June 14, 2018

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“SLEEP WELL TONIGHT” U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, right, walks with U.S. General Vincent K. Brooks, left, commander of United States Forces Korea, upon his arrival at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek Wednesday, June 13, 2018.

Associated Press Page 2

A2 UP

Thursday 14 June 2018

FRONT

Trump claim raises eyebrows: N. Korea no longer a nuke threat?

By MATTHEW PENNINGTON and JOSH LEDERMAN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — America and the world can “sleep well tonight,” President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday, boasting that his summit with Kim Jong Un had ended any nuclear threat from North Korea though the meeting produced no details on how or when weapons might be eliminated or even reduced.

While Trump claimed a historic breakthrough at the most significant diplomatic event of his presidency, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, was more measured. He said the U.S. wants North Korea to take “major” nuclear disarmament steps within the next two years — before the end of Trump’s first term in 2021.

Pompeo also cautioned that the U.S. would resume “war games” with close ally South Korea if the North

A man reads a newspaper reporting the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, at a newspaper distributing station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 12, 2018. The headline read: “North Korea and the United States end 68 years of hostile relations.”

Associated Press

stops negotiating in good faith. The president had announced a halt in the drills after his meeting with Kim on Tuesday, a concession

long sought by Pyongyang.

The summit in Singapore did mark a reduction in tensions — a sea change from last fall, when North

Korea was conducting nuclear and missile tests and Trump and Kim were trading threats and insults that stoked fears of war. Kim is now promising to work toward a denuclearized Korean Peninsula.

But the details of what is sure to be a complex and contentious process have yet to be settled.

Despite the uncertainties, Trump talked up the outcome of what was the first meeting between a U.S. and North Korean leader in six decades of hostility. The Korean War ended in 1953 without a peace treaty, leaving the two sides in a technical state of war.

“Just landed - a long trip, but everybody can now feel much safer than the day I took office,” Trump tweeted early Wednesday.

“There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea.

Meeting with Kim Jong Un was an interesting and very positive experience. North Korea has great potential for the future!”

Pompeo, who flew to Seoul to brief South Korean leaders, said the brief, fourpoint joint statement that emerged from the summit did not encapsulate all the progress the U.S. and North Korea had made. He said negotiations would recommence “in the next week

or so.”

He bristled at questions from reporters about the vague wording of the statement where North Korea “commits to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula” — a promise it has made several times before in the past 25 years and reneged on. Pompeo said Kim understands that “there will be in-depth verification” in any deal with the U.S. While Trump was facing questions at home and among allies about whether he gave away too much in return for too little, North Korean state media heralded claims of a victorious meeting with the U.S. president. Photos of Kim standing side-by-side with Trump on the world stage were splashed across newspapers.

Trump’s own chest-thumping tweet seemed reminiscent of the “Mission Accomplished” banner flown behind President George W. Bush in 2003 when he spoke aboard a Navy ship following the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

The words came back to haunt the administration, as the war dragged on throughout Bush’s presidency.

Trump’s claim that North Korea no longer poses a nuclear threat is questionable considering Pyongyang’s significant weapons arsenal.

Independent experts say the North could have enough fissile material for between about a dozen and 60 nuclear bombs.

Last year it tested longrange missiles that could reach the U.S. mainland, although it remains unclear if it has mastered the technology to deliver a nuclear warhead that could re-enter the atmosphere and hit its target.

“Before taking office people were assuming that we were going to War with North Korea,” Trump tweeted. “President (Barack) Obama said that North Korea was our biggest and most dangerous problem. No longer - sleep well tonight!”q

U.S. NEWS A3

Thursday 14 June 2018

Worker protections seen at risk in Trump health care shift

By RICARDO ALONSOZALDIVAR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration’s latest move against “Obamacare” could jeopardize legal protections on preexisting medical conditions for millions of people with employer coverage, particularly workers in small businesses, say law and insurance experts.

At issue is Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ recent decision that the Justice Department will no longer defend key parts of the Obama-era Affordable Care Act in court. That includes the law’s unpopular requirement to carry health insurance, but also widely supported provisions that protect people with preexisting medical conditions and limit what insurers can charge older, sicker customers. Two independent experts said Wednesday that the administration appears to be taking aim at provisions of the ACA that protect people in employer plans, not only the smaller pool of consumers who buy a policy directly from an insurer. The new Trump administration position was outlined last week in a legal brief filed by the Justice Department in a Texas case challenging the Obama health law.

Workers “could face the prospect of insurance that doesn’t cover their pre-existing conditions when they enroll in a plan with a new employer,” said Larry Levitt of the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation.

University of Michigan law professor Nicholas Bagley said the administration does not appear to have thought through all the

consequences of moving against one provision of a health law that has many complicated interlocking parts. “The lack of care on the brief is jaw-dropping,” said Bagley, who supports the Obama health law but considers himself a “free agent” critic of both sides. “There is no question that the Trump administration has to clarify what the scope of its injunction would be and grapple with the consequences of mowing down parts of the ACA. “For someone with a preexisting condition thinking about switching jobs, the answer to the question could make a life-changing difference,” added Bagley. Both Bagley and Levitt said their questions about the administration’s intentions arose from language in the Justice Department brief that specifically singles out sections of the health law that apply to employer plans. The ACA strengthened previous protections already in federal law that limited the circumstances and length of time under which an employer could exclude coverage for a worker’s pre-existing health problems.

The Trump administration had no immediate rebuttal to the issues raised by the two experts.

Instead, the Health and Human Services Department pointed to comments earlier in the week by Secretary Alex Azar, who told senators that the Justice Department brief was a legal and constitutional argument, not a policy statement.

“We share the view of working to ensure that individuals with pre-existing conditions can have access to affordable health

insurance,” Azar said.

“The president has always shared that and we look forward to working with Congress under all circumstances towards achieving that.”

Nearly 160 million workers and family members have coverage through employers, although the number covered by small employers is much smaller.

A health policy expert with a business organization that represents large employers said he doubted there would be much of an impact on major companies, which are better able to pool risk and have long been accustomed to covering all employees regard-

This May 21, 2018 image shows the main page of the healthcare. gov website in Washington.

Associated Press

less of health issues.

“There will not be a change with anyone who is with a very large employer,” said James Gelfand of the ERISA

Industry Committee, as the group is known. ERISA is the name of a federal law that governs employee benefits for big companies.q

A4 U.S.

Thursday 14 June 2018

NEWS

A year after shooting, GOP lawmakers hold firm on gun rights

By MATTHEW DALY and LAURIE KELLMAN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — In the year since House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and others were shot at a congressional baseball practice, mass shootings have occurred at a Texas church, a Las Vegas music festival and high schools in Parkland, Florida, and Santa Fe, Texas.

Ohio Rep. Brad Wenstrup, a doctor who helped save Scalise's life last June, has watched those attacks unfold with the acute sensitivity of a mass shooting survivor. Each shooting is jarring, says Wenstrup — calling the Parkland shooting in particular sickening — but his views on gun control have not changed.

"If not for a gun — two guns really — being used on our side" by two Capitol Police officers at the GOP practice, "you might have seen 20 dead people," Wenstrup says. "That tells you where I'm coming from."

That sentiment is widespread among Republicans, who say the attack has only strengthened their commitment to protecting gun rights.

Scalise, of Louisiana, suffered life-threatening injuries in the June 2017 shooting but returned to work last fall. He said the shooting "deepened my appreciation for the Second Amendment because it was people with guns who saved my life and every other member out there."

If Capitol Police officers David Bailey and Crystal Griner had not been there with guns to counter the shooter, "then there would have been nobody to take him down and he would have just been able to come and pick us apart," Scalise said in a brief inter-

In this March 6, 2018 file photo, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise speaks at the 2018 American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference in Washington.

Associated Press

view this week.

As he and other lawmakers prepare for the annual congressional baseball game at Nationals Park on Thursday night — the anniversary of the shooting — Scalise said he's comfortable with the actions Congress has taken on gun safety, including measures to strengthen the federal background check system for gun purchases and improve school safety.

Scalise said he sees no need to go further.

"Taking away the rights of law-abiding citizens is not the answer. Again, it was law-abiding citizens with guns that saved my life and many others," he said.

Wenstrup, a former Army combat surgeon in Iraq, says he wants to approach gun violence as a health

care issue, particularly mental health.

"We need to address homicide in America and what's driving it, and certainly gun violence is a part of that," he said in an interview. "I think every school, every place where people gather, has to take a look at their security."

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., who was on the field during the shooting, said it reinforced his view that officials need to combat violence in all forms, whether it is someone with a gun, knife or bomb.

"Many times it's mental illness," Fleischmann said, adding that the FBI told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing that the gunman was intent on "suicide by cop."

"Unfortunately, he targeted

us," Fleischmann said of the gunman, who was killed in a shootout with police.

Texas Rep. Roger Williams, who is coaching the Republican team playing Thursday, said the shooting "changed everybody's life," including his. Williams sprained his ankle trying to get away from the shooter, and his aide Zack Barth was among those wounded.

"It just reminded me that God's in control and how fleeting life is," Williams said.

"And what's important and what's not important. And how divided our country is politically, when somebody would do that."

Williams said he relates to what the mass shooting victims in Las Vegas and elsewhere are feeling.

"I won't lose that sound in my mind" of bullets flying

from pine trees near the field, he said. "You don't forget it. ... I'm a Second Amendment guy. I'm a lifetime member of the NRA. I'm a Texan, and I grew up with guns."

The shooting "doesn't change my mind. It just reminds me how important it is to reach out to those that would wake up thinking, 'I'm going to kill somebody,'" Williams said.

But there was at least one lawmaker on the field that day who said the Alexandria shooting has affected the way he thinks about gun policy.

"It's moved me," said Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, who is retiring after this year. He said he now supports restrictions on high-capacity magazines, for instance, "but that hasn't come up" in debate. Still, "there's been a shift" for him personally, he said.

Meanwhile, Scalise, who has been walking with crutches or a cane, said he's eager to reclaim his position as starting second baseman.

"Being able to walk out onto that field again on Thursday night with my uniform is going to be a special, special moment," he told Fox News Channel this week.

The GOP team held an initial practice this year at the field in Alexandria, Virginia, where the shooting occurred, but has since moved to a separate field in Washington with increased security.

The additional security "makes us feel great and more secure," Fleischmann said, "but I hope and pray we can get to a time and place where we can go to a ball field and feel safe again. That's the America I grew up in, and I hope we can get back to that."q

U.S. NEWS A5

Thursday 14 June 2018

Developer defends school-shooting game as victims complain

By DAVE COLLINS HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The developer of a schoolshooting video game is vowing to continue selling it online as parents of slain children and other mass shooting victims work to get the game wiped off the internet.

The "Active Shooter" game was created by Anton Makarevskiy, a 21-year-old developer from Moscow, Russia, and is being marketed by his entity Acid Software.

Acid said in a Twitter posting Tuesday that it will not be censored and cited free expression rights.

The game is branded as a "SWAT simulator" that lets players choose between being an active shooter terrorizing a school or the SWAT team responding to the shooting. Players can choose a gun, grenade or knife, and civilian and police death totals are shown on the screen. Acid had been selling an early version of the game online for $20 and plans to release a new version next month.

Acid recently set up two websites for "Active Shooter" after the game was removed from the webpages of video game marketplace Steam and crowdfunding site Indi-

egogo, which is refunding contributors. The removals followed complaints and online petitions by anti-gun violence advocates including parents of children killed in school shootings in Parkland, Florida, and Newtown, Connecticut.

"You cannot censor us and what we do," an Acid Twitter posting said . "Our game does not violate any ToS (terms of service) nor promotes any violence and/or extremism. #ActiveShooter will remain on our website and continue its course!"

One of the sites included a discussion section where one person recommended adding more "blood from shot civilians (LOTS AND LOTS)" and increasing noise and chaos to add to "the drama."

The new webpages, however, were shut down Tuesday night by Bluehost, the Burlington, Massachusetts, company that hosted the new sites, according to Acid, which vowed to get them back up and running.

Representatives of Bluehost did not return a message seeking comment.

Bluehost was asked to remove the sites in an online petition organized by Sandy Hook Promise, an antigun violence group formed

by parents whose children were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown in December 2012.

Twenty first-graders and six educators were shot to death at the school, including Nicole Hockley's son, Dylan.

"Even more than five years later, I'm still not ready to face all the details of Dylan's last moments," Hockley said in an email urging people to sign the petition to Bluehost. "The fact that someone has programmed such details into a game for others to play is beyond sickening."

The game also was recently condemned by parents of children killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Ata Berdyev, of Seattle, who is helping Makarevskiy promote the game, told The Associated Press in emails Tuesday that the new sites generated about 300 free downloads of a demo, 14 sales of the initial game version and four preorders of the new version in less than a day.

Berdyev said Makarevskiy "does not keep up with US news" and the release of the game was "just a bad timing."

"He obviously expected

This screen shot taken from YouTube shows a still frame from the video game "Active Shooter."

Associated Press

some criticism, but not as much as it got," Berdyev wrote. "It's a video game, not reality. It also does not promote any violence or hate. People need to fo-

cus on real-life issues rather than a video game. There are lots of other games which are even worse, but people seem not to care as much."q

A6 U.S.

Thursday 14 June 2018

NEWS

Wildfires destroy Utah homes, prompt Colorado evacuations

By COLLEEN SLEVIN and LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press DENVER (AP) — A fastmoving brush fire destroyed eight homes in the Utah tourist town of Moab, while more than 3,000 people in Colorado and Wyoming fled multiple wildfires scorching the drought-stricken U.S. West on Wednesday.

The blaze in Moab, known for its dramatic red rocks, started in a wooded area Tuesday night and quickly spread to homes over less than a square mile (kilometer), Police Chief Jim Winder said.

He said the early investigation has ruled out natural causes for the blaze that ignited near a creek that is frequently used as a walkway in a largely blue-collar neighborhood. It's not near the tourist-heavy areas in the town known for its proximity to Arches and Canyonlands national parks.

Moab resident Shane Tangren told the Salt Lake Tribune that he arrived home from work Tuesday evening to find flames nearby. He was trying to protect the house he's lived in since he was 16 by wetting it down, but the wind shifted and sent the flames barreling right toward him. He fled.

"I sat there and watched it burn to the ground," Tangren, 55, told the newspaper.

"Everything — photographs, birth certificates, memories — it's all gone.

My first car — that was a 1970 (Pontiac) GTO. Up in flames. I bought it when I was 15."

In this Tuesday, June 12, 2018, photograph, hot spots glow after sunset near the Falls Creek Subdivision as the 416 Fire burns near Durango, Colo.

Associated Press

In Colorado's mountains, residents have evacuated more than 1,300 houses — condos, apartments and pricey homes — in an area known for its ski resorts. Firefighters, with help from aircraft, got a quick jump on the fire near Silverthorne after it was reported Tues-

day and have managed to keep it from spreading beyond about 91 acres in heavy timber, including trees killed by pine beetles.

Across the state, Colorado's largest fire has burned about 43 square miles (111 square kilometers) over nearly two weeks. Resi-

dents could go back to about 180 homes no longer threatened at the northern edge of the fire Wednesday, but others remained out of more than 1,900 houses.

The blaze about 13 miles (43 kilometers) north of Durango is in the Four Corners

region where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah meet and which is in the middle of a large swath of exceptional drought.

Much of the U.S. West is experiencing some level of drought.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper said the rapid response from emergency crews has helped prevent a repeat of devastating wildfires in 2012 and 2013.

Years ago, he said fire departments were hesitant to commit resources to fighting every fire, and launching a coordinated response to a major blaze could take up to two days.

Hickenlooper said better coordination has cut down on delays, and the state reimburses local departments for initial response costs, in an attempt to control a blaze before it can spread.

"We learned a lot from the disasters, the fires we had in 2012 and 2013," Hickenlooper told reporters.

Meanwhile, a wildfire in Wyoming's Medicine Bow National Forest doubled in size over 24 hours, burning about 8 square miles (21 square kilometers). Nearly 400 seasonal and permanent homes have been evacuated because of the fire near the Colorado border.

The situation was better in central Washington, where authorities lifted evacuation orders or warnings for about 50 residents as crews work to contain a wildfire burning grass and brush.

Officials said one small outbuilding was lost but no injuries have been reported.q

U.S. NEWS A7

Thursday 14 June 2018

N. Dakota OKs refinery construction near national park

By BLAKE NICHOLSON Associated Press BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota's Health Department issued a permit Wednesday allowing construction of an oil refinery about 3 miles (5 kilometers) from Theodore Roosevelt National Park, a project opposed by several national and regional conservation groups.

The Davis Refinery still has other hurdles, but the permission to build that followed a 1 ½-year state review is a major victory for the project planned by Meridian Energy Group, based in California and North Dakota.

"The confirming review by the (state) was the most thorough review I've been involved with in my career," Senior Project Manager Dan Hedrington said. Meridian CEO William Prentice said the state review "validates" work the company has done ensuring the plant will be "the cleanest refinery on the planet."

Several groups including the Badlands Conservation Alliance doubt that. Executive Director Jan Swenson called it "a pretty sad day for the state of North Dakota."

The National Parks Conservation Association, the Environmental Law and Policy Center and the Badlands Area Resource Council issued a joint statement Wednesday condemning the decision.

The permit decision can be appealed to the Health Department and then to state district court.

Opposition groups said they were reviewing their options.

There is no state requirement for an independent review.

The state review included a public comment period

that generated more than 10,000 comments. The review essentially concluded that the refinery will be a minor source of pollution and won't negatively impact the park. However, after it's built, it will need to obtain an air quality permit by proving it can meet state and federal air quality standards. Compliance will be continually monitored.

"Not only do we do routine inspections, we also require them to put continuous emission monitors on, and we can get that data at any time," state Air Quality Director Terry O'Clair said.

Opponents worry about pollution in the 30,000acre (12,000-hectare) park named for the former U.S. president who ranched in the region in the 1880s and is revered for his advocacy of land and wildlife conservation. The park is the state's top tourist attraction, drawing more than 700,000 visitors annually.

Opponents also question Meridian's production estimates. The company says the refinery will process about 27,500 barrels of oil daily, with a production capacity of 49,500 barrels per day — just under the 50,000-barrel threshold that triggers a siting review by the state's Public Service Commission. The company denies trying to skirt state permitting law.

Supporters of the refinery point to its potential impact on the economy. It could create 500 construction jobs and permanent jobs for 200 people in the area, while generating millions of dollars in local property taxes each year. Early estimates were that it would cost more than $800 million to build, though the company has made changes in its plans since.

The project still needs a

In this May 24, 2017, file photo, a bison grazes in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota.

Associated Press

permit from the State Water Commission to use underground water for the refinery. Neighboring landowners are challenging a recommendation from the state engineer to approve

the request. A hearing before an administrative law judge is set for October.

The project also needs a permit from the state Health Department to dispose of wastewater underground,

a review process that could take up to six months. The company and state have discussed the permit but the company has not yet formally applied, according to the department.q

A8 WORLD

Thursday 14 June 2018

NEWS

Migrant aid ship on way to Spain as Italy draws deeper line

By NICOLE WINFIELD SYLVIE CORBET ROME (AP) — Italy escalated its quarrel with France over migration Wednesday, challenging the bordering country to take in more asylumseekers and demanding an apology after the French president accused the new Italian government of irresponsible behavior for refusing entry to a rescue ship with hundreds of migrants aboard.

Interior Minister Matteo Salvini chided French President Emmanuel Macron by name during a speech before Parliament's upper chamber, while Italian news reports said a meeting between Macron and Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte planned for Friday now was in doubt.

"I speak in the name of a government, but I also have the aim of speaking for a people who have nothing to learn from anyone about generosity, volunteerism, welcome and solidarity," Salvini, the leader of the anti-migrant League party, said to applause in the Senate chamber.

In other signs of the continuing clash, Italy summoned the French ambassador for consultations, canceled a planned meeting between finance ministers and warned that diplomatic relations between the two European Union members had been compromised.

Italy has received both criticism and praise for turning away the Aquarius rescue ship over the weekend as it made its way across the Mediterranean Sea carrying 629 migrants.

Rome says the rescue vessel's passengers never were in danger and argues that other European countries must share the work of welcoming wouldbe asylum-seekers.

Two Italian naval vessels are escorting the ship to Spain after the Socialist government of new Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered the Aquarius safe harbor Monday.

The Aquarius and two Italian ships that took on

Migrants wait to disembark from an Italian Coast Guard vessell "Diciotti" as it docks at the Sicilian port of Catania, southern Italy, Wednesday, June 13, 2018 Associated Press

some of the 629 passengers are expected to arrive in Valencia on Saturday night, weather conditions permitting, said SOS Mediterranee co-founder Sophie Beau, whose charity operates the aid ship. If the timeline holds, that would be a week after the Aquarius first sought permission to dock in Italy.

The port of Valencia is some 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) from where the vessel had been on standby.

"It's a relief for everyone, our teams and of course above all for the survivors, to know that they are finally allowed to head to a safe port in Europe," Beau told reporters in Marseille, France.

Lashing out at the French government, Salvini said France had taken in only a fraction of the 9,816 migrants it had pledged to accept under a 2015 EU relocation plan. The EU plan, which was intended to relieve pressure on Italy and Greece, has largely flopped, with only a handful of countries receiving their share of newcomers.

"So I ask President Macron to pass from words to action and tomorrow morning, welcome the 9,000 France promised to welcome as a sign of concrete generosity and not just words," Salvini said.

France has admitted 635 migrants under the terms of

the plan, according to EU figures.

The line Italy drew with the Aquarius appeared to be a tactic by the populist government sworn in this month to force Europe's hand at a summit of EU leaders in Brussels set for June 28-29.

Italy for years has complained that it has been left largely alone to manage Europe's migrant crisis, but the new government says its firm stance has finally gotten the point across.

"I think we've never been so central and so heard as we have been over the last hours," Salvini told the senators, adding that sympathetic officials from Germany and elsewhere had contacted him to applaud his position.

Salvini also accused France of having turned back 10,249 migrants at Italy's northern border since January, "including women, children and disabled people."

The border crossing point at Ventimiglia has been the scene of protests and desperation for years as France refused to let in migrants, many of them seeking to reach family in France or Germany.

Austria's conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who since December has led a coalition government with the anti-migration

Freedom Party, proposed the idea Wednesday of an "axis of the willing" — made up of Rome, Vienna and Berlin — to cooperate in tackling illegal immigration.

Salvini has accused European aid groups of essentially operating taxi services for Libya-based human traffickers and said Italy will now refuse their rescue ships entry.

Italian maritime vessels that have picked up Europe-bound migrants in the Mediterranean still are entering the ports; on Wednesday, an Italian coast guard vessel docked in Catania, Sicily with 932 migrants on board.

Still at sea were 41 migrants rescued Tuesday by the U.S. Navy vessel Trenton, which was in the Mediterranean for what the U.S. 6th Fleet said was a routine operation. German aid group Sea-Watch said the migrants were picked up after their rubber dinghy sank and the Navy also had recovered the bodies of 12 people.

Sea Watch confirmed it had space and food for 41 passengers, but said it declined to take the migrants from the U.S. Navy ship because Italy had refused to assign the group's rescue vessel a port where it could dock.

The U.S. Sixth Fleet said it was coordinating with its partners on where the

migrants will go next.

Italy's argument with France came after Macron on Tuesday blasted what he called Italy's cynicism and irresponsibility in turning away the Aquarius.

The French president's office said France didn't want to "start a precedent" that would allow some European countries to breach international laws and rely on other EU member states to take in migrants.

The French government was more conciliatory Wednesday, when the Foreign Ministry said France recognized the burden Italy has carried.

Macron and new Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte were scheduled to meet in Paris on Friday, but Italian news agency ANSA said Wednesday the meeting might be postponed because the conditions weren't right. Conte's office refused to confirm the report. Earlier in the day, the Italian Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the French ambassador to complain that the French comments about the Aquarius were "unacceptable."

It added that Italy was waiting for French to take action to "heal the situation that has been created."

Under the EU's asylum laws — currently the subject of a major political dispute and under revision — migrants must apply for asylum in the country where they first enter Europe. In practice, the policy has placed a heavy burden on Italy and Greece, where hundreds of thousands of asylumseekers have arrived in recent years.

A boat loaded with 55 people who were thought to be Syrian refugees landed Wednesday on the northwest coast of Cyprus, a Mediterranean island split into ethnically Greek and Turkish sides.

A police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, told the Associated Press there were 54 men and one woman aboard the boat.q

WORLD NEWS A9

Thursday 14 June 2018

Macedonia name-change opponents rally forces in 2 countries

By ELENA BECATOROS JASMINA MIRONSKI ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Macedonia's president said Wednesday that he would not sign off on a historic deal that would change the country's name, the most potentially disruptive reaction so far to the agreement with Greece that has received diverging reactions in both countries.

President Gjorge Ivanov said the agreement, which would rename Macedonia as the Republic of North Macedonia, gave too many concessions to Greece.

"Such a harmful agreement, which is unique in the history of mankind, is shameful and unacceptable for me," Ivanov said in a TV address. "It violates the Constitution (and) the laws ... I will not legalize political illegal agreements."

The deal reached by the prime ministers of the two countries is expected to be signed by their foreign ministers this weekend. After that, Macedonia's parliament would vote on it, and if it is approved, Ivanov's signature would be needed.

If the president refuses to sign, the deal would return to parliament for another vote. Ivanov would have to sign off on the agreement if it is passed a second time.

The name dispute, which has prevented Macedonia from joining international institutions such as NATO, has roused strong nationalist sentiments and poisoned the two countries' relations since the Balkan country declared independence

People demonstrate against the change of the country's constitutional name in front of the Parliament building in Skopje, Macedonia, Wednesday, June 13.

Associated Press

from Yugoslavia in 1991.

Greece argues that the term "Macedonia" implies a claim on the territory and ancient heritage of its own northern province of the same name — the birthplace of ancient warrior king Alexander the Great.

European Council President Donald Tusk and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg issued a statement Wednesday welcoming the deal and acknowledging that domestic politics still could scuttle it.

"We hope that this unique opportunity to relaunch the wider Western Balkan region's European and EuroAtlantic integration will not be wasted," the statement said. "This agreement sets an example for others on how to consolidate peace and stability across the region."

The agreement reached

by Prime Minister Alexis

Tsipras and Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has strong dissenters, with opponents staging large protests on both sides of the border. The issue threatened to split Greece's governing coalition, and provoked a rift between Zaev and his president.

"Everything that is sacred to Macedonia is being trampled underfoot, and the unborn are deprived of the right and pride to be Macedonians," Ivanov said in his address.

Up to 1,500 people held a peaceful protest against the deal outside Macedonia's parliament in Skopje late Wednesday, chanting "Traitors" and blowing whistles.

Greek opponents of the deal are planning a rally in Athens on Friday. Hardliners on both sides are arguing that their prime ministers conceded too much to

reach the deal. In Macedonia, Zaev has said he will put the deal to a referendum in the fall.

Zaev, accompanied by Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov, visited Ivanov Wednesday to brief him on the deal. But Ivanov refused to discuss the issue.

"President Ivanov ... left the meeting, refusing to talk about the achievements of this historical agreement," the government said in a statement.

"I think Prime Minister Zaev's most difficult task will be to actually explain the deal, to build political consensus for the implementation and, of course, the upcoming referendum," said political analyst Petar Arsovski.

Greece's Tsipras also faces opposition at home.

Defense Minister Panos Kammenos, whose rightwing Independent Greeks party is the coalition part-

ner in Tsipras' government, said he would oppose the agreement in a parliamentary vote. This would leave the left-wing prime minister dependent on support from political opponents to ratify the deal in parliament.

But Tsipras said he expects Greek lawmakers to easily approve the agreement. "(It) won't have trouble in passing," he said during a TV interview. "It will be approved with a big majority."

He also ruled out a Greek referendum on the namechange.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the head of New Democracy, Greece's main opposition party, described the agreement as "deeply problematic" and called on Greece's president to intervene so the deal can be debated in parliament before it is signed, instead of after.

On the streets of both capitals, reactions were mixed.

"We lost the country, this is a disaster," 45-year-old lawyer Mila Ivanovska said in Skopje, the Macedonian capital, and began to cry.

Greek opponents were equally angry.

"You, Slavs from Skopje through the centuries, you have never been true Macedonians," said Athenian resident Konstandinos Goutras. But for others, the deal marks a welcome end to a protracted dispute.

"North Macedonia is acceptable for me," said Svetlana Jancevska, a 55-year-old music teacher in Skopje, adding that it will "not damage my identity as Macedonian. q

A10 WORLD

Thursday 14 June 2018

NEWS

UN Assembly blames Israel for Gaza violence, but not Hamas

By EDITH M. LEDERER UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly approved a Palestinianbacked resolution Wednesday blaming Israel for violence in Gaza after narrowly rejecting a U.S. demand to add a condemnation of attacks on Israel by Gaza's Hamas rulers.

The votes reflected wide concern in the 193-member world body that the resolution sponsored by Arab and Islamic nations was one-sided and failed to even mention Hamas which has fired over 100 rockets at Israel — an issue the United States attempted to rectify in its amendment.

Since near-weekly mass protests began March 30 along the Israel-Gaze border, more than 120 Palestinians have been killed and over 3,800 wounded

by Israeli army fire. The overwhelming majority of the dead and wounded have been unarmed, according to Gaza health officials. Israel says Hamas uses the protests as cover for attacks on the border fence.

Algerian Ambassador Sabri Boukadoum, representing Arab nations, first sought to block a vote on the U.S. amendment, saying it wasn't relevant to the resolution. He said it also undermined reconciliation efforts between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah as well as the "remote prospects" of reviving peace negotiations with Israel.

His motion to take "no action" on the amendment was defeated by a vote of 59-78 with 26 abstentions, allowing the U.S. amend-

Palestinians attend a protest to demand lifting the sanctions on Gaza Strip, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Tuesday, June 12, 2018.

Associated Press

ment to be put to a vote.

The U.S. motion was approved on 62-58 vote, with 42 abstentions. But General Assembly President Miroslav Lajcak declared that under an assembly rule, a two-thirds majority was needed so the amendment failed.

U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley appealed, citing another rule that says only a majority vote was required.

After a short break, Lajcak then put the U.S. appeal to a vote. The U.S. narrowly lost that vote 66-73 with 26 abstentions.

Finally, the assembly voted on the original Palestinian-

backed resolution, approving it 120-8 with 45 abstentions.

The resolution's text deplores "any excessive use of force" by Israeli forces, particularly in Gaza, and demands that Israel "refrain from such actions." It also seeks recommendations from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Gutterese on ensuring protection for Palestinian civilians, including an "international protection mechanism."

The Palestinians had initially sought a Security Council resolution after Israel's military killed civilians during the mass protests in Gaza

against the border blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt in 2007 after Hamas overran the territory. The U.S. vetoed that resolution June 1, with Haley calling it "grossly one-sided" for criticizing the use of force by Israel while not mentioning Hamas.

Arab and Islamic nations then decided to seek a vote on virtually the identical resolution at Wednesday's emergency meeting of the 193-member General Assembly, where there are no vetoes.

The Palestinians and their supporters followed the same route they took in

December after the United States vetoed a Security Council resolution calling on President Donald Trump to renounce his recognition of Israel as Jerusalem's capital.

The General Assembly largely ignored Trump's threats at the time to cut off aid to any country that went against the United States and voted 128-9 to denounce the U.S. president's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and declare it "null and void."

Wednesday's assembly meeting reflected the deep divisions that persist over the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The marchers in Gaza have pressed demands for a "right of return" for descendants of Palestinian refugees to ancestral homes in what is now Israel. More than 700,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled in the 1948 Mideast war over Israel's creation. Two-thirds of Gaza's 2 million residents are descendants of refugees.

The resolution adopted Wednesday calls for "immediate steps towards ending the closure and the restrictions imposed by Israel on movement and access into and out of the Gaza Strip."

It also "deplores the firing of rockets from the Gaza Strip against Israeli civilian areas," but doesn't say who is doing the firing.

While Security Council resolutions are legally binding, General Assembly resolutions are not, although assembly spokesman Brendan Varma stressed Wednesday that they do reflect "political will" as well as international opinion.q

WORLD NEWS A11

Thursday 14 June 2018

Trump-Kim summit raises new questions over South Korean role

By HYUNG-JIN KIM KIM TONG-HYUNG Associated Press SINGAPORE (AP) — When South Korea's president shuttled between North Korea and the United States to broker their first-ever summit, he faced both praise and criticism over whether he was a peace-making mediator or was helping North Korea find ways to weaken U.S.-led economic sanctions.

A day after President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held their summit in Singapore, is it clearer whether Moon Jae-in played a positive or negative role? A quick answer: Probably not.

Assessments of Moon's diplomacy have become more divisive and complex, with Trump criticized in both South Korea and the U.S. for the concessions he made to North Korea, while others believe the summit will successfully prolong the current mood of detente.

Meeting for about five hours, Trump and Kim exchanged an historic handshake, took a short stroll together, patted each other's backs and signed a summit agreement. Trump promised to provide security guarantees to the North and suspend joint military drills with the South as long as negotiations with the North continue in "good faith." Kim, in return, agreed to work toward a vague "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

Those moves were unthinkable even several months ago, when the two unpredictable leaders threatened to nuke each other and traded a series of harsh personal insults.

Moon issued a statement after the summit calling it a "huge step forward" toward

Destination signs to North Korea's capital Pyongyang, top, and the United States, center, are seen at the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju near the border village of Panmunjom, South Korea, Wednesday, June 13, 2018.

Associated Press

peace that "helped break down the last remaining Cold War legacy on Earth."

He acknowledged that many difficulties are likely to lie ahead but vowed to work together with the U.S., North Korea and others to bring lasting peace to the Korean Peninsula.

"We will never go back to the past again and never give up on this bold journey.

History is a record of people who take action and rise to a challenge," he said.

But conservatives in South Korea slammed the summit, saying it failed to curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions. They said both Trump and Moon should be blamed for not specifying steps and deadlines for North Korea's nuclear disarmament, allowing it time to perfect its weapons program.

"High expectations were met by low results," said Nam Sung-wook, a North Korea expert at Seoul's Korea University. "Moon, and then Trump, were quick to bite on North Korea's invita-

tion for talks. When Trump realized there wasn't going to be anything substantial in return, it was impossible for him to back out because he had already gone too far."

U.S. officials had worked hard to get North Korea to agree to "complete, verifiable and irreversible" disarmament, and said they would not offer any major concessions until it took meaningful steps. Despite those efforts, Trump announced after the summit that he had agreed to suspend U.S. military drills with South Korea, something North Korea has long demanded.

On Wednesday, North Korean state media said Trump had also agreed to the North's desire for a step-by-step disarmament process with corresponding U.S. concessions at each step, rather than immediate disarmament as the U.S. had initially sought.

Trump's agreement to suspend the military drills apparently came with-

out prior consultation with South Korea, baffling many who believe the U.S.-South Korea alliance, forged in blood during the 1950-53 Korean War, should remain strong throughout the push for a negotiated end to the nuclear tensions.

"Why did South Korea and the U.S. form an alliance and stage military drills before the nuclear crisis flared? It's because North Korea has been belligerent," said Kim Taewoo, former president of the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul. He said cancellation of the drills "is really a bad idea ... and (Trump) betrayed our people."

Asked to respond to Trump's decision, Moon spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said the allies must consider a "variety of ways to further facilitate dialogue" during the nuclear negotiations. He said South Korea is still trying to figure out the exact meaning and intent of Trump's comments.

Since taking office in May

last year, Moon, a son of North Korean refugees, has sought to take the lead in diplomatic efforts to end the North Korean nuclear standoff, which had been dominated by world powers including the U.S. and China.

Provocative nuclear and missile tests by North Korea last year initially gave Moon little diplomatic room to maneuver. But he kept trying to reach out to North Korea, and eventually found a role as a mediator after Kim offered in January to send a delegation to the South Korean Winter Olympics.

After successful cooperation at the Olympics, Moon sent special envoys to North Korea who later traveled to Washington with Kim's proposal for a summit with Trump. Moon held talks with Kim in April at which Kim agreed to work toward "complete denuclearization." He met Kim again in May when Trump said he was withdrawing from the planned summit with Kim — a decision Trump quickly reversed.

Experts now expect a temporary peace to continue since North Korea has probably won what it wanted from Tuesday's summit and Trump is unlikely to back down from summit deals that he wants to portray as a diplomatic triumph.

Analyst Hong Min at Seoul's Korea Institute for National Unification said critics of the joint statement signed

by Trump and Kim are missing a bigger point.

He said it's meaningful in itself that the leaders of the United States and North Korea met, talked and signed an agreement that will carry more weight and significance than any pact previously made between the wartime foes. q

A12 WORLD

NEWS Puerto Rico issues new data on Hurricane Maria deaths Thursday 14 June 2018

By DANICA COTO SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Eight days after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, Efrain Perez felt a pain in his chest.

Doctors near his small town sent him to Puerto Rico's main hospital for emergency surgery for an aortic aneurysm. But when the ambulance pulled into the parking lot in the capital, San Juan, after a more than two-hour drive, a doctor ran out to stop it.

"He said, 'Don't bring him in here, I can't care for him. I don't have power. I don't have water. I don't have an anesthesiologist,'" Perez's daughter, Nerybelle, recalled.

The 95-year-old Perez died as the ambulance drove him back to southwestern Puerto Rico but he is not included in the island's official hurricane death toll of 64 people, a figure at the center of a growing legal and political fight over the response to the Category 4 storm that hit Puerto Rico on Sept. 20, 2017.

Facing at least three lawsuits demanding more data on the death toll, Puerto Rico's government released new information on Tuesday that added detail to the growing consensus that hundreds or even thousands of people died as an indirect result of the storm.

According to the new data, there were 1,427 more deaths from September to December 2017 than the average for the same time period over the previous four years. Additionally, September and October had the highest number of deaths of any months since at least 2013. But the statistics don't indicate whether the storm and its aftermath contributed to the additional deaths.

The Puerto Rican government says it believes more than 64 people died as a result of the storm but it will not raise its official toll until George Washington University completes a study of the data being carried out on behalf of the U.S. territory.

The issue is clouded by

Nerybelle Perez poses with a portrait of her father, World War II veteran Efrain Perez, who died inside an ambulance after being turned away from the largest public hospital days after Hurricane Maria passed, in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Thursday, June 7, 2018.

Associated Press

the fact that the federal government and U.S. states and territories have no uniform definition of what constitutes a stormrelated death. The National Hurricane Center counts only deaths directly caused by a storm, like a person killed by a falling tree. It does not count indirect deaths, like someone whose medical equipment fails in a blackout.

Puerto Rico began by counting mostly direct deaths, with some indirect ones. Then it stopped updating its toll entirely while it waits for the George Washington University study, due later this summer.

The death count has had political implications.

Visiting Puerto Rico on Oct. 3, two weeks after the storm hit, President Donald Trump asked Gov. Ricardo Rossello what the death toll was.

"Sixteen," Rossello answered.

"Sixteen people certified," Trump said. "Sixteen people versus in the thousands. You can be very proud of all of your people and all of our people working together.

Sixteen versus literally thousands of people.

You can be very proud.

Everybody watching can really be very proud of what's taken place in

Puerto Rico."

On Monday, two Democrats introduced a bill to the Republicancontrolled Congress that would establish federal procedures for counting deaths after a natural disaster, saying that will help improve the federal response and be key to allocating federal funds.

The $2 million proposed project would allow the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency to hire the National Academy of Medicine to do a study on how best to assess fatalities during and after a disaster, given that the process is currently left up to U.S. states and territories.

"Nobody rebuilding his or her life after a natural disaster should suffer the negligence we've seen in Puerto Rico," Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona said.

"Too many Puerto Rican families are suffering additional burdens today because officials won't acknowledge their loved ones' deaths.

Like Perez, thousands of sick Puerto Ricans were unable to receive medical care in the months after the storm caused the worst blackout in U.S. history, which continues to this day, with 6,983 home and businesses still without power.

The data released Tuesday

showed increases in several illnesses in 2017 that could have been linked to the storm: Cases of sepsis, a serious bloodstream infection usually caused by bacteria, rose from 708 in 2016 to 835 last year.

Deaths from diabetes went from 3,151 to 3,250 and deaths from heart illnesses increased from 5,417 to 5,586.

The data was not broken down by month, preventing an analysis of whether the illnesses rose after Hurricane Maria.

CNN and the Puerto Rico Center for Investigative Journalism sued the Puerto Rican government after it refused to release a detailed accounting of deaths in the wake of the storm. On June 5, a judge gave the government until Tuesday to release a database listing the causes of death of all those who died from two days before the storm until today, along with all the death certificates and burial and cremation certificates for the same period.

"People still don't have a clear picture as to how many lives were lost due to a lack of food, medicine, health services or simply because of an ineffective response to an emergency.

That's why it's urgent to shed light on all components of

government preparedness and response," Judge Lauracelis Roques wrote in her ruling.

The government on Tuesday requested more time to release all the death certificates, saying Social Security data had to be redacted from 48,000 individual documents. The judge rejected the request and the government planned to announce its next steps later in the day.

Meanwhile, thousands of Puerto Ricans were hoping the release of the information will lead to their loved ones being included in the storm's toll, something they say will provide a sense of closure and show the American public the true cost of the hurricane.

Until now, Perez has been "one of those who do not count," his daughter told The Associated Press. "That's a lie."

Lucila Pardo, 96, spent nearly four months in a sweltering nursing home that did not have power and developed bed sores by the time she was moved in early January to another home where electricity had been restored. By then, the sores had become infected and she was taken to a hospital where she spent two weeks before dying of septicemia.

"That figure of 64 is a lack of respect for those who died from other consequences," said Pardo's granddaughter Analid Nazario.

"The hospital wrote a letter apologizing," Nazario told the AP, adding that they were understaffed.

A Harvard study published last month estimates there were as many as 4,600 more deaths than usual in the three months after Maria, although some independent experts questioned the methodology and the numbers in that study. Still, previous studies have found the number of direct and indirect hurricane-related deaths is higher than the official toll, including a 2017 report that said there were nearly 500 more deaths than usual on the island in September.q

A13

Thursday 14 June 2018

During event with speakers of the World Nature Fonds:

Sale of environmental conservation with tourists proposed

ORANJESTAD—During last week’s event at the University of Aruba organized by the Environment Ministry with the name ‘Marine Protected Areas In Blue Economies’ speaker Arjan De Groene, adviser of the World Nature Fonds (WNF/ WWF) ocean and coastlines programs in Holland brought forward various points which could help Aruba begin protecting marine life in it’s coastlines in the most efficient ways.

Govenor Alfonso Boekhoudt also shared some words during the event, explaining during his speech what the ‘blue economy’ consists of. An example of this is to make sure to anticipate and incorporate the impact that climate change has on our marine ecosystem.

But also to avoid economic development which would mean degradation of the environment but also the ecosystems of our island. “ The blue economy is a concept of economic growth, social inclusions and preservation and the improvement of people’s life’s but also the environment.”

Integrate tourism with environmental conservation One of the proposed ideas to integrate the concept of economic development together with nature conservation is by integrating tourism together with environmental conservation.

This is what Mr. De Groene proposed to the audience present at the university, emphasizing that WNF goal is to stop the degradation of the planets resources and to build a future where humans live in harmony with nature. Observing that usually value is measured by money, Mr. De Groene mentioned that the total value of Aruba’s nature, among what nature has to offer us, is a 300 million dollar income yearly for Aruba.He also quoted that in a poll, although not representative, 50% of the tourist coming to our island expressed that if the marine environment continues to degrade they will decide to not continue visiting Aruba.

Interdependence Mr. De Groene argued that we need to do more research on what services nature provides us and by what means would this bring economic development. He mentioned Zeerovers Restaurant in Savaneta of which by his understanding sells fresh fish from Aruba’s coastlines.

We want to make sure that such attractions stay existing and to achieve this we need to make sure that the fished around Aruba’s coastlines stay healthy.

‘Sell nature conservation to our tourism’ There are many ways to protect marine areas in

Aruba, according to Mr. De Groene. The first of them is to integrate marine conservation with tourism : by selling nature restoration to our tourists. “People want to feel like they’re contributing to a great cause.”

Another consideration is to start planning everything that allowed and not allowed in our oceans. “We’ll argue with each other for a while but in other countries it has been already demonstrated that marine spatial planning brings results on the long term.”

Learn from Bonaire At the same time we can take the example of our brother island Bonaire which for a long time has it’s marine areas protected. And the way that this work would be the same as Aruba’s Parke Arikok (National Park), a foundation that protects these areas.

This foundation should get it’s finance in a sustainable matter, by having it’s own way of income to keep this foundation existing and fighting for the marine protected areas.

“Tourism brings more than 3 million of direct and in directed income to Aruba.

We should also use this to protect our oceans.” Another alternative that Mr. De Groene had brought forward is to exchange debt payments with environmental initiatives financing. “It seems that Aruba

has a lot of debs so this would be a realistic option.

Countries like Mexico have already done this before.”

Community Initiative To close Mr. De Groene recommended developing more initiatives that comes from the community itself. An example of this is that there’s little data about the health of the corals and the marine ecosystem surrounding Aruba, it would be imperative to come with an initiative to collect data surrounding the health of our oceans.

This recommendation concords with research student Annemieke Drost of the University College Utrecht in collaboration with the University of Aruba, which

did her project of citizen science for her testis.

“Creating a legislation which would make possible to change the economic system would take time.

But if Aruba don’t take action there is a chance it will loose it’s corals, riffs or beaches. ” We talk after this event with Mrs. Geerman which found that even though many ideas where brought forward this evening, she would like to see more interaction and exchange of ideas between the public and the speaker. “If there was a type of town hall meeting she believes there would be more discussions than just a simple presentation.”q

A14 LOCAL

Thursday 14 June 2018

Costa Linda Beach Resort:

Frangipani Suites offer complete luxury right on the beach

EAGLE BEACH — Beautiful, fully-furnished and equipped 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom suites with a perfect location right on the Caribbean see and with all the benefits from the elegant, tropic-ambiance Costa Linda Beach Resort, we are talking about the Frangipani Suites. Get

your own piece of paradise where relaxation is the core business.

The style of the Frangipani Suites is to be described as tropical chic with light, pastel colors and wall paintings that reflect the island. These brand new suites have just been finished beginning

of 2018 and are popular in demand. Imagine that this is your home away from home where you have all assets to disconnect, recharge and get a boost.

The blue ocean, whitesanded beach and the resort’s facilities will be yours and a Frangipani Suite is your vacation home.

There are 2-bedroom suites and 3-bedroom suites with a private hot tub, a private garden with built-in gas grilled barbeque. The lockout bedroom allows you to downsize whenever one bedroom is enough. There are connecting doors between the suites and fully equipped kitchens.

All

modern facilities are available but there is something extra that money can’t buy: the tranquility of Aruba. Pure peace.

Wish to know more about this stunning piece of paradise? Check out the website http://www.costalindaaruba.com/.q

Surprise Dad with a special family gathering on Father’s Day The Sunset Grille features a delicious Four-Course Dinner Menu Palm Beach – Win dad’s heart with a special family outing to the Sunset Grille, located at the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino this Father’s Day weekend to savor a four-course dinner menu, including a bottle of Macho Man Monastrell wine, reasonably priced at $125 for two.

This special menu aligns great food with flawless service for an unforgettable evening at the resort’s premier restaurant, pairing the ultimate food quality with comfortable outdoor and indoor seating.

The resort’s culinary brigade will be preparing Caesar Salad or Ahi Tuna Crudo as starters, followed

by Lobster Bisque Shooters, and a choice of entrees, 6oz chargrilled Certified Black Angus Filet Mignon, or Grilled Marinated Salm-

on. For dessert, the restaurant’s signature Chocolate Decadence cake for two, is guaranteed to please. All entrees will be served with a choice of delectable side dishes.

The paired wine, Macho Man Monastrell, was especially selected for the Father’s Day menu by Pepia Est NV because of its big red-fruit packed aroma, with a touch of softness and spice. Just like dad!

The Sunset Grille is highly praised for its US certified beef selection and chic interiors.

Patrons may reserve a table on the restaurant’s wraparound terrace that sits on top a waterfall and affords spectacular views of a lush tropical garden, fresh-water lagoon, and, every evening, a spectacular sunset—the perfect setting for a family dinner

table.

Sunset Grille is proud of its award-winning cuisine and caring, professional service.

Let the Sunset Grille help you toast the man in the

house, dad, on his special day, and express gratitude for his leadership in stirring the family ship so well!

Reservations are highly recommended by contacting

the resort’s concierge desk at 526 6612 or hiltonconcierge@depalmtours.com.

Sunset Grille is open seven days a week, from 6pm to 10pm.q

LOCAL A15

Thursday 14 June 2018

The new herring is fat and tasty!

New herrings at Café the Plaza’s traditional ‘Haring Happen’ event ORANJESTAD - The Dutch tradition of ‘Haring Happen’ continues on Aruba when the first herrings of the season are flown in. On Friday, June 15, local lovers of herring will flock to Café the Plaza, the popular cafe in the Renaissance Marketplace, to sample the delicacy. Predictions about this year’s catch are very favorable: the 2018 herring is fat and tasty - it just slides down your throat!

Things will get underway at Café the Plaza at 3 pm.

Outside on the terrace there will be a fish cart selling the herrings and there will be live music from 3 to 7 pm with Roel. A Balashi beer stand will take care of the unique combination herring and beer, while the Dutch and Aruban national flags will wink at the tight links between these two countries.

The Dutch new herring season officially gets underway on June 15 and will continue until September.

The best herrings contain at least 16% fat (unsaturated Omega-3 fats); they are filled with lots of protein and vitamins, like A1, B1, 2, 6 and 12 as well as C, D and E.

So now you know how good herrings are for your health, lowering your cholesterol while you enjoy every bite.

We hope you will be able to make it to Café the Plaza in the Renaissance Marketplace on the 15th for a healthy, tasty bite of the new herring of 2018!q

A16 LOCAL

Thursday 14 June 2018

ELMAR Embracing Technology Innovation and Solutions

Palm Beach – Last Wednesday, N.V. ELMAR along with the Island of Aruba were the proud co-hosts of the inaugural ICT Americas Conference (ICTA) in the Caribbean. For three days, the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort has been the essential gathering place for CIOs, CTOs and IT/ Networking professionals from top international companies like Nutanix, W.I.T Intelligent Technology, Amazon, Arista and Palo Alto

Networks.

Founded by John Maldonado, CEO of W.I.T Intelligence Solutions, and co-hosted by Aruba and N.V. ELMAR, the conference spanned a total of three days. During the 3-day event, industry leaders; gathered, networked, showcased and exchanged ideas to get ahead of the fast-paced opportunities. Several big speakers in the likes of Se-

nior Technical Trainer Wes Gruver of AWS Amazon, Senior System Engineer Gustavo Sosa of Nutanix and N.V. ELMAR Innovation Leader Ivan Ng took the stage to share their latest innovations, tips and ideas.

N.V. ELMAR has been working with Nutanix and W.I.T Intelligence Technology for several years and even allocated a special unit to ICT technology at their main office in Oranjestad.

With the new technologies, N.V. ELMAR has been able to introduce: Smart Meters, Smart LED Streetlights, SmartUp Prepaid system and Electric Vehicle Smart

charging to the island. Incredible innovations showcasing Aruba are ready to be at the forefront of IT technology and development. As mentioned in Mr. Maldonado’s opening speech: “Aruba is one of the most advanced in the Caribbean in terms of technology”.

Wednesday evening marked the opening of the conference, with some music, beverages and hors d’oeuvres. However, Thursday morning was the actual start with Nutanix taking center stage as Gustavo Sosa and Willy Brun talked about Nutanix Cloud En-

terprise. After the presentation, a panel including N.V. ELMAR Innovation Leader Ivan Ng, Dagoberto Hernandez and Tabare Alvarez from EdeNorte talked about the difference the Nutanix Technology has made in their respective companies.

The last day of the conference proved to be a real treat as Alex Spoov, technical director of W.I.T. and Technical Trainer of AWS Amazon, Wes Gruver took the stage. The latter introduced Amazon’s core services in compute, storage, database and networking.

It was the first time a speaker of the multi-billion-dollar company has ever spoken in the Caribbean.

Other important topics of the exclusive conference included: cyber security, attacks on personal data and the recent GDPR regulation in Europe. Attendance was by invitation only and proved to be a great success. N.V. ELMAR is thankful to have co-hosted the very first ICTA conference in the Caribbean and wishes ICTA many more successful conferences in the coming years. q

A17

Thursday 14 June 2018

NCAA eases rules on athlete transfers

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football Writer College athletes will no longer need permission from their coach or school to transfer and receive financial aid from another school.

The NCAA Division I Council approved the change Wednesday. It takes effect Oct. 15.

The long-awaited transfer reform ended up being a narrow change, but should provide more freedom for athletes to transfer when and where they want.

Under the new rule, athletes would be permitted to be contacted when they notify their current coaches, who have two days to enter the names into a database created and managed by the NCAA that will alert schools who can be recruited. The change will come with stricter tampering rules to help appease coaches who worry illegal recruiting could rise.

Currently, an athlete must ask a coach for permission to contact other schools when choosing to transfer.

A school interested in recruiting a transferring player also must ask the current school for permission to recruit.

Without permission from the original school, the athlete cannot get financial aid from another school, essentially blocking a transfer.

Nicholas Clark, a former football player at Coastal Carolina and a member of a student representative on the council, said the change promotes fairness and the well-being of college athletes.

Continued on Page 20

MAJOR ONE

Battle among the best in works at U.S. Open Dustin Johnson putts on the No. 8 green during the final round of the St. Jude Classic golf tournament Sunday, June 10, 2018, in Memphis, Tenn.

Associated Press Page 19

A18 SPORTS

Thursday 14 June 2018

Spain replaces fired Lopetegui with Hierro for World Cup

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer With only two days to go before Spain's opening match at the World Cup, Julen Lopetegui was fired as national team coach after accepting a job to lead Real Madrid next season.

Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales, who made the announcement on Wednesday in Krasnodar, later said Fernando Hierro would replace Lopetegui as coach for Spain's match against Portugal in Sochi on Friday.

The 50-year-old Hierro, a former national team player and Real Madrid captain, will be taking on his first major coaching job.

He had been acting as the federation's sports director and was already in Russia with the national team.

"I couldn't have said 'no,' I wouldn't forgive myself," Hierro said. "We still have a great opportunity in front of us. We have to remain positive and move forward."

Rubiales said firing Lopetegui wasn't the best solution but it was needed after the federation was caught by surprise by Madrid's announcement.

"The federation cannot be left out of a negotiation by one of its workers and be informed five minutes before the press release," Rubiales said. "We have been compelled to act."

Rubiales, who took over as president last month, said Lopetegui disrespected

Spanish football president Luis Rubiales, right, poses with Spain's new coach Fernando Hierro before a press conference at the 2018 soccer World Cup in Krasnodar, Russia, Wednesday, June 13, 2018.

Associated Press

the federation's values and it was the only decision he could make.

"It's a difficult situation, but we are not the ones who determined the action that had to be taken. The federation has its values and it has to maintain them," Rubiales said. "It may look like a weakness now, but with time this will make us stronger."

Rubiales said he tried to keep the Madrid announcement from being made public but it wasn't possible. He said he had to make the decision — which was supported by the federation's board of directors — to "send a clear mes-

sage" that things have to be done properly.

There were reports that players tried to persuade Rubiales to change his mind and keep Lopetegui on the job.

"We are the national team.

We represent this emblem, these colors, our fans, a country," Spain captain Sergio Ramos wrote on Twitter. "Our responsibility and commitment is to you.

Yesterday, today and tomorrow, together."

Because he was fired, Madrid won't have to pay the 2 million euros ($2.3 million) of the termination clause on Lopetegui's contract.

Rubiales said that although

the federation's financial situation was not ideal, money was "not the most important thing in a moment like this."

Lopetegui did not attend the news conference but spoke briefly with reporters as he started his trip back home.

"I am very sad, but we have a magnificent team and I hope we win the World Cup," he said.

Hierro was to lead his players for the first time in a practice session later Wednesday.

The former defender spent most of his career with Real Madrid but finished his playing days with English club

Bolton in 2005. He played in four World Cups with Spain, from 1990 to 2002, and in two European Championships, 1996 and 2000.

Hierro was Carlo Ancelotti's assistant at Real Madrid after Zinedine Zidane left the post in 2014. He coached second-division club Real Oviedo two seasons ago and was Malaga's general manager after leaving his sports director position with the Spanish federation in 2011.

"I've been near a ball for 30 years," Hierro said.

After Madrid's announcement that it hired Lopetegui, critics immediately began questioning some of the coach's decisions with the national team, including his choice to leave some Barcelona players such as Sergi Roberto out of the World Cup squad.

There were also questions about how Lopetegui would be able to fully focus on the national team while also having to discuss offseason signings for his new club. There are six Madrid players in Spain's team for the World Cup. Lopetegui's name had not been mentioned by Spanish media among the probable candidates for the Madrid job, which opened up after Zidane unexpectedly quit. Last month, Lopetegui agreed to extend his contract with the national team through 2020.

"I admire and respect Lopetegui a lot. q

Federer starts grass-court season with win in Stuttgart STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Roger Federer rallied to beat home favorite Mischa Zverev 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 at the Stuttgart Open on Wednesday in his first match in nearly three months.

The Swiss great converted four of his 10 break points to end a two-match losing streak and start his grasscourt season with a win.

Federer hadn't played since March, when he lost to Thanasi Kokkinakis and Juan Martin del Potro in Miami and Indian Wells, respectively. "Three months is

Dustin Johnson hits off the fourth tee as Tiger Woods looks on during a practice round for the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Tuesday, June 12, 2018, in Southampton, N.Y.

a long time, it's longer than the year-end break. So I'm very happy returning on good terms," said Federer, who skipped the entire clay-court season for the second year in a row.

Zverev had never won a set against Federer in their five previous meetings, but he took the first before the second-ranked Swiss upped his game and broke the German twice to force the decider. Federer lost to another German, Tommy Haas, in his Stuttgart opener last year, but will now face

Guido Pella or Prajnesh Gunneswaran in the quarterfinals. Indian qualifier Gunneswaran upset sixthseeded Denis Shapovalov of Canada 7-6 (6), 2-6, 6-3 in their first-round match.

Defending champion Lucas Pouille defeated German wild-card entry Rudolf Molleker 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals.

There were also wins for Milos Raonic and Maximilian Marterer in the first round, while Denis Istomin defeated Florian Mayer 6-3, 6-4 in the second round.q

SPORTS A19

Thursday 14 June 2018

Column: A battle among the best with only 1 major

By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) — Jordan Spieth considers himself lucky.

As hard as he made it look, winning the U.S. Open three years ago felt easy. He was two months removed from his victory at Augusta National. No matter what happened at Chambers Bay, he was the Masters champion for the rest of the year, and a major champion for life.

"House money," he described that week.

And then he won another major with a birdie-double bogey-birdie finish, helped

by Dustin Johnson threeputting from 12 feet to lose by one. Spieth was 22 when he became the first player in 74 years — Craig Wood in 1941 — to win his first major and then add a second major in his next try.

It didn't come that quickly for Tiger Woods, even after a 12-shot victory at the 1997 Masters in his first major as a pro. Woods played 10 more majors, half of them while overhauling his swing, before he won his next one.

Winning one major is great.

Winning multiple majors commands a new level of respect.

"You could make an argument that it could be harder to get the second one than it is the first," PGA champion Justin Thomas said Tuesday. "You could make an argument that every major is the hardest.

But I just think that to be known as a multiple major champion as opposed to, 'He won the PGA,' it has a little better ring to it. So I hope to have that to my name, sooner rather than

later."

Identifying the best player without a major has been a topic for the better part of 30 years. Given the depth of talent, it might be time for a different question.

The best with only one major.

It's a long list, from as young as Thomas (24) to Henrik Stenson (42).

All it takes is one week, one more major — perhaps this week at Shinnecock Hills — for such a player to enter a different conversation.

Dustin Johnson might lead that list.

He finally broke through for his first major at Oakmont in the 2016 U.S. Open, and given his 18 victories on the PGA Tour, he probably should have more. If not for getting in his own way, he might have more by now.

There was the 82 at Pebble Beach when he had a three-shot lead in the 2010 U.S. Open. He hit an errant drive into a patch of sand that he didn't know was a bunker at Whistling Straits that same year in the PGA Championship. The bogey dropped him into a threeman playoff. Grounding his club in the sand for a two-shot penalty dropped him out of it. And then at Chambers Bay, he was 12 feet away for eagle and the U.S. Open until it took three putts and a par for a runner-up finish.

He is No. 1 in the world, and wants to get major No. 2.

"It's hard to get No. 2 right now, but it was hard to get No. 1," Johnson said with a smile. "I think it's hard to get any of them. It's just a tough task. There's only four majors, and to win a major you have to have everything

Brooks Koepka walks up to the 9th green during a practice round for the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Monday, June 11, 2018, in Southampton, N.Y. Associated Press

working very well. You've got to play really good all four rounds. ... I'd love to get that second one. But it's one of those things where, like I said, everything has got to work well for four days."

Jason Day has 12 victories on the PGA Tour, and only the 2015 PGA Championship among majors.

He spent 47 consecutive weeks at No. 1 the year after winning his major, and had only one good chance. Justin Rose won the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion for his first major. Rose has won at least somewhere in the world every year since 2010, and he has won on prestigious courses — Muirfield Village, Congressional, Aronimink, Doral — and he was one putt

away from adding Augusta National to that list.

But he's still stuck on one.

So is Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia, Brooks Koepka and Webb Simpson.

Add to that list Louis Oosthuizen, who has been runner-up in all four majors since his 2010 victory in the British Open at St. Andrews.

"I mean absolutely zero, no disrespect to guys that have won one — obviously, myself included," Thomas said. "But it's a lot easier to get hot one week than it is to do it again and win another major. Because when you're a major champion, you have more asked of you. You have more expectations on yourself, more expectations from other people to where if you do get in the hunt, then you're

asked, 'How is it going to feel to get your second major?' You're constantly reminded of that."

The top players when Woods was in his prime years were Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh.

Woods rarely fails to mention Retief Goosen on that list, mainly because when Woods was at his best, Goosen was the only other player with multiple majors. He won his second U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in 2004.

Seventeen players at Shinnecock Hills this week have only one major and would love to add another.

If they don't? It's still better than being on that other list occupied by the likes of Rickie Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama and Jon Rahm.q

A20 SPORTS

Thursday 14 June 2018 NCAA Continued from Page 17

"This creates a safe place for student-athletes to have a conversation with their coaches and makes the whole process more transparent," Clark said.

Standoffs between athletes and coaches over transfers have often led to embarrassing results for schools standing in the way of players who want to leave.

Last spring at Kansas State, reserve receiver Corey Sutton said he was blocked him from transferring to 35 schools by coach Bill Snyder before the school finally relented amid public pressure.

Even with the new rule, conferences could still restrict athletes from transferring within the league.

The NCAA transfer working group, led by South Dakota State athletic director Justin Sell, has been working on reform since last year.

The group quickly found support for switching from a permission model to notification while also codifying

In this April 25, 2018, file photo, the NCAA headquarters is shown in Indianapolis. College athletes will no longer need permission from their coach or school to transfer and receive financial aid from another school.

Associated Press

rules against impermissible recruiting of athletes under scholarship. A proposal was originally presented to the D-I Council in April, but tabled to allow conferences to provide feedback from spring meetings.

"The membership showed today that it supports this significant change in transfer rules," Sell said.

"I'm proud of the effort the transfer working group put forth to make this happen for student-athletes, coaches and schools."

The NCAA has made several attempts in recent years to change transfer rules, but this is the first to come up with something substantive — if not comprehensive.

Much of the talk about transfers focuses on the socalled year-in-residence, the one year a player in the most high-profile sports such as football and basketball must sit out after switching schools.

There was discussion about easing that restriction, which doesn't exist in most NCAA sports. Golfers, tennis

players and other athletes in traditionally nonrevenue sports can transfer one time without sitting out. There was never serious consideration to lifting the year-inresidence altogether, but tying unrestricted transfer to an athlete's grade-point average was considered.

That idea has fallen off the table amid concerns about creating an inequitable system that could face legal challenges.

The NCAA said legislation that governs when a Power Five school can reduce or cancel financial aid for an athlete may be looked at next week. Currently, a student's notification of intent to transfer at the end of a term is not a listed reason a school can use to cancel aid. The so-called autonomy conferences will consider two different proposals to allow schools to cancel the aid.

The transfer working group initially was looking at uniform rules across all sports.

Now that will be re-examined in the fall.q

SPORTS A21

Thursday 14 June 2018

Dodgers batter Colon for 8 runs in 12-5 win over Rangers

By The Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Joc Pederson, Max Muncy and Yasiel Puig homered off Bartolo Colon, sending the Dodgers to the victory.

The 45-year-old Colon (34) has allowed 19 homers this season. He recorded his 2,500th career strikeout against Muncy in the first.

The Dodgers pounded out 16 hits in winning their second straight game.

Edward Paredes (1-0) got the win with a scoreless inning of relief. Daniel Corcino pitched three innings for his first save.

PHILLIES 5, ROCKIES 4 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Aaron Nola struck out 10 in another dominant performance and Scott Kingery hit a three-run homer, leading Philadelphia to the win.

Nola (8-2) allowed one run and four hits in 6 2/3 innings, lowering his ERA to 2.27. Seranthony Dominguez escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the ninth for his third save.

Kingery drove a 1-2 pitch from Jon Gray (6-7) out to left-center to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead in the first. He added a sacrifice fly in the third.

The Phillies have won two in a row for the first time since a three-game winning streak May 13-17.

The Rockies have lost five straight and nine of 11.

BRAVES 8, METS 2 ATLANTA (AP) — Ozzie Albies hit a grand slam and Freddie Freeman homered during Atlanta's six-run sixth inning.

Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz pitched five scoreless innings before departing with triceps tightness.

Shane Carle (4-1) got two outs for the win.

Ender Inciarte added a pair of RBI singles to help Atlanta shake a rough West

Flanked by Texas Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos, second from left, and Ronald Guzman, starting pitcher Bartolo Colon, center, hands the ball to manager Jeff Banister during the fourth inning of the team's baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, June 12, 2018, in Los Angeles.

Associated Press

Coast trip, when it lost four of six. The Braves moved ahead of Washington for first in the NL East by beating a Mets team that has lost nine of 10 and 16 of 20.

New York's Zack Wheeler (2-5) was charged with six runs in 5 2/3 innings.

DIAMONDBACKS 13, PIRATES 8 PHOENIX (AP) — Jon Jay got his first three hits for Arizona, including a three-run homer, and the Diamondbacks won their fifth game in a row with a sloppy victory over Pittsburgh.

Nine of the runs were un-

earned.

Jay, acquired Thursday in a trade with Kansas City, was hitless in 12 at-bats for the Diamondbacks before his leadoff single in Arizona's six-run first inning.

His opposite-field homer in the eighth broke the game open after the Pirates had rallied from an 8-0 deficit to trail 10-8.

Starling Marte hit a threerun homer, doubled and made a diving grab in center field for the Pirates.

Fernando Salas (4-4) got the win. The Diamondbacks have scored 51 runs in the

last five games. They've won 11 of 14 and lead the NL West by three games over the surging Dodgers.

The Pirates have lost six of eight.

Arizona jumped on Trevor Williams (5-4) in the first with six runs, two on Ketel Marte's seventh triple. Five runs were unearned thanks to three Pirates errors, two on one play.

MARLINS 3, GIANTS 1 MIAMI (AP) — Trevor Richards pitched six effective innings for his first major league win, helping the Marlins top the Giants.

Richards (1-3) allowed two hits in his seventh major league start. The 25-yearold right-hander struck out two and walked three.

Brandon Crawford's groundout in the first inning drove in the only run for the Giants, who had just three hits.

Kyle Barraclough pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save in six chances.

JT Riddle had a two-run double for Miami, and Starlin Castro had two hits and knocked in a run.

San Francisco right-hander Chris Stratton (7-4) permitted three runs and four hits in seven innings.

PADRES 4, CARDINALS 2 ST. LOUIS (AP) — Eric Hosmer homered for San Diego, and the Padres carried a perfect game into the sixth inning of their 10th win in 14 games.

Matt Strahm started the bullpen game and retired nine batters on 36 pitches, including four strikeouts. It was the team's third bullpen start this season while left-hander Joey Lucchesi recovers from a right hip strain.

Adam Cimber (3-2) retired the next six with two strikeouts before Harrison Bader broke up the perfect game with an infield single in the sixth. Brad Hand pitched the ninth for his 20th save.

Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas (7-2) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings.q

A22 SPORTS

Thursday 14 June 2018

Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera eaves with season-ending injury

By The Associated Press DETROIT (AP) — Miguel Cabrera ruptured his left biceps tendon Tuesday night, an injury that will sideline the slugger for the rest of the season, and the Detroit Tigers lost 6-4 to the Minnesota Twins.

The two-time AL MVP will have surgery this week, the Tigers said. Cabrera, playing his 12th game since missing 26 with a hamstring strain, exited in the third inning and underwent an MRI during the game.

Ehire Adrianza hit his first career grand slam to help Minnesota rally.

Ryan Pressly (1-1) got three outs for the win, and Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his 14th save.

Louis Coleman (3-1) was charged with the loss.

ASTROS 6, ATHLETICS 3 OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Evan Gattis hit a three-run homer and drove in five runs, Carlos Correa returned from a four-game absence and homered on the first pitch he saw, and the Astros earned their sixth straight win.

Lance McCullers Jr. (8-3) pitched seven innings of two-run ball. Ken Giles got three outs for his 11th save in 11 tries.

Correa was back in the lineup at shortstop after missing a series sweep at Texas with soreness in his right side.

Oakland's Daniel Mengden (6-6) was charged with six runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.

MARINERS 6, ANGELS 3 SEATTLE (AP) — Mitch Haniger and Ryon Healy each homered twice as the firstplace Mariners shook off two homers by Mike Trout for the second consecutive night.

Trout took sole possession of the major league lead with 23 home runs. He also hit a pair in the Angels' 5-3 loss Monday night at Safeco Field.

Mike Leake (7-3) allowed one run in six innings for Seattle, which has won three straight and 10 of 12. Edwin Diaz worked the ninth for his big league-best 25th save.

Angels right-hander Jaime Barria (5-2) surrendered two earned runs in five innings.

YANKEES 3, NATIONALS 0 NEW YORK (AP) — Didi Gregorius homered twice for New York, Washington slugger Bryce Harper left in the eighth inning after he was hit by a pitch for the second time, and the Yankees earned their 10th win in 12

Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera slides into first after fielding the grounder hit by Minnesota Twins' Logan Morrison (99) for the out during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 12, 2018, in Detroit.

Associated Press

games.

Harper fell to the ground in pain when hit on the right elbow by a 90 mph pitch from CC Sabathia (4-1) in the fifth inning. The 2015 NL MVP came out after he was hit on the left foot by Dellin Betances' 89 mph slider leading off the eighth.

Gregorius drove a hanging curveball from Tanner Roark (3-7) into the Yankees bullpen in right-center during New York's two-run second. He sent a fastball into the right-field second deck leading off the sixth for his fourth multihomer game.

Sabathia allowed four hits in 5 2/3 innings. Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect ninth for his 18th save.

RED SOX 6, ORIOLES 4 BALTIMORE (AP) — Home runs by Rafael Devers and Andrew Benintendi helped Eduardo Rodriguez win his fifth straight start, and Boston extended Baltimore's losing streak to six games.

Rodriguez (8-1) gave up two runs and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings to increase a career-best run of success that began on May 20 against the Orioles.

Joey Rickard homered for the Orioles, who own the worst record in the big leagues (19-47). David Hess (2-3) stumbled in his sixth big league start, allowing five runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Baltimore reliever Zach Britton made his season debut,

six months after undergoing surgery for a ruptured right Achilles tendon. The lefty pitched a scoreless seventh.

WHITE SOX 5, INDIANS 1 CHICAGO (AP) — Yoan Moncada and Yolmer Sanchez homered to lead off Chicago's three-run first, and James Shields won for the first time since opening day.

Shields (2-7) gave up one run and four hits in seven innings after going 12 starts and 13 appearances without a win. Joakim Soria got one out for his ninth save.

Moncada and Sanchez connected on consecutive pitches from Adam Plutko (3-1), helping the White Sox beat the AL Central leaders after losing their first four meetings this season.

Cleveland had won five of six.

BREWERS 4, CUBS 0 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Chase Anderson pitched seven innings of one-hit ball, and the Brewers moved back into first in the NL Central.

Anderson (5-5) struck out six and walked two. The Brewers had been shut out in Anderson's three most recent starts against Chicago.

Travis Shaw hit a pair of tworun doubles for Milwaukee, which had dropped seven in a row against Chicago.

Cubs right-hander Tyler Chatwood (3-5) worked five innings, yielding four runs, three earned, and five

hits.

RAYS 4, BLUE JAYS 1 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Wilson Ramos homered, and six Tampa Bay relievers combined for a five-hitter.

With right-handers Chris Archer and Jake Faria on the disabled list, Tampa Bay is using relievers to start three times through the rotation.

Austin Pruitt (2-3) pitched 2 2/3 innings for the win, and Sergio Romo worked the ninth for his second save.

Ramos put the Rays up 2-0 with his two-run drive off Jaime Garcia (2-5) in the third.

REDS 5, ROYALS 1, 10 INNINGS KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Joey Votto hit a basesloaded triple for Cincinnati in the 10th inning after Billy Hamilton slipped out of a rundown.

Hamilton got hung up between third and home when Kevin McCarthy (4-3) tipped Tyler Barnhart's line drive with his glove. McCarthy picked up the ball behind the mound and threw home, and Hamilton looked done until he sidestepped Alcides Escobar's tag and dived back safely into third base to leave the bases loaded with one out.

Votto then tripled to the right-center wall, and Eugenio Suarez singled home Votto.

David Hernandez (2-0) worked an inning for the win.q

SPORTS A23

Thursday 14 June 2018

Wentz eager to return, but Foles allows Eagles to wait

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Carson Wentz was having an MVP-caliber season before a torn ACL forced him to the sideline, where he watched Nick Foles lead the Philadelphia Eagles to their first Super Bowl victory.

Wentz has a mission to return for Week 1 and is already ahead of schedule after being cleared for 7-on-7 work last week. Still, he has a way to go before he is cleared for full activity.

"It's just a process," Wentz told The Associated Press.

"There's the mental side of it, feeling comfortable with it, but also the physical limitations that the doctors put on you and you have to trust what they're saying. If I could tell you I'd be ready Week 1, I would. I just don't know. It's a fluid process.

That's obviously the goal but so far things have been great."

Wentz's comeback comes with interesting circumstances: He has no pressure to return right away because the Eagles can lean on the Super Bowl MVP to start the season.

And that's not necessarily a threat to Wentz, whose friendship with Foles doesn't have the strain seen in other famed NFL tandems like Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers or Joe Montana and Steve Young.

"We've become so close ever since he first got here," Wentz said. "Developed a real friendship, a real relationship, more than just a working relationship, a true friendship."

Wentz admits it was difficult to see someone else hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy on stage first. But the two quarterbacks are more like brothers than competitors for the starting job.

"It's human nature to want to be on that podium and be the guy," Wentz said.

"You grow up wanting to be there, but not being able to be up there, there's nobody I'd rather have up there than Nick."

Eagles coach Doug Pederson has made it clear there's no quarterback controversy in Philadelphia since the minute Foles finished a sensational performance in the 41-33 win over the Patriots. When he's healthy, Wentz is the guy. He's the face of the franchise.

"I still believe this is Carson's team," Pederson said Tuesday. "There are no egos involved. They're in this thing together. Both support each other. Nick supported Carson during the season last year, and then Carson turned around and supported Nick at the end of the year.

"Their relationship has carried over into this spring and summer, and it's really good. I see them working in the classroom. I see them working on the field. They keep talking. They want to get better individually.

They want to get our team better. And so it's been a really good, really good dynamic between those two."

Foles has maintained since he replaced Wentz last December that he understands his role is the backup. He wants to start again in the NFL, but was happy to stay in Philadelphia.

"I've shown what I can do," Foles said. "I love the team and I love the city. I'm excited for Carson to get back."

While he was focused on rehabbing and returning to the field as quickly as possible, Wentz pursued

In this Thursday, June 7, 2018, file photo, Philadelphia Eagles quaterbacks Carson Wentz (11), Nick Foles (9), and Nate Sudfeld (7) walk to the next drill during practice at the NFL football team's training facility in Philadelphia.

Associated Press

other interests during the offseason. He went to Haiti for the second time in less than a year in April — teammates Zach Ertz, Nate Sudfeld and Rashard Davis joined him — and launched plans for his Audience of One Foundation to build a sports complex in that country.

"Being able to partner up with Mission of Hope in Haiti and to see how everything is so Christ-centered, they had a sports complex in thought so we were on board for that," Wentz said.

"I know how sports changed my life, how so many doors have opened up and how my faith has grown through guys who have mentored me in sports. Just to know that can be given and provided to the people in Haiti, it'll really change their perspective on so many things and restore some dignity and hope. It gets me fired up and I'm excited to go back and be hands-

on and see the impact it's making."

Wentz then held the inaugural AO1 Foundation charity softball game at the home of the Philadelphia Phillies on June 1, drawing more than 25,000 fans who came out to see the Super Bowl champs compete in a home run derby — left guard Stefen Wisniewski was the winner with a fantastic power display — and a game that featured Foles and 23 other Eagles.

"The brotherhood we have on this team, we're so close," Wentz said. "We genuinely care about each other. A lot of unselfish players. To see these guys come out (to support me) is so humbling."

Before the game, Wentz also revealed a 25-foot food truck named "Thy Kingdom Crumb" that will begin delivering free food to people in the Delaware Valley in August. The partnership between AO1

and The Connect Church aims to provide food not only to people in need but others in the community also.

"The goal is to provide something different, to provide the atmosphere to just love on people," Wentz said. "I think things that are free these days are kind of confusing. There's no strings attached with this.

I think people will just see and experience something different with that."

Make no mistake, despite all his outside interests, Wentz is determined to help the Eagles become the ninth team to repeat as Super Bowl champs.

"The biggest thing is the culture of excellence that we've created," Wentz said. "I don't see why the sky can't be the limit for us again. Our roster is rocksolid and our camaraderie and our culture is still rocksolid and growing. We have high expectations."q

A24 HEALTH

Thursday 14 June 2018

Tired Lion

By: Dr. Carlos Viana When Joe started his executive position in his mid- thirties, he quickly was recognized as the corporate problem solver. Looking forward every morning to his job, Joe attacked every problem at work as a challenge and enjoyed the test of overcoming difficulty preventing his company from reaching their production goals.

Life at home also reflected an easy interaction with his wife and children. Life was good; challenging exciting, and rewarding.

Now, in his late forties, life has taken a down turn. Feeling tired all the time, the same problems at work that were a challenge before now make our executive feel stressed-out or anxious and Joe has started having panic attacks.

Worse, Joe has lost interest in the bedroom and is worried that he is developing an erectile dysfunction. Instead of being embarrassed with his loss of virility, he fights with his wife to escape having to perform while his wife has developed a greater interest in sex. When forced to think about the “bedroom problem”, he blames his wife’s weight gain and not looking like she did when she was twenty four years old.

Joe realizes that these are not all his problems.

He avoids many people because he knows he has a reduced resistance to infection and catches every cold and flue that is going around. Gaining weight around his waist, starting to suffer from allergies, Joe came in for a consultation when he realized that his anxiety attacks were getting more frequent and he admitted he was suffering from headaches and depression.

During Joe’s consultation I realized Joe was a tired lion and explained that many people suffer from adrenal exhaustion and they don’t know it. Adrenal exhaustion is also known as adrenal fatigue and is a 21st century stress syndrome.

It has been estimated that 80% of adults suffer some sort of adrenal fatigue and 95% of visits to our clinic are a direct result of stress. Nearly all of our patients admit to being stressed out by their work, as well as their family obligations As easy as the diagnosis of adrenal exhaustion is, developing an individualized treatment plan can be very challenging. One of the symptoms of adrenal exhaustion, excessive fatigue, stimulates the production of the hormone cortisol. As a beneficial hormone, cortisol can greatly enhanced your body’s ability to convert carbohydrates to what it will eventually use for energy.

Cortisol also aids your body in turning off immune reactions like allergy and inflammation.

While this is helpful in an emergency situation, over the long term, continuing exposure to the hormone because of continuous stress results in a suppressed immune system. Byproducts of Cortisol depress brain activity and act as sedatives and cortisol itself blocks serotonin, contributing to a feeling of depression and increases addictive behavior.

This stress hormone also stimulates the breakdown of muscle and bone to supply the body with energy needed for fight-or-flight reactions.

It can also interfere with your hormone levels, allowing further bone breakdown. Over the long-term, bone and muscle can be broken down faster than it is replaced, leading to osteoporosis.

Medical tests are needed to find out exactly where Joe is in his stress cycle. With the constant production of cortisol the adrenal organs cause hormone deficiencies. In clinic I use results from hair tests that show an unhealthy abundance of calcium and copper, but, a deficiency of magnesium. I automatically supplement Joe with magnesium.

Two out of three Americans and Arubans are deficient in magnesium, mostly because of our diet. Supplementing with Magnesium to overcome this deficiency can be especially important for those with adrenal fatigue syndrome because of its role in helping to: maintain blood pressure within normal limits; maintain healthy blood sugar/glucose levels; support energy production; encourage calmness and lessen stress and relax muscles.

Herbal support like DG Licorice is added to support the adrenals because DG Licorice is similar to the hormones produced by our adrenal glands. Licorice Root has been used for thousands of years to treat ulcers, colds, skin disorders, and as a tonic for the heart and spleen.

I prescribe acupuncture for adrenal exhaustion.

Immediately Joe feels a difference and realizes that he does not have to start with the anxiety medication and sleeping pills he has been prescribed. After evaluating Joe’s blood tests, I recommend additional dietary supplements to replenish vitamin and mineral deficiencies, protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals, increase Joe’s energy production, and support a healthy digestive system, The acupuncture treatments and dietary supplements will support a healthy hormonal system, promote a healthy nervous system, boost Joe’s immune system function, allowing him to maintain mental and emotional well-being, that encourages calmness and lessen stress.

Joe will have increased mental alertness; will maintain more normal blood sugar levels. With ongoing treatments and medical evaluations, Joe will be able to maintain total body health.

Feeling better physically, Joe will make some lifestyle changes. Joe now realizes how important is getting eight hours of sleep. With the dietary supplements and acupuncture treatments, a good night’s sleep your adrenal glands are restored and repaired. Joe now exercises to relax. Walking, YOGA, deep breathing, and stretching are great stress reducers. Vigorous or aerobic exercise can deplete the adrenals. If your symptoms are severe wait until you feel a little stronger to do these.

Nutritionally Joe realizes skipping breakfast is particularly bad, as it is a sure fire way to gain, not lose, weight. If you start each morning with a good breakfast your blood sugar won’t take any sharp dips. You’ll feel more rested and energetic. Skipping meals is one of the worst things you can do for your body. When you’re hungry, your blood sugar drops, stressing your adrenal glands and triggering your sympathetic nervous system. That causes light-headedness, cravings, anxiety and fatigue.

Get the point! Realistically, family, job, financial, and relationship stress are factors that cannot be eliminated. My role is to help you increase your resiliency making you be able to recover quickly from life’s stressors. By working together you too can be a lion reborn.

BUSINESS A25

Thursday 14 June 2018

After AT&T ruling, US stocks are mixed ahead of Fed meeting

By MARLEY JAY Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are mixed Wednesday after a federal court ruled that AT&T's $85 billion purchase of Time Warner can proceed. That could pave the way for hundreds of billions' worth of deals in the media and phone industries as well as health care, as investors felt numerous mergers now stand a better chance of getting approved. Investors are also waiting for the Federal Reserve to conclude its current meeting, where the central bank is expected to raise interest rates.

KEEPING SCORE: The S&P 500 index rose 3 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,790 as of 12 p.m. Eastern time. The benchmark index is at its highest level since late January, when investors began worrying about a sharp pickup in inflation.

Those concerns have since eased. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 16 points, or 0.1 percent, to 24,337.

The Nasdaq composite gained 40 points, or 0.5 percent, to 7,743. The Russell 2000 index of smallercompany stocks was unchanged at 1,682. Both of those indexes are at record highs.

Most of the stocks listed on the New York Stock Exchange traded lower.

CABLE CONNECTION: Late Tuesday a judge approved AT&T's $85 billion purchase of Time Warner and rejected the government's argument that the deal would stifle competition and lead to higher cable bills. The purchase will give the wireless and cable giant control of CNN, HBO and the Warner Bros. movie studio. Time Warner climbed 3.2 percent to $99.32 while AT&T lost 4.3 percent to $32.88.

The ruling sparked a rally in media companies. Netflix gained 3.3 percent to $375.89 even though a larger A&T might create tougher competition for it.

Cable channel operator Discovery rose 4.1 percent to $25.02 and CBS gained 4 percent to $54.46. Dish Network picked up 2.7 percent

FILE- In this April 24, 2018, file photo, replicas of Arturo Di Modica's "Charging Bull" are for sale on a street vendor's table outside the New York Stock Exchange.

Associated Press

to $33.27.

WHAT'S NEXT?: Investors are waiting for Comcast to officially announce an all-cash offer for TwentyFirst Century Fox's entertainment businesses based on the ruling, and Fox surged 7.5 percent to $43.59 while Comcast lost 0.4 percent to $32.24. Comcast has said it's preparing an offer but was waiting for the outcome of the AT&T case.

Fox had agreed to sell those businesses to Disney for $52.4 billion in stock, setting up the possibility that Disney will have to raise its offer. However Disney added 2.7 percent to $107.17 Wednesday.

T-Mobile USA and Sprint also edged higher. T-Mobile plans to buy Sprint for $26.5

billion, but investors have been skeptical the government would allow the thirdand fourth-largest wireless carriers to combine. T-Mobile added 1.5 percent to $58.95 and Sprint gained 1.8 percent to $5.41.

HEALTH CARE: Health insurer Aetna rose 3.7 percent to $187.43 and drugstore and pharmacy benefits management company CVS Health gained 2.5 percent to $67.99. CVS agreed to buy Aetna for $69 billion in December. Another pharmacy benefits manager, Express Scripts, jumped 4.6 percent to $82.84 as investors bet its sale to health insurer Cigna is more likely.

Cigna fell 1.7 percent to $175.80. That $52 billion deal was announced in

March.

CENTRAL BANKS: Investors are almost certain the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates again Wednesday afternoon. The greater concern is what the Fed will do next. The Fed itself has projected three increases in rates this year, meaning one more increase in the months to come. But

investors will be looking for hints that the Fed is thinking about raising rates two more times instead. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell will hold a news conference after the Fed releases its decision.

That's the beginning of a busy week for central banks.

On Thursday, the European Central Bank will meet and could outline an end to its stimulus program, while on Friday the Bank of Japan is due to give its latest policy update.

BLOCK GETS BLOCKED: H&R Block plunged 18.9 percent to $24 as CEO Jeffrey Jones said the tax preparer is "too reliant on price to grow revenues." H&R Block is forecasting smaller profit margins in the current fiscal year than it reported in the 12 months that just ended.

STRUCK DOWN: Medical device maker Boston Scientific dropped 5.2 percent to $3.208 and Stryker rose 2.7 percent to $167.01 after Stryker said it is not in talks with Boston Scientific about a possible acquisition. q

A26 COMICS

Thursday 14 June 2018

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Richard Brooks This photo made available by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium shows rescued seahorse "Frito" in a tank at the aquarium, Sunday, June 10, 2018, in Clearwater, Fla. Associated Press

A seahorse named Frito is on the mend in Florida Associated Press CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — A woman snorkeling in the Gulf of Mexico rescued a tiny seahorse that was tangled and trapped in fishing line in a pile of garbage, and now the creature is a webcam star at a Florida aquarium.

The inch-and-a-half (4 centimeter) seahorse was rescued by the snorkeler Sunday. She carefully untangled the line, put it in a water bottle and rushed to Clearwater Marine Aquarium, made famous in the Dolphin Tale movies, about a rescued dolphin without a tail.The seahorse was given a name — Frito — and placed in a tank. It's brown and does resemble a Frito chip. It's a female, and the aquarium hopes she makes a full recovery so she can return to the Gulf.

Marine experts say fishing line threatens a variety of creatures small and large in the sea.

Frito isn't the only seahorse

to be rehabilitated at the aquarium. Cheeto — a bright orange seahorse — was found last year, followed by Funyun.

All three snack-sized seahorses were discovered in the waters off Pinellas County, which is west of the city of Tampa.q

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A28 SCIENCE

Thursday 14 June 2018

Melting of Antarctica is speeding up, worrying scientists

By SETH BORENSTEIN WASHINGTON (AP) — The melting of Antarctica is accelerating at an alarming rate, with about 3 trillion tons of ice disappearing since 1992, an international team of ice experts said in a new study.

In the last quarter century, the southern-most continent's ice sheet — a key indicator of climate change — melted into enough water to cover Texas to a depth of nearly 13 feet (4 meters), scientists calculated. All that water made global oceans rise about three-tenths of an inch (7.6 millimeters).

From 1992 to 2011, Antarctica lost nearly 84 billion tons of ice a year (76 billion metric tons). From 2012 to 2017, the melt rate increased to more than 241 billion tons a year (219 billion metric tons), according to the study Wednesday in

This January 2018 photo provided by researcher Andrew Shepherd shows an unusual iceberg near the Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula.

Associated Press

the journal Nature .

"I think we should be worried. That doesn't mean we should be desperate," said University of California Irvine's Isabella Velicogna, one of 88 co-authors.

"Things are happening.

They are happening faster than we expected."

Part of West Antarctica, where most of the melting occurred, "is in a state of collapse," said co-author Ian Joughin of the University of Washington.

The study is the second of assessments planned every several years by a team of scientists working with NASA and the European Space Agency.

Their mission is to produce the most comprehensive look at what's happening to the world's vulnerable ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland.

Outside experts praised the work as authoritative.

Unlike single-measurement studies, this team looks at ice loss in 24 different ways using 10 to 15 satellites, as well as ground and air measurements and computer simulations, said lead author Andrew Shepherd of the University of Leeds in England.

It's possible that Antarctica alone can add about half a foot (16 centimeters) to sea level rise by the end of the century, Shepherd said.

Seas also rise from melting

land glaciers elsewhere, Greenland's dwindling ice sheet and the fact that warmer water expands.

"Under natural conditions we don't expect the ice sheet to lose ice at all," Shepherd said. "There are no other plausible signals to be driving this other than climate change."

Shepherd cautioned that this is not a formal study that determines human fingerprints on climate events.

Forces "that are driving these changes are not going to get any better in a warming climate," said University of Colorado ice scientist Waleed Abdalati, a former NASA chief scientist who wasn't part of the study team.

In Antarctica, it's mostly warmer water causing the melt. The water nibbles at the floating edges of ice sheets from below. q

NASA rover knocked out as gigantic dust storm envelops Mars

By MARCIA DUNN Associated Press CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A NASA rover on Mars has been knocked out by gigantic dust storm that envelops the planet and blots out the sun.

Officials said Wednesday they're hopeful the Opportunity rover will survive the storm, which already covers one-quarter of Mars and is expected to encircle the red planet in another few days. It could be weeks or even months, though, until the sky clears enough for sunlight to reach the Martian surface and recharge Opportunity's batteries through its solar panels.

For now, Mars' oldest working rover is stuck in the middle of the raging storm, in

This composite image made from observations by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft shows a global map of Mars with a growing dust storm as of June 6, 2018.

Associated Press

complete round-the-clock darkness.

"By no means are we out of the woods here," said John

Callas, the Opportunity project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. "This

storm is threatening, and we don't know how long it will last, and we don't know what the environment will

be like once it clears."

All flight controllers can do is wait for the storm to pass and the sky to clear, officials said, and hope Opportunity calls home.

Flight controllers tried late Tuesday night to contact Opportunity, but the rover did not respond. The storm has been growing since the end of May with unprecedented speed.

Opportunity's batteries are likely so low that only a clock is still working, to wake the spacecraft for periodic power-level checks, according to officials.

NASA launched the twin rovers Opportunity and Spirit in 2003 to study Martian rocks and soil. Spirit hasn't worked for several years. Opportunity, however, has kept exploring well past its expected mission lifetime.

"Keep in mind, we're talking about a rover that's been working at Mars, hanging in there, for 15 years and designed just for 90 days. It just doesn't get any better than that," said Jim Watzin, director of NASA's Mars exploration program.q

PEOPLE & ARTS A29

Thursday 14 June 2018

'Superfly' remakes a Blaxploitation classic

By JAKE COYLE Associated Press Director X's "Superfly" transplants the 1972 Blaxploitation classic from Harlem streets to suburban Atlanta mansions, flips Curtis Mayfield's soul score for Future's hip-hop soundtrack and forsakes the original's politically charged grit for shallow music-video indulgence.

"He's got a plan to stick it to the man," went the ads for Gordon Parks Jr.'s "Super Fly," with Ron O'Neal as Youngblood Priest, the suave cocaine dealer trying to make one last score.

Coming a year after "Shaft" (directed by Parks' father), "Super Fly" was a post-civilrights-era time capsule oozing anti-authoritarian fury and '70s style.

"The Man" is mostly MIA in this "Superfly," which takes more after Brian De Palma's "Scarface" and familiar hiphop fantasies than anything channeled by the earlier Blaxploitation films. If snorted lines of coke were copious in the original, Director X's "Superfly" is packed with scenes of slow-motion booty shaking — imagery the filmmaker is well versed in as the director of (some very good) music videos for Drake, Rihanna, Jay-Z and Kanye West.

This Youngblood Priest (Trevor Jackson) is a polished businessman who runs a well-established, clandestine drug business with his partner Eddie (Jason Mitchell). Financially savvy, deeply connected all over town and never rattled by the most lethal interactions, Jackson's slickly coifed Priest is almost as much superhero as super fly. Having risen well above the streets, Priest senses his good fortune can't last.

He wants to get out, along with his two girlfriends (Lex Scott Davis, Andrea Londo), before fate comes for him. There are already signs that his even-keeled lifestyle is about to get rocky. A squabble threatens the peace with the rival crew dubbed Snow Patrol, a white-dressed gang of dealers who drive white

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Lex Scott Davis, left, and Trevor Jackson in a scene from the film, "Superfly."

Associated Press

cars, shoot white guns and pretty much look like the ATL chapter of the Storm Troopers.

With one last score in mind, Priest does what few ready to give up a life of crime would do: He goes to great lengths to prove himself to a powerful Mexican cartel.

"Don't let the pretty hair fool you," Priest pleads to the cartel boss (Esai Morales) after circumventing his regular supplier and mentor, the karate master Scatter (Michael Kenneth Williams).

Williams' presence begs the question: Wouldn't "Superfly" be better — and carry more of a sense of danger, of real threat — if Williams was starring in it? Jackson comfortably carries the film with a smooth panache, but his Priest — like the movie — doesn't make much of an impression.

Yet "Superfly" is also a generally entertaining movie, with good things in it. Mitchell ("Mudbound") is predictably excellent as Priest's less scrupulous partner and friend; he's the film's high point. And any movie that casts Big Boi as the mayor of Atlanta has done some things right. ("Superfly" would be better if there was more of him in it.) And Jennifer Morrison, one of the two crooked police detectives in the film, is unexpectedly terrific in a usually

stereotypical role.

But it feels like the reason for remaking "Super Fly" got lost along the way. Screenwriter Alex Tse and Director X have glossed up a story that took its power from its era's reality. "Superfly" lives in a music video dream world driven by extravagance, where women aren't anything but dancing eye candy or threesome partners.

Future's songs also aren't especially distinct, though, admittedly, Mayfield's majestic score — which is heard a few times here — is untouchable. Comparing the two versions of "Super Fly" — one in two words, the other just one — only illustrates what movies can lose by over-glamourizing themselves. q

A30 PEOPLE

Thursday 14 June 2018

& ARTS

Sex, love, loss: Little is off limits on 'Red Table Talk'

By LEANNE ITALIE Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Sex, love and loss, self-harm, addiction and recovery: There isn't much Jada Pinkett Smith, her mom, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, and her 17-year-old daughter, Willow, aren't willing to talk about around a shiny round red table in a unique Facebook show that has a growing, grateful audience of women.

And that, Pinkett Smith said in a recent interview, is the point.

Pinkett Smith, who has been both TV talk show guest and TV talk show producer, considers "Red Table Talk" intimate, authentic and fluid, a combination difficult to achieve through more traditional channels.

The weekly show debuted about a month ago on Facebook Watch and includes live extras like viewer questions and guest appearances by friends and family.

"It's not about format," she said. "I want to keep that organic flow. I don't want anything to be forced."

In this July 13, 2017 file photo, Jada Pinkett Smith arrives at the world premiere of "Girls Trip" in Los Angeles.

Associated Press

It certainly doesn't feel that it is as the three generations venture into some sensitive territory.

So far, Willow has revealed

that she was once a cutter, hated her "Whip My Hair" fame and years ago walked in on her mom and dad, Will Smith, having sex. Pinkett Smith said she herself was 9 when her grandmother filled her in on the wonders of masturbation and she later spent a stretch of quality time alone with sex toys, sometimes achieving multiple orgasms in up to five forays in a single day.

Norris, fondly referred to as Gammy, spoke honestly about her past struggles with drug addiction and the pain of losing a daughter.

Pinkett Smith and Gabrielle Union shared their 17-year feud and their mending of fences. Pinkett Smith and her husband's first wife, Sheree Fletcher, went over rockier times raising the now-grown Trey, Will's son with Fletcher.

Gammy noted she wasn't always on board with the unconventional freedoms Will and Jada have allowed their kids, including 19-year-old Jaden, who was allowed to move out at age 15.

The idea, Pinkett Smith said, is to testify rather than preach. The former takes courage and is much more

helpful, she said.

"We talk so much about what's happening outside of us and we're not talking enough about what's going on within," said Pinkett Smith, who earlier this week on Instagram paid tribute to the late Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade with the acknowledgement that she has in the past contemplated suicide.

"We're all up in here going through (stuff). We're all in pain. We're all trying to figure it out. For those of us who have figured out even a sliver of all of this, just tell me your story, because maybe I can get an answer for myself. That's what this show is all about," she said.

Sharing on such sensitive topics takes "getting to a certain place where you have a deep sense of comfort with yourself," said Pinkett Smith, who most recently co-starred in the comedy "Girls Trip."

Control is key, and Facebook is just the place to keep it loose, she said.

The show is an outgrowth of an online Mother's Day video the three made when Willow was just 12. Pinkett Smith's producing partner, Ellen Rakieten, with Miguel

Melendez, was the one to suggest they revive it.

Facebook is committed to 10 episodes, but it's possible the run will be extended.

"I just wanted a place where people could have the comfort level to talk about real things, where you can really have a raw conversation, with a transparent nature, and not have to worry," Pinkett Smith added. "Facebook creates a certain intimacy and community. I can go into Facebook and actually talk to people."

The show has a separate Facebook group with nearly 280,000 members where regular conversations and those interactions are happening. Their premiere trip to the red table, which is in Pinkett Smith's California home, has been viewed about 27 million times. The latest episode, which aired this week, has been watched 4 million times — so far. The show airs Mondays and question sessions on Wednesdays.

"I love being able to go in an actually talk to people," Pinkett Smith said. "Our community is growing every day and I'm a part of it and actually in it. That's what I love. We love the female communion, where young people and older people can learn from each other.

It feels like an old-school women's ritual, whether it's in the kitchen cooking and talking or somewhere else.

That's hard to come by these days."q

PEOPLE & ARTS A31

Thursday 14 June 2018

Streisand gives early nod of approval to Lady Gaga's 'Star'

By LYNN ELBER LOS ANGELES (AP) — Barbra Streisand's "A Star Is Born" is being reborn online with scenes she'd cut from the 1976 movie.

Long known as a perfectionist, Streisand tinkered with the film to restore an exchange between the star-crossed lovers played by her and Kris Kristofferson and an instrumental take on the Oscar-winning tune "Evergreen."

The romantic drama, coming to Netflix along with other Streisand projects, isn't the only "Star" on the horizon: A new version with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper will be in theaters this fall.

Streisand is giving an early thumbs-up to the fourth version of the romance between a rising young performer and a fading one, which Cooper directed.

"What I saw of it was very good," Streisand said. "It's just it feels reminiscent of mine, but they added some new things which I liked, too. ... I'm sure it'll

work."

She compared "A Star Is Born" to other classic tales that remain compelling.

"The story works. It worked in 1937. It worked in 1954, it worked in 1976 and it's going to work in 2018. ... It's Romeo and Juliet — everyone knows the ending, but they like watching how we get there."

The original 1930s film starred Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, with Judy Garland and James Mason in the '50s remake.

Streisand's revised "Star" will be available on Netflix as part of a deal that includes her 1960s TV specials "My Name Is Barbra," ''Color Me Barbra" and "Barbra Streisand: A Happening in Central Park," among other projects. Release dates were not announced.

The singer, filmmaker and Oscar-winning actress took the opportunity with "A Star Is Born" to right an error of omission for the film that was directed by Frank Pierson but on which she had the final edit.

"It's a scene that never should have been cut out in the first place and I cut it out, so I have only myself to blame. I was trying to move the picture along," Streisand told The Associated Press. In the restored sequence, Streisand's aspiring actress-singer Esther takes guitar in hand to play "Evergreen" for Kristofferson's character. Streisand wrote the music, with lyrics

by Paul Williams. Streisand said she realized the moment helped illuminate the pair and their relationship.

She also added footage to the movie's finale that features a medley of the "With One More Look At You" and "Watch Closely Now." The movie and some of its songs are part of a concert film, "Barbra: The Music. The Mem'ries. The Magic!" that's on Netflix and has been submitted for consideration for this year's Emmy nominations, coming in July.

Did she purchase the Italian artist's work?

"I did," Streisand said, happily.q

In this Sept. 12, 2017 file photo, Barbra Streisand attends the Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Harvey Relief in Universal City, Calif.

Associated Press

Clinton-Patterson novel sells 250,000 copies its first week

By HILLEL ITALIE NEW YORK (AP) — Bill Clinton's debut novel had the year's biggest opening so far for a work of fiction.

"The President is Missing," the thriller he co-wrote with James Patterson, sold 250,000 copies its first week.

Alfred A. Knopf and Little, Brown and Co., the book's co-publishers, announced Wednesday that the number includes hardcover, ebook and audio sales. NPD BookScan, which tracks around 85 percent of print sales, reported sales of 152,000 copies. That's BookScan's top-selling fiction debut since the latest "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," which came out last fall, and biggest first week for adult fiction since Harper Lee's "Go Set a Watchman" sold more than 700,000 hardcover copies in 2015.

"The President is Missing" was published June 4 and spent much of last week at No. 1 on Amazon.com and

elsewhere despite some awkward and contentious moments in interviews with the former president. Clinton responded defensively to questions from NBC's Craig Melvin about the #MeToo movement and whether he owes an apology to former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Clinton's affair with Lewinsky helped lead to his impeachment.

The novel begins with a president facing impeachment, for supporting terrorism, and tells of his efforts to thwart a potentially apocalyptic cyberattack.

"By any measure, this was a terrific opening week of sales, one that exceeded even our own optimistic projections," Michael Pietsch, CEO of Little Brown's parent company, Hachette Book Group, said in a statement. "Sales continue apace this week, with Father's Day on the horizon."

In this June 5, 2018 file photo, former President Bill Clinton, right, and author James Patterson pose for photographers during an event to promote their new novel, "The President is Missing," in New York.

Associated Press

"We are heartened by the response to the work, especially among readers," said Knopf chairman Sonny Mehta.

The novel has been billed as combining Patterson's long background in thrillers and Clinton's unique perspective as a former president. Reviews ranged

from mocking ("Reveals as many secrets about the U.S. government as 'The Pink Panther' reveals about the French government," wrote The Washington Post's Ron Charles) to admiring. Nicolle Wallace, the political analyst and former White House aide, praised the novel as "ambitious and

wildly readable" in a review for The New York Times. In The Wall Street Journal, Barton Swaim called the book "beach reading of a high order."

Patterson, one of the world's busiest and most popular authors, has released numerous No. 1 best-sellers.

Clinton also has topped the lists before, as author of the million-selling memoir "My Life." The Clinton-Patterson novel is a likely blockbuster at a time when adult fiction sales have struggled. The year's biggest works have been nonfiction, whether Michael Wolff's "Fire and Fury" or James Comey's "A Higher Loyalty," both of which offered highly critical portraits of President Trump.

"The President is Missing" doesn't mention Trump by name, but does refer favorably to immigrants and expanded voting rights and warns against the "drift into tribalism, extremism and seething resentments."q

A32 FEATURE

Thursday 14 June 2018

Marking Tabasco's 150th birthday with a tour of Avery Island

By BETH J. HARPAZ Associated Press AVERY ISLAND, La. (AP) — One of the world's most famous condiments, Tabasco, celebrates its 150th birthday this year.

Edmund McIlhenny created the famous pepper sauce in 1868 on Avery Island, Louisiana. The company is still headquartered there, and it is still run by McIlhenny's descendants.

But whether or not you're one of those pepper fiends who shakes Tabasco on everything from eggs to burgers, Avery Island is a fun destination with a neat history. Tour the Tabasco museum and factory, try free samples of Tabasco-infused goodies, dine on Cajun food and consider trying a bloody mary (spiked with Tabasco, of course).

There's also a unique nature preserve called Jungle Gardens where you'll learn the story of how Avery Island helped save an entire species of bird from disappearing in the U.S. Despite its name, though, Avery Island is not an island.

It's a salt dome, a geological phenomenon in which an underground bed of salt pushes up the terrain. That salt is used to flavor Tabasco.

TABASCO HISTORY As the story goes, McIlhenny planted some pepper seeds he'd been given and liked the peppers they grew. He mashed them up with Avery Island salt, let the mixture age, then

This June 4, 2018 photo shows Tabasco-infused olives and other food and dips in a free taste sample display on Avery Island in Louisiana, where Tabasco sauce is made.

Associated Press

added vinegar and packaged the result in bottles designed for cologne. The spicy sauce was a hit.

Museum exhibits include vintage bottles along with the wooden barrels still used to age the sauce. A greenhouse displays some pepper plants, though the peppers are now mostly grown outside the U.S. The sauce is bottled here, though, and you'll get a good look at the factory where a stream of bright red bottles flies past. The factory can produce up to 700,000 bottles a day, and you'll see the day's tally on a digital ticker.

By the way, the seeds have

This June 4, 2018 photo shows a sign directing visitors to attractions on Avery Island in Louisiana, where Tabasco sauce is made.

Associated Press

no connection to the state of Tabasco in Mexico, but the word tabasco is derived from an Aztec term that means "humid land" and the seeds McIlhenny planted are said to have originated in Latin America.

Across the decades Tabasco has become a cultural phenomenon as well as a culinary staple. One video in the museum shows Tabasco turning up in everything from Bugs Bunny cartoons to James Bond movies. Tabasco was used as a wartime code word and included as a condiment in prepackaged meals for U.S. soldiers. And it's sold in 195 countries and territories worldwide.

Tabasco's current CEO, Tony Simmons, is McIlhenny's great-great-grandson.

He says only 2 to 4 percent of family businesses make it to the fourth generation, but Tabasco is already in the hands of the fifth generation.

"My family is very tied to Avery Island," Simmons told the AP Travel podcast "Get Outta Here!" in an interview. "Avery Island is part of the reason we've been able to hold onto our business for 150 years."

FOOD AND DRINK At the onsite country store, you can try free samples of Tabasco-infused edibles

ranging from soft ice cream to soda to pickles. Souvenirs for sale include men's underwear decorated with little red peppers.

Next door at the 1868 Restaurant, yummy Cajun food like gumbo, crawfish etouffee and boudin sausage is dished out cafeteria-style. And as long as someone else is doing the driving, go ahead and treat yourself to a bloody mary.

JUNGLE GARDENS A short drive from the Tabasco complex, you'll find Jungle Gardens. A driving route offers a dozen numbered stops for attractions including a palm

garden, live oaks and a 900-year-old Buddha statue. Watch where you step: alligators abound.

But the highlight of Jungle Gardens is Bird City, where on a June day about 1,000 egrets could be seen chattering and calling to one another from raised platforms around a lagoon.

Some swooped overhead as an alligator floated by.

The story of how the colony was established is remarkable. In the 1890s, snowy egrets had "almost been wiped out to extinction in the U.S.," according to Erik Johnson, director of bird conservation for Audubon Louisiana. The birds were hunted for their feathers, which were used in ladies' hats.

E.A. McIlhenny, son of Tabasco's founder, managed to acquire eight snowy egrets, built an aviary for them and handraised them. Then he set them free. When they returned on their seasonal migration, they brought more birds with them and the numbers grew. By the time former U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt, a champion of environmental conservation, visited Avery Island in 1915, he said 40,000 birds were nesting there.

Snowy egrets have rebounded nationwide since then, and these days several thousand nesting pairs of snowy and great egrets typically arrive on Avery Island in late winter and stay through summer.q

This June 4, 2018 photo shows a display that counts how many bottles of Tabasco sauce were produced at the Tabasco factory on Avery Island on that day alone by early afternoon: 168,760.

Associated Press