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Once everywhere, Saddam’s image scrubbed from Baghdad

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:51:01 GMT

BAGHDAD (AP) — Of his countless stories of his life as a hairdresser in Iraq, the one Qaiss al-Sharaa most enjoys retelling is about the day April 9, 2003, when he watched Iraqis and American Marines pull down the statue of Saddam Hussein in front of his salon in Baghdad’s Firdos Square.The 12-meter (39-foot) statue of the Iraqi dictator extending his right hand had been erected just a year earlier to celebrate his 65th birthday.“There were lots of younger Iraqis from around the country with the American troops topping the statue — who naturally wanted their freedom,” al-Sharaa told The Associated Press. “The statue showed the face of a man everyone feared.”For the world, it became an iconic moment of the U.S.-led invasion; live TV coverage as Marines tied the statue to a vehicle to pull the statue down inflated it into a symbol of the end of Saddam’s quarter century rule. In reality, the Firdos Square statue was a minor part of the huge number of monuments and palaces that Saddam e...

Why you keep having the same dream

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:51:01 GMT

For years, dreams of my teeth cracking, loosening or falling out plagued my sleep. Loved ones of mine have repeatedly dreamed of flying, rolling away in a self-operating car, or running late for school or work. These aren’t typical nightmares, which usually happen once. They’re some of the most common recurring dreams, which tend to lean negative and can take some work to overcome.“Recurring dreams are likelier to be about very profound life experiences or just very character logic issues that are kind of guaranteed to recur in waking life because they’re part of you rather than a one-time event,” said dream researcher Deirdre Barrett, a lecturer of psychology in the department of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.Since our dreams typically don’t repeat themselves, all it takes is dreaming the same dream twice or more for it to be considered recurring, Barrett said. They’re more common in childhood, Barrett said, but can last into adultho...

Padres play the Braves leading series 2-1

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:51:01 GMT

San Diego Padres (5-4) vs. Atlanta Braves (6-3)Atlanta; Sunday, 7:08 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Padres: Seth Lugo (0-0); Braves: Dylan Dodd (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -118, Padres -101; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Diego Padres meet the Atlanta Braves with a 2-1 series lead.Atlanta went 101-61 overall and 55-26 in home games a season ago. The Braves scored 4.9 runs per game in the 2022 season while allowing 3.8.San Diego had an 89-73 record overall and a 45-36 record on the road last season. The Padres pitching staff averaged 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings while giving up 4.1 runs per game in the 2022 season.INJURIES: Braves: Travis d’Arnaud: 7-Day IL (concussion), Michael Harris II: 10-Day IL (back), Collin McHugh: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Max Fried: 15-Day IL (left hamstring), Huascar Ynoa: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kolby Allard: 60-Day IL (oblique), Tyler Matzek: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kyle Wright: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Raisel Iglesias: 15-Day IL (shoulder)Pad...

Marlins aim to avoid series sweep against the Mets

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:51:01 GMT

Miami Marlins (3-6) vs. New York Mets (5-4)New York; Sunday, 1:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Marlins: Braxton Garrett (0-0); Mets: Carlos Carrasco (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Mets -148, Marlins +127; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The New York Mets will look to sweep a three-game series with a victory over the Miami Marlins.New York went 101-61 overall and 54-27 at home a season ago. The Mets scored 4.8 runs per game while giving up 3.7 last season.Miami went 69-93 overall and 35-46 in road games a season ago. The Marlins slugged .363 as a team last season with 2.5 extra base hits per game.INJURIES: Mets: Omar Narvaez: 10-Day IL (calf), Sam Coonrod: 60-Day IL (lat), Bryce Montes de Oca: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tommy Hunter: 15-Day IL (back), Justin Verlander: 15-Day IL (teres major), Stephen Ridings: 15-Day IL (lat), Edwin Diaz: 60-Day IL (knee), Elieser Hernandez: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Jose Quintana: 15-Day IL (rib)Marlins: Joey Wendle: 10-Day IL (oblique), Johnny Cueto: 15-Day...

Dodgers take on the Diamondbacks after Freeman’s 4-hit game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:51:01 GMT

Los Angeles Dodgers (5-4) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (5-4)Phoenix; Sunday, 4:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Dodgers: Michael Grove (0-0); Diamondbacks: Ryne Nelson (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Dodgers -136, Diamondbacks +115; over/under is 9 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Arizona Diamondbacks after Freddie Freeman’s four-hit game on Saturday.Arizona had a 74-88 record overall and a 40-41 record in home games last season. The Diamondbacks batted .230 as a team in the 2022 season with a .689 OPS.Los Angeles had a 111-51 record overall and a 54-27 record in road games last season. The Dodgers batted .256 as a team in the 2022 season with a .774 OPS.INJURIES: Diamondbacks: Zach Davies: 7-Day IL (oblique), Kyle Lewis: 10-Day IL (illness), Cole Sulser: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Corbin Martin: 60-Day IL (lat), Carson Kelly: 10-Day IL (forearm), Mark Melancon: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Joe Mantiply: 15-Day IL (shoulder)Dodgers: Miguel Rojas: day-to-day (groin), Al...

Reds enter matchup with the Phillies on losing streak

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:51:01 GMT

Cincinnati Reds (3-4) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (3-5)Philadelphia; Sunday, 1:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Connor Overton (0-0); Phillies: Taijuan Walker (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Phillies -178, Reds +152; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Cincinnati Reds aim to end a three-game losing streak with a victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.Philadelphia had an 87-75 record overall and a 47-34 record in home games last season. The Phillies pitching staff had a collective 3.97 ERA while averaging 9.0 strikeouts per nine innings in the 2022 season.Cincinnati had a 62-100 record overall and a 29-52 record on the road last season. The Reds pitching staff had a 4.86 ERA collectively last season while averaging 9.0 strikeouts and 3.9 walks per nine innings.INJURIES: Phillies: Darick Hall: 10-Day IL (thumb), Noah Song: 15-Day IL (back), Cristopher Sanchez: 15-Day IL (left tricep), Bryce Harper: 10-Day IL (elbow), Rafael Marchan: 60-Day IL (hand), Nick Nelson: 15-Day IL (h...

Brewers and Cardinals meet, winner claims 3-game series

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:51:01 GMT

St. Louis Cardinals (3-5) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (6-2)Milwaukee; Sunday, 2:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cardinals: Jake Woodford (0-0); Brewers: Freddy Peralta (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Brewers -151, Cardinals +129; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals meet on Sunday with the winner claiming the three-game series.Milwaukee went 86-76 overall and 46-35 in home games a season ago. The Brewers averaged 7.8 hits per game in the 2022 season with 3.0 extra base hits per game.St. Louis went 93-69 overall and 40-41 in road games last season. The Cardinals pitching staff had a collective 3.79 ERA last season while averaging 7.4 strikeouts and 3.1 walks per nine innings.INJURIES: Brewers: Justin Wilson: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Urias: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Aaron Ashby: 15-Day IL (labrum), Adrian Houser: 15-Day IL (groin), Tyrone Taylor: 10-Day IL (elbow), Jason Alexander: 60-Day IL (shoulder)Cardinals: Packy Naughton: 15-Day IL (left forearm)...

Nationals take on the Rockies after Garrett’s 4-hit game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:51:01 GMT

Washington Nationals (3-6) vs. Colorado Rockies (3-6)Denver; Sunday, 3:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Nationals: Chad Kuhl (0-0); Rockies: Ryan Feltner (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Rockies -142, Nationals +121; over/under is 11 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Washington Nationals play the Colorado Rockies after Stone Garrett’s four-hit game on Saturday.Colorado went 68-94 overall and 41-40 at home last season. The Rockies pitching staff averaged 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings while giving up 5.4 runs per game in the 2022 season.Washington went 55-107 overall and 29-52 on the road a season ago. The Nationals pitching staff had a collective 5.01 ERA while averaging 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings in the 2022 season.INJURIES: Rockies: C.J. Cron: day-to-day (illness), Daniel Bard: 15-Day IL (anxiety), Randal Grichuk: 10-Day IL (hernia), Antonio Senzatela: 15-Day IL (knee), Lucas Gilbreath: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tyler Kinley: 60-Day IL (elbow), Brendan Rodgers: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Se...

Tensions build around Jerusalem shrine after Syria rockets

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:51:01 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli warplanes and artillery struck targets in Syria following rare rocket fire from the northeastern neighbor, as Jewish-Muslim tensions reached a peak Sunday at a volatile Jerusalem shrine with simultaneous religious rituals.Thousands of Jewish worshippers gathered at the city’s Western Wall, the holiest place where Jews can pray, for a mass priestly benediction prayer service for the Passover holiday. At the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a walled esplanade above the Western Wall, hundreds of Palestinians performed prayers as part of observances during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.Hundreds of Jews also visited the Al-Aqsa compound under heavy police guard Sunday, to whistles and religious chants from Palestinians protesting their presence. Such tours by religious and nationalist Jews have increased in size and frequency over the years, and are viewed with suspicion by many Palestinians who fear that Israel plans one day to take over the site or partition i...

Quebec tragedies put mental health in spotlight, but expert warns of stigma

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:51:01 GMT

MONTREAL — A series of tragic incidents in Quebec has thrown the issue of the suspects’ mental health into the spotlight, but a Canada Research Chair holder says the debate risks unfairly stigmatizing those with mental illnesses.The killing of a Quebec provincial police officer on March 27 was the latest in a string of violent, seemingly random attacks in the province that have raised questions about the suspects’ mental health. The man who allegedly stabbed Sgt. Maureen Breau to death in a town 100 kilometres northeast of Montreal had a history of mental health issues and had been found not criminally responsible at least five times for past offences.Other recent incidents in the province include an alleged bus attack that killed two children at a daycare in Laval, Que.; the death of three pedestrians mowed down by a pickup truck in the eastern town of Amqui; and a Montreal teen charged in the stabbing deaths of three members of his family.In the wake of the tragedies, ...