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Turkey fumes as Disney axes founding father series after Armenian outcry

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:40 GMT

Disney’s decision not to air a high-profile series dramatizing the life of Turkey’s founding father has sparked uproar, with top Turkish officials accusing the American network of bowing to pressure from Armenian groups.Turkish media reported Wednesday that Disney had decided to pull the show “Atatürk,” a six-part period drama series originally billed for broadcast on its Disney+ platform on October 29. Its release was timed to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.Ebubekir Şahin, the head of Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council, announced an investigation would be launched into claims that the decision was taken after concerted lobbying from the Armenian diaspora.“Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our Republic of Türkiye, is our most important social value,” he said. While Atatürk remains a totemic figure for Turks for founding a modern secular republic in 1923 from the ashes of the Ottoman empir...

Heaviest rainfall in 140 years drenches Beijing while Typhoon Khanun hits Japan’s Okinawa

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:40 GMT

(CNN) — Severe flooding in Beijing was caused by the heaviest rainfall in 140 years, according to local meteorologists, and there’s little reprieve for the region as Typhoon Khanun lashes Japan with wind and rain.Between Saturday and Wednesday morning, 744.8 millimeters (29 inches) of rain fell in the Chinese capital from the remnants of Typhoon Doksuri, according to the Beijing Meteorological Service – the heaviest rain over consecutive days since records began in 1883.Meanwhile, Typhoon Khanun packed winds of 220 kilometers per hour (137 mph) – the equivalent of a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane – as it made its nearest pass to Japan’s southwestern Okinawa islands early Wednesday.In the past 24 hours, many locations in Okinawa have received 175 to 220 millimeters (6 to 8 inches) of rainfall, according to CNN Weather on Wednesday morning.More than 600,000 residents were ordered by the prefecture government to evacuate their homes, and strong winds took out power lines, leav...

Consumer Health: Are you at risk for hepatitis?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:40 GMT

Laurel Kelly | (TNS) Mayo Clinic News NetworkHepatitis is inflammation of the liver. The five main strains of the hepatitis virus are referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. While they all cause liver disease, they differ in geographic prevalence, modes of transmission, severity of illness and prevention methods, according to the World Health Organization.In the U.S., the most common types of hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.Hepatitis AHepatitis A is highly contagious, spreading through contact with contaminated food or water, or from close contact with an infected person or object. Unlike other types of viral hepatitis, hepatitis A does not cause long-term liver damage, and it doesn’t become chronic.In rare cases, hepatitis A can cause a sudden loss of liver function, especially in older adults or people with chronic liver diseases. Acute liver failure requires a stay in the hospital for monitoring and treatment. Some people with acute liver failure may n...

Maryland treasurer now ‘cautiously optimistic’ Orioles will reach lease agreement

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:40 GMT

Two weeks after expressing concern over the lack of progress between the Orioles and the Maryland Stadium Authority in reaching a new lease, a state official now says he is “cautiously optimistic that we’re not too far from hopefully announcing a deal.”Maryland Treasurer Dereck Davis said Wednesday that, in recent weeks, he met with Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, and also with Orioles chairman John Angelos to discuss the topic. In those conversations, which Davis declined to detail, he said he wanted to convey his “sense of urgency.”“At this point in time, I’m satisfied with what I’ve heard. I’m going to continue to monitor and I’m going to let them work and give them their space to get this taken care of,” Davis said after Wednesday’s Board of Public Works meeting.Asked if he believed there was a sticking point between the Orioles and the stadium authority, Davis said: “They didn’t communicate that to ...

Boston Mayor Wu: Mass and Cass has reached ‘new level of public safety alarm’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:40 GMT

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said conditions around Melnea Cass Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue have reached “a new level of public safety alarm” over the past several weeks.Wu said first responders, health professionals and outreach workers regularly encounter crowds of more than 200 people, an “untenable” situation exacerbated by the drug and human trafficking and violence that takes place along the troubled Mass and Cass area.“In the last month or so, especially in the last couple of weeks, it has gotten to a new level of public safety alarm,” Wu said on Wednesday. “All of the non-city teams have said in the last few weeks the situation has gotten so dangerous that we are pulling our people out — we cannot be in there.”Wu’s remarks, made on a “Java with Jimmy” podcast, come after the city’s police and firefighters have cited dangerous conditions along Methadone Mile, particularly from potential exposure to uncapped, hypodermic needles discarded after drug use.The risk prompted a s...

Patriots rookie receiver Kayshon Boutte finally breaks out after ‘slow start’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:40 GMT

FOXBORO — It took a week of Patriots training camp, but wide receiver Kayshon Boutte started to show his potential during the team’s second fully padded session of the summer Wednesday.Boutte, a former five-star recruit, took on a greater role Wednesday with second-year pro Tyquan Thornton limited to conditioning work. The LSU product received his first reps with starting quarterback Mac Jones and made three catches in competitive periods.Boutte had wins in both of his 1-on-1 reps over starting cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones. He also made a sliding catch from Jones later in an 11-on-11 period. Boutte’s previous catches in camp came from backup quarterbacks Bailey Zappe and Trace McSorely.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots continuing to manage Rhamondre Stevenson’s workload in practice New England Patriots | Patriots WR JuJu Smith-Schuster: Playing for Bill O’Brien helped draw me to New England New England Pa...

Move over ‘Godfather:’ Now there’s ‘Gullfather,’ a comedy story called ‘Sopranos for kids’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:40 GMT

Jeff Sikaitis was watching his kids play at a Connecticut park when he found himself entranced by some seagulls.First, he observed a seagull engaged in a standoff with a child. He later watched as a flock conspired in a “coordinated effort to steal some snacks.”“I remember uttering under my breath, ‘it’s like this is a mini mafia,’” Sikaitis said.Later that night, he learned through research that seagulls display a lot of mob-like traits.That comparison would become the basis of his first book, “The Gullfather: Birdsy Seagull: Vol 1 — A Seahawk Situation.”Written with his creative partner, Jake Wheeler, Sikaitis said the book it a sort of “Sopranos for kids.”The Gullfather: Birdsy Seagull: Vol 1. A Seahawk Situation (June 6, 2023, Books Fluent).The 92-page book was released in June and follows Birdsy Seagull, dubbed “The Gullfather,” and his flock as they try to rule the boardwalk in fictional Shoretown.His crew includes scrappy Joey “One Wing” Grella, charming Sammy “Vinny” Gullian...

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife announce their separation

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:40 GMT

By ROB GILLIES (Associated Press)TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, announced Wednesday that they are separating after 18 years of marriage.The two said in statements posted on Instagram that they made the decision after “many meaningful and difficult conversations.” A statement from the prime minister’s office said they both have signed a legal separation agreement. Trudeau, the 51-year-old scion of one of Canada’s most famous politicians, was sworn into office in 2015. Sophie Trudeau is a former model and TV host. The couple were married in 2005. Together, they brought star power to the prime minister’s office and appeared in the pages of Vogue magazine. They have three children, 15-year-old Xavier, 14-year-old Ella-Grace and 9-year-old Hadrien.“As always, we remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other and for everything we have built and will continue to build,&...

New weight loss drugs carry high price tags and lots of questions for seniors

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:40 GMT

Judith Graham | (TNS) KFF Health NewsCorlee Morris has dieted throughout her adult life.After her weight began climbing in high school, she spent years losing 50 or 100 pounds then gaining it back. Morris, 78, was at her heaviest in her mid-40s, standing 5 feet 10½ inches and weighing 310 pounds. The Pittsburgh resident has had diabetes for more than 40 years.Managing her weight was a losing battle until Morris’ doctor prescribed a Type 2 diabetes medication, Ozempic, four months ago. It’s one in a new category of medications changing how ordinary people as well as medical experts think about obesity, a condition that affects nearly 4 in 10 people 60 and older.The drugs include Ozempic’s sister medication, Wegovy, a weight loss drug with identical ingredients, which the FDA approved in 2021, and Mounjaro, approved as a diabetes treatment in 2022. (Ozempic was approved for diabetes in 2017.) Several other drugs are in development.The medications reduce feelings of hunger, generate a ...

Winners and losers of the MLB trade deadline, including Jake Burger, Shohei Ohtani and the ‘Chuck and Ozzie Show’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:40 GMT

Somehow during the two month ramp-up to the trade deadline I lost track of one of the biggest developments of the summer.Chicago has become the sweet spot of the world, climatically speaking.Except for an occasional deluge or a worst-air-pollution-in-the-world kind of day, our summer has been spectacular.Not too hot. Not too cold. Just bleeping perfect.While the rest of the country is sweating its assets off in 100-degree heat, we’re chilling on the porch with a cold one in hand and another one or two on ice. The only thing that could make it better would be a dominating season from your preferred baseball team.That won’t be the case this year. White Sox fans long ago succumbed to the reality that the team was going nowhere. Cubs fans still might be giddy from the wild deadline dash to save Cody Bellinger, but they also know the only reasons their team is contending with a 54-53 record are the mediocre division they play in and National League parity affecting the wild-c...