GMT

In today’s Big Story Podcast, this is the story of a scam that lasted for decades, and cost its victims over $200 million. It was run by a Canadian man, Patrice Runner, who now sits in an American prison. It sold the services of a psychic, but that wasn’t the problem with it — the issue was that the scammer used a particular psychic’s likeness without permission.Rachel Browne is an investigative journalist and documentary producer, and she wrote about Patrice Runner for The Walrus. “This whole case raises questions about the level of deceit in all advertisement, the level of deceit in the ways that things are marketed. I think this case kind of shows the importance of critical thinking and carefully examining promises that are being made wherever they’re coming from,” said Browne. How did the scheme work, and who fell for it? Can you really scam people who are already voluntarily paying for a service that promises to tell you the future or make you rich? What...

Canada eliminated from Women’s World Cup following loss to Australia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:36 GMT

Canada’s run at the FIFA Women’s World Cup has come to an end following a 4-0 loss to host Australia.With Nigeria playing to a 0-0 draw against Ireland, Canada was bumped down to third in Group B. Australia finishes atop the group with the win and will face the second-place team in Group D in the knockout stage.Hayley Raso scored twice in the first half to give the Matildas a commanding lead. Mary Fowler made it 3-0 in the 58th minute then Stephanie Catley scored on a penalty in stoppage time.Canada had three shots on target while Australia finished with six.Going into the tournament, the Canadians looked to build off their performance at the Tokyo Olympics where they won the gold medal in 2020. Canada was eliminated in the round of 16 in their last Women’s World Cup appearance four years ago in France.With their group stage exit, Canada is the first reigning Olympic gold medalist to be eliminated before the quarterfinal of the ensuing Women’s World Cup.

Police search for driver who intentionally hit 6 migrant workers; injuries aren’t life-threatening

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:36 GMT

LINCOLNTON, N.C. (AP) — Six migrant workers were intentionally hit by an SUV in a Walmart parking lot in North Carolina on Sunday, police said. The workers were hit at a Walmart in Lincolnton in what appears to have been an intentional assault with a vehicle, but the Lincolnton Police Department said in a statement posted on social media that the driver’s motives are still under investigation. The workers were taken to a hospital with various injuries, but police said none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening. Police are asking the public for help identifying the driver and the vehicle, described as an older model black sport utility vehicle with a luggage rack. The Associated Press

DeSantis says Trump’s 'juvenile insults' help him

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:36 GMT

(The Hill) -- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), a 2024 GOP presidential candidate, said that fellow presidential candidate and rival, former President Donald Trump's, “juvenile insults” toward him have helped him.DeSantis made the remarks during a campaign stop in New Hampshire on Sunday. “First of all, I mean, I think a lot of this stuff when he hits me with it with juvenile insults, I think that helps me,” DeSantis told reporters. "I don't think voters like that. I think they look at it and they realize, like, you know what, that's not effective. And so I don't think it's effective.” DeSantis also said Trump’s insults are just another reminder that millions of voters will not vote for him during this election cycle. “So I actually don't mind that at all,” DeSantis added. “I think it's just a reminder, why there's so many millions of voters who will never vote for him going forward.” Trump tops DeSantis by 37 points in new GOP poll Trump has targeted DeSantis with a...