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Volume 80 Edition 60A ©SS 2021 CONTINGENCY EDITION SATURDAY,JULY 10, 2021 Free to Deployed Areas Resurgent Taliban raise fears of more terrorism Bloomberg News The Taliban’s lightning-fast ad- vance to control more territory in Afghanistan is raising alarms from Russia to China, as U.S. President Joe Biden’s move to withdraw troops disrupts a bal- ance of power in South Asia that has held steady for about two dec- ades. At least 1,000 Afghan troops this week retreated into Tajikistan, prompting the country mobilize an extra 20,000 soldiers to guard its frontier. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s sought out assur- ances from the Taliban that it will respect the borders of Central Asian states that once were part of the Soviet Union, while neighbor- ing Pakistan has said it won’t open its borders to refugees. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who warned last week that the most pressing task in Afghanistan was “to maintain stability and pre- KHALID MOHAMMED/AP vent war and chaos,” plans to trav- Iran-backed militia fighters march in central Baghdad on June 29. Iraqi Shiite militias are showing a degree of defiance of their patron Iran by el to Central Asia next week for escalating rocket and drone attacks on the U.S. presence in the country, militia and Shiite political leaders say. talks on the country. Wang Wen- bin, a spokesman for the ministry, SEE TALIBAN ON PAGE 4 Show of defiance In keeping up attacks, some Iraq militias challenge directive from patron Iran

BY QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA the United States. increasing against the U.S. on mil- serting a degree of independence, AND SAMYA KULLAB But he was met with defiance. itary bases in both Iraq and Syria. sometimes even flouting orders Associated Press One of the six faction leaders Three missile attacks in the last from Tehran. Iran now relies on BAGHDAD — Iran’s expedi- spoke up in their meeting: They week alone resulted in minor inju- Lebanon’s Hezbollah for support ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/AP tionary Quds Force commander could not stay quiet while the ries, stoking fears of escalation. in reining them in, and there is po- Mawlawi Shahabuddin Dilawar, a brought one main directive for death of his predecessor Qassem The details from Esmail Ghaa- tential that Iran’s new president member of the political Iraqi militia faction leaders long Soleimani and senior Iraqi militia ni’s visit, confirmed to The Associ- could play a role in doing the delegation from the Afghan beholden to Tehran, when he gath- commander Abu Mahdi al-Mu- ated Press by three Shiite political same. Taliban’s movement, gestures ered with them in Baghdad last handis in a U.S. drone strike went officials and two senior militia of- The officials spoke on condition during a news conference in month: Maintain calm, until after unavenged. ficials, demonstrate how Iranian- Moscow on Friday. nuclear talks between Iran and Militia attacks have only been aligned Iraqi militia groups are as- SEE DEFIANCE ON PAGE 4 PAGE 2 • STARS AND STRIPES • Saturday, July 10, 2021 BUSINESS/WEATHER New tool aids air traffic control with space operations EXCHANGE RATES

Military rates South Korea (Won) 1145.48 Associated Press Integrator, will replace a system Canaveral, Fla., carrying dozens Switzerland (Franc) 0.9155 Euro costs (July 12) $1.16 Thailand (Baht) 32.56 Federal regulators said Thurs- in which much of the work of giv- of satellites into orbit. It will be Dollar buys (July 12) 0.8221 Turkey (NewLira) 8.6727 British pound (July 12) $1.35 day they now can better track ing telemetry data about space ve- used again with the pending re- Japanese yen (July 12) 107.00 (Military exchange rates are those available rocket launches and space vehi- hicles to air traffic control manag- turn of a SpaceX cargo ship from South Korean won (July 12) 1119.00 to customers at military banking facilities in the Commercial rates country of issuance for Japan, South Korea, Ger­ cles returning to Earth, which ers is done manually. the International Space Station, many, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Bahrain(Dinar) 0.3769 For nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., pur­ could cut the amount of time that Elon Musk’s SpaceX was the the agency said. Britain (Pound) 1.3852 chasing British pounds in Germany), check with Canada (Dollar) 1.2493 your local military banking facility. Commercial airplanes must be routed around first company to share flight te- During space operations, the China(Yuan) 6.4796 rates are interbank rates provided for reference Denmark (Krone) 6.2671 space operations. lemetry data with the FAA, and FAA shuts down a huge section of Egypt (Pound) 15.6882 when buying currency. All figures are foreign The Federal Aviation Adminis- others including Jeff Bezos’ Blue airspace for hours in case the Euro 0.8427 currencies to one dollar, except for the British Hong Kong (Dollar) 7.7681 pound, which is represented in dollars­to­ tration said a new tool automates Origin have since joined the pro- rocket or the space vehicle breaks Hungary (Forint) 299.58 pound, and the euro, which is dollars­to­euro.) Israel (Shekel) 3.2832 the near-instantaneous delivery of gram, according to the FAA. apart. Airlines must reroute Japan (Yen) 110.15 INTEREST RATES data about a space vehicle’s flight The FAA said the new technol- flights, which causes them to burn Kuwait(Dinar) 0.3009 Norway (Krone) 8.7085 Prime rate 3.25 path to the nation’s air traffic con- ogy was first used on June 30 for more fuel and fall behind sched- Philippines (Peso) 50.03 Interest Rates Discount rate 0.75 Poland (Zloty) 3.83 Federal funds market rate 0.09 trol system. the launch of SpaceX’s Transpor- ule. A single launch can affect Saudi Arabia (Riyal) 3.7504 3­month bill 0.06 The tool, called the Space Data ter 2, which lifted off from Cape hundreds of flights. Singapore (Dollar) 1.3515 30­year bond 1.91 WEATHER OUTLOOK SATURDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST SATURDAY IN EUROPE SUNDAY IN THE PACIFIC

Misawa 70/64

Kabul Seoul 97/60 81/73 Baghdad 110/81 Tokyo Drawsko Osan Kandahar Mildenhall/ 84/72 81/73 107/74 Pomorskie Busan Lakenheath 68/61 77/74 66/55 Iwakuni Kuwait City Bahrain 77/74 Brussels Zagan Sasebo 113/92 95/92 Ramstein 73/59 78/75 Guam 67/58 75/54 84/81 Riyadh Lajes, Azores Stuttgart 111/79 Doha Pápa 110/87 69/65 75/53 Aviano/ 84/62 Vicenza 80/64

Naples 85/70 Okinawa Morón 83/80 105/70 Sigonella Rota 95/70 The weather is provided by the Djibouti 89/64 Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 103/88 81/77 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. TODAY IN STRIPES American Roundup ...... 14 Health & Fitness...... 13 Comics/Crossword ...... 17 Movies ...... 12 Opinion ...... 16 Sports ...... 18-24 Television ...... 15 Saturday, July 10, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 3 MILITARY Embassy ups security after Eswatini unrest BY CHAD GARLAND week. wives, live a lavish lifestyle while AP reported. Videos on social dead and spurred a series of Re- Stars and Stripes The team’s primary mission is most of the country’s 1.1 million media showed people burning publican-led inquiries. Over a dozen Marines with a to protect U.S. diplomatic and con- people are impoverished, human tires and barricading streets in U.N. officials expressed con- diplomatic security unit created in sular facilities facing increased rights groups say. Manzini, the country’s largest cern this week over the situation the wake of the 2012 Benghazi at- threat, or in situations such as nat- “Unrest first began ... in May, city, and the central town of Mat- in Eswatini after reports of inter- tacks were deployed to Eswatini, a ural disasters and VIP visits. when students took to the streets sapha. net blackouts and allegations of southern African kingdom previ- “Since it was established, the to call for accountability for the The government ordered busi- what a spokesperson for the orga- ously known as Swaziland, after MSAU has deployed on average death of a 25-year-old law student, nesses to close and imposed a nization’s human rights office pro-democracy demonstrations every eight days,” the statement allegedly at the hands of the po- strict curfew to quell the violence, called “disproportionate and un- erupted last month. said. lice,” the United Nations said this the AP reported June 29. necessary use of force,” including The short-notice deployment The tiny mountain kingdom of week. “In late June, these protests The Marine unit was created af- harassment, intimidation and the June 30 of the Quantico, Va.-based Eswatini is ruled by Africa’s last grew into daily pro-democracy ter President Barack Obama and use of live ammunition by govern- Marine Security Guard Security absolute monarch, King Mswati marches.” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ment security forces. Augmentation Unit, or MSAU, III, who protesters accused of hu- Among their political and eco- faced criticism over the response Dozens have reportedly been was its 106th mission since the out- man rights abuses and running a nomic grievances, the demonstra- to the terrorist attack on U.S. facil- killed or injured in the clashes, the fit was created under the Obama repressive government, The Asso- tors sought the lifting of a ban on ities in the Libyan city of Benghazi U.N. said Tuesday. administration in 2013, the Marine ciated Press reported. all opposition political parties that on Sept. 11, 2012. The siege on the Corps said in a statement this Mswati’s family, including 15 has been in effect since 1973, the U.S. mission left four Americans [email protected] Jets scramble, interrupt dignitaries in Lithuania

Associated Press traffic controllers,” the official HELSINKI — A news confer- said. ence at a NATO air base in Lithua- The Russian Defense Ministry nia featuring Lithuania’s presi- said the two Su-24 bombers flew a dent and Spain’s prime minister regular training mission over neu- got abruptly cut off Thursday tral waters of the Baltic on Thurs- when the pair of Spanish fighter day. “The flight was performed in jets serving as the leaders’ back- strict accordance with interna- drop were scrambled to monitor tional rules of using airspace and errant military aircraft in the without violation of any country’s skies above the Baltics. borders,” the ministry said in a The Spanish government said statement. an unidentified plane prompted Amid Russia-West tensions, the alert and briefly interrupted both Russia and NATO have regu- remarks by Lithuanian President larly scrambled fighter jets to Gitanas Nauseda and Spanish identify and shadow the other par- Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. ty’s aircraft. Spanish media reported that the Nauseda and Sánchez were plane was Russian, but the gov- speaking with two Spanish air ernment statement didn’t specify. force Eurofighter Typhoons be- A NATO official who spoke on hind them at the base in the town customary condition of anonymity of Siauliai when security officials said later Thursday that Spain’s suddenly interrupted the leaders jets took off “to identify two air- as crews scrambled to get on the ALAN RADECKI craft flying into the Baltic Sea ar- fighter jets, live footage from the An artist's rendering shows a B­21 Raider bomber flying over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. ea.” The planes were Russian press conference showed. Su-24 combat jets heading north- “Our press conference was in- east, the official said. terrupted by a real call... You see, “Those two Russian jets did not everything works great,” Lithua- New B-21 Raider info released file a flight plan, did not have their nian public broadcaster LRT BY NATHAN THOMPSON velopment phase, focused on scal- the B-21 program include Pratt & flight transponder on, or talk to quoted Nauseda as saying. Rapid City Journal ing infrastructure capacity for the Whitney, Janicki Industries, Col- The U.S. Air Force has released manufacturing of the nuclear-ca- lins Aerospace, GKN Aerospace, more information and a new art- pable aircraft, an Air Force press BAE Systems and Spirit Aerosys- ist’s rendering for the B-21 Raider release said. tems. stealth bomber. “Nuclear modernization is a top In 2018, the program success- The rendering highlights the priority for the Department of De- fully conducted the weapon sys- future bomber with Edwards Air fense and the Air Force, and the tems Critical Design Review, a Force Base, Calif., as the back- B-21 is key to that plan,” said Ran- comprehensive program-wide drop. dall Walden, Air Force Rapid Ca- evaluation of design maturity, sta- The Air Force said the 420th pabilities Office director. “The bility and risk. Flight Test Squadron based at Ed- built-in feature of open systems The Air Force plans to incre- wards will plan, test, analyze and architecture on the B-21 makes mentally replace the B-1 Lancer report on all flight and ground the bomber effective as the threat and the B-2 Spirit bombers to testing of the B-21 Raider. The environment evolves. This air- form a two-bomber fleet of B-21s bombers will be stationed first at craft design approach sets the na- and modified B-52s. Ellsworth Air Force Base near tion on the right path to ensuring According to the Air Force’s Rapid City, S.D. America’s enduring air power ca- fact sheet on the aircraft, a mini- The Air Force said a B-21 main- pability.” mum of 100 B-21s are planned to tenance depot will also be estab- The Air Force awarded the be built at an average cost of ap- lished at Tinker Air Force Base in B-21 Engineering and Manufac- proximately $639 million apiece. MINDAUGAS KULBIS/AP Oklahoma City. turing Development contract to The Air Force said the B-21 pro- A Spanish fighter pilot prepares for take off during the Lithuania’s The B-21 program is in the engi- Northrop Grumman in 2015. gram is on track to deliver B-21s President Gitanas Nauseda and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro neering and manufacturing de- Northrop Grumman’s partners on to Ellsworth in the mid-2020s. Sanchez visit at Siauliai air force base in Lithuania, on Thursday. PAGE 4 • STARS AND STRIPES • Saturday, July 10, 2021 WORLD Defiance: Iran looks to Hezbollah to rein in militia

FROM PAGE 1 has been significantly downgrad- ed since U.S. sanctions began crip- of anonymity to discuss the pri- pling Iran’s economy last year. vate meetings. Divisions among factions have Iran’s influence, sustained by deepened, with growing competi- ideological ties and military sup- tion among militias and Shiite pol- port, has frayed because of the iticians. U.S. killing of Soleimani and al- Ghaani came to meet the militia Muhandis last year, because of leaders to mend tensions that differing interests and because of were sparked weeks earlier when financial strains in Tehran. With Iraqi authorities arrested a para- nuclear talks restarting following military commander, Qassim U.S. President Joe Biden’s inau- Musleh, prompting a standoff be- guration this year, these differ- tween PMF fighters and security ences have come to the fore. forces. Ghaani brought a letter “Iran isn’t the way it used to be, from Iran’s supreme leader, Ali with 100% control over the militia Khamenei, criticizing the PMF for commanders,” said one Shiite po- its reaction, saying it weakened litical leader. their position. Increasing rocket and drone at- To apply pressure on the fac- tacks targeting American troops tions, Iran has come to rely on in Iraq and Syria have alarmed Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasral- Western and coalition officials. lah in Lebanon, a figure the mili- There have been at least eight tias highly respect. Almost week- drone attacks targeting the U.S. ly, various factional leaders hold presence since Biden took office face-to-face meetings with him in in January, as well as 17 rocket at- KHALID MOHAMMED/AP Lebanon, said Shiite political lead- tacks, according to coalition offi- Iran­backed militia fighters march in central Baghdad, Iraq, on June 29. ers. cials. Iranian President Ebrahim Rai- The attacks are blamed on the leader of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq fac- needs coalition support in surveil- understood their concerns. si, elected in June, also may be a Iranian-backed militias that make tion, which also maintains a politi- lance and intelligence gathering Iran has struggled to fill in the unifying figure for the militias, up the bulk of Iraq’s state-support- cal party. On June 17, only days af- and airstrikes against Islamic gap left in the absence of Soleima- which hold him in high esteem, po- ed Popular Mobilization Forces. ter Ghaani’s meetings with the mi- State targets. ni and al-Muhandis, who were litical and militia officials said. The Biden administration has re- litias, he said in a televised ad- Some argue the ongoing attacks commanding figures able to push When Raisi visited Baghdad in sponded by twice targeting Iraqi dress that they would continue to benefit Iran by maintaining pres- factions into line and resolve dis- February, he met with PMF com- militia groups operating inside Sy- target the U.S. “occupier” and that sure on the U.S. putes among them. manders and told them, in fluent ria, including close to the Iraqi they will not take into considera- During talks with Shiite politi- “Ghaani has a different style Arabic, “Our flesh is your flesh, border. tion nuclear talks. cal officials during his visit, Ghani and capabilities,” said Michael and our blood is your blood.” “What is taking place now is “And that decision is an Iraqi said Iran doesn’t interfere in their Knights, a fellow at The Washing- Ghaani communicates with bri- when Ghaani asks for calm, the one,” he said. political work, but that military ton Institute. He has a looser gade leaders through an interpret- brigade leaders agree with him. The coalition has formally end- matters were different. “These framework, establishing broad er. But as soon as he leaves the meet- ed combat operations and reduced must be approved by the Revolu- red lines on some matters, while “The resistance will grow in ing, they disregard his recommen- troop levels significantly in the tionary Guard,” one political lead- “other things are ‘don’t ask, don’t power and will see its best of times dations,” said another Shiite polit- last year. Only 2,500 U.S. troops er recounted him saying. tell,” he said. due to the election victory of Rai- ical leader. remain in Iraq and discussions are Still, Ghaani did not reprimand Along with asking for less, cash- si,” said Abu Alaa al-Walae, com- The loudest of the defiant militia ongoing with NATO to transfer to the militia groups during the strapped Iran has been giving less mander of Kataib Sayyid al-Shu- voices has been Qais al-Khazali, an advisory mission. Iraq still meeting. Instead, he told them he as well. Assistance to the groups hada, in a recent interview. Taliban: Neighboring countries worry of unrest spilling over

FROM PAGE 1 countries,” Mohammad Suhail al peace and stability because it rio that last took place in the 1990s Mamundzay, Afghanistan’s am- on Friday called the U.S. with- Shaheen, a senior official at the has interests in the region.” after the Soviet Union withdrew. bassador to India. “Their activ- drawal “hasty” and said Washing- group’s political office in Doha, The Taliban have dramatically While the U.S. seeks to prevent al- ities are already visible on the ton must honor its commitments Qatar, said in a WhatsApp mess- expanded their hold on Afghan Qaida from regaining a foothold in ground and they pose a significant to “prevent Afghanistan becom- age Friday. “This is our commit- territory in recent months, leaving Afghanistan, the implications are threat to the region.” ing once again a haven for terror- ment.” the U.S.-backed government in dire for the six countries border- Pakistan, which helped the Tali- ism.” Biden on Thursday had insisted control of little more than 20% of ing the country — as well as near- ban rise to power in the 1990s, is “The U.S. has rushed to with- the U.S. military had achieved its the country, according to data by nations like India that have fre- now worried about a resurgence draw its troops from Afghanistan goals in Afghanistan and would compiled by the Long War Jour- quently been the target of Jihadist of the TTP, a group that has been and left the Afghan people in a leave by Aug. 31, just shy of its 20- nal. The insurgent group now attacks. blamed for 70,000 deaths of civil- mess, which further exposes the year anniversary after the deaths holds 204 of 407 districts, up from The risks of regional contagion ians in the country since the U.S. hypocrisy behind the pretext of of 2,448 U.S. service members and 73 at the beginning of May, while were made clear in April when a invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. defending democracy and human about $1 trillion in spending. Yet the Afghan government only con- car bomb exploded at a luxury ho- Only recently crushed by a combi- rights,” Wang Wenbin said at a the battle will go on for the people trols 74 currently. The rest are tel hosting the Chinese ambassa- nation of Pakistan military oper- briefing in Beijing. in Afghanistan and surrounding contested. dor in the Pakistani city of Quetta, ations and U.S. drone strikes, the On Friday, the Taliban claimed countries, threatening in particu- At the moment, authorities in not far from Taliban strongholds TTP may see an opportunity to at- they now control 85% of Afghanis- lar the $60 billion in projects in the Kabul still control all of the 34 pro- tan’s territory, The Associated China-Pakistan Economic Corri- vincial capitals, although two of in southern Afghanistan. The at- tack Chinese projects to influence Press reported. The claim, which dor (CPEC) right next door. them near the borders of China, tack, claimed by the loosely affil- policy in Islamabad. is impossible to verify, was con- “The chaos in Afghanistan Pakistan, Tajikistan and Turkme- iated Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan “These groups want to hurt Pa- siderably higher than previous could spill over into other coun- nistan are now being contested. (TTP), showed that governments kistan, and these attacks hurt the Taliban statements that more than tries and lead to regional turbu- The Afghan Defense Ministry has in the region might struggle to most,” said Asfandyar Mir, a post- a third of the country’s 421 dis- lence,” said Fan Hongda, profes- stepped up airstrikes against Tali- protect high-profile diplomats and doctoral fellow at the Center for tricts and district centers were in sor at the Middle East Studies In- ban fighters in recent weeks. business people. International Security and Coop- their control. stitute of the Shanghai Interna- The Taliban’s swift rise after “The Taliban has close links eration at Stanford University. The Taliban will not allow “any- tional Studies University. “China fighting the U.S. for 20 years risks with as many as 20 terror groups “The situation in Afghanistan is an one or any group to use Afghan does not want to take over the U.S. leading to a collapse of the Afghan who operate across the region important factor for the security soil against China or any other role, but hopes to facilitate region- government and military, a scena- from Russia to India,” said Farid of CPEC.” Saturday, July 10, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 5 NATION Elsa soaks NYC as it races north

BY MICHAEL HILL York City by mid-morning. Associated Press The system was already blamed ALBANY, N.Y. — Fast-moving for one death in Florida on Tropical Storm Elsa hit the New Wednesday. And Elsa also previ- York City region with heavy rain ously caused a damaging tornado and high winds Friday, toppling in Georgia. trees and hindering some rail ser- A tropical storm warning Fri- vice as it churned its way toward day morning stretched along parts New England. of the East Coast from New Jersey Maximum sustained winds to Massachusetts. Forecasters from the storm peaked near 50 said Elsa was moving northeast at mph as it moved through New 31 mph. York City and Long Island, the Na- Elsa was forecast to become a tional Hurricane Center said in an post-tropical cyclone by Friday 8 a.m. update. night. Wind speeds had ticked down On Wednesday, nine people from overnight readings as high were injured in coastal Camden as 78 mph in coastal New Jersey County, Ga., when a tornado that appeared to be “associated struck a campground for active- with nearby tornadoes,” the cen- duty service members and mili- ter reported. tary retirees. Eight of those hurt There were some snags on com- had to be taken to hospitals, Kings muter rail lines Friday, with slight Bay Naval Submarine Base spo- delays on the Harlem Line north kesperson Chris Tucker said. of the city and service suspended The EF-2 tornado flipped over on the Long Island Rail Road’s multiple RVs, throwing one about Oyster Bay Branch because of 200 feet into a lake, the National fallen trees. The storm struck a Weather Service said in a prelimi- AARON XAVIER SALDANA, U.S. NAVY/AP city already reeling from a deluge nary report early Thursday after Missy Lattanzie, an RV park resident, searches through her belongings that were destroyed after a Thursday that flooded roads and its employees surveyed the dam- tornado touched down Wednesday on Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, on Thursday, in Kings Bay, Ga. at least one subway station. age. Up to 6 inches of rain was pos- Authorities in Jacksonville, Guard news release said. sible in some areas Friday, Fla., said one person was killed The National Weather Service enough to cause flash flooding. Wednesday when a tree fell and in Morehead City, N.C., tweeted The hurricane center said a torna- struck two cars. A spokesperson that a tornado was spotted near do or two was possible through for the Naval Air Force Atlantic Fairfield on Thursday afternoon. early afternoon Friday over parts Office said Thursday that a sailor Scattered power outages were of Long Island and southeastern assigned to Patrol and Reconnais- being reported along Elsa’s path New England. sance Squadron 16 in Jacksonville Friday morning, with about 24,000 The strongest winds were ex- was killed. homes and businesses without pected to stay off the coast of New In South Carolina, a Coast electricity from Delaware to Mas- England. But the storm was ex- Guard Air Station Savannah crew sachusetts, according to the web- pected to bring heavy rain — up to rescued a family that became site poweroutages.us. 4 inches on the Maine coast — be- stranded Wednesday on Otter Is- Elsa is the earliest fifth-named fore blowing into the Bay of Fundy land after their boat drifted off the storm on record, said Brian J. CONRAD WILLIAMS JR., NEWSDAY/AP and Canada late Friday. beach. The group was flown to a McNoldy, a hurricane researcher A truck makes its way through the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Heavy rain had ended in New hospital in good health, a Coast at the University of Miami. Elsa on Wellwood Avenue, Friday in Lindenhurst, N.Y. Rescuers vow to find all victims of Fla. condo collapse Associated Press guayan official disclosed late earlier. Detectives are still work- South condo building in Surfside. bums, jewelry and electronic SURFSIDE, Fla. — Rescue Thursday that rescuers had found ing to verify that each of those list- “When that happened, it took a goods that they would seek to re- workers now focused on finding in the rubble the bodies of Sophia ed as missing was actually in the little piece of the hearts of this unite families with. remains instead of survivors in the Lopez Moreira, the sister of Para- building when it collapsed. community,” said U.S. Rep. Deb- The change from search and rubble of a Florida condominium guay’s first lady Silvana Abdo, and Levine Cava said teams paused bie Wasserman Schultz, whose rescue to recovery was somber. collapse vowed Thursday to keep Lopez Moreira’s husband Luis briefly atop the pile to mark the congressional district includes Hours before the transition up their search for victims until Pettengill and the youngest of two-week anniversary of the di- Surfside. Wednesday, rescue workers stood they cleared all the debris at the their three children. saster, but there was no let-up in Wasserman Schultz and Florida at solemn attention, and clergy site. That South American nation’s the pace or number of rescuers at Gov. Ron DeSantis pledged finan- members hugged local officials, Earlier, a fire official told family foreign minister, Euclides Aceve- the site. cial assistance to families of the many of them sobbing. members at a meeting that crews do, told Paraguay’s ABC Cardinal “The work continues with all victims, as well as to residents of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief “will not stop working until radio station that the two other speed and urgency,” she said. “We the building who survived but lost Alan Cominsky said Wednesday they’ve gotten to the bottom of the children and the family assistant are working around the clock to all their possessions. he expects the recovery effort will pile and recovered every single of are still missing. recover victims and to bring clo- In addition to property tax relief take several more weeks. He add- the families’ missing loved ones,” “We ask people for their solidar- sure to the families as fast as we for residents of the building, De- ed crews are now using heavier Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett ity and a prayer,” he said. “In the possibly can.” Santis said, the state government equipment, expediting the remov- said at an evening news confer- face of a tragedy, Paraguayan peo- The painstaking search for sur- will work toward channeling an al of debris. ence. He did not identify the offi- ple must show their traditional vivors shifted to a recovery effort outpouring of charitable dona- “We are expecting the progress cial, but said the families were solidarity.” at midnight Wednesday after au- tions to families affected by the to move at a faster pace,” he add- grateful. During the day, the death toll thorities said they had come to the collapse. Levine Cava said crews ed. “This is exactly the message the rose to 64, with another 76 people agonizing conclusion that there were also collecting and catalog- No one has been pulled out alive families wanted to hear,” he said. unaccounted for, Miami Dade was “no chance of life” in the rub- ing numerous personal items, in- since the first hours after the 12- As the search continued, a Para- Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said ble of the Champlain Towers cluding legal documents, photo al- story building fell on June 24. PAGE 6 • STARS AND STRIPES • Saturday, July 10, 2021 NATION Pfizer seeks OK for 3rd vaccine dose as booster

BY LAURAN NEERGAARD immune system kicks back in. Associated Press But FDA authorization would Pfizer is about to seek U.S. au- be just a first step — it wouldn’t thorization for a third dose of its automatically mean Americans COVID-19 vaccine, saying Thurs- get offered boosters, cautioned day that another shot within 12 Dr. William Schaffner, a vaccine months could dramatically boost expert at Vanderbilt University immunity and maybe help ward Medical Center. off the latest worrisome coronavi- Public health authorities would rus mutant. have to decide if they’re really Research from multiple coun- needed, especially since millions tries shows the Pfizer shot and of people have no protection. AL GOLDIS/AP other widely used COVID-19 vac- “The vaccines were designed to Chris and Kristen Umphlett prepare dinner with two of their four children, Kyria, 9, rear, and Derek 7, June cines offer strong protection keep us out of the hospital” and 30, in their home in East Lansing, Mich. against the highly contagious del- continue to do so despite the more ta variant, which is spreading rap- contagious delta variant, he said. idly around the world and now ac- Giving another dose would be “a counts for most new U.S. infec- huge effort while we are at the mo- Families fostering migrant kids tions. ment striving to get people the Two doses of most vaccines are first dose.” critical to develop high levels of vi- Hours after Pfizer’s announce- try to give what shelters cannot rus-fighting antibodies against all ment, U.S. health officials issued a BY JULIE WATSON shelters that the Biden adminis- kids are in shelters, according to a versions of the coronavirus, not statement saying fully vaccinated Associated Press tration quickly opened at military June 22 federal court filing by the just the delta variant — and most Americans don’t need a booster SAN DIEGO — Chris Umphlett bases, convention centers, and attorneys monitoring the care of of the world still is desperate to get yet. and his family worked in small fairgrounds. minors in U.S. custody as part of a those initial protective doses as U.S. health agencies “are en- ways to help the 12-year-old girl This 12-year-old was one of the longstanding court settlement. the pandemic continues to rage. gaged in a science-based, rigorous from Honduras — who barely ut- lucky ones, instead placed with an At the end of May when about But antibodies naturally wane process to consider whether or tered a word when she arrived af- American family while U.S. offi- 500 transitional foster care beds over time, so studies also are un- when a booster might be neces- ter crossing the Mexican border cials contacted and vetted her were unoccupied, there were 5- derway to tell if and when boosters sary,” the FDA and Centers for alone — feel comfortable in their mother, who lives in Texas. and 6-year-old children who had might be needed. Disease Control and Prevention Michigan home. Transitional foster homes, spent more than a month at the On Thursday, Pfizer’s Dr. Mi- said in a joint statement. The couple and their four young where families are licensed to shelters, according to the court fil- kael Dolsten told The Associated That work will include data children who live in the city of care for migrant children, are ing. Press that early data from the from the drug companies, “but East Lansing invited her on walks widely considered to be the best The Biden administration said company’s booster study suggests does not rely on those data exclu- and bike rides, and watched Dis- option for kids in U.S. custody, es- it’s not a matter of simply filling people’s antibody levels jump sively,” and any decision on boost- ney movies with Spanish subtitles. pecially for minors who have been beds. five- to 10-fold after a third dose, er shots would happen only when A Honduran woman from their traumatized, are very young, Some siblings might have to go compared to their second dose “the science demonstrates that church made a home-cooked Hon- pregnant or are teen parents and to a shelter to stay together or to months earlier. they are needed,” the agencies duran meal of meat and red beans require extra emotional support. have the space to quarantine if In August, Pfizer plans to ask said. and tres leches cake, which got a Yet hundreds of transitional someone tests positive for the cor- the Food and Drug Administra- Currently only about 48% of the smile. foster care beds at family homes onavirus, so there is a need to tion for emergency authorization U.S. population is fully vaccinated “I imagine her first introduction and small group facilities are not leave beds unoccupied to deal of a third dose, he said. — and some parts of the country to the U.S. was probably not super being used, according to govern- with circumstances as they arise, Why might that matter for fight- have far lower immunization friendly, was probably confus- ment data. Four providers told Health and Human Service Secre- ing the delta variant? Dolsten rates, places where the delta vari- ing,” said Umphlett, 37, who The Associated Press that they tary Xavier Becerra told reporters pointed to data from Britain and ant is surging. works for a software company. have licensed foster families last week. Israel showing the Pfizer vaccine On Thursday, Dr. Rochelle Wa- “We tried to give her a better ex- ready to take children. Two pro- “I hope they are sending kids to “neutralizes the delta variant very lensky, the CDC director, said perience.” viders said about a third of avail- foster homes before sending them well.” that’s leading to “two truths” — As a record number of children able beds over the past month to a convention center,” Umphlett The assumption, he said, is that highly immunized swaths of fled violence from Central Amer- were not used. The others de- said. “A home with a family is al- when antibodies drop low enough, America are getting back to nor- ica and crossed the Mexican bor- clined to specify. ways better than a mass camp, the delta virus eventually could mal while hospitalizations are ris- der alone this spring, most were The risk of psychological and even if you’re being well cared for cause a mild infection before the ing in other places. sent to large-scale emergency emotional harm grows the longer and not neglected.” Biden tells Putin Russia must crack down on cybercriminals Associated Press met in Geneva, when Biden dent Biden underscored the need lenge,” the White House added. the company to temporarily halt WASHINGTON — President warned against continuing cyber- for Russia to take action to disrupt The latest conversation be- operations. Joe Biden told Russian President attacks on U.S. businesses and in- ransomware groups operating in tween the two world leaders fol- Colonial Pipeline paid roughly Vladimir Putin in a Friday phone frastructure emanating from Rus- Russia and emphasized that he is lowed a series of ransomware at- $4.4 million in ransom, and U.S. call that he must “take action” sia. committed to continued engage- tacks on vital infrastructure and authorities were able to claw back against cybercriminals acting in A new ransomware attack link- ment on the broader threat posed major corporations that have ele- a large portion of that sum in a law his country and that the U.S. re- ed to the REvil hacking group by ransomware. vated the threat to an urgent na- enforcement operation last serves the right to “defend its peo- based in Russia caused wide- “President Biden reiterated tional security problem for the Bi- month. ple and its critical infrastructure,” spread disruption last weekend, that the United States will take any den administration. Hackers also extorted an $11 the White House said. affecting as many as 1,500 busi- necessary action to defend its peo- A May attack on a pipeline that million ransom payment from The conversation came less nesses. ple and its critical infrastructure supplies roughly half the fuel con- JBS SA, the world's largest meat than a month after the two leaders The White House said “Presi- in the face of this continuing chal- sumed on the East Coast caused processor. Saturday, July 10, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 7 NATION African American makes history as spelling bee champ Associated Press was shot onto the stage. LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — “I was pretty relaxed on the Zaila Avant-garde understood the subject of Murraya and pretty significance of what she was doing much any other word I got,” Zaila as she stood on the Scripps Nation- said. al Spelling Bee stage, peppering The only previous Black cham- pronouncer Jacques Bailly with pion was also the only internation- questions about Greek and Latin al winner: Jody-Anne Maxwell of roots. Jamaica in 1998. The bee, howev- Zaila knew she would be the er, has still been a showcase for first African American winner of spellers of color over the past two the bee. She knew Black kids decades, with kids of South Asian around the country were watching descent dominating the competi- Thursday night’s ESPN2 telecast, tion. Zaila’s win breaks a streak of waiting to be inspired and hoping at least one Indian-American JOHN RAOUX / AP to follow in the footsteps of some- champion every year since 2008. Zaila Avant­garde, 14, from Harvey, La., is covered with confetti as she celebrates winning the finals of the one who looked like them. She Zaila has other priorities, which 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World on Thursday in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. even thought of MacNolia Cox, perhaps explains how she came to who in 1936 became the first Black dominate this year’s bee. The 14- clean break from it,” Zaila said. “I 2019 but bowed out in the prelimi- even real?’ ” finalist at the bee and wasn’t al- year-old from Harvey, La., is a can go out, like my Guinness nary rounds. Most of the bee was held virtual- lowed to stay in the same hotel as basketball prodigy who owns world records, just leave it right That’s when she started to take ly, and only the 11 finalists got to the rest of the spellers. three Guinness world records for there, and walk off.” it more seriously and began work- compete in person, in a small por- But she never let the moment dribbling multiple balls simulta- Many of top Scripps spellers ing with a private coach, Cole tion of a cavernous arena at the become too big for her, and when neously and hopes to one day play start competing as young as kin- Shafer-Ray, a 20-year-old Yale ESPN Wide World of Sports com- she heard what turned out to be in the WNBA or even coach in the dergarten. Zaila only started a few student and the 2015 Scripps run- plex in Florida that also hosted the her winning word — “Murraya,” a NBA. She described spelling as a years ago, after her father, Jawara ner-up. NBA playoff bubble last year. The genus of tropical Asiatic and Aus- side hobby, even though she rou- Spacetime, watched the bee on TV “Usually to be as good as Zaila, in-person crowd was limited to tralian trees — she beamed with tinely practiced for seven hours a and realized his daughter’s affin- you have to be well-connected in spellers’ immediate family, confidence. It was over. day. ity for doing complicated math in the spelling community. You have Scripps staff, selected media — Declared the champion, Zaila “I kind of thought I would never her head could translate well to to have been doing it for many and first lady Jill Biden, who jumped and twirled with joy, only be into spelling again, but I’m also spelling. She progressed quickly years,” Shafer-Ray said. “It was spoke to the spellers and stayed to flinching in surprise when confetti happy that I’m going to make a enough to make it to nationals in like a mystery, like, ‘Is this person watch. Aftershocks expected for days Governor asks Californians to voluntarily cut water use after California, Nevada quake Associated Press worry water levels could get so low Associated Press roadway. SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Cali- they might have to shut down a hy- SAN FRANCISCO — A magni- At one point, rockslides closed fornia Gov. Gavin Newsom on droelectric plant later this year. tude 6 earthquake jolted both sides about 40 miles of the interstate, a Thursday asked people and busi- Along the Russian River, officials of the California-Nevada border, major route through the northern nesses in the nation’s most pop- fear Lake Mendocino could empty tossed boulders onto a major road- Sierra Nevada, but the road reo- ulous state to voluntarily cut how later this year. way and was felt as far off as Las pened some hours later. much water they use by 15% as the “This is jaw-dropping, what’s Vegas and even San Francisco, Boxes flew off the shelves at Western United States weathers a happening in the West Coast of the with days of aftershocks predict- Smith’s Food and Drug in Gard- drought that is rapidly emptying United States,” Newsom said ed, authorities said. nerville, Nev. reservoirs relied on for agricul- Thursday during a news confer- The quake shortly before 4 p.m. “Our whole entire store was ture, drinking water and fish hab- ence at Lopez Lake, a reservoir in Thursday was centered south of shaking,” said Brittany Oswald, itat. San Luis Obispo County formed by Lake Tahoe near Walker, a rural who works at the store’s deli. “I just The water conservation is not a dam on the Arroyo Grande Creek community of a few hundred stood there and held onto a table, mandatory, but it demonstrates the that is at 34% capacity. households in the eastern Sierra and waited for it to end.” growing challenges of a drought Ahistoric drought tied to climate Nevada. No major damage or inju- The seismic waves rolled out that will only worsen throughout change is gripping the U.S. West ries were reported, authorities across the eastern Sierra — where the summer and fall and is tied to and comes just a few years after said. thousands of people camp and hike more intense wildfires and heat California declared its last dry It was followed by dozens of af- BRETT DURRANT/AP in national forests — westward waves. Temperatures in parts of spell over in 2016. The earlier tershocks, including at least a half- Boulders are seen blocking U.S. through California’s agricultural the region are spiking again this drought in California depleted dozen of magnitude 4 or above, ac- Route 395 near the California Central Valley and were felt about week as firefighters battle several groundwater supplies and cording to the U.S. Geological Sur- state line with Nevada after an 250 miles away in San Francisco. wildfires in Northern California changed how people use water, vey. earthquake Thursday. Sacramento also felt the shaking and other states but are less ex- with many people and businesses “The ground was shaking pretty and so did Las Vegas, about the treme than the record heat wave ripping out landscaping and re- bad, and then everything started trada said. But the shaking contin- same distance southeast of Walk- that may have caused hundreds of placing it with more drought-toler- falling,” said Carolina Estrada, ued, and “boulders the size of cars” er. deaths in the Pacific Northwest and ant plants. manager at Walker Coffee Compa- fell onto nearby U.S. 395, she said. “People in the area should ex- British Columbia in late June. Compared to before the previous ny. Syrup bottles broke, dishes fell The California Highway Patrol pect aftershocks for days follow- California’s most important res- drought, urban water usage in Cali- to the ground and the roof of the said some cars were struck by ing an earthquake of this size,” said ervoirs are already at dangerously fornia is down an average of 16%. shop caved in a bit. rocks but there weren’t any inju- Jason Ballman with the Southern low levels and will likely reach his- But scientists say this drought is al- The shaking lasted 30 seconds or ries. Video from drivers showed California Earthquake Center at toric lows later this year. Lake Oro- ready hotter and drier than the ear- more, she said. cars slowly navigating around big the University of Southern Califor- ville in Northern California is at lier one, accelerating the impact on “We ran out of the building,” Es- blocks of stone that littered the nia. 30% capacity, and state officials people and the environment. PAGE 8 • STARS AND STRIPES • Saturday, July 10, 2021 NATION Grizzly kills cyclist camping in Montana

BY AMY BETH HANSON from the dead grizzly bear to be sure the AND MATTHEW BROWN bear that was killed was the one that at- Associated Press tacked Lokan. The results could be availa- HELENA Mont. — Wildlife officials said ble in the next three days. they shot and killed a grizzly bear that had Until then, Roselles said he would main- pulled a California woman from her tent tain the closure of outdoor campsites avail- and killed her earlier this week in the mid- able in Ovando. dle of a small Montana town. A long-anticipated ride on the scenic The bear was shot Friday by federal wild- Great Divide Mountain Bike Route brought life workers wearing night vision goggles Lokan to Ovando on Monday for an over- shortly after midnight, when it approached night stay. a trap set near a chicken coop about 2 miles Lokan and her party were camped near from Ovando, where Leah Davis Lokan, 65, the town’s post office and museum when a of Chico, Calif., was killed early Tuesday grizzly bear pulled her out of her tent and TOM BAUER, MISSOULIAN/AP morning, said Greg Lemon with Montana killed her early Tuesday, officials said. A bear trap set by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is shown Wednesday in the camping Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Ovando sees about 1,000 cyclists per year area in Ovando, Mont., where bicycle tourist Leah Davis Lokan of Chico, Cali., was The bear had raided the chicken coop who are traveling the Great Divide route, pulled out of her tent and killed by a grizzly bear early Tuesday. overnight Wednesday, and officials set a Schoendoerfer estimated, with varying baited trap nearby hoping to lure the animal numbers staying overnight. farms and ranches along the way that allow They discharged their bear spray, and back. The route loosely follows the Continental riders to come stay with them. It’s kind of a the bear ran away. “Based on the size of the bear, the color of Divide, at times zig-zagging over it on grav- communal feeling to it. Everyone’s really Lokan was “well versed in what she was the bear and the nature of the chicken coop el roads, dirt roads and trails and some sin- welcoming.” doing. She knew the dangers,” Castaldo raids, we’re confident we’ve got the offend- gle tracks, said Dillon Key, who works at Lokan and two others were camping said, suggesting she may have let her guard ing bear,” Lemon said. Great Divide Cyclery in Helena. There are when a bear startled them at 3 a.m. Tuesday down while camping in a town, rather than On Thursday night, an Ovando woman also some highway miles. before wandering off, Montana wildlife offi- along the trail. came home and found her door ripped off The route is “absolutely gorgeous” cials said. The bicyclists removed food from “The fact that it was right in town — that's and noticed large claw marks, Powell Coun- through Montana, taking riders over moun- their tents, stored it and went back to sleep, pretty messed up,” Thurmond told the Mis- ty Sheriff Gavin Roselles posted on Face- tain passes and through big, open meadows, officials said. soulian. book. A short time later, the male grizzly Key said. About 4:15 a.m., the sheriff’s office re- Wildlife officials initially used helicopter bear was killed in the area. “A lot of the towns on the route, small ceived a 911 call after two people in a tent flights to search for the grizzly. They also Investigators gathered DNA evidence towns in the middle of the mountains, tend near the victim’s were awakened by sounds set up large traps — made out of culverts from the scene of the attack that killed Lo- to be really welcoming to divide riders com- of the attack, Powell County Sheriff Gavin and baited with roadkill — in and around kan and will compare it to samples gathered ing through,” Key said. “There’s a couple Roselles said. Ovando. Plymouth Suicidal teen arrested dig finds after taking over plane Associated Press Aniak, and the 18-year-old was ar- JUNEAU, Alaska — A passen- rested, troopers said. memorial ger on a small plane bound for a McDaniel said by email that the tiny western Alaska community man “had asked the pilot to fly the said he tried to end his life when he plane earlier during the flight and from 1800s took control of the plane’s yoke initially asked to sit in the unoccu- BY WILLIAM J. KOLE and caused it to nosedive before pied co-pilot seat. Both requests Associated Press the pilot was able to regain control were denied by the pilot.” Archaeologists combing a hill and safely land the aircraft, Alas- McDaniel said the aircraft had near Plymouth Rock where a park ka State Troopers said. no barrier between the rest of the will be built in tribute to the Pil- The incident occurred Wednes- aircraft and the pilot and co-pilot grims and their Native American STEVEN SENNE/AP day on a flight between Bethel and seats. Barriers are not typical in predecessors have made a poi- University of Massachusetts, Boston, graduate students use brushes Aniak, which is about 90 miles this type of aircraft in Alaska, he gnant discovery: It’s not the first while searching for artifacts at an excavation site, Wednesday, on northeast of Bethel. Troopers said said. time the site has been used as a Cole’s Hill, in Plymouth, Mass. a preliminary investigation indi- The plane was in the process of memorial. cated that an 18-year-old passen- landing when the incident oc- David Landon of the University “Someone clearly used that Colony and the settlers’ historic ger got up from his seat and took curred, about 5 miles from the air- of Massachusetts-Boston’s Fiske space in that fashion in the past to interactions with the indigenous control of the yoke before the pilot port, McDaniel said. Center for Archaeological Re- memorialize members of their Wampanoag people. But then the was able to regain control of the According to the affidavit, the search says his team unearthed a family,” said Landon, whose team coronavirus pandemic hit, idling plane with help from passengers. pilot, who was identified as Joshua cache of personal items he thinks spent the past month scouring the many commemoration events as The man told Trooper Jason Bo- Kersch, said about 10 miles from were buried there in the late site where the Pilgrims are said to well as construction. Work on the hac he tried to end his life while on Aniak, the man asked if he could 1800s, most likely by a broken- have come ashore in 1620. park is expected to begin late next the plane and indicated he had fly the plane and Kersch refused. hearted settler who had outlived “It’s an amazing array of things year or early in 2023. spoken with behavioral health of- About five miles later, Kersch said all three of her children. you don’t usually find as an ar- The newly reimagined park will ficials before but felt it hadn’t he felt the yoke go forward and Landon says the objects — eye- chaeologist,” he said. “It plays ve- highlight three periods of epic helped, according to an affidavit saw the man over the co-pilot seat glasses, clothing, sewing imple- ry much to the remembrance as- challenge: the Great Dying of by Bohac that accompanied as- pushing on the yoke. He said he ments, a pocket watch and a book pect of the site. The idea of a hu- 1616-19, when deadly disease sault and attempted assault charg- thought the man was trying to — gave him chills. That’s because man memorial there is emotional- brought by other Europeans se- es. point the plane toward the ground. they turned up during final exca- ly powerful.” verely afflicted the Wampanoag The Cessna Caravan had six Kersch said he was scared and vations of Cole’s Hill, a National Remembrance Park was con- people; the first winter of 1620-21, people on board, with all five pas- concerned for the others onboard Historic Landmark site in Ply- ceived to mark 2020’s 400th anni- when half of the Mayflower colo- senger seats occupied, said Austin but said his biggest concern was mouth, Mass., where Remem- versary of the Pilgrim’s 1620 ar- nists perished of contagious sick- McDaniel, a troopers spokesper- trying to maintain control of the brance Park is set to be built rival, the founding of Plymouth ness; and the 2020 pandemic. son. The plane landed safely in plane, according to the affidavit. Saturday, July 10, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 9 SCIENCE/MEDICINE Billionaires riding own rockets into space BY MARCIA DUNN for Mars. Associated Press “There is a big difference be- CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — tween reaching space and reac- Two billionaires are putting ev- hing orbit,” Musk said last week erything on the line this month to on Twitter. ride their own rockets into space. Musk already has carried 10 as- It’s intended to be a flashy con- tronauts to the International fidence boost for customers seek- Space Station for NASA, and his ing their own short joyrides. company’s first private space- The lucrative, high-stakes flight is coming up in September chase for space tourists will un- for another billionaire who’s pur- fold on the fringes of space — 55 chased a three-day, globe-cir- miles to 66 miles up, pitting Vir- cling ride. gin Galactic’s Richard Branson Regardless of how high they against the world’s richest man, fly, Virgin Galactic and Blue Ori- Blue Origin’s Jeff Bezos. gin already are referring to their Branson is due to take off Sun- prospective clients as “astro- day from New Mexico, launching nauts.” More than 600 have re- with two pilots and three other served seats with Virgin Galactic employees aboard a rocket plane at $250,000. Blue Origin expects carried aloft by a double-fuselage to announce prices and open tick- aircraft. et sales once Bezos flies. Bezos departs nine days later Phil McAlister, NASA’s com- from West Texas, blasting off in a mercial spaceflight director, con- fully automated capsule with siders it a space renaissance, es- three guests: his brother, an 82- pecially as the space station gets year-old female aviation pioneer set to welcome a string of paying who’s waited six decades for a PATRICK SEMANSKY, MARK J. TERRILL/AP visitors, beginning with a Russian shot at space and the winner of a Jeff Bezos is seen in 2019 with a model of Blue Origin's Blue Moon lunar lander in Washington, left, and actress and movie producer in $28 million charity auction. Richard Branson with Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo space tourism rocket in Mojave, Calif., in 2016. October, a pair of Japanese in De- Branson’s flight will be longer, cember and a SpaceX-delivered but Bezos’ will be higher. space. When that did not look er. The greatest adventure, with nated Karman line of space 62 crew of businessmen in January. Branson’s craft has more win- likely for my generation, I regis- my best friend.” miles up, while Virgin Galactic’s “The way I see it is the more, dows, but Bezos’ windows are tered the name Virgin Galactic Branson was supposed to fly peak altitude is 55 miles. Interna- the better, right?” McAlister said. bigger. with the notion of creating a com- later this year on the second of tional aeronautic and astronautic “More, better.” Branson’s piloted plane has al- pany that could make it happen,” three more test flights planned by federations in Europe recognize This is precisely the future NA- ready flown to space three times. Branson wrote in a blog this Virgin Galactic before flying tick- the Karman line as the official SA wanted once the shuttles re- Bezos’ has five times as many test week. Seventeen years after et holders next year. But late last boundary between the upper at- tired and private companies took flights, though none with people founding Virgin Galactic, he’s on week, he leapfrogged ahead. mosphere and space, while NA- over space station ferry flights. on board. the cusp of experiencing space He insists he’s not trying to SA, the Air Force, the Federal Atlantis blasted off on the last Either way, they’re shooting for for himself. beat Bezos and that it’s not a race. Aviation Administration and shuttle flight 10 years ago Thurs- sky-high bragging rights as the “It’s amazing where an idea Yet his announcement came just some astrophysicists accept a day. first person to fly his own rocket can lead you, no matter how far- hours after Bezos revealed he’d minimum altitude of 50 miles. NASA’s final shuttle command- to space and experience three to fetched it may seem at first.” be joined in space by Wally Funk, Blue Origin’s flights last 10 er, Chris Ferguson, who now four minutes of weightlessness. Bezos, 57, who stepped down one of the last surviving members minutes by the time the capsule works for Boeing on its Starliner Branson, who turns 71 in anoth- Monday as Amazon’s CEO, an- of the so-called Mercury 13. The parachutes onto the desert floor. crew capsule, is impressed that er week, considers it “very im- nounced in early June that he’d 13 female pilots never made it to Virgin Galactic’s last around 14 to Branson and Bezos are launching portant” to try it out before allow- be on his New Shepard rocket’s space despite passing the same 17 minutes from the time the ahead of customers. ing space tourists on board. He first passenger flight, choosing tests in the early 1960s as NASA’s space plane drops from the moth- “That’s one surefire way to insists he’s not apprehensive; this the 52nd anniversary of Neil original, all-male Mercury 7 as- ership and fires its rocket motor show confidence in your product is the thrill-seeking adventurer Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s tronauts. for a steep climb until it glides to is to get on it,” Ferguson said at who’s kite-surfed across the En- moon landing. Bezos hasn’t commented publi- a runway landing. Thursday’s 10th anniversary glish Channel and attempted to He too had childhood dreams of cly on Branson’s upcoming flight. SpaceX’s Elon Musk doesn’t do shuttle celebrations. “I’m sure circle the world in a hot air bal- traveling to space, Bezos said via But some at Blue Origin al- quick up-and-down hops to the that this was not a decision made loon. Instagram. “On July 20th, I will ready are nitpicking the fact that edge of space. His capsules go all lightly. I wish them both well. I “As a child, I wanted to go to take that journey with my broth- their capsule surpasses the desig- the way to orbit, and he’s shooting think it’s great.” Cold weather virus in summer baffles doctors, worries parents Associated Press icz, medical director at Beacon and suspected RSV when she the wrong season for RSV. Cases in kids and adults usually The recent emergence of a vi- Children’s Hospital in South opened his sleeper and saw his “I can’t say I was relieved, be- occur in fall through early spring. rus that typically sickens chil- Bend, Ind., said after treating two chest heaving with labored cause I know RSV is just as bad,” Off-season cases in Australia dren in colder months has baffled RSV-infected infants recently. breathing. she said. were a tip-off that the same might U.S. pediatricians and put many Both needed oxygen treatment to “The doctors office couldn’t get Children infected with either happen in the United States, said infants in the hospital with trou- help with breathing. “I’ve never me in because they were flooded virus usually develop only mild Dr. Larry Kociolek, an infectious blesome coughs and breathing seen cases in July, or close to Ju- with people calling” about kids illness but for some, these infec- disease specialist with Chicago’s trouble. ly.” with similar symptoms, St. John tions can be serious. Lurie Children’s Hospital. RSV, or respiratory syncytial The U.S. Centers for Disease said. Among U.S. kids under age 5, Typically, infants are exposed virus, is a common cause of cold- Control and Prevention issued a A positive test in the ER con- RSV typically leads to 2 million to RSV during the first year of like symptoms but can be serious health advisory on June 10 about firmed RSV. The infant devel- doctor-office visits each year, life, often when older siblings be- for infants and the elderly. Cases an increase in RSV cases across oped a rapid heart rate and had to 58,000 hospitalizations and up to come infected in school and bring dropped dramatically last year, parts of the South. Cases have ap- be hospitalized overnight. His 16- 500 deaths — higher than the es- the virus home, Kociolek said. with people staying home and so- peared in many other states, too. month-old sister, Lulabelle, also timated toll on kids from CO- But, he added, “there were a lot cial distancing, but began crop- LaRanda St. John grew wor- contracted the virus but was not VID-19. of kids and babies who were not ping up as pandemic restrictions ried when her 6-week-old son, as sick and didn’t need hospital- Among adults aged 65 and up, exposed to RSV in winter of 2020 eased. Beau, developed a bad cough a ization. RSV can lead to pneumonia and and winter of 2021. That just leav- “I’ve never seen anything like few weeks ago. The Mattoon, Ill., St. John said she wondered if it causes almost 180,000 hospitali- es a much larger proportion of this before,” Dr. Kate Dutkiew- mom has a medical background might be COVID-19 because it’s zations and 14,000 deaths yearly. susceptible infants.” PAGE 10 • STARS AND STRIPES • Saturday, July 10, 2021 WORLD 2 US men among suspects held in Haiti

Associated Press PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haitian authorities have made more arrests in the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, raid- ing Taiwan’s Embassy where several suspects are believed to have sought refuge, while also detaining two Haitian-Ameri- cans and several former Colom- bian soldiers allegedly tied to the plot. In all, 17 suspects have been detained and another eight are being sought, according to Na- tional Police Chief Léon Charles. “We are going to bring them to justice,” the police chief said, as the 17 handcuffed suspects sat on the floor during a news confer- ence Thursday. Moïse’s brazen killing at his home in an attack before dawn Wednesday that also seriously wounded his wife stunned a na- tion already reeling from pover- ty, widespread violence and po- litical instability. PHOTOS BY JOSEPH ODELYN/AP Interim Prime Minister Claude Suspects in the assassination of Haiti’s President Jovenel Moise are shown to the media, along with the weapons and equipment they allegedly Joseph, who assumed leadership used in the attack, at the General Direction of the police in Port­au­Prince, Haiti, on Thursday. with the backing of police and the military, declared a two-week partment released a statement “state of siege,” and asked people that did not refer to Solages by to return to work and reopen name but said one of the men de- businesses that were shut down tained for his alleged role in the in normally bustling Port-au- killing had been “briefly employ- Prince. He also ordered the inter- ed as a reserve bodyguard” at its national airport to reopen. embassy by a private contractor. Colombia’s government said it He gave no other details. had been asked by Haiti about six Calls to the charity and Solag- of the suspects, including two of es’ associates at the charity went the three killed, and had deter- unanswered. mined they were retired mem- However, a relative in south bers of its army. It offered its full Florida said Solages doesn’t have cooperation. any military training and he “A team was formed with the doesn’t believe he was involved best investigators,” said Gen. in the assassination. Jorge Luis Vargas, the head of “I feel like my son killed my Colombia’s police. “They are go- brother because I love my presi- ing to send dates, flight times, fi- dent and I love James Solages,” nancial information that is al- Schubert Dorisme, whose wife is ready being collected to be sent to Solages’ aunt, told WPLG in Mia- Port-au-Prince.” Suspects in the assassination of Haiti's President Jovenel Moise are displayed to the media. mi. U.S.-trained Colombian sol- Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Embassy diers are heavily recruited by said it was aware of reports that website for a charity he started in on his Facebook page, which was in Port-au-Prince said Haitian private security firms in global Haitian-Americans were in cus- 2019 in south Florida to assist res- also taken down after news of his police had arrested 11 people who conflict zones because of their tody but would not comment. ident of his home town of Jacmel, arrest, he showcased photos of tried to break into the Taiwanese experience in a decades-long war Solages, 35, described himself on Haiti’s southern coast. armored military vehicles and a Embassy in Port-au-Prince early against leftist rebels and power- as a “certified diplomatic agent,” Solages also said he had shot of himself standing in front Thursday. ful drug cartels. an advocate for children and bud- worked as a bodyguard at the of an American flag. It gave no details of their iden- The U.S. State Department ding politician on a now-removed Canadian Embassy in Haiti, and Canada’s foreign relation de- tities or a reason for the break-in. Dozens die as fire engulfs locked factory in Bangladesh Associated Press sky. Police initially gave a toll of and many of those who died were factories catching fire with the jeeb Group, a Bangladeshi compa- DHAKA, Bangladesh — A fire three dead, but then discovered trapped. workers locked inside. Continuing ny that produces juice under Pa- engulfed a food and beverage fac- piles of bodies on Friday after- Many workers jumped from the corruption and lax enforcement kistan’s Lahore-based Shezan In- tory outside Bangladesh’s capital, noon after the fire was extin- upper floors of the factory, and at have resulted in many deaths over ternational Ltd., said Kazi Abdur killing at least 52 people, many of guished. least 26 suffered injuries, the the years, and big international Rahman, the group’s senior gen- whom were trapped inside by an So far 52 bodies have been reco- United News of Bangladesh agen- brands, which employ tens of eral manager for export. illegally locked door, fire officials vered, but the top two floors of the cy reported. thousands of low-paid workers in According to the group’s web- said Friday. factory have yet to be searched, Information about how many Bangladesh, have come under site, the company exports its prod- The blaze began Thursday night said Debasish Bardhan, deputy di- people were in the factory and heavy pressure to improve factory ucts to a number of countries in- at the five-story Hashem Foods rector of the Fire Service and Civil how many were missing was not conditions after fires and other di- cluding Australia, the United Ltd. factory in Rupganj, just out- Defense. immediately available. sasters killed thousands of people. States, Malaysia, Singapore, In- side Dhaka, sending huge clouds He said the main exit of the fac- Bangladesh has a tragic history The factory that caught fire dia, Bhutan, Nepal and nations in of black smoke billowing into the tory was locked from the inside of industrial disasters, including Thursday was subsidiary of Sa- the Middle East and Africa. Saturday, July 10, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 11 VIDEO GAMES

Final Fantasy VII Remake directors say Intermission points directly to the sequel BY GENE PARK characters that, I too, do not The Washington Post know, but that is the same with Elements of Intermission, the Cloud and company as well.” additional chapter in the Play- Toriyama said that any time a Station 5 version of Final Fantasy new character from outside the VII Remake, will likely be used original 1997 release is intro- in the highly anticipated, and duced into the new story, the likely far-off, sequel, according to writers will always frame it as a the game’s makers. first encounter with Cloud, the More specifically, the team-up protagonist and audience surro- moves that Intermission stars gate. Yuffie and Sonon can do will “For unfamiliar enemies like likely return in Part 2 of Final Weiss or Nero, I think being able Fantasy VII Remake, or whatev- to convey that they have a kind of er the sequel to the remake may deep darkness about them is be called. In a recent interview plenty,” Toriyama said. “At the with The Washington Post, Naoki same time, those who are famil- GameTomo Hamaguchi, co-director of Re- iar with them can make a stron- Sumire is a kid­friendly indie title that features a one­day journey through a picturesque Japanese village. make, said that last year’s battle ger connection to the overarch- system was an evolution of the ing Final Fantasy VII world by “Active Time Battle” from the having them appear in the narra- original 1997 release. tive as they are in their respec- “From that perspective, I am tive source material.” Deceptively simple rather satisfied with this final Yuffie was a perfect star for form, in which the strategic ele- the additional chapter Intermis- ment of the command-based sion because she was also an Sumire seems childlike, but the narrative adventure has more to say battle from the original co-exists optional character in the original with the real-time, action-ori- game, but her backstory wasn’t BY CHRISTOPHER BYRD But the flower is persistent. “Please. Don’t just ented battle,” said Hamaguchi, as solidified as Vincent. Toriya- Special to The Washington Post leave me here to die inside,” it says before suggesti- who as a young man wanted to ma said reintroducing the gem hen I first fired up Sumire, a game ng that by acceding to its request it might be pos- work for the Final Fantasy series thief as an integral part of the about a lonely little girl living in a sible for Sumire to see her grandmother again. ever since the sixth installment. story wouldn’t be as jarring. small Japanese town who promises to Banking on that hope, Sumire snips off the head of “Additionally, with Intermission, “If this were Vincent, another Wshow a talking flower a beautiful day, the flower, which then floats in the air. The floating there’s another element intro- optional character, he would I was less than enthused to see where their adven- flower head will accompany her throughout her duced: combo movies where have been sleeping in a coffin in ture might lead. The setup seemed so childishly journey. Sumire then goes to fetch her backpack Yuffie and Sonon team up ... the Shinra mansion, so we unpromising that I was unwilling to spend more and notebook and sets out to try to have a “perfect which makes for a different feel wouldn’t be able to move him than 20 minutes with the game. However, when I day.” in battle strategy. I would like to around,” Toriyama said. “But returned to it a few days later, I Over the length of the day, Sumire will have the leverage these, including other Yuffie was traveling the world as found that I’d misjudged it. occasion to assist people and critters, e.g., a letter elements we tried out in ‘In- a materia hunter in the original. Sumire is undoubtedly a kid- carrier who hasn’t spoken with his daughter for 20 termission,’ in our next story.” By having Yuffie infiltrate Mid- friendly game, but it is not chil- years, a lovelorn snake, etc. She’ll also be forced to Final Fantasy VII Remake was gar as part of her travels, she can dish. The feelings it touches on confront her former best friend, who dropped her released last year April to critical experience the same incidents suggest the sort of wisdom an to hang out with more popular girls, and to spend acclaim and became one of the Cloud and company were experi- adult might look to pass on to a time in a house shunned by most of the townspeo- year’s most celebrated games. encing, depicting the same in- child to prepare her for a world ple on account of a grisly murder that took place Moreover, the twists and story cidents from a different perspec- that is vertiginously beautiful as there. changes excited fans for the tive.” well as disappointing. Sumire is a simple game that mostly involves inevitable sequel, particularly Toriyama is referencing a The game opens with a gentle walking to different places, speaking to various since the first story ends right pivotal, tragic moment in the paradox: a dream that hints at individuals and delivering items from one to anoth- when the party finally leaves the original 1997 story that was given fulfillment and longing. Lying asleep, Sumire, the er. The game is punctuated with a few minigames: crowded, polluted first city of more dramatic weight in the little girl at the center of the story, envisions shel- a fantasy card game, a board game and another one Midgar and begins to travel the Remake. The emphasis on the tering in her grandmother’s arms beneath a wiste- which I won’t go into detail about since it turns open world. horror of the incident is only ria tree. In the dream, she watches the happy scene around one of the major plot points of the story — it Longtime, attentive players magnified through Yuffie’s eyes. as if she were an observer. Reaching out a hand as involves Sumire being given the chance to heal or may have noticed callbacks to “Yuffie is a cheerful and ener- if to physically grab the moment in front of her, she poison the hearts of her rivals. These basic ga- several other pieces of Final getic young lady and she will wakes up and is unsettled by the thought that her meplay mechanics are enlivened by a soft-colored, Fantasy VII media, including the make an appearance after getting recently deceased grandmother was trying to com- storybook aesthetic whose standout feature is the film “Advent Children” and the over the tragic experience in municate something important to her that she was curvature of the ground that Sumire walks on, giv- spinoff titles. Intermission leans Intermission,” Toriyama said. unable to understand. ing the impression that she is traversing a sphere into this further, introducing the “So I believe her encounter with Walking through her one-story house, she stops where all points lead back to each other. characters Weiss and Nero, who Cloud and his allies will be that by the portrait of her grandmother that hangs in a The idea of eternal return wends through the only appeared in the PlayStation much more appealing. Also, cabinet near the front door. Addressing her grand- story. On different occasions Sumire is reminded of 2 shooter Dirge of Cerberus. Wutai [Yuffie’s home nation] was mother’s spirit, Sumire speaks of her mother’s patterns of life that snare people, young and old, That game focused on an optional placed in a more important posi- depression over her father’s absence from their and prevent them from being able to communicate character from the original tion ... as the opposing force lives and asks for help. Seconds later, she hears the with each other. She comes to realize that everyone, game, Vincent. This was no acci- against Shinra. By having groups crashing sound of breaking glass, and when she including herself and her fondly remembered dent, said Motomu Toriyama, that oppose Shinra, not just Ava- returns to her room she discovers a broken window grandmother, has a shadow side that causes prob- another co-director of Remake lanche, take a more prominent pane and a seed on the floor. Picking up the seed, lems for those nearest to them. Themes of broken and a scenario director for the role, I believe we can create an she takes it into the living room and plants it in a communication, missed opportunities and unreal- original 1997 game. even more suspenseful story.” pot on a table, then falls asleep. ized wishes are planted throughout her “special “The world of Final Fantasy The directors say they are not Upon awakening, she is startled to discover that day.” VII was vastly expanded through losing sight of respecting the the seed has grown into a talking flower. The flower Parents with children on the cusp of adolescence multiple works that followed original game. They both say asks her to show it a beautiful day since it will only may wish to consider Sumire. Yes, it’s fairly senti- after the original game,” Toriya- they are heartened by the love live until sunset. At first, Sumire is reluctant to do it mental insofar as it dwells on how feelings color the ma said. “We do want to make it showered upon Remake, and any favors. Lost in her melancholy, she tells the world, but it’s not insensible to the gaps that feel- a culmination of all the Final were very satisfied with player flower that all she wants to do is go back to sleep ings alone can’t fill. Fantasy VII-related works cre- response to the many changes in and stay inside the house because her mother needs Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch ated up to this point. There are the gameplay and the story. her. Online: gametomo.co.jp/sumire PAGE 12 • STARS AND STRIPES • Saturday, July 10, 2021 MOVIES

Marvel Studios Scarlett Johansson is pictured in a scene from Marvel’s “Black Widow.” Johansson also produced the film now showing in theaters and streaming on Disney+ premium. An introduction a decade in the making

“It was just so impressive to see so many departments After 7 Marvel movie appearances, doing so many things. And you were completely involved into the process and the creating of it. And I just really Johansson’s ‘Black Widow’ finally appreciated how much you were expected to be there for the whole journey,” Pugh said. “It only made then waiting gets her moment in the spotlight and watching the film a year later just even more exciting BY LINDSEY BAHR because you’re like, ‘Oh, my God, that took so many days Associated Press to shoot and there we are flying through the air on a carlett Johansson has had quite a bit of time to bike.’” think about a “Black Widow ” movie. After all, “Black Widow” has the distinction of being the first she’s played the character in seven movies span- Marvel movie debuting day-and-date on a streaming Sning 10 years. platform, after being delayed for more than a year due to Yet unlike many of her fellow Avengers who got grand the pandemic. It’s now available in theaters globally and introductions in movies and sequels bearing their names to rent on Disney+ for $30, the same release pattern as a on the marquee, she built the enigmatic Natasha Roma- handful of other Disney projects over the past year. noff as a sideline scene stealer beginning with her in- Marvel Studios The film isn’t just a tribute and a goodbye to a beloved troduction in 2010’s “Iron Man 2” through her exit in Florence Pugh, left, and Scarlett Johansson star as character, though. It also kicks off “Phase Four” of the “Avengers: Endgame.” long­lost sister­like characters in “Black Widow.” Marvel Cinematic Universe after an unplanned two-year By the time her name was called for a coveted standa- gap in Marvel theatrical releases following “Avengers: lone, she knew that, above all, she wanted Black Widow’s sacrifice at the end of ‘Endgame.’” Endgame” (and, technically, “Spider-Man: Far from film to be unexpected. And as the first lead actor to serve Part of that involved introducing a sort-of sister charac- Home.”) as a producer on a Marvel film, she actually had a say. ter in Yelena Belova, played as an adult by Florence The stakes for big-budget Marvel movies are always The character, introduced in the comics in 1964, is Pugh, who also had the traumatic experience of being high, but “Black Widow” will also be a litmus test not just inextricably tied to a Soviet-era spy aesthetic fitting of trained in the “Red Room” as a child. because of the unconventional release strategy, but also James Bond. But that seemed like the easy route. “Florence is so vibrant and interesting to watch that as a gauge for audience interest in the cinematic jug- “I didn’t want it to be an espionage film,” Johansson you think, ‘OK ... there’s going to be life here,’” Johansson gernaut going forward. said. “I think we avoided that.” said. After the 23-film build to “Endgame,” which currently Instead, “Black Widow” helps peel back the layers on a Despite not really knowing one another beforehand, holds the title of second-highest grossing film of all time hard-to-grasp character, with a little bit of an origin story, they quickly connected on set, partly due to a natural after a re-release of “Avatar” during the pandemic, Mar- a little bit of a coda and the introduction of people outside chemistry between the two and partly due to the extreme vel is going into uncharted territory with new characters of the Avengers who mean something to her. Johansson nature of filming a big-budget action thriller. in films like “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten also personally recruited Australian indie director Cate “Our Day One was me throwing her against a cabinet Rings,” set for September, and “Eternals” in November. Shortland, another unexpected and inspired choice, to and we both had our hands in each other’s armpits. And it But Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige isn’t stressing helm. was in that moment that I was like, ‘Oh, my God, I have a much about that. This new phase, he said, is one of “new Marvel veteran Eric Pearson had the task of writing the sweaty armpit. And Scarlett Johansson is touching me,’” beginnings.” script and took advantage of the fact that the character Pugh said. “Once that ice is broken, you know, best “Within our movies, there’s this big shared experience seemed to change and become more emotionally vul- mates. Weird first day, though, to start with.” that all the characters had with this, what we call the blip. nerable between “Civil War” and “Infinity War”/“End- It was a fittingly epic endeavor, shooting over 87 days Now, in real life, we all, as human beings on earth, have game,” which is when “Black Widow” is set. in London, Norway, Budapest, Morocco and Atlanta, with had the shared experience of this pandemic, of this lock- “We’re looking at what happened there,” Pearson said. showstopping fights, motorcycle stunts, car chases and down. So there is an interesting parallel that we were “What happened when she went back and confronted her even a skydiving sequence. For Pugh, who is more known playing on in our stories,” he said. “It’s been two years past that unlocked her heart and kind of opened her up to for slightly less spectacle-driven films like “Midsommar” since we’ve had a film in theaters, and we are ready. I the world and eventually led her to make that all-time and “Little Women,” it was an eye-opening experience. hope the fans are ready.” Saturday, July 10, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 13 HEALTH & FITNESS ‘Feel like a kid again’ with this fitness trend experienced increased muscle mass in Add weight to a Hula-Hoop their trunk. Hooping also can increase your motiva- to lose weight from your tion to exercise. A 2016 pilot study exam- waist, strengthen your core ined women’s intentions for future work- outs after either Hula-Hooping or walking BY ANGELA HAUPT for 30 minutes. The study found that those Special to The Washington Post in the Hula group reported “significantly arlier this year, Angie Wang stronger intentions” to exercise again than wanted to switch up her exer- those in a walking group. cise routine, so she bought a Eweighted Hula-Hoop and posted The workout footage of herself trying it out on TikTok. First, Thompson said, warm up by doing The video collected more than 400,000 some side stretches and marching in place likes. to activate your core. Then, stand with Wang was smitten. Hooping was a great your feet about shoulder-width apart; if way to spice up her usual workouts, far you’re hooping clockwise, your left foot more entertaining than, say, jogging on a should be slightly forward. If you’re spin- treadmill. And it worked: She’s seen bene- ning counterclockwise, shift your right fits from months of frequently using her foot forward. Move your hips “in a straight 3.6-pound hoop, usually for about 15 to 30 line, front to back,” Thompson said. (The minutes at a time. idea that using a Hula-Hoop means mov- “It’s fun and different,” said Wang, 25, a ing your hips in a circular motion is a content creator who lives in Philadelphia. common misconception.) “I feel like it definitely strengthened my Hula-hooping in one direction will usu- abs, and my core section is just stronger in ally feel most natural. But, Horton said, general.” don’t spend all your time spinning in that Though they’ve existed for more than a direction; doing so will overdevelop the decade, weighted Hula-Hoops have muscles on a single side of your body. emerged as a social media favorite during During her classes, she blasts lively mu- the pandemic, enticing fitness enthusiasts sic, and participants switch directions looking for new, affordable and conve- midway through the songs: They start nient ways to work out at home with the hooping clockwise, then switch to counter- promise of childlike fun (some gyms and clockwise. studios are adding in-person classes as So what do you do with your arms dur- clients return). Videos tagged “weighted ing all this? At first, many students adopt hula hoop” have generated more than 176 the slightly awkward T-rex pose, Horton million views on TikTok, and some pop- said: They “hold their arms in towards ular hoops have reportedly been selling their trunk, and they’ve got the little drap- out online. ing hands in front,” just like the classic “I was stunned at the results,” said Angie Wang dinosaur stance. Once her students be- Lauren Constancio. The 26-year-old con- After Angie Wang started exercising with a weighted Hula­Hoop, she said her abs and come more advanced, she coaches them to tent creator who lives in Orange County, core section felt stronger. The Philadelphia resident described it as “fun and different.” hold their arms above their head or to do Calif., said she started seeing a trimmer aerobic-style movements. Some people waist and hips after a week of hooping for even do bicep curls while they’re spinning. 10 minutes daily — in addition to weight “I was stunned at the results. After the first In addition to starting with a light hoop, training and eating healthfully. “After the you should ease into hooping by starting first day of using it, I was like, ‘Wow.’ You day of using it, I was like, ‘Wow.’ You really with two minutes a day, and then 2.5, and really feel your whole body working. Car- working your way up to about 15; the grad- dio-wise, you don’t feel that on the ellipti- feel your whole body working. Cardio-wise, ual increase will help prevent bruising. It cal — and even when I did cycle classes, I will also acclimate you to the workout, never really felt that sore in my core.” you don’t feel that on the elliptical — and Horton said. Hooping isn’t natural for If you’re tempted to give weighted hoop- everyone, and some people report that it’s ing a go, here’s what you should know: even when I did cycle classes, I never really uncomfortable for the first few days. There’s also a learning curve: At first, Hoop selection and safety felt that sore in my core.” you might spend most of your time picking Weighted Hula-Hoops (which cost $20 the hoop off the floor. to $30) are heavier than the plastic ones Lauren Constancio, 26 “It’s a complex movement,” said Kyle you might have used as a kid. They typ- Hula-Hooper in Orange County, Calif. Gonzalez, a coach with Future, a personal ically weigh one to four pounds, and most training app. He suggests working with a are 37 to 45 inches in diameter, said Ni- depends on your own physical constitution Still, she cautions, not everyone will trainer to safely master optimal hooping cole Thompson, a San Diego-based per- and your propensity for bruising,” said drop inches off their waist, and especially form because it’s not always easy to learn sonal trainer and associate project manag- Karla Horton, a personal trainer who not in one week, as some TikTokers say from a video. er with the American Council on Exercise. owns Dragonfly Paddle and Fitness in they have experienced. While slimming Skyler Slunjski, a YouTuber who lives in When you place the hoop vertically on the Stevensville, Md., where she teaches the waist is feasible for some people, she Michigan and had used a hoop as a child, ground, it should reach your waist — “not hooping classes. If you have a history of said, it’s unlikely to happen without addi- found that picking it again wasn’t exactly any higher than mid-chest,” she said. back or hip problems, or recently suffered tional changes to diet or exercise. an easy muscle memory feat. To avoid excess soreness, Thompson an injury, she recommends checking with According to a small 2015 study of wom- “It was definitely harder than I suggests, start with a hoop that’s on the your doctor before trying Hula-Hooping. en in their 30s to 60s published in the thought,” said Slunjski, 28. “I could barely lighter side, like one pound, and work your Journal of Strength and Conditioning get it to spin around more than once — it way up as you become more advanced. Benefits Research, using a weighted Hula-Hoop for took me a couple days to get the hang of (Some hoops have adjustable weights.) Weighted Hula-Hoops offer a low-im- six weeks was associated with a reduced it.” Starting light also can help prevent one pact cardio workout. Using one several waistline and hip girth. On average, the Ideally, hooping should be incorporated of the main side effects of using weighted times a week can help you burn calories, participants lost 1.3 inches from their into a broader exercise program, but if it’s Hula-Hoops: bruising. As some TikTok lose fat, build core strength and improve waistlines and 0.6 inches from their hips. the only exercise you can squeeze in each hoopers’ videos indicate, it’s common to your balance and flexibility, according to Another study, published in 2019, com- day, it’s better than nothing, Thompson develop black and blue marks on the ab- Thompson, the San Diego-based trainer. pared weighted Hula-Hooping to walking. said. It does have one advantage over most domen, especially in the early days of “It’s a fun way to exercise, and it has Participants who hooped for 13 minutes a other fitness regimens, she added: “It hooping. kind of a relaxing, meditative effect due to day over six weeks reduced their waist brings you back to a time that was fun, and “You may bruise or you may not — it its rhythmic nature,” she said. circumference and body fat, and they it can make you feel like a kid again.” PAGE 14 • STARS AND STRIPES • Saturday, July 10, 2021 AMERICAN ROUNDUP

Mom complains of Suboxone in son’s meal AUBURN — Police ME have charged two Maine people with drug crimes af- ter a mother complained that she found a medication used to treat opioid use disorder in her son’s Happy Meal box at McDonald’s. Auburn police said Wednesday they reviewed video surveillance footage and concluded the inci- dent was the result of an accident by an employee. They said the em- ployee had the medication, Subox- one, in a shirt pocket and bent over to retrieve something when it fell out, landing in the Happy Meal box. Police said the employee who dropped the prescription had ob- tained it illegally from another employee earlier in the shift. They charged one employee with un- lawful possession of drugs and an- other with unlawful trafficking in schedule drugs. Teen shot in neck after sneaking out to buy gun ST. LOUIS — A 16- MO year was shot in the neck and critically wounded early Wednesday after sneaking out of his St. Louis home to buy a fire- arm, authorities say. DON CAMPBELL, THE HERALD­PALLADIUM/AP The St. Louis Post-Dispatch re- ported that police don’t have a sus- pect but believe the gunman is the Playing with fire person the boy had arranged to Fire dancer Nick May performs Wednesday in the gardens of the Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library in St. Joseph, Mich. meet in the city’s Carondelet neighborhood. During the trans- climbed to the top of a soaring THE CENSUS with guests during our Snake Edu- action, the boy was shot and the church tower in East Los Angeles cation Shows.” suspect took off, police said. on Wednesday night, set a fire at The number of people who had to be rescued from a charter fish- Pythons slowly squeeze their The boy, whose name has not the base of a cross, then apparent- 40 ing boat that caught fire in Massachusetts’ Gloucester Harbor on prey to death before swallowing been released, is among more ly tried to evade surrounding po- Wednesday morning, but there were no reported injuries, the Coast Guard them. Cara was described as “ve- than 50 youths in the St. Louis re- lice by leaping from roof to roof of said. The Coast Guard as well as local harbormasters responded to the fire ry sweet” by her handlers. gion to be injured or killed by gun- nearby buildings before he was aboard the Yankee Patriot II, the Coast Guard posted on its official Twitter feed. fire this year. taken into custody. The vessel returned to its home berth under its own power using its port engine due to a fire in the starboard engine, the Coast Guard said. Vaccinated youth get a It was unclear what prompted chance to win scholarship Owner faces homicide the man to climb up scaffolding at charge after dog attack St. Mary’s, a Roman Catholic statement. COLLEGE PARK — church in Boyle Heights. McDonald is charged with Missing 12-foot python MD Maryland officials PHOENIX — A dog A witness told KCBS-TV that third-degree domestic assault and found in mall crawl space are offering younger residents an- AZ owner has been arrest- the man threw his clothes off the jailed without bond. other reason to get vaccinated ed after his four Staffordshire ter- top of the church. News helicop- According to a probable cause BATON ROUGE — A against COVID-19: a chance to win rier mix dogs fatally attacked a 77- ters showed the man as he statement, McDonald abused a LA 12-foot python that es- a $50,000 scholarship. year-old woman, Phoenix police climbed up scaffolding to the top woman by hitting her in the head caped from its enclosure inside Gov. Larry Hogan announced said. of the bell tower, which is more with multiple objects. Documents Louisiana’s largest shopping mall the $1 million VaxU Scholarship Maria Ruiz suffered multiple than 130 feet tall, and apparently state he also pointed an AR-15 has been found, authorities said Promotion on Wednesday. It aims critical injuries in the attack Tues- tried to push over the cross at its style rifle at the woman’s chest. Thursday. to motivate 12- to 17-year-olds to day morning and was taken to the apex before setting a fire at its The snake was recaptured in a get vaccinated. hospital, where she was pro- base. The fire did not spread. State to ban single-use ceiling crawl space early Thurs- A total of 20 scholarships will be nounced dead, according to po- plastic bags in 2024 day morning after two days of awarded through random draw- lice. They said the victim was on Authorities: Suspect searching, WBRZ-TV reported. ings starting next week. Every her front porch when she was at- shoots, kills police dog DENVER — Colorado Video posted by the station Monday for eight weeks, officials tacked by the dogs without any CO will ban single-use shows workers using a ladder as will pick two winners and four provocation. ST. JOSEPH — Au- plastic bags and polystyrene food Cara — wrapped around the winners will be picked on Labor The owner of the dogs had been MO thorities say a sus- containers in 2024 under a law shoulder and back of one of them Day. To qualify, students must contacted in the past by Maricopa pect shot and killed a St. Joseph signed by Gov. Jared Polis. — is carried down. The yellow and both live and be vaccinated in Ma- County Animal Care and Control police dog while officers served a Colorado Politics reported the white Burmese python was taken ryland. Winners can remain anon- about his dogs escaping and was warrant. law signed Tuesday allows retail to the Louisiana School of Veterin- ymous. told to fix a gate to keep the dogs The St. Joseph News-Press stores to use up their inventory by ary Medicine for a health check. The $50,000 scholarships cover secured, police said. reported that Valdez McDonald, June 1, 2024, and to charge cus- Cara slithered out of her enclo- the equivalent of full tuition and The 33-year-old man has been 24, was barricaded in a home tomers 10 cents per bag starting sure at the Blue Zoo in the Mall of fees at a public, in-state college or booked into jail on suspicion of one when officers responded Wednes- Jan. 1, 2023. SNAP, or food stamp, Louisiana in Baton Rouge on university. A four-year prepaid count of negligent homicide. day night. St. Joseph Police Com- participants won’t be charged the Tuesday. college trust account will be fund- mander David Hart said that as of- fee, and small stores with three or “While we’ve created a very se- ed for winners between the ages of Man detained after ficers tried to negotiate with him, fewer locations, farmers markets cure home for Cara, our Burmese 12 and 14 at the time of the draw- climbing to top of church he fled and shot the German shep- and roadside stands are exempt. Python, she has slithered out of ing. Winners between 15 and 17 herd, named Max. Food retailers have until Jan. 1, her exhibit,” the Blue Zoo said in a will be awarded a college invest- LOS ANGELES — A “Max performed his duties he- 2024, to use up their inventory of statement after it escaped. “Cara ment plan contribution. CA man who was naked ex- roically and protected the lives of polystyrene takeout food contain- is a non-poisonous, friendly snake cept for shorts and one sock others on scene,” police said in a ers. that enjoys her time interacting From The Associated Press Saturday, July 10, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 15 TELEVISION

HBO Max Hannah Einbinder, left, and Jean Smart star in “Hacks,” an HBO Max show about an older comic (Smart) paired with a Gen Z joke writer (Einbinder). Watch ’em while they’re hot freely borrows executive producer Tina “It’s a Sin” a masterwork of tonal control, a rights attorney who was elected the head Catch up on the 10 greatest Fey’s breakneck comic pacing and lacerat- heartbreaking chronicle of institutional prosecutor of one of America’s most in- ing feminist critiques, especially when it homophobia and a well-rounded portrait of carcerated cities in 2017 on a campaign of TV programs of 2021 so far comes to the damage wrought on women in a lost generation. And yet it’s the characters racial equity, the docuseries is a nuanced BY INKOO KANG the spotlight. you’ll remember most: Neil Patrick Harris’ and sobering account of what it takes to The Washington Post altruistic harbinger, Callum Scott Howells’ create change — and the limitations of what ummer is officially here, which ‘Hacks’ (HBO Max) shy Savile Row apprentice and Olly Alex- one man can achieve, especially when he’s means strutting out of the house It’s hard to think of a more universally ander’s promising young actor, too jejune surrounded by people who share his out- after a grueling quarantine ... and acclaimed performance so far this year to grasp the urgency of a plague until it’s too rage and sense of urgency but may ulti- Sgetting sunburned, bitten by bugs than Jean Smart’s on “Hacks,” in which the late. mately enable his self-segregation from and struck with the realization that being 69-year-old TV veteran, who’s enjoyed a potential allies. Too many TV docs feel cooped up for more than a year didn’t do career renaissance of late, finally gets the ‘The Lady and the Dale’ (HBO) bloated, but “Philly D.A.” judiciously uses wonders for your cardiovascular health. starring role she deserves. Smart is nothing If you like your docuseries to keep you its wide canvas to tell as full and multifacet- If you’re happiest sitting on your couch short of beguiling as Deborah Vance, a guessing, you can’t get much twistier than ed a story as it can about an effort to find even after the past 15 months — or you just workaholic Vegas comic and onetime “The Lady and the Dale,” about Elizabeth justice within our ailing court system that’s want to know what’s the best new(ish) thing stand-up pioneer whose material could Carmichael, a con woman selling a three- too radical for some and not radical enough to watch — you’re in luck: There’s no short- now use an upgrade. Paired with a down- wheeled, fuel-sipping car made of a sup- for many. age of fantastic TV to catch up on. and-out Gen Z joke writer (Hannah Einbin- posed bulletproof plastic during the 1970s Here are, in alphabetical order, the 10 der) who’s no less spiky and opinionated, oil crisis, who also happened to be a trans ‘Physical’ (Apple TV+) greatest shows of the first half of 2021: Deborah is forced to contend with come- pioneer. Striking and inventive animation The Summer of Love is just a dream dy’s changing landscape. further enliven this four-part documentary some of us had in “Physical,” a 1981-set ‘Call My Agent’ (Netflix) that’s part-biography of a singular, family- twisted female liberation tale, which finds Showbiz satires seldom boast so much ‘High on the Hog’ (Netflix) oriented scammer; part-car history; part- self-loathing housewife Sheila (a sensation- heart. Affectionately crafted characters Food is history and history is food on this trans tale; part-media critique; and all al Rose Byrne) weary of her narcissistic distinguish this Paris-set dramedy with a incredibly informative, gorgeously shot riveting. professor husband (Rory Scovel), a former delectable premise: a look into the inner and wholly essential travelogue hosted by ‘Oprah With Harry and Meghan’ antiwar activist, and ready to cozy up to workings of a glamorous but perpetually writer Stephen Satterfield, who highlights The Man. In Sheila’s case, that means em- chaotic talent agency with clients such as African American contributions to the (CBS) bracing bootstrapping entrepreneurship, Juliette Binoche, Isabelle Huppert and culinary story of America. Based on the It was the special that launched a thou- but also the newfangled activity of aero- Jean Dujardin (who play themselves). book by Jessica B. Harris (who joins Satter- sand headlines. Few families are covered bics, in which Sheila can find a way to chan- Debuting in January on Netflix a few field in Benin to trace back a primary origin as exhaustively as the House of Windsor, nel her obsession with dieting and weight months after its run in its native France, the of African American cuisine in the four- but this trio of mononyms delivered a truly into something close to self-care. fourth season — the show’s last for a while, part docuseries’ first installment), the revelatory, once-in-a-generation interview though a fifth chapter as well as a movie are series follows its amiable host as he jour- whose repercussions we’ll likely feel for ‘We Are Lady Parts’ (Peacock) in the works — features guest turns by neys from South Carolina to Texas and years to come. Oprah Winfrey reminded us Easily the biggest crowd-pleaser on this Sigourney Weaver and Charlotte Gains- from Monticello to Los Angeles to learn of her journalistic talents with her unflinch- list, the belated-coming-of-age comedy bourg (also playing themselves) and is the how Black Americans found survival, com- ing questions and (instantly meme’d) ev- “We Are Lady Parts” is also a triumph of emotionally richest this wry, warm, wink- munity, resistance, innovation and some- erywoman reactions, while Harry and representation — and a compelling illustra- ing series has ever been. times literal freedom in and through food. Meghan, following Princess Diana’s foot- tion of how quickly online discourse about steps, gave an international audience more representation can get distorted. The Lon- ‘Girls5eva’ (Peacock) ‘It’s A Sin’ (HBO Max) than a peek behind the Buckingham Palace don-set British import tells a classic story: Midlife crises don’t get funnier than on Few shows are as ferociously tragic and gates with answers that blurred the line Girl meets boy; boy leads girl to an all- “Girls5eva,” about the now 40-something surprisingly joyful as Russell T. Davies’ between personal disclosure and mental female, all-Muslim punk band; girl realizes members (played by Sara Bareilles, Busy five-part miniseries about the AIDS epi- health advocacy. that the band is what she was searching for Philipps, Paula Pell and breakout star demic in 1980s London. Davies’ celebration her entire life and didn’t know it. Hopeful Renee Elise Goldsberry) of a one-hit-won- of the brief lives his characters managed to ‘Philly D.A.’ (PBS) and winsome, it’s a deceptively simple der girl group from the turn of the millenni- have — and the urban freedom they got to “Philly D.A.” has been compared end- show, but one that’s leading a conversation um getting back together for a second enjoy once they found their tribe after lessly to “The Wire,” and rightly so. An about how and under what conditions out- chance at fame. Creator Meredith Scardino teenage years trapped in closets — make eight-part portrait of Larry Krasner, a civil- siders are able to speak for themselves. PAGE 16 • STARS AND STRIPES • Saturday, July 10, 2021 OPINION

Max D. Lederer Jr., Publisher Lt. Col. Marci Hoffman, Europe commander Lt. Col. Michael Kerschbaum, Pacific commander Biden needs to get real on Afghanistan exit Michael Ryan, Pacific chief of staff BY TRUDY RUBIN “The Biden administration is ignoring the ly capable of handling the fight. The Philadelphia Inquirer realities on the ground,” says Bill Roggio, who Meantime, the Afghan government in Ka- he voice of my Afghan friend phon- closely tracks the Taliban’s advance as a se- bul seems paralyzed by fear. “There was a EDITORIAL ing from Herat was trembling. nior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of false sense of security given to Afghan offi- Terry Leonard, Editor “The security situation is getting Democracies. “Clearly the situation is dire, cials by the U.S. military and U.S. officials,” [email protected] Treally worse,” she said. “We don’t but the administration is telling us that what says Roggio. know what will happen tomorrow, or what we see happening isn’t real.” Bottom line: Afghanistan could implode Robert H. Reid, Senior Managing Editor will happen one hour from now. People are Roggio says the Taliban have nearly tripled from within, sooner rather than later. And the [email protected] confused, scared, uncertain where to go.” the number of districts they control in Afghan- Biden team doesn’t seem prepared for what Tina Croley, Managing Editor for Content Earlier that day, the Taliban had nearly tak- istan — to 203 out of 407 — since Biden an- that would mean. [email protected] en over a provincial capital in neighboring nounced a Sept. 11 exit date (now moved up to Let’s just look at the administration’s hand- Badghis province, two hours away. Rumors Aug. 31). An intelligence report (rebuffed by ling of the morally fraught issue of evacuating Sean Moores, Managing Editor for Presentation [email protected] were flying that high-level Afghan forces Biden) hypothesized that the Afghan govern- translators who helped the U.S. military. might surrender districts in Herat province to ment could collapse as soon as six months af- The State Department is trying to speed up Joe Gromelski, Managing Editor for Digital the Talibs. As someone who runs shelters for ter the withdrawal. aprocess that can take two to five years at best. [email protected] battered women in both provinces (a concept I get that Biden wants to end America’s But the consular department at the U.S. Em- anathema to the Taliban), she is under severe “longest war” after 20 years. But it would have bassy in Kabul is closed due to COVID-19. And BUREAU STAFF threat, as are the women and staff in those been smarter, and more cost-effective, to the United States just handed over its last shelters. leave 3,000 or so U.S. forces in country as an (huge) airfield, Bagram, to the Afghans, Europe/Mideast “Pray for us all,” she implored before she insurance policy to provide the critical air which means translators must leave through Erik Slavin, Europe & Mideast Bureau Chief [email protected] hung up, “particularly for human rights activ- support and maintenance that could have pre- the civilian airport — a question mark if Kabul +49(0)631.3615.9350; DSN (314)583.9350 ists.” vented a Taliban takeover. If that small U.S. becomes increasingly unsafe. Pacific Such is the bleak situation for Afghan wom- force had stayed, which was taking almost no “I was shocked they would close Bagram Aaron Kidd, Pacific Bureau Chief en, for thousands of Afghan translators who casualties, larger NATO forces and contrac- before they did an evacuation,” I was told by [email protected] helped the U.S. military, and, indeed, for the tors would have stayed as well. Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Demo- +81.42.552.2511 ext. 88380; DSN (315)227.7380 entire country. The Taliban are advancing And the president should have junked the crat and one of a bipartisan group of legisla- Washington with shocking speed as the U.S. military with- fake peace deal with the Taliban inked by for- tors pushing for a speedy evacuation. Yet it ap- Joseph Cacchioli, Washington Bureau Chief drawal nears completion. mer President Donald Trump that gifted the pears the administration has yet to pin down [email protected] But President Joe Biden still isn’t respon- Taliban but undercut the Afghan govern- locations outside Afghanistan where transla- (+1)(202)886-0033 Brian Bowers, Assistant Managing Editor, News ding with the urgency the crisis demands. ment. tors and their families could wait for the [email protected] On Thursday, in a televised address, Biden Instead, Biden insists the 300,000 Afghan months (or years?) it would take to finalize insisted that a Taliban takeover was “not inev- troops and air force we trained can keep the their visas. CIRCULATION itable.” He also said there was “zero parallel to Talibs at bay. And it looks as if the administration is pre- Mideast Vietnam” and there would be no circum- Sorry, let’s get real. The lack of critical close paring to evacuate only a few thousand of the Robert Reismann, Mideast Circulation Manager stance “where you see people lifted off the U.S. air support — the Afghan air force is sim- 18,000 translators on its list before the end of [email protected] roof from the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan.” ply inadequate — now leaves Afghan cities August. No one knows what will be possible af- [email protected] And the president pledged to start reloca- vulnerable. ter that. DSN (314)583-9111 tion flights “this month” for translators who Moreover, the swift, total U.S. military Meantime, Afghan women like my friend in Europe worked for the military. withdrawal — and impact on air support — Herat don’t have the luxury of ignoring facts Karen Lewis, Community Engagement Manager But events are moving so fast in Afghanis- has clearly trashed Afghan military morale; on the ground. [email protected] [email protected] tan that they appear to be outrunning whatev- soldiers are fleeing even in the north, once a +49(0)631.3615.9090; DSN (314)583.9090 er plans the administration has (or hasn’t) bastion of anti-Taliban feeling. Yet Biden in- Trudy Rubin is a columnist and editorial-board member for The Pacific made for after our military exit. sisted Thursday that the Afghan army was ful- Philadelphia Inquirer. Mari Mori, [email protected] +81-3 6385.3171; DSN (315)227.7333 CONTACT US Try again on voting rights bill’s hidden gems Washington BY CHARLIE COOPER ey in politics. funds for each small contribution from a citi- tel: (+1)202.886.0003 633 3rd St. NW, Suite 116, Washington, DC 20001-3050 Special to The Baltimore Sun Using gerrymandering, a state can set up zen. Reader letters ews media gave a distorted pic- districts that favor one political party. The fa- The way democracy is supposed to work, ture of the historic importance of vored party is almost guaranteed a comfort- voters choose their representatives. Far too [email protected] the fair-elections legislation of- able majority in most districts. The other par- often in the United States, partisan politicians Additional contacts fered by Democrats in the U.S. ty gets fewer districts and will usually win choose their voters through districting and ul- stripes.com/contactus N Congress. To be fair, it’s not easy to describe those seats by huge margins. The powerful tra-wealthy campaign funders choose who this mammoth bill with its many aspects. party thus gets more seats than its share of the can even have a chance to get on the ballot. OMBUDSMAN Most stories focused primarily on the im- electorate. As an example, Pennsylvania With gerrymandering banned, “safe” seats Ernie Gates pact on registering and voting. These are, in- Democratic congressional candidates won would vanish for Democrats and Republicans The Stars and Stripes ombudsman protects the free flow deed, critical aspects of the proposal. The For more than 50% of the vote in the 2012 Novem- alike and all voters would have a much more of news and information, reporting any attempts by the the People Act would have set national stan- ber elections but won only 5 of 18 seats in the equal say in who will represent them. We military or other authorities to undermine the newspaper’s independence. The ombudsman also responds to concerns dards for federal elections including: auto- House of Representatives. must ban gerrymandering before 2022 when and questions from readers, and monitors coverage for matic and same-day voter registration, early Gerrymandering exacerbates voter polar- the districts will again be set for a 10-year peri- fairness, accuracy, timeliness and balance. The ombudsman welcomes comments from readers, and can be contacted by voting and voting by mail, and purging of vot- ization and cynicism. Because general elec- od. email at [email protected], or by phone at er rolls that some states have used against the tions are virtually meaningless for most seats With disclosure, voters would know who is 202.886.0003. poor. in the House, candidates must pander to the paying for the attack ads. With public cam- Stars and Stripes (USPS 0417900) is published week- These items got most of the attention, and more partisan voters who show up for primar- paign financing, candidates would have a real days (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) for 50 cents Monday they are the ones that most fit in with D versus ies. And because many voters know that the incentive to talk to working people rather than through Thursday and for $1 on Friday by Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. Periodicals R framing that appeals to partisan emotions district is fixed for one party or the other, they sit in a cubicle for several hours per day call- postage paid at San Francisco, CA, Postmaster: Send —and which led Senate Republicans to block are less likely to vote. ing people who can afford a maximum contri- address changes to Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. This newspaper is authorized by the the bill in its current form last month. But Voters detest money corruption of our elec- bution ($2,900 per year). Department of Defense for members of the military services many components of the legislation that gar- tions, and they are aware that Congress This bill should have passed not merely be- overseas. However, the contents of Stars and Stripes are unofficial, and are not to be considered as the official views nered less attention are popular with voters makes policy for the benefit of big-money do- cause Democrats (justifiably) don’t like elec- of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government. As a DOD newspa- per, Stars and Stripes may be distributed through official on both sides of the aisle and worth pursuing nors rather than the people in general. That is tion changes that have been enacted in Re- channels and use appropriated funds for distribution to in any compromise versions that develop go- why we are living through one of the worst publican states in the past few months. Rath- remote locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. The appearance of advertising in this publication does ing forward. eras of wealth and income inequality in our er, it should have passed because it repairs not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense or Among them was an effort to shore up elec- nation’s history. The For the People Act would root causes of damage to our democratic re- Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. Products or services advertised shall be made available for tion security by requiring voting machines to have ended dark money and restored restric- public — extreme partisanship and money purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, leave a paper trail and be made in the U.S. But tions on campaign donations from foreign na- corruption of our politicians. It’s now up to religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the two most important aspects we should tionals. It would also have set up a public fi- Congress to reintroduce those efforts in legis- the purchaser, user or patron. keep are outlawing gerrymandering in estab- nancing program for federal offices whereby lation that actually has a shot at being enacted. © Stars and Stripes 2021 lishing districts for the House of Representa- candidates for Congress who agree not to ac- stripes.com tives and tackling the growing cancer of mon- cept large contributions could get matching Charlie Cooper is president of Get Money Out — Maryland. Saturday, July 10, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 17 Eugene Sheffer Crossword Frazz Dilbert

ACROSS 52 Somewhat 18 Guess 1 Penned 54 “Truman” 21 “Gross!” 6 Los —, New actor Gary 23 Year in Madrid Mexico 55 Church toppers 24 Jungfrau, for one

Pearls Before Swine Pearls Before 12 Like glee 56 Took a bite 25 Picnic dessert club music 57 Cafeteria stack 26 Intense feelings 13 Two-footed 28 Composition creatures DOWN writer 14 Lectern 1 “— on first?” 30 $ dispenser 15 Classic French 2 Scepters 31 Sashimi fish actress 3 Rubber gasket 33 Skier Tommy 16 Org. 4 Greek cross 34 Victory 17 Despot 5 Shade providers 39 The ones here 19 Online chats, 6 “Fernando” 41 Old photo tint Non Sequitur briefly group 42 “Hey, you!” 20 Mentor 7 Tale tellers 43 Lamb alias 22 — Paulo 8 Earth Day mo. 45 Secondhand 24 Smartphone 9 So-so 47 Crèche figure 48 Enrages download 10 “Hamilton” actor 49 ACLU issues 27 “Arbitrage” Leslie — Jr. 51 Trench star Richard 11 Bygone fliers 53 “Fresh Air” airer 29 March 12 IRS employee Answer to Previous Puzzle Madness gp. Candorville 32 “The Hunger Games” actor 35 Mexican money 36 Spanish ayes 37 Brit. record label 38 Fixed 40 Without 42 Architect I. M. 44 Donald Duck’s

Carpe Diem nephew 46 Mideast ruler 50 Skier’s destinations Beetle Bailey Bizarro PAGE 18 • STARS AND STRIPES • Saturday, July 10, 2021 SCOREBOARD/SPORTS BRIEFS

PRO SOCCER TENNIS DEALS BRIEFLY MLS Hamburg European Open Jasmine Paolini, Italy, and Jil Teich- Thursday’s transactions mann, Switzerland, def. Anna Zaja and EASTERN CONFERENCE BASEBALL Thursday Tamara Korpatsch, Germany, 6-2, 6-4. Major League Baseball Source: Third Fury-Wilder WLTPts GF GA At Am Rothenbaum Rot-Weiss Tennis American League Club BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Recalled RHP New England 7 3 3 24 22 18 Hamburg, Germany Nordea Open Shaun Anderson from Norfolk (Triple-A fight postponed Purse: $235,238 East). Optioned LHP Zac Lowther to Nor- Orlando City 6 3 3 21 20 12 Surface: Red clay Thursday LAS VEGAS — A person with At Bastad Tennis Stadium folk. Philadelphia 5 3 5 20 16 12 Women’s Singles BOSTON RED SOX — Optioned C Connor knowledge of the situation says Round of 16 Bastad, Sweden CF Montréal 5 3 4 19 14 11 Purse: $125,000 Wong to Worcester (Triple-A East). Ysaline Bonaventure, Belgium, def. Ber- heavyweight champion Tyson Fu- Nashville 4 1 7 19 16 13 Surface: Red clay CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Sent LF Eloy Ji- narda Pera (7), United States, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. menez to Winston-Salem (High-A East) on NYCFC 5 4 2 17 19 13 Tamara Zidansek (3), Slovenia, def. Kris- Women’s Singles ry has tested positive for CO- Quarterfinals a rehab assignment. New York 5 5 2 17 17 15 tyna Pliskova, Czech Republic, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. CLEVELAND INDIANS — Optioned 2B VID-19, and his third bout with Danielle Collins (4), United States, def. Mihaela Buzarnescu, Romania, def. An- D.C. United 5 6 1 16 17 14 Owen Miller and RHP J.C. Mejia to Colum- Kristina Kucova, Slovakia, 1-6, 6-2, 6-3. na Bondar, Hungary, 6-2, 6-4. bus (Triple-A East). Reinstated RHP Zach Deontay Wilder will be postponed Columbus 4 3 4 16 11 9 Jule Niemeier, Germany, def. Tamara Olga Govortsova (7), Belarus, def. Mayar Plesac from the 10-day IL. Released C Rene Sherif (3), Egypt, 6-4, 6-2. likely until the fall. Atlanta 2 3 7 13 13 15 Korpatsch, Germany, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-3. Rivera. Sara Errani, Italy, def. Ana Konjuh, Croa- Rebecca Peterson (1), Sweden, def. Alio- DETROIT TIGERS — Optioned CF Victor The person spoke to The Associ- Chicago 3 7 2 11 13 18 tia, 7-6 (5), 6-3. na Bolsova Zadoinov, Spain, 7-5, 6-4. Reyes to Toledo (Triple-A East). Cincinnati 3 5 2 11 10 18 Elena-Gabriela Ruse, Romania, def. An- Nuria Parrizas-Diaz, Spain, def. Claire HOUSTON ASTROS — Placed LHP Brooks ated Press on condition of ano- na Zaja, Germany, 6-2, 6-2. Liu (4), United States, 6-2, 6-4. Inter Miami CF 2 7 2 8 9 17 Raley on the 10-DAY IL due to health and Andrea Petkovic, Germany, def. Yulia Women’s Doubles safety protocols. Recalled RHP Ralph Gar- nymity Thursday because the pro- Toronto FC 2 8 2 8 16 29 Putintseva (2), Kazakhstan, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4. Quarterfinals za Jr. moters of the lucrative heavy- Dayana Yastremska (1), Ukraine, def. Mirjam Bjorklund, Sweden, and Leonie KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Sent C Cam Gal- WESTERN CONFERENCE Magdalena Frech, Poland, 7-6 (5), 6-1. Kung, Switzerland, def. Jaqueline Adina lagher on a rehab assignment to Omaha weight trilogy are still finalizing Women’s Doubles Cristian, Romania, and Anna Bondar (4), WLTPts GF GA (Triple-A West). Round of 16 Hungary, walkover. LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Optioned RHP the new date for the most antici- Mandy Minella, Luxembourg, and Mona Rebecca Peterson, Sweden, and Mayar Seattle 8 0 5 29 23 8 Aaron Slegers to Salt Lake (Triple-A West). pated heavyweight bout of the Barthel, Germany, def. Eva Lys and Noma Sherif, Egypt, def. Lara Arruabarrena and NEW YORK YANKEES — Placed RHP Mi- Sporting KC 8 3 2 26 24 15 Noha Akugue, Germany, 6-2, 7-5. Aliona Bolsova Zadoinov (1), Spain, walk- chael King on the 10-day IL, retroactive to summer. LA Galaxy 8 4 0 24 20 18 Quarterfinals over. July 5. Recalled INF/OF Tyler Wade from Alexandra Panova, Russia, and Julia Wa- Tereza Mihalikova, Slovakia, and Kamil- Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) and Wil- Colorado 6 3 2 20 18 12 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A East). chaczyk, Germany, def. Renata Voracova, la Rakhimova (3), Russia, def. Jessy Rom- OAKLAND ATHLETICS — Placed INF/OF der (42-1-1, 41 KOs) were sched- LAFC 5 4 3 18 15 12 Czech Republic, and Lidziya Marozava (1), pies, Indonesia, and Quinn Gleason, Unit- Chad Pinder on the 10-day IL. Selected the Real Salt Lake 4 3 4 16 18 12 Belarus, 6-2, 2-6, 11-9. ed States, 6-2, 6-2. contract of INF Jacob Wilson from Las Ve- uled to meet July 24 at T-Mobile Astra Sharma, Australia, and Rosalie Erin Routliffe, New Zealand, and Corne- Minnesota 4 5 3 15 12 16 gas (Triple-A West). Van Der Hoek, Netherlands, def. Alicja Ro- lia Lister (2), Sweden, def. Zuzana Zlocho- TAMPA BAY RAYS — Optioned CF Vidal Arena in Las Vegas to complete Houston 3 4 6 15 16 19 solska, Poland, and Vivian Heisen (3), Ger- va, Slovakia, and Karman Kaur Thandi, In- Brujan to Durham (Triple-A East). their series of entertaining fights. Portland 4 6 1 13 14 19 many, 7-6 (5), 6-4. dia, 7-6 (6), 2-6, 10-4. TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Recieved OF Dar- lin Guzman from Cincinnati as the player Fury, the English champion Austin FC 3 6 4 13 10 14 GOLF to be named later completing a Jan. 22 San Jose 3 7 2 11 14 22 trade for RHP Hector Perez. considered the pound-for-pound FC Dallas 2 5 5 11 14 20 National League best heavyweight in the world, John Deere Classic Marathon Classic ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Sent RF Vancouver 2 7 3 9 12 22 PGA Tour LPGA Tour Kole Calhoun to Hillsboro (High-A West) tested positive along with several Note: Three points for victory, one point Thursday Thursday on a rehab assignment. members of his camp. He was al- for tie. At TPC Deere Run At Highland Meadows Golf Club ATLANTA BRAVES — Optioned RHP Ja- Wednesday, July 7 cob Webb to Gwinnett (Triple-A East). Ac- ready in the U.S. to complete his Silvis, Ill. Sylvania, Ohio tivated 1B Pablo Sandoval from the re- Toronto FC 3, New England 2 Yardage: 7,268; Par: 71 Purse: $2 million stricted list. final preparations for the bout, but CF Montréal 2, New York City FC 1 Purse: $6.2 Million Yardage: 6,578; Par: 71 CHICAGO CUBS — Optioned LHP Justin Chicago 3, Orlando City 1 First Round First Round Steele to Iowa (Triple-A East). Sent 1B Tay- is likely to return home to regroup. Seattle 2, Houston 0 Sebastián Muñoz 33­30—63 ­8 Nasa Hataoka 29­32—61 ­10 lor Gushue outright to Iowa. The combat sports calendar is Los Angeles FC 2, Austin FC 0 Chesson Hadley 31­32—63 ­8 Lauren Stephenson 31­34—65 ­6 CINCINNATI REDS — Placed RHP Sonny Colorado 2, Minnesota 0 Chez Reavie 32­32—64 ­7 Matilda Castren 32­34—66 ­5 Gray on the 10-day IL. Recalled RHP Tony crowded for much of August and Real Salt Lake 4, Vancouver 0 Camilo Villegas 31­33—64 ­7 Mina Harigae 32­34—66 ­5 Santillan from Louisville (Triple-A East). LA Galaxy 3, FC Dallas 1 Optioned 35 Max Schrock to Louisville. September, meaning Fury-Wilder Hank Lebioda 33­31—64 ­7 Ariya Jutanugarn 33­33—66 ­5 Thursday’s games LOS ANGELES DODGERS — Selected the III is likely to happen in October. Ryan Moore 31­34—65 ­6 Yealimi Noh 33­33—66 ­5 contract of LHP Darien Nunez from Okla- Philadelphia 1, New York 1, tie Luke List 33­33—66 ­5 Ssu­Chia Cheng 32­34—66 ­5 homa City (Triple-A West). Optioned RHP Atlanta 2, Nashville 2, tie USADA says it can’t alter Kevin Tway 34­32—66 ­5 Mirim Lee 33­34—67 ­4 Mitch White to Oklahoma City. Friday’s game Cameron Champ 31­35—66 ­5 Amy Yang 31­36—67 ­4 MIAMI MARLINS — Recalled RHP Nick Neidert from Jacksonville (Triple-A East). Columbus at Cincinnati Michael Gellerman 33­33—66 ­5 Jennifer Song 32­35—67 ­4 marijuana rules alone Real Salt Lake at Los Angeles FC Optioned RHP Jordan Holloway to Jack- Doug Ghim 33­33—66 ­5 Brittany Lincicome 32­35—67 ­4 sonville. U.S. Anti-Doping Agency lead- NWSL Sam Ryder 32­35—67 ­4 Alison Lee 31­36—67 ­4 MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Optioned LHP ers are pushing to further mitigate Bronson Burgoon 32­35—67 ­4 Elizabeth Szokol 31­36—67 ­4 Hoby Milner to Nashville (Triple-A East). WLTPts GF GA Cam Davis 34­33—67 ­4 Katherine Perry­Hamski 34­34—68 ­3 Sent OF Lorenzo Cain to Nashville on a re- “harsh consequences” for mari- hab assignment. Sung Kang 34­33—67 ­4 Megan Khang 32­36—68 ­3 North Carolina 5 2 1 16 14 4 NEW YORK METS — Optioned RHP Rob- juana if it’s not intentionally used Harold Varner III 34­33—67 ­4 Stacy Lewis 31­37—68 ­3 ert Stock to Syracuse (Triple-A East) fol- Orlando 4 2 3 15 12 10 Alex Smalley 33­34—67 ­4 Jasmine Suwannapura 31­37—68 ­3 lowing last night’s game. Recalled RHP to enhance performance, though Portland 5 3 0 15 14 6 Adam Schenk 34­33—67 ­4 A Lim Kim 32­36—68 ­3 Nick Tropeano from Syracuse to serve as they cannot unilaterally change Houston 4 3 1 13 10 8 J.J. Spaun 32­35—67 ­4 Brianna Do 33­35—68 ­3 the 27th man yesterday will remain on the active roster. the rules, they wrote in a letter to Gotham FC 3 1 3 12 7 3 Jhonattan Vegas 33­34—67 ­4 Lauren Coughlin 31­37—68 ­3 PITTSBURGH PIRATES — Agreed to Washington 3 2 3 12 8 8 Henrik Norlander 33­34—67 ­4 Min Lee 34­34—68 ­3 terms with 2B Dee Strange-Gordon to a mi- members of Congress critical of Chicago 3 4 2 11 6 13 Kevin Na 34­33—67 ­4 Cristie Kerr 33­35—68 ­3 nor league contract. the agency in the wake of sprinter Nick Taylor 35­32—67 ­4 Chella Choi 33­35—68 ­3 ST. LOUIS CARDINALS — Optioned RHP Louisville 3 4 1 10 6 12 Johan Oviedo to Memphis (Triple-A East). Russell Henley 32­35—67 ­4 Linnea Strom 33­35—68 ­3 Sha’Carri Richardson’s ban from Reign FC 2 5 1 7 5 10 SAN DIEGO PADRES — Recalled RHP Brandon Hagy 34­33—67 ­4 Caroline Masson 33­35—68 ­3 James Norwood and LHP Daniel Camarena the Olympics. Kansas City 0 6 3 3 5 13 Fabián Gómez 34­33—67 ­4 Christina Kim 33­35—68 ­3 from El Paso (Triple-A West). Optioned The letter, sent Friday, ad- Note: Three points for victory, one point Patrick Rodgers 33­34—67 ­4 Ana Belac 32­37—69 ­2 RHP Nabil Crismatt to El Paso. Placed LHP for tie. Chris Baker 33­34—67 ­4 Pajaree Anannarukarn 34­35—69 ­2 Nick Ramirez on the 10-day IL. dressed criticisms leveled by Friday’s game SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS — Sent RHP Aa- D.J. Trahan 33­35—68 ­3 Gerina Piller 35­34—69 ­2 ron Sanchez on a rehab assignment to Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Louisville at Orlando Chase Seiffert 37­31—68 ­3 Jennifer Kupcho 33­36—69 ­2 Sacramento (Triple-A West). D-New York, and Jamie Raskin, Saturday’s game Scott Harrington 33­35—68 ­3 Cheyenne Knight 33­36—69 ­2 WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Placed North Carolina at Washington Pat Perez 33­35—68 ­3 Austin Ernst 35­34—69 ­2 RHP Joe Ross on the 10-day IL, retroactive D-Maryland, in their own letter, Dylan Frittelli 33­35—68 ­3 to July 7. Recalled RHP Ryne Harper from Sunday’s games Rochester (Triple-A East). sent last week, after Richardson’s Sungjae Im 34­34—68 ­3 U.S. Senior Open Gotham FC at Portland BASKETBALL suspension was announced. Houston at Chicago Jim Herman 34­34—68 ­3 Thursday National Basketball Association Kansas City at Reign FC Keith Mitchell 35­33—68 ­3 At Omaha Country Club ATLANTA HAWKS — Announced the hir- The 21-year-old sprinter will Saturday, July 17 Michael Thompson 33­35—68 ­3 Omaha, Neb ing of Nate McMillan as the full-time head not compete at the Tokyo Games Lucas Glover 34­34—68 ­3 Purse: $4 million coach. Houston at North Carolina Yardage: 6,798; Par: 70 Women’s National Basketball after testing positive for a chem- Seamus Power 32­36—68 ­3 Association Scott Stallings 32­36—68 ­3 (a) amateur PRO BASKETBALL First Round SEATTLE STORM — Signed F Cierra Bur- ical found in marijuana after her Will Gordon 35­33—68 ­3 Stephen Ames 33­32—65 ­5 dick to a second 7-day contract. WASHINGTON MYSTICS — Signed G Sha- victory in the 100-meter finals at WNBA John Huh 33­35—68 ­3 Billy Andrade 33­32—65 ­5 Mark Wilson 33­35—68 ­3 tori Walker-Kimbrough and C Megan Gus- the Olympic trials last month. EASTERN CONFERENCE Wes Short Jr. 33­33—66 ­4 tafson to second 7-day contracts. Mark Hubbard 32­36—68 ­3 Robert Karlsson 35­32—67 ­3 HOCKEY Officially, she received a 30-day WLPct GB Kyle Stanley 34­34—68 ­3 Alex Cejka 33­34—67 ­3 National Hockey League Zach Johnson 32­36—68 ­3 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS — Signed D Tra- ban, but the positive test nullified Connecticut 12 6 .667 — Miguel Angel Jimenez 34­34—68 ­2 Martin Laird 31­37—68 ­3 Fran Quinn 35­33—68 ­2 vis Dermott to a two-year contract exten- her first-place finish at the trials, Chicago 10 9 .526 2½ sion. C.T. Pan 34­34—68 ­3 Lee Janzen 36­33—69 ­1 which cost her a spot in the indi- New York 10 9 .526 2½ Richy Werenski 34­34—68 ­3 WASHINGTON CAPITALS — Re-signed F Jay Haas 35­34—69 ­1 Beck Malenstyn to a one-year, two-way Washington 7 10 .412 4½ Jason Dufner 33­35—68 ­3 Colin Montgomerie 36­33—69 ­1 contract. vidual race. And earlier this week, Atlanta 6 11 .353 5½ Wes Roach 34­34—68 ­3 Ted Tryba 35­34—69 ­1 SOCCER USA Track and Field left her com- Major League Soccer Indiana 2 16 .111 10 Sean O'Hair 32­37—69 ­2 Rod Pampling 34­35—69 ­1 pletely off the Olympic roster, Danny Lee 37­32—69 ­2 Fred Couples 36­33—69 ­1 COLUMBUS CREW — Acquired F Erik Hur- WESTERN CONFERENCE Brian Gay 36­33—69 ­2 tado from CF Montreal in exchange for meaning she can’t run in the 4x100 Thongchai Jaidee 35­34—69 ­1 $200,000 in 2021 General Allocation Money WLPct GB Robert Streb 34­35—69 ­2 Jerry Smith 33­36—69 ­1 (GAM). relay, which takes place after the Jonas Blixt 35­34—69 ­2 William Mitchell (a) 35­35—70 E National Women’s Soccer League Seattle 15 4 .789 — Ben Martin 34­35—69 ­2 Kent Jones 36­34—70 E ORLANDO PRIDE — Signed F Jodie Taylor 30-day ban is over. Las Vegas 14 5 .737 1 Doc Redman 35­34—69 ­2 David Toms 35­35—70 E from the North Carolina Courage on a deal It said that because Richardson through the end of the 2021 season. Matthew NeSmith 35­34—69 ­2 Kevin Kraft 34­36—70 E Minnesota 10 7 .588 4 WASHINGTON SPIRIT — Signed MF Tay- voluntarily accepted her 30-day Phoenix 8 9 .471 6 Eric Cole 34­35—69 ­2 Jeff Wilson (a) 31­39—70 E lor Aylmer and D Morgan Goff as national Andres Romero 37­32—69 ­2 sanction, any attempt to reverse it, Dallas 9 11 .450 6½ Steve Runge 36­34—70 E team replacement players. Waived D Na- Rhein Gibson 34­35—69 ­2 Tom Byrum 33­37—70 E talie Jacobs. Los Angeles 6 12 .333 8½ as Ocasio-Cortez and Raskin sug- Luke Kluver 35­34—69 ­2 Shane Bertsch 34­36—70 E COLLEGE Thursday’s games Brian Stuard 33­36—69 ­2 Tom Lehman 35­35—70 E ALABAMA A&M — Named Kevin Missou- gested should happen, “would Scott Brown 34­35—69 ­2 ri an assistant men’s basketball coach No games scheduled Mike Weir 36­34—70 E MEMPHIS — Named Larry Brown an as- have been quickly appealed” by Friday’s games K.J. Choi 34­35—69 ­2 Mark O'Meara 34­36—70 E sistant men’s basketball coach. the IOC or World Anti-Doping Tom Lewis 32­37—69 ­2 Atlanta at Connecticut Mauricio Molina 35­36—71 +1 PROVIDENCE — Named LaDontae Hen- New York at Indiana Daniel Berger 33­36—69 ­2 Todd White (a) 37­34—71 +1 ton as the special assistant to the head Agency and might have resulted Seattle at Phoenix Hudson Swafford 35­34—69 ­2 Scott Parel 35­36—71 +1 coach for men’s basketball. in an even longer suspension. Minnesota at Las Vegas RICE — Agreed to terms with Scott Pera Satoshi Kodaira 35­34—69 ­2 Gene Sauers 34­37—71 +1 on an extension that will run through the Saturday’s games Greg Chalmers 32­37—69 ­2 Kenny Perry 34­37—71 +1 2023-24 season as men’s basketball Washington at Chicago Patton Kizzire 34­35—69 ­2 Glen Day 37­34—71 +1 coach. Associated Press Saturday, July 10, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 19 WIMBLEDON/MMA McGregor acts up ahead of UFC 264 BY GREG BEACHAM drank it up faster than a double Associated Press shot of their hero's Proper Twelve LAS VEGAS — Conor McGre- whiskey, Poirier appeared to gor wore a plaid purple suit and weather the verbal blows perfect- sunglasses when he performed ly well. some of his greatest Vegas hits at “You used to be a lot better than his UFC 264 news conference that, man,” Poirier said during a Thursday ahead of his latest at- rare break in the barrage. “The tempt to roll back the mixed mar- trash talk was a lot better than tial arts clock. that.” The biggest star in combat After all, McGregor's carefully sports preened, strutted and mis- crafted persona doesn't hit quite behaved at T-Mobile Arena, de- so hard when McGregor has had lighting his fans in a raucous his hand raised in victory just once crowd anticipating the finale to since the Obama administration: one of the biggest fight trilogies in For all his fame, fortune and ce- recent history on Saturday night. lebrity, he's 1-2 in the cage and 0-1 McGregor threw a bottle of in the boxing ring since November Dustin Poirier's hot sauce into the 2016. stands early on and then prowled Poirier laughed at the differ- KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/AP the stage, security guards separat- ence from the promotion for their Italy’s Matteo Berrettini celebrates after beating Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in the men’s semifinals Friday ating him from his opponent. He second fight last January, when the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London. Berrettini won in four sets. threw a kick at Poirier during McGregor was disarmingly their event-ending faceoff — friendly and charming through- when he was too far away to con- out. Even with a resumption of nect, of course. hostilities, Poirier insisted he In between, the loquacious won't allow McGregor into his Italy’s Berrettini reaches Irishman insulted Poirier's wife, head as he did in 2014, when repeatedly vowed to kill Poirier in McGregor knocked him out in the cage, questioned Poirier's love their first meeting. for his native Louisiana and called “I see a man here that I’ve de- Poirier a common epithet that's feated, and I know I can defeat his first Grand Slam final much less loaded on McGregor's again,” Poirier said. side of the pond. McGregor has reached a level BY HOWARD FENDRICH From there, Hurkacz morphed Poirier and the assembled fans of power in the fight game where Associated Press Scoreboard from the guy coming off the biggest got another recital of McGregor's he's no longer defined by mere WIMBLEDON, England — Cries win of his career — in straight sets in classic verbal combination of dex- wins and losses. His appearances of “Vai!” (Go!), “Forza!” (Let’s go!) Wimbledon the quarterfinals against his idol, terity and brutality, the secret to in a cage or a ring are internation- and even “Andiamo, amore mio!” Friday Federer — back to the player who burrowing inside the heads of sev- al events, and he has built a celeb- At All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet (Let’s go, my love!) rang through Club arrived in England on a six-match eral opponents during his rocket rity persona that towers above his Centre Court, supporting Matteo London losing streak. ride into the sports stratosphere in peers even as its foundation of Surface: Grass Berrettini in his native tongue on his Men’s Singles More than 50 minutes passed be- the previous decade. sports success eroded over the Semifinals way to becoming Italy’s first Grand Matteo Berrettini (7), Italy, def. Hubert fore Berrettini dropped another “On Saturday night, you’re go- past half-decade. Slam finalist in 45 years. Hurkacz (14), Poland, 6­3, 6­0, 6­7 (3), 6­4. game, a stretch that gave him the ing to get walked around that octa- But instead of settling into what Women’s Doubles With booming serves delivering Semifinals first two sets and a 1-0 lead in the gon like a dog and then put to would likely be several comfort- Hsieh Su­wei, Taiwan, and Elise Mertens 22 aces, and powerful forehands (3), Belgium, def. Shuko Aoyama and Ena third. sleep,” McGregor said to Poirier. able years fighting non-title UFC helping compile a total of 60 win- Shibahara (5), Japan, 6­4, 1­6, 6­3. He (almost) couldn’t miss. Hur- “He’s not in the same strato- spectacles and taking more cash- Elena Vesnina and Veronika Kuderme­ ners, the No. 7-seeded Berrettini tova, Russia, def. Storm Sanders, Austra­ kacz (almost) couldn’t connect. sphere as me,” McGregor insisted grab boxing matches, McGregor lia, and Caroline Dolehide, United States, used an 11-game run to grab a big 7­6 (6), 3­6, 7­5. In the first set, for example, the 6- later. “The man looks disgraceful chose to return to his last defeat. lead and then held on to beat No. 14 foot-5, barrel-chested Berrettini up here. He looks frail at this Instead of moving on, he wants to Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 6-0, 6-7 (3), 6-4 compiled 21 winners — 11 off his weight now. The weight cut is get- go back, to get it right — and to set at Wimbledon on Friday. old Berrettini, who lost his only pre- forehand — and just eight unforced ting to him." a new path in front of the UFC’s “I have no words. Really. Just, vious major semifinal at the 2019 errors. Hurkacz, by contrast, did not “He's going out on a stretcher in first full-capacity crowd in its ‘Thanks.’ And I need, I think, a cou- U.S. Open. “Hopefully Sunday’s go- accrue a single groundstroke win- this fight,” McGregor said finally. hometown since the start of the ple of hours to understand what ing to be even better.” ner in that span. And while McGregor's fans pandemic. happened,” Berrettini told the ca- He’s now on an 11-match winning By the finish, Berrettini had 24 pacity crowd. “I just know I played a streak on grass courts, including a winners off his forehand alone, and great match. .... I never dreamed title at the Queen’s Club tuneup last merely 18 unforced errors. Hur- about this because it was too much, month, when he became the first kacz’s totals? Fewer than half as even for a dream.” man since Boris Becker in 1985 to many winners, 27 — just four on On Sunday, he will go up against win the trophy in his debut at that forehands — and 26 unforced er- either No. 1 Novak Djokovic, a 19- event. Becker went on to triumph at rors. time major champion, or No. 10 De- Wimbledon that year. Hurkacz, so calm and collected nis Shapovalov, a first-time Slam The outcome Friday seemed to against Federer two days earlier, semifinalist. Djokovic was leading turn early against Hurkacz, never was a picture of angst, leaning for- their semifinal two sets to none. before past the third round at a Slam ward or rolling his eyes after some Berrettini has created quite a but coming off victories over eight- misses. sporting Sunday in London for Italy. time Wimbledon champion Roger When Hurkacz got broken for the After he plays in the Wimbledon fi- Federer and No. 2 Daniil Medve- first time on the cloudy afternoon, nal that afternoon — the first for a dev. the 24-year-old from Poland sat for man from his country in a title A key moment, oddly enough, the ensuing changeover and, be- match at any major since Adriano came less than 20 minutes in, when tween bites of a banana, motioned to Panatta won the 1976 French Open Hurkacz was ahead 3-2 and held a his American coach, Craig Boynton, — Italy will meet England at Wem- break point. That was erased by to adjust the seating arrangements bley Stadium in the final of soccer’s Berrettini — no surprise here — by in their guest box, wanting some JOHN LOCHER/AP European Championship that night. a service winner at 130 mph, punc- people closer together and others Conor McGregor, right, kicks at Dustin Poirier as Dana White, UFC “So far, it’s the best day, tennis- tuated by one of his many yells of more spread out. president, holds them apart during a news conference for UFC 264 wise, of my life,” said the 25-year- “Si!” As if that were the issue. on Thursday in Las Vegas. The fight is Saturday night. PAGE 20 • STARS AND STRIPES • Saturday, July 10, 2021 MLB

Scoreboard Padres rally from 8 runs down American League East Division WLPct GB Rookie reliever Boston 54 34 .614 _ Tampa Bay 51 36 .586 2½ Toronto 44 40 .524 8 hits grand slam New York 44 42 .512 9 Baltimore 28 58 .326 25 off Nats’ Scherzer Central Division WLPct GB BY BERNIE WILSON Chicago 51 35 .593 _ Associated Press Cleveland 43 42 .506 7½ SAN DIEGO — Welcome home Detroit 40 48 .455 12 Minnesota 36 50 .419 15 to Slam Diego, Daniel Camarena. Kansas City 36 51 .414 15½ The rookie reliever hit a stun- West Division ning grand slam off Washington WLPct GB ace Max Scherzer and his home- town San Diego Padres overcame Houston 54 34 .614 _ Oakland 50 39 .562 4½ an eight-run deficit, finally beat- Seattle 46 42 .523 8 ing the Nationals 9-8 Thursday Los Angeles 44 42 .512 9 night on Trent Grisham’s RBI sin- Texas 34 53 .391 19½ gle in the ninth inning. National League The Padres matched the biggest East Division comeback in franchise history, WLPct GB helped by Fernando Tatis’ 28th New York 45 38 .542 _ home run and Grisham’s two-out Philadelphia 42 43 .494 4 hit. Atlanta 42 44 .488 4½ But it was Camarena’s blow that Washington 42 44 .488 4½ really jolted the crowd at Petco Miami 38 48 .442 8½ Park. Central Division Camarena, who went to Cathe- DERRICK TUSKAN/AP WLPct GB dral Catholic High, was called up The Padres’ Daniel Camarena, right, celebrates as Wil Myers congratulates him after Camarena his a grandMilwaukee 53 36 .596 _ earlier in the day for his second slam against the Washington Nationals on Thursday in San Diego. Cincinnati 45 42 .517 7 Chicago 43 45 .489 9½ stint with the Padres. He replaced St. Louis 43 45 .489 9½ Yu Darvish starting the fourth in- Scherzer with the bases loaded erything I had to put a ball in ly that, a grand slam.” Pittsburgh 32 54 .372 19½ ning after the All-Star’s left hip and two outs in the fourth. The play.” Camarena had struck out in his West Division tightened up, and allowed Trea left-hander golfed a 1-2 fastball He was as stunned as everyone only previous big league at-bat WLPct GB Turner’s second homer of the deep into the right-field stands to else in the ballpark during his debut earlier this sea- San Francisco 54 32 .628 _ game, a two-run drive that gave send the fans into a frenzy and pull “Oh my God, I blacked out,” he son. In the minors, he was 5-for-28 Los Angeles 54 34 .614 1 the Nationals an 8-0 lead. the Padres to 8-6. said. “I hit first base and then all of (.179) with no extra-base hits and San Diego 52 38 .578 4 With the Padres’ bullpen taxed Camarena said he was just try- a sudden I noticed the lights were zero RBIs. Triple-A teammate Go- Colorado 38 50 .432 17 in recent days, manager Jayce ing to put the ball in play, “espe- flashing in the stadium and that’s suke Katoh, who’s also from San Arizona 25 64 .281 30½ Tingler had Camarena bat for cially against Max, like that’s hard when it kind of hit, like, ‘Oh my Diego, had given him a bat and Thursday’s games Oakland 2, Houston 1 himself against the struggling to do, so I was just trying with ev- God, I just hit a home run.’ Not on- batting gloves. Seattle 4, N.Y. Yankees 0 Cleveland 7, Kansas City 4 Minnesota 5, Detroit 3 Toronto at Baltimore, ppd. ROUNDUP L.A. Dodgers 6, Miami 1 Colorado 9, Arizona 3 Philadelphia 8, Chicago Cubs 0 Milwaukee 5, Cincinnati 3 San Diego 9, Washington 8 Pittsburgh at N.Y. Mets, ppd. Friday’s games Urias leads Dodgers past Marlins Chicago White Sox at Baltimore Kansas City at Cleveland Toronto at Tampa Bay Associated Press cía hit a tiebreaking, two-run homered off Jordan Montgomery Oakland at Texas Detroit at Minnesota MIAMI — Julio Urías allowed homer in the eighth inning as host (3-4) as Seattle salvaged the final N.Y. Yankees at Houston Milwaukee boosted its NL Central game of the three-game set. L.A. Angels at Seattle Jazz Chisholm’s leadoff homer, St. Louis at Chicago Cubs then pitched shutout ball through lead to seven games over Cincin- Twins 5, Tigers 3:Ryan Jeffers Atlanta at Miami Philadelphia at Boston the seventh inning for his major nati. and Miguel Sanó homered, leading Pittsburgh at N.Y. Mets Cincinnati at Milwaukee league-leading 11th win, and the The matchup marked the first of J.A. Happ and host Minnesota over Washington at San Francisco Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Mia- seven straight games between the Detroit. Arizona at L.A. Dodgers Colorado at San Diego mi Marlins 6-1 Thursday to avoid a top two teams in the division — Jeffers’ homer with one out in Saturday’s games four-game sweep. four in Milwaukee and, after the the fifth inning marked Minneso- Toronto (Stripling 3-4) at Tampa Bay Chisholm put Miami ahead All-Star break, three in Cincinnati. ta’s first runner against Tigers (Yarbrough 5-3) Detroit (TBD) at Minnesota (Ober 1-1) when he drove a 2-0 fastball off the Indians 7, Royals 4: Franmil starter Tarik Skubal. Chicago White Sox (Giolito 6-6) at Balti- more (Eshelman 0-1) facade above right-center field for Reyes hit a three-run homer with Athletics 2, Astros 1:Jed Low- Oakland (Kaprielian 4-3) at Texas (Folty- his 10th homer. two outs in the ninth inning as host rie and Matt Olson drove in runs to newicz 2-8) Kansas City (Minor 6-7) at Cleveland Urías (11-3) allowed just four Cleveland ended a nine-game los- back Frankie Montas (8-7), who al- (Morgan 1-3) N.Y. Yankees (Cole 8-4) at Houston more hits, struck out nine and ing streak, its longest under man- lowed one run and five hits in 6 2/3 (Greinke 8-2) L.A. Angels (Sandoval 2-2) at Seattle walked two, throwing a season- ager Terry Francona. innings and struck out 10 to lead (Flexen 7-3) high 101 pitches. With the score 1-1, After Kansas City manager visiting Oakland past Houston. Washington (Lester 2-3) at San Francis- co (DeSclafani 9-3) Urías singled leading off the fifth, Mike Matheny elected to have re- The Athletics stopped a three- Atlanta (Fried 5-5) at Miami (Rogers 7-5) WILFREDO LEE/AP Philadelphia (Moore 0-1) at Boston (Pé- starting a five-run inning. liever Greg Holland (2-4) walk the game skid and ended the Astros' rez 7-4) Blake Treinen pitched a two-hit Los Angeles Dodgers starter dangerous José Ramírez to put six-game winning streak. Pittsburgh (Anderson 4-8) at N.Y. Mets (Stroman 6-6) eighth and Garrett Cleavinger a Julio Urias allowed four hits, runners at first and second, Reyes Rockies 9, Diamondbacks 3: Pittsburgh (TBD) at N.Y. Mets (Megill 0-0) perfect ninth. struck out nine and walked two made him pay with his blast into Dom Nunez, hitting just .159, dou- Cincinnati (Gutierrez 4-3) at Milwaukee Sandy Alcantara (5-8) allowed while picking up his 11th victory the left-field seats. bled twice and singled as visiting (Peralta 7-3) St. Louis (Kim 3-5) at Chicago Cubs (Da- five runs and seven hits in four- of the season Thursday against Mariners 4, Yankees 0: Rookie Colorado avoided a three-game vies 5-5) the Marlins in Miami. Arizona (Smith 2-5) at L.A. Dodgers plus innings. Logan Gilbert (3-2) pitched one- sweep by Arizona. (Buehler 8-1) Phillies 8, Cubs 0:Brad Miller hit ball over seven innings, struck The Diamondbacks are a major Colorado (Márquez 7-6) at San Diego (Musgrove 5-6) hit three home runs in a game for Miller hit a solo drive in the third out a career-high eight and retired league-worst 25-64. The Rockies Calendar the first time in his career and vis- inning and added two-run homers his final 18 batters to lead host won for just the seventh time in 40 July 11-13 — Amateur draft, Denver. iting Philadelphia routed sinking in the fifth and seventh innings. Seattle past New York. road games this season. They’re July 13 — All-Star Game, Denver. Aug. 12 — New York Yankees vs. Chicago Chicago. Brewers 5, Reds 3:Avisaíl Gar- Kyle Seager and Dylan Moore 31-17 at Coors Field. White Sox at Dyersville, Iowa. Saturday, July 10, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 21 NBA FINALS/OLYMPICS US loses 3 players to virus concerns BY TIM REYNOLDS “I think we all know (the Associated Press LAS VEGAS — The USA Select pandemic) is not over yet. Team will be without three play- That goes without saying. ers for the remainder of Olympic Everybody has to still be training camp for coronavirus-re- lated reasons, though there are no vigilant and careful.” indications that any cause for con- Gregg Popovich cern exists past those players. U.S. coach The U.S. Olympic team prac- ticed for a third consecutive day Thursday, with the remaining vealed that, because of a state of members of the select team taking emergency in response to rising part in that workout. Players on virus numbers, they decided to both the Olympic team and the se- ban fans from Tokyo-area stadi- lect team — a group of 17 players ums and arenas for the games that that were brought in to scrimmage begin in two weeks.

ROSS D. FRANKLIN/AP and practice against the Tokyo- Fans from abroad were banned Suns guard Chris Paul, left, shoots against Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton during the second bound club — are tested daily. months ago, and now, so are Japa- half of Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Thursday in Phoenix. “I think we all know (the pan- nese fans from almost all Olympic demic) is not over yet,” U.S. coach events. A small number will be at Gregg Popovich said. “That goes some; basketball is not one of Suns two wins from title without saying. Everybody has to those sports. Soaring: still be vigilant and careful.” U.S. Olympic forward Dray- A person with knowledge of the mond Green, who was on the team FROM PAGE 24 situation said the three players in- that won gold at the Rio Games in volved for the virus-related rea- 2016 as well, said the Americans games in both 1976 and 1993, their sons were Immanuel Quickley of may reap a small benefit from only other appearances, and the New York Knicks and Char- playing in an empty arena in To- didn’t win more than two games in lotte Hornets teammates P.J. kyo. either series. Washington and Miles Bridges. “If anything, it may help us be- They’ve already got two this The person, who spoke to The As- cause everybody’s normally pull- time and will go after a third Sun- sociated Press on condition of ano- ing to see us lose,” Green said. day in Milwaukee, which will host nymity because neither USA Bas- “You get a lot of these countries the NBA Finals for the first time ketball nor the players revealed that really feed off their crowd, since 1974. names publicly, said one of the and you’ll have other countries “We know what the deal is,” An- three had tested positive for CO- coming to support those countries, tetokounmpo said. “We’ve got to VID-19 and the two others were to beat us. So if anything, it may go back home and protect home.” being held out over possible expo- help us. It’s unfortunate, obvious- Jrue Holiday played more ag- sure concerns. The person did not ly, what’s happening in Japan. The gressively but didn’t shoot a whole reveal which player tested posi- cases are rising. You hate to see it lot better than in Game 1, scoring tive. happen. But just from a pure bas- 17 points but hitting only 7-for-21. “It’s confined to that,” Popovich ketball standpoint, I don’t think Khris Middleton was 5-for-16, said, referring to the three select gives us a disadvantage.” MATT YORK/AP forcing Antetokounmpo to carry players that he did not identify in Tokyo reported 920 new cases an even heavier load on his sore Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton, right, is defended by Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker during the second half. his comments. on Wednesday, the highest total left leg. The news came on the same day there since May 13. The new-case It adds up to the Bucks having to that Olympic organizers and Japa- number dipped slightly Thursday, overcome a 2-0 deficit for the sec- rebounds, shooting 4-for-8. He nese government officials re- to 896. ond time this postseason. They did missed all eight attempts in Game Scoreboard it against the Brooklyn Nets in the 1. Eastern Conference semifinals, Phoenix opened a 65-50 lead NBA Finals but had some help when first with a good start to the third, but (Best-of-seven) x-if necessary James Harden and then Kyrie Irv- Antetokounmpo — and pretty Phoenix 1, Milwaukee 0 ing were injured. much only Antetokounmpo — Phoenix 118, Milwaukee 105 Thursday: Phoenix 118, Milwaukee 108 Now they are facing a Suns team kept the game from getting away Sunday: at Milwaukee, AFN-Sports, 2 loaded with weapons all over the from the Bucks. He scored 20 of a.m. Monday CET; 9 a.m. Monday JKT Wednesday, July 14: at Milwaukee, AFN- lineup, and showed off all of them the Bucks’ 33 points in the third, Sports, 3 a.m. Thursday CET; 10 a.m. Thurs- in their highlight play. the first 20-point period in the fi- day JKT x-Saturday, July 17: at Phoenix, AFN- They whipped the ball all nals since Michael Jordan against Sports, 3 a.m. Sunday CET; 10 a.m. Sunday JKT around the perimeter for the final the Suns in 1993. x-Tuesday, July 20: at Milwaukee basket of the first half. It went “Nothing Giannis does surpris- x-Thursday, July 22: at Phoenix from Paul to Booker to Jae Crowd- es me anymore. He’s got the nick- er to Bridges, back to Crowder to name Freak for a reason,” Bucks Paul, then over to Crowder and guard Pat Connaughton said. “I once again Bridges. He then final- will say it’s incredible what he’s in Game 1. ... Antetokounmpo had ly fed it inside to Ayton, who been able to do, and it hasn’t hap- his 13th game with at least 20 scored while being fouled with pened without time he’s put in to points and 10 rebounds in this 14.9 seconds left for a 56-45 lead at get himself ready, get his body postseason. Only Kareem Abdul- the break. better and continue to do the Jabbar, who had 15 in 1974 and 14 The Bucks could only dream of things that he does to be a two- in 1971, had more for the Bucks. having that many guys involved. time MVP.” Suns: Booker has 490 points, Antetokounmpo’s 15 field goals second-most for any player in his were more than twice as many as Tip-ins first postseason. Rick Barry JOHN LOCHER/AP any other Milwaukee player. Bucks: Middleton finished with scored 521 in 1967. .. The Suns are Head coach Gregg Popovich speaks with Draymond Green during Crowder had 11 points and 10 11 points. ... Holiday was 4-for-14 14-4 in this postseason. practice for USA Basketball on Wednesday in Las Vegas. PAGE 22 • STARS AND STRIPES • Saturday, July 10, 2021 OLYMPICS

At a glance BEACH VOLLEYBALL Highlights from Rio: When Germans Lau- ra Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst took gold in 2016, they had to ask the bronze medal win- ner what to do on the victory stand. It was the first women’s beach volleyball medal for Ger- many, and it ended American Kerri Walsh Jennings’ run of three straight titles. The Ger- New generation mans beat hometown favorites Ágatha Bed- narczuk and Bárbara Seixas in the final, while Walsh Jennings and April Ross beat the other Brazilian team, Talita Antunes and Larissa França, for third. A day after the hosts’ two losses in the hits the beach women’s medal round, Alison Cerutti and Bruno Oscar Schmidt gave Brazil reason to celebrate on Copacabana beach. Their victo- ry over Italians Daniele Lupo and Paolo Nico- US no longer has Walsh Jennings lai set off a rain-soaked samba at the sport’s spiritual home. The Netherlands beat Russia for bronze. The lone U.S. medal was its worst BY JIMMY GOLEN longest time, I just assumed Kerri haul since 2000. Associated Press was going to be there.” Tokyo expectations: Ross, who won a sil- ondon Olympics orga- Claes, 25, and Sponcil, 24, are ver medal in London with Jen Kessy, is back nizers erected a 25-foot the youngest U.S. beach volleyball in the Olympics with a third partner, Alix Kli- neman. They are the No. 2 seed, with world statue of two-time de- team ever to qualify for the Olym- champions Sarah Pavan and Melissa Huma- Lfending champion Kerri pics and the first NCAA beach vol- na-Paredes of Canada earning the top spot Walsh Jennings in St. James’ Park, leyball products to reach the Sum- by tiebreaker. The other U.S. women’s team, just a short stroll from the venue mer Games. (Tina Graudina, who Sarah Sponcil and Kelly Claes, won the last two world tour events to pass Walsh Jen- where she wound up winning her will compete for Latvia in Tokyo, nings and Brooke Sweat in the points race third beach volleyball title. also played at USC.) and foil the 42-year-old, three-time gold Four years later in Rio de Janei- The older generation isn’t ready medalist’s bid for a sixth Olympics. ro, Walsh Jennings again climbed to give up just yet. Christian Sorum and Anders Mol of Nor- way are the top-seeded team in a men’s MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ/AP onto the podium to claim her Ross, who won silver in London bracket that has neither Brazilians nor Amer- fourth Olympic medal — this one and bronze in Rio, is 39 and head- The United States’ April Ross digs a ball while playing against Brazil icans among the favorites. Russians Viaches- bronze. ing to her third Olympics. The U.S. during the women’s beach volleyball bronze medal match at the 2016 lav Krasilnikov and Oleg Stoyanovskiy are the For two decades, no one loomed men’s teams feature 45-year-old Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Ross will be at the Tokyo world champions and the No. 2 seed. Olympics, paired with Alix Klineman. The Americans are sending a couple of larger in the sport than the five- Jake Gibb, the oldest volleyball veterans. Jake Gibb, 45, returns for a fourth time Olympian known as “Six Feet player in Olympic history — beach time, this time as the oldest volleyball player of Sunshine.” But when the Sum- or indoor — and Beijing gold med- those are the fans we’re going to led to a reshuffling of partnerships — beach or indoor — in Olympic history; mer Games begin in Tokyo this alist Phil Dalhausser, 41. have, I think it’s going to be a great that is common — though not usu- he’ll be with Taylor Crabb for the first time. month, the 42-year-old Califor- atmosphere.” ally so extensive. Germany’s Lau- 2008 gold medalist Phil Dalhausser is also back for his fourth Olympics, with Rio partner nian won’t be there. Beach party ra Ludwig, who paired with Kira Nick Lucena. “This is the first Olympics she Five years after the beach vol- Partner swaps Walkenhorst to win gold in Brazil, Athletes to watch: Qatar’s Cherif You- hasn’t been to in the 21st Century, leyball venue bounced to a samba Only two women’s teams return is paired with Margareta Kozuch. nousse and Ahmed Tijan head to Tokyo with which is just crazy to think about,” beat at Copacabana Beach, it’s from Rio intact, with Spain’s Elsa Silver medalist Ágatha Bednarc- a No. 3 seed in their attempt to earn the first Middle Eastern medal in Olympic beach vol- said Sarah Sponcil, who with her spiritual home, the event moves to Baquerizo and Liliana Fernández zuk is with Duda Santos Lisboa in- leyball history. ... Italian skyball server Adrian partner Kelly Claes won the final Shiokaze Park in Tokyo Bay. the only pair to make the Round of stead of Bárbara Seixas. Bronze Carambula returns with a new partner, Enri- two qualifying events to snatch the There’s no Olympic sport that 16 in 2016 and qualify for Tokyo. winner Ross is back with Kline- co Rossi. ... Reigning gold medalist Bruno last U.S. spot in Tokyo from Walsh relies more on a party atmosphere On the men’s side, six partner- man instead of Walsh Jennings. spent two weeks in the hospital with CO- VID-19 in February; he also has a new part- Jennings and Brooke Sweat. than beach volleyball, and there’s ships survived, including silver Reigning men’s champions ner, Evandro Goncalves. ... Sanne Keizer and “It’s crazy the end of the race for some doubt about what the sport medalists Daniele Lupo and Paolo Bruno Oscar Schmidt and Alison Madelein Meppelink of the Netherlands -- the Olympic spot. No one, I think, will lose without a full house and a Nicolai of Italy, and bronze win- Cerutti are both back — but with both around six feet tall -- could pose prob- saw it coming,” said April Ross, disc jockey to keep them dancing. ners Alexander Brouwer and Rob- new partners. Schmidt is teamed lems on the women’s side. ... Ludwig took 18 months off after having a baby. She will team who was Walsh Jennings’ partner “It’s the Olympics, and you want ert Meeuwsen of the Netherlands. with Evandro Oliveira and Cerutti with Margareta Kozuch. in Rio but will return to the Olym- that party atmosphere,” Ross said. Instead, retirement, injury, will try to repeat with Álvaro Fil- Gold medal moments: Women: Aug. pics with Alix Klineman. “For the “Japanese fans are awesome, so if childbirth and just plain strategy ho. 6; Men: Aug. 7.

VOLLEYBALL Early losses haven’t hurt teams in past tournaments BY JOSH DUBOW said. “I don’t know that anybody will get the Brazilian men after winning silver in At a glance Associated Press through unscathed. That’s all a part of 2008 and ’12 and gold at home in Rio five Highlights from Rio: The Chinese women beat Serbia If the past two Olympics have proven that process. I don’t know anybody who’s years ago. He’s joined by Olympic new- to win gold for the third time in their history behind coach anything when it comes to indoor volley- won that event in quite a number of Olym- comer Alan Souza, who was the MVP of Lang Ping, who became the first person to win gold in ball it’s the fact that slow starts are far pics who didn’t face down some serious the 2019 World Cup. Brazil is seeking its volleyball as both a player and coach having won as a player in 1984. Host Brazil beat Italy in the men’s tourna- from detrimental. adversity.” fourth gold medal to match the combined ment for its third gold medal. Both U.S. teams medaled Both gold medal teams from the 2016 total for the Soviet Union and Russia. with each earning the bronze. Olympics in Rio de Janeiro finished Top-heavy pools The Chinese women are also seeking Tokyo expectations: Volleyball returns to its Olympic fourth in pool play before winning three The draw has presented an extremely their fourth gold to match the record held home having been first held at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. straight matches in the knockout round to challenging Group B on the men’s side by the Soviets with 2016 MVP Zhu Ting The reigning gold medalists are in contention to win again five years later with Brazil’s Bruno Rezende seeking his claim gold. with four of the top five ranked teams in back again on the squad coached by Lang fourth medal having won silver in 2008 and ’12 before The Brazilian men needed to beat the world all together with defending Ping, who is the first person to win gold in getting gold in Rio. China has won back-to-back women’s France in their final pool play match just champion Brazil, Russia, the United volleyball as both a player (1984) and World Cups to go along with the 2016 gold. Poland is a to advance, while the Chinese women lost States and France all grouped together, coach (2016). top contender on the men’s side, while the United States has a shot at its first gold medal ever on the women’s side. three of their first five matches before with Poland facing an easier path in Athletes to watch: Brazil’s Alan Souza was the MVP of rolling through the medal round. Group A. Carry over the 2019 World Cup and one of the top players headed That was a pattern that was similar to On the women’s side, the No. 1-ranked Both the men’s and women’s teams into his first Olympics. Cuban-born Wilfredo Leon, who the 2012 Games in London when eventual U.S. women are in the same group as de- from the United States overcame crush- competes as an outside hitter for Poland, is known as the Cristiano Ronaldo of volleyball for his skill as an outside champions Russia (men) and Brazil fending champion China, which is ranked ing losses in the semifinals in Rio to spiker. Among the top players on the women’s side are (women) won gold after finishing third second in the world. bounce back and win bronze medals two American Foluke Gunderson, who is back for a third and fourth, respectively, in pool play. days later. They hope that experience will Olympics after giving birth to her first child in 2019, and “The teams that do win have figured out Defending champs carry over into these games when the 2016 women’s MVP Zhu Ting of China. Gold medal moments: a way to overcome massive adversity, lose Both defending champions are in good women are seeking their first gold medal The men’s medals will be awarded on Aug. 7 with matches for the bronze and gold a critical match, lose more than one position to contend for a repeat with Bru- ever and the men are looking to get back medal. The women’s medals will be contested for the fol- match,” U.S. women’s coach Karch Kiraly no Rezende back for a fourth Olympics for on top for the first time since 2008. lowing day, just before the closing ceremonies. Saturday, July 10, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 23 OLYMPICS Stunning rise: Harrison aiming for gold

BY JIM VERTUNO “The first time she won the Associated Press world championship, no one was Sometime before she races noticing her. The announcer was across Tokyo Bay, American teen- essentially asking where did she ager Nevin Harrison will likely come from during the race,” Mark paddle her canoe to a quiet spot Harrison said. and have a good cry. Nevin bolted to an early lead Harrison’s pre-race tears are a and never let up. At the finish line, pressure-valve release, meant to she looked at the results in disbe- settle and refocus the 19-year-old lief and covered her mouth to sti- before the start of a furious sprint fle a gasp. The medal ceremony of pain and muscle across 200 me- was briefly delayed because event ters of water. officials couldn’t find an Ameri- She knows it’s a bit odd. But who can flag. They’d never needed one can argue with a routine that before. helped crown her world champion That was two years ago. The at age 17 and has her as a favorite competition won’t overlook her at to win the first women’s Olympic the Olympics, when everyone is gold medal in the debut event of chasing the same dream to win the women’s sprint canoe? first gold medal in the women’s “I get really stressed, I get real- canoe sprint 200. Harrison’s race ly worked up and bottle it up, and and the women’s canoe 500 double right before the race, it just kind of will debut as Olympic events in comes out,” Harrison said. “And BRYNN ANDERSON/AP Tokyo. then ... everything is a little bit Nevin Harrison, 19, of Seattle, picked up the sport of canoe sprint on a lark at summer camp and became a Women’s canoe sprint is still a more calm.” world champion just five years later as a 17­year­old in 2019. An extra year of maturing, physical growth young sport at the international At least until the race start, and enhanced training before her first Olympics has solidified her status as the favorite for the gold medal level. It wasn’t a world champion- when Harrison attacks the water in the women’s sprint canoe 200 meters, a new event in a bid for gender equity. ship event until 2010. And to bal- — “like a horserace” — with a ance gender equity among events powerful thrust that won her a ago,” Harrison said. “In 2019, win- “She was falling out of the boat in Tokyo, Olympic officials drop- stunning world title in 2019, and ning worlds was a shock to me. for a year before she really ped the men’s canoe 200 and the upended the pecking order in a Even going into 2020, I didn’t real- learned how to balance it out,” men’s kayak double 200, moves sport she’d picked up barely five ly know what I was doing. Every- said her mother, Laura Worthen. that didn’t sit well with some male years earlier on a lark at the end of thing was coming really fast and I “By 13 and 14 she was starting to athletes who complained events summer camp. had no idea how I got to where I pull away from the pack.” were being sacrificed. She followed that championship was and had not enough time to She started climbing the junior At the Rio Games in 2016, sever- with world cup victories in 2020 get to where I needed to be ... It ranks and won an Olympic hope- al male athletes mocked the idea and 2021 and heads to the Tokyo was stressful and scary.” fuls event in 2017. of women in canoe sprint. Games carrying a mountain of ex- And it was a long way from that “That’s when I knew,” said her Harrison said she’s sympathet- pectations on her broad shoul- summer camp outside Seattle father Mark Harrison, “that I was ic to anyone who lost an Olympic ders. when she first tried the sport at the going to enjoy this ride.” spot, but is determined that the “I’m so scared,” Harrison said urging of a counselor. She needed Still, she was an outlier interna- women have earned their shot in with a laugh. “I’m really nervous.” a sport. Track and field, her love, tionally in a sport long dominated Tokyo. Spoken like a teenager who was was going to be painfully impossi- by the Europeans. Then came her “It’s exciting to be leading that perhaps surprised by her meteor- ble with a diagnosis of hip dyspla- lighting strike win in Hungary in charge showing we are equal and ic success, and who is now both sia that promised constant pain. 2019. we can do the same things,” she awed by, and prepared for, the Sprints on the track turned into Nevin went to the champion- said. “Once an event becomes an Olympic stage. sprints across water and learning ships hoping to finish top six with Olympic sport, the depth and the But an extra year of maturing, how to not fall out of the boat. an outside shot at a medal. That’s athlete pool become so much big- physical growth and enhanced Her parents quickly sensed big when a teammate shook his head ger because it becomes something training forced by the Olympic things could be on the horizon as at a naive 17-year-old who didn’t people want to invest their time in. pandemic delay, allowed Harri- they watched her first learn how realize what was really in front of “Everyone wants to be an Olym- son to shed the shock of the world to stay dry, then develop skill, her. BRYNN ANDERSON/AP pian,” Harrison said. “I think it’s title and embrace the role of favor- rhythm and raw muscle in the pre- “You don’t get it,” he laughed. Harrison trains near Lake Lanier more important to have every ite. dawn chill of practice in the win- “You realize you can win this Olympic Park on July 1 in group represented rather than “I was nowhere near ready to be ter mornings in the Pacific North- thing?’” Gainesville, Ga. She is a favorite having a lot in just one gender or competing in an Olympics a year west. Few did. in the canoe sprint 200 meters. discipline.”

ROWING CANOE SPRINT CANOE SLALOM

Highlights from Rio: New Zealand’s Mahé Drysdale defended his single Highlights from Rio: Hungary’s Danuta Kozák was the star, winning gold Highlights from Rio: France’s Denis Gargaud Chanu won an unexpected sculls gold medal in a photo-finish duel with Croatia’s Damir Martin. Great in three of the four women’s competitions in the kayak single, pairs and four gold in the men’s canoe slalom in his first Olympics. Slovakia’s Matej Benus Britain topped the medal count with five, including three gold. 500 meters. earned silver to keep his country’s medal streak alive at six consecutive What’s new: In a move for gender equity, the women’s coxless four replac- What’s new: The women’s single and double canoe sprint are new events, Games. Bronze medalist Takuya Haneda of Japan was the first paddler from es the men’s lightweight coxless four. added after the 2016 Rio Games to provide gender equity. Men and women an Asian country to win an Olympic medal in canoe/kayak. Tokyo expectations: Some dominant names return in new disciplines, and will compete in four kayak events and two canoe events. What’s new: Women’s canoe single debuts, taking the place of the men’s some have even come out of retirement. New Zealand is the likely favorite in Tokyo expectations: While historically dominated by Europe, the gap is double canoe. the women’s eight, an event long dominated by the U.S. China hired former closing with the emergence of China, Brazil and New Zealand in recent years, Tokyo expectations: New gold medalists in men’s canoe and kayak as British rowing champion Sir Steve Redgrave as performance director with the with those countries winning gold at the 2019 world championships. 2016 winners Chanu and Great Britain’s Joseph Clarke didn’t qualify for To- goal of winning its second rowing gold medal. Athletes to watch: Great Britain’s Liam Heath is the defending gold med- kyo. Spain’s Maialen Chourrauta returns to defend her women’s kayak gold, Athletes to watch: Germany’s Oliver Zeidler is the reigning world and Eu- alist in the men’s kayak 200 ... Germany’s Sebastian Brendel is a two-time competing in her fourth Olympics ... Australia’s Jessica Fox is a favorite in the ropean champion in single sculls ... Croatian brothers Martin and Valent Sink- gold medalist in the men’s canoe 1,000 ... New Zealand’s Lisa Carrington is women’s kayak. A previous silver (2012) and bronze (2016) kayak medalist, ovic won gold in double sculls in 2016, then switched to the men’s pair and unbeaten in the World Championships since 2011 in the kayak 200. She will Fox crushed the field at the World Cup in June, winning by nearly five seconds. won the 2019 world championship ... Great Britain’s Helen Glover, a two- compete in all four kayak events ... American teenager Nevin Harrison is a Athletes to watch: Great Britain’s Mallory Franklin is a close second to Fox. time gold medalist in the women’s pair, had all but retired after Rio and had gold medal favorite in the women’s canoe sprint 200 ... Moldova’s Serghei Tall and rangy, she uses her length for superior balance and will be a top medal three children, only to announce a comeback at age 34. She won the Europe- Tarnovschi returns after a four-year suspension for a positive doping test that contender. ... Evy Leibfarth, 17, will represent the U.S. in both the women’s an championship with teammate Polly Swann in May ... The U.S. women’s stripped him of his 2016 bronze in the men’s canoe 1,000. canoe and kayak ... Lukas Rohan of the Czech Republic won gold at the World eight is the three-time defending champion, but has just one rower with Olym- Gold medal moment(s): Aug. 3: men’s canoe double 1,000 and kayak Cup in June. pic experience in the current boat. single 1,000, women’s kayak single 200 and kayak double 500; Aug. 5: Gold medal moment(s): July 26 men’s canoe; July 27 women’s kayak; July Gold medal moment(s): July 27, quadruple sculls; July 28 double sculls men’s kayak single 200 and kayak double 1,000, women’s canoe single 200 29 women’s canoe; July 30 men’s kayak. and sweep four; July 29, lightweight double sculls and sweep pair; July 30, and kayak single 500; Aug. 7: men’s canoe single 1,000 and kayak four single sculls and sweep eight. 500; women’s canoe double 500 and kayak four 500. Capsules by Associated Press PAGE 24 • STARS AND STRIPES • Saturday, July 10, 2021 Playing the hits SPORTS McGregor in prime form at UFC 264 news conference ›› MMA, Page 19

NBA FINALS Soaring Suns

CHRISTIAN PETERSEN/AP The Suns’ Devin Booker goes up for a dunk as the Milwaukee Bucks’ Jrue Holiday defends during the first half of Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Thursday in Phoenix. Phoenix two wins from first championship after beating Bucks in Game 2 BY BRIAN MAHONEY 2-0 series lead. “We know what the deal is. Associated Press The Suns have never been closer to an NBA title. Not bad he ball went from Chris Paul to Devin Booker and for a team whose coach told them earlier this season that he We’ve got to go didn’t stop moving until Deandre Ayton scored af- had the league’s sorriest starting unit, forcing the players to back home and ter every Suns player had touched it. figure things out. protect home.” T The 10-pass sequence was the prettiest play of “We did and we’re going to keep it going,” Paul said. the NBA Finals and the kind the one-man-show Bucks Booker made seven three-pointers and the Suns went 20- Giannis Antetokounmpo couldn’t dream of. for-40 behind the arc. Bridges scored 27 points, and Paul Milwaukee Bucks forward “We actually talked about that play right after the game, finished with eight assists. me and Mikal (Bridges), and he was like, ‘I think that was The Suns surged ahead late in the first half, withstood the most pumped I’ve ever been after a play,’ ” Booker said. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s all-around effort to bring the rextended left knee. “And I was like, ‘Me too.’ ” Bucks back, and walked off winners again as fans swung The Suns never even had a lead in the NBA Finals until Imagine the feeling if his team gets two more wins. orange rally towels all around them. their 118-105 victory in Game 1. They dropped the first two Booker scored 31 points, Paul had 23 and the Suns beat Antetokounmpo had 42 points and 12 rebounds in his sec- Milwaukee 118-108 on Thursday night in Phoenix to take a ond game back after missing two games because of a hype- SEE SOARING ON PAGE 21

Fury positive for COVID-19, Wilder bout postponed ›› Sports briefs, Page 18