As COVID-19 Crisis Ebbs, Some Seeking 9/11-Style Commission

Father’s day shopping at Friday Paseo Herencia Mall June 18, 2021 T: 582-7800 www.arubatoday.com facebook.com/arubatoday instagram.com/arubatoday

Aruba’s ONLY English newspaper Page 8 As COVID-19 crisis ebbs, some seeking 9/11-style commission By JAY REEVES and will get in the way of any MICHAEL KUNZELMAN inquiry, as happened when Associated Press Republicans came out With more than 600,000 against a commission to in- Americans dead of COV- vestigate the Jan. 6 attack ID-19 and questions still rag- on the Capitol by Trump ing about the origin of the supporters. Others fear that virus and the government's a desire by many to simply response, a push is under- move on will thwart a re- way on Capitol Hill and view. beyond for a full-blown in- "I think we need to get into vestigation of the crisis by the weeds, to look at the a national commission like details to see what hap- the one that looked into pened," said Sabila Khan 9/11. of Jersey City, New Jersey, It is unclear whether such whose father, Shafqat Rasul a probe will ever hap- Khan, died of COVID-19. pen, though a privately "If this happens again, our sponsored team of public loved ones died in vain." health experts is already A bill introduced by Demo- laying the groundwork for cratic Sen. Bob Menendez one. of New Jersey and Repub- Given that most of the dis- lican Sen. Susan Collins of aster unfolded on President Maine would establish such In this Jan. 7, 2021, file photo, two nurses put a ventilator on a patient in a COVID-19 unit in Orange, Donald Trump's watch, a commission. Calif. many worry that politics Continued on next page Associated Press A2 Friday 18 June 2021 UP FRONT Continued from Front mission gets created, if it's Its inquiry could include a created by the Congress, look at the origins of the created by the president virus; early warnings and or created independently other communication with and privately sponsored," foreign governments; co- he said. ordination among federal, Established by Congress in state and local agencies; late 2002, the 9/11 Com- the availability of medical mission produced a 567- supplies; testing and public page report in July 2004 health surveillance; vacci- that began with a detailed nation development and narrative of the Sept. 11, distribution; the uneven ef- 2001, hijackings. It went into fect on minorities; and gov- the causes of terrorists' ha- ernment relief policies. tred of the U.S., lapses that "The death toll from the CO- helped allow the attacks to VID-19 pandemic is more occur and suggestions for than 200 times that of the preventing another one. 9/11 attacks — but Con- Many of its suggestions gress has yet to establish were implemented, includ- a similar blue ribbon coming greater intelligence- mission to investigate the sharing between agencies. vulnerabilities of our pub- Planning group member lic health system and issue Marc Lipsitch, an epidemi- guidance for how we as a ology professor and direc- nation can better protect tor of the Center for Com- the American people from municable Disease Dy- future pandemics," Menen- namics at Harvard's School dez and Collins wrote in an In this Jan. 7, 2021, file photo, a registered nurse tends to a COVID-19 patient as another puts on of Public Health, said one essay this week in The New her protective gear in Orange, Calif. possible alternative to a York Times. Associated Press government-appointed While the government COVID-19 commission crash program to develop ments, and mixed messag- laboratory, a once-fringe father, Ramash Quasba, would be one that is pri- a vaccine proved a suc- es on the need for masks theory that has gained to the outbreak, said she vately funded. cess, the crisis in the U.S. and lockdowns. currency in recent weeks. favors an investigation that "The upside is that it could was marked by shortages Last month, President Joe Many scientists have said could hold others account- be done in a less political- of protective gear and oth- Biden ordered U.S. intelli- they instead believe the vi- able for their failures, which ly charged way," Lipsitch er medical equipment, in- gence to step up its efforts rus occurred in nature and she said include the lack of said. sufficient testing, defective to investigate the virus's ori- jumped from animals to hu- a national response plan, Another planning group test kits, false or misleading gins, including the possibility mans. Dr. Naeha Quasba inadequate health funding member, Anita Cicero, information about treat- it escaped from a Chinese of Baltimore, who lost her and lackadaisical enforce- deputy director at the ment of public health or- Johns Hopkins Center for ders. Health Security, said the "But at this point, my dad is debate over whether to gone and now a vaccine investigate the Capitol at- is available," Quasba said. tack demonstrated that "So people are moving on the partisan divide is the to a different phase." first obstacle to overcome While no vote on the legis- in this case. lation is scheduled and the "The idea that this should be prospects of passage are a commission set up by one uncertain, work already is party or the other, I think going on that could help that is sort of dead upon ar- shape an investigation: rival. So you have to find a Members of what is called way that this is a truly more the COVID Commission bipartisan and welcome Planning Group have been effort," she said.q at work for five months, trying to come up with the key questions for a commission and the best ways to get ARUBA answers. University of Vir- CLEAN ginia history professor Philip Zelikow, who is leading the planning group and was executive director of the 9/11 Commission, said dozens of experts have been enlisted with the support of charitable foundations and have identified more than 40 lines of inquiry. "All that preparatory work is IS MORE being done to be put at the disposal of whatever com- DUSHI A3 U.S. NEWS Friday 18 June 2021 Austin: Al-Qaida could regroup in Afghanistan in 2 years WASHINGTON (AP) — An American presence there. extremist group like al-Qai- Once the withdrawal is da may be able to regen- completed, U.S. military erate in Afghanistan and and intelligence agen- pose a threat to the U.S. cies' ability to monitor and homeland within two years counter extremist groups in- of the American military's side Afghanistan will be lim- withdrawal from the coun- ited, but the Pentagon says try, the Pentagon's top it will use "over-the-horizon" leaders said Thursday. forces to keep a lid on the It was the most specific threat. The hope is to place public forecast of the pros- surveillance aircraft and pects for a renewed in- other assets in one or more ternational terrorist threat neighboring countries, but from Afghanistan since no such arrangements President Joe Biden an- have yet been made. That nounced in April that all means the counterterrorism U.S. troops would withdraw effort will have to be con- by Sept. 11. ducted from bases farther At a Senate Appropriations away, in the Persian Gulf Committee hearing, Sen. area. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., A related concern is that asked Defense Secretary the Taliban, which are Lloyd Austin and Gen. Mark seeking greater political le- Milley whether they rated Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, left, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark verage in Kabul and could Milley talk before a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing to examine proposed budget esti- the likelihood of a regen- mates and justification for fiscal year 2022 for the Department of Defense in Washington on Thurs- attempt to take power, eration of al-Qaida or the day, June 17, 2021. may retain its associations Islamic State group in Af- Associated Press with al-Qaida, whose pres- ghanistan as small, medi- ence in Afghanistan was um or large. things happen — if there quences of a complete, on the ground. the reason the U.S. invad- "I would assess it as medi- was a collapse of the gov- unconditional withdraw- Milley also acknowledged ed in the first place. U.S. um," Austin replied. "I would ernment or the dissolution al. Military leaders over that a collapse of the gov- officials have questioned also say, senator, that it of the Afghan security forc- the past few years have ernment or takeover by whether the Taliban will would take possibly two es — that risk would obvi- pushed back against ad- the Taliban could have fulfill a promise made in a years for them to develop ously increase, but right ministration efforts — in- broader impacts on the February 2020 agreement that capability." now I would say 'medium' cluding at times by then- strides women have made with the Trump administra- Milley, the chairman of the and about two years or so," President Donald Trump — in Afghanistan. And the tion to disassociate itself Joint Chiefs of Staff and a Milley said. to pull out of Afghanistan military has said it will be far from al-Qaida and to pre- veteran of the war in Af- Their responses under- by a certain date, rather more difficult to collect in- vent any extremist group ghanistan, said he agreed. scored the overall military than basing troop numbers telligence on terror groups from launching attacks on "I think that if certain other fears about the conse- on the security conditions in the country, if there is no the U.S. from Afghan soil.q

High court backs Nestle, Cargill in child slave labor suit WASHINGTON (AP) — The because the defendant as children by, among Supreme Court on Thurs- corporations allegedly other things, buying co- day sided with food gi- made 'major operational coa beans from farms ants Nestle and Cargill in a decisions' in the United that used child labor. The lawsuit that claimed they States. The Ninth Circuit group sued seeking to knowingly bought cocoa erred by allowing this suit bring a class action lawsuit beans from farms in Africa to proceed," Justice Clar- on behalf of themselves that used child slave labor. ence Thomas wrote in a and who they say are The justices ruled 8-1 in fa- majority opinion for the thousands of other former vor of the food companies court. child slaves. and against a group of six The case had been twice Nestle and Cargill have adult citizens of Mali that dismissed at an early stage said they have taken steps claimed they were taken before being revived by to combat child slavery from their country as chil- the U.S. Court of Appeals and have denied any dren and forced to work for the Ninth Circuit. When wrongdoing. In this June 8, 2021 photo, the Supreme Court is seen in Wash- on cocoa farms in neigh- the case was argued in The case involves a law ington. boring Ivory Coast. December, then-President enacted by the very first Associated Press The justices said an ap- Donald Trump's adminis- Congress in 1789, the Alien peals court was wrong to tration backed Nestle and Tort Statute, which permits years has limited the use the West Bank and Gaza let the group's lawsuit go Cargill. foreign citizens to sue in of the Alien Tort Statute. In to use U.S. courts to sue forward. The argument of the group U.S. courts for human rights 2018, the court ruled that Jordan-based Arab Bank, "Although respondents' from Mali is that Minneap- abuses. The question for foreign businesses cannot which they said helped fi- injuries occurred entirely olis-based Cargill and the the justices was whether be sued under the law. nance the attacks. overseas, the Ninth Cir- American arm of Switzer- it permits lawsuits against In that case, the court re- The case is Nestle USA v. cuit held that respondents land-based Nestle "aided American companies. jected an attempt by Is- Doe I, 19-416, and Cargill could sue in federal court and abetted" their slavery The high court in recent raeli victims of attacks in Inc. v. Doe I, 19-453.q A4 Friday 18 June 2021 U.S. NEWS Texas governor: State, crowdsourcing will fund border wall By ACACIA CORONADO at the U.S. border with Report for America/Associ- Mexico, with many turning ated Press themselves over to U.S. Bor- AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Tex- der Patrol agents in seek- as Gov. Greg Abbott said ing legal asylum status. Wednesday that he will use But the numbers of families $250 million in state money and children traveling with- and crowdsourced financ- out their parents crossing ing to build more barriers into the U.S. have dropped along the U.S. border with sharply since March and Mexico, part of an emerg- April, while the encounters ing proposal that also ex- with single adults have re- tends his political fight mained high. Abbott, who over immigration with the is up for reelection next year Democratic Biden admin- and has hasn't ruled out a istration. But questions re- run for president in 2024, main over how far Abbott, has taken increased ac- a Republican, can go for tion over immigration since a project whose total cost, Biden took office, including length and timeline are un- sending more state police clear and could face legal and national guardsmen to challenges from the feder- the border to arrest people Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a press conference on details of his plan for Texas to build a al government. border wall and provide $250 million in state funds as a "down payment.", Wednesday, June 16, entering the country illegal- Over a dozen Republi- 2021 in Austin, Texas. ly or cartels trafficking ille- can members of the Texas Associated Press gal drugs. On Wednesday House and Senate joined Abbott said jails are looking Abbott for a livestreamed to return land obtained for spond to these challenges emergency orders. She did for additional bed space to press conference an- the U.S. government's wall along the border," Abbott not clarify where the public house the rising number of nouncing his intentions to and return it to private citi- said. "Texas taxpayers are money came from original- people being arrested. hire a project manager zens who can allow Texas having to step up so we as ly, but in a letter released Abbott has also asked to continue construct- to finish the job. a state can protect our citi- later by Abbott's office the other states for help, and ing some version of a wall "In response to the fed- zens." governor said said it would Wednesday, Florida's GOP announced last week, eral government's neglect State Sen. Jane Nelson, come from the Texas De- governor, Gov. Ron DeSan- echoing former President of all of the people who chair of the state Senate partment of Criminal Jus- tis, heeded that call, an- Donald Trump's unfinished live along the border, the Finance Committee, said tice's budget. nouncing he would send campaign promise to forti- people who are facing in the press conference The state also has set up a law enforcement from his fy the southern U.S. border, the consequences of the that the $250 million in state webpage and post office state to Texas and Arizona, of which 1,200 miles (1,930 spread of drugs like fentan- money — that Abbott re- box so anyone can donate where fellow Republican kilometers) is in Texas. Ab- yl, Texas is stepping up and ferred to as a down pay- money for Abbott's wall. Doug Ducey has also re- bott also said he is asking doing more than any other ment — was being allo- Large numbers of migrants quested help from other the federal government state ever has done to re- cated as authorized under have been showing up states. q

Hispanic group sues Santa Fe mayor over destroyed obelisk Santa Fé argues that the ey on modifications to the quered the area in the 152-year-old stone obelisk historic downtown park 1600s. is a legally protected his- until the stone obelisk is re- It's a reference point that torical site under state law stored. That would hobble anchors heritage and reli- and that its removal dishon- Mayor Alan Webber's plans gious processions for tradi- ors Hispanic veterans. to have the monument tional Hispanics and serves A group of around 40 most- permanently removed and as a reminder of genocide ly white activists tore down replaced with something for Native Americans. the stone obelisk last year that city officials deem "We're protecting our his- after other statues and more culturally inclusive. A tory, culture and our tradi- monuments across the U.S. proposal for a commission tions, and our religion also," were toppled over con- to take on that task is be- said Virgil Vigil, President of cerns about racism. ing considered by the city Union Protectíva de Santa In Santa Fe, inscriptions at council next month, with Fé. For Vigil, a Vietnam War the base of the monument an estimated budget of veteran and helicopter pi- In this Saturday, Oct. 12, 2020, file photo, demonstrators secure a rope around the centerpiece of a solid stone obelisk before honored Union soldiers who $265,000. lot, honoring the veterans is tearing it down in Santa Fe, N.M. died fighting Indigenous The mayor's office did not a major focus. Associated Press tribes and Confederate sol- immediately respond to a "This is respecting our soldiers. One inscription that request for comment on diers that gave their lives By CEDAR ATTANASIO As- damage to a historical described Indigenous peo- the legal challenge. to maintain the freedom sociated Press / Report for monument by activists last ple as "savage" was chis- In addition to being a 19th that we have and to end America year and the city's proposal eled out in 1974 and never century war memorial, slavery," he said in an in- SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A to permanently remove it. repaired. the obelisk is a marker of terview Monday, near the New Mexico Hispanic fra- In a lawsuit filed Wednes- The lawsuit asks a judge the land grant issued from grey wooden box that ternal order is suing the day in state district court, to prevent the city from Spanish colonial royalty to covers the remnants of the mayor of Santa Fe over the Union Protectíva de spending any time or mon- Hispanic families that con- obelisk.q A5 WORLD NEWS Friday 18 June 2021 Editors of Hong Kong newspaper arrested under security law By ZEN SOO Hong Kong dollars ($2.3 mil- Associated Press lion) in assets belonging to HONG KONG (AP) — Hong three companies linked to Kong police used a sweep- Apple Daily, said Li Kwai- ing national security law wah, a senior superinten- Thursday to arrest five edi- dent at Hong Kong's Na- tors and executives of a tional Security Department. pro-democracy newspa- Trading in shares of Next per on charges of collud- Digital was halted Thurs- ing with foreign powers — day morning at the request the first time the legislation of the company, accord- has been used against the ing to filings with the Hong press in yet another sign of Kong stock exchange. an intensifying crackdown In an apparent show of by Chinese authorities in force, more than 200 police the city long known for its officers were involved in the freedoms. search of Apple Daily's of- Police said they had evi- fices, and the government dence that more than 30 said a warrant was ob- articles published by Ap- tained to look for evidence ple Daily played a "crucial of a suspected violation of part" in what they called the national security law. a conspiracy with foreign Apple Daily published a countries to impose sanc- Ryan Law, second from right, Apple Daily's chief editor, is arrested by police officers in Hong Kong letter to its readers, say- tions against China and Thursday, June 17, 2021. ing that police had confis- Hong Kong. Associated Press cated many items during The newspaper said in a the search, including 38 statement that the move tain those freedoms for 50 suspects to stand trial in with many others fleeing computers that contained left it "speechless" but years after the former British China. Protests grew to abroad. The result is that "considerable" journalistic vowed to continue its re- colony was handed over to include calls for broader it has virtually silenced op- material. porting and even invited China in 1997. democratic freedoms, but position voices in the city — "Today's Hong Kong feels other media outlets to The newspaper has thus the movement only ap- and drawn sanctions from unfamiliar and leaves watch the Friday editions found itself a frequent tar- peared to harden Beijing's the U.S. against Hong Kong us speechless. It feels as roll off the presses, a show get. Apple Daily founder resolve to limit civil liberties and Chinese government though we are powerless of its commitment to con- Jimmy Lai is currently serv- in the territory, including by officials. to stop the regime from tinue its work. ing a 20-month prison sen- imposing the national se- Those arrested Thursday in- exercising its power as it Apple Daily has long been tence after being con- curity law used in Thursday's cluded Apple Daily's chief pleases," the letter read. one of the most outspo- victed of playing a role in arrests. editor Ryan Law; the CEO "Nevertheless, the staff of ken defenders of Hong unauthorized protests in The legislation outlaws se- of its publisher Next Digi- Apple Daily is standing firm. Kong's freedoms and in 2019, when Hongkongers cession, subversion, terror- tal, Cheung Kim-hung; the We will continue to persist recent years has often took the streets in massive ism and foreign collusion publisher's chief operating as Hongkongers and live criticized the Chinese and antigovernment demon- and has been used to ar- officer; and two other top up to the expectations so Hong Kong governments strations in response to a rest over 100 pro-democ- editors, according to the that we have no regrets to for walking back promises proposed extradition law racy figures since it was first newspaper. our readers and the times that the territory could re- that would have allowed implemented a year ago, Police also froze 18 million we are in."q Germany's Stasi files agency wraps up work after 3 decades BERLIN (AP) — An agen- work of agents and in- and former opposition ac- cy set up to oversee the formers to collect details tivist Evelyn Zupke was ap- voluminous files of com- on East German citizens pointed to that job earlier munist East Germany's se- to quash dissent. It com- this month. Roland Jahn, cret police, the Stasi, has piled a huge catalogue of the last of three former wrapped up its work after material ranging from the East German pro-democ- nearly three decades. banal to the fictitious, and racy activists who led the The files on Thursday be- also placed thousands of files agency, said he was came the responsibility agents to spy on top West- satisifed with the change, of Germany's Federal Ar- ern officials. telling news agency dpa chives, headquartered Germany's parliament that "with the handover of in the western city of Ko- decided in November to the files, they will become blenz, which also took wind up the files agency part of the memory of the over the agency's roughly and transfer oversight to nation." Predecessor Mari- 1,300 employees. The files the Federal Archives. One anne Birthler has criticized themselves are staying put argument for the change the move, expressing con- In this May 24, 2011 picture, paper fragments are pictured at at the sprawling former was a need to combine cern that agency's edu- the Government's Institute for checking the former East Ger- headquarters of the Min- resources, with many files cational and research ac- man Intelligence papers in Berlin, Germany. istry for State Security, or still needing to be restored tivities will come to an end. Associated Press Stasi for short, in Berlin, and and digitized. A new post Access to the files is unaf- 13 other sites in eastern of ombudsperson for vic- fected by the change. So from people wanting to records but also from au- Germany. tims of the East German far, there have been some view files, from people on thorities, academics, jour- The Stasi used a vast net- dictatorship was set up, 7.3 million applications whom the Stasi compiled nalists and others.q A6 Friday 18 June 2021 WORLD NEWS Lebanon workers stage general strike over escalating crises

By SARAH EL DEEB and FADI free fall. On the black mar- TAWIL ket, the Lebanese pound BEIRUT (AP) — Shops, gov- sells at nearly 10 times its of- ernment offices, businesses ficial rate to the dollar. and banks shuttered their The financial meltdown is doors in Lebanon on Thurs- threatening to undermine day, as part of a general the national army, wiping strike to protest deteriorat- out soldiers' salaries and ing economic conditions putting unprecedented and press for a government pressure on the military's to deal with the worsening operational abilities. France political and economic cri- was holding a fundraiser ses. virtual meeting on Thursday The strike, which was ac- aimed at mobilizing aid, companied by several including food, medicine roadblocks set up around and medical equipment Beirut and other cities, was for the Lebanese army. ironically supported by Over 20 countries are ex- the very political parties pected to take part. blamed for the months- Protesters blocked Bei- long deadlock over form- rut's airport highway with ing a government. This trash bins, setting them drew criticism from many on fire, and causing large A Lebanese army humvee passes next of burned tires that set on fire by protesters to block a main activists and commenta- highway, during a protest against the increase in prices of consumer goods and the crash of the clouds of black smoke to tors, who questioned why local currency, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, June 17, 2021. hang over the motorway. those who were driving the Associated Press Banks and government of- economic and financial fices were shut and several meltdown were themselves support from the presiden- crisis as among the worst in — mostly imported — has shops in central Beirut were on strike. cy over his Cabinet picks the world in 150 years. been missing. Hospitals also closed. Lebanon has been without — and the two sides have The crisis, festering since have closed their labs to Critics ridiculed the ruling a fully functioning govern- locked horns over who gets 2019, has reached new outpatients and prices elite's attempt to rally be- ment since August. Prime more say in shaping a gov- heights in recent weeks. have soared and the value hind the strike. A hashtag Minister-designate Saad ernment. The World Bank Fuel has been in short sup- of wages dropped as the on Twitter called "the re- Hariri, named to the post in has described Lebanon's ply, power outages have national currency, pegged gime revolts" was trending October, has failed to gain financial and economic increased, and medicine to the dollar for 30 years, is in on Thursday. q

U.N.: Over 270 migrants rescued and detained in Libya guard to the Tripoli port, has partnered with Libya's tress call from 200 people from where they were tak- coast guard and other lo- aboard a wooden boat en into detention by Libyan cal groups to stem such in international waters in authorities, the statement dangerous sea crossings. the Central Mediterra- added. Rights groups, however, nean. The group said that "The two organizations re- say those policies leave that their engine was bro- iterate that no one should migrants at the mercy of ken and that attempts to be returned to Libya after either the sea or Libya's contact the Libyan coast being rescued at sea. Un- armed groups, with many guard had failed. Passen- der international maritime ending up confined in gers were eventually res- law, rescued individuals squalid detention centers cued by Vos Triton, added should be disembarked at rife with abuses. the group. So far this year, a place of safety," said the Rescue groups have also more than 13,000 migrants agencies, adding that Lib- decried the handover of were returned to Libyan ya cannot be considered migrants to the Libyan au- detention centers and hun- "a safe place." thorities, accusing the mer- dreds have perished at In this June 15, 2021, photo released by the IOM, more than 270 The vessel's owners did not chant vessel of commit- sea, said both agencies. migrants are returned by boat to the port of Tripoli in Libya after immediately respond to re- ting "illegal pushback" — a "IOM and UNHCR call for an they were intercepted by the commercial vessel Vos Tritan a day previous. quests for comment. practice where migrants end to arbitrary detention Associated Press For almost a decade, war- are denied the right to ap- in Libya through the estab- torn Libya has been the ply for international protec- lishment of a judicial review By NOHA ELHENNAWY The migrants were rescued dominant transit point for tion. process, and advocate for CAIRO (AP) — Over 270 in international waters on migrants fleeing war and The German humanitar- alternatives to detention Europe-bound migrants Monday by the Vos Triton, poverty in Africa and the ian group Sea-Watch starting with the immediate were rescued by a com- sailing under the flag of Middle East and aspiring to tweeted that the migrants release of the most vulner- mercial ship near Libya's Gibraltar, said the Interna- settle in Europe. Smugglers were eventually transferred able," read the statement. Mediterranean shores and tional Organization for Mi- often pack desperate fam- against their will from the The U.N. agencies urged handed over to the Libyan gration and the UNHCR in ilies into ill-equipped rubber Vos Triton to a Libyan patrol governments to grant mer- coast guard who sent them a joint statement Wednes- boats that stall and founder boat. chant vessels rescuing peo- to detention centers, the day evening. along the perilous central On Monday, aid group ple in distress "swift permis- U.N. migration and refugee A day later, they were re- Mediterranean route. Alarm Phone tweeted sion" for disembarkation in agencies said. turned by the Libyan coast In recent years, the EU that it had received a dis- safe ports.q A7 WORLD NEWS Friday 18 June 2021

Power outage hits 337K in Puerto Rico amid growing outrage By DÁNICA COTO anger spread among thou- again," she said. "The entire SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) sands of people who were neighborhood is noisy." — A sudden power failure forced to throw out food The outages have been so left more than 337,000 cus- and refrigerated medi- constant lately that sev- tomers in the dark across cation including insulin in eral mayors have declared Puerto Rico late Wednes- recent days. Some also states of emergency and day, enraging many who complained about dam- handed out generators were recovering from a aged appliances as lights and ice to those most in massive outage that hit the flickered on and off since need, as well as hired pri- U.S. territory just days ago. Thursday's outage that left vate crews to restore pow- Luma Energy, a private 900,000 people in the dark. er after saying that Luma company that took over Wednesday's outage informed them they lacked the island's power transmis- came just hours after Luma enough brigades. sion and distribution system warned that services would Earlier Wednesday, Luma on June 1, said three units be interrupted nightly for said it was still probing what were knocked offline for the next three days given caused a large fire at a reasons not immediately pre-scheduled mainte- In this Oct. 19, 2017 file photo, Puerto Rico Electric Power Author- main substation that led to ity workers repair distribution lines damaged by Hurricane Maria known. At first, the compa- nance at one plant and in the Cantera community of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Thursday's outage, adding ny said some 190,000 cus- interruptions in the gen- Associated Press that the investigation won't tomers had been affected, eration of power run by be finalized for another four but it later tweeted that Puerto Rico's Electric Power and a fragile power grid a week, but that outages to six weeks. power had been restored Authority. The most recent that has not been strength- have recently worsened. Luma is a consortium made to more than 252,700 cus- outage is not related to the ened since Hurricane Maria She and her family already up of Calgary, Alberta- tomers, leaving more upcoming interruptions in razed it in 2017 as a Cate- had spent two days with- based Atco and Quanta 84,000 still without electric- service, Luma said. gory 4 storm, leaving some out electricity when Thurs- Services Inc. of Houston. ity. It's the latest challenge to customers without power day's massive outage hit, It serves roughly 1.5 million Various spokeswomen did hit a company that has for up to a year. adding that they have had customers as part of a 15- not return calls for com- come under scrutiny amid Victoria Pérez, who lives in to adjust their budget and year contract with Puerto ment. high expectations that it the capital of San Juan, buy gasoline to keep their Rico's government, which The latest outage un- would briskly solve prob- said power in her neighbor- generator going. remains the owner and op- leashed a flood of com- lems despite having to hood of Río Piedras usually "These days it's been run- erator of the island's power plaints on social media as rely on aging infrastructure goes out two to three times ning like it's Maria all over generators.q A8 Friday 18 June 2021 local Paseo Herencia is always fun and exciting to visit

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These restaurants are also open for lunch and dinner and will delight you with unique tastes. Choices run from Ar- gentinian dishes to, Asian/Caribbean, International and Mexican at amongst others Iguana Cantina. Sip and have a good time at the Bulldog Aruba located in the center of the Plaza. Open till 11pm.

VIP Cinema Visit the one-of-a-kind Caribbean Cinemas VIP on the second floor of Paseo Herencia and enjoy your favorite movies with the latest projection and 7.1 Dolby surround sound with a delicious bag of popcorn.

Entertainment Kids can enjoy the Paseo kids’ activities, carousel & kid- die train, every day from 6pm to 10pm and do not for- get to catch the nightly water shows at 7:30pm, 8:30pm and 9:30pm. Another fun activity is the The Range Airsoft Experience located behind The Lazy Turtle. Snap Insta- gramable pictures at the Angel Wings located between Pandora and Quiksilver and another one in front of TGI Fridays. Catch a live Show on Friday by violinist Angela Flores and Saturday by the acrobatic group Ritmo Cu- bano at 8pm on the Plaza Padu.

Also with any purchase at Paseo Herencia you will receive FREE parking in the parking garage. Paseo Heren- cia has implemented all COVID protocols according to the Aruba Health & Happiness code. It is required to wear face masks when shopping or visiting the mall to ensure a safe environment.

To learn more, visit the Paseo Herencia Facebook or Instagram page.q A9 LOCAL Friday 18 June 2021

Department of Nature and Environment (DNM): Mangroves cover 1.15 % of Aruba’s territory

ORANJESTAD — July 26 program ArcGIS which co- marks the International Day ordinates system Tranverse for the Conservation of the Mercator Aruba. The poly- Mangrove Ecosystem, ad- gon (a geometric figure) opted by the General Con- is used to measure the to- ference of UNESCO in 2015 tal area covered by man- and celebrated each year groves which resulted in the on July 26. With this, UNES- percentage of 1, 15. The CO aims to raise aware- project was a collabora- ness of the importance of tion between DNM and the mangrove ecosystems as Department of Infrastruc- ‘a unique, special and vul- ture and Planning (DIP). nerable ecosystem’ and to The areas of mangrove son promote solutions for their Aruba are: Rincon, Daimari, sustainable management, Zeewijk, Rif Renaissance, conservation and uses. Bucuti Aeropuerto, Parki- etenbos, Rif Palm Island, Mangroves are rare, spec- Bubali Plas, Boca Grandi, tacular and prolific ecosys- Mangel Halto, Rif Mangel tems on the boundary be- Halto, Barcadera, Saliña tween land and sea. These Cerca, Eagle Beach, Bub- extra ordinary ecosystems ali Plas, Santo Largo, Baby contribute to the wellbe- Beach and Rif San Nicolas. ing, food security, and pro- Mangroves also are pres- tection of coastal commu- ent in the areas of Parke nities worldwide. They sup- National Aruba and Rooi port a rich biodiversity and Prikichi. provide a valuable nursery Aruba has four kinds of habitat for fish and crusta- mangroves: the red man- ceans. Mangroves also act grove, the black man- as a form of natural coastal grove, the white mangrove defense against storm surg- or Shimaron and the Fofoti. es, tsunamis, rising sea lev- All mangroves are protect- els and erosion. Their soils ed by law as incorporated are highly effective car- in our national decree for bon sinks, sequestering vast the protection of local flora amounts of carbon. and fauna (Landsbesluit Yet mangroves are disap- bescherming inheemse pearing three to five times flora en fauna – AB 2017 faster than overall global no 48). Also the plants are forest losses, with serious protected by international ecological and socio-eco- laws (Special Protected Ar- nomic impacts. Current es- eas and Wildlife or SPAW timates indicate that man- protocol). The recently offi- grove coverage has been cial made protection of 16 divided by two in the past nature areas on the island 40 years. by law include the protec- DNM has calculated the tion of our mangroves.q area of mangrove coverage by making use of the Pictures by: Michael Arends A10 Friday 18 June 2021 local Leading CBD and Wellness Brands Launch in Aruba Top Regional Distributor of Wines and Spirits in the Atlantic Basin Expands into Fast-Growing CBD and Wellness Products

Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, MIAMI, FLORIDA – The top Aruba, Jamaica, and Bermuda, as names in cannabidiol (CBD) permitted by local law. Its broader and wellness, including cbd- wellness portfolio, which excludes MD, Marley™ CBD, and Secret CBD products, will launch in all Nature, will now be available Caribbean, Central American, for the first time in Aruba, and and duty free markets. By the end throughout other Caribbean of 2021, the company expects to and Central American markets open distribution of CBD products thanks to WB Canna Co. & Well- in all regulated markets in the re- ness, one of the first new com- gion and travel retail. panies in the region focused on distribution of top-quality CBD WB Canna Co. & Wellness is led and wellness products. by Phillip Jarrell who has been with WEBB Banks for 10 years, and in- WB Canna Co. & Wellness is a cludes a team of dedicated sales wholly owned subsidiary of WEBB managers with deep insight into Banks, the leading premium wine the cannabis and wellness indus- and spirits distributor in the Carib- tries. Like parent company WEBB bean and Central America, and Banks, WB Canna Co. & Wellness travel retail in the Americas. The employs staff on-the-ground in the company launches with a com- territories they serve who have ex- prehensive and diverse portfolio isting knowledge of the category of leading cannabis and wellness and brands, as well as regional brands, including: laws and regulations. This extensive • cbdMD, the largest CBD and local experience gives brands un- wellness company in the in- der the WB Canna Co. & Wellness dustry, with a varied portfolio portfolio confidence to enter these of CBD oil tinctures, gummies, new markets and the opportunity sleep aids, and other prod- Jane - bloody Mary mix infused with truly fantastic brands,” says to expand as more countries legal- ucts available in more than with CBD. Andy Consuegra, CEO of Miami- ize use of these products. 30 countries across the globe. • Secret Nature, award-winning based WEBB Banks and WB Canna Publicly traded cbdMD also crafted premium organic CBD Co. & Wellness. “We understand “There’s enormous opportunity for sponsors and supports numer- flowers, vapes, pre-rolls, and the importance of brand and cat- CBD and wellness products in our ous influencers and athletes Rare Earth Medicine (REM) egory training and activations, and markets, especially as travel and who use and endorse their sleep capsules. Founded in we know how to navigate com- tourism continues to come back,” products, including pro golfer 2017, Secret Nature products plex compliance regulations in a adds Jarrell. “We’ve assembled a Bubba Watson, MMA fighter are all-natural lab-tested small constantly changing environment, powerful portfolio of recognized Daniel Cormier, top fuel drag batch CBD flowers and ex- so this expansion of our product brands that meet many different racer Leah Pruett, and the NO- tracts. portfolio was the ideal place for us consumer needs, from mood mod- BULL CrossFit Games. to grow our business.” ulation to sleep, and relaxation to • Docklight Brands brings Bob Additional high-profile brands will refreshment. With these brands, Marley’s belief in the positive be announced soon. According to estimates from New coupled with new products to potential of the herb to con- “Looking at the rapid growth of Frontier Data, the quickly expand- come, we expect our CBD and sumers worldwide through their CBD and wellness brands, I’ve nev- ing CBD industry is expected to wellness business will double within Marley CBD portfolio, includ- er before seen that level of con- reach $1.3 billion in sales next a year.” ing infused teas, wellness shots, sumer enthusiasm for new brands year, up from $390 million in 2018. chocolates, and skincare and categories. This is a big indus- Estimates from BDS Analytics and To learn more, visit www.wb- products crafted with intention try that will only continue to evolve, Arcview suggest that CBD sales cannaco.com as well as @wb- and respect. Additional brands and we have the experience, mar- will reach more than $20 billion by cannaco on Instagram and @ in their portfolio include The ket knowledge, and relationships 2024. wbcannacoandwellness on Goodship® CBD confections, to bring these products to market Facebook. For sales and distri- and Rommie’s™ Bloody Mary – not to mention, we’re launching Warehousing out of Miami, the bution inquiries, please contact new WB Canna Co. & Wellness di- [email protected] vision will launch its CBD portfolio in A11 business Friday 18 June 2021 Scotch whisky makers welcome suspension of costly U.S. tariffs

By PAN PYLAS land," said Menezes, whose LONDON (AP) — Scotch company's stable of single single malt whisky makers malt whiskies includes Tal- breathed a sigh of relief isker and Laphroaig. Thursday after the United The Scottish National Party, States agreed to suspend which runs the devolved tariffs on one of Scotland's administration in Scotland, main exports following the urged more support from resolution of a long-stand- the British government to ing trade row between the help businesses that suf- U.S. and the EU over subsi- fered. dies to aircraft companies "Whilst this announce- Boeing and Airbus. ment is very welcome af- President Donald Trump ter months of cross-party imposed the 25% tariffs campaigning, the losses to in October 2019 as part Scotch whisky exports have of the trade dispute over been eye-watering, and it aerospace subsidies. While will take time for the indus- the U.K. no longer is an EU try to get back on its feet," member, it belonged to lawmaker David Linden the bloc when the tariffs said. were introduced. Under Thursday's agree- Earlier this week, the U.S. ment, the U.K. will suspend and the EU reached an for five years the 25% tariffs agreement to end their dis- on U.S. rum, brandy and pute, paving the way for a vodka. American whis- 5-year suspension of tariffs keys though will continue both sides had put on an This Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, file photo, shows Scotch bottles in Cologne, Germany. to face a 25% tariff in the array of products, includ- Associated Press U.K. imposed in connection ing olive oil and cheese, as with the steel and alumi- well as whisky. made clear his intention to of free trade to build back broad outlines of a free num dispute between the The Scotch Whisky Asso- improve ties. In March, both better from the pandemic," trade deal with Austra- EU and the U.S. ciation estimated that the sides agreed to temporarily Truss said. lia that will see tariffs on a The Distilled Spirits Council tariffs contributed to a 30% halt the tariffs linked to the Tai said the agreement, wide range of goods elimi- of the United States wel- fall in total exports to the Airbus-Boeing dispute in a in which both sides also nated over coming years. comed Thursday's deal U.S., equivalent to around bid to negotiate a solution. agreed to form a working Ivan Menezes, the chief ex- and hoped that a resolu- 600 million pounds ($850 Following the U.S.-EU aero- group on the civil aviation ecutive of drinks giant Dia- tion can soon be found to million) in the 18 months to space agreement, British industry and to co-operate geo, said the elimination of lift the tariffs on American March 2021. International Trade Secre- against "non-market prac- tariffs on Scotch whisky and whiskeys, which it said have "This deal removes the tary Liz Truss and the U.S. tices of third countries" can other recent developments contributed to a 53% de- threat of tariffs being re- Trade Representative Kath- be built upon to "ensure fair illustrate the benefits that cline in exports to the U.K. imposed on Scotch whisky erine Tai agreed to halt re- competition and address can accrue from Brexit. "We hope this positive mo- next month and enables taliatory tariffs for five years. common challenges from "With the end of this dispute, mentum will also lead to distillers to focus on recov- "Today's deal draws a line China and other non-mar- a new free trade agree- the prompt and perma- ering exports to our largest under an incredibly dam- ket economies." ment with Australia that re- nent removal of the EU and and most valuable export aging issue and means we Following the U.K.'s depar- moves remaining tariffs on UK's tariffs on American market," Karen Betts, the can focus on taking our ture from the EU's econom- U.K. spirits and the opening Whiskeys," the group's CEO association's chief execu- trading relationship with ic orbit at the start of this of trade talks with India, Chris Swonger said. tive, said. the U.S. to the next level, year, it is free to negotiate the largest whisky market in His counterpart in the A thaw in U.S.-EU relations including working more trade deals with whichever the world, the U.K.'s newly Scotch Whisky Association, had been widely expected closely to challenge unfair countries it wants. Earlier independent trade policy Karen Betts, said she hoped following the election of practices by nations like this week, the British gov- is now bringing major ben- these "can also be resolved President Joe Biden, who China and using the power ernment negotiated the efits for Scotch and Scot- quickly."q

Lordstown Motors reverses, says it has no firm truck orders

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Strug- enough money to stay in ber of preorders doesn't ap- gling electric truck maker business and about its pre- pear to have the resources Lordstown Motors said vious claims that it already to complete that transac- Thursday it doesn't have had presold 100,000 of its tion, and other preorders any firm orders for its vehi- Endurance pickup trucks. appear too vague or weak cles, just days after its presi- Lordstown CEO Steve Burns to be relied on for purchas- dent said the company and Chief Financial Officer es. A day later, company had enough to maintain Julio Rodriguez resigned on President Rich Schmidt said This Thursday, June 25, 2020, file photo shows the electric Endur- ance pickup at Lordstown Motors Corp., in Lordstown, Ohio. production through 2022. Monday, the same day the during a meeting of the Au- Associated Press Questions have been company acknowledged tomotive Press Association mounting about wheth- one potential buyer that of Detroit that Lordstown ing the Endurance in the ing orders to keep going er Lordstown Motors has committed to a large num- was on track to begin mak- fall and had enough bind- through 2022.q A12 Friday 18 June 2021 science

In this Nov. 7, 2018, photo, visitors look at a life-size model of the Tianhe core module of China's next space station at the Airshow China in Zhuhai in southern China's Guangdong Province. Associated Press EXPLAINER: The significance of China's new space station

By SAM McNEIL Associated THE STATION? China's space program has Press As the Chinese economy been a massive source of JIUQUAN, China (AP) — was beginning to gather national pride, embody- Adding a crew to China's steam in the early 1990s, ing its rise from poverty to new orbiting space station China formulated a plan the world's second-largest is another major advance for space exploration, economy over the past for the burgeoning space which it has carried out four decades. That has power. at a steady, cautious ca- helped shore up the power Here's a look at key devel- dence. While China has of the Communist Party, opments: been barred from partici- whose authoritarian rule WHAT'S THE MISSION'S PUR- pation in the International and strict limits on political POSE? Space Station, mainly over activity have been tolerat- The three-member crew U.S. objections to the Chi- ed by most Chinese as long is due to stay for three nese program's secretive as the economy is growing. months in the station's main nature and close military President and head of the living module, named Tian- connections, it's likely the party Xi Jinping has asso- he, or Heavenly Harmony. country would have built ciated himself closely with They will be carrying out its own station anyway as it that success, and Ji in his science experiments and sought the status of a great remarks cited Xi as setting maintenance, space walks space power. the updated agenda for and preparing the facility At a news conference China's rise to prominence to receive two additional Wednesday, China in space. The first mission to modules next year. Manned Space Agency the station also coincides While China concedes it Assistant Director Ji Qim- with the celebration of arrived late at the space ing told reporters at the the party centenary next station game, it says its Jiuquan launch center that month, an important politi- facility is cutting-edge. It the construction and op- cal milestone. could also outlast the In- eration of the space sta- At the same time, China ternational Space Station, tion will raise China's tech- is modernizing its military which is nearing the end of nologies and "accumulate at a rapid pace, raising its functional lifespan. experience for all the peo- concerns from neighbors, The launch Thursday also ple." the U.S. and its NATO al- revives China's crewed The space program is part lies. While China espouses space program after a of an overall drive to put the peaceful develop- five-year hiatus. With Thurs- China on track for even ment of space on the ba- day's launch, China has more ambitious missions sis of equality and mutual now sent 14 astronauts into and provide opportunities respect, many recall that space since it first achieved for cooperation with Rus- China in January 2007 sent the feat in 2003, becoming sia and other, mostly Euro- a ballistic missile into space the third country after the pean, countries along with to destroy an inactive former Soviet Union and the United Nations Office weather satellite, creating the U.S. to do so. for Outer Space Affairs. a debris field that contin- WHY IS CHINA BUILDING POLITICS AND SECURITY ues to be a threat. q A13 classified Friday 18 June 2021 HEALTH Brief, global internet outages blamed on software bug dOCTOR ON DUTY ed technology issues this week, said its website and Oranjestad other internet-based tools Hospital 7:00 pm / 10:00pm were briefly disconnected Tel. 527 4000 but flights were not affect- San Nicolas ed. United said there were Imsan 24 hours no lingering issues early Tel.524 8833 Thursday. Women in Difficulties The disruptions occurred only days after many of the PHARMACY ON DUTY world's top websites went Oranjestad: Kibrahacha Tel. 583 4908 offline briefly due to a soft- San Nicolas: ware disruption at Fastly, Seroe Preto Tel. 584 4833 another major web servic- Women in Difficulties es company. The compa- OTHER ny blamed the problem on Dental Clinic 587 9850 a software bug triggered Blood Bank Aruba 587 0002 when a single customer Urgent Care 586 0448 changed a setting. q Walk-In Doctor’s Clinic +297 588 0539 Women in Difficulties EMERGENCY Police 100 Oranjestad 527 3140 In this Oct. 9, 2019, file photo, flags are raised outside the Hong Kong Exchange Square building Noord 527 3200 in Central of Hong Kong. Sta. Cruz 527 2900 Associated Press San Nicolas 584 5000 Police Tipline 11141 By FRANK BAJAK world's banks, more than 30 difficulties facing several Ambulancia 911 BOSTON (AP) — A software airlines, more than 200 na- banks that were to partici- Fire Dept. 115 bug at a major network tional government agen- pate. Red Cross 582 2219 provider briefly knocked cies and 825 retailers. The airline Virgin Austra- dozens of financial insti- Many of the outages were lia was also affected and TAXI SERVICES tutions, airlines and other reported by people in Aus- cited the Akamai content Taxi Tas 587 5900 Prof. Taxi 588 0035 companies across the tralia trying to do banking, delivery system. It said Taxi D.T.S. 587 2300 globe offline during peak book flights and access flights largely operated as Taxi Serv. Aruba 583 3232 business hours in Asia. postal services at mid-after- scheduled after it restored A1 Taxi Serv. 280 2828 Akamai, which runs one of noon. Many services were access to its website and Women in Difficulties the internet's main content- back up and running after guest contact center. TRAVEL INFO delivery systems, said the an hour or so. Outages briefly spiked on outage Thursday was not Banking services were se- American, Delta, United Aruba Airport 524 2424 American Airlines 582 2700 caused by a cyberattack, verely disrupted, with West- and Southwest airlines. Be- Avianca 588 0059 but rather a software bug pac, the Commonwealth, cause the disruptions hap- Jet Blue 588 2244 on a service that protects ANZ and St George all pened late at night in the Surinam 582 7896 customers against denial- down, along with the web- U.S. when few planes were Women in Difficulties of-service attacks. site of the Reserve Bank of taking off, airline represen- AID FOUNDATIONS Many of the 500 affected Australia, the country's cen- tatives said there was little Akamai customers had tral bank. The Reserve Bank to no effect on flights. FAVI- Visually Impaired their traffic rerouted in min- cancelled a bond-buying Southwest, which has suf- Tel. 582 5051 utes but it took more than operation due to technical fered two other, unrelat- Alcoholics Anonymous four hours to fully restore the Tel. 736 2952 system, the Massachusetts Narcotics Anonymous Tel. 583 8989 company said. Akamai op- Fundacion Contra Violencia erates mirrors of customer Relacional Tel. 583 5400 websites in 135 countries — Centre for Diabetes known as edge servers — Tel. 524 8888 designed to speed access Child Abuse Prevention to them. Tel. 582 4433 The Hong Kong Stock Ex- Quota Club Tel. 525 2672 Women in Difficulties change and the four largest U.S. airlines were General Info among those impacted. Phone Directory Tel. 118 Akamai does not name its customers but says they include more than 300 of the

Special on june 100% Leathers Cel: 560 3451 Wallets Belts & Handbag for (M & W) sports & elegants: Awg. 70, 90 & Awg.140 ______214263 facebook.com/arubatoday/ A14 Friday 18 June 2021 people & arts Kevin Hart shows range in tearjerker 'Fatherhood' By LINDSEY BAHR friends. Kevin Hart can make us And within the sitcom laugh and cry, it seems, dramedy aesthetic, there even if the vehicle was are moments of truth and practically engineered to grace, from Matt panic- bring on the waterworks. vacuuming to simulate In "Fatherhood," on Netflix white noise so the colic- on Friday, he plays a new y baby can sleep to him dad whose wife dies shortly pleading with his mother- after childbirth and he's left in-law that he'll never know raising their daughter on his if he's a good parent if he own. doesn't get the chance to To be fair, there's been try. It's never entirely clear many built-in tearjerkers why he doesn't want their that have failed (remem- help or needs to move ber "Life Itself"?). But some- back to their hometown. thing has to go very, very "Fatherhood" skips forward wrong for a film to mess up to kindergarten, which is that kind of premise. "Fa- a little jarring, but it's nice therhood" doesn't just suc- to see Maddy (Melody ceed on that emotional Hurd) with a personality level, though — it's also a This image released by Netflix shows Kevin Hart in a scene from "Fatherhood." and point of view and to cut about the rest, thanks Associated Press give Hart someone other to a smart and funny and than a baby to connect basically authentic script tor and Hart as his star. to grieve. He's got a little a "babies are hard but fun- with. It also allows the film (director Paul Weitz and Hart plays Matt, a Boston human to keep alive. ny" montage set to Salt-N- to introduce a love inter- Dana Stevens) and Hart's professional with a beauti- "Fatherhood" smooths out Pepa's "Push It," where we est (played by DeWanda inspired casting. ful wife. The film introduces many of the edges of real breeze through installing a Wise). You may never be The story is based on Mat- him at her funeral, before life. Money does not seem car seat and almost leav- surprised by where "Father- thew Logelin's memoir, cutting back to how it hap- to be a worry for Matt, he ing it (with a baby inside) at hood" is going, but you for- "Two Kisses for Maddy: A pened. The script does a has parents and in-laws the grocery store. This is not give it, too. Memoir of Loss and Love," good job at introducing (Alfre Woodard is terrific as a "Tully"-style representa- It's all done with a good about losing his wife af- you to Matt and Liz (Debo- his mother-in-law) who are tion of the deep exhaustion heart. Even the cliché mo- ter she gave birth to their rah Ayorinde) and making more than willing to take of caring for an infant. ments are understandable. daughter. Since its publica- her more than just a bland him and Maddy back to The film does a good job Sometimes brutal realism is tion 10 years ago, it's had stand-in for "wife" while Minnesota, and his early balancing the drama with overrated when it comes a few different lives, first as you brace for what's com- parenting trials are all pre- the comedy however, and to newborns in movies. a Lifetime movie, then as a ing. And of course, it's not sented in palatable, bite- is helped by a strong sup- And, let's be honest, you're Channing Tatum vehicle, about them but Matt and sized does. One day is porting cast, including Lil much more likely to re- before finally landing Weitz his baby daughter, Maddy. crib set-up. One day she Rel Howery and Anthony watch "Fatherhood" than ("About a Boy") as a direc- He doesn't even have time screams a lot. There's even Carrigan as Matt's best "Tully."q

'Fire and Fury' author writes new Trump book 'Landslide' thor of "Fire and Fury," the nary access to White House him access to the White York Times and Jon Karl of million-seller from 2018 that aides and to the former House and tweeted in 2018 ABC News. helped launched the wave President himself, yielding a that "Fire and Fury" was "full A memoir by Trump re- of inside accounts of the wealth of new information of lies, misrepresentations mains uncertain. He issued Trump White House, will and insights about what re- and sources that don't ex- a statement last week say- have a last take coming ally happened inside the ist." A Trump lawyer sent the ing he was "writing like cra- out next month. highest office in the land, publisher a cease and de- zy" and claimed, to much Michael Wolff's "Landslide: and the world." sist letter and threatened skepticism among pub- The Final Days of the Trump Wolff's first book on Trump, to sue for libel, a response lishers, that he had turned Presidency" is scheduled published in January 2018, which helped raise interest down two offers. for July 27, publisher Henry was an immediate sensa- in "Fire and Fury." (Wolff had Publishing executives had Holt told The Associated tion and went on to sell far fewer sales, and less ac- expressed hesitancy about Press on Thursday. Trump, more than 2 million copies. cess, with the 2019 book Trump even before the Jan. who condemned "Fire and Critics questioned details "Siege: Trump Under Fire"). 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol Fury" and attempted to of Wolff's reporting, but his Other books on the Trump by Trump supporters and have its publication halted, underlying narrative of a administration's final days became even warier after. is among those who spoke chaotic White House and are in the works, including Simon & Schuster CEO Jon- to Wolff for his new book, a volatile, easily distracted one by Woodward and athan Karp told employees This cover image released according to Holt. chief executive has held Washington Post colleague at a company town hall by Holt shows "Landslide: The Final Days of the Trump Presi- "In 'Landslide,' Wolff closes through numerous bestsell- Robert Costa. Politico and last month that he wasn't dency" by Michael Wolff. the story of Trump's four ers which followed, from Vanity Fair have been interested in a Trump book Associated Press years in office and his tu- Bob Woodward's "Fear" to among those reporting that because he doubted the multuous last months at John Bolton's "The Room Trump agreed to meet with former president, who has By HILLEL ITALIE the helm of the country," Where It Happened." Wolff and others writing continued to falsely claim AP National Writer the publisher announced, Trump would deny Wolff's about him, including Mag- he won, would offer an NEW YORK (AP) — The au- "based on Wolff's extraordi- claims that he permitted gie Haberman of The New honest account.q A15 sports Friday 18 June 2021 Sixers' Ben Simmons making NBA history with free-throw woes By TIM REYNOLDS ting intentionally sent to the AP Basketball Writer line and missing free throws Ben Simmons' foul-shooting is just too risky. woes so far in the playoffs "When Ben makes them, aren't just obvious. we get to keep him in," Riv- They're basically unprec- ers said. "When he doesn't, edented. we can't. And that's just the The Philadelphia guard is 22 way it is." for 67 from the line so far in Simmons has missed 45 free this postseason. He's down throws in 10 playoff games. to 32.8% after going 4-for- That's more than three to- 14 in Philadelphia's Game tal teams have missed 5 loss to Atlanta in the East- in their first 10 games of ern Conference semifinals this postseason; Atlanta on Wednesday night — missed 35, Phoenix missed and nobody in NBA play- 29 and Brooklyn missed 22. off history, with that many The Los Angeles Clippers attempts in single postsea- have missed 46, as a team, son, has ever been worse. through 12 games. The next lowest percent- Simmons, the No. 1 over- age, among those with at all pick in the 2016 draft, least 67 foul shots in a post- has never been an excep- season, is Shaquille O'Neal's tional foul shooter; he's al- 37.4% for Miami in 2006 — ways been between 56% when the Heat wound up and 62% in each of his pro winning the NBA champi- seasons. And it wasn't a onship anyway. big issue in the first half of Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young, right, watches as Philadelphia 76ers' Ben Simmons attempts a free- "Obviously, I've got to throw during the first half of Game 5 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series, Wednesday, this season, when he was knock down free throws," June 16, 2021, in Philadelphia. shooting 67% at the All-Star Simmons said. "I've got to Associated Press break. February matched step up and do that." the best free-throw-shoot- Game 6 of the series is Fri- son. Of those, someone has worse if he took 67 free Philadelphia's three losses ing month of his career with day in Atlanta, with the finished below 50% only 23 throws in the 2006 playoffs. to Atlanta in this series, he's him going 45 of 64, a 70% top-seeded 76ers now in a times, below than 40% only He was 18 for 66 that spring, a combined 8 for 29 from clip. win-or-go-home scenario five other times — three by just 27.3%. the foul line. The 76ers have But he shot 53% after the since they trail the best-of- Wilt Chamberlain, two by Otherwise, Simmons stands lost those games by a total break and has seen the seven 3-2. O'Neal. alone right now when it of 10 points. numbers continue to plum- There have been, entering Chamberlain and O'Neal comes to foul-line futility. 76ers coach Doc Rivers has met in the playoffs. He's not Thursday, 804 other instanc- are all-time greats, and an- Simmons's 10 misses from even had to take Simmons sure why, either. es in NBA history of a play- other Hall of Famer — Ben the line in Game 5 were the out late in some games, in- "No idea about any of er taking at least 67 free Wallace, part of the 2021 most by any player in any cluding Game 5, because that," Simmons said. "It's on throws in a single postsea- class — would have been NBA game this season. In the likelihood of him get- me."q 'Listening to my body': Nadal to sit out Wimbledon, Olympics MADRID (AP) — Rafael 35-match winning streak at begins on June 28, and the Nadal will sit out Wimble- the clay-court major tour- Olympic tennis competi- don and the Tokyo Olym- nament and his bid for a tion opens on July 24. pics to rest and recover fifth consecutive title there. Nadal said having only two "after listening to my body," Nadal is tied with Roger Fe- weeks between the end he announced via social derer for the most Grand of the French Open and media on Thursday, tak- Slam titles won by a man the start of Wimbledon this ing one of the biggest stars with 20; Djokovic went on year — normally there are of tennis out of two of the to win the French Open on three, but play in Paris was sport's biggest events in Sunday for his 19th major. delayed a week because 2021. Nadal's Slam total includes of COVID-19 concerns — "The goal is to prolong my two trophies at Wimbledon, "didn't make it easier" for career and continue to do in 2008 and 2010. He also him to recover from "the what makes me happy," owns two Olympic gold always demanding" clay- the 35-year-old Spaniard medals, in singles at the court season. said. 2008 Beijing Games and in After the loss to Djokovic He lost to Novak Djokovic in doubles with Marc Lopez at Roland Garros, Nadal Spain's Rafael Nadal waves to the crowd after losing to Serbia's Novak Djokovic in their semifinal match of the French Open ten- four grueling sets that last- at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro pointed to fatigue as an is- nis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Friday, June 11, ed more than four hours in Games, where Nadal was sue for him in the later stag- 2021 in Paris. the semifinals of the French Spain's flag bearer at the es of that match. Associated Press Open last week — just the opening ceremony. On Thursday, he explained third loss for Nadal in 108 In 2012, Nadal pulled out of in one of a series of tweets my career in order to try to player who currently is No. career matches at Roland the London Olympics and that avoiding "any kind of keep fighting for the high- 3, Nadal is 23-4 with two Garros, where he has won the U.S. Open because of excess" wear and tear on est level of competition titles this season in Barcelo- a record 13 championships. knee tendinitis. his body "is a very impor- and titles." na and Rome, both on clay That defeat ended Nadal's Wimbledon's main draw tant factor at this stage of A former No. 1-ranked courts.q A16 Friday 18 June 2021 sports Richardson stands out on track with long nails, fast times EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Those Crouser broke the world track on issues such as lob- long, colorful fingernails indoor mark with his per- bying for more protections might remind track fans of formance at an American in contracts for female ath- Flo-Jo. Now, Sha'Carri Rich- Track League meet in Jan- letes who give birth. ardson wants to flash speed uary when his shot put trav- The final is Sunday. that conjures images of the eled 22.82 meters (74 feet, BIG HURDLES late, great American sprint- 10½ inches). Keni Harrison enters the 100 er, as well. His mark of 23.01 meters hurdles as the favorite — The 21-year-old Richardson (75-6) in May is inching to- and highly motivated. She enters as the favorite in the ward the outdoor record of finished a disappointing 100 meters at U.S. Olympic 23.12 (75-10¼) set by Ran- sixth at the 2016 trials, only track and field trials this dy Barnes in 1990. Kovacs to set a new world record a week, where a win would set his career-best outdoor few weeks later. put her on a list of Ameri- mark of 22.91 (75-2) in 2019 The trio that made the 100 can champions that in- while winning at worlds. He hurdles squad for Rio — Bri- cludes world-record holder Sha'Carri Richardson, center, wins the women's 100-meter dash eclipsed Crouser's mark of anna Rollins, Nia Ali and final race during the USATF Golden Games athletics meet at Florence Griffith Joyner. Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif., in this Sunday, May 22.90 (75' 1¾). Kristi Castlin — swept the "Flo-Jo came to the track 9, 2021, file photo. FELIX & THE 400 Olympic medals. Rollins and knew she was going Associated Press The 35-year-old Felix will try — now Brianna McNeal — to dominate," said Rich- to make the team in the was recently banned five ardson, whose event starts "Those two were the mix of The men's shot put features 400. She's already earned years in a doping case but Friday with the final Satur- the athlete I wanted to be," a showdown between six Olympic gold medals the Court of Arbitration for day. "The way she did that she said. "An athlete that reigning Olympic gold and three of the silver vari- Sport made an interim de- was graceful. I always liked shows I know where I came medalist Ryan Crouser and ety. The mother of a young cision to freeze her ban so that. If the amazing Flo-Jo from and been through 2019 world champion Joe daughter, Felix has found she can run trials (she's list- had long nails, there was things, but I'm not going Kovacs. her voice away from the ed among the entries). q no excuse why I couldn't to allow that to define me, have long nails." and to always present my- Richardson's race may not self in a way that is domi- be a nail-biter. Others may. nant — but that is also ap- This first weekend also fea- pealing." tures the men's 100 meters, Richardson's times have where Noah Lyles — one been eye-opening — 10.77 of the biggest names in or faster on three occasions the leadup to the Tokyo this season. The only one Games — kicks off his bid who's been speedier this on a potential sprint dou- season is Fraser-Pryce. ble. There will be world- The time they're all chas- record attempts (keep an ing is 10.49, the mark Griffith eye on the men's shot put) Joyner set in 1988. and 400-meter sprinter Ally- "That (time) is in my mind. son Felix trying to make her But it's in the back of my fifth Olympic team. mind," said Richardson, It all starts with two finals Fri- who will be running with a day — the men's shot put heavy heart after recently and 10,000 meters. losing her mother. "Right The show stopper could be now, my mindset is to per- Richardson. She's also big fect the craft. I know the on hair color — a la two- times will follow." time Olympic champion THE 100 LOW-DOWN Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Lyles is the big name and Jamaica — and names one of the featured ath- the styles of her hair. Red is letes in NBC promos lead- "Sasha" and blonde is "La- ing up to the Olympics. His Nay" (Richardson's middle bid for a 100-200 double name). starts Saturday. Her plans for trials: top se- It won't be an easy endeav- cret. or in the 100 with Trayvon As for her nails, well, those Bromell, Marvin Bracy, Isiah are actually inspired by her Young and Ronnie Baker grandmother. It was only all running fast. There's also later that she discovered Fred Kerley, who dropped Griffith Joyner's nails in a the 400 to concentrate on fortuitous accident. the 100 and 200. Don't for- She was learning all about get about Justin Gatlin, ei- the history of Wilma Ru- ther. The 39-year-old won dolph, the 100- and the 100-meter Olympic title 200-meter Olympic cham- in 2004. Gatlin also earned pion in 1960, when she saw silver in Rio in the 100 and a picture of Griffith Joyner. bronze at the 2012 London Richardson counts both as Games. inspirations. SHOT AT WORLD RECORD