ezorigin--2020-04-21--Want to end state lockdowns? Send in the coronavirus detectives.

At a time when the federal government is largely leaving states to chart their own course , Massachusetts can be a model , says Robert Bollinger at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine .
“ If strategies are shown to be effective in certain states , other states are going to adopt that.
” So that ’ s what Massachusetts is doing – recruiting hundreds of people to help sleuth the pathways that the coronavirus is taking through communities .
Without such contact tracing – as well as better testing – states can ’ t reopen , health experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do it with technology – tracking everyone a person diagnosed with COVID-19 might have come into contact with .
But Dr. Brown wants an army of virus detectives .
“ The personal touch still is what we believe to be the most effective way , ” she says .
Catherine Brown is not waiting for Google and Apple to solve her problem .
As a Massachusetts health official , Dr. Brown is tasked with helping to create the conditions that could help ease the state ’ s coronavirus lockdowns .
And she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tool .
As American states mull the easing of COVID-19 social restrictions , many are turning to a trusted tool for controlling infectious diseases : contact tracing .
Known as “ disease detectives , ” contact tracers are people who work to halt the spread of a virus .
They reach out to individuals who are confirmed cases and then trace others the person came into contact with , from family members to subway riders .
It ’ s a hands-on containment strategy that requires speed , manpower , and public trust .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and New Zealand are held up as examples of effective contact tracing .
But their use of digital surveillance may prove hard to adopt here .
Efforts to apply smartphone technology are underway – most notably a joint project by Google and Apple – but states nationwide are also scrambling to stand up armies of human COVID-19 tracers .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Massachusetts has been among the more aggressive states , and it is not starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it had a relatively robust contact tracing program .
Now , with health experts saying scaled-up contact tracing must be a cornerstone of the United States pandemic response , Massachusetts offers a window into how that response is taking shape .
“ This needs to be in place before the lockdown ends , ” says George Rutherford , an epidemiologist at the University of California San Francisco .
“ Our mitigation strategy now is to keep everyone in their houses .
That mitigation has to be replaced with something else.
” Health experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some states doubling down on virus detection and others holding back – will mar a national restart .
Most U.S. states are still dogged by a lack of rapid and accessible COVID-19 testing , which tracers rely on to find and map clusters .
Massachusetts has begun building a surge force of tracers with a $ 44 million initiative .
In recent weeks , more than 300 people have been trained for a virtual call center to track residents who may be infected .
The operation is run by Partners In Health , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which plans to hire up to 1,000 people for paid and volunteer positions .
Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday that he was in talks with Partners In Health to stand up a similar force .
Before COVID-19 , Massachusetts ’ tracing program involved around 400 state epidemiologists and local public health nurses , who tracked cases of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS .
But when coronavirus cases started to surge in February , “ we knew it was going to outstrip our ability to manage it , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences .
Tracing has continued in Massachusetts , prioritizing health care workers and residents at care homes , jails , and prisons .
Other states hit hard early on , like Washington , set similar priorities .
As the pandemic intensified , Dr. Brown joined the all-out effort to trace potential spreaders .
She recalls making a call to a woman diagnosed with the coronavirus .
The woman lived with two people at high risk of a severe form of COVID-19 , so Dr. Brown talked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolate herself from others .
“ In that small household we didn ’ t stop an outbreak , but we protected vulnerable individuals .
Every single case has a human side , ” she says .
Today , Massachusetts has the third largest number of confirmed cases .
Still , Dr. Brown says the early work of tracers – at least 21,345 people were contacted in February and March – likely helped slow the rate of infections so that hospital admissions haven ’ t overwhelmed capacity .
Many states spend far less on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 10 contact tracers for its nearly 5 million residents , and now has around 50 working on COVID-19 , the state ’ s health director told the Washington Post .
“ There ’ s a massive gulf between where we are and where we need to be in many parts of the country , ” says Joshua Michaud , associate director for global health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation .
Nationally , the number of full-time disease investigators is 2,200 , according to the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a decade of double-digit cuts in public health spending following the 2008-09 global recession .
A recent report by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security , together with ASTHO , called for the hiring of an additional 100,000 contact tracers to contain COVID-19 epidemics , at a cost of $ 3.6 billion in emergency federal funding .
Others have called for higher numbers .
“ What we ’ re doing right now is simply buying time , ” says Robert Bollinger , a professor in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a country have a strong enough public health system to do contact tracing in the community.
” Behind these estimates is a stubborn reality : Chasing down leads in a pandemic , as detectives do after an unsolved crime , is labor-intensive and expensive .
Each confirmed case yields several new contacts to trace , contact , and isolate , which averages 4 hours of work per tracer .
And time is against them , since symptoms can show up days after infection .
“ It has to be a rapidfire process .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the difference with coronavirus , ” says Mr. Michaud .
One silver lining is that millions of Americans suddenly have time on their hands .
States and cities are tapping medical students , school nurses , and librarians to support COVID-19 contact tracing .
In San Francisco , which had 10 tracers before the pandemic , volunteers are lining up to help , says Dr. Rutherford , who is helping the city add 150 more .
Massachusetts and six other Northeastern states are working together to ease social restrictions and reopen businesses ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing the same .
Testing and contract tracing are likely to inform when and how these reopenings happen .
“ I think it ’ s going to be critical for every state that wants to get open and back to something like a new normal to put some kind of mechanism like this in place , ” Massachusetts Gov .
Charlie Baker told CBS ’ s “ Face the Nation ” Sunday , referring to contact tracing .
Other U.S. states like Texas are already starting to ease controls .
This piecemeal approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states with robust coronavirus surveillance are traced to states that aren ’ t doing the same .
Experts point out that South Korea and Taiwan mobilized national health systems to trace and contain their pandemics – a key element of their success .
That level of federal involvement has been absent in the U.S .
But states that invest in COVID-19 testing and tracing could lead others .
“ If strategies are shown to be effective in certain states , other states are going to adopt that , ” says Dr. Bollinger .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ phase and start opening up their schools and businesses.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

At a time when the federal government is largely leaving states to chart their own course, Massachusetts can be a model, says Robert Bollinger at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “If strategies are shown to be effective in certain states, other states are going to adopt that.”
So that’s what Massachusetts is doing – recruiting hundreds of people to help sleuth the pathways that the coronavirus is taking through communities. Without such contact tracing – as well as better testing – states can’t reopen, health experts say.
To end coronavirus lockdowns, states will need a robust network of human contact tracers. Massachusetts shows how that process can start.
Google and Apple are trying to do it with technology – tracking everyone a person diagnosed with COVID-19 might have come into contact with. But Dr. Brown wants an army of virus detectives. “The personal touch still is what we believe to be the most effective way,” she says.
Catherine Brown is not waiting for Google and Apple to solve her problem. As a Massachusetts health official, Dr. Brown is tasked with helping to create the conditions that could help ease the state’s coronavirus lockdowns. And she knows contact tracing will be an essential tool.
As American states mull the easing of COVID-19 social restrictions, many are turning to a trusted tool for controlling infectious diseases: contact tracing.
Known as “disease detectives,” contact tracers are people who work to halt the spread of a virus. They reach out to individuals who are confirmed cases and then trace others the person came into contact with, from family members to subway riders. It’s a hands-on containment strategy that requires speed, manpower, and public trust.
South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and New Zealand are held up as examples of effective contact tracing. But their use of digital surveillance may prove hard to adopt here. Efforts to apply smartphone technology are underway – most notably a joint project by Google and Apple – but states nationwide are also scrambling to stand up armies of human COVID-19 tracers.
Why We Wrote This To end coronavirus lockdowns, states will need a robust network of human contact tracers. Massachusetts shows how that process can start.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Massachusetts has been among the more aggressive states, and it is not starting from scratch. Even before COVID-19, it had a relatively robust contact tracing program. Now, with health experts saying scaled-up contact tracing must be a cornerstone of the United States pandemic response, Massachusetts offers a window into how that response is taking shape.
“This needs to be in place before the lockdown ends,” says George Rutherford, an epidemiologist at the University of California San Francisco. “Our mitigation strategy now is to keep everyone in their houses. That mitigation has to be replaced with something else.”
Building an army
Health experts worry that a piecemeal U.S. approach – some states doubling down on virus detection and others holding back – will mar a national restart. Most U.S. states are still dogged by a lack of rapid and accessible COVID-19 testing, which tracers rely on to find and map clusters.
Massachusetts has begun building a surge force of tracers with a $44 million initiative. In recent weeks, more than 300 people have been trained for a virtual call center to track residents who may be infected. The operation is run by Partners In Health, a global health nonprofit based in Boston, which plans to hire up to 1,000 people for paid and volunteer positions.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday that he was in talks with Partners In Health to stand up a similar force.
Before COVID-19, Massachusetts’ tracing program involved around 400 state epidemiologists and local public health nurses, who tracked cases of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. But when coronavirus cases started to surge in February, “we knew it was going to outstrip our ability to manage it,” says Catherine Brown, state epidemiologist in the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences.
Tracing has continued in Massachusetts, prioritizing health care workers and residents at care homes, jails, and prisons. Other states hit hard early on, like Washington, set similar priorities. As the pandemic intensified, Dr. Brown joined the all-out effort to trace potential spreaders.
She recalls making a call to a woman diagnosed with the coronavirus. The woman lived with two people at high risk of a severe form of COVID-19, so Dr. Brown talked her through the risks and how to isolate herself from others.
“In that small household we didn’t stop an outbreak, but we protected vulnerable individuals. Every single case has a human side,” she says.
Today, Massachusetts has the third largest number of confirmed cases. Still, Dr. Brown says the early work of tracers – at least 21,345 people were contacted in February and March – likely helped slow the rate of infections so that hospital admissions haven’t overwhelmed capacity.
John Hanna/AP View caption Hide caption Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Lee Norman discusses the state's coronavirus pandemic at a news conference at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kansas, April 15, 2020. The department is enlisting 400 volunteers to help with contact tracing – a critical step toward safely easing stay-at-home restrictions.
Many states spend far less on public health. Alabama previously had fewer than 10 contact tracers for its nearly 5 million residents, and now has around 50 working on COVID-19, the state’s health director told the Washington Post.
“There’s a massive gulf between where we are and where we need to be in many parts of the country,” says Joshua Michaud, associate director for global health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Nationally, the number of full-time disease investigators is 2,200, according to the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). That comes after a decade of double-digit cuts in public health spending following the 2008-09 global recession.
A recent report by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, together with ASTHO, called for the hiring of an additional 100,000 contact tracers to contain COVID-19 epidemics, at a cost of $3.6 billion in emergency federal funding. Others have called for higher numbers.
“What we’re doing right now is simply buying time,” says Robert Bollinger, a professor in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “We don’t as a country have a strong enough public health system to do contact tracing in the community.”
Coronavirus sleuthing
Behind these estimates is a stubborn reality: Chasing down leads in a pandemic, as detectives do after an unsolved crime, is labor-intensive and expensive. Each confirmed case yields several new contacts to trace, contact, and isolate, which averages 4 hours of work per tracer. And time is against them, since symptoms can show up days after infection.
“It has to be a rapidfire process. We know that hours and days make the difference with coronavirus,” says Mr. Michaud.
One silver lining is that millions of Americans suddenly have time on their hands. States and cities are tapping medical students, school nurses, and librarians to support COVID-19 contact tracing. In San Francisco, which had 10 tracers before the pandemic, volunteers are lining up to help, says Dr. Rutherford, who is helping the city add 150 more.
Massachusetts and six other Northeastern states are working together to ease social restrictions and reopen businesses; California, Oregon, and Washington are doing the same. Testing and contract tracing are likely to inform when and how these reopenings happen.
“I think it’s going to be critical for every state that wants to get open and back to something like a new normal to put some kind of mechanism like this in place,” Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker told CBS’s “Face the Nation” Sunday, referring to contact tracing.
Other U.S. states like Texas are already starting to ease controls. This piecemeal approach could raise tensions if future outbreaks in states with robust coronavirus surveillance are traced to states that aren’t doing the same. Experts point out that South Korea and Taiwan mobilized national health systems to trace and contain their pandemics – a key element of their success. That level of federal involvement has been absent in the U.S.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
But states that invest in COVID-19 testing and tracing could lead others. “If strategies are shown to be effective in certain states, other states are going to adopt that,” says Dr. Bollinger. “They want to get past this phase and start opening up their schools and businesses.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


ezorigin--2020-06-09--Home theater: Films that invoke the pleasures of summer

For most moviegoers , summer movies are synonymous with superheroes , monsters , sharks , and aliens .
When I think of summer movies , though , I ’ m more inclined to summon films having something to do with summertime itself – films that invoke the pleasures of sun and fun and romance .
This is something we can all especially find comfort in right now .
Often these movies express a nostalgia for a place or a time , for a first or a rekindled love .
Some are just flat out funny , with nothing more on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I confess I would much rather re-see “ National Lampoon ’ s Vacation ” or “ Caddyshack ” than “ Gladiator ” or “ Mission Impossible III.
” Many acknowledged summer classics are coming-of-age narratives drawing on a fondness for a bygone past .
They hearken back to the thrill of hearing those two hallowed words : “ Schools out !
” Set in small-town Northern California in 1962 , George Lucas ’ s “ American Graffiti ” ( 1973 ) takes place in a single night following high school graduation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ boatload of young actors , including Richard Dreyfuss , Cindy Williams , Paul Le Mat , Candy Clark , and Harrison Ford .
Looked at today , the movie is not much more than a bright bauble with a great oldies soundtrack , but it captured how scary-thrilling it felt to be a teenager when suddenly adulthood beckoned .
In its own hang loose way , this is what Richard Linklater ’ s “ Dazed and Confused ” ( 1993 ) also expressed for mid-1970 ’ s suburban Texas teens on their last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Another venerable movie staple is the summer romance .
In its day , “ Dirty Dancing ” ( 1987 ) , with Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze swinging their torsos in the Catskills during an early 1960s family summer vacation , was the “ Citizen Kane ” of the genre for teens and young adults .
On the other hand , if you were the parents of this crowd , you might have harbored a lingering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” ( 1955 ) , with Katharine Hepburn as a vacationing spinster in Venice , Italy , being romanced by Rosanno Brazzi .
Of course , just about any movie set in Venice is likely to provoke a swoon .
Scenery has redeemed many a movie .
And now , for special commendation , I ’ d like to single out a few disparate summer films .
In Before Sunrise ( 1995 ) , Jesse ( Ethan Hawke ) is on a train en route to Vienna , holding a Eurail Pass and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America , when he meets Céline ( Julie Delpy ) , a French university student returning to Paris .
He convinces her to disembark with him and they spend the next 12 hours roaming around the city .
They gently flirt , speak soulfully , playfully , tentatively .
A beggar offers to write them a poem .
They kiss on the same Ferris wheel that once lifted aloft Orson Welles and Joseph Cotten in “ The Third Man.
” I don ’ t know of a movie that better expresses the vagabond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excellent sequels , made in nine year intervals , followed : “ Before Sunset , ” and “ Before Midnight.
” All three were directed by Linklater . )
( Rated R ) “ Breaking Away ” ( 1979 ) is a gentle , sun-dappled summer comedy directed by Peter Yates .
In it , four local working class kids from Bloomington , Indiana , recently out of high school and played by Dennis Christopher , Daniel Stern , Dennis Quaid , and Jackie Earle Haley , attempt to make sense of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bicycle racing fanatic who inexplicably develops a passion for all things Italian , renaming Jake , his dog , “ Fellini ” and passing himself off as an exchange student to a pretty sorority girl ( Robyn Douglass ) .
His mother ( Barbara Barrie ) is sympathetic to her son ’ s eccentricities but his father ( Paul Dooley ) is at his wit ’ s end .
And yet what comes through all this exasperation is how much they love each other .
The Oscar-winning screenplay is by Steve Tesich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who moved with his family to Bloomington when he was 13 .
This likely explains the film ’ s highly observant and affectionate insider/outsider perspective .
( Rated PG ) In “ Monsieur Hulot ’ s Holiday ” ( 1953 ) , the gangly Hulot , played by director Jacques Tati with an askew aplomb that rivals the gracefulness of the great silent film comics , arrives in a ramshackle French seaside resort in search of summer fun .
Tati captures just how strenuous that search can be .
This virtually wordless classic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sequences – like Hulot ’ s hyper-awkward tennis match , or his capsizing in a kayak , or a bit where a foxskin rug attaches itself to his foot – that are so perfectly designed you don ’ t know whether to laugh or gasp .
I did both .
( Unrated ; English subtitles ) These films are available to rent on at least one of these platforms : Amazon Prime Video , YouTube , Google Play , iTunes .

For most moviegoers, summer movies are synonymous with superheroes, monsters, sharks, and aliens. When I think of summer movies, though, I’m more inclined to summon films having something to do with summertime itself – films that invoke the pleasures of sun and fun and romance. This is something we can all especially find comfort in right now. Often these movies express a nostalgia for a place or a time, for a first or a rekindled love. Some are just flat out funny, with nothing more on their minds than the spritz of escapism. I confess I would much rather re-see “National Lampoon’s Vacation” or “Caddyshack” than “Gladiator” or “Mission Impossible III.”
Many acknowledged summer classics are coming-of-age narratives drawing on a fondness for a bygone past. They hearken back to the thrill of hearing those two hallowed words: “Schools out!” Set in small-town Northern California in 1962, George Lucas’s “American Graffiti” (1973) takes place in a single night following high school graduation. It introduced or elevated to stardom a boatload of young actors, including Richard Dreyfuss, Cindy Williams, Paul Le Mat, Candy Clark, and Harrison Ford.
Looked at today, the movie is not much more than a bright bauble with a great oldies soundtrack, but it captured how scary-thrilling it felt to be a teenager when suddenly adulthood beckoned. In its own hang loose way, this is what Richard Linklater’s “Dazed and Confused” (1993) also expressed for mid-1970’s suburban Texas teens on their last day of school.
Why We Wrote This With multiplexes closed, the usual summer blockbusters aren’t available. How to make do instead? Film critic Peter Rainer suggests movies that embrace summertime itself – ones that express a nostalgia for a place or a time, or for a first or a rekindled love.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Another venerable movie staple is the summer romance. In its day, “Dirty Dancing” (1987), with Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze swinging their torsos in the Catskills during an early 1960s family summer vacation, was the “Citizen Kane” of the genre for teens and young adults. On the other hand, if you were the parents of this crowd, you might have harbored a lingering soft spot for something like “Summertime” (1955), with Katharine Hepburn as a vacationing spinster in Venice, Italy, being romanced by Rosanno Brazzi. Of course, just about any movie set in Venice is likely to provoke a swoon. Scenery has redeemed many a movie.
And now, for special commendation, I’d like to single out a few disparate summer films.
“Before Sunrise”
In Before Sunrise (1995), Jesse (Ethan Hawke) is on a train en route to Vienna, holding a Eurail Pass and an early morning plane ticket back to America, when he meets Céline (Julie Delpy), a French university student returning to Paris. He convinces her to disembark with him and they spend the next 12 hours roaming around the city. They gently flirt, speak soulfully, playfully, tentatively. A beggar offers to write them a poem. They kiss on the same Ferris wheel that once lifted aloft Orson Welles and Joseph Cotten in “The Third Man.” I don’t know of a movie that better expresses the vagabond spirit of summer courtship. (Two excellent sequels, made in nine year intervals, followed: “Before Sunset,” and “Before Midnight.” All three were directed by Linklater.) (Rated R)
“Breaking Away”
“Breaking Away” (1979) is a gentle, sun-dappled summer comedy directed by Peter Yates. In it, four local working class kids from Bloomington, Indiana, recently out of high school and played by Dennis Christopher, Daniel Stern, Dennis Quaid, and Jackie Earle Haley, attempt to make sense of their lives. Christopher is Dave Stohler, a bicycle racing fanatic who inexplicably develops a passion for all things Italian, renaming Jake, his dog, “Fellini” and passing himself off as an exchange student to a pretty sorority girl (Robyn Douglass). His mother (Barbara Barrie) is sympathetic to her son’s eccentricities but his father (Paul Dooley) is at his wit’s end. And yet what comes through all this exasperation is how much they love each other. The Oscar-winning screenplay is by Steve Tesich, a Yugoslavian immigrant and cycle enthusiast who moved with his family to Bloomington when he was 13. This likely explains the film’s highly observant and affectionate insider/outsider perspective. (Rated PG)
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday”
In “Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday” (1953), the gangly Hulot, played by director Jacques Tati with an askew aplomb that rivals the gracefulness of the great silent film comics, arrives in a ramshackle French seaside resort in search of summer fun. Tati captures just how strenuous that search can be. This virtually wordless classic, Tati’s best, has sequences – like Hulot’s hyper-awkward tennis match, or his capsizing in a kayak, or a bit where a foxskin rug attaches itself to his foot – that are so perfectly designed you don’t know whether to laugh or gasp. I did both. (Unrated; English subtitles)
These films are available to rent on at least one of these platforms: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play, iTunes.


ezorigin--2020-06-23--Why racers are standing behind NASCAR's only Black driver

Bubba Wallace steered the No .
43 to the front of pit road , NASCAR champion Kyle Busch pushing the famous car on one side and close friend Ryan Blaney pushing on the other .
The entire 40-driver field and their crew members followed .
After the car came to a stop , Mr. Wallace climbed out , sat on the window ledge and sobbed .
Richard Petty , his Hall of Fame team owner , gently placed a hand on Mr. Wallace 's shoulder .
As federal authorities descended on Talladega Superspeedway on Monday to investigate the discovery of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stall , the entire industry rallied around the Cup Series ' only Black driver .
“ The news has disturbed us all and of course we want justice and [ to ] know who and why , ” said seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson .
“ And we want to stand with our friend.
” Mr .
Petty , at his first race since the coronavirus pandemic began and at Talladega on race day for the first time in more than 10 years , stood side by side with Mr. Wallace during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Everyone stood behind the car while Brad Keselowski held the American flag at the front of the display of solidarity .
The idea to stand with Mr. Wallace started with Mr. Johnson , while former series champion Kevin Harvick suggested they all push the car to the front of the grid , Mr. Wallace said .
One by one , after the anthem , they hugged Mr. Wallace .
He then had a long embrace with Mr .
Petty .
And then he went racing .
If not for a shortage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a chance to race for the win .
A late stop for gas led to a 14th-place finish but felt like a win for Mr. Wallace .
He went to the fence and slapped hands through the wiring with a group of fans , many wearing “ I Ca n't Breathe ” shirts as they cheered .
He apologized for not wearing a mandatory mask but did n't put it on because “ I wanted to show whoever it was , you are not going to take away my smile.
” “ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The pre-race deal was probably one of the hardest things I ’ ve ever had to witness in my life .
From all the supporters , from drivers to crew members , everybody here ... thank you guys for coming out .
This is truly incredible and I ’ m glad to be a part of this sport.
” It was Mr. Wallace who successfully pushed the stock car series to ban the Confederate flag at its venues less than two weeks ago and he was the target when the noose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Motorsports garage stall Sunday afternoon at the Alabama track .
A member of Mr. Wallace 's crew reported it to NASCAR , and by Monday morning U.S. Attorney Jay Town said his office , the FBI , and the Justice Department 's Civil Rights Division were involved .
“ Regardless of whether federal charges can be brought , this type of action has no place in our society , ” Mr. Town said .
NASCAR President Steve Phelps said security has been stepped up for Mr. Wallace – his team was also granted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure it had not been tampered with overnight – and the FBI was “ currently on site ” at the track .
He said the FBI director had told agents in Birmingham to “ use all their resources ” to find the perpetrator .
“ Unequivocally they will be banned from this sport for life , '' Mr. Phelps said .
`` There is no room for this at all .
We won ’ t tolerate it .
They won ’ t be here .
I don ’ t care who they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” NASCAR has tried to distance itself from the Confederate flag for years at the risk of alienating a core group of its fan base .
At Mr. Wallace 's urging , it went ahead with the ban as the nation grapples with social unrest largely tied to George Floyd , an unarmed Black man who died in the custody of Minneapolis police .
NASCAR has not outlined how it will enforce the restriction and this week 's race at Talladega , in the heart of the South , presented the series with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Disgruntled fans with Confederate flags drove past the main entrance to the track all weekend and a plane flew above the track Sunday pulling a banner of the flag that read “ Defund NASCAR . ''
Alabama Gov .
Kay Ivey said she was “ shocked and appalled ” by the “ vile act ” against Mr. Wallace .
“ There is no place for this disgusting display of hatred in our state , ” Ms. Ivey said .
`` Bubba Wallace is one of us ; he is a native of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I apologize to Bubba Wallace as well as to his family and friends for the hurt this has caused and regret the mark this leaves on our state.
” Mr .
Petty said in a statement he was “ enraged '' by the “ filthy act ” of racism .
Retired champion Jeff Gordon called it a “ cowardly ” act while retired champion and current team owner Tony Stewart seethed in a social media post : “ Angry .
Outraged .
Disappointed .
Those words don ’ t fully describe how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll damn sure stand up to anyone who engages in this kind of behavior.
” Mr. Phelps said he was the one who told Mr. Wallace about the noose .
“ It was a difficult moment for Bubba , a difficult moment for me , ” he said .
`` He ’ s handled it with the grace that he has handled everything that ’ s happened over the last few weeks . ''
Mr. Wallace said after the noose was discovered : `` This will not break me .
I will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down .
I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in.
” Mr. Wallace has previously worn a shirt that says “ I Can ’ t Breathe ” over his firesuit and sported a Black Lives Matter paint scheme in a race last month in Martinsville , Virginia .
Talladega is one of the more raucous stops on the NASCAR schedule , but the pandemic prompted the series , like all sports , to ban or sharply limit fans .
Up to 5,000 fans were allowed in , but there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them had access to the the infield or the Cup Series garage .
Under strict new health guidelines , a very limited number of people can access the garage .
That would include crew members for each of the 40 teams , NASCAR employees , Talladega staff members , and any contracted safety crews or security guards .
Mr. Phelps declined to discuss whether cameras in the garage area might have captured anything of value but noted NASCAR has an approved list of who is allowed access that has been turned over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of what the FBI is looking at , ” he 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 .

Bubba Wallace steered the No. 43 to the front of pit road, NASCAR champion Kyle Busch pushing the famous car on one side and close friend Ryan Blaney pushing on the other.
The entire 40-driver field and their crew members followed. After the car came to a stop, Mr. Wallace climbed out, sat on the window ledge and sobbed. Richard Petty, his Hall of Fame team owner, gently placed a hand on Mr. Wallace's shoulder.
As federal authorities descended on Talladega Superspeedway on Monday to investigate the discovery of a noose in Mr. Wallace's garage stall, the entire industry rallied around the Cup Series' only Black driver.
“The news has disturbed us all and of course we want justice and [to] know who and why,” said seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson. “And we want to stand with our friend.”
Mr. Petty, at his first race since the coronavirus pandemic began and at Talladega on race day for the first time in more than 10 years, stood side by side with Mr. Wallace during the national anthem before Monday's rain-postponed event. Everyone stood behind the car while Brad Keselowski held the American flag at the front of the display of solidarity.
The idea to stand with Mr. Wallace started with Mr. Johnson, while former series champion Kevin Harvick suggested they all push the car to the front of the grid, Mr. Wallace said.
One by one, after the anthem, they hugged Mr. Wallace. He then had a long embrace with Mr. Petty.
And then he went racing.
If not for a shortage of fuel, Mr. Wallace might have had a chance to race for the win. A late stop for gas led to a 14th-place finish but felt like a win for Mr. Wallace. He went to the fence and slapped hands through the wiring with a group of fans, many wearing “I Can't Breathe” shirts as they cheered.
He apologized for not wearing a mandatory mask but didn't put it on because “I wanted to show whoever it was, you are not going to take away my smile.”
“This sport is changing,” he said. “The pre-race deal was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to witness in my life. From all the supporters, from drivers to crew members, everybody here ... thank you guys for coming out. This is truly incredible and I’m glad to be a part of this sport.”
It was Mr. Wallace who successfully pushed the stock car series to ban the Confederate flag at its venues less than two weeks ago and he was the target when the noose was found hanging in the Richard Petty Motorsports garage stall Sunday afternoon at the Alabama track. A member of Mr. Wallace's crew reported it to NASCAR, and by Monday morning U.S. Attorney Jay Town said his office, the FBI, and the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division were involved.
“Regardless of whether federal charges can be brought, this type of action has no place in our society,” Mr. Town said.
NASCAR President Steve Phelps said security has been stepped up for Mr. Wallace – his team was also granted unusual access to its car Monday morning to ensure it had not been tampered with overnight – and the FBI was “currently on site” at the track.
He said the FBI director had told agents in Birmingham to “use all their resources” to find the perpetrator.
“Unequivocally they will be banned from this sport for life," Mr. Phelps said. "There is no room for this at all. We won’t tolerate it. They won’t be here. I don’t care who they are, they will not be here.”
NASCAR has tried to distance itself from the Confederate flag for years at the risk of alienating a core group of its fan base. At Mr. Wallace's urging, it went ahead with the ban as the nation grapples with social unrest largely tied to George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died in the custody of Minneapolis police.
NASCAR has not outlined how it will enforce the restriction and this week's race at Talladega, in the heart of the South, presented the series with its biggest test in the early going. Disgruntled fans with Confederate flags drove past the main entrance to the track all weekend and a plane flew above the track Sunday pulling a banner of the flag that read “Defund NASCAR."
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said she was “shocked and appalled” by the “vile act” against Mr. Wallace.
“There is no place for this disgusting display of hatred in our state,” Ms. Ivey said. "Bubba Wallace is one of us; he is a native of Mobile and on behalf of all Alabamians, I apologize to Bubba Wallace as well as to his family and friends for the hurt this has caused and regret the mark this leaves on our state.”
Mr. Petty said in a statement he was “enraged" by the “filthy act” of racism. Retired champion Jeff Gordon called it a “cowardly” act while retired champion and current team owner Tony Stewart seethed in a social media post: “Angry. Outraged. Disappointed. Those words don’t fully describe how I feel. #IStandWithBubba and I’ll damn sure stand up to anyone who engages in this kind of behavior.”
Mr. Phelps said he was the one who told Mr. Wallace about the noose.
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“It was a difficult moment for Bubba, a difficult moment for me,” he said. "He’s handled it with the grace that he has handled everything that’s happened over the last few weeks."
Mr. Wallace said after the noose was discovered: "This will not break me. I will not give in nor will I back down. I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in.”
Mr. Wallace has previously worn a shirt that says “I Can’t Breathe” over his firesuit and sported a Black Lives Matter paint scheme in a race last month in Martinsville, Virginia.
Talladega is one of the more raucous stops on the NASCAR schedule, but the pandemic prompted the series, like all sports, to ban or sharply limit fans. Up to 5,000 fans were allowed in, but there were far fewer than that Monday and none of them had access to the the infield or the Cup Series garage.
Under strict new health guidelines, a very limited number of people can access the garage. That would include crew members for each of the 40 teams, NASCAR employees, Talladega staff members, and any contracted safety crews or security guards.
Mr. Phelps declined to discuss whether cameras in the garage area might have captured anything of value but noted NASCAR has an approved list of who is allowed access that has been turned over to authorities.
“It will be part of what the FBI is looking at,” he said.
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ezorigin--2020-04-22--Could pandemic pave a path to peace? Why Yemen war is resistant.

“ But the Houthis won ’ t let them go , ” she says , noting how the conflict and flow of humanitarian aid have boosted Houthi resources .
“ You have a fundamental , objective problem : The Saudis want out , the Houthis don ’ t .
How do you deal with this ?
” And Helen Lackner , at the European Council on Foreign Relations , says “ the solution for the Saudis is , ‘ COVID-19 is a wonderful way for us to get out respectably , and start focusing on the rest of our problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But standing in the way of an agreement “ is this huge gap of confidence between the two sides , ” says one Yemen-based researcher .
In announcing the cease-fire , the Saudis cited the need to pave the way for talks and to cope with the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak .
U.N. Special Envoy Martin Griffiths noted that Yemen could not “ face two fronts at the same time : a war and a pandemic.
” Saudi Arabia ’ s announcement of a cease-fire in Yemen was welcome news .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lack of results – with Houthi rebels continuing to press their military advantage , and Saudi planes launching scores of airstrikes in reply – is a stark reminder of the challenges that remain .
Two weeks ago , Saudi Arabia announced a unilateral cease-fire in Yemen , following months in which it had made clear its desire to disentangle from what has proved a costly and humiliating quagmire for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman .
Coming amid a global pandemic , the announcement was welcome news .
The Saudi military intervention , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for creating what the United Nations calls the world ’ s worst humanitarian disaster .
But with the cease-fire expiring today , the lack of results – with Houthi rebels continuing to press their military advantage , and Saudi planes launching scores of airstrikes in reply – is a stark reminder of the challenges to peace that remain .
In announcing the Yemen cease-fire , the Saudis cited both the need to pave the way for peace talks and to cope with the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak in the impoverished and war-weary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Other positive signs followed , including U.N. Special Envoy Martin Griffiths telling the Security Council last week of progress toward a truce in closed-door talks between the Saudis and Houthis , with agreement expected in the “ immediate future.
” The catalyst toward peace was the virus , Mr. Griffiths said , noting that Yemen could not “ face two fronts at the same time : a war and a pandemic.
” Yemen announced its first – and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 on April 10 .
“ This is the time for hard decisions , ” the envoy said .
But even as the U.S. was reported Tuesday to be preparing a “ substantial contribution ” to help Yemen battle the coronavirus , and Yemen was set to receive tens of thousands of test kits donated by a group of multinational companies , the fighting has barely eased .
In return for a Saudi withdrawal , the Houthis would sign a peace deal , analysts say , and the Iran-backed Houthi movement , known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposal two weeks ago .
But with battlefield momentum now in their favor , the analysts say , the Houthis expect to dictate the terms of any Saudi drawdown – which is unacceptable to Riyadh .
“ As far as the Saudis are concerned , they don ’ t know what to do , ” says Abdulghani al-Iryani , a senior researcher at the Yemen-based Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies .
“ They ’ ve given one gesture after another , but these gestures are viewed by the Houthis as empty , given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understanding of how the relationship between the two sides will be in the future .
The guarantees are not there.
” The fulcrum of any deal needs to be agreement by the Saudis to stop undermining the Houthis , and agreement by the Houthis to protect Saudi borders and limit smuggling and human trafficking , says Mr. Iryani , who was a consultant to the U.N. Development Program in Yemen until the end of 2019 .
“ What stands in the way is this huge gap of confidence between the two sides , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guarantees that any deal will be implemented , in order to “ be willing to give up some power ” to the Saudi-backed , internationally recognized government – currently in exile – of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi .
The Saudi cease-fire has barely dented the conflict , nor slowed the Houthi military advance on Marib , an oil- and gas-rich prize and one of the last strongholds of pro-Hadi forces in northern Yemen .
The Saudis face another crisis in the south , where a militia backed by the United Arab Emirates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of war is imminent ” as they advance against Saudi-backed government forces .
“ The Saudis want out ; the solution for the Saudis is , ‘ COVID-19 is a wonderful way for us to get out respectably , and start focusing on the rest of our problems , which are not insignificant , ’ ” says Helen Lackner , a Yemen expert and visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations .
“ But the Houthis won ’ t let them go .
The Houthis want this war to go on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war to stop .
They need it , ” says Ms. Lackner , noting current rebel advances , and how the conflict and flow of humanitarian aid have boosted Houthi resources .
“ You have a fundamental , objective problem : The Saudis want out , the Houthis don ’ t .
How do you deal with this ?
” asks Ms. Lackner , author of the 2019 book “ Yemen in Crisis : The Road to War.
” Saudi Arabia has been widely accused of elevating Yemen ’ s civil war into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eastern fault lines , which pit Iran and its self-declared “ axis of resistance ” against Saudi Arabia and its pro-American allies .
When Saudi officials first intervened in Yemen , leading an Arab coalition to reverse the Houthi takeover of Sanaa and reinstall the Hadi government , they promised that “ Operation Decisive Storm ” would be over within weeks .
Yet instead of a demonstration of Saudi military prowess ordered by the new and assertive crown prince , the Yemen initiative has turned into a venture that is failing , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air raids , according to the Yemen Data Project , and the loss of more than 100,000 lives – nearly all of them Yemeni , and many of them civilians .
“ Why [ the Saudis ] don ’ t declare victory and go home is a question I asked about three years ago , and it would have been a lot easier for them to declare victory [ then ] than it is today , ” says Ms. Lackner .
“ Can they announce the extension of a cease-fire that hasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battlefield to-and-fro is the looming risk of the coronavirus to one of the most vulnerable populations on earth .
Already with 80 % of Yemen ’ s population reliant on aid relief , and hospitals and health infrastructure ravaged by the war , the coronavirus “ could spread fast , more widely and with deadlier consequences than in many other countries , ” Mark Lowcock , the top U.N. aid official , warned last week .
The continued fighting and few signs of any diplomatic breakthrough mean it is not yet clear how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.N. counts 500 Yemenis killed or injured since January , one-third of them children .
“ The big change could be if we see COVID-19 taking hold in Yemen and spreading quite quickly , as it is likely to do , ” says Peter Salisbury , the senior Yemen analyst for the International Crisis Group .
“ Yemen ’ s population is malnourished , undernourished , and it ’ s in very bad shape .
People are already dying from preventable diseases , cholera , dengue fever , and so on .
... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says Mr. Salisbury .
“ There ’ s a public image aspect to this as well : The Houthis and government of Yemen each seek to be seen as a legitimate governing authority in Yemen , and if you are prioritizing a war over a life-threatening virus , that ’ s not great for your image , ” he says .
“ There is a lot of face to be lost in a COVID-19 outbreak , ” adds Mr. Salisbury .
“ But for the time being , the challenge would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t enough for the Houthis.
” “ We ’ re really in a place where it depends on the willingness of one or several of the key parties to take a leap of faith ... to make gestures that build confidence from the other side , ” he says .
“ The question right now is : How willing are the parties to really compromise , in any way ?
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

“But the Houthis won’t let them go,” she says, noting how the conflict and flow of humanitarian aid have boosted Houthi resources. “You have a fundamental, objective problem: The Saudis want out, the Houthis don’t. How do you deal with this?”
And Helen Lackner, at the European Council on Foreign Relations, says “the solution for the Saudis is, ‘COVID-19 is a wonderful way for us to get out respectably, and start focusing on the rest of our problems, which are not insignificant.’”
But standing in the way of an agreement “is this huge gap of confidence between the two sides,” says one Yemen-based researcher.
By focusing minds on what is most important, the dark cloud of the coronavirus pandemic has at times displayed a silver lining. That raised hopes for Yemen, but peace there is proving elusive.
In announcing the cease-fire, the Saudis cited the need to pave the way for talks and to cope with the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak. U.N. Special Envoy Martin Griffiths noted that Yemen could not “face two fronts at the same time: a war and a pandemic.”
Saudi Arabia’s announcement of a cease-fire in Yemen was welcome news. But with the two-week cease-fire expiring today, the lack of results – with Houthi rebels continuing to press their military advantage, and Saudi planes launching scores of airstrikes in reply – is a stark reminder of the challenges that remain.
Two weeks ago, Saudi Arabia announced a unilateral cease-fire in Yemen, following months in which it had made clear its desire to disentangle from what has proved a costly and humiliating quagmire for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Coming amid a global pandemic, the announcement was welcome news. The Saudi military intervention, beginning in 2015, has been blamed for creating what the United Nations calls the world’s worst humanitarian disaster.
But with the cease-fire expiring today, the lack of results – with Houthi rebels continuing to press their military advantage, and Saudi planes launching scores of airstrikes in reply – is a stark reminder of the challenges to peace that remain.
Why We Wrote This By focusing minds on what is most important, the dark cloud of the coronavirus pandemic has at times displayed a silver lining. That raised hopes for Yemen, but peace there is proving elusive.
In announcing the Yemen cease-fire, the Saudis cited both the need to pave the way for peace talks and to cope with the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak in the impoverished and war-weary country.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Other positive signs followed, including U.N. Special Envoy Martin Griffiths telling the Security Council last week of progress toward a truce in closed-door talks between the Saudis and Houthis, with agreement expected in the “immediate future.”
The catalyst toward peace was the virus, Mr. Griffiths said, noting that Yemen could not “face two fronts at the same time: a war and a pandemic.” Yemen announced its first – and so far only – laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 on April 10. “This is the time for hard decisions,” the envoy said.
But even as the U.S. was reported Tuesday to be preparing a “substantial contribution” to help Yemen battle the coronavirus, and Yemen was set to receive tens of thousands of test kits donated by a group of multinational companies, the fighting has barely eased.
“Gap of confidence”
In return for a Saudi withdrawal, the Houthis would sign a peace deal, analysts say, and the Iran-backed Houthi movement, known as Ansar Allah, produced an eight-page proposal two weeks ago. But with battlefield momentum now in their favor, the analysts say, the Houthis expect to dictate the terms of any Saudi drawdown – which is unacceptable to Riyadh.
“As far as the Saudis are concerned, they don’t know what to do,” says Abdulghani al-Iryani, a senior researcher at the Yemen-based Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies. “They’ve given one gesture after another, but these gestures are viewed by the Houthis as empty, given the fact that there is no overall understanding of how the relationship between the two sides will be in the future. The guarantees are not there.”
The fulcrum of any deal needs to be agreement by the Saudis to stop undermining the Houthis, and agreement by the Houthis to protect Saudi borders and limit smuggling and human trafficking, says Mr. Iryani, who was a consultant to the U.N. Development Program in Yemen until the end of 2019.
“What stands in the way is this huge gap of confidence between the two sides,” he says. The Houthis need guarantees that any deal will be implemented, in order to “be willing to give up some power” to the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized government – currently in exile – of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.
Khaled Abdullah/Reuters View caption Hide caption Houthi troops ride on the back of a police patrol truck after participating in a gathering of Houthis in Sanaa, Yemen, Feb. 19, 2020.
The Saudi cease-fire has barely dented the conflict, nor slowed the Houthi military advance on Marib, an oil- and gas-rich prize and one of the last strongholds of pro-Hadi forces in northern Yemen.
The Saudis face another crisis in the south, where a militia backed by the United Arab Emirates warned this week that “the outbreak of war is imminent” as they advance against Saudi-backed government forces.
Houthis “need” the war
“The Saudis want out; the solution for the Saudis is, ‘COVID-19 is a wonderful way for us to get out respectably, and start focusing on the rest of our problems, which are not insignificant,’” says Helen Lackner, a Yemen expert and visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
“But the Houthis won’t let them go. The Houthis want this war to go on, they don’t want this war to stop. They need it,” says Ms. Lackner, noting current rebel advances, and how the conflict and flow of humanitarian aid have boosted Houthi resources.
“You have a fundamental, objective problem: The Saudis want out, the Houthis don’t. How do you deal with this?” asks Ms. Lackner, author of the 2019 book “Yemen in Crisis: The Road to War.”
Saudi Arabia has been widely accused of elevating Yemen’s civil war into a regional proxy conflagration along familiar Middle Eastern fault lines, which pit Iran and its self-declared “axis of resistance” against Saudi Arabia and its pro-American allies.
When Saudi officials first intervened in Yemen, leading an Arab coalition to reverse the Houthi takeover of Sanaa and reinstall the Hadi government, they promised that “Operation Decisive Storm” would be over within weeks.
Yet instead of a demonstration of Saudi military prowess ordered by the new and assertive crown prince, the Yemen initiative has turned into a venture that is failing, even after the application of more than 20,000 air raids, according to the Yemen Data Project, and the loss of more than 100,000 lives – nearly all of them Yemeni, and many of them civilians.
“Why [the Saudis] don’t declare victory and go home is a question I asked about three years ago, and it would have been a lot easier for them to declare victory [then] than it is today,” says Ms. Lackner. “Can they announce the extension of a cease-fire that hasn’t actually happened?”
Overshadowing the battlefield to-and-fro is the looming risk of the coronavirus to one of the most vulnerable populations on earth. Already with 80% of Yemen’s population reliant on aid relief, and hospitals and health infrastructure ravaged by the war, the coronavirus “could spread fast, more widely and with deadlier consequences than in many other countries,” Mark Lowcock, the top U.N. aid official, warned last week.
Public image aspect
The continued fighting and few signs of any diplomatic breakthrough mean it is not yet clear how COVID-19 could affect war calculations. The U.N. counts 500 Yemenis killed or injured since January, one-third of them children.
“The big change could be if we see COVID-19 taking hold in Yemen and spreading quite quickly, as it is likely to do,” says Peter Salisbury, the senior Yemen analyst for the International Crisis Group.
“Yemen’s population is malnourished, undernourished, and it’s in very bad shape. People are already dying from preventable diseases, cholera, dengue fever, and so on. ... The population’s just incredibly vulnerable,” says Mr. Salisbury.
“There’s a public image aspect to this as well: The Houthis and government of Yemen each seek to be seen as a legitimate governing authority in Yemen, and if you are prioritizing a war over a life-threatening virus, that’s not great for your image,” he says.
“There is a lot of face to be lost in a COVID-19 outbreak,” adds Mr. Salisbury. “But for the time being, the challenge would appear to be that the Saudi initiative isn’t enough for the Houthis.”
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“We’re really in a place where it depends on the willingness of one or several of the key parties to take a leap of faith ... to make gestures that build confidence from the other side,” he says. “The question right now is: How willing are the parties to really compromise, in any way?”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


ezorigin--2020-04-21--Netanyahu to lead Israel's 'national emergency' government

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his chief rival announced Monday that they have forged a deal to form a coalition government , ending months of political paralysis and averting what would have been a fourth consecutive election in just over a year .
Mr. Netanyahu and former military chief Benny Gantz , leader of the Blue and White party , signed the power-sharing agreement after weeks of negotiations for what they termed a “ national emergency ” government meant to steer the country through the coronavirus outbreak .
Although Mr. Netanyahu repeatedly came up short in three elections over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returns the long-serving leader to the premiership , defying critics who predicted his downfall and restoring his reputation as a political wizard .
It means that Mr. Netanyahu will almost certainly remain in office for the duration of his upcoming trial on corruption charges .
The deal calls for a three-year period , with Mr. Netanyahu serving as prime minister for the first half , and Mr. Gantz taking the job for the second half .
Mr. Gantz 's party will take control of a number of senior government ministries , including defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant boost as he fights to hold on to power while fending off corruption charges .
His party will gain influence over judicial appointments .
The deal also requires the approval of both parties on key appointments including the attorney general and the state prosecutor – granting Mr. Netanyahu veto power over the officials who hold sway over his legal fate .
“ I promised the state of Israel a national emergency government that will work to save the lives and livelihoods of the citizens of Israel , ” Mr. Netanyahu tweeted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ short of a required parliamentary majority , Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gantz agreed to try to form a unity government because of the burgeoning coronavirus crisis .
The talks stalled several times , reportedly over Mr. Netanyahu ’ s personal legal problems , sparking concern that they would plunge the country into new elections .
The deal required major compromise by both men .
During three bitter campaigns over the past year , Mr. Gantz and his Blue and White party vowed never to serve in a government under Mr. Netanyahu so long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges .
After 11 years as prime minister , Mr. Netanyahu agreed to step aside and allow Mr. Gantz to take the job , if the coalition manages to survive long enough .
“ We prevented a fourth election , ” Mr. Gantz tweeted .
“ We will protect democracy .
We will battle corona and we will worry about all the citizens of Israel.
” While the government was ostensibly formed to deal with the coronavirus pandemic , which has killed over 170 Israelis and ravaged the economy , negotiations revolved largely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set to start next month .
Main sticking points included a demand by the prime minister to have more say on judicial appointments , which could play a role if his case eventually reaches the Supreme Court .
Political analyst Avraham Diskin , who was involved in crafting some of the coalition deal , said guarantees by both sides were critical .
Mr. Netanyahu wanted a guarantee he would not be forced to resign after Mr. Gantz takes over as prime minister .
Israeli law requires all public officials , with the exception @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down if charged with a crime .
For Blue and White , that meant assurances that Mr. Netanyahu wouldn ’ t topple the government before Mr. Gantz becomes prime minister , Mr. Diskin said .
“ There was a total lack of trust , ” he said .
“ I pray that the government will hold up and wo n't miss the opportunity with fights over nonsense.
” In a joint statement , the parties said they would form a six-month “ emergency ” government focused on the coronavirus crisis .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ policy outline ” for a long-term unity government .
The deal could clear the way for Mr. Netanyahu 's campaign promise to annex large parts of the West Bank after July 1 .
Mr. Gantz has raised concerns about the plan , which is bitterly opposed by the Palestinians and much of the international community , saying it could only take place with broad international support .
Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said the new government would have two options : “ to either open the doors for a meaningful peace process or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Last month ’ s election , just like the campaigns last September and April , ended with no clear winner .
But with a slight majority of lawmakers endorsing him , Mr. Gantz was chosen first by the country 's figurehead president to try to build a coalition government .
The glue holding together Mr. Gantz 's different backers was their shared animosity toward Mr. Netanyahu .
Mr. Gantz began to move forward with legislation that would have disqualified the indicted Mr. Netanyahu from serving as prime minister in the future .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his own shaky alliance fraying , Mr. Gantz made an about-face late last month and accepted an offer from Mr. Netanyahu to pursue a joint government to deal with the pandemic .
The move drew heavy criticism from Mr. Gantz ’ s supporters and tore apart his Blue and White alliance .
Negotiations continued even after Mr. Gantz ’ allotted time to build a coalition ended last week .
The Knesset , or parliament , had been given until May 7 to select a candidate for prime minister .
Otherwise , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new elections .
On Sunday night , several thousand demonstrators , including Mr. Gantz ’ s former political partner Yair Lapid , gathered in Tel Aviv to protest the emerging deal .
Protesters accused Mr. Netanyahu of using the coronavirus crisis to shield himself from prosecution and accused Mr. Gantz of abandoning his central campaign promises .
“ You don ’ t fight corruption from within .
If you ’ re inside , you ’ re part of it , ” Mr. Lapid said .
Mr. Netanyahu is desperate to remain in office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lash out at his enemies and rally public opposition to his prosecutors .
Mr. Netanyahu is awaiting trial on charges of accepting bribes , breach of trust , and fraud .
He has denied any wrongdoing and portrays himself as a victim of a media and judicial witch hunt .
Citing the coronavirus crisis , Mr. Netanyahu ’ s hand-picked justice minister has already delayed the trial by two months by shuttering most of the court system .
Israel has identified more than 13,000 cases of the coronavirus , with 172 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relaxing some of its health restrictions , hundreds of thousands are out of work and the economy has come to a standstill .
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 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his chief rival announced Monday that they have forged a deal to form a coalition government, ending months of political paralysis and averting what would have been a fourth consecutive election in just over a year.
Mr. Netanyahu and former military chief Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White party, signed the power-sharing agreement after weeks of negotiations for what they termed a “national emergency” government meant to steer the country through the coronavirus outbreak.
Although Mr. Netanyahu repeatedly came up short in three elections over the past year, the coalition agreement returns the long-serving leader to the premiership, defying critics who predicted his downfall and restoring his reputation as a political wizard. It means that Mr. Netanyahu will almost certainly remain in office for the duration of his upcoming trial on corruption charges.
The deal calls for a three-year period, with Mr. Netanyahu serving as prime minister for the first half, and Mr. Gantz taking the job for the second half.
Mr. Gantz's party will take control of a number of senior government ministries, including defense.
The agreement delivers Mr. Netanyahu a significant boost as he fights to hold on to power while fending off corruption charges. His party will gain influence over judicial appointments. The deal also requires the approval of both parties on key appointments including the attorney general and the state prosecutor – granting Mr. Netanyahu veto power over the officials who hold sway over his legal fate.
“I promised the state of Israel a national emergency government that will work to save the lives and livelihoods of the citizens of Israel,” Mr. Netanyahu tweeted.
After March 2 elections left both men short of a required parliamentary majority, Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gantz agreed to try to form a unity government because of the burgeoning coronavirus crisis. The talks stalled several times, reportedly over Mr. Netanyahu’s personal legal problems, sparking concern that they would plunge the country into new elections.
The deal required major compromise by both men. During three bitter campaigns over the past year, Mr. Gantz and his Blue and White party vowed never to serve in a government under Mr. Netanyahu so long as he faces a slew of corruption charges. After 11 years as prime minister, Mr. Netanyahu agreed to step aside and allow Mr. Gantz to take the job, if the coalition manages to survive long enough.
“We prevented a fourth election,” Mr. Gantz tweeted. “We will protect democracy. We will battle corona and we will worry about all the citizens of Israel.”
While the government was ostensibly formed to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed over 170 Israelis and ravaged the economy, negotiations revolved largely around Mr. Netanyahu's corruption trial, set to start next month. Main sticking points included a demand by the prime minister to have more say on judicial appointments, which could play a role if his case eventually reaches the Supreme Court.
Political analyst Avraham Diskin, who was involved in crafting some of the coalition deal, said guarantees by both sides were critical. Mr. Netanyahu wanted a guarantee he would not be forced to resign after Mr. Gantz takes over as prime minister. Israeli law requires all public officials, with the exception of the prime minister, to step down if charged with a crime.
For Blue and White, that meant assurances that Mr. Netanyahu wouldn’t topple the government before Mr. Gantz becomes prime minister, Mr. Diskin said.
“There was a total lack of trust,” he said. “I pray that the government will hold up and won't miss the opportunity with fights over nonsense.”
In a joint statement, the parties said they would form a six-month “emergency” government focused on the coronavirus crisis. In the meantime, they will work on a “policy outline” for a long-term unity government.
The deal could clear the way for Mr. Netanyahu's campaign promise to annex large parts of the West Bank after July 1. Mr. Gantz has raised concerns about the plan, which is bitterly opposed by the Palestinians and much of the international community, saying it could only take place with broad international support.
Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said the new government would have two options: “to either open the doors for a meaningful peace process or to further jeaopardize any hope for peace.”
Last month’s election, just like the campaigns last September and April, ended with no clear winner. But with a slight majority of lawmakers endorsing him, Mr. Gantz was chosen first by the country's figurehead president to try to build a coalition government.
The glue holding together Mr. Gantz's different backers was their shared animosity toward Mr. Netanyahu. Mr. Gantz began to move forward with legislation that would have disqualified the indicted Mr. Netanyahu from serving as prime minister in the future.
But with the virus crisis worsening, and his own shaky alliance fraying, Mr. Gantz made an about-face late last month and accepted an offer from Mr. Netanyahu to pursue a joint government to deal with the pandemic. The move drew heavy criticism from Mr. Gantz’s supporters and tore apart his Blue and White alliance.
Negotiations continued even after Mr. Gantz’ allotted time to build a coalition ended last week. The Knesset, or parliament, had been given until May 7 to select a candidate for prime minister. Otherwise, it would automatically have been dissolved and triggered new elections.
On Sunday night, several thousand demonstrators, including Mr. Gantz’s former political partner Yair Lapid, gathered in Tel Aviv to protest the emerging deal. Protesters accused Mr. Netanyahu of using the coronavirus crisis to shield himself from prosecution and accused Mr. Gantz of abandoning his central campaign promises.
“You don’t fight corruption from within. If you’re inside, you’re part of it,” Mr. Lapid said.
Mr. Netanyahu is desperate to remain in office throughout the trial, using his position to lash out at his enemies and rally public opposition to his prosecutors.
Mr. Netanyahu is awaiting trial on charges of accepting bribes, breach of trust, and fraud. He has denied any wrongdoing and portrays himself as a victim of a media and judicial witch hunt. Citing the coronavirus crisis, Mr. Netanyahu’s hand-picked justice minister has already delayed the trial by two months by shuttering most of the court system.
Israel has identified more than 13,000 cases of the coronavirus, with 172 deaths. While this week the country began relaxing some of its health restrictions, hundreds of thousands are out of work and the economy has come to a standstill.
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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.


ezorigin--2020-04-03--Say cheese! Families commemorate their isolation with ‘porchraits’

By sharing these images on social media , Mr. McRitchie hopes his work can serve as a buoy for others stuck at home .
“ When we see people are celebrating , laughing and having fun , and families that are together , ” he says , “ it 's reminding us of the strength we can find together.
” Mr. McRitchie is part of a network of photographers using the hashtag # porchraits to inspire one another to get out and document their communities .
Many of the images are whimsical , poking fun where they can .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of toilet paper around their wrists .
Other photos are more stark , revealing the stillness and solitude of the social distance era .
“ People are together in a way they haven ’ t been in a long time , ” says Erik McRitchie , a brand photographer in Calgary , Alberta .
A new phenomenon is sweeping the photography community in Canada : “ porchraits.
” These family portraits , often taken on porches , are one way of marking the physical isolation that many are feeling right now .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ togetherness felt by many families .
The children ’ s hands push into the glass pane as the family of five poses behind their front door .
In some photos , family members peer over their fences , only their eyes visible .
Many of the portraits play on space and distance – each member hangs a head out of a separate second-story window , for example .
Welcome to a new phenomenon sweeping the photography community in Canada : “ porchraits.
” These family portraits , often taken on porches , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that many are feeling right now .
But they also highlight a renewed embrace of togetherness felt by many families .
“ We ’ re living through a unique period of time for all of us , ” says Erik McRitchie , a brand photographer in Calgary , Alberta .
“ People are together in a way they haven ’ t been in a long time.
” That ’ s something families are keen to hold onto , judging by Mr. McRitchie ’ s busy calendar .
At the middle of last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40 more to go .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Mr. McRitchie is part of a network of photographers inspired by one in Yellowknife , Northwest Territories , who started taking photos of residents through their windows .
Using the hashtag # porchraits , photographers have inspired one another to get out and document their communities .
And the practice has started to pop up in the United States ; though there ’ s a bit of debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they are sometimes called # doortraits or # isolationportraits .
Many of the images are whimsical , poking fun where they can .
One family poses on their porch with rolls of toilet paper around their wrists ; even the dog gets one around its paw .
Others dress up in costumes or party attire , taking a break from the stress and worry that the coronavirus pandemic has unleashed around the world .
Other photos are more stark , revealing the stillness and solitude of the social-distance era .
And even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s easy to see that these collections , growing across North America and Europe , could easily hang on museum walls the way exhibits of stoic settlers of the Dust Bowl or cities in the Great Depression do a century later .
“ These are really interesting documents at this time , ” says Carol Payne , a professor of the history and theory of photography at Carleton University in Ottawa .
While many of the journalistic photographs of the era revolve around barriers – adults separated from elderly parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers who can only see their children through windows – “ porchraits ” give subjects a sense of agency , she says , and in the end will show how ordinary people coped together .
“ They are telling their future selves what it was like to live through what is really an historic crisis , ” Professor Payne says .
“ People are writing their own social histories visually , not the history of politicians and nation-states but the history of individual people and how they got through it.
” Many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aren ’ t making money from it .
If families can , he is encouraging them to donate to a local food bank .
“ It ’ s really just trying to take a moment of difficulty , and turning it into something positive , ” he says , “ and see if it can be replicated and grown into something bigger.
” Jon Neufeld ’ s family is the one outside the glass door last week in their residential community in Calgary .
He says they were “ hamming it up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about being stuck inside all day .
It also happened to be the day they were supposed to have their daughter ’ s 5th birthday party .
Instead , she dressed up in pink and they ate birthday cake on the front steps ( Mr. McRitchie was invited , one of four “ front porch birthday parties ” he ’ d celebrated that week ) .
Mr. Neufeld says it ’ s been fun to see the other portraits posted around social media .
But collectively it tells a deeper tale .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact that if you look through the collection , we ’ re all on our porches .
We ’ re all on the front steps of our houses , ” he says , “ where we are spending 99 % of our time.
” That ’ s posed technical problems for photographers , who are more used to scenic backgrounds or studios where lighting possibilities are limitless .
But through this work , Mr. McRitchie says he has documented something new : a family togetherness and a return to slower living .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ two little children were sitting at their front window with a “ campfire ” they made from cardboard .
They were pretending to roast marshmallows .
In between his shoots he ’ s noticed more teens out walking with their parents .
“ That ’ s weird , right ?
” he says .
“ Before , mom or dad would go for a walk , and ask , ‘ you guys want to come ?
’ And the kids are like , ‘ no , not a chance.
’ But now they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s just so easy to be occupied with the negativity right now , and any break from that in a positive way is uplifting , ” he continues .
“ When we see people are celebrating , laughing and having fun , and families that are together , it ’ s reminding us of the strength we can find together.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

By sharing these images on social media, Mr. McRitchie hopes his work can serve as a buoy for others stuck at home. “When we see people are celebrating, laughing and having fun, and families that are together,” he says, “it's reminding us of the strength we can find together.”
Mr. McRitchie is part of a network of photographers using the hashtag #porchraits to inspire one another to get out and document their communities. Many of the images are whimsical, poking fun where they can. One family poses on their porch with rolls of toilet paper around their wrists. Other photos are more stark, revealing the stillness and solitude of the social distance era.
One of the surprising ironies of the social distancing era is that this time of isolation is fostering other kinds of togetherness. Canadian photographers are capturing that duality with “porchraits.”
“People are together in a way they haven’t been in a long time,” says Erik McRitchie, a brand photographer in Calgary, Alberta.
A new phenomenon is sweeping the photography community in Canada: “porchraits.” These family portraits, often taken on porches, are one way of marking the physical isolation that many are feeling right now. But they also highlight a renewed embrace of togetherness felt by many families.
The children’s hands push into the glass pane as the family of five poses behind their front door. In some photos, family members peer over their fences, only their eyes visible. Many of the portraits play on space and distance – each member hangs a head out of a separate second-story window, for example.
Welcome to a new phenomenon sweeping the photography community in Canada: “porchraits.” These family portraits, often taken on porches, are one way of marking the physical isolation that many are feeling right now. But they also highlight a renewed embrace of togetherness felt by many families.
“We’re living through a unique period of time for all of us,” says Erik McRitchie, a brand photographer in Calgary, Alberta. “People are together in a way they haven’t been in a long time.”
Why We Wrote This One of the surprising ironies of the social distancing era is that this time of isolation is fostering other kinds of togetherness. Canadian photographers are capturing that duality with “porchraits.”
That’s something families are keen to hold onto, judging by Mr. McRitchie’s busy calendar. At the middle of last week he had done 25 shoots and had 40 more to go.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Mr. McRitchie is part of a network of photographers inspired by one in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, who started taking photos of residents through their windows. Using the hashtag #porchraits, photographers have inspired one another to get out and document their communities. And the practice has started to pop up in the United States; though there’s a bit of debate over how to spell the new term and they are sometimes called #doortraits or #isolationportraits.
Courtesy of Erik McRitchie View caption Hide caption A little girl celebrates her fifth birthday on her porch as part of a family portrait session with Calgary photographer Erik McRitchie.
Many of the images are whimsical, poking fun where they can. One family poses on their porch with rolls of toilet paper around their wrists; even the dog gets one around its paw. Others dress up in costumes or party attire, taking a break from the stress and worry that the coronavirus pandemic has unleashed around the world.
Other photos are more stark, revealing the stillness and solitude of the social-distance era. And even today, in the midst of it, it’s easy to see that these collections, growing across North America and Europe, could easily hang on museum walls the way exhibits of stoic settlers of the Dust Bowl or cities in the Great Depression do a century later.
“These are really interesting documents at this time,” says Carol Payne, a professor of the history and theory of photography at Carleton University in Ottawa. While many of the journalistic photographs of the era revolve around barriers – adults separated from elderly parents in nursing homes, or isolated healthcare workers who can only see their children through windows – “porchraits” give subjects a sense of agency, she says, and in the end will show how ordinary people coped together.
“They are telling their future selves what it was like to live through what is really an historic crisis,” Professor Payne says. “People are writing their own social histories visually, not the history of politicians and nation-states but the history of individual people and how they got through it.”
Many of the photographers, like Mr. McRitchie, aren’t making money from it. If families can, he is encouraging them to donate to a local food bank. “It’s really just trying to take a moment of difficulty, and turning it into something positive,” he says, “and see if it can be replicated and grown into something bigger.”
Jon Neufeld’s family is the one outside the glass door last week in their residential community in Calgary. He says they were “hamming it up,” just having a bit of fun about being stuck inside all day. It also happened to be the day they were supposed to have their daughter’s 5th birthday party. Instead, she dressed up in pink and they ate birthday cake on the front steps (Mr. McRitchie was invited, one of four “front porch birthday parties” he’d celebrated that week).
Mr. Neufeld says it’s been fun to see the other portraits posted around social media. But collectively it tells a deeper tale. “The kind of struggle is implicit in the fact that if you look through the collection, we’re all on our porches. We’re all on the front steps of our houses,” he says, “where we are spending 99% of our time.”
That’s posed technical problems for photographers, who are more used to scenic backgrounds or studios where lighting possibilities are limitless. But through this work, Mr. McRitchie says he has documented something new: a family togetherness and a return to slower living. When he arrived at one house, two little children were sitting at their front window with a “campfire” they made from cardboard. They were pretending to roast marshmallows.
In between his shoots he’s noticed more teens out walking with their parents.
“That’s weird, right?” he says. “Before, mom or dad would go for a walk, and ask, ‘you guys want to come?’ And the kids are like, ‘no, not a chance.’ But now they’re out together.”
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“It’s just so easy to be occupied with the negativity right now, and any break from that in a positive way is uplifting,” he continues. “When we see people are celebrating, laughing and having fun, and families that are together, it’s reminding us of the strength we can find together.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.