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Thursday, July 8th 2021 VOL. 12 ISSUE 36
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Haiti President Moïse assassinated at home
Haiti in upheaval: The country scrambles as details unfold
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Quick Stories Trump files suit against Facebook, Twitter and YouTube WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has filed suit against three of the country’s biggest tech companies, claiming he and other conservatives have been wrongfully censored.
Trump announced the action against Facebook, Twitter and Google’s YouTube, along with the companies’ CEOs, at a press conference in New Jersey on Wednesday. He was joined by other plaintiffs in the suits, which were filed in federal court in Miami. “We’re demanding an end to the shadow-banning, a stop to the silencing and a stop to the blacklisting, banishing and canceling that you know so well,” he said. Facebook, Google and Twitter all declined comment so far, but are expected to issue a press release detailing their platform terms of service.
Moïse was assassinated after a group of unidentified people attacked his private residence during the night.
Story by Evens Sanon & Dánica Coto UBA News
Correspondent
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Gunmen assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse and wounded his wife in their home early Wednesday, inflicting more chaos on the Caribbean country that was already enduring gang violence, soaring inflation and protests by opposition supporters who accused the leader of increasing authoritarianism. Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph, who confirmed the killing, said the police and military were in control of security in Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas where a history of dictatorship and political upheaval have long stymied the consolidation of democratic rule. Despite Joseph’s assurances that order would prevail, there was confusion about who should take control and widespread anxiety among Haitians. Authorities declared a “state of siege” in the country and closed the international airport. The normally bustling streets of the capital, Portau-Prince, were empty and quiet Wednesday. Sporadic gunshots were heard in the distance, public transportation was scarce, and some people searched
for businesses that were open to food and water. Businesses had been ransacked in one area earlier. Bocchit Edmond, the Haitian ambassador to the United States, said the attack on the 53-year-old Moïse was carried out by “well-trained professional commandos” and “foreign mercenaries” who were masquerading as agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The DEA has an office in the Haitian capital to assist the government in counternarcotics programs, according to the U.S. Embassy. Moïse’s wife, Martine, was in stable but critical condition and efforts were under way to move her to Miami for treatment, Edmond said in Washington. Dominican Republic or by sea. Haiti appeared to be heading for fresh volatility ahead of general elections later this year. Moïse had been ruling by decree for more than a year after failing to hold elections, and the opposition demanded he step down in recent months, saying he was leading it toward yet another grim period of authoritarianism. this story is part of a developing series on this assassination. read more on page 9
Chinese social media giant WeChat shuts LGBT accounts
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — China’s most popular social media service has deleted accounts on LGBT topics run by university students and nongovernment groups, prompting concern the ruling Communist Party is tightening control over gay and lesbian content. WeChat sent account holders a notice they violated rules but gave no details, according to the founder of an LGBT group, who asked not to be identified further out of fear of possible official retaliation. She said dozens of accounts were shut down, all at about 10 p.m. on Tuesday. It wasn’t clear whether the step was ordered by Chinese authorities, but it comes as the ruling party tightens political controls and tries to silence groups that might criticize its rule. WeChat’s operator, Tencent Holding Ltd., confirmed it received an email seeking comment but didn’t immediately respond. The official attitude is increasingly strict, the founder of the LGBT group said.
As New York salutes health workers, Missouri fights a surge
Grand marshal Sandra Lindsay, first person in the US to get a COVID-19 vaccine shot. New York threw a tickertape parade Wednesday for the health care workers and others who helped the city pull through the darkest days of COVID-19, while authorities in Missouri struggled to beat back a surge blamed on the fastspreading delta variant and deep resistance to getting vaccinated. The split-screen images could be a glimpse of what public health experts say may lie ahead for the U.S. even as the economy
opens up again and life gets back to something close to normal: outbreaks in corners of the country with low vaccination rates. “We’ve got a lot to appreciate, because we’re well underway in our recovery,” declared New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, who rode on a parade float with hospital employees down the Canyon of Heroes, the skyscraperlined stretch of Broadway where astronauts, returning soldiers and championship
teams are feted. In Missouri, meanwhile, the Springfield area has been hit so hard that one hospital had to borrow ventilators over the Fourth of July weekend and begged on social media for help from respiratory therapists, several of whom volunteered from other states. Members of a new federal “surge response team” also began arriving to help suppress the outbreak.
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Thursday, July 8th 2021
Critical: The battle for a key Yemeni city
Story by Samy Magdy UBA News
Correspondent
MARIB CITY, Yemen (AP) — The two fighters stand shoulder-to-shoulder on a mountain overlook, with a clear view below of the enemy’s position. They are part of the last lines of defense between the government’s last stronghold in Yemen’s north, and the Houthi rebels trying to take it.
position in a sandbagged trench in the mountainous Kassara region. All that most battalions have are old Kalashnikovs and machine guns mounted on the rear of pickup trucks.
complete their control over the northern half of Yemen. But since February, they have waged an intensified offensive from multiple fronts, while hitting the residential city center with missiles and explosiveladen drones, killing and wounding dozens of civilians.
Hassan Saleh and his younger brother Saeed, both in their early 20s, have been fighting alongside other government fighters and tribesman outside the oil-rich city of Marib, against the months-long offensive by the Iranian-backed rebels. They say they need more weapons to push the attackers back.
This is the most active frontline in Yemen’s nearly 7-year-old civil war, where a steady stream of fighters on both sides are killed or wounded every day, even as international pressure to end the war intensifies. Amid another round of peace talks, this time led by Oman, the desert city of Marib remains the crucible of one of the world’s most bogged-down conflicts.
“We need sniper rifles,” said Hassan, who was taking a
The Houthis have for years attempted to take Marib to
Quick Stories Chinese locks down border town as Myanmar battles outbreak BEIJING (AP) — Chinese authorities locked down a city bordering Myanmar on Wednesday, shutting most businesses and requiring residents to stay at home as a fresh outbreak of COVID-19 expanded.
The U.S. is pressuring the Saudi-led coalition that backs the government not to provide more weapons for fear they could fall into militants’ hands amid worries over government “graft and incompetence,” a Yemeni official told the Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief reporters. stay up to date on news.uba.com
Germany: Delta variant dominant in nation
Another 15 cases were found in Ruili in the last 24 hours, on top of six in the previous two days, health authorities in southwestern Yunnan province said. In addition, two people without COVID-19 symptoms have also tested positive for the virus. The lockdown shut down all businesses and public institutions except hospitals, pharmacies and essential shops such as grocery stores, according to a notice posted online. It affects the urban part of Ruili, which like most Chinese cities includes surrounding rural areas in its jurisdiction. Authorities had already banned unnecessary travel in and out of Ruili on Monday.
Shooting of star Dutch reporter raises European concern
Thousands of samples of the Corona virus can be examined here every day.
Story by Robin Appleseed
AMSTERDAM (AP) — European leaders expressed dismay, media rights advocates demanded justice and the Netherlands reeled in shock Wednesday after a veteran Dutch crime reporter was shot in the head in downtown Amsterdam following a TV appearance.
BERLIN — Germany’s disease control center says the delta variant of the coronavirus has become dominant in the country and continues to quickly spread.
Peter R. de Vries, celebrated for his courageous reporting on the Dutch underworld, was fighting for his life in an Amsterdam hospital after the Tuesday night shooting.
Some 33.2 million people, or 39.9%, are fully vaccinated in Germany. More than 47.5 million people, or 57.1%, have received their first shot.
Two suspects remained in custody Wednesday, a 35-year-old Polish citizen living in the Netherlands and a 21-year-old Dutchman, while a third person detained Tuesday night was let go, according to a Dutch police statement. Their first court appearance was scheduled for Friday. The motive for the attack was not disclosed. The shooting was seen as a national tragedy in the Netherlands, and dozens of people brought flowers to the scene of the attack, less than a block from the capital’s famous Rijksmuseum. Some said it shook their sense of security and raised worries about respect for the rule of law.
France: 11 convicted of cyberbullying teen who slammed Islam PARIS (AP) — A French court on Wednesday convicted 11 of 13 people charged with harassing and threatening a teenager who harshly criticized Islam in online posts and ended up changing schools and receiving police protection to preserve her safety.
The verdict was the first of its kind since France created a new Paris court in January to prosecute online crimes, including harassment and discrimination. The court sentenced the defendants to suspended prison terms of four to six months and fined them about $1,770 each.
Senior Reporter
UBA News
The Robert Koch Institute says according to their latest analysis, 59% of new infections were caused by delta by the end of last month. The center says in its weekly report Wednesday, the Delta variant had nearly doubled within one week.
Trinity, one of the first hospital groups to mandate vaccinations, says all 123,000 employees across 22 states, plus contractors and others doing business in its health facilities, will have to meet a series of rolling deadlines. By Nov. 21, they all must submit proof of vaccination or face termination, though religious and health exemptions are possible. Trinity Health, based in Livonia, Michigan, says it estimates nearly 75% of staff already have received at least one vaccine dose. “Over the last year, Trinity Health has counted our own colleagues and patients in the too-high coronavirus death toll,” Trinity Health CEO Mike Slubowski said in a statement. He adds its necessary to protect those who can’t be vaccinated, including young children and the more than 10 million people who are immunocompromised. Trinity Health serves communities with more than 30 million people through its 92 hospitals and 113 continuing care locations. Government figures showed another 32,548 confirmed cases on Wednesday, the highest level since Jan. 23. For much of the spring, infections were below the 5,000 mark. But the arrival of the more contagious delta variant, first identified in India, has likely caused a spike
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South Korea’s cases jump to 1,200 amid slow vaccination
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea on Wednesday reported 1,212 new cases, a steep rise in coronavirus infections unseen since the winter outbreak as it slips into another surge while most of its people are still unvaccinated. Health experts say the government sent the wrong message by pushing for a premature easing of social distancing. Packed restaurants, bars and stores and huge beer-drinking crowds a parks alongside Seoul’s Han River in recent weeks have illustrated how the country has let its guard down despite a slow vaccine rollout.
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Thursday, July 8th 2021
Filmmaker Robert Downey Sr. dies at 85 the low-budget Madison Avenue advertising industry satire “Putney Swope” and the Western Jesus parable “Greaser’s Palace” starring Allan Arbus. His son, Robert Downey Jr., daughter Allyson Downey and first wife Elsie Downey also appeared in “Greaser’s Palace.” He also acted in films, playing Thomas Bateman in “To Live and Die in L.A.”, the studio manager in “Boogie Nights” and the show director in “Magnolia.” Born in New York City in 1936 as Robert Elias Jr., he later changed his surname to Downey — his stepfather’s name — in order to enlist in the army early. After the army, he got into filmmaking by chance while living in New York with his sister. Robert Downey Jr., left, and his father Robert Downey Sr.
Story by Lindsey Bahr UBA News
Correspondent
Robert Downey Sr., the accomplished countercultural filmmaker, actor and father of superstar Robert Downey Jr., has died. He was 85. Downey Jr. wrote on Instagram that his father died late Tuesday in his sleep at home in New York. He had Parkinson’s disease for more than five years.
The last film he directed was the 2005 documentary “Rittenhouse Square,” about a small Philadelphia park. The elder Downey is also survived by his wife, bestselling author Rosemary Rogers. Robert Downey Sr. arrived at Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World Gala in New York on May 8, 2008. Downey Sr., the accomplished countercultural filmmaker, actor and father of superstar Robert Downey Jr., has died. He was 85. Downey Jr. wrote on Instagram that his father died late Tuesday in his sleep at home in New York. He had Parkinson’s disease for more than five years.
“He was a true maverick filmmaker, and remained remarkably optimistic throughout,” Downey Jr. wrote. “According to my stepmom’s calculations, they were happily married for just over 2000 years.”
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Britney Spears’ court-appointed conservatorship attorney resigns Britney Spears’ court appointed attorney on Tuesday filed documents to resign from her conservatorship, the latest of several such moves that have come in the fallout from the pop singer’s comments in court decrying the legal arrangement that controls her money and affairs. Samuel Ingham III filed documents in Los Angeles Superior Court requesting that the court appoint Spears a new attorney, and saying his resignation would take effect as soon as that happened. During her June 23 speech in court, in which she condemned the conservatorship and asked the jury allow her to hire a lawyer of her choice.
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Lin-Manuel Miranda sees art and philanthropy with same lens NEW YORK (AP) — For “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, the inspirations for art and philanthropy are inextricably linked.
On Wednesday, Miranda is announcing a series of donations to organizations that serve immigrants, whose experiences are central to the new film version of his hit Broadway musical “In the Heights.” Miranda told The Associated Press, “philanthropy and artistic inspiration kind of come from the same place.” He is forever drawn to what he calls “the things that don’t leave you alone.” Immigration, he said, is both a passion and a foundational element of his work.
CANNES, France (AP) — “I got one thing to say before I sit down,” said Spike Lee during the Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony. “I wish I could speak French like Jodie Foster!” In the first two days of Cannes, one thing everyone can agree on is that Jodie Foster really speaks terrific French. On Tuesday, Foster was awarded an honorary Palme d’Or for lifetime achievement. The award was presented to her by Lee and South Korean director Bong Joon Ho. Foster, who walked the red carpet with her wife, Alexandra Hedison, regaled the festival audience with her fluent French. “During this year of transition, the cinema has been my lifeline,” said Foster.
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Thursday, July 8th 2021
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Universal movies will go to Peacock, not HBO
Story by Ryan Faughnder UBA News
Movies have so far not been a big part of Peacock’s offering, though the studio did release DreamWorks Animation’s “The Boss Baby: Family Business” simultaneously on Peacock and in theaters. The company did not say how many people watched the animated sequel on Peacock. It opened with an estimated $20 million during the July 4 weekend.
Correspondent
The studio behind just-released sequel “The Boss Baby” and the next “Jurassic World” has created a new hybrid output deal for streaming and pay TV. Movies from Comcast Corp.’s Universal Pictures will go to its sister streaming service Peacock after their theatrical and home video releases, ending a longtime pact with HBO, as the company looks to compete with media industry rivals in online video. The Wide Shot brings you news, analysis and insights on everything from streaming wars to production — and what it all means for the future. Universal on Tuesday said it signed an unusual multiyear deal to distribute films to Peacock “no later than” four months after they’re released in theaters, starting in 2022. That’s much shorter than the typical six- to nine-month gap between a movie’s debut in multiplexes and when it hits pay TV networks. The move officially ends a longtime deal with HBO that was most recently renewed in 2013. The new plan lasts five years, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment. But while Universal had long been expected to abandon its HBO relationship in favor of growing Peacock, the new arrangement differs significantly from the usual output agreement. In a typical agreement, known as a “Pay 1” deal, studios license their films to a cable network or streaming service — such as Netflix or HBO — for an 18-month window. The streaming service, which was already available to Comcast customers, could struggle without Roku and Amazon partnerships. But Peacock’s strategy is different. In a twist, though, Peacock will have the rights to stream Universal movies for the first four months. After that, the movies will go to another yet-to-be-named third-party network for 10 months. The films subsequently will return to Peacock for the remaining four months. Financial details were not disclosed. The deal comes as NBCUniversal is trying to buoy
“The Boss Baby: Family Business”, a Universal Animated film released this year, premiering on Peacock. Peacock, which launched almost a year ago amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Peacock offers a free version, a $5-a-month “premium” tier and a $10 option without advertising. Comcast recently said Peacock had 42 million sign-ups but did not disclose how many were paying. Film output deals are typically worth $200 million to $300 million a year in licensing revenue for Hollywood studios. But recently, many media companies have chosen to pull their content from rival networks and Netflix in order to supply their own services. Universal’s Peacock deal allows NBCUniversal to use movies to draw viewers to its streaming service without completely sacrificing the money it makes by licensing its pictures.
The Universal deal will give film a bigger presence on Peacock by bringing movies such as “Jurassic World: Dominion,” a new Jordan Peele film, DreamWorks Animation’s “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” and Illumination Entertainment’s “Minions: The Rise of Gru” to the service. Universal also will produce an undisclosed number of original movies for Peacock. Peter Levinsohn, chief distribution officer of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, said in a statement that the deal “allows filmmakers and artists to reach the broadest possible audience, celebrates and strengthens the theatrical experience, and, above all, empowers fans to experience the films they love on their own terms.” The pact leaves HBO without one of its major suppliers as WarnerMedia attempts to accelerate the growth of HBO Max. HBO gets movies from its sister studio, Warner Bros., as well as 20th Century Studios, formerly known as 20th Century Fox, which is now owned by Disney. Fox’s deal with HBO is set to expire at the end of 2022.
Comcast has not been as aggressive as competitors including Disney, Netflix and WarnerMedia when it comes to putting exclusive original content on its service. It has so far been counting on programming such as “The Office” and sporting events including the Olympics and WWE to entice users, while releasing some originals such as the comedy “Girls5eva.” Are streaming services ‘building love’ for their franchises, or are they ‘driving addiction’?
CBS establishes new leadership for WBCS
Story by Robin Appleseed UBA News
Senior Reporter
The CBS logo is seen at the broadcast center in New York in 2017. (Associated Press)
general manager of CBS’ local operations in New York, the network announced. He will take on those responsibilities Monday.
CBS named a new leader for its flagship WCBS-TV station in New York, another sign that the broadcast giant is committed to improving working conditions within the company’s television stations group.
As general manager, Green will be in charge of the New York stations’ business operations and its newscasts. He will step into the new job Monday. In a statement, CBS said that Green will continue to lead Newspath and the WCBSWLNY newsroom until CBS locates a replacement.
The company announced Tuesday that it was promoting award-winning journalist Johnny Green Jr. to president and general manager of CBS’ local operations in New York — television stations WCBS-TV Channel 2, WLNY-TV Channel 10/55 and its digital operation, CBSN New York.
Green becomes the third Black general manager in the CBS-owned stations group. Brandin Stewart runs CBS stations in Philadelphia. In February, the company named Darryll Green vice president and general manager of CBS’ two stations in Miami.
Green, who is based in New York, had been running the joint WCBS-WLNY newsroom on an interim basis since late January, when CBS suspended two top executives in the wake of a Los Angeles Times investigation. Green was brought in to oversee WCBS’ news operations following allegations that the WCBS newsroom was a “hostile environment” where Black, Latino, Asian and gay employees were treated poorly, and stories that occurred in Black and Latino neighborhoods were at times overlooked.
“With this well-deserved promotion, we look forward to having Johnny lead our station-wide team efforts to produce great content, serve our diverse communities across the Tri-State Area, and promote a positive workplace culture,” Wendy McMahon, president and co-head of CBS News and Stations, said in a statement. McMahon rejoined the network two months ago as part of the larger shake-up.
The complaints came to light after The Times series delved into allegations of racism and misogyny at KYWTV Channel 3 in Philadelphia and the unusual deal that resulted in the $55-million purchase of WLNY. Green joined CBS in 2015 at its Boston station as assistant news director and, in 2016, he was elevated to news director. After five years in Boston, Green shifted to CBS News, where he managed Newspath, the network’s video news service that feeds local stations and affiliates. Johnny Green Jr. has been promoted to president and
Green, in the statement, said he was “deeply honored” by the opportunity. “I have great admiration for my colleagues at CBS New York and look forward to collaborating with all of them as we work together to positively transform our business and culture as a united CBS Stations and News organization,” Green said. Following The Times’ investigation into the problems within the CBS stations group, CBS Chief Executive George Cheeks met with leaders of the National Assn. of Black Journalists, who pressed for greater accountability and diversity at the New York station. Cheeks made a
commitment to improve the workplace culture at CBS, which has been part of ViacomCBS since late 2019. Under Cheeks’ direction, CBS hired Keisha-Ann Gray of the Proskauer Rose law firm to conduct a thorough review of workplace complaints in the station group, which includes 28 stations across the country, including KCBSTV Channel 2 and KCAL-TV Channel 9 in Los Angeles. Gray’s review is ongoing. In April, CBS ousted the former TV stations chief, Peter Dunn, who had run the division since 2009, and David Friend, who was responsible for news operations at more than a dozen CBS-owned television stations. Dunn and Friend also were directly responsible for the operations in New York. Both have denied allegations of misconduct. Johnny Green Jr. has been named president and general manager of CBS News and Television Stations businesses in New York City, overseeing WCBS-TV, WLNY-TV, CBSN New York and CBSNewYork.com. The network has been undergoing a series of changes since announcing a combination of the news and stations divisions, with a new leadership structure led by Wendy McMahon and Neeraj Khemlani. Green has been with CBS since 2015 and serves as interim news director at WCBS-TV and VP News Services at CBS News, where he oversees Newspath. He’ll continue in both roles while the company searches for a successor. Green previously worked at WBZ-TV and WSBK-TV, the CBS-owned stations in Boston, first as assistant news director and later as vVP and news director. He also worked as an executive producer at WCAU-TV in Philadelphia, WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh and WPDE-TV in Myrtle Beach, FL. His work has earned several News Emmys, and when he was at WBZ, the station won an Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence.
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• ENTERTAINMENT
Thursday, July 8th 2021
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Mark Cousins stands out as a movie diehard
Story by Jake Coyle UBA News
is always evolving in an almost Darwinian sense,” said Cousins. “It’s getting new branches and trees.”
Correspondent
“The reason I think it’s not dying is because when cinema came along unexpectedly in 1895, it was quite close to how our brains work,” he adds. “Shots and cuts almost feel like neurological events. I don’t mean that in a fancy, intellectual sense. I mean just how emotionally we react on a day-to-day basis. Our brains do shots and cuts. They visualize and they jump.”
CANNES, France (AP) — It’s not hard to find people at the Cannes Film Festival dedicated to the big-screen, theatrical life of movies. But even among the devoted flocks of Cannes, Mark Cousins stands out as a true believer. The Belfast-born, Edinburgh-based filmmaker and critic has a boundless affection for movies, and tastes that stretch around the globe. He has made pilgrimages in the footsteps of beloved films (like Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s “I Know Where I’m Going!” which he turned into a documentary ) and composed mammoth, hourslong documentaries on the art form’s history propelled as much as anything by his own romantic, inquisitive sense of wonder. So great is his ardor that he literally drapes himself in movies. Directors’ names typically adorn his clothing. He has tattoos of Orson Welles and the Japanese actorfilmmaker Tanaka Kinuyo. The tie he brings to Cannes has “EP” scrawled on the inside, for Pressburger. With him wherever he goes, as a reminder to preserve a childlike perspective, is a laminated still from Herz Frank’s “10 Minutes Older” of a boy with mouth open in awe. “I was brought up Catholic and we were of course all into devotional objects. So why not?” Cousins says of his bodily props. “Life’s tough in a way. It’s easy to forget or get ground down or under imagine life. So if you’ve got enough visual reminders, it helps.”
Director Mark Cousins poses for photographers at a photo call for his new film “The Story of a Film” at Cannes Cousins is very close to movie passion physicalized, and given an Irish accent. So it was fitting that the Cannes Film Festival turned to him to help raise spirits, and set the tone for the festival, on opening day. Cousins premiered his “The Story of Film: A New Generation,” a new installment to the epic undertaking of his “The Story of Film: An Odyssey,” a 15-hour project spanning the history of movies. It may be an epilogue, but in addition to contemplating advances and new visions in 21st century film, the documentary, narrated lyrically by Cousins, is also occupied with cinema’s uncertain present. It was made under lockdown with, he says, “that feeling that we’ve all had this sort of forced dream together.” “When we go inside our heads, what do we find?” he says “One of the things is cinema.” For anyone feeling down about the state of movies after a pandemic year that shuttered theaters around the world and heightened doomsday forecasts, talking to Cousins is like an elixir. To him, cinema is an unstoppable artform — one forever mutating, adapting and evolving. “The people who think it’s coming to a crawl aren’t looking in the right places. If you really look around the world, cinema
Cousins is also premiering in Cannes “The Storms of Jeremy Thomas,” a profile of the prolific British producer of films like “The Last Emperor,” “Sexy Beast” and “Only Lovers Left Alive.” He made it partly on a road trip with Thomas to Cannes two years ago. There are also restorations of some films near and dear to Cousins playing at Cannes — a restored “I Know Where I’m Going!” and “El Camino,” the 1964 by the Spanish filmmaker Ana Mariscal, one of the many directors Cousins celebrated in “Women Make Film,” his lauded 14-hour documentary on female filmmakers that ran on Turner Classic Movies and the Criterion Channel. In “The Story of Film: A New Generation,” he describes movie theaters as where “our lives get relit.” “That’s exactly what happens,” says Cousins. “When you go into the cinema, you go into a moment of darkness and then there’s illumination. It’s like you go through a brief winter and then come into summer. I will switch off because I want you to switch me on if you’re the filmmaker. I will close down and go into sleep mode so you can wake me up again. If somebody else wakes me up, they can shine a different light on it.” When Cousins goes to the movies (which he does almost daily, “like breakfast,” he says), he sits as far forward as possible. He’s lately been enamored with the lavish musical “In the Heights” and the Autism documentary “The Reason I Jump.” “It did to me what cinema at its best does which is: I felt different after having watched that film,” he says. “What more can you ask?” But for someone as omnivorous as Cousins, it doesn’t have to be a masterpiece to be worthwhile. Any movie will do. “Even if a film is really terrible, there’s going to be, like, a tree in it, or a sunshine, or a chicken or something,” he says, laughing. “There will be something.”
New Progressive Netflix Preschool Show Story by Lynn Elber UBA News
LOS ANGELES (AP) — If there’s a missing necklace, an AWOL baby penguin or a herd of on-the-loose caribou, Ridley Jones is your go-to guy. Or make that your girl. The 6-year-old title character of Netflix’s new animated series has the pluck and daring of classic screen heroes who were routinely male, a stubborn trope that “Ridley Jones” creator Chris Nee is eager to vanquish for TV’s youngest viewers.
Senior Reporter
to handle it. But Nee and her writers don’t beat the drum for gender equality, allowing Ridley’s exploits to make the point.
“Girls have not really gotten to be the action-adventure leads of shows” aimed at preschoolers, she said. “It felt really different to give Ridley that journey.”
This image released by Netflix shows Ridley Jones, foreground center, in a show’s scene An equally nuanced approach goes for a friendly, hairdo-conscious bison not being as supportive as we can be to the kids who are named Fred, voiced by Ezra Menas. In the first episode, going through these things.” Ridley asks Peaches the monkey if Fred is “a she or a he.” Netflix executive Tilert said the diversity reflected in Nee’s “I don’t know. They’re just a Fred,” replies Peaches. “Cool,” work is a key part of its value to the streaming service, says Ridley, and the action resumes. which signed a multiyear deal with her in 2018.
Nee counts herself a “huge” fan of 1970s and ’80s thrillride movies including ”Goonies,” “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” — with the latter getting a tip of the fedora from Ridley’s own headgear in the six-episode series debuting July 13.
Ridley’s query about Fred mirrors a real-life conversation that was recounted to Nee, in which a child was discussing a playmate who identified as neither male or female. To give the character authenticity, actor Menas is nonbinary, Nee said.
“We have a global member base, and it’s really important to us that all of our members, especially kids and family, can see themselves reflected on screen and reflected in our shows,” Tilert said. “That’s part of how we’re going to build trust.”
Iara Nemirovsky voices Ridley, part of an impressive cast that includes Blythe Danner, Laraine Newman, Sutton Foster, Jane Lynch and Bob Bergen.
She said she’s determined to “push the boundaries of representation” by including what is a rare if not unprecedented character in a show for preschoolers.
An award-winning maker of children’s animated fare, Nee’s consistent goal is to include an array of characters. She did it with “Doc McStuffins,” about an African American girl whose career dreams inspired its viewers, especially Black youngsters, to see medicine as an option, and she does it with “Ridley Jones.”
“In many ways, Fred is playing out a lot of things that I felt as a gay kid growing up in the ’70s and the ’80s,” she said, when hostility toward gay men exploded during the nascent AIDS crisis. Now it’s people in the nonbinary and trans world being targeted, Nee said.
Upcoming Netflix series produced by Nee include “Ada Twist, Scientist,” based on the books by writer Andrea Beaty and illustrator David Roberts about a Black girl with boundless curiosity, and “Spirit Rangers,” which follows the magical adventures of three Native American siblings.
Ridley is following a family tradition by joining her mother and grandmother in protecting the museum they call home and its precious relics, including Egyptian mummies and animals which, after visitors scoot, come to comically endearing and sometimes wayward life. Nee is “just really a master of storytelling for this audience,” said Heather Tilert, director of preschool content for Netflix. There are overt lessons to be learned, as when overeager Ridley pushes for more responsibility before she’s ready
“You might be at a moment of finding your true self, which is a very joyful thing, at a time when you’re looking at the news and are very aware there are factions of the country who really hate you,” she said. What would Nee, parent to a teenager, say to those who might consider the show’s viewers too young to be faced with questions about gender? “It’s just actually what’s happening in the world, and we’re reflecting it,” she said. “Sticking your head in the sand isn’t going to change that, and it is going to mean that we’re
Shows that may be appealing for kids who identify closely with the characters aren’t intended to exclude other viewers, Nee said, citing “Ridley Jones” as a case in point. “Hopefully, girls are going to be excited about it because they might see a version of themselves they’ve never seen before, something aspirational,” she said. “But boys will hopefully want to watch as well, and get to experience what it is to be totally invested in a girl-led show. I think that’s important.” When Chris Nee, the creator of the Disney hit “Doc McStuffins” last spoke to Variety earlier this year, she raved about the “fairy-tale” vision of artistic freedom that Netflix had offered her under an overall deal.
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SPORTS
5
Thursday, July 8th 2021
5
Carlos Sainz Jr.
13
Lance Stroll
6
Sergio Perez
14
Antonio Giovinazzi
GRAND PRIX RESULTS
7
Daniel Ricciardo
15
Kimi Raikkonen
Sunday, July 4th 2021
8
Charles Leclerc
16
Nicholas Latifi
9
Pierre Gasly
17
Sebastian Vettel
AUSTRIA
1
Max Verstappen
2
Valtteri Bottas
10
Fernando Alonso
18
Mick Schumacher
3
Lando Norris
11
George Russell
19
Nikita Mazepin
4
Lewis Hamilton
12
Yuki Tsunoda
20
Esteban Ocon
8-time Wimbledon champ Roger Federer unsure if he’ll ever be back
Roger Federer leaves the court after being defeated by Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Roger Federer has been feted by plenty of ovations at Wimbledon’s Centre Court. None quite like this one, though. This was not a celebration and didn’t come at the end of the match. Instead, it delayed the beginning of what turned out to be the last game of his quarterfinal loss and felt more like a “thank you” or — just in case — a “goodbye.” And Federer acknowledged afterward he isn’t sure whether he’ll be back.
The eight-time champion at the All England Club bowed out 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-0 against 14thseeded Hubert Hurkacz of Poland on Wednesday, a surprisingly lopsided finish to Federer’s 22nd appearance in the tournament. Asked whether it also might have been his last appearance here, he replied: “I don’t know. I really don’t know. I’ve got to regroup.” That likely was on thousands of minds in the
stadium when Federer stepped to the baseline to serve while trailing 5-0 in the third set: He waited while fans in the full-tocapacity stands applauded and cheered, some rising to their feet. Soon enough, it was over, only the third shutout set ceded by Federer in 429 career Grand Slam matches; both of the others came at the French Open. As for whether retirement is an immediate possibility, he offered this: “No, I hope not. The goal is to play”.
Spain has hopes of a bright future after a fruitful Euro 2020 soccer campaign Story by Jake Coyle UBA News
Correspondent
MADRID (AP) — Losing big matches inevitably leads to questions about the future. With Pedri González, Spain already seems to have the answer. Still only 18, Pedri was the man in the middle at the European Championship, starting every match for his team and controlling the transition between the defense and offense. That quality and leadership, even coming from a teenager playing in his first major tournament, helped Spain make it all the way to the semifinals. “What Pedri has done during this European Championship I haven’t seen done by any 18-year-old in any other competition,” Spain coach Luis Enrique said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” The constant comparisons to Andres Iniesta, the great Spain playmaker who helped the team win Euro 2008, Euro 2012 and the 2010 World Cup, don’t seem so exaggerated anymore. Not after this tournament. “Not even Iniesta did what Pedri did,” Luis Enrique said. Always calm and collected, Pedri was key in controlling the tempo in Spain’s midfield match after match. As of Wednesday morning, he was the player with the most distance covered at the tournament. He also had the highest passing accuracy in the semifinal match against Italy, at 98% from 65 completed passes. There were other young players helping out as well, like 23-year-old Dani Olmo. Although Olmo missed a penalty in the 4-2 shootout loss to Italy on Tuesday at Wembley Stadium, he was
still an important part of the run to the semifinals. He led the tournament in attempts and was second in assists.
Ferran Torres also contributed. The 21-year-old forward scored twice during Spain’s run. Spain arrived at Euro 2020 surrounded by doubts and under pressure to overcome recent failures. The country’s national team hadn’t gotten past the round of 16 at a major tournament since winning Euro 2012 with a team that still included Iniesta and Xavi Hernández. The gritty performance by the youngsters, however, alleviated those concerns only a year before the next big tournament — the 2022 World Cup. “We have to be happy and proud of what we have achieved,” Luis Enrique said. “We have several young players and they contributed in such a way that is hard to understand when you look at their age. There are a lot of positive things to look at going forward.” Six players from Euro 2020 were included in the under-24 team that will play at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. In addition to Pedri and Olmo, others who are set to make the trip to Japan include Unai Simón, Pau Torres, Mikel Oyarzabal and Eric García.injury. Olmo missed his penalty in the shootout against Italy, sending his kick over the bar, but he had set up Álvaro Morata’s equalizer that helped send the match into extra time at 1-1. Morata was the other player to miss from the penalty spot against Italy.
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• SPORTS
Thursday, July 8th 2021
6
Paul carries Suns in NBA Finals opener
Story by Brian Mahoney UBA News
Western Conference with a 19-63 record.
Correspondent
But Booker was already headed for stardom by then, and 2018 No. 1 pick Ayton has played at that level in the postseason. Paul has been steady as always since his arrival in an offseason trade.
PHOENIX (AP) — Chris Paul waited 16 years to get to the NBA Finals, bringing with him a team starving for its first championship. The setting was entirely new.
Now 36 and a 10-time All-NBA selection, he is on the list of best players to never win a championship. It appeared he might never even get to play for one until Oklahoma City dealt him to a team of Suns on the rise, and he might be the final piece that takes them all the way to the top.
The performance was same ol’ Chris Paul. “Just knew he’s ready,” Phoenix forward Mikal Bridges said. “He’s prepared his whole life for this moment and it shows out there on the court.” Paul had 32 points and nine assists in an NBA Finals debut that was well worth the wait, Devin Booker scored 27 points and the Suns beat the returning Giannis Antetokounmpo and his Milwaukee Bucks 118-105 on Tuesday night in Game 1.
Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul drives pst Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday during the second half of game “We’ve been building all season long for these moments,” Paul said. “We’re going to keep playing. This is just one game. We’ve got to stay locked in.”
Paul scored 16 points during a sensational third quarter that had Phoenix fans who waited 28 years to see the NBA Finals again screaming in delight.
Deandre Ayton added 22 points and 19 rebounds to continue his breakout stretch of play in his first postseason.
“Every time he shoots it we think it’s going in,” Booker said.
Antetokounmpo had 20 points and 17 rebounds after missing two games with a hyperextended left knee. Khris Middleton scored 29 points, but the Bucks will have to play from behind again after dropping Game 1 for the third straight series.
It almost did in the third quarter, when Paul was 6 for 7 and made all three 3-pointers. Finally playing for the title in his 16th season, the star point guard has the Suns in the NBA Finals for only the third time, and it sure looked as if they could make this ending different than the other two.
“We know it’s not going to be easy. We know it’s going to be tough,” Middleton said. “There’s times where we’re going to be down in this series. But this series isn’t over. We’re down. We’ve still got to keep competing and just playing.” The series opener was the first NBA Finals game in Phoenix since Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls won their third straight championship here in Game 6 in 1993. The Suns, who came into the NBA with the Bucks in 1968, made their only other finals appearance in 1976. They hadn’t even made the playoffs since 2010 and just two years ago were last in the
Despite so many debuts on the finals stage — the Suns’ Jae Crowder was the only player who had appeared in them, and that was for Miami at a neutral site last year — there didn’t appear to be many first-time jitters. But Paul shifted the Suns into another gear in the third. His opening jumper provided the first double-digit lead of the game, and he followed with a four-point play for the Suns’ next basket. He scored eight straight Phoenix points later in the period, hitting a 3-pointer, dancing around Bobby Portis for a layup and then hitting another 3. He then fired a pass to Ayton, who was fouled and made both free throws to make it 8868 with 2:20 left. “Their pick-and-roll game is tough to guard,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “I think we’ve just got to keep getting better. We’ll look at the film. We’ll see how we can maybe take away some of the rhythm.” The Bucks cut it down to seven near the midpoint of the fourth before Paul helped the Suns restore a safe margin. He found Booker for a 3-pointer, stole the ball from Middleton and then hit a jumper to make it 106-94. Milwaukee also is making its third finals appearance, having won the title in 1971 but not getting another chance since losing in 1974. The Bucks got a boost for this appearance when Antetokounmpo worked his way back quickly from an injury that looked serious when it happened. But Jrue Holiday, who played so well while Antetokounmpo was out, shot just 4 for 14 and scored 10 points.The Bucks coach used to be a Suns fan.
Tatum to wear Bryant Olympic number Story by Tim Reynolds
Senior Reporter
UBA News
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jayson Tatum was 15 when he made his first USA Basketball national team. It was 2013, when he got picked to play in the FIBA Americas U-16 championships at Uruguay. And one of the biggest thrills from that experience was getting his jersey. It bore No. 10. Kobe Bryant’s number. Tatum’s favorite player’s number. Bryant wore No. 24 and No. 8 with the Los Angeles Lakers, but he donned No. 10 for USA Basketball when he helped the Americans capture gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Tatum has worn that number as part of U.S. teams several times since — and will wear it at the Tokyo Olympics, where the Americans will aim to capture a fourth consecutive gold medal. “With this being the first Olympics since we lost him, it holds that much more value,” Tatum said. “It’s not something I take lightly.” There is a significance to the No. 10 jersey across sports, particularly soccer, where it always seems to be adorning the best players. Pele wore 10 for Brazil. Diego Maradona wore it for Argentina, and Lionel Messi does now. Landon Donovan wore it for the U.S. men’s soccer team when he led that program; it has since been passed to Christian Pulisic. For the U.S. women’s soccer team, it belongs to Carli Lloyd. For USA Basketball, it was Bryant’s. When he decided not to play in the 2016 Olympics, the number ended up with Kyrie Irving — another player who idolizes Bryant, just as Tatum does. And now, as was the case when the U.S. went to the Basketball World Cup two years ago, the jersey is Tatum’s. “For JT to have this moment, I’m happy for him, genuinely,” U.S. center Bam Adebayo said. “I’ve known JT since I was 12. He deserves everything he’s getting and he’s going to keep deserving more because he’s such a great player.
I’m happy for him. That’s his idol, and he gets to represent that number. I know he’s going to have that ‘Mamba Mentality’ when he puts that 10 on.”
Jayson Tatum reacts after scoring against Turkey in a FIBA World Cup Basketball game
Adebayo is another player who makes no secret of his affinity for Bryant, the five-time NBA champion and now Basketball Hall of Fame enshrine who died in a helicopter crash along with one of his daughters and seven other people in January 2020 on their way to a basketball tournament. He’s worn Bryant’s shoes for games, and said he’s devastated that he never got to meet him. Tatum knew Bryant well. They worked out together and Bryant offered him advice many times “I remember one talk, it might have been after a game, and he was saying that a lot of people won’t understand what you do,” Tatum said. “He said, ‘What I mean by that is, the ones that really want to be great and really want to be special really take that whatever-it-takes mentality.’ He told me it takes sacrifice, because the ultimate question is about how much are you willing to give up to be great.” U.S. coach Gregg Popovich still laments that Tatum got hurt at that World Cup in China. That team was built for Tatum to be, as Popovich put it, “the go-to guy” -- just as Bryant had been for past U.S. teams. When Tatum was ruled out of the World Cup with an ankle injury, the Americans sputtered and wound up finishing only seventh. Popovich said Tatum is even better now. “He’s become more of a two-way player,” Popovich said. “He’s way more confident. He’s developed more skills. He’s, on top of that, more aggressive and knows that he can dominate people.” People would say the same things about Bryant as well.
“I remember that first team when I was hoping, wishing, that I got No. 10,” Tatum said. “Kobe, everyone knows that was my favorite player. I was 15 years old and got to wear the number of my favorite player. It just felt like I had some level of connection with him.” The connection carries on this summer. He doesn’t remember if he had to ask for the jersey in 2013; this summer, he didn’t have to ask anyone. USA Basketball simply put out a list of names and jersey numbers, and Tatum got No. 10. For now, it’s Tatum’s jersey. To him, it still belongs to Bryant. “It’s a tremendous honor,” Tatum said. “And I’ll wear it proudly.” There is a significance to the No. 10 jersey across sports, particularly soccer, where it always seems to be adorning the best players. Pele wore 10 for Brazil. Diego Maradona wore it for Argentina, and Lionel Messi does now. Landon Donovan wore it for the U.S. men’s soccer team when he led that program; it has since been passed to Christian Pulisic. For the U.S. women’s soccer team, it belongs to Carli Lloyd. For USA Basketball, No. 10 was Bryant’s. When he decided not to play in the 2016 Olympics, the number ended up with Kyrie Irving -- another player who idolizes Bryant, just as Tatum does. And now, as was the case when the U.S. went to the Basketball World Cup two years ago, the jersey is Tatum’s.
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• SPORTS
Thursday, July 8th 2021
7
Sprinter Richardson left off Olympic team Story by Eddie Pells UBA News
Richardson handled her ban, “the rules are the rules.”
Correspondent
“Whether they should remain the rules is a different issue, but the rules are the rules,” Biden said.
Banned sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson was not on the Olympic roster released Tuesday by USA Track and Field, a decision that means the American champion’s positive test for marijuana will cost her a chance at running on the relay team in Tokyo, in addition to her spot in the 100-meter individual race. Richardson’s positive test nullified her win at Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, last month and the spot that went with it for Tokyo in the 100. Her 30-day suspension will end before the start of the relays on Aug. 5, which left open the possibility she could win a medal as part of the 4x100 relay team. But her name was missing from the 130-person roster USATF sent out. The federation had two discretionary picks beyond the top four finishers in the 100-meter final at trials but chose not to offer a spot to the 21-year-old sprinter, who was expected to challenge for Olympic gold. Asked about how Richardson was taking the news, her agent, Renaldo Nehemiah, responded: “We haven’t spoken about it at all. It was actually not a topic we focused on.” In a statement, USATF said it was “incredibly sympathetic toward Sha’Carri Richardson’s extenuating circumstances” and “fully agrees” that international rules regarding marijuana should be reevaluated. “So while our heartfelt understanding lies with Sha’Carri, we must also maintain fairness for all of the athletes who attempted to realize their dreams by securing a place on the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team,” the statement read. In this case, that meant offering the remaining relay spots to the sixth- and seventh-place finishers, each of whom moved up in the pecking order after Richardson’s DQ. They are English Gardner and Aleia Hobbs. Richardson tested positive for a chemical found in marijuana after her victory on June 19. She said the stress of her biological mother’s recent death combined with the pressure of preparing for trials led her to use the drug. “I was definitely triggered and blinded by emotions, blinded by badness, and hurting, and hiding hurt,” she said on NBC’s “Today” show. “I know I can’t hide myself, so in
Meanwhile, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York tweeted out a letter she and Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland sent to the leaders of both the U.S. and world anti-doping agencies urging them to overturn the decision. “Please strike a blow for civil liberties and civil rights by reversing this course you are on,” the letter said. Richardson celebrates after winning the first heat of the semis finals in women’s 100-meter runat the U.S Track some type of way, I was trying to hide my pain.” Over the weekend, she sent out a pair of tweets: “All these perfect people that know how to live life, I’m glad I’m not one of them!” and “2022-2025 undefeated!” Shortly after the 2012 Olympics, international regulators loosened restrictions on marijuana use, increasing the threshold for a positive test to a level designed to catch athletes only who were using it in the immediate hours before competition. Potential bans were reduced from two years to as little as the 30-day suspension that Richardson is serving. But where some professional leagues, such as the NFL, NHL and NBA, have greatly reduced enforcement of marijuana rules, with the acknowledgement that the drug does not enhance performance, the Olympic world continues to test for and punish use in some circumstances. According to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, in addition to substances that trigger performance enhancement, the banned list can includes drugs that can pose health risks to athletes or violate the “spirit of sport.”
Richardson’s positive test nullified her win at Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, last month and the spot that went with it in Tokyo in the 100. Her 30-day suspension will end before the start of the relays on Aug. 5, which left open the possibility she could win a medal as part of the 4x100 relay team. But her name was missing from the roster USATF sent out. The federation had two discretionary picks beyond the top four finishers in the 100-meter final at trials but chose not to offer a spot to the 21-year-old sprinter, who was expected to challenge for Olympic gold. “So while our heartfelt understanding lies with Sha’Carri, we must also maintain fairness for all of the athletes who attempted to realize their dreams by securing a place on the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team,” the statement read.
It’s a stance that has triggered a wide-ranging debate, largely in the realm of social media but also in Washington. Last week, President Joe Biden said that while he was proud of the way
Silver accuses NBA of weathering funds Story by Tim Reynolds
Senior Reporter
UBA News
Players took “significant reductions” in salary this season, Silver said, something that was negotiated by the NBA and the National Fans cheer prior to game 1 of basketball’s NBA Finals between Milwaukee and Phoenix Basketball Players Association. That hit will be spread out over several PHOENIX (AP) — The NBA may emerge from the seasons. pandemic on better financial footing than it first anticipated, though Commissioner Adam Silver warned The league — which estimated its loss in revenue from Tuesday that it’s too early to declare things fully back to last season at $1.5 billion — plans on returning to normal normal. this fall, with the season starting in mid-October and likely Silver, at his annual pre-NBA Finals news conference, said he believes the league weathered the pandemic and all that came with it — including much less revenue from the lack of fans in arenas for much of the last 15 months — relatively well, noting that even he was surprised to see many teams were able to have full buildings during the playoffs. “Financially, for the season, without getting into it too specifically, we did somewhat better than we initially projected,” Silver said. Silver had said that the lack of in-game revenue — ticket sales, concessions, food and drink and the like — may have meant the league would see a 40% dip in that cash stream. But, in part because some arenas had fans later in the regular season and then more than 1 million tickets being sold in playoff games, that dip could be closer to 33%. “No question, the league will incur significant losses over the past two years,” Silver said. “I will say though, I’m not here to complain about that. Just speaking for our team owners, they view it as a long-term investment in the league and something very necessary to keep these organizations going. And by the way, it was shared sacrifice by our players as well.”
being of the common 82-game duration. The number of games is still in some question because the play-in tournament isn’t officially back for next season, though it has long been expected that the league’s board of governors will keep it going forward. “If things continue on track and we can move toward a new season next year that looks a lot more like normal, we’ll have weathered it very well,” Silver said. Silver touched on many other issues, including: INJURIES
Silver said the league is concerned about the number of injuries, something that has been blamed in some circles by the compressed 72-game season this season, plus the short layoff for some teams between last season and this one. None of those reasons can be pointed to as an absolute cause, and the NBA doesn’t know why it’s happening, Silver said. Over the coming months, it will try to find out. “I have no doubt that the additional stress, again physical and emotional, on them contributes to injuries,” Silver said. “None of it is an exact science. It’s something that even
pre-COVID, as you all know, we were very focused on at the league. We put people in place to focus exclusively on injury prevention. Precisely why we have the injuries we do is still unclear to us. It’s something that we’ll continue to study in the offseason. The trend line, unfortunately, has been going up for the last several years.” The 82-game season isn’t set in stone going forward, either. “We have had this 82-game season for 50-plus years,” Silver said. “I mean, is 82 optimal? You know, it’s interesting. We got this experiment during the pandemic to move to 72. Everybody thought that was the cure-all, if we just lopped 10 games off the season. I mean, obviously injuries are up, so that wasn’t it.” Game 7 of the NBA Finals, if necessary, is July 22. Training camps for next season are set to begin on Sept. 28, meaning it is possible that Milwaukee and Phoenix are back in camp as little as 68 days following the end of the finals. Last season’s finalists, the champion Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, had 51 days between the end of the 2020 finals and the start of this season’s training camp — with this season’s game schedule beginning 72 days after the Lakers won the title at the restart bubble at Walt Disney World. “Was there more of a burden on those teams that went far into the playoffs and into the Finals last year? Absolutely,” Silver said. The NBA still isn’t sure if the Raptors — who played this season in Tampa, Florida — will be going home, but there is optimism that it’ll happen for next season. “I know it’s incredibly meaningful to the team,” Silver said. “I think there was that additional burden placed on the Raptors more than any other team by having to relocate for the season. But we are hopeful the team will be back if things continue as we’re seeing in Canada right now.”
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POLITICS
8
Thursday, July 8th 2021
Pentagon cancels contract with Microsoft
Story by Robert Burns UBA News
Correspondent
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon said it canceled a disputed cloud-computing contract with Microsoft that could eventually have been worth $10 billion. It will instead pursue a deal with both Microsoft and Amazon and possibly other cloud service providers. “With the shifting technology environment, it has become clear that the JEDI Cloud contract, which has long been delayed, no longer meets the requirements to fill the DoD’s capability gaps,” the Pentagon said in a statement Tuesday. The statement did not directly mention that the Pentagon faced extended legal challenges by Amazon to the original $1 million contract awarded to Microsoft. Amazon argued
Quick Stories United States hosts high-level Saudi visit after Khashoggi killing
WASHINGTON (AP) — Top Biden administration officials on Tuesday hosted a brother to Saudi Arabia’s powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, in the highest-level such visit known since the U.S. made public intelligence findings linking the crown prince to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
that the Microsoft award was tainted by politics, particularly then-President Donald Trump’s antagonism toward Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, who stepped down Monday as the company’s chief executive officer. Bezos owns The Washington Post, a newspaper often criticized by Trump. The Pentagon’s chief information officer, John Sherman, told reporters Tuesday that during the lengthy legal fight with Amazon, “the landscape has evolved” with new possibilities for large-scale cloud computing services. Thus it was decided, he said, to start over and seek multiple vendors.
Sherman said JEDI will be replaced by a new program called Joint Warfighter Cloud Capability, and that both Amazon and Microsoft “likely” will be awarded parts of the business, although neither is guaranteed. Sherman said the three other large cloud service providers — Google, IBM and Oracle — might qualify, too.
Microsoft said in response to the Pentagon announcement, “We understand the DoD s rationale, and we support them and every military member who needs the mission-critical 21st century technology JEDI would have provided. The DoD faced a difficult choice: Continue with what could be a years-long litigation battle or find another path forward.” stay up to date on news.uba.com
Biden seeks for better options for workers with new order
The Biden administration did not publicly disclose the visit by Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s deputy defense minister, in advance. President Joe Biden had pledged to make a “pariah” of the kingdom’s crown prince during his presidential campaign over Khashoggi’s killing and other abuses, but his administration has instead emphasized U.S. strategic interests with Saudi Arabia. White House press secretary Jen Psaki indicated in a briefing with press that officials might raise the killing of Khashoggi.
Hunt for Capitol attackers still on 6 months after Jan. 6 insurrection
The first waves of arrests in the deadly siege at the U.S. Capitol focused on the easy targets. Dozens in the pro-Trump mob openly bragged about their actions on Jan. 6 on social media and were captured in shocking footage broadcast live by national news outlets. But six months after the insurrection, the Justice Department is still hunting for scores of rioters, even as the first of more than 500 people already arrested have pleaded guilty. The struggle reflects the massive scale of the investigation and the grueling work still ahead for authorities in the face of an increasing effort by some Republican lawmakers to rewrite what happened that day. In a statement Tuesday noting the six-month anniversary of the attack, President Joe Biden called on “people of goodwill and courage” — including Republicans and Democrats — “to stand up to the hate, the lies, and the extremism that led to this vicious attack, including determining what happened so that we can remember it and not bury it hoping we forget.” More than a dozen Jan. 6 defendants have pleaded guilty including two members of the Oath Keepers militia group
In crosshairs of ransomware crooks, cyber insurers left to struggle
BOSTON (AP) — In the past few weeks, ransomware criminals claimed as trophies at least three North American insurance brokerages that offer policies to help others survive the very network-paralyzing, data-pilfering extortion attacks they themselves apparently suffered. Cybercriminals who hack into corporate and government networks to steal sensitive data for extortion routinely try to learn how much cyber insurance coverage the victims have. Knowing what victims can afford to pay can give them an edge in ransom negotiations. The cyber insurance industry, too, is a prime target for crooks seeking its customers’ identities and scope of coverage.
President Joe Biden arrives to deliver remarks about the COVID-19 vaccination program during an event.
Story by Josh Boak UBA News
Senior Reporter
President Joe Biden plans to sign an executive order that will reduce the ability of employers to prevent workers from going to rival firms and remove some of the state occupational licensing requirements that make it harder to land a job. The order is designed to improve workers’ opportunities in the economy, increase their chances of employment and generate more competition among U.S. employers, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday. “This affects construction workers, hotel workers, many blue collar jobs, not just high level executives,” Psaki told reporters aboard Air Force One, adding that Biden “believes that if someone offers you a better job, you should be able to take it.” The order would be a key test as to whether empowering workers will lead to pay hikes and smooth the way for them to move to parts of the country where their skills are most in demand. It also enables Biden to show in the 2022 congressional elections how Democratic policies are focused on workers, a key argument as Republicans have increasingly tried to frame their party as backing the working class. The forthcoming order will direct the Federal Trade Commission to restrict and potentially bar so-called noncompete agreements, which have stopped workers in industries including fast food and Big Tech from going to other employers for higher pay. A 2019 analysis by the liberal Economic Policy Institute estimated that 36 million to 60 million workers could be subject to noncompete agreements. The order also seeks to ban “unnecessary” occupational licensing that can hurt the earning power of military spouses, skilled immigrants and former prisoners. The requirements can limit the ability of teachers or hair stylists to move across state lines, while also making some spend money at for-profit schools to affirm skills they already have. Roughly 30% of U.S. jobs require a license, according to a 2018 FTC report. This effort builds on work begun in 2015 by the Obama administration to get states to reduce the burdens from their licensing requirements. The order will also toughen guidance to the FTC and the Justice Department to prevent employers from sharing wage and benefits data with each other so they can suppress worker incomes. The New York Times first reported Wednesday all the worker-focused elements of the order. It was unclear when the order would be signed. stay up to date on news.uba.com