npr--2020-08-07--Beirut Explosion Looks Like An Accident — And A Sign Of The Country's Collapse

Beirut Explosion Looks Like An Accident — And A Sign Of The Country 's Collapse When Westerners think of Beirut , they might rely on dated notions of the city : a 15-year civil war that ended in 1990 ; a war with Israel and sporadic airstrikes ; bombings of the U.S. Marine barracks and the U.S. Embassy ; an attack 15 years ago on the prime minister 's convoy .
So it may seem hard to believe that the biggest blast of them all — the one at the Beirut port on Tuesday , which killed some 150 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half the city — was an accident , possibly the outcome of neglect on a massive scale .
But that 's what signs point to now .
Officials have launched an investigation looking at the port warehouse that had held 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate , a chemical used for fertilizer and as an ingredient in bombs .
It has fueled many explosions around the world — both accidental and intentional .
Lebanese officials say there has been concern about this volatile cargo for years , something Prime Minister Hassan Diab noted publicly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So , rather than war or terrorism , this blast brings to a head something else about Lebanon — the deep paralysis , official corruption and unaccountability that Lebanese demonstrators had been protesting in huge numbers for months before the coronavirus pandemic shut them down .
Here are some of the factors that shed light on this week 's catastrophe .
In 2013 , a ship filled with 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stopped at the Lebanese port .
It had a Russian crew , and reports say it was bound for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Reuters this week that he had been instructed to stop in Beirut to pick up more cargo , but there was a legal dispute over port fees and the shipping company was in debt .
Lawyers representing some of the crew said in 2015 that the ship had stopped at the Beirut port with `` technical problems . ''
The ammonium nitrate , a fairly common cargo on the oceans , was impounded and unloaded ; the crew had to stay on board for nearly a year and was then released .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sounded several alarms about the material .
Since the blast , some port officials have been placed under house arrest .
In 2015 , trash choked Lebanon 's streets amid corruption and infighting over solid waste contracts .
The garbage crisis spawned a protest movement dubbed `` You Stink . ''
More crises would come .
High government debt and mismanagement caused an economic collapse .
There 's hyperinflation .
Unemployment is high .
The country 's once-comfortable middle class is slipping into poverty .
People have trouble buying bread and are selling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have resulted after a corruption scandal disrupted fuel imports from Algeria .
And with the country 's currency losing 80 % of its value since October , the government is struggling to pay for fuel from elsewhere .
Widespread street protests started a year ago .
Chanting slogans like `` The people want the fall of the regime '' and `` All means all , '' protesters called for the removal of the entire political class .
Who 's responsible for all this ?
That 's hard to say , in part because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single group to be too powerful — or accountable .
Lebanon 's civil war ended in 1990 with a deal — enforced by neighboring Syria — to divide power among sectarian factions .
The presidency is set aside for a Christian , the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim and the speaker of parliament is always a Shiite Muslim .
It means that the real decisions are made behind closed doors and that elections allow limited choice for the voting public .
The various sectarian groups tend to protect the status quo to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much power as possible .
Some sectarian leaders are former warlords and worried they could face revenge or prosecution if the system changes .
The presence of Hezbollah further complicates matters .
The Shiite Muslim group is not officially part of Lebanon 's power-sharing deal but enjoys support from Shiites and some Christians and holds seats in parliament .
More importantly , it has the most muscle on the ground .
Its militia drove Israel from the country in the late 1990s and rivals the Lebanese military in firepower .
The group runs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money from vast business interests and from Iran .
In other words , the fragmented nature of Lebanese power makes it hard to organize a protest campaign targeting a single leadership — and to vote , or force , it out of power .
Lebanon 's prime minister and president have formed an investigative committee to find the cause of the blast and those responsible .
But already the country 's elites are trading blame .
The Ministry of Public Works and port authorities say the explosion was the fault of the judiciary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeated requests by port officials for a legal release of the cargo .
Judicial officials have hit back , saying that politicians are trying to scapegoat them and that the investigative committee is not impartial .
They say an investigation led by establishment politicians and security officials loyal to them — rather than by independent investigators — will not bring justice .
Lebanon 's elites and political leaders — including Hezbollah , the U.S. Treasury Department believes — have long had interests at the Beirut port , which brings in most of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nasrallah denied Friday that his group controls the port .
`` People think that Hezbollah knows everything that goes on in the Beirut port , '' he said .
`` Hezbollah does not run or control Beirut 's port and does not interfere with it . ''
For Lebanese who have no confidence in their leaders , the destruction of Beirut is the ultimate example of the political rot that for too long has benefited the few at the cost of the country .
A crowd yelling , `` Resign , resign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and threw water on her Thursday , when she tried to visit a Beirut neighborhood .
A popular slogan is `` Hang the nooses . ''
Now , Lebanese say , is not the time for compromise .
But with the system rigged against them , the road to meaningful change will be a long and difficult .

Beirut Explosion Looks Like An Accident — And A Sign Of The Country's Collapse
Enlarge this image toggle caption Hassan Ammar/AP Hassan Ammar/AP
When Westerners think of Beirut, they might rely on dated notions of the city: a 15-year civil war that ended in 1990; a war with Israel and sporadic airstrikes; bombings of the U.S. Marine barracks and the U.S. Embassy; an attack 15 years ago on the prime minister's convoy.
So it may seem hard to believe that the biggest blast of them all — the one at the Beirut port on Tuesday, which killed some 150 people, wounded thousands and caused destruction across half the city — was an accident, possibly the outcome of neglect on a massive scale.
But that's what signs point to now. Officials have launched an investigation looking at the port warehouse that had held 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, a chemical used for fertilizer and as an ingredient in bombs. It has fueled many explosions around the world — both accidental and intentional.
Lebanese officials say there has been concern about this volatile cargo for years, something Prime Minister Hassan Diab noted publicly in the first hours after the blast.
So, rather than war or terrorism, this blast brings to a head something else about Lebanon — the deep paralysis, official corruption and unaccountability that Lebanese demonstrators had been protesting in huge numbers for months before the coronavirus pandemic shut them down.
Here are some of the factors that shed light on this week's catastrophe.
Explosive chemicals languish at the port
In 2013, a ship filled with 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stopped at the Lebanese port. It had a Russian crew, and reports say it was bound for Mozambique.
The ship's former captain told Reuters this week that he had been instructed to stop in Beirut to pick up more cargo, but there was a legal dispute over port fees and the shipping company was in debt. Lawyers representing some of the crew said in 2015 that the ship had stopped at the Beirut port with "technical problems."
The ammonium nitrate, a fairly common cargo on the oceans, was impounded and unloaded; the crew had to stay on board for nearly a year and was then released.
The port's customs director says he sounded several alarms about the material. Since the blast, some port officials have been placed under house arrest.
A city of neglect and shortages
In 2015, trash choked Lebanon's streets amid corruption and infighting over solid waste contracts. The garbage crisis spawned a protest movement dubbed "You Stink."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Anwar Amro/AFP via Getty Images Anwar Amro/AFP via Getty Images
More crises would come. High government debt and mismanagement caused an economic collapse. There's hyperinflation. Unemployment is high. The country's once-comfortable middle class is slipping into poverty. People have trouble buying bread and are selling their possessions.
Lengthy daily power outages have resulted after a corruption scandal disrupted fuel imports from Algeria. And with the country's currency losing 80% of its value since October, the government is struggling to pay for fuel from elsewhere.
Widespread street protests started a year ago. Chanting slogans like "The people want the fall of the regime" and "All means all," protesters called for the removal of the entire political class.
A rigidly divided political system
Who's responsible for all this? That's hard to say, in part because Lebanon's government is designed for no single group to be too powerful — or accountable.
Lebanon's civil war ended in 1990 with a deal — enforced by neighboring Syria — to divide power among sectarian factions. The presidency is set aside for a Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim and the speaker of parliament is always a Shiite Muslim. It means that the real decisions are made behind closed doors and that elections allow limited choice for the voting public.
The various sectarian groups tend to protect the status quo to ensure they each can hang onto as much power as possible. Some sectarian leaders are former warlords and worried they could face revenge or prosecution if the system changes.
The presence of Hezbollah further complicates matters. The Shiite Muslim group is not officially part of Lebanon's power-sharing deal but enjoys support from Shiites and some Christians and holds seats in parliament.
More importantly, it has the most muscle on the ground. Its militia drove Israel from the country in the late 1990s and rivals the Lebanese military in firepower. The group runs the country's international airport and gets money from vast business interests and from Iran.
In other words, the fragmented nature of Lebanese power makes it hard to organize a protest campaign targeting a single leadership — and to vote, or force, it out of power.
Full circle: Investigating the blast
Lebanon's prime minister and president have formed an investigative committee to find the cause of the blast and those responsible.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Joseph Eid/AFP via Getty Images Joseph Eid/AFP via Getty Images
But already the country's elites are trading blame. The Ministry of Public Works and port authorities say the explosion was the fault of the judiciary, which allegedly did not act on repeated requests by port officials for a legal release of the cargo.
Judicial officials have hit back, saying that politicians are trying to scapegoat them and that the investigative committee is not impartial. They say an investigation led by establishment politicians and security officials loyal to them — rather than by independent investigators — will not bring justice.
Lebanon's elites and political leaders — including Hezbollah, the U.S. Treasury Department believes — have long had interests at the Beirut port, which brings in most of the country's imports.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah denied Friday that his group controls the port. "People think that Hezbollah knows everything that goes on in the Beirut port," he said. "Hezbollah does not run or control Beirut's port and does not interfere with it."
For Lebanese who have no confidence in their leaders, the destruction of Beirut is the ultimate example of the political rot that for too long has benefited the few at the cost of the country.
A crowd yelling, "Resign, resign, resign!" chased the justice minister and threw water on her Thursday, when she tried to visit a Beirut neighborhood. A popular slogan is "Hang the nooses." Now, Lebanese say, is not the time for compromise. But with the system rigged against them, the road to meaningful change will be a long and difficult.


npr--2020-08-07--U.S. Intelligence: China Opposes Trump Reelection; Russia Works Against Biden

The top counterintelligence official in the U.S. government warned Friday of ongoing interference and influence efforts by China , Russia and Iran .
William Evanina , who leads the National Counterintelligence and Security Center , said that the U.S. government has assessed that China prefers President Trump losing the election , because Beijing considers him `` unpredictable , '' while Russia is working to undermine Democrat Joe Biden .
`` Ahead of the 2020 U.S. elections , foreign states will continue to use covert and overt influence measures in their attempts to sway U.S. voters ' preferences and perspectives , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States , and undermine the American people 's confidence in our democratic process , '' Evanina said .
In discussing tactics , Evanina noted that the countries could try to compromise election equipment either to affect results or give the illusion of tampered results , but he did not say that such activities have been observed .
China has grown more aggressive in recent months , criticizing the U.S. response to the coronavirus , although Evanina noted that Beijing continues to weigh the `` risks and benefits of aggressive action '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Russia , however , has been observed using a number of tactics , including spreading propaganda on social media and Russian television , to denigrate Biden , the former vice president and presumptive Democratic nominee .
Iran also seeks to spread disinformation online , with the intent to undermine U.S. institutions and Trump , and to divide the country ahead of the election , according to Evanina .
The statement did not refer to any specific cyberattack attempts on the part of any of the three countries in the style of Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be difficult , due to the disparate nature of America 's election infrastructure , to affect vote tallying at scale .
Similarly , Chris Krebs , the Department of Homeland Security 's top cybersecurity official , said in a speech this week that his team had seen `` nothing at the directed , focused level of 2016 . ''
The year `` 2020 will be the most protected and most secure election in modern history , '' Krebs said .
In a joint statement , Rep. Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , said the disclosure was a good step toward more transparency , but they expressed frustration at how Evanina lumped the countries ' actions together .
Instead , the lawmakers said , intelligence officials should share more specific information to `` allow voters to appraise for themselves the respective threats posed by these foreign actors , and distinguish these actors ' different and unequal aims , current actions , and capabilities . ''
`` Unfortunately , today 's statement still treats three actors of differing intent and capability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the lawmakers said .
In a statement , Tim Murtaugh , a spokesman for the president 's reelection campaign , said : `` We do n't need or want foreign interference , and President Trump will beat Joe Biden fair and square . ''
In a separate statement , Tony Blinken , a senior adviser to the Biden campaign , said : `` Joe Biden ... has led the fight against foreign interference for years , and has refused to accept any foreign materials intended to help him in this election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign have repeatedly failed to do . ''
Election security experts often note just how vast the threat landscape is : Interference could involve an adversary trying to manipulate vote tallies , spreading bad voting information on social media or hacking a campaign 's data .
And while the federal government can provide assistance and leadership , it has limited practical scope in protecting all of those areas .
Google revealed earlier this summer , for instance , that Chinese and Iranian-linked hackers were observed trying to get into the email accounts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There were no signs the attempts were successful , but it was another indication to cyber experts that the interference of 2016 was not a one-off event .

U.S. Intelligence: China Opposes Trump Reelection; Russia Works Against Biden
Enlarge this image toggle caption Matt Rourke/Patrick Semansky/AP Matt Rourke/Patrick Semansky/AP
Updated at 7:10 p.m. ET
The top counterintelligence official in the U.S. government warned Friday of ongoing interference and influence efforts by China, Russia and Iran.
William Evanina, who leads the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, said that the U.S. government has assessed that China prefers President Trump losing the election, because Beijing considers him "unpredictable," while Russia is working to undermine Democrat Joe Biden.
"Ahead of the 2020 U.S. elections, foreign states will continue to use covert and overt influence measures in their attempts to sway U.S. voters' preferences and perspectives, shift U.S. policies, increase discord in the United States, and undermine the American people's confidence in our democratic process," Evanina said.
In discussing tactics, Evanina noted that the countries could try to compromise election equipment either to affect results or give the illusion of tampered results, but he did not say that such activities have been observed.
China has grown more aggressive in recent months, criticizing the U.S. response to the coronavirus, although Evanina noted that Beijing continues to weigh the "risks and benefits of aggressive action" when it comes to influencing the election.
Russia, however, has been observed using a number of tactics, including spreading propaganda on social media and Russian television, to denigrate Biden, the former vice president and presumptive Democratic nominee.
Iran also seeks to spread disinformation online, with the intent to undermine U.S. institutions and Trump, and to divide the country ahead of the election, according to Evanina.
The statement did not refer to any specific cyberattack attempts on the part of any of the three countries in the style of Russia in 2016. And Evanina noted that it would be difficult, due to the disparate nature of America's election infrastructure, to affect vote tallying at scale.
Similarly, Chris Krebs, the Department of Homeland Security's top cybersecurity official, said in a speech this week that his team had seen "nothing at the directed, focused level of 2016."
The year "2020 will be the most protected and most secure election in modern history," Krebs said.
In a joint statement, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who leads the House Intelligence Committee, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said the disclosure was a good step toward more transparency, but they expressed frustration at how Evanina lumped the countries' actions together.
Instead, the lawmakers said, intelligence officials should share more specific information to "allow voters to appraise for themselves the respective threats posed by these foreign actors, and distinguish these actors' different and unequal aims, current actions, and capabilities."
"Unfortunately, today's statement still treats three actors of differing intent and capability as equal threats to our democratic elections," the lawmakers said.
In a statement, Tim Murtaugh, a spokesman for the president's reelection campaign, said: "We don't need or want foreign interference, and President Trump will beat Joe Biden fair and square."
In a separate statement, Tony Blinken, a senior adviser to the Biden campaign, said: "Joe Biden ... has led the fight against foreign interference for years, and has refused to accept any foreign materials intended to help him in this election — something that Donald Trump and his campaign have repeatedly failed to do."
Election security experts often note just how vast the threat landscape is: Interference could involve an adversary trying to manipulate vote tallies, spreading bad voting information on social media or hacking a campaign's data. And while the federal government can provide assistance and leadership, it has limited practical scope in protecting all of those areas.
Google revealed earlier this summer, for instance, that Chinese and Iranian-linked hackers were observed trying to get into the email accounts of campaign staffers for both Trump and Biden. There were no signs the attempts were successful, but it was another indication to cyber experts that the interference of 2016 was not a one-off event.


npr--2020-08-07--Oprah Winfrey Commissions 26 Billboards Demanding Arrests In Breonna Taylor's Killing

O , The Oprah Magazine has commissioned 26 billboards calling for the arrest of the police officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor to be placed across Louisville , Ky. , the magazine said in a Friday article .
`` Demand that the police involved in killing Breonna Taylor be arrested and charged , '' each of the 26 billboards — one for every year Taylor was alive — reads .
The signs also refer to Until Freedom , a social justice organization that has pushed for police accountability in Taylor 's death .
The billboard artwork uses the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O Magazine , which marks the first time in the publication 's 20-year run that the magazine 's founder — talk show host and media executive Oprah Winfrey — has not been on the cover .
`` Imagine if three unidentified men burst into your home while you were sleeping , '' Winfrey wrote in her `` What I Know for Sure '' column for the September issue .
`` And your partner fired a gun to protect you .
And then mayhem .
What I know for sure : We ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Louisville Metro Police on March 13 when at around 1 a.m. , officers executing a `` no-knock '' warrant stormed her apartment where she and her boyfriend , Kenneth Walker , were sleeping .
Walker , a licensed gun owner , believed the officers were intruders , his attorney has said , and fired at them , striking one officer in the leg .
Police shot back , hitting Taylor eight times , killing her .
Taylor 's death sparked protests .
Racial tensions and public outcry against police brutality grew across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-profile police killing of a Black person , George Floyd .
Louisville has since banned the use of no-knock warrants .
One of the officers involved in Taylor 's death , Brett Hankison , was fired in June over the shooting for having `` displayed an extreme indifference to the value of human life . ''

Oprah Winfrey Commissions 26 Billboards Demanding Arrests In Breonna Taylor's Killing
Enlarge this image toggle caption Dylan T. Lovan/AP Dylan T. Lovan/AP
O, The Oprah Magazine has commissioned 26 billboards calling for the arrest of the police officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor to be placed across Louisville, Ky., the magazine said in a Friday article.
"Demand that the police involved in killing Breonna Taylor be arrested and charged," each of the 26 billboards — one for every year Taylor was alive — reads.
The signs also refer to Until Freedom, a social justice organization that has pushed for police accountability in Taylor's death.
Race Louisville Protests For Racial Justice Continue, Even As Others In U.S. Fade Louisville Protests For Racial Justice Continue, Even As Others In U.S. Fade Listen · 3:49 3:49
The billboard artwork uses the cover image of the September issue of O Magazine, which marks the first time in the publication's 20-year run that the magazine's founder — talk show host and media executive Oprah Winfrey — has not been on the cover.
"Imagine if three unidentified men burst into your home while you were sleeping," Winfrey wrote in her "What I Know for Sure" column for the September issue. "And your partner fired a gun to protect you. And then mayhem. What I know for sure: We can't be silent."
Taylor was killed by Louisville Metro Police on March 13 when at around 1 a.m., officers executing a "no-knock" warrant stormed her apartment where she and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were sleeping.
Walker, a licensed gun owner, believed the officers were intruders, his attorney has said, and fired at them, striking one officer in the leg. Police shot back, hitting Taylor eight times, killing her.
Taylor's death sparked protests. Racial tensions and public outcry against police brutality grew across the nation two months later after another high-profile police killing of a Black person, George Floyd.
Louisville has since banned the use of no-knock warrants.
One of the officers involved in Taylor's death, Brett Hankison, was fired in June over the shooting for having "displayed an extreme indifference to the value of human life."


npr--2020-08-07--Coronavirus FAQ: Can An Airline Put You On A No-Fly List For Refusing To Mask Up?

Coronavirus FAQ : Can An Airline Put You On A No-Fly List For Refusing To Mask Up ?
Each week , we answer `` frequently asked questions '' about life during the coronavirus crisis .
If you have a question you 'd like us to consider , email us at goatsandsoda @ npr.org with the subject line : `` Weekly Coronavirus Questions . ''
Early this week , Delta Air Lines made news after a plane headed to Atlanta circled back to its gate in Detroit , delaying takeoff .
The crew was returning to expel two passengers who had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quintessential coronavirus rule .
They had refused to don masks .
That transgression is the latest addition to a bevy of infractions that can get you booted from an aircraft — even before contagion racked our world .
Those no-nos vary wildly in severity and how often they 're enforced , but the theoretical gamut is wide : from a joke about , say , hijacking , to smoking a cigarette ... all the way to more serious acts like transporting illegal contraband like guns or drugs .
And , then there 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banned from a United Airlines flight for trying to take an `` emotional support peacock '' along with her .
( She opted to drive across the country instead , a BBC report says . )
When it comes to the new rules for the novel coronavirus , airlines like Delta are taking them very seriously .
So far , the carrier has banned 100 anti-maskers from taking their flights and gone a step further by adding them to a `` no fly '' list .
Delta says its strict policies about masking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best public health practices and safety amid the pandemic .
In a statement provided to NPR , Delta wrote : `` Medical research tells us that wearing a mask is one of the most effective ways to reduce the COVID-19 infection rate . ''
The airline `` remains committed to requiring customers and employees to wear a mask or face covering as a consistent layer of protection across all Delta touchpoints . ''
And it 's not just Delta .
All major U.S. airlines now require passengers to wear face coverings — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under age 2 and slightly older children who can not maintain a face covering are exempt from the requirement on Delta and other airlines .
Adults are generally permitted to remove a mask only when eating or drinking , though policy varies .
Many private businesses have similar rules : Be Masked or Be Gone .
Though the scientific consensus is clear and strong that masks are critical in stemming the spread of the virus , some consumers feel aggrieved by what they consider an attack on personal freedom .
But according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such outrage ignores a few fundamentals : In entering into agreements ( read : contracts ) with airline carriers ( by purchasing a ticket ) , you 're required to adhere to their policies .
And that pretty much ends the matter .
In other words , Delta 's no-fly list is perfectly within its scope of rights , experts stress .
The legal reasoning is pretty straightforward , says Sharona Hoffman , co-director of Case Western Reserve University 's Law-Medicine Center .
She puts it simply : `` They 're a private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules . ''
So why do some people think airline mask mandates are a violation of their freedom ?
Part of the misconception , explains Eduardo Angeles , a lawyer who served as Federal Aviation Administration associate administrator for airports during President Barack Obama 's administration , is the confusion about what exactly a `` right '' is .
`` No one has a right to fly , '' Angeles says .
Instead , you 're just a participant navigating the free market : `` You have several options [ to get to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , foot .
And in this way , an airline is just like a restaurant : It can deny service to somebody for reasons that are specific to [ it ] , '' he says .
For those who land on the no-fly list because of mask infractions , processes to get your name removed would likely vary from airline to airline , guesses Angeles .
`` They have to go through their due process and appeal with the airline . ''
There are tons of precedent for airlines ( and airports ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of safety , Angeles says .
Just take seat belts or TSA security protocols .
Airports and planes are packed with rules and limitations — even though the average person might just be so used to them that they comply without question .
Plus , for airlines , the risk posed by a passenger without a mask could be a concern , says Dr. Julie Cantor , an attorney and physician who studies the intersection of law and medicine .
She says one could theoretically argue that airlines might be bound to enforce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expectations — and failure to enforce such reasonable precautions could put them at risk of a potential suit .
( Though no such case has made its way to a court . )
`` In the hypothetical situation , you get sick on a flight '' — and you would have to successfully prove you contracted COVID-19 because someone next to you was n't wearing a mask — `` there is an argument there that airlines have a special duty to offer passengers and crew members a degree of reasonable care with regard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plane [ ride ] , '' she theorizes .
`` As a general counsel for airlines , I 'd think about this . ''
Of course , there 's a lot of legal ifs and complexities that would go into such a lawsuit — and Cantor emphasizes that she does n't know whether it would even be successful if it went down .
But the quick version of why such an argument would fly ( no pun intended ) has to do with the special relationship airplanes have with passengers .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choose to ignore the medical community and make masks optional , are they arguably breaching the standard of reasonable care ?
Airlines also have leeway to tinker with rules and regulations according to their health and safety priorities ( as long as they are n't breaking federal anti-discrimination laws . )
For example , Delta airlines has banned any mask with an exhaust valve or vent , and United and JetBlue have as well .
That 's a good thing , according to Amy Price , a mask researcher and senior scientist at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Laboratory : Valve masks are generally a bad idea for a pretty intuitive reason , she says .
`` The exhaust valve blows out concentrated virus particles through that exhaust , in essence blowing all the virus out – so it 's a danger to everyone , '' she explains .
`` It 's the same as wearing nothing at all [ in terms of source control ] .
Price thinks the reason people like exhaust masks is because the ease of breathing facilitated by the valve makes it feel as if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... which by the by should raise some red flags .
`` It gives the illusion of safety , '' she says .
As for exceptions to the mask rule , Delta ( and many other airlines ) have instituted procedures to evaluate passengers for whom masks may be medically infeasible .
Delta 's no-mask clearance process is `` rigorous , '' according to the airline .
It involves a `` virtual consultation process facilitated by a Delta agent with a third-party medical professional [ and ] could take up to an hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with underlying conditions that preclude mask-wearing to `` reconsider travel altogether . ''
Meanwhile , in order to persuade people to fly at a time when air traffic has plummeted , some airlines are going a step further in creating new pandemic policies .
This week , Emirates airline rolled out a policy to offer financial assistance for COVID-19 health expenses for those who test positive for the virus during their trip .
And if , God forbid , things go awry in your recovery , the airline will cover your funeral costs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baskar is a freelance journalist and U.S. national born in Mumbai .

Coronavirus FAQ: Can An Airline Put You On A No-Fly List For Refusing To Mask Up?
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nicolas Economou/ NurPhoto via Getty Images Nicolas Economou/ NurPhoto via Getty Images
Each week, we answer "frequently asked questions" about life during the coronavirus crisis. If you have a question you'd like us to consider, email us at goatsandsoda@npr.org with the subject line: "Weekly Coronavirus Questions."
Early this week, Delta Air Lines made news after a plane headed to Atlanta circled back to its gate in Detroit, delaying takeoff. The crew was returning to expel two passengers who had been unwilling to follow a new but quintessential coronavirus rule.
They had refused to don masks.
That transgression is the latest addition to a bevy of infractions that can get you booted from an aircraft — even before contagion racked our world. Those no-nos vary wildly in severity and how often they're enforced, but the theoretical gamut is wide: from a joke about, say, hijacking, to smoking a cigarette ... all the way to more serious acts like transporting illegal contraband like guns or drugs.
And, then there's the 2018 case when a traveler was banned from a United Airlines flight for trying to take an "emotional support peacock" along with her. (She opted to drive across the country instead, a BBC report says.)
When it comes to the new rules for the novel coronavirus, airlines like Delta are taking them very seriously. So far, the carrier has banned 100 anti-maskers from taking their flights and gone a step further by adding them to a "no fly" list.
Delta says its strict policies about masking are part of an effort to promote best public health practices and safety amid the pandemic.
In a statement provided to NPR, Delta wrote: "Medical research tells us that wearing a mask is one of the most effective ways to reduce the COVID-19 infection rate." The airline "remains committed to requiring customers and employees to wear a mask or face covering as a consistent layer of protection across all Delta touchpoints."
And it's not just Delta. All major U.S. airlines now require passengers to wear face coverings — a dramatic change to plane etiquette. Children under age 2 and slightly older children who cannot maintain a face covering are exempt from the requirement on Delta and other airlines. Adults are generally permitted to remove a mask only when eating or drinking, though policy varies.
Many private businesses have similar rules: Be Masked or Be Gone.
Though the scientific consensus is clear and strong that masks are critical in stemming the spread of the virus, some consumers feel aggrieved by what they consider an attack on personal freedom. But according to aviation, health and legal experts, such outrage ignores a few fundamentals: In entering into agreements (read: contracts) with airline carriers (by purchasing a ticket), you're required to adhere to their policies. And that pretty much ends the matter.
In other words, Delta's no-fly list is perfectly within its scope of rights, experts stress.
The legal reasoning is pretty straightforward, says Sharona Hoffman, co-director of Case Western Reserve University's Law-Medicine Center. She puts it simply: "They're a private business, and private businesses can have rules."
So why do some people think airline mask mandates are a violation of their freedom? Part of the misconception, explains Eduardo Angeles, a lawyer who served as Federal Aviation Administration associate administrator for airports during President Barack Obama's administration, is the confusion about what exactly a "right" is.
"No one has a right to fly," Angeles says. Instead, you're just a participant navigating the free market: "You have several options [to get to your destination] — car, train, foot. And in this way, an airline is just like a restaurant: It can deny service to somebody for reasons that are specific to [it]," he says.
For those who land on the no-fly list because of mask infractions, processes to get your name removed would likely vary from airline to airline, guesses Angeles. "They have to go through their due process and appeal with the airline."
There are tons of precedent for airlines (and airports) to unilaterally enforce regulations in the name of safety, Angeles says. Just take seat belts or TSA security protocols. Airports and planes are packed with rules and limitations — even though the average person might just be so used to them that they comply without question.
Plus, for airlines, the risk posed by a passenger without a mask could be a concern, says Dr. Julie Cantor, an attorney and physician who studies the intersection of law and medicine. She says one could theoretically argue that airlines might be bound to enforce mask-wearing as a matter of reasonable safety expectations — and failure to enforce such reasonable precautions could put them at risk of a potential suit. (Though no such case has made its way to a court.)
"In the hypothetical situation, you get sick on a flight" — and you would have to successfully prove you contracted COVID-19 because someone next to you wasn't wearing a mask — "there is an argument there that airlines have a special duty to offer passengers and crew members a degree of reasonable care with regard to the risks that would arise during the plane [ride]," she theorizes. "As a general counsel for airlines, I'd think about this."
Of course, there's a lot of legal ifs and complexities that would go into such a lawsuit — and Cantor emphasizes that she doesn't know whether it would even be successful if it went down. But the quick version of why such an argument would fly (no pun intended) has to do with the special relationship airplanes have with passengers. So the question would be: If airlines choose to ignore the medical community and make masks optional, are they arguably breaching the standard of reasonable care?
Airlines also have leeway to tinker with rules and regulations according to their health and safety priorities (as long as they aren't breaking federal anti-discrimination laws.) For example, Delta airlines has banned any mask with an exhaust valve or vent, and United and JetBlue have as well.
That's a good thing, according to Amy Price, a mask researcher and senior scientist at Stanford University's Anesthesia Informatics and Media Laboratory: Valve masks are generally a bad idea for a pretty intuitive reason, she says.
"The exhaust valve blows out concentrated virus particles through that exhaust, in essence blowing all the virus out – so it's a danger to everyone," she explains. "It's the same as wearing nothing at all [in terms of source control].
Price thinks the reason people like exhaust masks is because the ease of breathing facilitated by the valve makes it feel as if you're not wearing a mask at all ... which by the by should raise some red flags. "It gives the illusion of safety," she says.
As for exceptions to the mask rule, Delta (and many other airlines) have instituted procedures to evaluate passengers for whom masks may be medically infeasible. Delta's no-mask clearance process is "rigorous," according to the airline. It involves a "virtual consultation process facilitated by a Delta agent with a third-party medical professional [and] could take up to an hour." The airline generally encourages customers with underlying conditions that preclude mask-wearing to "reconsider travel altogether."
Meanwhile, in order to persuade people to fly at a time when air traffic has plummeted, some airlines are going a step further in creating new pandemic policies. This week, Emirates airline rolled out a policy to offer financial assistance for COVID-19 health expenses for those who test positive for the virus during their trip.
And if, God forbid, things go awry in your recovery, the airline will cover your funeral costs up to roughly $1,760.
Pranav Baskar is a freelance journalist and U.S. national born in Mumbai.