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At the foot of Mount Olympus, a return to ancient Greek heritage
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Azam to captain Pakistan on West Indies and England Test tours
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Turkey eyes F110 fighter jet engines as Trump comes to town
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Revival hopes grow for long-closed Greek Orthodox seminary off Istanbul
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England, Mexico take centre stage in Azteca blockbuster
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Trump hails US, blasts 'communists' in 250th anniversary speech
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'Very dangerous' super typhoon nears US Pacific islands
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Taiwanese film hunters rescue ageing reels from bygone era
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Australia stand by under-fire Popovic after World Cup exit
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Trump arrives for US 250th birthday speech after storm delay
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Afghan car trade screeches to a halt due to regional wars
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All Blacks wing Fineanganofo's debut began 'in the toilet, spewing'
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Pipe dreams: Bangladesh surfers chase waves at Asian Games
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Xhaka -- Switzerland's World Cup rock born to be skipper
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England can write new Azteca history by meeting Mexico challenge, says Tuchel
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Trump pushes ahead with US 250th birthday speech after storm delay
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Paraguay coach says team 'fought like lions' in World Cup loss to France
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Australia's Schmidt rues missed opportunities as Wilson defends Donaldson
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Violent crime wave beleaguers Israel's Arab youth
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Deschamps hails France for staying cool in World Cup win over Paraguay
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Severe weather disrupts Trump's America 250 celebration
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Japan ready for Ireland after 'big statement' against Italy
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Judge, Trout among MLB All-Star Game starter selections
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Mbappe says France happy 'to get hands dirty' after World Cup win
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Davis-Woodhall opens up about depression after Eugene win
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France beat Paraguay with Mbappe penalty to reach World Cup quarter-finals
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France battle past Paraguay to set up Morocco World Cup showdown
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Ukraine denies Moscow claim of seizing strategic stronghold
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Jefferson-Wooden holds off Richardson for Eugene 100m win
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Dinusha shines for Sri Lanka on second day of West Indies Test
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Stopping Haaland no mystery for Brazil, says Ancelotti
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Julian Quinones, Mexico's not-so-secret World Cup weapon
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Coach says Morocco 'no longer a surprise' after reaching World Cup quarters
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Erasmus celebrates equalling record with win for weakened Springboks
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Tuipulotu guides Scotland past Argentina with record score
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'I'm going with him': families fear for bodies of Venezuela's quake dead
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'Proud' Marsch says Canada better side in World Cup exit
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Venezuela quake death toll rises to nearly 3,000
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Norway must handle occasion against Brazil, says Solbakken
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England unhappy with Rita Ora show before T20 World Cup final
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Bethell upstages 'unbelievable' Sooryavanshi as England beat India
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Morocco end Canada World Cup dream to reach quarters as France face Philly heat
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'No point in racing' says frustrated Verstappen after British GP qualifying
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Ruthless Morocco break Canadian hearts to reach World Cup quarters
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Tour de France yellow gives Vingegaard crash closure
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An 'angel' in darkness after Venezuela's deadly quakes
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Smiling Antonelli proves all-round quality with pole at British GP
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US turns 250 with Trump center stage
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Vingegaard takes Tour de France lead with 'perfect start'
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South Africa beat 13-man England in Nations Championship
White House lashes out at 'South Park' Trump parody
The White House on Thursday lashed out at the creators of "South Park" after the bawdy satire skewered Donald Trump in an episode featuring an AI-generated version of the US president crawling naked through a desert.
In a no-holds-barred season premiere, the animated Trump character is also seen begging Satan for sex, only to be rebuffed -- in part because his penis is too small.
The White House was not amused.
"This show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention," spokesperson Taylor Rogers said.
"President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country's history -- and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump's hot streak."
The adult animated series, which frequently touches on hot-button issues in American life, is now in its 27th season and remains one of the world's most valuable TV shows.
The season premiere begins with the foul-mouthed Cartman appalled that NPR has been taken off the air by the president, while Randy, a parent, is disturbed by the presence of Jesus in public elementary school.
Complaints to the fictional White House receive only a threat from Trump to sue the mountain town of South Park for billions of dollars.
Meanwhile, animated Trump is threatening to bomb Canada "like I did Iraq."
"I thought you just bombed Iran," the Canadian prime minister replies.
"Iran, Iraq, what the hell's the difference?" replies Trump.
The episode, which sees the fictional Trump ride rough-shod over many aspects of American life, ends after the town of South Park makes a financial deal with the president that includes an agreement to make public service announcements.
The AI generated short that follows -- ostensibly one of those announcements -- shows an overweight Trump staggering through a desert as a narrator casts him as a latter-day Jesus.
The short ends with a naked Trump as the narrator says: "Trump. His penis is teeny-tiny, but his love for us is large."
- Merger -
The episode aired days after creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone reportedly penned a $1.5 billion streaming deal with Paramount that gives the company global rights.
The deal comes at a sensitive time for Paramount, which is trying to secure government approval for a multi-billion-dollar merger with entertainment company Skydance.
The CBS parent caused a furor this month when it agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit Trump had brought over an interview the storied "60 Minutes" current affairs program aired with Kamala Harris ahead of last November's election.
The payment was criticized by Democrats as little more than a bribe to help smooth the merger, with Paramount initially dismissing Trump's lawsuit as meritless.
Last week CBS sparked fury after it cancelled "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" whose host is a pointed critic of the president.
The network insisted it was a financial decision, but opponents have painted the move as the latest example of American institutions bowing to Trump.
D.Khalil--SF-PST