csmonitor--2020-04-16--Jobless claims reach 22 million in US due to mass layoffs

The wave of layoffs that has engulfed the U.S. economy since the coronavirus struck has forced 5.2 million more people to seek unemployment benefits last week , the government reported Thursday .
Roughly 22 million have now sought jobless benefits in the past month – easily the worst stretch of U.S. job losses on record .
It means that roughly 1 in 7 workers have lost their jobs in that time .
The grim figures point to an economy that is tumbling into what appears to be a calamitous recession , the worst in decades .
The nation 's output @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it starts to rebound , according to Ryan Sweet , an economist at Moody 's Analytics .
That would be more than double the contraction that occurred during the 2008-2009 recession , which was the worst downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s .
All businesses deemed nonessential have been closed in nearly every state .
Deep job losses have been inflicted across nearly every industry .
Some economists say the unemployment rate could reach as high as 20 % in April , which would be the highest rate since the Depression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 % during the Great Recession .
Layoffs are spreading well beyond service industries like hotels , restaurants , retail stores , and entertainment , which have absorbed the brunt of the job cuts , into white collar professional occupations , including software programmers , legal assistants , and sales people .
Workers in other occupations , like construction , are also suffering .
Up to 50 million jobs are vulnerable to coronavirus-related layoffs , economists say – about one-third of all positions in the United States .
That figure is based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-essential by state and federal governments and that can not be done from home .
It 's unlikely that all those workers will be laid off or file for unemployment benefits .
But it suggests the extraordinary magnitude of unemployment that could result from the pandemic .
`` This crisis combines the scale of a national economic downturn with the pace of a natural disaster , '' said Daniel Zhao , senior economist at Glassdoor .
`` And that 's really unprecedented in American economic history . ''
All told , nearly 12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , essentially matching the peak reached in January 2010 , shortly after the Great Recession officially ended .
That figure is less than the number of applicants in part because it lags behind the number of first-time jobless claims figure by a week .
And many people who apply for unemployment aid are turned down and do n't actually receive checks .
Other recent reports have contributed to the grim economic picture .
Sales at stores and restaurants fell by the most on record in March , the government said Wednesday .
U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1946 .
And home building plunged 22 % in March from the previous month .
Retailers and other service companies keep cutting jobs .
The electronics chain Best Buy said this week that it will furlough 51,000 of its hourly employees , including nearly all its part-time workers .
Royal Caribbean Cruises will cut one-quarter of its 5,000 corporate employees .
But now , job losses are not only deepening but also broadening , a trend that is sure to continue the longer the economic downturn lasts .
The software company Toast , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week cut half its workforce – 1,300 people – citing a dizzying drop in restaurant sales .
Yelp , the customer review site , cut 1,000 jobs .
Groupon , the online discount company , shed 2,800 .
Some law firms have been forced to reduce their staffs , too .
One victim was Fern Weinbaum who was furloughed last month from her job as a legal secretary at a small law firm in Manhattan .
Ms. Weinbaum still has n't received her unemployment benefits , which she is counting on to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,100 .
`` I am very anxious , I need the money , '' she said .
`` It 's very frustrating . ''
Employee discussions of layoffs on Mr. Zhao 's website have jumped 47 % among information technology firms and 64 % in finance , he said .
Such discussions have nearly doubled among workers in health care .
That 's no longer surprising : Many doctors ' offices and other health providers have cut back on nonessential procedures , and some are cutting staff .
Some state unemployment agencies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through backlogs , suggesting that the claims figures will likely remain high in the coming weeks .
Connecticut 's labor department said this week that it had processed roughly half the nearly 350,000 applications for jobless benefits it had received in the past month .
That 's usually the amount it typically receives in two years .
In most states , self-employed , freelance , and gig workers are n't yet able to file applications for unemployment aid under new rules enacted by the federal government 's $ 2.2 trillion economic relief package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to those categories of workers for the first time .
But most states have to establish new systems to handle their jobless claims .
That 's become a problem for people like Celia Rocha who lost what she called her `` dream job '' as a studio assistant to an artist in Los Angeles after California ordered all non-essential businesses to close last month .
Ms. Rocha , who had worked as a contractor for three years , said she applied for benefits but was inexplicably turned down .
When she has called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions , she has received only a recording directing her to the website .
`` It 's really frustrating that you ca n't talk to someone and have your questions answered , '' Ms. Rocha said .
`` There 's no information about when we can apply for this '' on the state 's website .
On Wednesday , California said it was intending to have a website for the self-employed and contractors active by Monday .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

The wave of layoffs that has engulfed the U.S. economy since the coronavirus struck has forced 5.2 million more people to seek unemployment benefits last week, the government reported Thursday.
Roughly 22 million have now sought jobless benefits in the past month – easily the worst stretch of U.S. job losses on record. It means that roughly 1 in 7 workers have lost their jobs in that time.
The grim figures point to an economy that is tumbling into what appears to be a calamitous recession, the worst in decades. The nation's output could shrink by roughly 10.5% before it starts to rebound, according to Ryan Sweet, an economist at Moody's Analytics. That would be more than double the contraction that occurred during the 2008-2009 recession, which was the worst downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
All businesses deemed nonessential have been closed in nearly every state. Deep job losses have been inflicted across nearly every industry. Some economists say the unemployment rate could reach as high as 20% in April, which would be the highest rate since the Depression. By comparison, unemployment never topped 10% during the Great Recession.
Layoffs are spreading well beyond service industries like hotels, restaurants, retail stores, and entertainment, which have absorbed the brunt of the job cuts, into white collar professional occupations, including software programmers, legal assistants, and sales people. Workers in other occupations, like construction, are also suffering.
Up to 50 million jobs are vulnerable to coronavirus-related layoffs, economists say – about one-third of all positions in the United States. That figure is based on a calculation of jobs that are deemed non-essential by state and federal governments and that cannot be done from home.
It's unlikely that all those workers will be laid off or file for unemployment benefits. But it suggests the extraordinary magnitude of unemployment that could result from the pandemic.
"This crisis combines the scale of a national economic downturn with the pace of a natural disaster," said Daniel Zhao, senior economist at Glassdoor. "And that's really unprecedented in American economic history."
All told, nearly 12 million people are now receiving unemployment checks, essentially matching the peak reached in January 2010, shortly after the Great Recession officially ended. That figure is less than the number of applicants in part because it lags behind the number of first-time jobless claims figure by a week. And many people who apply for unemployment aid are turned down and don't actually receive checks.
Other recent reports have contributed to the grim economic picture. Sales at stores and restaurants fell by the most on record in March, the government said Wednesday. U.S. industrial output fell by the most since 1946. And home building plunged 22% in March from the previous month.
Retailers and other service companies keep cutting jobs. The electronics chain Best Buy said this week that it will furlough 51,000 of its hourly employees, including nearly all its part-time workers. Royal Caribbean Cruises will cut one-quarter of its 5,000 corporate employees.
But now, job losses are not only deepening but also broadening, a trend that is sure to continue the longer the economic downturn lasts. The software company Toast, which works with the restaurant industry, last week cut half its workforce – 1,300 people – citing a dizzying drop in restaurant sales. Yelp, the customer review site, cut 1,000 jobs. Groupon, the online discount company, shed 2,800.
Some law firms have been forced to reduce their staffs, too. One victim was Fern Weinbaum who was furloughed last month from her job as a legal secretary at a small law firm in Manhattan. Ms. Weinbaum still hasn't received her unemployment benefits, which she is counting on to help pay her monthly rent of $1,100.
"I am very anxious, I need the money," she said. "It's very frustrating."
Employee discussions of layoffs on Mr. Zhao's website have jumped 47% among information technology firms and 64% in finance, he said. Such discussions have nearly doubled among workers in health care. That's no longer surprising: Many doctors' offices and other health providers have cut back on nonessential procedures, and some are cutting staff.
Some state unemployment agencies, swamped by applications, are still working through backlogs, suggesting that the claims figures will likely remain high in the coming weeks.
Connecticut's labor department said this week that it had processed roughly half the nearly 350,000 applications for jobless benefits it had received in the past month. That's usually the amount it typically receives in two years.
In most states, self-employed, freelance, and gig workers aren't yet able to file applications for unemployment aid under new rules enacted by the federal government's $2.2 trillion economic relief package. That legislation extended eligibility for aid to those categories of workers for the first time. But most states have to establish new systems to handle their jobless claims.
That's become a problem for people like Celia Rocha who lost what she called her "dream job" as a studio assistant to an artist in Los Angeles after California ordered all non-essential businesses to close last month. Ms. Rocha, who had worked as a contractor for three years, said she applied for benefits but was inexplicably turned down. When she has called the state's phone line to ask questions, she has received only a recording directing her to the website.
"It's really frustrating that you can't talk to someone and have your questions answered," Ms. Rocha said. "There's no information about when we can apply for this" on the state's website.
On Wednesday, California said it was intending to have a website for the self-employed and contractors active by Monday.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-04-28--'Wash the Hate,' Asian celebrities combat COVID-19 racism

Actress Olivia Cheng was recently volunteering in Vancouver when she says she witnessed a man drive up to an elderly Chinese woman , roll down his window and yell , `` This is your fault ! ''
before throwing trash at her .
The incident enraged Ms. Cheng , and also served as another reason why she feels it 's so important for celebrities of Asian descent to use their voices and speak up against anti-Asian attacks , which authorities say are increasing during the coronavirus pandemic .
`` I do n't think we can pretend that this is n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stars in `` The Stand '' on CBS All Access , said in a recent interview with The Associated Press .
`` For now , it would not be unwise to be a little more careful , to maybe have buddy systems when possible to go get your groceries if you 're not feeling safe . ''
The FBI reports there has been an uptick in hate crimes and harassment against Asian Americans since the outbreak of COVID-19 , which first appeared in Wuhan , China , late last year .
Some people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the spread of coronavirus ; President Donald Trump at times has called it the `` Chinese virus . ''
In New York , state Attorney General Letitia James has set up a hotline to report harassment or other targeted crime .
Some of those incidents have been filmed and posted online .
`` Tigertail '' star Tzi Ma says he 's been a victim of such harassment .
He was entering a grocery store in Pasadena , California , recently when he was confronted by a man in a car .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eye and said , 'You should be quarantined ' and took off , '' said the veteran actor , who was born in Hong Kong but moved to the United States as a child .
`` I got very angry obviously , flush with this kind of cold in your body .
And I started screaming at him , but he was way too far away for him to hear me . ''
Actor Alain Uy , a star of the upcoming Hulu series `` Marvel 's Helstrom , '' worried early on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus ' spread .
`` Once this outbreak happened in Wuhan , we all kind of went , 'OK , we know what this is gon na mean , ' '' said the actor , who was born in the Philippines .
`` Crazy Rich Asians '' director Jon M. Chu said he 's been feeling more cautious than usual .
`` It 's very sad when I feel a little bit weird when I 'm going to go for a walk around the block , '' he said .
`` The Real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is half-Vietnamese and half-Chinese , revealed recently that for the first time , she needed someone to monitor her social media posts to delete racist comments .
`` The Good Doctor '' actor Will Yun Lee is even nervous about taking his baby son to the grocery store : `` My wife is Caucasian , but my son is half Korean and half white .
But he looks very Asian . ''
But Mr. Ma and other stars are speaking up and working to combat the ignorance and harassment .
Mr. Ma joined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influencers in the recent campaign called `` Wash the Hate , `` created by IW Group , an Asian American-focused marketing agency .
The PSA features Mr. Ma , Ms .
Au , and others washing their hands and reminding people that hygiene , not xenophobia , is the way to help combat the virus .
`` If I can start the conversation , why not ? '
said Ms .
Au , who was also born in Hong Kong .
`` If we do n't talk about it , then it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all . ''
For Ms. Cheng , the recent wave of anti-Asian sentiment brought back painful memories of her childhood growing up in Edmonton , Canada , where she was the victim of a bias attack as a teen .
She went down an internet rabbit hole of attacks posted online .
`` I had to stop watching , '' she said .
`` It brought up all those feelings again from being a kid and not being able to do anything . ''
Ms. Mai says that it 's not only important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these attacks , but people of other races as well .
`` These are the conversations you need to be having with your kids in your house .
You need to , even if you 're not Chinese .
You should be explaining that this is terrible , that racism is coming out of this pandemic , '' she said .
`` So , have that talk with your kid .
Have that talk with your friends .
If one of your friends says , 'Yo , this 'Chinese Virus ' is crazy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , man it 's called COVID-19 .
It 's not the 'Chinese Virus . ''
Just check them . ''
Earlier this month , Bill Maher , host of HBO 's `` Real Time with Bill Maher , '' defended calling coronavirus the `` Chinese Virus , '' comparing it to the Spanish flu .
`` While people say it 's innocuous and that it came from China , it 's the undertones , '' Mr. Lee said .
`` Certain people will grab those undertones and attach to it . ''
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentiment could translate to a regression in Hollywood after recent success of telling Asian stories .
This year , the South Korean film `` Parasite '' won the best picture Oscar , and Chinese-American director Lulu Wang took home the Independent Spirit Award for her film , `` The Farewell . ''
`` Crazy Rich Asians '' was a hit at the box office in 2018 and last year , Sandra Oh became the first Asian woman in 39 years to win the best leading TV actress Golden Globe for `` Killing Eve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this going to impact our chances so soon after it feels like we finally made inroads ? ''
Ms. Cheng said .
`` Is this going to regress us and put us however many steps back ? ''
Mr. Ma says the only way to proceed is to keep putting out diverse stories .
`` There 's no relenting .
We 'll keep moving forward .
And hopefully one day , people are going to say , 'You know what ?
I not only accept the differences , but I also accept the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . '
'' This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Actress Olivia Cheng was recently volunteering in Vancouver when she says she witnessed a man drive up to an elderly Chinese woman, roll down his window and yell, "This is your fault!" before throwing trash at her.
The incident enraged Ms. Cheng, and also served as another reason why she feels it's so important for celebrities of Asian descent to use their voices and speak up against anti-Asian attacks, which authorities say are increasing during the coronavirus pandemic.
"I don't think we can pretend that this isn't happening," Ms. Cheng, who stars in "The Stand" on CBS All Access, said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. "For now, it would not be unwise to be a little more careful, to maybe have buddy systems when possible to go get your groceries if you're not feeling safe."
The FBI reports there has been an uptick in hate crimes and harassment against Asian Americans since the outbreak of COVID-19, which first appeared in Wuhan, China, late last year.
Some people have blamed China and Asians in general for the spread of coronavirus; President Donald Trump at times has called it the "Chinese virus."
In New York, state Attorney General Letitia James has set up a hotline to report harassment or other targeted crime. Some of those incidents have been filmed and posted online.
"Tigertail" star Tzi Ma says he's been a victim of such harassment. He was entering a grocery store in Pasadena, California, recently when he was confronted by a man in a car.
"He looked at me straight in the eye and said, 'You should be quarantined' and took off," said the veteran actor, who was born in Hong Kong but moved to the United States as a child.
"I got very angry obviously, flush with this kind of cold in your body. And I started screaming at him, but he was way too far away for him to hear me."
Actor Alain Uy, a star of the upcoming Hulu series "Marvel's Helstrom," worried early on that such incidents would occur after the virus' spread.
"Once this outbreak happened in Wuhan, we all kind of went, 'OK, we know what this is gonna mean,'" said the actor, who was born in the Philippines.
"Crazy Rich Asians" director Jon M. Chu said he's been feeling more cautious than usual.
"It's very sad when I feel a little bit weird when I'm going to go for a walk around the block," he said.
"The Real" co-host, Jeannie Mai, who is half-Vietnamese and half-Chinese, revealed recently that for the first time, she needed someone to monitor her social media posts to delete racist comments.
"The Good Doctor" actor Will Yun Lee is even nervous about taking his baby son to the grocery store: "My wife is Caucasian, but my son is half Korean and half white. But he looks very Asian."
But Mr. Ma and other stars are speaking up and working to combat the ignorance and harassment. Mr. Ma joined actress Celia Au and other celebrities and influencers in the recent campaign called "Wash the Hate, " created by IW Group, an Asian American-focused marketing agency. The PSA features Mr. Ma, Ms. Au, and others washing their hands and reminding people that hygiene, not xenophobia, is the way to help combat the virus.
"If I can start the conversation, why not?' said Ms. Au, who was also born in Hong Kong. "If we don't talk about it, then it's not going to be talked about at all."
For Ms. Cheng, the recent wave of anti-Asian sentiment brought back painful memories of her childhood growing up in Edmonton, Canada, where she was the victim of a bias attack as a teen.
She went down an internet rabbit hole of attacks posted online. "I had to stop watching," she said. "It brought up all those feelings again from being a kid and not being able to do anything."
Ms. Mai says that it's not only important for Asian stars to speak out against these attacks, but people of other races as well.
"These are the conversations you need to be having with your kids in your house. You need to, even if you're not Chinese. You should be explaining that this is terrible, that racism is coming out of this pandemic," she said. "So, have that talk with your kid. Have that talk with your friends. If one of your friends says, 'Yo, this 'Chinese Virus' is crazy.' Say, 'No. Actually, man it's called COVID-19. It's not the 'Chinese Virus.'' Just check them."
Earlier this month, Bill Maher, host of HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher," defended calling coronavirus the "Chinese Virus," comparing it to the Spanish flu.
"While people say it's innocuous and that it came from China, it's the undertones," Mr. Lee said. "Certain people will grab those undertones and attach to it."
There's also a worry that anti-Asian American sentiment could translate to a regression in Hollywood after recent success of telling Asian stories.
This year, the South Korean film "Parasite" won the best picture Oscar, and Chinese-American director Lulu Wang took home the Independent Spirit Award for her film, "The Farewell." "Crazy Rich Asians" was a hit at the box office in 2018 and last year, Sandra Oh became the first Asian woman in 39 years to win the best leading TV actress Golden Globe for "Killing Eve."
"I worry, is this going to impact our chances so soon after it feels like we finally made inroads?" Ms. Cheng said. "Is this going to regress us and put us however many steps back?"
Mr. Ma says the only way to proceed is to keep putting out diverse stories.
"There's no relenting. We'll keep moving forward. And hopefully one day, people are going to say, 'You know what? I not only accept the differences, but I also accept the fact that we're very much alike.'"
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-04-28--Of plovers and pandemics: Reflections on resilience from Sandy Point

Perhaps if we learn how to mend our ways and live more lightly on the land we too may survive for another 10,000 years .
Gradually I noticed the quiet whistles of a pair of piping plover , exuberant they had survived the ravages of last night ’ s storm .
Suddenly it dawned on me .
Now it is these fragile piping plover who seem so resilient and well adapted to their environment .
And it is we humans who seem so ill-equipped to survive this viral storm .
Last night ’ s winds had rolled the dunes 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now tranquil and the tide pools reflect a more cobalt sky .
Our species was in the throes of the coronavirus pandemic , but here was nature heralding a new day .
The morning started with the cries of a pair of courting osprey wheeling and diving overhead .
Our species was in the throes of the coronavirus pandemic but here was nature heralding a new day .
Tide pools glittered with the golden shards of the rising sun .
Last night ’ s winds had rolled the dunes 30 feet back , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new sand .
The storm had also flattened the beach , which was gullied and strewn with piles of straw lifted off the neighboring marshes by the night ’ s 10-foot high tides .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
But the beach is now tranquil and the tide pools reflect a more cobalt sky , noticeably lacking the contrails of aircraft thundering toward the achingly empty Logan airport .
A smattering of people walk along the shore in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rework the land during a single storm .
It is shocking to look across the sound and see no one walking on Sandy Point .
Massachusetts has closed its parks and beaches to ensure social distancing , and the storm has undermined another stalwart house farther up on Plum Island .
Waves had kicked surf clams out of the offshore sediments and strewn them on the shore , where seagulls were trying to figure out how to fly off with such heavy larder .
I was happy to relieve them of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my stash of oysters and mussels untouched by human hands .
This was my new coronavirus shopping .
Gradually I noticed the quiet whistles of a pair of piping plover , exuberant they had survived the ravages of last night ’ s storm .
They picked through the piles of wrack line and explored the new runnels gullying the beach as their ancestors had done for hundreds of thousands of years .
Suddenly it dawned on me .
Now it is these fragile piping plover who seem so resilient and well adapted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humans who seem so ill-equipped to survive this viral storm .
Are we the more endangered species ?
Perhaps if we learn how to mend our ways and live more lightly on the land we too may survive for another 10,000 years .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

As the coronavirus pandemic disrupts nearly every aspect of human life, one writer finds comfort in the natural rhythms of the earth.
Perhaps if we learn how to mend our ways and live more lightly on the land we too may survive for another 10,000 years.
Gradually I noticed the quiet whistles of a pair of piping plover, exuberant they had survived the ravages of last night’s storm. Suddenly it dawned on me. Now it is these fragile piping plover who seem so resilient and well adapted to their environment. And it is we humans who seem so ill-equipped to survive this viral storm.
Last night’s winds had rolled the dunes 30 feet back. But the beach is now tranquil and the tide pools reflect a more cobalt sky. Our species was in the throes of the coronavirus pandemic, but here was nature heralding a new day.
The morning started with the cries of a pair of courting osprey wheeling and diving overhead.
Our species was in the throes of the coronavirus pandemic but here was nature heralding a new day.
Tide pools glittered with the golden shards of the rising sun. Last night’s winds had rolled the dunes 30 feet back, burying the boardwalk under four feet of new sand. The storm had also flattened the beach, which was gullied and strewn with piles of straw lifted off the neighboring marshes by the night’s 10-foot high tides.
Why We Wrote This As the coronavirus pandemic disrupts nearly every aspect of human life, one writer finds comfort in the natural rhythms of the earth.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
But the beach is now tranquil and the tide pools reflect a more cobalt sky, noticeably lacking the contrails of aircraft thundering toward the achingly empty Logan airport.
A smattering of people walk along the shore in quiet awe of nature’s power to rework the land during a single storm.
It is shocking to look across the sound and see no one walking on Sandy Point. Massachusetts has closed its parks and beaches to ensure social distancing, and the storm has undermined another stalwart house farther up on Plum Island.
Waves had kicked surf clams out of the offshore sediments and strewn them on the shore, where seagulls were trying to figure out how to fly off with such heavy larder. I was happy to relieve them of their burden. I would add it to my stash of oysters and mussels untouched by human hands. This was my new coronavirus shopping.
Gradually I noticed the quiet whistles of a pair of piping plover, exuberant they had survived the ravages of last night’s storm. They picked through the piles of wrack line and explored the new runnels gullying the beach as their ancestors had done for hundreds of thousands of years.
Suddenly it dawned on me. Now it is these fragile piping plover who seem so resilient and well adapted to their environment. And it is we humans who seem so ill-equipped to survive this viral storm. Are we the more endangered species?
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Perhaps if we learn how to mend our ways and live more lightly on the land we too may survive for another 10,000 years.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-04-28--The Fed's global role in making people ‘whole’

The COVID-19 pandemic is certainly global but so has been the economic fallout .
An estimated 81 % of the world ’ s workforce has been idled .
The response to both crises has largely been led by each nation ’ s government .
People naturally look to their civic leaders for solutions .
In the United States , that is true – except for one institution that has had to do far more .
Starting in mid-March , the Federal Reserve decided to go beyond its mandate as America ’ s central bank in ensuring adequate job growth and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take on debt – more than $ 4 trillion in recent weeks – it launched unprecedented programs to rescue both Wall Street and Main Street from the loss of customers and investments caused by the mass lockdown .
The Fed ’ s motive was clear : “ People are undertaking these sacrifices for the common good .
We need to make them whole , ” said Fed Chairman Jerome Powell in early April .
“ We should be doing that , as a society .
They didn ’ t cause this .
Their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything they did wrong .
They didn ’ t lose their job because of anything they did wrong.
” It turned out , however , that the Fed ’ s sentiment toward making Americans whole led to a decision to help others achieve the same .
With much of the world reliant on the U.S. dollar for international commerce , the Fed also had to deal with a panic in global financial markets .
All at once in March , both individuals and governments were seeking economic safety by trying to buy greenbacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stable currency .
The panic was like a bank run , one with potential blowback on the American economy .
The global dash for cash hit a record , according to the Institute of International Finance .
In addition , the financial consequences also threatened to hurt the struggle against the coronavirus in many countries that couldn ’ t pay their bills .
On the world stage , the Federal Reserve was suddenly seen as indispensable .
On March 15 , it opened up “ swap lines ” with 14 foreign central banks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollars into their economies , allowing a currency liquidity that would help quell financial fears .
But that was not enough .
Later , nine more countries were given access to dollars .
By March 31 , many more countries were included in a special program to let them “ repurchase ” dollars .
With its great advantage as keeper of the preferred currency , the U.S. had to recognize its responsibility to the rest of the world .
Today , much of the world economy still faces a severe slowdown .
Yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Fed ’ s decision to be an emergency backstop for the world , not just for the U.S. , was critical .
By lifting up others abroad , it prevented a worse situation for Americans .
When so many nations were looking inward during the crisis , the Fed ’ s actions are a reminder of a universal call to make people “ whole .
”

The COVID-19 pandemic is certainly global but so has been the economic fallout. An estimated 81% of the world’s workforce has been idled. The response to both crises has largely been led by each nation’s government. People naturally look to their civic leaders for solutions. In the United States, that is true – except for one institution that has had to do far more.
Starting in mid-March, the Federal Reserve decided to go beyond its mandate as America’s central bank in ensuring adequate job growth and safe inflation. With its ability to take on debt – more than $4 trillion in recent weeks – it launched unprecedented programs to rescue both Wall Street and Main Street from the loss of customers and investments caused by the mass lockdown.
The Fed’s motive was clear: “People are undertaking these sacrifices for the common good. We need to make them whole,” said Fed Chairman Jerome Powell in early April.
“We should be doing that, as a society. They didn’t cause this. Their business isn’t closed because of anything they did wrong. They didn’t lose their job because of anything they did wrong.”
It turned out, however, that the Fed’s sentiment toward making Americans whole led to a decision to help others achieve the same.
With much of the world reliant on the U.S. dollar for international commerce, the Fed also had to deal with a panic in global financial markets. All at once in March, both individuals and governments were seeking economic safety by trying to buy greenbacks, long the world’s most stable currency.
The panic was like a bank run, one with potential blowback on the American economy. The global dash for cash hit a record, according to the Institute of International Finance. In addition, the financial consequences also threatened to hurt the struggle against the coronavirus in many countries that couldn’t pay their bills.
On the world stage, the Federal Reserve was suddenly seen as indispensable. On March 15, it opened up “swap lines” with 14 foreign central banks. This allowed them to inject additional dollars into their economies, allowing a currency liquidity that would help quell financial fears.
But that was not enough. Later, nine more countries were given access to dollars. By March 31, many more countries were included in a special program to let them “repurchase” dollars. With its great advantage as keeper of the preferred currency, the U.S. had to recognize its responsibility to the rest of the world.
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Today, much of the world economy still faces a severe slowdown. Yet the financial panic is largely gone. The Fed’s decision to be an emergency backstop for the world, not just for the U.S., was critical. By lifting up others abroad, it prevented a worse situation for Americans.
When so many nations were looking inward during the crisis, the Fed’s actions are a reminder of a universal call to make people “whole.”


csmonitor--2020-05-28--US spelling bee canceled, but the spelling will go on(line)

Like dozens of other veteran spellers in their final year of eligibility , Anson Cook had big plans for this year 's Scripps National Spelling Bee , which was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The 13-year-old eighth-grader from Potomac , Maryland , was a two-time participant in the bee , and last year he finished in a tie for 41st .
His objective was to make it into the top 12 or so who participate in the prime-time , ESPN-televised finals .
`` My goal for 2020 was to make it to the finals of Scripps .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do I do now ? '
And now I 've achieved that goal , '' Anson said .
He reached his goal by becoming one of the 16 finalists in the SpellPundit National Online Spelling Bee , a new event created by two teenage ex-spellers to fill the void left by the cancellation and give eighth-graders one last chance to compete .
The National Spelling Bee has always been limited to kids in middle and elementary school , and Scripps has said it will not extend eligibility to allow ninth-graders to participate next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spellers competing from their homes over Zoom , concludes Thursday night , the same time the Scripps winner would have been decided .
The champion receives $ 2,500 , a pittance compared to the National Spelling Bee 's first prize of $ 50,000 , but worth a middle-schooler 's time and effort all the same .
Most of the spellers who would have been favorites at the national bee quickly signed up , including the top three still-eligible finishers from last year .
The bee pronouncers and judges are all recent ex-spellers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runner-up , and Sohum Sukhantankar , one of last year 's eight champions .
Yes , eight : Last year 's Scripps bee ended in an eight-way tie when organizers ran out of words difficult enough to challenge the best spellers .
SpellPundit co-founder Shourav Dasari pledged that would not happen with his bee , and so far the words have been plenty tough .
In a semifinal round on Wednesday night , six out of seven competitors spelled their words incorrectly , forcing a tiebreaker among the six who missed to fill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Remer , a private spelling coach and author of the book `` Words of Wisdom : Keys to Success in the Scripps National Spelling Bee , '' said he was impressed with the SpellPundit word list because it has been consistently tough enough to knock out some , but not all , spellers in a round .
`` Every year as I tutor kids I 'm constantly finding new words , not just new words but new words that are difficult , have interesting definitions , are an appropriate length – words that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Remer said .
`` I do n't think the problem is that those sorts of spelling bee words do n't exist . ''
The semifinal rounds of the SpellPundit bee ran relatively smoothly on Tuesday and Wednesday , aside from the occasional audio glitch .
And the organizers were accountable for their shortcomings – when they failed to give one of two languages of origin to Atman Balakrishnan , he appealed , and was granted a new word .
He misspelled that word , too .
Because there is no way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bee is operating on an honor system .
Spellers are instructed to be alone in a room with only a laptop or desktop computer , and to keep their hands in view of the camera while spelling .
That requirement led to some odd body language , with many spellers adopting a pose of surrender with hands up and palms forward .
Anson said spellers are accustomed to being ill at ease .
`` It is uncomfortable , '' he said , `` but I do n't think it 's any more uncomfortable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harbor with hundreds of people in the audience . ''
Some eighth-graders , their parents , and other supporters are not giving up on the dream of competing in the real National Spelling Bee , which is held at the National Harbor complex just outside Washington .
They have tried to pressure Scripps to extend their eligibility or host an alternative bee with an online petition , an op-ed published in The Guardian and television appearances .
Scripps has been noting the achievements of eighth-graders by posting their accomplishments on the bee website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ YouTube .
The gestures hardly filled the void of Bee Week , an immersive , exhilarating experience for spellers and their families that many describe as a highlight of their young lives .
Kimmie Collins , an ex-speller who had planned to volunteer at the bee this year , summed up the feelings of loss in a letter to spellers she posted on social media .
`` I could n't wait to meet you all , to be amazed at how brilliant , gorgeous , talented and fabulous you are , '' Ms. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four years , I 've been yearning to feel that same electricity as the Maryland Ballroom during the Championship Finals because nothing can compare to the camaraderie felt on that night . ''
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Like dozens of other veteran spellers in their final year of eligibility, Anson Cook had big plans for this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee, which was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The 13-year-old eighth-grader from Potomac, Maryland, was a two-time participant in the bee, and last year he finished in a tie for 41st. His objective was to make it into the top 12 or so who participate in the prime-time, ESPN-televised finals.
"My goal for 2020 was to make it to the finals of Scripps. After the cancellation I was like, 'What do I do now?' And now I've achieved that goal," Anson said.
He reached his goal by becoming one of the 16 finalists in the SpellPundit National Online Spelling Bee, a new event created by two teenage ex-spellers to fill the void left by the cancellation and give eighth-graders one last chance to compete. The National Spelling Bee has always been limited to kids in middle and elementary school, and Scripps has said it will not extend eligibility to allow ninth-graders to participate next year.
The SpellPundit bee, with spellers competing from their homes over Zoom, concludes Thursday night, the same time the Scripps winner would have been decided. The champion receives $2,500, a pittance compared to the National Spelling Bee's first prize of $50,000, but worth a middle-schooler's time and effort all the same.
Most of the spellers who would have been favorites at the national bee quickly signed up, including the top three still-eligible finishers from last year. The bee pronouncers and judges are all recent ex-spellers, including Naysa Modi, the 2018 Scripps runner-up, and Sohum Sukhantankar, one of last year's eight champions.
Yes, eight: Last year's Scripps bee ended in an eight-way tie when organizers ran out of words difficult enough to challenge the best spellers. SpellPundit co-founder Shourav Dasari pledged that would not happen with his bee, and so far the words have been plenty tough. In a semifinal round on Wednesday night, six out of seven competitors spelled their words incorrectly, forcing a tiebreaker among the six who missed to fill three spots in the finals.
Scott Remer, a private spelling coach and author of the book "Words of Wisdom: Keys to Success in the Scripps National Spelling Bee," said he was impressed with the SpellPundit word list because it has been consistently tough enough to knock out some, but not all, spellers in a round.
"Every year as I tutor kids I'm constantly finding new words, not just new words but new words that are difficult, have interesting definitions, are an appropriate length – words that are perfect spelling bee words," Mr. Remer said. "I don't think the problem is that those sorts of spelling bee words don't exist."
The semifinal rounds of the SpellPundit bee ran relatively smoothly on Tuesday and Wednesday, aside from the occasional audio glitch. And the organizers were accountable for their shortcomings – when they failed to give one of two languages of origin to Atman Balakrishnan, he appealed, and was granted a new word. He misspelled that word, too.
Because there is no way to guarantee spellers aren't cheating, the bee is operating on an honor system. Spellers are instructed to be alone in a room with only a laptop or desktop computer, and to keep their hands in view of the camera while spelling. That requirement led to some odd body language, with many spellers adopting a pose of surrender with hands up and palms forward.
Anson said spellers are accustomed to being ill at ease.
"It is uncomfortable," he said, "but I don't think it's any more uncomfortable than standing on a stage in National Harbor with hundreds of people in the audience."
Some eighth-graders, their parents, and other supporters are not giving up on the dream of competing in the real National Spelling Bee, which is held at the National Harbor complex just outside Washington. They have tried to pressure Scripps to extend their eligibility or host an alternative bee with an online petition, an op-ed published in The Guardian and television appearances.
Scripps has been noting the achievements of eighth-graders by posting their accomplishments on the bee website and heralding them on social media and YouTube. The gestures hardly filled the void of Bee Week, an immersive, exhilarating experience for spellers and their families that many describe as a highlight of their young lives.
Kimmie Collins, an ex-speller who had planned to volunteer at the bee this year, summed up the feelings of loss in a letter to spellers she posted on social media.
"I couldn't wait to meet you all, to be amazed at how brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous you are," Ms. Collins wrote. "For the last four years, I've been yearning to feel that same electricity as the Maryland Ballroom during the Championship Finals because nothing can compare to the camaraderie felt on that night."
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-03-18--Saudi opening: How tourism is breaking down social barriers

A year ago , Minza Al-Rmothi had never held a job or even spoken to a man outside her family .
“ I used to ask my father , ‘ Who built these houses , who carved these rocks ?
’ and he didn ’ t have a real answer , ” she says .
“ Now I am the one with the answers.
” The epicenter of this shift to tourism is in Al Ula , a small , arid , date palm-producing oasis town in the middle of a rugged desert in western Saudi Arabia .
The area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made by Nabateans 2,000 years ago .
The UNESCO World Heritage site was once a trade center on the spice route .
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hopes to raise tourism ’ s share of GDP and create up to 500,000 jobs for Saudis in the industry .
But as the once-closed country launches itself as a destination , perhaps the most remarkable sights to be seen are the changes being made to society .
“ Saudi Arabia ” and “ vacation ” are not words that often go together for Westerners .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ past three years preparing its archaeological and natural sites for tourists as part of its bid to wean the country ’ s economy off of oil .
Standing erect and proud , Minza Al-Rmothi addresses the Western tourists clustered around her .
“ Okay , everyone , any guesses what this is ?
” she asks , waving eagerly to the perfectly carved rectangular cave behind her .
“ This was a diwan , a gathering place to hear poetry , speeches , and music .
Think of it like a small theater.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ home entertainment system.
” The 27-year-old tour guide ’ s smile is hidden behind a full-face veil .
But her transformation is revealing .
One year ago , Ms. Al-Rmothi had never held a job or even spoken to a man outside her family .
“ I used to ask my father , ‘ Who built these houses ?
Who carved these rocks ?
’ and he didn ’ t have a real answer , ” says Ms. Al-Rmothi .
“ Now I am the one with the answers.
” As the once-closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself as a tourist destination , perhaps the most remarkable sights to be seen are the changes being made to society .
“ Saudi Arabia ” and “ vacation ” are not words that often go together for Westerners , but the kingdom has spent the past three years preparing its historical , archaeological , natural , and coastal sites for tourists in a bid to wean the country ’ s economy off of oil .
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ’ s vision is to increase tourism ’ s current share of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 % by 2030 and create from 400,000 to 500,000 jobs for Saudis in the industry .
The epicenter of this shift to tourism is here in Al Ula , a small , arid , date palm-producing oasis town in the middle of a rugged rock desert in western Saudi Arabia .
The area is home to Madain Saleh – with its rock-carved tombs and dwellings made by the Nabateans of Petra fame 2,000 years ago – once a trade center on the spice route .
Today , it stands as Saudi Arabia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Madain Saleh was something of a legend among travelers in the region .
There were no guidebooks , brochures , or tours .
The only way to get here was to obtain a highly prized work or pilgrimage visa , hire a driver , and know someone-who-knew-someone to arrange you a host in the town to show you the sites .
Now , it has all changed .
To jumpstart tourism , the palace formed a Royal Commission for Al Ula with a vast budget and special laws to stimulate decades of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The last two years have seen a brand-new airport , national parks and reserves , and new palm-lined luxury resorts nestled in the mountains .
The commission launched the Tantora Winter Festival , guiding international tourists and Saudi citizens to Al Ula through carefully organized tours on the sidelines of international concerts every weekend from January through March .
The greatest task was training a new generation of Saudis for careers in tourism and hospitality , overcoming centuries of conservative social norms .
The commission has trained 460 local residents as tour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 as chefs , and 10 as hospitality workers .
Wajdan Saud , 26 , says that before tourism , options were few in the conservative town of Bedouins and farmers .
“ There were only three options for women in Al Ula , ” she says .
“ You either become a teacher , a doctor , or you stay at home.
” Ms. Saud says she jumped at the chance to become a park ranger , having played hide-and-seek in the craggy rock-hewn valleys and tombs as a child .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world , ” Ms. Saud says , holding up a mobile app depicting outlines of Nabateans on the very rocks in front of her .
“ My family at first thought I was crazy ” she says .
“ Now I am the rock star of the family.
” Her family objected to her aspirations to become a guide , which would regularly place her in the company of unmarried male strangers .
They were horrified when they learned the training would take her abroad ; Saudi women were unable to travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until mid-2019 .
Yet amid a worsening economic landscape they relented , and last fall Ms. Al-Rmothi trained in Paris ; Sedona , Arizona ; and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates .
“ Before , I could not look a strange man in the eye , I could not speak in their presence !
” Ms. Al-Rmothi exclaims in exuberant disbelief , her arms waving in exclamation .
“ My voice would go silent.
” “ Now I can address anyone in the world .
I don ’ t have fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social shift is the fact that tourism is coming at a time of massive economic changes in the kingdom that have shaken every Saudi household to its core .
Government hiring has all but frozen ; subsidies , perks , and handouts to Saudi families have dried up .
New taxes are being imposed .
Rather than a government job and cradle-to-the-grave welfare , Saudis are suddenly expected to forge a career in the private sector .
Now no job can be written off as “ socially unacceptable.
” For years , Fahd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have hosted international travelers in their homes and acted as personal tour guides ; not for money , but as a personal duty and as dictated by Bedouin custom .
They are among many who are now looking to transform their down-home hospitality into a business .
In December , Mr. Al Bedeer , a primary school Islamic studies teacher , converted his 2.5-acre family farm and retreat into an Airbnb rental , one of the first in Al Ula .
Rather than offering an ultra-modern Western apartment , Mr. Al Bedeer decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-styled majlis , or rest house , common across Saudi Arabia .
It has two long , cushion-filled rooms and a fireplace , a detached bathroom and kitchen outside , all positioned perfectly to look out at the farm , cliffs , and desert beyond .
“ I figure that tourists traveling all the way to Saudi Arabia will want to experience something different ; to live our life and relax the way we relax , ” Mr. Al Bedeer says as he strolls among date palms and orange trees .
“ A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nature.
” Many here hope that international tourism can transform the town , he says .
“ Rather than us traveling abroad , this is a chance to bring people from different countries here to Saudi Arabia to break down barriers.
” But social customs and norms are not the only obstacles Saudi Arabia has had to clear in order bring tourism to life .
As recently as 2016 , the kingdom itself discouraged the promotion of pre-Islamic archeological sites even at home , for fears of encouraging “ idol worship.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by many Saudis to be Thamud , a people and town cited in the Quran that , like Sodom and Gomorrah , was destroyed by God for their decadence , idol worship , and defiance .
For many Saudis outside Al Ula , these were – and continue to be – cursed grounds .
“ There is a saying by the prophet Mohammad , don ’ t stop by these grounds – flee from them , ” says Abdullah , a Riyadh businessman .
“ They shouldn ’ t promote this site , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerts there.
” To be sure , the full rollout of Saudi tourism – planned for October 2020 – is being delayed by the coronavirus pandemic , which led the Saudis to suspend the entry of tourists in March .
But the country is using the time to build up its tourism talent and infrastructure .
Last week , officials authorized the development of southern Al Ula for hotels and tourism businesses .
And the launch of the winter festival and carefully orchestrated social media campaigns by international “ influencers ” invited by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mohammed Abdullah , 22 , a recent engineering graduate , decided to visit the site for the first time with his two childhood friends .
“ We had never even heard of Al Ula or knew that Madain Saleh was here and could be visited , ” he says as he uploads a photo of rock paintings to his Instagram .
“ My friends everywhere are asking me : Where is this amazing place ?
I am telling them , it ’ s here in Saudi .
”

A year ago, Minza Al-Rmothi had never held a job or even spoken to a man outside her family. “I used to ask my father, ‘Who built these houses, who carved these rocks?’ and he didn’t have a real answer,” she says. “Now I am the one with the answers.”
The epicenter of this shift to tourism is in Al Ula, a small, arid, date palm-producing oasis town in the middle of a rugged desert in western Saudi Arabia. The area is home to rock-carved tombs and dwellings made by Nabateans 2,000 years ago. The UNESCO World Heritage site was once a trade center on the spice route.
Travel opens doors that swing in two directions. In the case of Saudi Arabia, the initiative to bring foreign tourists to previously inaccessible sites is creating groundbreaking opportunities for those who live there.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hopes to raise tourism’s share of GDP and create up to 500,000 jobs for Saudis in the industry. But as the once-closed country launches itself as a destination, perhaps the most remarkable sights to be seen are the changes being made to society.
“Saudi Arabia” and “vacation” are not words that often go together for Westerners. But the conservative kingdom has spent the past three years preparing its archaeological and natural sites for tourists as part of its bid to wean the country’s economy off of oil.
Standing erect and proud, Minza Al-Rmothi addresses the Western tourists clustered around her.
“Okay, everyone, any guesses what this is?” she asks, waving eagerly to the perfectly carved rectangular cave behind her. “This was a diwan, a gathering place to hear poetry, speeches, and music. Think of it like a small theater.” She laughs. “Or a home entertainment system.”
The 27-year-old tour guide’s smile is hidden behind a full-face veil. But her transformation is revealing.
Why We Wrote This Travel opens doors that swing in two directions. In the case of Saudi Arabia, the initiative to bring foreign tourists to previously inaccessible sites is creating groundbreaking opportunities for those who live there.
One year ago, Ms. Al-Rmothi had never held a job or even spoken to a man outside her family.
“I used to ask my father, ‘Who built these houses? Who carved these rocks?’ and he didn’t have a real answer,” says Ms. Al-Rmothi. “Now I am the one with the answers.”
As the once-closed Kingdom of Saudi Arabia attempts to launch itself as a tourist destination, perhaps the most remarkable sights to be seen are the changes being made to society.
“Saudi Arabia” and “vacation” are not words that often go together for Westerners, but the kingdom has spent the past three years preparing its historical, archaeological, natural, and coastal sites for tourists in a bid to wean the country’s economy off of oil.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision is to increase tourism’s current share of gross domestic product from 2% to 10% by 2030 and create from 400,000 to 500,000 jobs for Saudis in the industry.
World Heritage site
The epicenter of this shift to tourism is here in Al Ula, a small, arid, date palm-producing oasis town in the middle of a rugged rock desert in western Saudi Arabia.
The area is home to Madain Saleh – with its rock-carved tombs and dwellings made by the Nabateans of Petra fame 2,000 years ago – once a trade center on the spice route. Today, it stands as Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site.
Madain Saleh was something of a legend among travelers in the region. There were no guidebooks, brochures, or tours. The only way to get here was to obtain a highly prized work or pilgrimage visa, hire a driver, and know someone-who-knew-someone to arrange you a host in the town to show you the sites.
Now, it has all changed.
To jumpstart tourism, the palace formed a Royal Commission for Al Ula with a vast budget and special laws to stimulate decades of tourism development in a few short years.
The last two years have seen a brand-new airport, national parks and reserves, and new palm-lined luxury resorts nestled in the mountains.
Taylor Luck View caption Hide caption Young men from Al Ula greet tourists on horseback in traditional garb at the site of the 'Elephant Rock' in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia on February 29, 2020.
The commission launched the Tantora Winter Festival, guiding international tourists and Saudi citizens to Al Ula through carefully organized tours on the sidelines of international concerts every weekend from January through March.
The greatest task was training a new generation of Saudis for careers in tourism and hospitality, overcoming centuries of conservative social norms. The commission has trained 460 local residents as tour guides, 2,270 as park rangers, 24 as chefs, and 10 as hospitality workers.
For women, an opening
Wajdan Saud, 26, says that before tourism, options were few in the conservative town of Bedouins and farmers.
“There were only three options for women in Al Ula,” she says. “You either become a teacher, a doctor, or you stay at home.”
Ms. Saud says she jumped at the chance to become a park ranger, having played hide-and-seek in the craggy rock-hewn valleys and tombs as a child.
“I always wanted to share this with the world,” Ms. Saud says, holding up a mobile app depicting outlines of Nabateans on the very rocks in front of her.
“My family at first thought I was crazy” she says. “Now I am the rock star of the family.”
Ms. Al-Rmothi faced a steeper climb.
Her family objected to her aspirations to become a guide, which would regularly place her in the company of unmarried male strangers. They were horrified when they learned the training would take her abroad; Saudi women were unable to travel abroad without a male guardian or approval until mid-2019.
Yet amid a worsening economic landscape they relented, and last fall Ms. Al-Rmothi trained in Paris; Sedona, Arizona; and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
“Before, I could not look a strange man in the eye, I could not speak in their presence!” Ms. Al-Rmothi exclaims in exuberant disbelief, her arms waving in exclamation. “My voice would go silent.”
“Now I can address anyone in the world. I don’t have fear. I have pride.”
Business opportunities
Aiding this social shift is the fact that tourism is coming at a time of massive economic changes in the kingdom that have shaken every Saudi household to its core.
Government hiring has all but frozen; subsidies, perks, and handouts to Saudi families have dried up. New taxes are being imposed. Rather than a government job and cradle-to-the-grave welfare, Saudis are suddenly expected to forge a career in the private sector.
Now no job can be written off as “socially unacceptable.”
For years, Fahd Al Bedeer and his friend Abu Khaled have hosted international travelers in their homes and acted as personal tour guides; not for money, but as a personal duty and as dictated by Bedouin custom.
They are among many who are now looking to transform their down-home hospitality into a business.
Taylor Luck View caption Hide caption A Saudi folk troupe preforms a traditional song for visitors at Al Ula heritage village in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia, on February 29, 2020.
In December, Mr. Al Bedeer, a primary school Islamic studies teacher, converted his 2.5-acre family farm and retreat into an Airbnb rental, one of the first in Al Ula.
Rather than offering an ultra-modern Western apartment, Mr. Al Bedeer decided to keep the farm house as a self-styled majlis, or rest house, common across Saudi Arabia. It has two long, cushion-filled rooms and a fireplace, a detached bathroom and kitchen outside, all positioned perfectly to look out at the farm, cliffs, and desert beyond.
“I figure that tourists traveling all the way to Saudi Arabia will want to experience something different; to live our life and relax the way we relax,” Mr. Al Bedeer says as he strolls among date palms and orange trees. “A barbecue among the palm trees surrounded by nature.”
Many here hope that international tourism can transform the town, he says.
“Rather than us traveling abroad, this is a chance to bring people from different countries here to Saudi Arabia to break down barriers.”
Cursed grounds and coronavirus
But social customs and norms are not the only obstacles Saudi Arabia has had to clear in order bring tourism to life.
As recently as 2016, the kingdom itself discouraged the promotion of pre-Islamic archeological sites even at home, for fears of encouraging “idol worship.”
The site of Madain Saleh itself is believed by many Saudis to be Thamud, a people and town cited in the Quran that, like Sodom and Gomorrah, was destroyed by God for their decadence, idol worship, and defiance.
For many Saudis outside Al Ula, these were – and continue to be – cursed grounds.
“There is a saying by the prophet Mohammad, don’t stop by these grounds – flee from them,” says Abdullah, a Riyadh businessman. “They shouldn’t promote this site, and certainly shouldn’t be holding concerts there.”
To be sure, the full rollout of Saudi tourism – planned for October 2020 – is being delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, which led the Saudis to suspend the entry of tourists in March. But the country is using the time to build up its tourism talent and infrastructure. Last week, officials authorized the development of southern Al Ula for hotels and tourism businesses.
And the launch of the winter festival and carefully orchestrated social media campaigns by international “influencers” invited by the government has sparked interest among Saudis.
Mohammed Abdullah, 22, a recent engineering graduate, decided to visit the site for the first time with his two childhood friends.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“We had never even heard of Al Ula or knew that Madain Saleh was here and could be visited,” he says as he uploads a photo of rock paintings to his Instagram.
“My friends everywhere are asking me: Where is this amazing place? I am telling them, it’s here in Saudi.”


csmonitor--2020-03-18--Amid coronavirus, Iraq aims for a higher politics

With courage and elbow-bump caution , lawmakers around the world are trying to carry on their work during the pandemic .
The machinery of government still needs the grease of politics .
This is particularly true in Iraq where a 17-year attempt to establish a stable , secular parliamentary democracy in the heart of the Arab world shows new promise .
For six months Iraq ’ s politics has been in turmoil following grassroots protests .
Young people , still camped out in Baghdad ’ s Tahrir Square , are seeking corruption-free governance and an end to a system that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In addition , Iraq continues to be dragged into Iran ’ s maneuvers for influence in the Middle East and the United States ’ response to it .
In January , the U.S. assassinated Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani on Iraqi soil in retaliation for Iran ’ s targeting of American soldiers .
On Tuesday , Iraq ’ s president named a candidate as prime minister-designate to form a government in parliament .
He is Adnan al-Zurfi , a member of parliament who once lived in Detroit and is a dual U.S.-Iraqi citizen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Shiite Muslim shrine city of Najaf .
During his tenure , he earned a reputation for integrity , delivering basic services and standing up to Shiite militants .
More important , Mr. Zurfi supports the protesters ’ aims of inclusive , secular rule and an end to Iranian meddling .
About 60 % of Iraqis are 27 or younger .
They are more globally aware than their elders .
They might need a leader who has lived abroad and understands such concepts as rule of law and peaceful transfers of power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faces the task of containing the coronavirus , not to mention the effects of declining oil prices on a country highly dependent on oil exports .
Mr. Zurfi has until April 16 to persuade factions in parliament to accept him as prime minister .
The virus crisis puts the country ’ s divisions in a new perspective .
Politics must give way to clean and effective governance in order to , as Mr. Zurfi puts it , “ achieve the aspirations of the Iraqis .
”

With courage and elbow-bump caution, lawmakers around the world are trying to carry on their work during the pandemic. The machinery of government still needs the grease of politics. This is particularly true in Iraq where a 17-year attempt to establish a stable, secular parliamentary democracy in the heart of the Arab world shows new promise.
For six months Iraq’s politics has been in turmoil following grassroots protests. Young people, still camped out in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square, are seeking corruption-free governance and an end to a system that divvies up power by religion and ethnicity. In addition, Iraq continues to be dragged into Iran’s maneuvers for influence in the Middle East and the United States’ response to it. In January, the U.S. assassinated Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani on Iraqi soil in retaliation for Iran’s targeting of American soldiers.
On Tuesday, Iraq’s president named a candidate as prime minister-designate to form a government in parliament. He is Adnan al-Zurfi, a member of parliament who once lived in Detroit and is a dual U.S.-Iraqi citizen. He is also a former governor of the Shiite Muslim shrine city of Najaf. During his tenure, he earned a reputation for integrity, delivering basic services and standing up to Shiite militants.
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More important, Mr. Zurfi supports the protesters’ aims of inclusive, secular rule and an end to Iranian meddling. About 60% of Iraqis are 27 or younger. They are more globally aware than their elders. They might need a leader who has lived abroad and understands such concepts as rule of law and peaceful transfers of power.
Iraq’s unstable government now faces the task of containing the coronavirus, not to mention the effects of declining oil prices on a country highly dependent on oil exports. Mr. Zurfi has until April 16 to persuade factions in parliament to accept him as prime minister. The virus crisis puts the country’s divisions in a new perspective. Politics must give way to clean and effective governance in order to, as Mr. Zurfi puts it, “achieve the aspirations of the Iraqis.”


csmonitor--2020-03-18--Why Israeli settlements keep growing with Trump support

Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank surged ahead in 2019 , a watchdog group said in a report Tuesday , maintaining a rapid pace that has drawn strength from the friendly policies of the Trump administration .
Peace Now , a monitoring group that opposes the settlements , said that Israel 's average annual construction rate has risen 25 % since President Donald Trump took office in 2017 .
Perhaps more significantly , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's government last year approved plans to build thousands of new homes , laying the groundwork for a sharp spike in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included an explosion in plans for new settlement projects approved early this year .
`` In my opinion , they 're trying to take advantage of the window of opportunity that they have under the Trump administration , knowing that it might change in a few months , '' said Hagit Ofran , a researcher for the group .
`` There was no such supportive administration for the settlements previously , ever . ''
Most of the world considers the West Bank , captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obstacles to peace .
In a break from his Republican and Democratic predecessors , Mr. Trump has taken a much softer line toward the settlements .
Surrounded by a group of advisers with close ties to the settlement movement , Trump 's administration declared last year that it did not consider the settlements to be illegal under international law .
Then , in January , he unveiled a Mideast plan that envisions placing large parts of the West Bank , including all of the settlements , under permanent Israeli control .
The Palestinians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem , also captured in 1967 , as parts of a future independent state .
With nearly 500,000 settlers now living in the West Bank , and over 220,000 more in east Jerusalem , the Palestinians say the chances of establishing a state in those territories are quickly dwindling .
They have rejected the Trump Mideast plan , saying it would extinguish any remaining hopes of independence .
According to the Peace Now figures , Israel began construction on 1,917 new homes in the West Bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dip from 2,100 construction started in 2018 .
But overall , Israel has begun construction on an average of 2,267 homes per year since Mr. Trump took office , compared to an annual average of 1,807 units during the Obama administration .
The construction was scattered throughout the West Bank , including small settlements deep inside the territory .
That new annual construction could house roughly an additional 9,000 people per year in settlements , based on Peace Now 's estimate of four people per a household .
Under Israeli law , settlements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planning before construction begins .
According to Peace Now , Israel last year advanced plans to build nearly 8,457 new homes , putting them on track to potentially be built in the coming years – up from 5,618 units last year and 6,742 in 2017 .
By comparison , Israel advanced plans for a total 4,611 new homes during the final two years of the Obama administration , when ties with the U.S. were strained .
Peace Now gathers its data from official Israeli sources and by conducting aerial photography of settlements .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of measures , have also reported rapid growth in the settler population during the Trump era .
Oded Revivi , mayor of the settlement of Efrat and the chief foreign envoy of the Yesha settler council , said it was `` no secret '' that the Trump administration has been more tolerant of construction .
Whether the thousands of units in the pipeline are built , he said , will depend on who leads Israel 's next government and who wins the U.S. presidential election in November .
`` If we still have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I predict the figures you will see in 2020 , or more accurately 2021 , will actually be higher than 2019 , '' he said .
Mr. Netanyahu , fighting for his political life , took a number of pro-settlement steps while campaigning for re-election early this year .
Immediately after Mr. Trump unveiled his Mideast plan , Mr. Netanyahu vowed to begin annexing the settlements .
When the White House balked , he pushed forward a flurry of new settlement plans as he tried to cater to his hard-line base .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , Israel pushed ahead plans for an additional 7,500 homes – nearly half of them in the sensitive `` E1 '' area , according to Peace Now .
Developing that area , jutting deep into the West Bank east of Jerusalem , would hinder Palestinian hopes of creating a contiguous state .
Israel has previously refrained from building in E1 due to opposition by prior U.S. administrations .
Israel also moved ahead with plans to build over 1,500 units in a contentious area of east Jerusalem .
Despite these steps , Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 election ended in deadlock .
Mr. Netanyahu 's rival , Benny Gantz , is now trying to form the country 's next government but also appears to face long odds of success .
If neither man can cobble together a governing coalition , the country could plunge into a fourth consecutive election , placing Mr. Netanyahu 's future into question as he prepares to go on trial for corruption charges .
Mr. Trump 's future , meanwhile , also is suddenly in question following widespread criticism of the slow U.S. response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also play a role in the growth of the settlements in the coming months .
An economic slowdown , for instance , could potentially slow demand in the Israeli housing market , including in settlements .
In the West Bank , there are also risks from Israelis and Palestinians – who are covered by two different health systems and governments – coming together .
Mr. Revivi 's settlement , for example , is next to the Palestinian city of Bethlehem , and residents often come into contact with one other .
Thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the settlements .
`` With all the potential of catching the virus , all these things become a much more relevant issue that needs to be discussed , determined , decided upon , and definitely acted upon , '' Mr. Revivi said .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank surged ahead in 2019, a watchdog group said in a report Tuesday, maintaining a rapid pace that has drawn strength from the friendly policies of the Trump administration.
Peace Now, a monitoring group that opposes the settlements, said that Israel's average annual construction rate has risen 25% since President Donald Trump took office in 2017.
Perhaps more significantly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government last year approved plans to build thousands of new homes, laying the groundwork for a sharp spike in construction in the coming years. That included an explosion in plans for new settlement projects approved early this year.
"In my opinion, they're trying to take advantage of the window of opportunity that they have under the Trump administration, knowing that it might change in a few months," said Hagit Ofran, a researcher for the group. "There was no such supportive administration for the settlements previously, ever."
Most of the world considers the West Bank, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, to be occupied territory and Israeli settlements illegal obstacles to peace.
In a break from his Republican and Democratic predecessors, Mr. Trump has taken a much softer line toward the settlements.
Surrounded by a group of advisers with close ties to the settlement movement, Trump's administration declared last year that it did not consider the settlements to be illegal under international law. Then, in January, he unveiled a Mideast plan that envisions placing large parts of the West Bank, including all of the settlements, under permanent Israeli control.
The Palestinians, with wide international backing, seek all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem, also captured in 1967, as parts of a future independent state.
With nearly 500,000 settlers now living in the West Bank, and over 220,000 more in east Jerusalem, the Palestinians say the chances of establishing a state in those territories are quickly dwindling. They have rejected the Trump Mideast plan, saying it would extinguish any remaining hopes of independence.
According to the Peace Now figures, Israel began construction on 1,917 new homes in the West Bank last year. That marked a slight dip from 2,100 construction started in 2018. But overall, Israel has begun construction on an average of 2,267 homes per year since Mr. Trump took office, compared to an annual average of 1,807 units during the Obama administration. The construction was scattered throughout the West Bank, including small settlements deep inside the territory.
That new annual construction could house roughly an additional 9,000 people per year in settlements, based on Peace Now's estimate of four people per a household.
Under Israeli law, settlements must go through several stages of bureaucratic planning before construction begins.
According to Peace Now, Israel last year advanced plans to build nearly 8,457 new homes, putting them on track to potentially be built in the coming years – up from 5,618 units last year and 6,742 in 2017.
By comparison, Israel advanced plans for a total 4,611 new homes during the final two years of the Obama administration, when ties with the U.S. were strained.
Peace Now gathers its data from official Israeli sources and by conducting aerial photography of settlements. Israeli settlement groups, using different sets of measures, have also reported rapid growth in the settler population during the Trump era.
Oded Revivi, mayor of the settlement of Efrat and the chief foreign envoy of the Yesha settler council, said it was "no secret" that the Trump administration has been more tolerant of construction.
Whether the thousands of units in the pipeline are built, he said, will depend on who leads Israel's next government and who wins the U.S. presidential election in November.
"If we still have the same players, Netanyahu and Trump, I predict the figures you will see in 2020, or more accurately 2021, will actually be higher than 2019," he said.
Mr. Netanyahu, fighting for his political life, took a number of pro-settlement steps while campaigning for re-election early this year.
Immediately after Mr. Trump unveiled his Mideast plan, Mr. Netanyahu vowed to begin annexing the settlements. When the White House balked, he pushed forward a flurry of new settlement plans as he tried to cater to his hard-line base.
During the first two months of this year, Israel pushed ahead plans for an additional 7,500 homes – nearly half of them in the sensitive "E1" area, according to Peace Now.
Developing that area, jutting deep into the West Bank east of Jerusalem, would hinder Palestinian hopes of creating a contiguous state. Israel has previously refrained from building in E1 due to opposition by prior U.S. administrations. Israel also moved ahead with plans to build over 1,500 units in a contentious area of east Jerusalem.
Despite these steps, Mr. Netanyahu came up short as the March 2 election ended in deadlock. Mr. Netanyahu's rival, Benny Gantz, is now trying to form the country's next government but also appears to face long odds of success. If neither man can cobble together a governing coalition, the country could plunge into a fourth consecutive election, placing Mr. Netanyahu's future into question as he prepares to go on trial for corruption charges.
Mr. Trump's future, meanwhile, also is suddenly in question following widespread criticism of the slow U.S. response to the coronavirus crisis.
The virus could also play a role in the growth of the settlements in the coming months. An economic slowdown, for instance, could potentially slow demand in the Israeli housing market, including in settlements.
In the West Bank, there are also risks from Israelis and Palestinians – who are covered by two different health systems and governments – coming together. Mr. Revivi's settlement, for example, is next to the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, and residents often come into contact with one other. Thousands of Palestinians, including construction workers, work in the settlements.
"With all the potential of catching the virus, all these things become a much more relevant issue that needs to be discussed, determined, decided upon, and definitely acted upon," Mr. Revivi said.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.