[chore] Prepare release v1.44.0/v0.138.0

[otelbot]

The following commands were run to prepare this release:

• make chlog-update VERSION=v1.44.0/v0.138.0
• make prepare-release PREVIOUS_VERSION=1[.]43[.]0 RELEASE_CANDIDATE=1.44.0 MODSET=stable
• make prepare-release PREVIOUS_VERSION=0[.]137[.]0 RELEASE_CANDIDATE=0.138.0 MODSET=beta

[codecov]

Codecov Report

✅ All modified and coverable lines are covered by tests.
✅ Project coverage is 91.60%. Comparing base (ee0bf52) to head (10dc361).
⚠️ Report is 1 commits behind head on main.

Additional details and impacted files

@@           Coverage Diff           @@
##             main   #14049   +/-   ##
=======================================
  Coverage   91.60%   91.60%           
=======================================
  Files         655      655           
  Lines       42782    42782           
=======================================
  Hits        39192    39192           
  Misses       2766     2766           
  Partials      824      824           

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