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Danish PM: Banning burning of the Quran would not reduce freedom of expression

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:45:21 GMT

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen spoke out for the first time on the burning of the Quran in her country, saying that a potential ban on setting fire to the religious text would not limit freedom of expression. “I don’t consider it a restriction on freedom of expression that you can’t burn other people’s books,” Frederiksen said in an interview published Thursday. “It is not a slippery slope,” she added, referring to a debate triggered after the Danish government announced a potential ban on Quran burnings on Sunday.Last week, far-right protesters organized anti-Islam demonstrations and burned copies of the Quran in front of the Egyptian and Turkish embassies in Copenhagen. On Sunday, Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen condemned these acts and said the small number of people responsible did not represent Danish society or values.“There is a concrete security risk. And then there is a risk that we will become isolated on the i...

How Julian Edelman is helping Patriots QB Mac Jones in ‘interesting’ way

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:45:21 GMT

FOXBORO — Julian Edelman has the itch.Retirement has treated the Patriots legend well since he hung up his cleats two years ago, but as he returned to the back fields at Gillette Stadium as a special guest at Thursday’s training camp practice, there was something about it that got his juices flowing.“Of course you get the itch. I’m a football player,” Edelman said. “You love football. Especially when you get to see a group of guys that are coming together and working hard. It’s not too hot today and the practice wasn’t too long, it’s a little different from when I was playing. But it’s still football, so you definitely miss it.”Edelman has and will continue to avoid scratching that itch, but as he continues his post-playing media career, he still loves the Patriots. He’s doing his best to help them from afar.That includes giving Patriots quarterback Mac Jones some helpful advice – and in a unique method.“Jules has been awesome. I always text him. He sends voice memos, it’s kind of i...

Lawmakers demand warrant sweep in Mass and Cass encampment

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:45:21 GMT

Pressure is mounting to clean up the open-air drug market that is the area surrounding the Boston intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, with lawmakers demanding that police sweep the area.“Current policies have allowed an open-air market for drugs and human trafficking to take root in the area. As a result, local residents and neighbors have been advised to avoid the area whenever possible because of the lawlessness now prevalent in the area,” a letter addressed to Massachusetts State Police Col. Jon Mawn Jr. and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox states.“In light of the ongoing and escalating threat to neighboring residents and families, especially in nearby parks and areas for youth summer camp activities, we are requesting that warrant enforcement be conducted in area C-6, specifically targeting those individuals with a history of violence, drug and human trafficking,” the letter continues.The letter is signed by U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, state Sen. N...

Column: In defense of background TV

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:45:21 GMT

Nina Metz | (TNS) Chicago TribuneNearly half of the top 10 streaming shows in late June were “library” shows. Meaning, shows that originated somewhere else (usually traditional TV) and are now licensed by a streaming platform. The popular shows in June were “Suits,” “S.W.A.T.,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “NCIS.”Looking at that list, journalist-turned-screenwriter Oriana Schwindt made an observation: “People love watching shows with lots of episodes. Shows with strong episodic structure. Make more shows like this.”She’s not wrong.I’m always baffled by the snobbery toward background TV. Streamers prefer to call it “second-screen content,” aka the kind of shows you pick when you’re tired or distracted by your phone — or your kids, or that sink full of dishes you’re washing, or pile of laundry you’re folding.The original run of “Law & Order” is high-quality background TV. It’s formulaic, but that’s a feature, not a bug. The writing is just spirited and smart and novel enough to provide va...

Former Mississippi officers charged with federal civil rights offenses against 2 Black men during home raid

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:45:21 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Former Mississippi officers charged with federal civil rights offenses against 2 Black men during home raid.

Mac Jones ensuring there’s no Patriots QB competition with Bailey Zappe

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:45:21 GMT

FOXBORO — It would have made for a more interesting summer at Patriots training camp if there was a quarterback competition between Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe, but so far no such battle exists.Jones takes first-team reps. He plays with the starting offensive line. That conversation, at least through a week-plus of training camp, should be over.The Patriots starting quarterback was asked Thursday about avoiding the distraction that has come with the narrative that there would be a QB battle this summer. It was kickstarted at the NFL annual meeting when head coach Bill Belichick wouldn’t specifically name Jones as QB1. Even this week, Belichick made a comment to Sirius XM about his QBs that, “We’ll give them a chance to compete and see how it goes.” When asked a follow up this week asking if Jones will be the “day one starter,” Belichick repeated, “Everybody is out here competing. Everybody is out here competing, that’s what everybody is doing.”Related ArticlesNew England ...

Isiah Kiner-Falefa screamed with joy as the trade deadline passed: ‘Thank god I’m a Yankee’

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:45:21 GMT

As Tuesday’s 6 p.m. trade deadline neared, Isiah Kiner-Falefa awaited clarity.The Yankees’ utilityman, an impending free agent, had just discussed the anxieties that players feel on deadline day. Suddenly moving, packing, uprooting families and separating from friends and teammates is not easy, no matter how much money you make. And in Kiner-Falefa’s case, he would have had to coordinate care and travel plans for his goldendoodle, Bella.“IKF” didn’t have to do any of that on Tuesday, though. The deadline came and went, and no member of the Yankees’ brass informed him of a trade. He eventually started shouting in excitement.“I didn’t get called into the office,” Kiner-Falefa said Wednesday. “6, 6:15, I was waiting, waiting, waiting…“They didn’t find me. Nothing happened, and it was a sigh of relief, and I just started screaming.”While some players use social media to track trade rumors before th...

What to watch: ‘Heartstopper’ carries the magic to Season 2

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:45:21 GMT

This week’s releases are full of surprises — from a heartwarming second season of “Heartstopper” to a satisfying animated reboot of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” and more.Here’s our roundup.“Heartstopper Season 2”: Even the most cynical amongst us probably couldn’t resist the charm of this Netflix series that depicts the romantic tale about two very unlike teen boys falling in love. Now the legions of “Hearstopper” fans can take heart, Season 2 has arrived and it’s just as good as the first season, as worrywart Charlie (Joe Locke) and jock Nick (Kit Connor) prepare to take their relationship to another level — announcing to all, including a handful of homophobes at school, that they are indeed a couple. But feeling comfortable and getting the timing right to do so proves challenging in Season 2. Just as Nick musters up the courage to declare that he is bisexual and in a relationship with Charlie, an obstacle gets put into the couple’s path.Based on the graphic novel and webcomic b...

Mayo Clinic Q&A: Cancer of the nerve cells

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:45:21 GMT

Chloe Corey | (TNS) Mayo Clinic News NetworkDEAR MAYO CLINIC: My 4-year-old niece recently was diagnosed with neuroblastoma after not feeling well for a few weeks. Her parents noticed her belly was swollen, so they took her to the doctor after it didn’t resolve on its own. I’d never heard of this form of cancer before. What is neuroblastoma? Do children typically have surgery to treat this cancer? What can we expect?ANSWER: Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer that occurs almost only in children and develops from abnormal nerve cells. It is the most common cancer in babies under 1 year old and makes up nearly 10% of cancers in children. Neuroblastoma often happens in one of the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys. However, it also can occur in the chest and abdomen near the spine.Sometimes children are born with neuroblastoma, and it can even be detected before birth on an ultrasound. Most commonly, it is found when children have a mass in their abdomen. They al...

Trump is flying to Washington to face charges he tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:45:21 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump headed to Washington on Thursday to answer to charges that he worked to overturn the 2020 presidential election, with the former president set to appear in a federal courthouse mere blocks from the U.S. Capitol building that his supporters stormed to try to block the peaceful transfer of power.Trump departed from his New Jersey golf club and boarded a private plane for the flight to Washington. In what’s become a familiar but nonetheless stunning ritual, he will be processed by law enforcement and enter a not guilty plea in front of a judge. He’s expected to then be released as the case proceeds, enabling him to rejoin the campaign trail as he seeks to reclaim the White House in 2024.An indictment Tuesday from Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith charges Trump with four felony counts related to his efforts to undo his presidential election loss in the run-up to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, including conspiracy to defraud ...