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Aruba’s ONLY English newspaper Aruba’s ONLY English newspaper
Wednesday
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August 2, 2023
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TULSI AND ARUBA, ONE HAPPY ISLAND
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Trump charged for efforts to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss
Nicky Sundt holds a banner outside the Federal District Court, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Washington, where a grand jury has been meeting in the probe led by special counsel Jack Smith into former President Donald Trump. Associated Press
Po-kè Ono - A Taste of Asia with a
Twist: Exploring Flavorful Fusion
Page 8
By ERIC TUCKER Associated Press Donald Trump was charged Tuesday in a Justice Department investigation into his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the run-up to the violent riot by his supporters at the U.S. Capitol. The charges include conspiracy to defraud the United States government and witness tampering. The indictment, the third criminal case brought against the former president as he seeks to reclaim the White House in 2024, follows a long-running federal investigation into schemes by Trump and his allies to subvert the peaceful transfer of power and keep him in office despite a decisive loss to Joe Biden. Even in a year of rapid-succession legal reckonings for Trump, Tuesday’s criminal case was especially stunning in its allegations that a former president assaulted the underpinnings of democracy in a frantic and ultimately failed effort to cling to power.
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UP FRONT Wednesday 2 august 2023 A2
Trump charged for efforts to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss
Continued from Front
Federal prosecutors say Donald Trump was “determined to remain in power” in conspiracies that targeted a “bedrock function of the United States federal government: the nation’s process of collecting, counting and certifying the results of the presidential election.” Trump is due in court on Thursday before U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan. The criminal case comes while Trump leads the field of Republicans vying to capture their party’s presidential nomination. It is sure to be dismissed by the former president and his supporters — and even some of his rivals — as just another politically motivated prosecution. Yet the charges stem from one of the most serious threats to American democracy in modern history. They focus on the turbulent two months after the November 2020 election in which Trump refused to accept his loss and spread lies that victory was stolen from him. The turmoil resulted in the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump loyalists violently broke into the building, attacked police officers and disrupted the congressional counting of electoral votes. In between the election and the riot, Trump urged local election officials to undo voting results in their states, pressured former Vice President Mike Pence to halt the certification of electoral votes and falsely claimed that the election had been stolen — a notion repeatedly rejected by judges. The indictment had been expected since Trump said in mid-July that the Justice Department informed him he was a target of its longrunning Jan. 6 investigation. A bipartisan House committee that spent months investigating the run-up to the Capitol riot also recommended prosecuting Trump on charges, including aiding an insurrection and obstructing an official proceeding.
The mounting criminal cases against Trump — not to mention multiple civil cases — are unfolding in the heat of the 2024 race. A conviction in this case, or any other, would not prevent Trump from pursuing the White House or serving as president. In New York, state prosecutors have charged Trump with falsifying business records about a hush money payoff to a porn actor before the 2016 election. The trial begins in late March. In Florida, the Justice Department has brought more than three dozen felony counts against Trump accusing him of illegally possessing classified documents after leaving the White House and concealing them from the government. The trial begins in late May.The latest federal indictment against Trump focuses heavily on actions taken in Washington, and the trial will be held there, in a courthouse located between the White House he once occupied and the Capitol his supporters once stormed. No trial date has been set. Prosecutors in Georgia are investigating efforts by Trump and his allies to
reverse his election loss to Biden there in 2020. The district attorney of Fulton County is expected to announce a decision on whether to indict the former president in early August. The investigation of Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election was led by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith. His team of prosecutors has questioned senior Trump administration officials before a grand jury in Washington, including Pence and top lawyers from the Trump White House. Rudy Giuliani, a Trump lawyer who pursued postelection legal challenges, spoke voluntarily to prosecutors as part of a proffer agreement, in which a person’s statements can’t be used against them in any future criminal case that is brought. Prosecutors also interviewed election officials in Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan and elsewhere who came under pressure from Trump and his associates to change voting results in states won by Biden, a Democrat. Focal points of the Justice Department’s election meddling investigation included the role played by
some of Trump’s lawyers, post-election fundraising, a chaotic December 2020 meeting at the White House in which some Trump aides discussed the possibility of seizing voting machines and the enlistment of fake electors to submit certificates to the National Archives and Congress falsely asserting that Trump, not Biden, had won their states’ votes. Trump has been trying to use the mounting legal troubles to his political advantage, claiming without evidence on social media and at public events that the cases are being driven by Democratic prosecutors out to hurt his 2024 election campaign. The indictments have helped his campaign raise millions of dollars from supporters, though he raised less after the second than the first, raising questions about whether subsequent charges will have the same impact. A fundraising committee backing Trump’s candidacy began soliciting contributions just hours after the ex-president revealed he was the focus of the Justice Department’s Jan. 6 investigation, casting it as “just
another vicious act of Election Interference on behalf of the Deep State to try and stop the Silent Majority from having a voice in your own country.” Attorney General Merrick Garland last year appointed Smith, an international war crimes prosecutor who also led the Justice Department’s public corruption section, as special counsel to investigate efforts to undo the 2020 election and Trump’s retention of hundreds of classified documents at his Palm Beach, Florida, home, Mar-a-Lago. Although Trump has derided him as “deranged” and suggested that he is politically motivated, Smith’s past experience includes overseeing significant prosecutions against high-profile Democrats. The Justice Department’s investigation into the efforts to overturn the 2020 election began well before Smith’s appointment, proceeding alongside separate criminal probes into the Jan. 6 rioters themselves. More than 1,000 people have been charged in connection with the insurrection, including some with seditious conspiracy.q
President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a rally in Washington, on Jan. 6, 2021. Associated Press
U.S. NEWS A3 Wednesday 2 august 2023
By LEA SKENE and SARAH BRUMFIELD Associated Press BALTIMORE (AP) — More than 70 years after doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital took Henrietta Lacks’ cervical cells without her knowledge, a lawyer for her descendants said they have reached a settlement with a biotechnology company that they accused of reaping billions of dollars from a racist medical system. Tissue taken from the Black woman’s tumor before she died of cervical cancer became the first human cells to continuously grow and reproduce in lab dishes. HeLa cells went on to become a cornerstone of modern medicine, enabling countless scientific and medical innovations, including the development of the polio vaccine, genetic mapping and even COVID-19 vaccines. Despite that incalculable impact, the Lacks family had never been compensated.Lacks’ cells were harvested in 1951, when it was not illegal to do so without a patient’s permission. But lawyers for her family argued that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., of Waltham, Massachusetts, continued to commercialize the results long after the origins of the HeLa cell line became well known. The company unjustly enriched itself off Lacks’ cells, the family argued in their lawsuit, filed in 2021. The settlement came after closed-door negotiations that lasted all day Monday inside the federal courthouse in Baltimore. Some of Lacks’ grandchildren were among the family members who attended the talks. Attorney Ben Crump, who represents the family, announced the settlement late Monday and said the terms are confidential. In a joint statement, Thermo Fisher representatives and attorneys for the Lacks family said they were pleased to resolve the matter and declined to comment further on the
Attorney Ben Crump, second from left, walks with Ron Lacks, left, Alfred Lacks Carter, third from left, both grandsons of Henrietta Lacks, and other descendants of Lacks, outside the federal courthouse in Baltimore, Oct. 4, 2021. Associated Press
Henrietta Lacks’ family settles lawsuit with a biotech company that used her cells without consent
agreement. A poor tobacco farmer from southern Virginia, Lacks got married and moved with her husband to Turner Station, a historically Black community outside Baltimore. They were raising five children when doctors discovered a tumor in Lacks’ cervix and saved a sample of her cancer cells collected during a biopsy. Lacks died at age 31 in the “colored ward” of Johns Hopkins Hospital. She was buried in an unmarked grave. While most cell samples died shortly after being removed from the body, her cells survived and thrived in laboratories. They became known as the first immortalized human cell line because scientists could cultivate them indefinitely, meaning researchers anywhere could reproduce studies using identical cells. The remarkable science involved and the impact on the Lacks family, some of whom had chronic illnesses and no health insurance were documented in a bestselling book by Rebecca Skloot, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” which was published in 2010. Oprah Winfrey portrayed her daughter in an HBO movie about the story. Johns Hopkins said it never sold or profited from the cell lines, but many com
panies have patented ways of using them. In their complaint, Lacks’ descendants argued that her treatment illustrates a much larger issue that persists today: racism inside the U.S. medical system. “The exploitation of Henrietta Lacks represents the unfortunately common struggle experienced by Black people throughout history,” the complaint reads.In a brief filed in support of the Lacks family, attorneys advocating for civil rights, women’s rights and health care equity said the case is one of many in which U.S. doctors and scientists have exploited minority patients.q
U.S. NEWS Wednesday 2 august 2023 A4
By TARA COPP and REBECCA SANTANA Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is pulling 1,100 active duty troops from the U.S.-Mexico border it deployed earlier this year as the government prepared for the end of asylum restrictions linked to the pandemic. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin approved the deployment of a total of 1,500 active duty troops for a temporary 90-day military presence surge at the border in May. At the time, illegal border crossings were swiftly escalating with concerns they’d go even higher after the restrictions ended but instead the numbers have fallen. The 1,100 troops will conclude their 90-day mission by Aug. 8; the remaining 400 will be extended through August 31, a defense official said on the condition of anonymity to discuss details ahead of an announcement. At the time the troop movements were made public officials stressed that the active-duty troops would not be taking front-line positions on the border or interacting with migrants but instead doing tasks like data entry or warehouse support
with the goal of freeing up Customs and Border Protection personnel to be out in the field. The troops were intended to help back up border officials dealing with the end of Title 42. That rule allowed the government to quickly expel tens of thousands of migrants from the country in the name of protecting America from COVID-19. In the days leading up to the end of Title 42, border agents were encountering 10,000 migrants a day and at one point had
27,000 migrants in custody. But immediately after Title 42 expired, the numbers dropped sharply to about 5,000 encounters a day, and have stayed low, according to the agency’s data. But it’s far from clear how permanent these drops are. Already the number of people crossing the Darien Gap, a key route for migrants headed to the U.S. from South America, during the first seven months of the year is more than all of 2022 combined.
The active duty military troops’ departure is also happening as much of the Biden administration’s immigration agenda is subject to court challenges. Last week a federal judge ruled that an administration rule limiting asylum access at the southern border was against the law. The administration is appealing that ruling, arguing that it’s a key part of their efforts to maintain order on the border. Separately the Justice Department last week an
nounced it has sued Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to force the state to remove floating buoys in the Rio Grande that the federal government says present a humanitarian and environmental concern. The departures also do not impact an additional 2,300 National Guard troops under federal orders who remain at the border in similar supporting roles, National Guard chief Gen. Dan Hokanson said last week. Those troops will not be extended, but other units will be rotated in to replace them when their deployments end. Austin has tried to get the Department of Homeland Security to fully assume the border protection role instead of continually relying on military troops. As a condition for Austin’s previous approval of National Guard troops to the border through Oct. 1, Homeland Security had to agree to work with the White House and Congress to develop a plan for longer-term staffing solutions and funding shortfalls. In a response to the AP, the Pentagon said DHS has outlined a plan to increase personnel and technology investments to meet future surges.q
Migrants are escorted by a U.S. Army soldier after entering into El Paso, Texas from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico to be processed by immigration authorities, May 10, 2023. Associated Press
The Pentagon is pulling 1,100 troops from the US-Mexico border mission
Global AIDS program gets new home in State Department bureau
By ELLEN KNICKMEYER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department launched a new bureau Tuesday aimed at making the battle against global
outbreaks a lasting priority of U.S. foreign policy, even as one of its key elements – a widely acclaimed HIV program – has become caught up in the political battle over abortion.
The bureau is to include the 20-year-old initiative known as the President's Emergency Program for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR. The program is relatively unknown to Americans but has succeeded beyond most early expectations in addressing the AIDS crisis and is credited with saving up to 25 million lives worldwide. The bureau will be led by a public health official integral to PEPFAR, John N. Nkengasong. Born in Cameroon, Nkengasong was a founder of U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention operations in Afri
ca. He helped set up some of the sub-Saharan's first sophisticated labs for work with HIV and AIDS. President George W. Bush started PEPFAR in Africa in 2003. The program retains bipartisan support. But anti-abortion groups and some House Republicans, including Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, are pushing to attach abortion-related limits on U.S. health support overseas to the reauthorizing legislation They are also seeking yearly votes on PEPFAR's continuance. While the Democratic-controlled Senate is expected
to try to squash any such GOP conditions on the HIV program, the skirmish signals the PEPFAR program is now likely a captive of U.S. abortion politics going forward. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a ceremony for the new Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy, made only a passing reference to the abortion fight threatening PEPFAR's normally assured support from lawmakers, saying he hoped Congress approved the program for another five years, without amendments.q
Ambassador-at-Large John Nkengasong, new head of the Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy at the State Department, speaks during the launch of the new bureau, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, at the State Department in Washington. Associated Press
WORLD NEWS A5 Wednesday 2 august 2023
By EVENS SANON and MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Efforts to help Haitians survive the gang violence ravaging their nation suffered a new blow with the kidnapping of an American nurse from New Hampshire and her young daughter, who remained missing Tuesday. Haiti’s gangs have grown in power since the July 7, 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and are now estimated to control up to 80% of the capital. Hundreds of people have been reported kidnapped since January, a significant uptick from previous years. The surge in killings, rapes and kidnappings has led to a violent uprising by civilian vigilante groups. Around 200 Haitians had marched in their nation’s capital to show their anger over the abduction of Alix Dorsainvil, who was working for nonprofit Christian ministry El Roi Haiti when she and the girl were seized Thursday. The kidnapped woman is the wife of El Roi Haiti’s founder Sandro Dorsainvil. Nonprofit groups are often the only institutions in Haiti’s lawless areas and the deepening violence
has forced many to close, leaving thousands of vulnerable families without access to basic services like health care or education. Doctors Without Borders announced this month that it was suspending services in one of its hospitals because some 20 armed men burst into an operating room and snatched a patient. Witnesses told The Associated Press that Alix Dorsainvil was working in the small
brick clinic late last week when armed men burst in and seized her. Lormina Louima, who was waiting for a check-up, said one man pulled out his gun and told her to relax. “When I saw the gun, I was so scared,” Louima said. “I said, ‘I don’t want to see this, let me go.’” Some members of the community said the unidentified men had asked for $1 million ransom, a standard
practice of the gangs killing and sowing terror in Haiti’s impoverished populace. Hundreds of kidnappings have occurred in the country this year alone, figures from the local nonprofit Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights show. The same day Dorsainvil and her daughter were taken, the U.S. State Department advised Americans to avoid travel to Haiti and ordered non
emergency personnel to leave, citing widespread kidnappings that regularly target U.S. citizens. Kenya’s Foreign Ministry said Saturday that it had offered 1,000 police to help train and assist the Haitian National Police “restore normalcy in the country and protect strategic installations.” Most Haitians say they simply want to live in peace. Protesters, largely from the area around El Roi Haiti’s campus, which includes a medical clinic, a school and more, echoed that call Monday as they walked through the sweltering streets wielding cardboard signs written in Creole in red paint. “She is doing good work in the community, free her,” read one. Jean Ronald said his community has significantly benefitted from the care provided by El Roi Haiti. As the protesters walked through the area where Dorsainvil was taken, the streets were eerily quiet. The doors to the clinic where she worked were shut, the small brick building empty. Ronald and others in the area worried the latest kidnapping may mean the clinic won’t reopen.q
By BELA SZANDELSZKY Associated Press BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — The United States imposed new travel restrictions on citizens of Hungary on Tuesday over concerns that the identities of nearly 1 million foreigners granted Hungarian passports over nine years weren’t sufficiently verified, according to the U.S. Embassy and a government official. The restrictions apply to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which allows passport holders from 40 countries to enter the United States for business or tourism without a visa for up to 90 days. The validity period of travel for Hungarian passport holders under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization was reduced from two years to one year, and each traveler will be limited to a single entry into the United States. They are the only such restrictions among the 40 participating states in the Visa Waiver Program. A senior U.S. government official said the change followed years of failed efforts by the U.S. to work with Hungary’s government to resolve the security concerns. The official spoke anonymously in order to candidly characterize diplomatic engagements. Hundreds of thousands of Hungarian passports were issued without stringent identity verification requirements, some of them to criminals who pose a safety threat and have no connection to Hungary, the official said.q
Students from the El Roi academy carry signs during a demonstration to demand the freedom of New Hampshire nurse Alix Dorsainvil and her daughter, who have been reported kidnapped, in the Cite Soleil neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, July 31, 2023.
Associated Press
Efforts to help Haitians suffer new blow with kidnapping of American nurse and daughter
American and Hungarian national flags fly in downtown Budapest, Hungary, on Wednesday, June 21, 2006, with the historical parliament building at the background.
Associated Press
U.S. restricts visa-free travel for Hungarian passport holders because of security concerns
WORLD NEWS Wednesday 2 august 2023 A6
BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military-led government reduced the prison sentences of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a clemency connected to a religious holiday in the Buddhist-majority country, state media said Tuesday. Former President Win Myint also had his sentence reduced as part of the clemency granted to more than 7,000 prisoners. But Suu Kyi, 78, still must serve a total of 27 years out of the 33 she originally was imprisoned for. The head of Myanmar’s military council, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, granted the clemency order to reduce the sentences Suu Kyi received in five cases in which she was convicted for violating coronavirus restrictions, illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies and sedition, according to a report on state MRTV. She was initially sentenced for 19 offenses that her supporters and rights groups described as attempts to discredit her and legitimize the 2021 army takeover that removed her from office, as well as to prevent her return to politics.
There were reports last week that Suu Kyi might be transferred to house arrest as part of the clemency, but the government did not confirm them. The military’s True News Information Team sent video footage to journalists in which the spokesperson for the ruling military council, Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun,
tells reporters he had not received any information about reports saying Suu Kyi already was transferred from prison to a residence in Myanmar’s capital, Naypyitaw. “I haven’t heard anything about it,” Zaw Min Tun said Tuesday. Win Myint, the former president, was pardoned for
two of the eight offenses for which he received convictions: sedition and violating coronavirus restrictions and sedition. The pardons cut four years from his 12-year combined prison sentence. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reacted to the pardons by reiterating his call for the immediate release of Suu Kyi and
Win Myint, the U.N. deputy spokesman said. The U.N chief also called for the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained prisoners, “an end to the violence and repression, and respect for human rights” in Myanmar, spokesman Farhan Haq said. The clemency was announced a day after Myanmar’s military extended the state of emergency it imposed when it seized power from Suu Kyi’s elected government 2 1/2 years ago, forcing a further delay in elections it promised when it took over. Several of Suu Kyi’s cases are awaiting final appeals. Min Aung Hlaing pardoned a total of 7,749 prisoners and commuted the death sentences of others to commemorate the day the Buddha gave his first sermon, the MRTV report said. The army leader also granted amnesty to 125 foreign prisoners and 22 members of ethnic armed groups, it added. The announcement said he dropped cases against 72 people connected to ethnic armed groups.q
By SYLVIE CORBET Associated Press PARIS (AP) — Niger’s prime minister, who has been
stuck outside the country since last week’s coup, appealed Tuesday for the international community’s
help in rolling back the military takeover, saying it was crucial for defending democracy in West Africa. Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou said in an interview with The Associated Press that Niger should be considered a linchpin for supporting democracy in the region and for protecting countries to the south “against the spread of terrorism.” Mahamadou was staying in France because he was unable to go back to Niger due to borders closing after the coup, which happened as he was travelling to Italy for international meetings. Coup leaders pushed out
the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum last week in Niger, where the constitution grants the president broad powers including the authority to appoint the prime minister. The West African regional body known as ECOWAS announced travel and economic sanctions against Niger on Sunday and said it could use force if the coup leaders don’t reinstate Bazoum within one week. “It’s a catastrophe,” Mahamadou said in his first interview with a non-French media outlet. “Because Niger is a fragile country. It’s already a country where
nearly 4 million people live in food insecurity… It’s a country with 300,000 refugees and as many internally displaced people.” On Tuesday France, Italy and Spain announced evacuations from Niger for their citizens and other European nationals. Mahamadou noted that the coup comes after three similar events in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea since 2020. “If a fourth coup is confirmed, it’s the whole democracy in West Africa that is in danger, because there’s no reason why ... there shouldn’t be a fifth, and after a fifth, a sixth,” he said.q
Myanmar’s then leader Aung San Suu Kyi delivers a speech in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, on Jan. 28, 2020. Associated Press
Aung San Suu Kyi has some of her prison sentences reduced by Myanmar’s military-led government
Niger Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou answers the Associated Press, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Paris.
Associated Press
Niger’s premier issues call from France for international help to roll back his country’s coup
local a7 Wednesday 2 august 2023
Lessons from our elders: Plants and fruits for medicinal use
(Oranjestad)—Though western medicine is now widely used for common illnesses and to keep our bodies healthy and happy, it is still very common in every household in Aruba (and around the world) to have staple home remedies that is passed on through generations. Here are some tips that our el
ders have passed on to us over the years.
Pineapple Pineapple has more uses than topping it on your Christmas ham. According to elders, the skin of a pineapple is great to use to refresh your body. Clean the skin thoroughly and make tea or warapa* with it. It is
said that this tea can also be drank after an operation on the ovaries or uterus. This gets rid of irritation and inflammation.
When the fruit is unripe and green, this can be used to stimulate menstruation flow in women. This also stimulates the passing kidney stones. When ripe, the fruit can be used for poisoning in the gut and can help treat rheumatic diseases, like arthritis.
However, breastfeeding women who cannot produce much milk are advised not to consume too pineapple, and people with acid reflux are recommended to not consume any pineapple at all.
Arrowroot Arrowroot is native to tropical America and can be sold as a powder or whole. It is said that you can take
arrowroot powder and make a “shalup” (porridge) for stomach pain or when you’re feeling weak. You can make it with milk too, but it is advised to best use just water. You can also add prunes for a bit of sweetness. Arrowroot shalup is also good to treat an unhealthy gut or for diarrhea.
To make arrowroot shalup, boil a bit of water and add one tablespoon of arrowroot powder and stir continuously until you reach porridge consistency. If you make a shalup with milk, add a pinch of salt. Raw arrowroot powder can be used to powder babies.
Eggplant/Aubergine Eggplants, or aubergines, are easy to find in supermarkets around the world and can be grown all year
round on the island. Related to potato and tomato, eggplants are good to calm nerves. It can also be used to lower blood pressure, by steeping its leaves in boiled water and drinking it. You can also make eggplant juice to help purify your blood. However, do make sure to drink slowly; let it mix with your spit and then swallow.
Eggplant kataplan* can also be used to treat skin tumors, abscesses and hemorrhoids. Eggplant kataplan can also be used externally to treat arthritis. *warapa: term referring to a water and sugar solution, a.k.a simple syrup. *kataplan: porridge-like mixture used externally for wounds or parts of the body that are painful or swollen. q
Prohibited by law: leaving the island with seashells, white sand or corals
(Oranjestad)—Often times, the customs department at the airport intercepts many tourists leaving the island with seashells, white sand and/or corals as souvenirs.
Conforming to the international treaty of CITES and our local law which protects our Flora & Fauna, it is absolutely prohibited to take any seashell, sand and coral outside of Aruba. This is to protect our environment. The high number of seashells, coral
and amount of sand confiscated is very strange and it is suspected that our own locals are the ones selling these to the tourists, which is unacceptable. Upon confiscation at the airport, you can also face a fine that they have to pay before leaving. This is surely not a pleasant experience for the tourist. This also leads to a negative reaction which can put our tourism in a negative light. Though we love to accommodate our visitors, let’s all
give nature the respect it deserves by protecting our environment. Stop collecting seashells, white sand and corals from our shores and stop buying or accepting these from local sellers or companies.
We want our future generations and visitors to enjoy the beauty of our beaches, shells and corals in a sustainable way, without destroying or disrupting the Aruban ecosystem. Help us protect what is ours! q
local Wednesday 2 august 2023 a8
Po-kè Ono - A Taste of Asia with a Twist: Exploring Flavorful Fusion
Amidst the vibrant paradise of Aruba, where turquoise waters meet golden sands, a culinary gem awaits: Pokè Ono, the coolest Asian fusion spot that will whisk you away on an exotic flavor adventure. Experience an explosion of Asian tastes like never before led by the creative genius of Chef Urvin Croes, the mastermind behind Aruba's acclaimed Infini restaurant. Po-kè Ono serves up an enticing menu that blends traditional Asian flavors with modern twists, all within a cheery ambiance that exudes warmth and tropical charm.
At Po-kè Ono, diners can savor an array of flavors from the new menu items that stand out for their artful presentation and delectable taste. One of the highlights is the traditional Vietnamese Pho, a soul-soothing soup consisting of bone broth, rice noodles, succulent thinly sliced meat, fresh herbs, and zesty spices, making it an explosion of taste in every spoonful.
Another must-try dish is The Elvis Presley Bao, a playful homage to the King of Rock 'n' Roll. This fun creation features fried spam with sweet teriyaki, peanut sauce,
crispy fried plantains, crisp lettuce, red onions, and a spicy kick from the Kewpie mayo. The combination of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors is a harmony that leaves guests coming back for more.
If you're craving a delicious fusion of Indonesian and Hawaiian influences, the Babi Sate Poke hits all the right notes. Indonesian-style pork skewers are served with rich peanut sauce, crunchy crispy onions, pickled cucumber, and creamy avocado, resulting in a medley of textures and flavors that captivate the palate.
Beyond the flavors, Po-kè Ono impresses with its thoughtfully curated ambiance that reflects the Asian fusion theme. With two locations in Renaissance Marketplace and the lobby of Azure Residence, the restaurant exudes a tropical and laid-back vibe, inviting guests to unwind and indulge in a delightful dining experience. The use of fun cocktail glasses and relaxed decor further enhances the sense of pleasure, making every visit a memorable one.
Get ready for double the fun at Po-kè Ono with their awesome two-for-one happy hour. From 4 pm to 6 pm, this fantastic deal lets you dive into selected items at an incredible value. It's the perfect opportunity to try out their fresh new menu while sipping on delightful beverages.
Meet the culinary maestro, Chef Urvin Croes, the creative force behind Po-kè Ono and Infini. With an unyielding passion for Asian cuisine, rooted in his Chinese heritage, he sprinkles his magic on every plate at Po-kè Ono, crafting innovative and artfully delicious dishes. Having honed his skills in top-notch hotel restaurants and even snatching the title of 'Iron Chef Aruba's first winner,' Chef Urvin's culinary expertise shines through in every mouthwatering bite.
Promoting Aruba as a culinary destination, Chef Urvin sources ingredients locally whenever possible, supporting farmers who share his passion for qual
ity produce. The result is a menu that expertly balances traditional recipes with modern techniques, elevating every dish to new heights. His love for food and the cultural stories behind each creation are evident in the passionate manner in which he prepares and presents his dishes.
Notably, Po-kè Ono has earned its welldeserved reputation as the number one restaurant on Tripadvisor Palm Beach, a testament to its success and popularity among locals and tourists alike.
Po-kè Ono is like a treasure trove of Asian fusion delights, all crafted with love and expertise by the one and only Chef Urvin Croes. You'll be treated to an array of dishes, from Pho to inventive Bao creations, each artfully presented. The relaxed ambiance and awesome two-for-one happy hour make dining here an absolute pleasure. Once you've tasted the magic of Po-kè Ono, you'll be coming back for more!
So, what are you waiting for? Dive in and indulge in this captivating world of Asian-inspired goodness!q
LOCAL A9 Wednesday 2 august 2023
Ayo & Casibari: Aruba’s famous rock formations
(Oranjestad)—The Ayo and Casibari Rock Formations are known locally as one of the crucial sites to have in your “off-road” trip itinerary. These naturally formed rock formations as just one of the few places on the island that hold a rich history of our culture and of our ancestors.
Ayo The Ayo Rock Formation is located in the northern part of the island, right on the road that leads you to the Black Stone Beach, and close to the Natural Bridge. The Ayo is a fenced terrain that consists of several giant boulders, resting neatly on top of or side by side each other, adding
gorgeous natural architecture to the surrounding “mondi”*. This is also one of the few sites to contain prehistoric markings of our indigenous ancestors. The Ayo Rock formation contains stairs that lead you to the top of the highest boulder, offering a breathtaking view of the Aruban backyard. The Ayo is usually quiet, as it is situated farther away from the busier parts of the island. However, this is just another charm of the site: the quiet area and the refreshing breeze offer a sense of comfort and peace.
Casibari Probably the busier rock formation site, the Casi
bari is situated more in the center of the island, much closer—and more accessible—to the general public. Just like Ayo, Casibari is a fenced area containing several boulders that lay on top or lean on each other. The best aspect of the Casibari Rock Formation is the accompanying view when you climb up the top of the round, flat bolder. For this position, you can see the majority of the island and the ocean in the south. Right in front of the entrance, there is the Casibari Café and Grill, a great place to get refreshments and snack before continu
ing your off-road adventure!
Both sites are open free to the public, 24 hours a day. However, unless you are taking a trip with a professional tour guide, there are no guides at the sites to help you climb the rock. So, do be careful when
trudging on the boulders, and make sure to befriend any roaming goats you see along the way!
*Mondi: what we call our Aruban wilderness. We don’t have forests, or deserts, but we do have mondi! q
TULSI AND ARUBA, ONE HAPPY ISLAND
After 35 years of the Palma family coming to Aruba, the granddaughter Tulsi Griffiths Palma and her husband Luis Mayorga Sequeira, flew across the world to the Happy Island of Aruba, from their present home in Taiwan for a special surprise. They announced the arrival of their first baby due in January 2024 to her parents Carolina and Kenneth Griffiths and grandparents Ricardo
and Carolyn Palma.
Tulsi (33) is a senior international teacher at the Taipei American School (TAS) and Luis (34) is developing his own trading business with Latin American countries. The Palmas usually stay at their timeshare in Casa del Mar. Around seven years ago, over 40 members of the Palma clan got together in Aruba, their favorite place for a family vacation. q
Wednesday 2 august 2023 A10 locAl
Zoutman, dating from the year 1796, whose exterior walls are the oldest building in Aruba (episode 214). The tower located in front of the current entrance to the fort was built in 1868 to meet the need for a public clock and had nothing to do with the fort. Once its construction was complete, it was conditioned as a lighthouse, and a clock was installed in 1929. It served as a lighthouse until 1963, when the western entrance to the port was inaugurated. As an inscription on the tower, we can see the initials W III, which means William III, who was the reigning king during its construction.
Among the oldest buildings in Oranjestad, we find the old Protestant temple built in 1846, which is located near the Protestant church in the current Wilhelminastraat, and is the second
oldest building on the island after Fort Zoutman. In front of the old Protestant temple there is a government building dating from 1911 and next to it was the building constructed between 1887 and 1888, which was initially a school before becoming a barracks during World War II and in 1955, was destined to be the public library, currently the, Algemene Rekenkamer van Aruba (General Audit Chamber of Aruba). On the same street, we will find two other houses of typical construction: one built in 1923 as a doctor’s residence, serving today as our town hall, and opposite the ruins of a mansion built in 1937, currently under restoration.
If you are keen to explore Aruba’s deep heritage, Etnia Nativa happens to be the place of choice in its category because it is Aruba’s unique “cabinet of curiosities” (episode 211) for immersing oneself in the rich history and cultural heritage of Aruba. You will be in the hands of a first-hand connoisseur, owner, and descendant of the late Thielen family, older native Aruba settlers, and other selected families. Etnia Nativa distinguishes itself from the rest as a hidden gem by offering a personal native touch that adds depth and authenticity to your destination experience, providing visitors with an engaging and meaningful connection to the island’s history, valuable insights, and a deeper understanding of Aruba’s heritage.
Appointments are required for a personalized experience. E-mail at [email protected] or WhatsApp (messages only) at +297 592 2702.q
Happy birthday, Oranjestad! Episode CCXVI - 217
Every week, Etnia Nativa shares a new episode on culture and heritage, focusing on the importance of defending Aruba’s true identity. This episode is about how exactly 199 years ago the name of our capital city, Oranjestad, was first proclaimed.
In episode 29, of 2019, we shared the story of how Oranjestad, our capital city, had been founded, explaining that in the year 1816, the area called “Horses Bay” was perceived as having moderate prosperity since it had a population of seven hundred people, among whom were some merchants, a considerable group of sailors, a few landowners, and even two goldsmiths. A prosperous growth that, during the following fifteen years and after the discovery of gold on the island, allowed more than a thousand new inhabitants, mostly merchants, to settle in this coastal area known as Playa. This is how the town began to grow, which, at a certain point, needed a structure and an official name. In the year 1821, Jacob Thielen I was appointed commander of Aruba. He was the son of a prominent family that had settled in Curaçao a few generations before. As Secretary of Justice, the Council of Curaçao favored Jacob’s conditions to bring the necessary reforms to our island. His dedication and work favoring economic growth led to the implementation of fundamental and necessary changes, such as the government regulations of 1823. It was on August 3rd, 1824—a fact known due to direct family history— that Jacob Thielen I proposed the name Oranjestad (Orange City) to the town located on Horse’s Bay. A name that, as soon as it was heard, was acclaimed by all people during that occasion, which without exception burst into cheers of “Long live Oranjestad!” “May it grow and prosper.” Before 1790, the south of Savaneta was the capital of Aruba, but Oranjestad turned out to be more accessible for ships to lay anchor. What remains of that old Oranjestad proclaimed by Jacob Thielen I are e few constructions known as Fort
local a11 Wednesday 2 august 2023
Did you know about... Basic driving rules on Aruba (part 1)
(Oranjestad)—Have you ever felt confused when you’re driving on the highways or backstreets of Aruba? Then we present a simple guide to some of the basic rules of Aruban traffic, along with some tips for things to look out for.
Speed limit Legally, the speed limit on the four-lane highways is 80 km/h. This speed limit also counts for the main roads that are connected to the highways. The minimum speed is 50 km/h. Most people drive around 60 km/h on the main roads and about 70 km/h on the highways. There are also areas that indicate a speed limit on a sign; these are usually around populated and school areas.
The four-lane highways contain the left-lane, also known as the “fast” lane for each direction. Here is where vehicles can drive up to the maximum speed. However, legally it is not permitted to drive for long periods of time on the left lane. This lane is primarily designed for drivers to switch lanes before a roundabout, for example, if your exit on the roundabout is on your far left. The general lane to drive in—both at maximum and minimum speed—is on the right lane.
Roundabouts Speaking of roundabouts, it is important to know where you have to enter and drive on the roundabout to make your exit. A good rule of thumb is to count the exits starting from your right side. So, exit 1 would be on your right; exit 2 would be straight ahead; exit 3 would be on your far left and exit 4 would lead to the road paralleled to the one you’re on, heading in the other direction.
Most roundabouts have these 4 exits, so they are relatively simple. When you’re driving on the four-lane highway, it is important to know when to switch to
the left lane to make your exit: if your exit is on your far left (exit 3), then you need to switch to the left lane on the high way before nearing the roundabout so you can take the path that leads you directly to your exit. If your exit is on your right or if you’re going straight ahead, you can keep driving in the right lane of the highway.
It’s also important to know that vehicles about to enter the roundabout must yield to those already on it. A good rule of thumb is to look out if someone is coming from your left side.
However, other roundabouts can be quite tricky to navigate…
Watty Vos Boulevard (the “paperclip” roundabout) Probably the biggest roundabout on the island, the “paperclip” roundabout on the Watty Vos Boulevard is one of the trickier roundabouts that could—and has—caused confused among both tourists and locals. However, once you take a good look at it, it’s fairly simple. The basis is just the same as a regular roundabout (left exit? left lane! etc.), but instead of having four different exits like on a regular roundabout, now you have two extra; one on the right and the other on the left side of the roundabout. The rules don’t change at all, you just have to keep
an extra eye open.
Airport roundabout Ah, yes. The infamous airport roundabout. The favorite roundabout amongst local, because of its easy (hard) lanes that never (always) cause confusion among drivers. Sarcasm aside, this roundabout can be tricky to enter, especially when you’re driving from the direction of the airport heading. When you’re driving away from the airport reaching the roundabout, you’ll be faced with three lanes. The far right lane is to take the exit 1 out heading east (right lane of highway). The middle exit is used for exit 1 (left lane of highway), 2 and 3. The far left exit is used to only exit
on exit 3 (left lane of highway) and 4.
“Las Americas” roundabout The Las Americas roundabout is located near the Talk of the Town hotel, west from the airport roundabout. This roundabout may look like a regular roundabout—and for the most part, it is. However, when you are driving from the east going in the direction of town, please take note that there are two exits on your right.
When you’re driving towards this roundabout, you’ll notice that the road becomes wider, splitting into two lanes. The right lane is used to take the first and second exit on the right. If you want to exit straight ahead, you must drive on the left lane!
It’s always scary to drive in new places where the traffic may look and work differently, but once you get it right once, you’ll get the hang of it in no time. Additionally, all roundabouts and roads on Aruba have signs and arrows painted on the road to help guide you. So take your time, keep your eyes open and don’t forget to wear a seat belt! q
TECHNOLOGY Wednesday 2 august 2023 A12
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By MATT O’BRIEN AP Technology Writer Spend enough time with ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence chatbots and it doesn’t take long for them to spout falsehoods. Described as hallucination, confabulation or just plain making things up, it’s now a problem for every business, organization and high school student trying to get a generative AI system to compose documents and get work done. Some are using it on tasks with the potential for high-stakes consequences, from psychotherapy to researching and writing legal briefs. “I don’t think that there’s any model today that doesn’t suffer from some hallucination,” said Daniela Amodei, co-founder and president of Anthropic, maker of the chatbot Claude 2. “They’re really just sort of designed to predict the next word,” Amodei said. “And so there will be some rate at which the model does that inaccurately.”
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, June 6, 2023.
Associated Press
Chatbots sometimes make things up. Is AI’s hallucination problem fixable?
Anthropic, ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and other major developers of AI systems known as large language models say they’re working to make them more
truthful. How long that will take and whether they will ever be good enough to, say, safely dole out medical advice remains to be seen. q
A13 Wednesday 2 august 2023
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_________________________________216838
San Nicolas
Police 100 Oranjestad 527 3140 Noord 527 3200 Sta. Cruz 527 2900 San Nicolas 584 5000 Police Tipline 11141 Ambulancia 911 Fire Dept. 115 Red Cross 582 2219
Women in Difficulties PHARMACY ON DUTY
TAXI SERVICES Taxi Tas 587 5900 Prof. Taxi 588 0035 Taxi D.T.S. 587 2300 Taxi Serv. Aruba 583 3232 A1 Taxi Serv. 280 2828
Aruba Airport 524 2424 American Airlines 582 2700 Avianca 588 0059 Jet Blue 588 2244 Surinam 582 7896
FAVI- Visually Impaired Tel. 582 5051
Alcoholics Anonymous Tel. 736 2952
Quota Club Tel. 525 2672
Centre for Diabetes Tel. 524 8888
Narcotics Anonymous Tel. 583 8989
Fundacion Contra Violencia Relacional Tel. 583 5400
DOCTOR ON DUTY
Oranjestad
Women in Difficulties OTHER Dental Clinic 587 9850 Blood Bank Aruba 587 0002 Urgent Care 586 0448 Walk-In Doctor’s Clinic +297 588 0539 Women in Difficulties EMERGENCY
Women in Difficulties TRAVEL INFO
Women in Difficulties AID FOUNDATIONS
Child Abuse Prevention Tel. 582 4433
Women in Difficulties General Info
Phone Directory Tel. 118
Oranjestad: Dakota: tel. 588 7364 Seroe Preto : tel. 584 4833
Hospital 7:00 pm / 10:00pm Tel. 527 4000
Imsan 24 hours Tel.524 8833
facebook.com/arubatoday/
HEALTH
PEOPLE / ARTS Wednesday 2 august 2023 A14
By JOHN RABY Associated Press During a two-month break in the a cappella group Pentatonix ‘s world tour, baritone Scott Hoying became a newlywed. He also went out on his own, with his most personal music to date. The 31-year-old Grammy winner sings from the heart about falling in love and losing his best four-legged friend in his seven-track solo debut “Parallel,” which is out Friday. Other members of Pentatonix have released solo albums before, and going at it alone is something Hoying has thought about for many years, but with much hesitation. Still, the process of finally doing it has been therapeutic. It’s given Hoying an opportunity to fortify his creativity and build confidence. “I have always been a little bit scared to be vulnerable and kind of put myself out there as a solo act,” Hoying told The Associated Press. “And I feel like this timing is just so perfect because I’m entering this very beautiful era of my life, like producing and making music
and being more motivated than ever. And then I’m in love ... and I’ve just had a lot of personal growth over the past couple of years. “It’s just like this really big new chapter that’s starting. And it feels kismet and amazing.” The COVID-19 pandemic was an underlying reason for the project. Because Pentatonix couldn’t record together due to social dis
tancing, the five-member a cappella group laid down tracks separately, having learned how to use digital audio technology. Once Hoying became comfortable with the process, he was captivated by it. He constantly watched tutorials on YouTube and it led to a flurry of personal songwriting. The pandemic process “was super energizing and
inspiring, and I ended up writing hundreds of songs,” Hoying said. Produced by Jon Levine, four of the seven songs are about love, including the title track “Parallel,” which was released as a single in June. “Parallel” is about Hoying’s relationship with his husband, Mark, their shared qualities and being in sync with one another. It recalls
a time when the couple was supposed to attend an event but ended up laying side by side on the floor of the kitchen talking long into the night. Hoying directed the song’s video, filmed in Iceland after Pentatonix had performed the last show on its European Tour there in June. Mark Hoying appears in the videos for “Parallel” and “Mars,” a single released last September.Scott Hoying also pays tribute to his dog that passed away in “Bubs.” There’s also “King Kong,” about personal growth and finding confidence, and “Trust Fall,” which “is about diving into the scary, unknown parts of life. It’s only scary because we don’t know what’s to come, but exciting. More like a nervous butterfly,” he said. And just like that, Hoying will be back on tour with Pentatonix when it starts a North American leg of their tour in August. The group has been together since 2011. It began with Hoying, tenor Mitch Grassi and mezzo-soprano Kirstin Maldonado as high school classmates in Arlington, Texas. q
NEW YORK (AP) — Rachel Maddow’s next book will be an exploration into rightwing extremism in the U.S., including a plot to overthrow the government at the start of World War II. Crown, an imprint of Penguin Random House, announced Monday that Maddow’s “Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism” will be published Oct. 17. The book expands upon research for the liberal author-commentator’s podcast “Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra,” for which Steven Spielberg has acquired film rights. “Just as I like to dive into the back
story and deep origins of any particular news event, I also find it helpful to know if we’ve previously contended with something like what we’re seeing in today’s news,” the Emmywinning MSNBC host, who discussed the book on “The Rachel Maddow Show” on Monday night, said in a statement released by Crown. “Even though I find it disturbing and a little scary that, in our own time, some sizeable chunk of Americans seem ready to jettison real elections and instead embrace rule by force, it’s somehow heartening to me to know that
this isn’t a brand new challenge another sizeable chunk of Americans felt essentially the same way in the lead-up to World War II.” In “Prequel,” Maddow will describe anti-government actions involving a Nazi agent, more than 20 members of Congress and the anti-Semitic America First Committee that led to a 1944 sedition trial, which ended in a mistrial. Maddow’s previous books include “Blowout: Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, and the Richest, Most Destructive Industry on Earth” and “Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power.”q
Singer-songwriter Scott Hoying poses for a portrait at his home, Friday, July 28, 2023, in Los Angeles.
Associated Press
Scott Hoying of Pentatonix celebrates love, goes solo with debut ‘Parallel’
MSNBC television anchor Rachel Maddow, host of the Rachel Maddow Show, moderates a panel, Monday, Oct. 16, 2017, at a forum called “Perspectives on National Security,” at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, on the campus of Harvard University, in Cambridge, Mass.
Associated Press
In her next book ‘Prequel,’ Rachel Maddow will explore a WWII-era plot to overthrow U.S. government
SPORTS A15 Wednesday 2 august 2023
By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros are bringing back Justin Verlander, acquiring the three-time Cy Young Award winner from the New York Mets in a trade deadline blockbuster Tuesday, according to two people with direct knowledge of the agreement. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the teams hadn’t announced the agreement. One of the people said the Astros were sending top outfield prospects Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford to New York. The underperforming Mets are dismantling the most expensive roster in major league history. They dealt ace Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers on Sunday
and followed up Tuesday by shedding Verlander, who they signed to an $86.7 million, two-year contract in December. The 40-year-old Verlander earned his 250th career victory on Sunday, and 61
of those came with Houston. He was first acquired from the Detroit Tigers during the 2017 season, when he helped pitch the Astros to a World Series title. He won his third Cy Young Award and second World
Series with Houston last season, then became a free agent. Verlander opened the season on the injured list and struggled upon his return. He’s recently been back in top form, going 4-1 with a 1.49 ERA in his past seven starts. He’s 6-5 with a 3.15 ERA in 16 starts overall this season, striking out 81 in 94 1/3 innings. The Astros have won the AL West in five of the past six seasons but currently trail the Texas Rangers by half a game. New York at one point had a projected payroll of $365 million bolstered by billionaire owner Steve Cohen, but the club entered Tuesday 50-55 and six games out of the final NL wild-card spot. Cohen paid off around $35 million remaining on Scherzer’s contract to facilitate that deal
with the Rangers, which returned top prospect Luisangel Acuña, the younger brother of Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. It was unclear if New York was paying down any of Verlander’s salary. Gilbert, 22, was a first-round pick by Houston in 2022 who ranks 68th on MLB. com’s Top 100 prospect list. He’s a potential five-tool player who dominated at Class A early this season hitting .360 with a 1.107 OPS before slumping after a demotion to Double-A. He’s hitting .241 with six homers and a .713 OPS in 60 games. The 20-year-old Clifford was an 11th-round selection in 2022 whose stock has risen since. He’s hitting .291 with 18 home runs and a .919 OPS at two A-ball stops this season.q
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer Tiger Woods has joined the PGA Tour policy board for the first time in his 27 years on tour, giving Commissioner Jay Monahan key support as he rebuilds trust while forging ahead with details of a business partnership with Saudi backers of LIV Golf. Woods will become a sixth player director a year ago, the PGA Tour had only four players on its board as part of a broad agreement that gives the players a greater voice and awareness of any major deals going forward. The announcement Tuesday is a response to the PGA Tour having secret talks with the head of Saudi Arabia’s national wealth fund that led to a proposed partnership that was announced in June and stunned players who had lined up behind the tour to fend off the Saudi threat. Woods, as the sixth player director, marks the first time
players have outnumbered the five independent directors on the board. The 12th board member is the PGA of America president, John Lindert. Equally critical to Monahan was the support from Woods. Monahan is
seeing players this week at the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina, for the first time since he took a monthlong leave because of a medical situation. He returned to work two weeks ago.
“I am honored to represent the players of the PGA Tour,” Woods said in a statement, his first public comments since the Saudi deal was announced. “This is a critical point for the tour, and the players will do
their best to make certain that any changes that are made in tour operations are in the best interest of all tour stakeholders.” Woods thanked Monahan for agreeing to act on the players’ concerns and said “we look forward to being at the table with him to make the right decisions for the future of the game. “He has my confidence moving forward with these changes.” Woods had been one of the strongest opponents of LIV Golf and helped run a meeting of select players last August in Delaware to restructure the PGA Tour model, geared toward bringing the top players together more often for $20 million purses. While limited in his appearances because of injuries from a February 2021 car crash, Woods remains the most powerful voice among players. He has never served on the Player Advisory Council or the PGA Tour policy board. q
Tiger Woods watches on the 13th hole during the weather delayed third round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 8, 2023, in Augusta, Ga.
Associated Press
Tiger Woods joins PGA Tour board and gives commissioner his support as Saudi deal talks continue
New York Mets’ Justin Verlander pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Tuesday, July 25, 2023, in New York.
Associated Press
The Mets are trading 3-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander to the Astros, AP sources says
SPORTS Wednesday 2 august 2023 A16
By ANNE M. PETERSON AP Sports Writer The United States is clearly not the dominant team that won the 2019 Women’s World Cup. The Americans have advanced to the knockout stage at this edition of the tournament, but just barely after a 0-0 draw with Portugal in their final group match. After the final whistle on Tuesday night, Alex Morgan stood expressionless with her hands on her hips. It was a look of frustration. If the Americans don’t pick up their play, their run to a third straight World Cup title could soon be over. With just one win and a pair of draws, the United States fell to second in Group E behind the Netherlands. The Americans now head to Melbourne, Australia, for a Round of 16 match against the top finisher from Group G, which wraps up Wednesday. The United States scored just four goals in group play a sharp contrast to the 18 they scored in the group
U.S. players wait for a corner kick during the Women’s World Cup Group E soccer match between Portugal and the United States at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. Associated Press
The U.S. lacks that 2019 magic at this Women’s World Cup
in 2019. In each of their first six matches four years ago in France, the Americans scored within the opening 12 minutes. “I think there’s things we can do better for sure, things we could do better from the last couple of
games. But I’m not going to dwell on it. It is what it is,” veteran Megan Rapinoe said. “We need to play better and we know that. We need to be a little bit more fluid and I think just a little bit more connected offensively.”
The team has 14 players who are making their first appearance in a World Cup, and for 12 of them, it’s their first big international tournament. Coach Vlatko Andonovski focused on developing young talent after the United States settled for a disappointing bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Andonovski rolled out the same lineup for the first two matches of the group stage against Vietnam and the Netherlands. The starters had never played together before. Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle, who both scored in the 2-0 victory over the Netherlands in the World Cup final four years ago in France, had picked up injuries in the run-up to the tournament and their minutes were restricted. When Lavelle was subbed into the group match against the Dutch last Thursday, she gave the team a second-half spark and served up the corner kick to Lindsey Horan for the goal that pulled the U.S. into a 1-1 draw. Hoping to boost the attack, Andonovski changed things up against Portugal, starting Lavelle for midfielder Savannah DeMelo and replacing forward Trinity Rodman with Lynn Wil
liams. Still, the scoring issues persisted. Lavelle picked up her second yellow card in the match against Portugal, meaning she won’t be available to play on Sunday in Melbourne. Portugal nearly scored in stoppage time, but Ana Capeta’s blast hit the post. A loss to the Portuguese would have sent the Americans home after the group stage for the first time at a World Cup or an Olympics. Following the draw, former U.S. forward Carli Lloyd blasted the team as “uninspiring.” “Disappointing. They don’t look fit. They’re playing as individuals and the tactics are too predictable,” Lloyd said on the Fox Sports postgame show. Andonovski was asked afterward about Lloyd’s comments. “One thing that I want to say is that this team wanted to win this game more than anything else, and they’ve put everything they could in preparation for this tournament and in every game,” Andonovski said. “To question the mentality of this team, to question the willingness to win, to compete, I think it’s insane.” The United States is also missing Mallory Swanson’s scoring punch and Becky Sauerbrunn’s veteran leadership on the backline. Swanson, the team’s top scorer this year, tore her patella tendon in an exhibition match with Ireland in April. Then Sauerbrunn, the team’s captain, announced in June that she was unable to get over a foot injury in time for the tournament. The Americans, who have won a record four World Cups, had not needed the third and final group-stage match to clinch a spot in the knockout round since 2007. Going into the match against Portugal, the United States sat atop Group E even on points with the Netherlands but holding an edge on goal differential. q