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September 21, 2024
Minneapolis resident Scott Graham waits for his ballot on the first day of early voting at the City of Minneapolis early voting center, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Minneapolis, Minn. Associated Press
By The Associated Press The voting window for the Nov. 5 presidential election is now open. Early in-person voting started Friday in three states, after absentee ballots began going to voters last week.
Here is a look at some key developments in the roughly six weeks remaining until Election Day. Who's ready to vote? The first batch of ballots typically sent out are ones to military and overseas
voters. Under federal law, that must happen at least 45 days before an election — which this year is Saturday, Sept. 21. Some states start earlier. Election offices in North Carolina had been scheduled to begin send
ing mail ballots to all voters who requested them on Sept. 6, which would have made it the first state to begin distributing ballots. But that was delayed because presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suc
cessfully sued to have his name removed from the state's ballot after he suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump.
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Election Day in the U.S. is approaching fast. Early voters have already started casting their ballots
Ayo & Casibari: Aruba’s famous rock formations
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UP FRONT Saturday 21 September 2024 A2
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That allowed Alabama to become the first state to send out absentee ballots for the presidential election cycle. North Carolina's 100 counties were finally able to send absentee ballots to military and overseas voters on Friday, Sept. 20. Voter registration deadlines vary by state, with most falling between eight and 30 days before the election, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The deadline is Oct. 7 in Georgia, one of this year's most prominent presidential battlegrounds. Nearly all states offer some version of in-person voting, though the rules and dates vary considerably. Minnesota, South Dakota and Virginia kicked off early inperson voting on Friday. The gloves come off The first presidential debate between Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump is over, and a second debate appears doubtful after Trump ruled out the possibility. Harris' pick for vice president, Minnesota Gov. Tim
Walz, and Trump's, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, have agreed to an Oct. 1 debate hosted by CBS News in New York City. A possible criminal sentence for Trump Trump had been scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 18 in his hush money criminal case, but that has now been delayed until after the election. Trump's lawyers had argued that holding the sentencing as originally scheduled, about seven weeks before Election Day, would amount to election interference. Trump was convicted in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election. Falsifying business records is punishable by up to four years in prison. Other potential sentences include probation, a fine or a conditional discharge that would require Trump to stay out of trouble to avoid additional punishment. Next steps in Trump's other New York cases The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Sept. 6 in Trump's ap
peal of a jury's verdict last year ordering him to pay $5 million to writer E. Jean Carroll after it found him liable for sexually assaulting and defaming her. Trump also is appealing a verdict in a second trial in January in which a jury found him liable on additional defamation claims and ordered him to pay Carroll $83.3 million. On Sept. 26, a New York appeals court will hear oral arguments in Trump's challenge of a nearly $500 million civil fraud judgment in state Attorney General Letitia James' lawsuit against him. The court typically rules about a month after arguments, meaning a decision could come before the November election. Trump's lawyers argue that a judge's Feb. 16 finding that the former president lied for years about his wealth as he built his real estate empire was "erroneous" and "egregious." State lawyers responded in court papers that there's "overwhelming evidence" to support the verdict. What about Trump's election and document cases? A state case in Georgia that charged Trump and 18 others in a wide-ranging
scheme to overturn his 2020 loss in the state is stalled with no chance of going to trial before the election. Federal prosecutors have brought two criminal cases against Trump, but one was dismissed by a judge last month and the other is likely to be reshaped by the recent U.S. Supreme Court opinion that conferred broad immunity on former presidents for official acts they take in office. Special counsel Jack Smith has appealed the dismissal by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon of an indictment charging Trump with hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and obstructing the FBI's efforts to get them back. But even if a federal appeals court reinstates the case and reverses the judge's ruling that Smith's appointment was unconstitutional, there's no chance of a trial taking place this year. In light of the Supreme Court's immunity ruling, a federal judge in Washington is now tasked with deciding which allegations in a separate case charging Trump with plotting to overturn the 2020 election can remain part of the prosecu
tion and which ones must be discarded. Deciding which acts are official and which are not is likely to be an arduous process. Fights over voting and the election Before the first ballots were even cast, both camps had been gearing up to fight over voting. Battles over election rules have become a staple of American democracy, but they're expected to reach new heights this year. Georgia, a state Trump narrowly lost in 2020, has become a particular concern for Democrats. A new majority aligned with Trump on the Georgia State Election Board has been making significant changes to the state's election rules that could affect certification and lead to chaos within election offices that might delay final results. Trump installed his own leadership team at the Republican National Committee, including a director of election integrity who helped him try to overturn Biden's win in 2020. The RNC has filed a blizzard of lawsuits challenging voting rules and promises that more are on the way Democrats also are mobilizing and assembling a robust legal team. Among other things, they are objecting to GOP efforts to remove some inactive voters or noncitizens from voter rolls, arguing that legal voters will get swept up in the purges. Republicans have particularly escalated their rhetoric over the specter of noncitizens voting, even though repeated investigations have shown it almost never happens. Some also are pushing to give local election boards the ability to refuse to certify election results. All indications are these efforts are laying the groundwork for Trump to again claim the election was stolen from him if he loses and to try to overturn the will of the voters. But there's no way to know if that will happen until the ballots are cast.q
Election Day in the U.S. is approaching fast. Early voters have already started casting their ballots
Voters cast their ballots on the first day of early voting, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024 in Alexandria, Va. Associated Press
U.S. NEWS A3 Saturday 21 September 2024
By MARY CLARE JALONICK and FARNOUSH AMIRI Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers are scrambling to ensure that the U.S. Secret Service has enough money and resources to keep the nation’s presidential candidates safe amid repeated threats of violence. It’s unclear, though, how much they can do with only weeks before the election, or if additional dollars would make an immediate difference. Days after a gunman was arrested on former President Donald Trump’s golf course, the House on Friday overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation 405-0 to require the agency use the same standards when assigning agents to major presidential candidates as they do presidents and vice presidents. The agency has told Congress that it has already boosted Trump’s security, but House lawmakers want it put into law. The efforts come after an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a rally in July, and after Secret Service agents arrested a man with a rifle hiding on the golf course at Trump’s Florida club over the weekend. The suspect in Florida apparently also sought to assassinate the GOP presidential nominee. “In America, elections are determined at the ballot box, not by an assassin’s bullet,” Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., a chief sponsor of the bill, said in floor debate ahead of the vote. “That these incidents were allowed to occur is a stain on our country.” With the election rapidly approaching and Congress headed out of town before October, lawmakers are rushing to figure out exactly what might help, hoping to assess the agency’s most pressing needs while ensuring that they are doing everything they can in an era where political violence has become more commonplace and every politician is a target.
“We have a responsibility here in Congress to get down to the bottom of this to figure out why these things are happening and what we can do about it,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Tuesday. “This is not a partisan issue. We have both parties working on it.” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Thursday that “we’ve got to get the Secret Service into a position where its protectees are shielded in the most maximum way possible.” Democrats and Republicans have been in talks with the agency this week to find out whether additional resources are needed. Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, the Democratic chairman of the spending subcommittee that oversees the Secret Service, said Congress wants to make sure that if it is spending new dollars, “it’s going to help the situation between now and the inauguration.” Murphy said new money could go toward technology like drones, partnerships with other agencies
that could provide immediate assistance and overtime pay for agents. It would likely be added to a stopgap spending bill that Congress will consider next week to keep the government running, either in the form of allowing the Secret Service to spend money more quickly or providing them with emergency dollars. “I’m confident we are going to take care of this one way or the other,” Murphy said. After the July shooting, House Republicans created a bipartisan task force focused on investigating the security failures of that day, and the panel will hold its first hearing next week. The House voted Friday to expand the committee’s mandate to include what happened in Florida, even though the Secret Service successfully apprehended the suspect before anyone was hurt. In a letter earlier this month, the Secret Service told lawmakers that a funding shortfall was not the reason for lapses in Trump’s security when a gunman climbed
onto an unsecured roof on July 13 at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and opened fire. But Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. said this week that the agency had “immediate needs” and that he’s talking to Congress. Secret Service officials also told lawmakers behind closed doors that they have already increased Trump’s security to the same level as Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden. “There are a handful of specialized assets only the commander in chief gets, but the rest of his protection is at the same level,” Spencer Love, a Democratic spokesperson for the House task force, said after the agency briefed members on Wednesday. In the Senate, Florida Sen. Rick Scott has also introduced a bill mandating similar protection for presidential candidates. Both bills would also require regular reports to Congress on the status of the candidates’ protection. Senate leaders have not yet said whether they will consider
the legislation. In a joint statement after the bill’s passage, Lawler and his co-sponsor, Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York, urged the Senate to take up the bill and President Joe Biden to sign it. They thanked Biden for expanding Trump’s security but said that “without the passage and implementation of this legislation, this enhanced protection will not be codified into law and is subject to change with time.” Republicans have argued that an overhaul of the agency, and potentially reallocating agents, should be a higher priority than funding. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican who was himself shot at a baseball practice in 2017, noted this week that the Secret Service has received regular budget increases in recent years. “It’s not about the money,” Scalise said, but “what they’re doing with the money.” Rep. Mike Waltz, a Republican on the task force, said he pushed Secret Service officials Wednesday on what new resources they needed and they said they were still evaluating. “I think it’s irresponsible to just throw money at it when they’re not even sure what exactly they need and how quickly they can get it,” the Florida lawmaker said, adding that he hopes the agency shifts to a more threat-focused approach to protecting officials and candidates. It’s unclear, though, if Republicans would fight a funding boost. “It’s been made implicitly clear that they’re stretched pretty thin,” said Democratic Rep. Glenn Ivey, a member of the task force. “I know that there’s some folks who see a $3 billion budget and think that should be enough. But when you look at where all of the bodies have to go, that’s a problem.”q
Ronald Rowe Jr., the acting director of the Secret Service, speaks during a news conference by law enforcement officials, Sept. 16, 2024, at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in West Palm Beach, Fla. Listening in are, from left, U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe, for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office, and Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.
Associated Press
House unanimously votes to boost Trump security as Congress scrambles to ensure candidate safety
U.S. NEWS Saturday 21 September 2024 A4
By SETH BORENSTEIN Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Six years after a teenage Greta Thunberg walked out of school in a solitary climate protest outside of the Swedish parliament, people around a warming globe marched in youthled protest, saying their voices are being heard but not sufficiently acted upon. Emissions of heat-trapping gases and temperatures have been rising and oil and gas drilling has continued even as the protests that kicked off major weeklong climate events in New York City have become annual events. This year, they come days before the United Nations convenes two special summits, one concentrating on sea level rise and the other on the future. The young people who organized these marches with Fridays for Future said there is frustration with inaction but also hope. People marched in Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, New Delhi and elsewhere, but the focus often is in New York City because of Climate Week NYC. Diplomats, business leaders and activists are concentrating their discussions on the money end of fighting climate change something not lost on pro
testers. “We hope that the government and the financial sector make polluters pay for the damage that they have imposed on our environment,” said Uganda Fridays for Future founder Hilda Flavia Nakabuye, who was among a few hundred marching in New York Friday, a far cry from the tens of thousands that protested in a multi-group mega-rally in 2023. The New York protest wants to take aim at “the pillars of
fossil fuels” companies that pollute, banks that fund them, and leaders who are failing on climate, said Helen Mancini, an organizer and a senior at the city’s Stuyvesant High School. “A lot of older people want to make sure the economy is intact and that’s their main concern,” said Julia Demairo, a sophomore at Pace University. “I think worrying about the future and the environment is worrying about the economy.”
On a day that was at least 8 degrees warmer than average, protest signs included “This is not what we mean by Hot Girl Summer,” while others focused on the theme of fighting the coal, oil and gas industries: “Youth Didn’t Vote for Fossil Fuels,” “Don’t Be a Fossil Fool” and “Climate Crisis = Extermination By Capitalism.” Nakabuye said she was in New York to represent Uganda “that is bearing the brunt of the climate cri
sis.” “We feel like we are creating an impact in the community. However, we are not listened to enough; there is more that needs to be done, especially right now when the climate catastrophes are intensifying,” said Nakabuye . “We need to even raise our voices more to demand change and to demand that fuels should end.” In the six years since Thunberg founded what became Fridays for Future, global carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels has increased by about 2.15%, according to Global Carbon Project, a group of scientists who monitor carbon pollution. The growth of emissions has slowed compared to previous decades and experts anticipate peaking soon, but that’s a far cry from the 43% reduction that a UN report said is needed to keep temperature increases to an agreed-upon limit. Since 2019, carbon dioxide emissions from coal have increased by nearly 1 billion tons (900 million metric tons), while natural gas emissions have increased slightly and oil pollution has dropped a tiny amount, according to the International Energy Agency. q
Protesters shout slogans as they cross the Brooklyn Bridge during a Youth Climate Strike march to demand an end to the era of fossil fuels, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. Associated Press
In NYC and elsewhere, climate protesters say pace of change isn’t fast enough
By ED WHITE Associated Press DETROIT (AP) — The federal government has stopped sending hazardous waste to a Michigan landfill from Ohio, a ripple effect after a judge intervened in a different matter and suspended plans for waste shipments from New York state, officials said Friday. Since 2018, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been trucking material from Luckey, Ohio, where beryllium, a toxic metal, was produced for weapons and other industrial uses after World War II. Wayne Disposal in Van
Buren Township, 25 miles (40.23 kilometers) west of Detroit, is one of the few landfills in the U.S. that can handle certain hazardous waste. “We are not currently shipping” from Ohio, said Avery Schneider, an Army Corps spokesman. He said operations were paused after a Detroit-area judge temporarily stopped plans to send low-level radioactive waste from Lewiston, New York, to Wayne Disposal. Four nearby communities said they’re concerned about the risks of what would be placed there. A court hearing is set
for Sept. 26. The Army Corps also manages the Lewiston site. In reaction, it decided to halt waste shipments from Ohio “while we assess the judge’s order,” Schneider said. “The material that has been shipped includes beryllium, lead, uranium and thoriumcontaminated soils, along with various building debris,” he said. The elected supervisor in Canton Township, one of the communities suing Wayne Disposal, said she was unaware that the landfill was accepting waste from Ohio.q
John Thierry, resident engineer with the Army Corps of Engineers, shows the Luckey FUSRAP (Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program) site, which was designated as such due to beryllium contamination, in Luckey, Ohio, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024.
Associated Press
U.S. stops hazardous waste shipments to Michigan from Ohio after court decision
WORLD NEWS A5 Saturday 21 September 2024
By EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press UNITED NATIONS (AP) — A high-powered U.N. advisory body said Thursday that global governance of artificial intelligence is “imperative” and urged the United Nations to lay the foundations for the first inclusive global institutions to regulate the fast-growing technology. In a 100-page report, the group said AI “is transforming our world,” offering tremendous potential for good from opening new areas of science and accelerating economic growth to improving public health, agriculture and optimizing energy grids. But left ungoverned, it said, AI’s benefits could be limited to a handful of countries, companies and individuals, while even more powerful systems than exist today “could upend the world of work,” create autonomous weapons, and pose risks to peace and security. The advisory body outlined principles that should guide formation of new institutions to govern AI including
international law, and especially human rights law. It calls on all governments and parties involved in AI to work together to protect human rights. The group made wideranging recommendations including establishing an international scientific panel on AI to create a
global understanding of its capabilities and risks, and a global dialogue on AI governance at the U.N. to anchor future institutions on human rights principles and international law. The recommendations also call for a global AI fund to ensure that the technology bridges the divide between
rich and poor nations and promotes achievement of U.N. development goals for 2030, and a “Standards Exchange” to foster technical compatibility. At present, the report said, only seven of the 193 U.N. member nations are party to seven recent prominent AI governance initiatives
while 118 countries, primarily in the global South, “are missing entirely” from any conversation. Among the initiatives are the European Union’s firstever legal framework to regulate AI, which entered into force on Aug. 1. This month,. the Group of 20 leading world economies agreed to establish guidelines for developing artificial intelligence, calling for “ethical, transparent, and accountable use of AI,” with human oversight and compliance with privacy and human rights laws. And lawmakers in California home to many of the world’s biggest AI companies recently adopted legislation to regulate AI which is before the governor. The advisory board’s report concluded on a positive but cautious note. “As experts, we remain optimistic about the future of AI and its potential for good,” the report said. “That optimism depends, however, on realism about the risks and the inadequacy of structures and incentives currently in place.”q
By MIKE CORDER Associated Press THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A 22-year-old man arrested after a fatal stabbing in Rotterdam that left one person dead and another seriously wounded is suspected of murder and attempted murder with terrorist intent, prosecutors said Friday. The Rotterdam Public Prosecution Service said in a statement that investigations into the suspect, whose identity has not been released, uncovered “indications that the suspect may be ideologically driven. For example, the suspect shouted Allahu akbar a number of times during the commission of the crimes.” The stabbing Thursday night in central Rotterdam
left a 32-year-old man from Rotterdam dead and a 33-year-old man from Switzerland wounded. Prosecutors say the Swiss man has left hospital after treatment. They did not elaborate on his injuries. The suspect, who lives in the central city of Amersfoort, has previous convictions for violent crimes, prosecutors said in a statement. He will be arraigned on Monday at a court in The Hague. They stressed that their investigation is “still in full swing and that other motives are also explicitly not ruled out.” The Dutch government’s terror threat level is currently set at four out of a possible five, meaning that “there is a realistic possibility that an attack will take place in the Netherlands,”
the national counterterrorism coordinator said in a statement in early August. A sports instructor, Reniël Renato David Litecia, helped end the attack. He said he initially thought a fight had broken out near the landmark Erasmus Bridge, “but when I started running in that direction I saw that it wasn’t a fight. It was a man with two long knives who was stabbing another young guy and when I started shouting he turned around and started approaching everyone who was around him.” Police said the assailant is believed to have attacked one person in an underground parking lot and then a second victim near a busy terrace near one end of the bridge that spans the New Maas river,
which runs through Rotterdam. The attack in Rotterdam comes weeks after a fatal terror attack in neighboring Germany. Late last month a knife attack at a
festival in the German city of Solingen left three dead and eight wounded. Police detained a Syrian man on suspicion of murder and membership of a terrorist organization. q
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during an interview at the United Nations headquarters, on Sept. 9, 2024. Associated Press
U.N. experts urge United Nations to lay foundations for global governance of artificial intelligence
In this image made from video provided by Media TV, personnel respond to a stabbing incident late Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in the port city of Rotterdam, Netherlands. Associated Press
Dutch prosecutors say man arrested after fatal stabbing is suspected of a terrorist motive
WORLD NEWS Saturday 21 September 2024 A6
By GABRIELA SÁ PESSOA and DEE-ANN DURBIN Associated Press CACONDE, Brazil (AP) — Silvio Almeida’s coffee plantation sits at an ideal altitude on a Brazilian hillside, whose clay-rich soil does well at retaining moisture from rainfall and a nearby reservoir. Lately, though, water is scarce on Almeida’s modest farm in Caconde, a town in one of Sao Paulo state’s key growing regions. He can’t get his coffee to grow the way it should. In Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer, Almeida and other farmers have started grappling with the nation’s worst drought in more than seven decades and above-average temperatures. Almeida expected to harvest 120 sacks of coffee beans this harvest season, but instead managed just 100. “Given the conditions here, the 2025 crop is already affected,” he told The Associated Press, pointing to a part of his plantation where flower buds died before blooming. “I won’t say it’s doomed, because with God anything is possible. But based on the situation, it’s already compromised.”
Brazil’s harvest season that ends this month was virtually flat from last year, and exports surged, but the ongoing drought is already complicating the start of the 2025/2026 season, according to a report Monday by the Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics at the University of Sao Paulo’s agribusiness school. At the same time, Vietnam, the world’s second-biggest
coffee producer, is experiencing heat and drought, affecting its crops. Potential supply shortages in both countries have started driving up global coffee prices, according to the report. The market is closely monitoring how Brazilian coffee plants endure these adverse climate conditions, which can cause flowers to stop blooming, fail to turn into cherries or produce lower-quality beans, said
Felippe Serigati, who coordinates the master’s program in agribusiness at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a university in Sao Paulo. “It could result in a smaller coffee harvest,” Serigati said. “Since the market tends to anticipate these movements, we’ve already seen the price of arabica coffee in New York and robusta (coffee) in Europe trading at higher levels.” Coffee prices haven’t
reached the record highs the world saw in the late 1970s, after a severe frost wiped out 70% of Brazil’s coffee plants. But they have been soaring in recent years, and adjusted for inflation are at a 13-year high, according to the International Coffee Organization. In August, the organization’s Composite Indicator Price which combines the price of several types of green coffee beans – averaged $2.38 per pound, up nearly 55% from the same month a year ago. In part, prices are rising because of higher demand, particularly in Asia. But weather is also driving increases. Drought, frost and fire have damaged as much as one-fifth of arabica coffee producers’ growing areas in Brazil, said Billy Roberts, a senior economist for food and beverage at Colorado-based CoBank. “It’s not looking like it will get that much better in the near term. They will need consistent rainfall to recover,” he said. Uncontrolled, manmade wildfires across Brazil have lately been ravaging protected areas and farms. One of them ripped through Caconde last week. q
Coffee producer Joao Rodrigues Martins holds a handful of damaged coffee beans during an inspection of his plantation consumed by wildfires in a rural area of Caconde, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
Associated Press
Brazil drought punishes coffee farms and threatens to push prices even higher
By EVENS SANON Associated Press PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — A U.N. human rights expert warned on Friday that
gang violence is spreading across Haiti as a U.N.backed mission targeting criminals in the troubled Caribbean country remains
underfunded and understaffed. Haiti’s National Police still lack the “logistical and technical capacity” to fight gangs, which he said are encroaching on new territories as arms and ammunition flow into Haiti despite an international embargo, said William O’Neill, who visited Haiti this week. “Humanitarian consequences are dramatic,” he said, and warned of galloping inflation, lack of basic goods and “internally displaced people further increasing the vulnerability of the population, particularly children and women.” From April to end of June, at least 1,379 people were reported killed or injured in
Haiti, and another 428 kidnapped, according to the United Nations. Meanwhile, at least 700,000 people have been left homeless in recent years as gang violence persists in the capital of Port-auPrince and beyond more than half of them children, according to O’Neill. He said he spoke with Haiti’s police chief, Rameau Normil, who said they only have 5,000 officers for a country of more than 11 million people. “It is impossible to provide security,” O’Neill said Normil has told him. O’Neill noted that Haiti’s population “lack everything” and added that the authorities must be held accountable “to
fight corruption and bad governance, which continues to plunge the country into an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.” He cautioned that the current mission, led by 400-strong Kenyan police officers who arrived in Haiti in late June, has deployed less than a quarter of its pledged contingent. “The equipment it has received is inadequate, and its resources are insufficient,” O’Neill said. Washington is mulling a U.N. peacekeeping operation in Haiti as one way to secure funding and staffing for the Kenya-led mission but the U.N. has pushed for more funding for the current mission.q
Armored police patrol past a man holding a Haitian flag in Portau-Prince, Haiti, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. Associated Press
Haiti’s insecurity is worsening as gangs seize more territory, U.N. rights expert says
LOCAL A7 Saturday 21 September 2024
Aruba’s Nature is to be Cherished
ST. CRUZ — The national park Arikok comprises almost 18 % of the island. Its rugged terrain, desert-like hills filled with tall cacti, breathtaking coastline and protected local flora and fauna welcome you to be explored. There is numerous wildlife to discover like for example the sea turtle who lays his eggs on the park’s beaches. There are more places on the island that are a preserved area like the Bubali Plas which is a bird sanctuary.
The national park Arikok takes you on a memorable journey of the islands past offering unique geological, cultural and historical sites.
These can all be enjoyed and explored either on your own or during guided tours. A wide variety of educational and informative programs and fun activities is available.
Did you know that four of the in total seven species of sea turtle lay their eggs on Aruba's beaches? In the national park, a Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) keeps a strict eye on a very special event taking place below on the beach: a majestic Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) heads back to sea after laying her eggs, while another nest laid 2 months ago by the same female hatches.
A very rare occurrence of daytime nesting and hatching. Sea turtles prefer nesting in the cool and dark hours of the night. And hatchlings usually wait for the cue of cooling surface sand before emerging.
Bubali Magic This beautiful close-up image of the pink bird is courtesy of Michiel Oversteegen of the Aruba Birdlife Conservation. This important foundation showcases and builds awareness of Aruba’s birds and other native flora and fauna. You may have seen a ‘pink cloud’ lately at the Bubali or Spanish Lagoon Wetlands areas? It’s most likely to be Roseate Spoonbills (Ajaia ajaja) or ‘Chucharon Cora’ as they are known in Papiamento. This unusual looking bird forages in shallow muddy water while sweeping its flattened bill from side to side to catch small fish, crustaeceans and other aquatic invertebrates. The Roseate Spoonbill remains an uncommon sight as they are vulnerable to degradation of feeding and nesting habitats (Wetlands). (Source: arikok national park)
The aforementioned is just a part of what Aruba’s nature has to offer. We cannot stress enough to go, see for yourself. The island has the most beautiful beaches but it is also worthwhile to go beyond this and get an idea of our entire island. Lately there is a discussion going on about the effect certain activities have on our nature, for example the ATV vehicles cause a lot of dust, noise and leave tire
tracks. Animals live in these areas where the vehicles run, often with high speed and with detrimental consequences to flora and fauna. Motorized vehicles are forbidden to drive on the sand dunes in the Northern part of the island and all beaches in Aruba are forbidden for any motorized vehicle. Treasure our island to enjoy it like you do: as a tropical and natural paradise. We truly appreciate it!q
Forgotten gems Open air movie theaters
(Oranjestad)—During the span of over 100 years, Aruba only saw five open air movie theatres. Now practically obsolete on the island, these theaters were once frequently visited by locals and migrants in the 20th century.
The first open air theater was constructed in 1920 and was commissioned by Shon Eduard (Eddy) de Veer.
This theater was located at the Hotel Colombia in Oranjestad, which is now where the Aruban census office is located. The theater was simple; it only consisted of a screen, and visitors had to bring their own chairs to enjoy the popular silent movies of the time.
American migrants who worked in the refinery and lived in the Lago Colony in Sero Colorado also had their piece of the pie with their Open air Theatre, which formed part of the Esso Club, also known as the Pan-Am Club. It was at this theater that “Talkies” were first streamed, movies with sound. This theater mostly streamed American blockbusters for the American expats, this way making sure that these migrant were not
missing out on entertainment from their home land.
In the 1950’s and 60’s, Savaneta saw their own open air theater, located in front of the Marinier’s Kazerne (Marine Barracks). This theater was mostly visited by the neighboring marines, who didn’t have much entertainment other than movies at that time.
The last and most recent open air theater was constructed in the form of a drive-in theater. A popular American concept, the Drive Inn located in Balashi was a hot spot for teenagers, who had the habit of cramming all their friends in one car to go see the movies. For this phenomenon there was a separate price that you had to pay called the “car
crash”.
This theater closed around 2012, but was re-opened during the pandemic in July 2020, where movies were streamed on a gigantic screen set up in front of stacked containers. However, this nostalgic form of entertainment did not last
very long as it was closed again only a year or two later. Nowadays you can still see the stacked containers when you drive near the bridge in Balashi.
Source: “De kolibrie op de rots en meer over de geschiedenis van Aruba” by Evert Bongers.q
LOCAL Saturday 21 September 2024 A8
A guide for the perfect picture Where to find the most Instagrammable places in Oranjestad
(Oranjestad)—Imagine, you’re taking a stroll in the city center, and you want to take the most pictureperfect photo to show your friends and family back home and online. It seems like the perfect spot can be hard to find, but Oranjestad is full of great spots for a quick snapshot! Here are the most Instagrammable places in Oranjestad.
“I LOVE ARUBA” Right on Paardenbaai Plaza, near the harbor entrance, you will spot a giant sign that reads “I LOVE ARUBA”. A great first stop for a quick shot with the family, this spot is among the few that has become a favorite among tourists, espe
cially those that are visiting Aruba through a cruise vacation.
Speaking of giant signs that read “Aruba” (because there can never be too many), there is another sign you can find along the Linear Park, in front of Talk of the Town Hotel. It may be a long walk from the harbor to get there, but while you’re at it, check out these other spots along the way!
The sitting bull Yes, you read that right; right in the heart of the city center, in front of the Crystal Casino in the Renaissance Mall, there is a black bull
sitting on a bench, waiting for you to take a picture with it. Ok, so it’s not a real bull, but “I took a picture with a sitting bull” sounds like a great conversation opener.
See if you can also spot the cow on the roof!
Wooden Swing on Plaza Daniel Leo While you’re in front of the Renaissance Mall, check out the wooden swing on the other side of the mall on Plaza Daniel Leo. Another favorite among visitors wanting a cute snapshot for Instagram. Just pass through the Renaissance Mall and find this gem in front of the back entrance!
Since you’ve made it this far, one question: How many blue horses have you spotted already?
Renaissance Dock Last but certainly not least, the Renaissance Dock is the perfect spot to take a beautiful picture,
especially at sunset. The dock is located behind the Renaissance Market Place, and runs from the Renaissance Marina up to Renaissance Beach and Wilhelmina Park. This spot offers a gorgeous view of the ocean and sunset, accompanied by the soft waves crashing on the shoreline. You may even spot some iguanas! q
Feeling parched? Grab refreshment by the side of the road!
(Oranjestad)—Touring the island in the blistering heat can leave one feeling rather thirsty and looking to cool off. Luckily there are a few stands along the roads of Aruba that can offer you just what you need: a nice, refreshing beverage!
These “coconut stands” can be found at several locations on the island, where you can cool off with delicious smoothies, drinks, snacks, and of course, fresh coconuts! Perfect during family outings around the island, these stands can be found in the following locations: • Near the red Anchor in San Nicolas • On the Linear Park in Oranjestad (in front of airport runway) • At the California Light House hill • Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruin • Bushiribana Beach (Near the Ling & Song Supermarket)
LOCAL A9 Saturday 21 September 2024
Craving a late-night snack? We got you covered!
(Oranjestad)—After a night out it’s custom to grab yourself a late-night snack on the road. Here in Aruba, there are dozens of food trucks that you can visit to enjoy a late-night bite. Here are a few that can be found in the down town/hotel area.
Chalo burger Chalo burger is a favorite among locals, and it’s due to its popularity that it has branched out to different parts on the island. One of its main locations is in Palm Beach, near the hotel area. Chalo offers a variety of fast
food meals, like hamburgers, hotdogs, loaded fries and more! A popular dish among locals is the Salchipapa: loaded fries with sausages, cheese and a mix of sweet and savory sauce. Perfect for those late-night cravings!
Chalo is open Wednesdays through Mondays from 7pm to 12 am (Fridays till 1am), and is located at Palm Beach 178 (a little past the roundabout near the Piazza Gianni’s). Other Locations include Tanki Leendert and Savaneta.
Julio's Corner Situated in a nice little corner off the highway, Julio’s Corner has a huge menu comprised of different dishes and snacks, all made with a Venezuelan twist! From arepa’s to chicken wings, to pizzas and burgers, Julio’s Corner has it all to satisfy your taste! Editor’s choice for what to get at Julio’s Corner is the quesadilla, which comes with a side of fries.
Julio’s Corner is open Mondays through Saturday from 6pm to 2am (Fridays and Saturdays up to 4am), and is located in the parking lot of the Eagle Bowling Palace, right on the other side of the road from the Sasaki gas station.
Habibi Express Habibi Express is a Leba
nese food truck stand, one of very few food trucks on the island to sell Mediterranean food. Located right at the entrance of The Local Market near the cruise ship port, here you can fill your stomach (and heart) with a variety of options like shawarmas, doners, kapsalons and more, all 100% halal. When asked, the chef there recommends all foodies to
try their lamb shawarma, as it’s a favorite among guests.
Habibi Express is open every day from 5pm to 12am. While you’re there, how about a picture with the genie? q
Planning on snorkeling? Get to know our Candelchi!
(Oranjestad)—If you’re ever planning on snorkeling during your vacation on Aruba, you may spot fish that you can’t recognize. One of these may be the “Candelchi” (Squirrelfish), a common, yet shy fish that swims all year long in the waters of Aruba.
Let's talk about the names of fish. Do you know your fish? The Department of Department of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, known as Santa Rosa, offers this informative article that illustrate some fish and their names in Papiamento.
Candelchi, Squirrelfish, Holocentrus adscensionis: Candelchi actually refers to the entire squirrelfish family or, as some say, when we say candelchi, we mean several different species but without distinguishing them by species. In this picture, we are showing the most common one in our waters, which is called squirrelfish in English or scientifically known as Holocentrus adscensionis.
Under candelchi, we in Aruba generally refer to all the different species of squirrelfish. They all look alike and it's really difficult to distinguish between them.
The squirrelfish family is distinguished by the following characteristics. They are heart-shaped with pink or red hues and often show heart-shaped streaks between the scales along the body. They have hard fins and are always armed. Over at our sister island Curaçao, they are called "bari di clabo" (nail barrel) for that reason.
In our waters, there are 7 to 8 types or species present and they are sometimes caught and seen occasionally. They can be distinguished by different marks such as color on the dorsal spine or marks on the body.
In Aruba: Candelchi are found on reefs or areas with struc
ture in the water where they can hide. Although they prefer to hunt for food at night, they are also active during the day. They are edible and delicious when prepared dry and crispy with lime. It is particularly challenging to scale the fish, which is why it is not one of the favorites among fishermen. They often live in groups.q
LOCAL Saturday 21 September 2024 A10
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 breath-taking 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 Casibari 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 continuing 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
A quick snack for the road: Learn how to make the Aruban Pastechi!
(Oranjestad)—If you ever been to Aruba before, you probably heard of (and even tried) the Aruban Pastechi. Beloved by young and old, this tasty treat is a staple for party snacks, a quick lunch or even breakfast!
Here’s how to make the Pastechi dough.
Ingredients: 4 cups of wheat flour 1 tbsp baking powder (if using selfrising flour, omit baking powder) 1 tsp salt 1 tbsp sugar 0.5 cup of melted butter 1 cup water 1 egg
Directions: Sift your flour into a bowl and add all the dry ingredients before giving it a quick mix. Next add the butter, water and egg and mix until thoroughly combined. At this point, your dough will start to get sticky; time for an arm workout. Knead your dough into the
bowl you are using or on a clean surface with some flour lightly dusted until its surface is smooth. You'll know your dough is ready when it doesn’t stick to your hands or the surface on which you’re kneading it. Let your dough rest covered for 15-20 minutes.
After resting, divide your dough into approximately 100 gram balls and roll it flat with a rolling pin. The thickness of the pastechi depends on your taste, but the average thinness would be around ¼ inch or so.
Filling for the pastechis varies according to your taste. The easiest and most common filling you’ll find in Aruba is a simple cheese filling. For this, we usually use shredded Gouda, but feel free to use any cheese that melts well when frying the pastry.
Place the filling on your rolled out piece of dough, fold it in half and pinch the sides shut with a fork. If you have a folding tool, feel free to
use it for this process. Your pastechi is ready for the fryer!
If you want to store some pastechis for later use, you can freeze them. A good tip is to place a piece of wax paper in between each pastechi if you are to store them on top of one another. This way the pastechis don’t stick to each other when defrosting.
Here in Aruba we enjoy pastechi at any time of the day, but it has become almost tradition to eat pastechis for breakfast on the way to work. Many roadside snack trucks sell pastechi from early morning to noon, and offer a variety of fillings like cheese; ham and cheese; ground beef and pulled chicken to name a few.q
LOCAL A11 Saturday 21 September 2024
Unique fauna of Aruba
For a small island, Aruba sure has a lot of unique treasures. Among these, we have some subspecies of animals that are unique to our island. These have evolved to perfectly adapt to our desert climate and make Aruba their home. At the same time, they are part of what makes Aruba truly one of a kind.
Cascabel (rattlesnake, Crotalus durissus unicolor) According to the Arikok National Park, Aruba knows two kinds of snakes, the Santanero and the Cascabel. The cascabel belongs to the rattlesnake family. The cascabel is the only venomous snake from Aruba. It has a length of 65cm to 100cm, and is about 4 to 5cm wide. Its color varies from light brown to grey-brown, and its underbelly is white. On its back there are marks that are a little darker, in the shape of diamonds.
Its reproduction is oviparous, meaning the offspring can hatch from their eggs just before, during or immediately after laying.
The cascabel lives mainly in the Arikok National Park. It likes to live in dark places, and is thus found hidden among the limestone rocks and under stones. As a defense mechanism, the cascabel uses its rattle as a warning, and it is not an aggressive animal.
The cascabel feeds on lizards, small mammals such as rats and mice. It paralyzes or kills its prey with its venom, which is injected through a bite. The enemies of the casca
bel are donkeys, goats, humans and cars. Humans are the biggest enemy of the cascabel, as they kill them and destroy their habitat for urbanization.
Shoco (burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia arubensis) The shoco is a small bird which is seldom seen. They are active during the day but are more active later in the day and at night for hunting. These owls have very good night vision and very good hearing. The shoco is the national symbol of Aruba.
The shoco has about 20cm of length, and the females are slightly heavier than the males. They are light brown in color, with many white spots. The belly of the Shoco is either white or light brown, and the shoco has striking yellow eyes. Its beak is yellow/green. Young owls do not have white spots and are lighter in color. The nest of the shoco is a burrow in the ground. If the shoco cannot find a burrow, it will dig one in soft soil. The shoco lays one or two eggs every other day until all the eggs are laid – a shoco can lay up to four eggs. The first owlets hatch after three to four weeks. The shoco owl takes care of the owlets for three months until they leave the nest. Only a few owlets survive.
The owlrs dig burrows in the ground with low grass vegetation. An owl can live up to nine years.
Its defense mechanism is simply to fly away or retreat to its burrows. They eat mostly insects, mice and
lizards, and the main threats to their survival are boas – an invasive species introduced by humans as pets – and humans through destruction of their habitat.
Prikichi (parakeet, Aratinga pertinax) The Prikichi is the national bird of Aruba. On Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, parakeets can be found, but each of the three islands has a different breed. The Yellow-shouldered Amazon parakeet that we have on Aruba is also found along the coast of Venezuela. Unfortunately, there is interbreeding between the breeds due to cage birds from, for example, Curaçao being released on Aruba. The parakeet population on Aruba is in danger due to extensive deforestation occurring on the island because of the growing population.
The prikichi weighs between 90 to 100 grams. It has a greenish-brown head with some yellow around the eye. The back and wings of the parakeet are dark green, and the underside of the body is a lighter shade of green. There is also a bit of blue in the wings. The parakeet's beak is gray/black.
Parakeets often use termite nests as breeding sites. Parakeets are found in all natural environments (mondi) of the island. It defends itself by flying away and loud cries. Parakeets eat seeds from the pods of the Kwihi tree, Divi Divi, and columnar cactus. They also consume natural fruits. Its main predators are boa constrictors, humans.
Conew (cottontail rabbit, Sylvilagus floridanus nigronuchalis) The Eastern Cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) was probably brought over to the island by Indian settlers thousands of years ago as a source of food. This rabbit, locally known as Conew, has spread all over the island and has become part of our ecosystem. The very adaptable Conew can live in
a wide variety of habitats, including Aruba’s xeric scrublands, where it typically grazes on weeds and grasses.
The Aruban Conew has a brownish grey color and a distinctive white belly. This white fur extends to the bottom of the tail which becomes visible as the rabbit runs. These rabbits can grow up to approximately 40 centimeters in length over their short lifespan of 3 years. Cottontail rabbits reach reproductive maturity when they are just 2 to 3 months old. A female rabbit, called a doe, finds a suitable nest spot under a shrub or rocks and lines it with fur. She can have an average of 3 to 4 litters per year averaging 5 young each. The doe only visits her young once or twice a day to nurse her babies for a period of 2 to 3 weeks. The young reach independence at 4 to 5 weeks.
The Aruban Conew is an endangered species and protected by Aruban law. The Conew is thought to have drastically declined due to an increase in human activities, habitat fragmentation and predation by the invasive Boa constrictor as well as feral cats and dogs. However, recently there seem to be more rabbit sightings in rural and wilderness areas and also in the National Park. This could be linked to a recent decline of the invasive Boa population after the long period of drought. As the Conew can reproduce very quickly, a short break in predation pressure can lead to a fast increase of rabbits. Sadly, the Boas are back on the rise again with the truly wet rainy seasons we have recently experienced. This could cause a new decline in the Conew population that was just starting to recover.
These are but a few of Aruba’s beautiful inhabitant, which we must all contribute to protect. For more information, visit https://www. arubanationalpark.org/main/florafauna/ q
service Saturday 21 September 2024 A12
Helpful tips for your stay on Aruba
Supermarket hours
Supermarket hours may vary depending on where you are staying on the island. Generally though, most supermarkets are open from 8am to 9 or 10pm, Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, supermarkets generally close earlier; mostly around 2pm.
Safety
Since February 2024, Aruba has been categorized as the safest country in the Caribbean by The Telegraph, and many tourist that visit have often told us how they feel safe to explore the island or walk around at night. However, rare incidents do occurs, so keep yourself and your belongings safe.
(Oranjestad)—When traveling to another country, especially for the first time, it is always better to be over-prepared than underprepared. That is why we have a list of basicbut important information that we think may come in handy to Aruba’s visitors.
Electrical power
Aruba generally operates on 110V to 127V supply voltage and 60Hz. There are also three types of out
lets used on the island: type A with two flat prongs; type B with two flat and one grounding prong, and on occasion, type F with two round prong and two earth clips on the side. However, Type A is most commonly found in homes and establishments.
Drinking water
The water that flows through the sinks of every house, hotels and other establishments is distilled and perfectly safe to drink. Aruba’s drinking water exceeds WHO’s international standards for water quality, so there is no need to buy bottled water from the store.
Cruise ship Schedule: September 03 - 24 2024
A13 Saturday 21 September 2024 BUSINESS
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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
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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
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Centre for Diabetes Tel. 524 8888
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By MARIA CHENG AP Medical Writer LONDON (AP) — Scientists searching for the origins of COVID-19 have zeroed in on a short list of animals that possibly helped spread it to people, an effort they hope could allow them to trace the outbreak back to its source. Researchers analyzed genetic material gathered from the Chinese market where the first outbreak was detected and found that the most likely animals were racoon dogs, civet cats and bamboo rats. The scientists suspect infected animals were first brought to the Wuhan market in late November 2019, which then triggered the pandemic. Michael Worobey, one of
An elderly patient receives an intravenous drip while using a ventilator in the hallway of the emergency ward in Beijing, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023.
Associated Press
A new genetic analysis of animals in the Wuhan market in 2019 may help find COVID-19’s origin
the new study’s authors, said they found which subpopulations of animals might have transmitted the coronavirus to humans. That may help researchers pinpoint where the virus commonly circulates in animals, known as its natural reservoir. “For example, with the racoon dogs, we can show that the racoon dogs that were (at the market) … were from a sub-species that circulates more in southern parts of China,” said Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona. Knowing that might help researchers understand where those animals came from and where they were sold. Scientists might then start sampling bats in the area,
which are known to be the natural reservoirs of related coronaviruses like SARS. While the research bolsters the case that COVID-19 emerged from animals, it does not resolve the polarized and political debate over whether the virus instead emerged from a research lab in China. Mark Woolhouse, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Edinburgh, said the new genetic analysis suggested that the pandemic “had its evolutionary roots in the market” and that it was very unlikely COVID-19 was infecting people before it was identified at the Huanan market. “It’s a significant finding and this does shift the dial more in favor of an animal origin,” Woolhouse, who was not connected to the research, said. “But it is not conclusive.” An expert group led by the World Health Organization concluded in 2021 that
the virus probably spread to humans from animals and that a lab leak was “extremely unlikely.” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus later said it was “premature” to rule out a lab leak.q
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PEOPLE / ARTS Saturday 21 September 2024 A14
By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer NEW YORK (AP) — “The Babadook,” when it was released 10 years ago, didn’t seem to portend a cultural sensation. It was the first film by a littleknown Australian filmmaker, Jennifer Kent. It had that strange name. On opening weekend, it played in two theaters. But with time, the long shadows of “The Babadook” continued to envelop moviegoers. Its rerelease this weekend in theaters, a decade later, is less of a reminder of a sleeper 2014 indie hit than it is a chance to revisit a horror milestone that continues to cast a dark spell. Not many small-budget, first-feature films can be fairly said to have shifted cinema but Kent’s directorial debut may be one of them. It was at the nexus of that much-debated term “elevated horror.” But regardless of that label, it helped kicked off a wave of challenging, filmmakerdriven genre movies like “It Follows,” “Get Out” and “Hereditary.” Kent, 55, has watched all of this and those many “Babadook” memes unfold over the years with a mix of elation and confusion. Her film was inspired in part by the death of her father, and its horror elements likewise arise out of the suppression of emotions. A single mother (Essie Davis) is struggling with raising her young son (Noah Wiseman) years after the tragic death of her husband. A figure from a pop-up children’s book begins to appear. As things grow more intense, his name is drawn out in three chilling syllables “Bah-Bah-Doooook” an incantation of unprocessed grief. Kent recently spoke from her native Australia to reflect on the origins and continuing life of “The Babadook.” AP: Given that you didn’t set out to in any way “change” horror, how have you regarded the unique afterlife of “The Babadook”?
KENT: I’ve always been a lover of horror of all kinds. It’s a tradition that dates back to the beginning of cinema, with Carl Dreyer’s “Vampyr” and so many horror films in that early part of cinema. So I think I was just following a tradition that was firmly established in terms of what they now call “elevated horror,” which doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t think I invited anything new. I just told my version. AP: You can see some those influences Dreyer, Murnau in the film’s production design. KENT: I really wanted a world where the thing could reliably spring from. So while we didn’t to make it a fake world, we wanted to heighten it just to the point where it wasn’t silly or questionable that this energy or entity appeared in the house. We were very particular about the colors. The house and everything in the world had to be a certain color. I remember Radek (Ćadczuk), my DP, laughing because I was annoyed that the grass was too green. AP: Have you watched it again recently? KENT: No, I haven’t. Even when I watched the trailer I was like: “Mistakes, mistakes.” I might slip in and watch it (during the rere
lease) and see how it feels. I rarely think of it. I’m very grateful to that film but I rarely – never – refer back to it. AP: Why is that? KENT: I don’t think filmmakers tend to sit down and want to watch their own film. It’s kind of my idea of a nightmare to go back and watch it. AP: You also probably didn’t want to be defined by one work. Your 2018 follow-up, “The Nightingale,” was a brutal, searing drama bout rape in colonial Australia. KENT: Totally. It feels like my slightly less popular child who I say, “Would you like to meet ‘The Nightingale?’” I’m enormously proud of that film because it took so much of us to make it and it was so uncompromising. We didn’t go to a National Park with a car park next to it. We sort of went into the wilderness. AP: Have your thoughts about “The Babadook” changed over time? KENT: To me, the film is very pure. I really fought to make it pure. Even though it was a low-budget film I think it was $1.6 to $2 million U.S. it was very uncompromising. Because I hadn’t made a film, I was an untested entity, so everyone had their two cents worth. They wanted to change the end or make a sequel or make
it more gory, and I was just adamant about keeping it pure. So when I think of that film, I’m really proud that me and my team were able to protect it. And I wonder if in the current marketplace if it would have gotten made. It’s much harder to make films now. It was hard then, though I think it’s even harder now. I hope people can continue to protect their work because we need original, independent films. Where I live, there’s been a Robert Bresson retrospective and I’ve gone to a lot of his films. It’s just lifechanging to see films like that that are so old now but feel like they were made yesterday. AP: That kind of repertory cinema experience has traditionally been an arthouse thing, but revivals like yours for “The Babadook” seem to be a new, broader extension of it. What do you think has changed? KENT: I feel like we’re in this very dark age of art or cinema. And I feel like people crave that experience. I went to see on the weekend Dreyer’s “Ordet” and Bergman’s “The Seventh Seal.” Especially in “Ordet,” it’s such a transcendent film. The audience, we were collectively experiencing it. I could hear people crying at the end. It’s the reason that we went to the cinema
in the first place to have an experience. Not to sit on our couch while we’re looking at our phones watching some sort of content. It’s not bringing out the best in us or in the work. For me, I take it very seriously because I think we need it. AP: Rewatching “The Babadook,” I was struck by how much care you take in pulling the horror out of repressed emotions. It’s nearly an hour before the Babadook materializes, which he does after the mother shouts “Just be normal!” at her son. KENT: It also comes out of a point where he’s desperately trying to warn her of the truth, and then he’s medicated. I’m not saying medication is bad, but in this case it’s very bad. That’s when the energy become a reality. I was fascinated at the time, and still am, at how people can push down so much on a world of pain and grief and continue to function. I think it brings a half life, unfortunately. I think we have to, on some level, face those painful experiences so we can enjoy the fullness of life. AP: There aren’t a lot of movies though Lynne Ramsay’s “We Need to Talk About Kevin” comes to mind that offer such an honest portrait of struggle in motherhood. KENT: I thought I was going to be vilified. And yet all I got was women saying, “Oh, thank you. Finally, some reality on the screen.” Not that they wanted to or attempted to kill their children (laughs) but that there was a sense of an imperfect mother. I remember when I was writing it and I read the script and thought, “Oh, I don’t like this woman. Why?” And I thought, “She’s too perfect.” So I made her much less perfect and I’m happier that I did that. It’s funny about film’s receptions. I thought “Nightingale” would be really understood and embraced. But it was, to me, such a misunderstood film and I was shocked at the response.q
This image released by IFC Films shows Noah Wiseman, left, and Essie Davis in a scene from the film “The Babadook.”
Associated Press
Why does ‘The Babadook’ still haunt? Its director, Jennifer Kent, has some answers
SPORTS A15 Saturday 21 September 2024
By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani keeps showing a flair for the dramatic during his historic first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Japanese superstar became the only player in major league history with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases, doing so with a slew of firsts. Ohtani had the first three-homer game of his career all coming after the sixth inning his first six-hit game and a franchise and careerrecord 10 RBIs in Miami on Thursday. No one in MLB history has done that before. He finished the night with 51 homers and 51 steals. “Going for a home run is not the ideal way for me to hit a home run, so I try to focus on quality at-bats,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. He also stole two bases and nearly hit for the cycle, but was thrown out at third trying to stretch his second double into a triple while showing off his rare combination of speed and power. Ohtani resumes trying to top himself on Friday at Dodger Stadium against the Colorado Rockies. His previous bests were 46 homers and 26 stolen bases in 2021, when he won the first of his two American League Most Valuable Player awards while playing
for the Los Angeles Angels. Now he’s the favorite for NL MVP honors. It seems there are no limits for Ohtani. He was the fastest player to reach the 40-40 mark with a ninth-inning grand slam against Tampa Bay in his 126th game on Aug. 23 . Now he has nine games left to see what else he can do in the regular season. The Dodgers clinched a postseason berth for the 12th consecutive season with their
20-4 rout of the Marlins. It’s nothing new for them, but it is for Ohtani. He has played 865 games without making a postseason appearance, more than any other active player. Ohtani made it clear in signing a $700 million, 10-year deal with the Dodgers last December that competing for a championship is what drives him. “The No. 1 goal is to get to the postseason and win the World Series,” he said last
month. During his six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, they never made the playoffs or had a winning record. The NL West-leading Dodgers are looking to lock up their 11th division title in 12 seasons. Ohtani’s amazing feats are occurring during a season in which his closest friend betrayed him and he isn’t pitching while he rehabilitates from elbow surgery last offseason. He skipped the Home Run
Derby during All-Star weekend in July to avoid potential further injury, although as designated hitter he slugged a three-run homer in the National League’s loss. Not pitching has kept Ohtani’s arms and legs fresher and quicker, while allowing him to focus and improve on other parts of his game. He’s honed his craft of running and stealing bases, learning how to get good jumps off opposing pitchers by studying video of their tendencies. Dodgers fans could be witnessing a once in a generation side of Ohtani’s game. Once he resumes pitching every five days next year, his legs may not allow him to steal as many bases. The Ohtani effect is visible off the field, too. Fans created mob scenes in and around Dodger Stadium during his two bobblehead giveaways. The final Ohtani promotion is Saturday when T-shirts featuring his likeness will be given to the first 40,000 fans. Japanese tourists flock to the stadium for tours, resulting in the team adding more Japanese-speaking guides. The team has signed a slew of Japanese sponsors, too. “He’s one of one,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.q
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, hits a home run, scoring Max Muncy and Chris Taylor, during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Miami.
Associated Press
Ohtani keeps showing a flair for the dramatic during his historic 1st season with the Dodgers
LIV golfers still set to play in Ryder Cup if they’re eligible or picked
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau or any other American playing for LIV Golf is eligible for the Ryder Cup because the Saudifunded tour is now included among nine tours that get PGA of America membership. Kerry Haigh, the interim CEO of the PGA of America, said Thursday their participation in the 2025 matches or beyond was never seriously in doubt. The organization wanted clarity after recent stories speculating on players' eligibility. The PGA of America has 25
membership classes, and A-3 membership is for tour professionals around the world. "Part of the clean-up was those (LIV) events didn't count toward A-3 membership," Haigh said. "As we have with nine other tours, the PGA of America gives credit toward playing the tournaments." He said without those credits, players would need to take part in such things as educational activities that no other tour players are required to do. The PGA of America simply added LIV to its list of tours whose players can have A-3 member
ship. They still have to pay annual dues, which Haigh said was $120 a year. The PGA of America statement said, "To ensure the PGA Championship will continue to deliver the strongest field in golf and that the U.S. Ryder Cup team will continue to have access to the best American players, the PGA of America board has determined that LIV Golf players will be eligible for both." "Going forward, all LIV Golf players are eligible for the PGA Championship and any American player who qualifies for the Ryder Cup
on points or is added to the U.S. team as a captain's pick is eligible to compete." The PGA Championship has invited LIV players the last two years, and Brooks
Koepka was a captain's pick for the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy. He won the PGA Championship that year and narrowly missed out on qualifying.q
Captain Bryson DeChambeau, of Crushers GC, hits from a bunker on the 12th hole during the first round of LIV Golf Chicago at Bolingbrook Golf Club, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Bolingbrook, Ill. Associated Press
SPORTS Saturday 21 September 2024 A16
By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer The next man up sees plenty of action in the NFL. Injuries already are accruing across the league, knocking out several star players and forcing teams to turn to backups and reserves. Everyone has to be ready because “one play away” is more reality than a cliche in football. The best teams at the end of the season often are the ones who have the depth to overcome injuries early on.The inactives read like a Pro Bowl roster. Russell Wilson hasn’t made his debut for Pittsburgh because of a calf injury sustained in the preseason. Jordan Love went down with a knee injury in Green Bay’s season opener. Miami lost Tua Tagovailoa for at least four games and possibly longer after he suffered his fourth concussion in five years last week. Those are just the starting quarterbacks on the sideline. Reigning NFC champion San Francisco keeps losing playmakers. Already missing running back Christian McCaffrey because of Achilles tendinitis, the 49ers won’t have wide receiver Deebo Samuel this weekend due to a calf injury. All-Pro tight end George Kittle missed practice Thursday with a sore hamstring and his status for Sunday is uncertain. That may limit what coach Kyle Shanahan calls on offense.“We still have the same amount of plays, just somewhat different styles of plays, different people in different spots,” he said.
“You eliminate some special things that you would only do for those guys, but the number doesn’t change. Just, there’s things those guys do very well. Nothing other guys can’t do. But there’s kind of different percentages on how much you call them and things like that.” Brock Purdy still has Brandon Aiyuk as a go-to receiver and Jordan Mason has 247 yards rushing and two touchdowns filling in for McCaffrey. “Obviously it sucks not having your guys like Deebo and Christian and stuff, so it’s like, all right, how can we figure out to get the ball to other guys,” Purdy said. “But man, we’ve got playmakers. We’ve got a really good scheme, great
play caller and some great players that step up in the roles and do their job really well. So for me, I still have to do my job, in terms of my reads and my progressions, more so than I need to now change the way I think and make sure I’m getting it to this guy or that guy because a couple guys are out. It’s not like that.” The 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams, a team that’s also depleted. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp has an ankle injury and Puka Nacua is on injured reserve with a knee injury. Matthew Stafford not only is missing his two top targets but he’s playing behind a banged up offensive line. Guard Steve Avila (knee) and tackle Joe Noteboom
(ankle) are on IR. “There are a lot of different moving parts but our job is to be able to figure it out all right, how do we move forward? How do we represent the things that we want to represent?” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “I like the way the guys have come in here with a good look in their eye and we have to have a great week of preparation.” The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs lost running back Isiah Pacheco indefinitely. Pacheco had surgery this week after breaking his fibula. The Bengals were missing wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) the first two games and he’s questionable this week. Eagles wide
out A.J. Brown (calf) is doubtful this week after missing one game and Bears wideout Keenan Allen (heel) is questionable. Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson (quadriceps) is also battling an injury. Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is questionable, though it seems he escaped a more serious injury after what he thought was a hip-drop tackle that wasn’t called against the Bears. There are plenty of talented defensive players out, too. Bills linebacker Matt Milano, Colts defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, Panthers defensive lineman Derrick Brown and Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland are on injured reserve. Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore is aiming to return this week after missing one game. The Buccaneers were missing defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield last week when nose tackle Vita Vea sustained a sprained knee ligament in a win at Detroit. “Everybody that made our roster was asked that, ‘You have to be able to do your job. When your number is called, be ready to go,’” Buccaneers defensive assistant coach Kacy Rogers said. “And that’s kind of worked out for us because we’ve had a lot of guys step up when guys went down and we’ve had guys (go) from one position to another position. It’s just kind of worked out that guys were ready when their numbers (were) called.” q
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) in helped off the field after getting hurt during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at the Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo.
Associated Press
Injuries already piling up, forcing teams to turn to the next man up
Devils sign restricted free agent Dawson Mercer to 3-year, $12 million contract
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey Devils rewarded productive young forward Dawson Mercer with a three-year, $12 million contract on Friday. Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said the 22-year-old will earn $3 million this coming season, $4.75 million the following year and $4.25 million in the final year, 2026-27. Mercer had 20 goals and 13 assists last season, play
ing in all 82 games. The restricted free agent had a career-high four powerplay goals last season with an average time on ice of 17:13. Mercer set a Devils' franchise record on Feb. 25, 2023, when he passed Scott Gomez for consecutive games played (141) to start an NHL career. Mercer has extended the streak to 246 games. He has not missed a game since his debut on Oct. 15, 2021.
In his first three seasons, Mercer has 64 goals and 67 assists. He has three goals and four assists in 12 playoff games. Mercer was New Jersey's second choice, 18th overall, in the 2020 NHL draft. He represented Canada at the International Ice Hockey Federation's 2020 and 2021 World Junior Championships, and the 2022 and 2024 World Championships.q
New Jersey Devils center Dawson Mercer (91) skates with the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. Associated Press