Canadian former Olympic snowboarder wanted in US drug trafficking case

ISTANBUL (AP) — Doctors, nurses and an ambulance driver are among 47 people on trial accused of causing the deaths of 10 infants as part of an alleged scheme to defraud Turkey’s social security system.

The defendants are accused of transferring babies to neonatal units of 19 private hospitals where the infants were allegedly kept for prolonged and sometimes unnecessary treatments. At least 10 newborns are alleged to have died in the past year due to neglect or malpractice in facilities that were unprepared to treat them.

Prosecutors at the trial, which opened in Istanbul on Monday, say the defendants also falsified reports to make the babies’ condition appear more serious with the aim obtaining payments from the social security institution.

The main defendants have denied any wrongdoing, insisting they made the best possible decisions and face punishment for unavoidable unwanted outcomes.

The case, which emerged last month, has sparked public outrage and calls for a greater oversight of the health care system. Authorities have since revoked the licenses and closed nine of the 19 hospitals that were implicated in the scandal.

Dr. Firat Sari, the main defendant who operated the neonatal intensive care units of several private hospitals in Istanbul, is facing a sentence of up to 583 years in prison.

He is charged with establishing an organization with the aim of committing a crime, defrauding public institutions, forgery of official documents, and homicide by negligence.

During questioning by prosecutors, Sari denied accusations that the babies were not given the proper care, that the neonatal units were understaffed or that his employees were not appropriately qualified, according to a 1,400-page indictment.

He told prosecutors: “Everything is in accordance with procedures.”

Dozens of demonstrators joined protests outside the courthouse, chanting: “Baby killers will be held accountable” and “‘Private hospitals should be shut down.”

Over 350 families have petitioned prosecutors or other state institutions seeking investigations into the deaths of their loved ones, according to state media.

Among them is Hacire Akinci, 42, who lost her baby last year after eight years of fertility treatments.

“They gave us a medical report that said the baby had died of natural causes. But apparently that wasn’t the case,” she told reporters outside the courthouse. “I want charges to be brought, I want justice to be served.”

The case has led to calls for the resignation of Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu, who was the Istanbul provincial health director at the time some of the deaths occurred. Ozgur Ozel, the main opposition party leader, has called for all hospitals involved to be seized by the state and nationalized.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said those responsible for the deaths would be severely punished but warned against placing all the blame on the country’s health care system.

“We will not allow our health care community to be battered because of a few rotten apples,” said Erdogan.

—

Associated Press writer Suzan Fraser contributed from Ankara, Turkey.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

YEMASSEE, S.C. (AP) — Six monkeys were still on the loose early Monday after dozens escaped earlier this month from a South Carolina compound that breeds the primates for medical research, according to authorities.

Two more Rhesus macaques were trapped Sunday outside the Alpha Genesis facility in Yemassee, bringing the total of recovered monkeys to 37 of the 43 that escaped, Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard said in a statement relayed by Yemassee Police in a social media post.

Both monkeys recaptured Sunday were examined and were in “excellent condition,” said Westergaard, who was present when they were recovered.

“I can attest with absolute certainty that their spirits were high and they showed all the outward signs of being happy well-adjusted monkeys,” he said. “We are very pleased that the animals recovered thus far are in such good condition, and that they show no ill effects from their outdoor adventure.”

Two other monkeys were spotted near the traps Sunday afternoon and Alpha Genesis planned to begin trapping efforts before dawn Monday and continue through the day.

Forty-three monkeys made a break for it Nov. 6 after an employee at what locals call “the monkey farm” did not fully lock their enclosure, police said.

Alpha Genesis has said efforts to recover all the monkeys will continue for as long as it takes at its compound about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from downtown Yemassee and about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Savannah, Georgia.

The monkeys are about the size of a cat. They are all females weighing about 7 pounds (3 kilograms).

Humans have been using the monkeys for scientific research since the late 1800s. Scientists believe Rhesus macaques and humans split from a common ancestor about 25 million years ago and share about 93% of the same DNA.

The monkeys pose no risk to public health, Alpha Genesis, federal health officials and police have all said. The facility breeds the monkeys to sell to medical facilities and other researchers.

If people encounter the monkeys, they are advised to stay away from them — and to not fly drones in the area. The company said they are skittish and might run away from where they are gathered.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Rafael Nadal showed up at the French Open for the first time as a teenager in 2005 and left as the champion. He won it for the final time in 2022 at age 36 — his last major championship anywhere.

Fittingly, his bookend Grand Slam titles came at Roland Garros, and it’s impossible to discuss Nadal’s career without mentioning that site. Still, it’s also important to remember that he completed a career Grand Slam, earning at least two trophies at each of his sport’s four most prestigious tournaments.

As Nadal, now 38, gets set to head into retirement after the Davis Cup Final 8 — which begins Tuesday with his country, Spain, facing the Netherlands — here is a look at his 22 major triumphs, starting with the most recent:

No. 22: 2022 French Open

Final: Beat Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-3, 6-0

What He Did: Improved to 14-0 in French Open finals after getting nerve-dulling injections in his left foot.

What He Said: “It’s obvious that with the circumstances that I am playing (in), I can’t — and I don’t want to — keep going.”

No. 21: 2022 Australian Open

Final: Beat Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5

What He Did: Became the first man in 57 years to win an Australian Open final after dropping the first two sets.

What He Said: “I just wanted to keep believing till the end.”

No. 20: 2020 French Open

Final: Beat Novak Djokovic 6-0, 6-2, 7-5

What He Did: Pulled even with rival Federer at 20 Slam titles. Won the French Open without dropping a set for the fourth time.

What He Said: “In terms of these records, of course I care.”

No. 19: 2019 U.S. Open

Final: Beat Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4

What He Did: Became the first man to win majors after turning 30.

What He Said: “The nerves were so high. A crazy match.”

No. 18: 2019 French Open

Final: Beat Dominic Thiem 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1

What He Did: Became the first tennis player to win any Slam tournament a dozen times.

What He Said: “Let’s see for how long I am able to manage and to continue this.”

No. 17: 2018 French Open

Final: Beat Thiem 6-4, 6-3, 6-2

What He Did: Got past Thiem, the only man to beat Nadal on clay in 2017 or 2018.

What He Said: “If you tell me seven, eight years ago, that I will be here … having this trophy with me again, I will tell you that is something almost impossible. But here we are.”

No. 16: 2017 U.S. Open

Final: Beat Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-3, 6-4

What He Did: Won his second major title of the season following a 2 1/2-year drought without an appearance in a major final.

What He Said: “After a couple of years without competing at this very high, high level, very happy to be back.”

No. 15: 2017 French Open

Final: Beat Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3, 6-1

What He Did: Won every set and dropped just 35 games in the tournament.

What He Said: “A perfect Roland Garros for me.”

No. 14: 2014 French Open

Final: Beat Djokovic 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4

What He Did: Won a record fifth French Open in a row and pulled even with Pete Sampras at 14 career Slam titles.

What He Said: “Playing here in Roland Garros is just unforgettable.”

No. 13: 2013 U.S. Open

Final: Beat Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1

What He Did: Improved to 60-3 with 10 titles that year.

What He Said: “This season is probably the most emotional one in my career.”

No. 12: 2013 French Open

Final: Beat David Ferrer 6-3, 6-2, 6-3

What He Did: Came back from an injured left knee that sidelined him for more than six months. Ferrer is now Spain’s Davis Cup captain.

What He Said: “I never like to compare years, but it’s true that this year means something very special for me.”

No. 11: 2012 French Open

Final: Beat Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5

What He Did: Won a rain-interrupted, two-day title match to break Bjorn Borg’s men’s record of six titles in Paris and prevent Djokovic from winning a fourth consecutive major championship.

What He Said: “My mental part, probably, on clay is one of the most important things.”

No. 10: 2011 French Open

Final: Beat Roger Federer 7-5, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-1

What He Did: Improved to 4-0 against Federer in French Open finals.

What He Said: “If I win this tournament, I know my year is fantastic.”

No. 9: 2010 U.S. Open

Final: Beat Djokovic 6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 6–2

What He Did: Earned a third consecutive Slam trophy and first in New York, completing a career Grand Slam.

What He Said: “I’m still 24, so we will see where I am when I finish my career.”

No. 8: 2010 Wimbledon

Final: Beat Tomas Berdych 6-3, 7-5, 6-4

What He Did: Swept the French Open and Wimbledon in one season for the second time; couldn’t defend his 2009 title at the All England Club because of a knee problem.

What He Said: “If you want to play well, (you’re) going to find a way.”

No. 7: 2010 French Open

Final: Beat Robin Soderling 6-4, 6-2, 6-4

What He Did: Didn’t drop a set; capped it off by defeating Soderling, who handed Nadal his first French Open loss a year earlier.

What He Said: “I’m back.”

No. 6: 2009 Australian Open

Final: Beat Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-2

What He Did: Picked up his third win in a row over Federer in major finals.

What He Said: “To receive this trophy from Rod Laver is a dream for me.”

No. 5: 2008 Wimbledon

Final: Beat Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7

What He Did: Won a thriller that ended with the light fading to claim a major other than the French Open for the first time and prevent Federer from earning a sixth consecutive Wimbledon title.

What He Said: “He deserved this title, too.”

No. 4: 2008 French Open

Final: Beat Federer 6-1, 6-3, 6-0

What He Did: The most lopsided French Open men’s final since 1977 allowed Nadal to become the first man since Borg in 1980 to win the event without dropping a set.

What He Said: “I am humble, but the numbers are the numbers.”

No. 3: 2007 French Open

Final: Beat Federer 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4

What He Did: Saved 16 of 17 break points and became only the second man since 1914 (Borg is the other) with three consecutive French Open trophies.

What He Said: “I am very happy, but I am really sad for Roger.”

No. 2: 2006 French Open

Final: Beat Federer 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (4)

What He Did: Ended Federer’s 27-match Grand Slam winning streak and handed him his first loss in a major final (Federer had been 7-0).

What He Said: “A bit of luck, a bit of tennis, a bit of mental attitude.”

No. 1: 2005 French Open

Final: Beat Mariano Puerta 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-1, 7-5

What He Did: Two days after turning 19, Nadal became the first man to win the French Open in his debut since Mats Wilander in 1982.

What He Said: “When you reach your goal, it’s an extraordinary moment. For the first time, I cried after winning a match.”

___

Howard Fendrich has been the AP’s tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich. More AP tennis: