By LINDSEY TOOMER <a href="https://coloradonewsline.com/">Colorado Newsline</a>

Now that Colorado voters passed the <a target="_blank" href="https://coloradonewsline.com/2022/10/17/proposition-122-colorado-voters-mushrooms/">Natural Medicine Health Act</a>, the state has several steps to get through before Colorado will actually see a regulated industry for psychedelic mushrooms.

The measure allows for licensed “healing centers” to provide access 
to psilocybin and psilocyn, the psychoactive compounds found in many 
species of fungi, for therapeutic purposes. It also decriminalizes the 
“personal use” of the substances, allowing people to possess and grow 
psychedelic mushrooms in their own homes.

The first step on the itinerary is developing an advisory board, 
which will include appointees from Gov. Jared Polis tasked with helping 
the Department of Regulatory Agencies implement the new program.

According to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Initiatives/titleBoard/filings/2021-2022/58Final.pdf">act’s text</a>,
 the board will include 15 members: At least seven are expected to have 
expertise and experience in topics including but not limited to natural 
medicine therapy and research, emergency medical services, health care 
insurance and policy, or harm reduction. At least eight members are 
expected to have experience with religious and traditional indigenous 
uses of natural medicines, issues impacting veterans, disparities in 
health care access, or criminal justice reform in Colorado.

“We will follow the will of the voters and will be appointing a 15 
member advisory board to oversee the regulatory process around this new 
voter-approved measure,” Melissa Dworkin, a spokesperson with the 
governor’s office, said in an email.

Josh Kappel, an attorney who chaired Natural Medicine Colorado’s 
campaign committee and helped draft Proposition 122, said he trusts that
 the governor will appoint a board that’s inclusive of all relevant 
stakeholders. He said the board’s initial purpose is to provide DORA 
with recommendations around implementing the program.

“We are excited to work with all relevant stakeholders and the state 
government to implement Prop 122 in a safe, responsible and equitable 
manner that provides access to this much needed tool to address our 
state’s mental health crisis,” Kappel said.

After working with DORA to develop the program, the board will make 
annual recommendations regarding public health approaches for natural 
medicine, educational campaigns, research on efficacy and regulation, 
training programs, equitable and culturally responsible access, and data
 collection and reporting. Kappel added that the board will likely 
create regular reports analyzing the effectiveness of the program.

Advocates of the ballot measure point to research showing that 
psychedelic substances can be effective in treating depression, anxiety,
 post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions. The 
federal Food and Drug Administration has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/921789#:~:text=The%20US%20Food%20and%20Drug,ingredient%20in%20%22magic%20mushrooms.%22">designated psilocybin</a> as a “breakthrough therapy” for the treatment of major depressive disorder.

Coloradans can start applying for center licenses in September 2024

Ben Unger, who works with New Approach, an organization involved in passing both <a target="_blank" href="https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2022/08/08/many-oregon-voters-will-have-to-decide-again-on-a-psilocybin-program/">Oregon’s Measure 109</a>
 and Colorado’s Proposition 122, said in an email his greatest hope for 
the advisory board is that “it’s filled with experts that can guide a 
regulatory process that maximizes safety and promotes equitable access 
for all that can benefit.”

For initial appointments that need to be made by Jan. 31, 2023, seven
 members will be appointed to a two-year term while eight will be 
appointed to a four-year term. After that initial board, all members 
will be appointed to four-year terms and can serve two consecutive 
terms.

After appointees are named, the board will kick off an 18-month 
rulemaking process to develop regulations around facilitator licensing, 
training and the operation of healing centers, Kappel said. He said 
Natural Medicine Colorado will continue to be a resource for the state 
as it looks to implement Proposition 122 in a “responsible, equitable 
and safe manner.”

“We hope to be able to work with everyone — the government 
stakeholders, even those who opposed us — to help create a program that 
is both safe, but also provides the mental health treatment and options 
that Coloradans are expecting after passing Prop 122,” Kappel said.

Unger noted that the proposition language says Coloradans can start 
applying for healing center licenses in September 2024, meaning licensed
 therapeutic services would likely start six or seven months after that.
 Over the next year or so, he said interested stakeholders should keep 
their eyes open for development of regulations for facilitators and 
safety rules for clients.

“It’s reasonable to expect that services could begin in the summer of
 2025,” Unger said in an email. “It’s important that the state work with
 experts to develop processes that promote safety while protecting 
access for people that can benefit.”

By LINDSEY TOOMER <a href="https://coloradonewsline.com/">Colorado Newsline</a>Now that Colorado voters passed the <a target="_blank" href="https://coloradonewsline.com/2022/10/17/proposition-122-colorado-voters-mushrooms/">Natural Medicine Health Act</a>, the state has several steps to get through before Colorado will actually see a regulated industry for psychedelic mushrooms.The measure allows for licensed “healing centers” to provide access 
to psilocybin and psilocyn, the psychoactive compounds found in many 
species of fungi, for therapeutic purposes. It also decriminalizes the 
“personal use” of the substances, allowing people to possess and grow 
psychedelic mushrooms in their own homes.The first step on the itinerary is developing an advisory board, 
which will include appointees from Gov. Jared Polis tasked with helping 
the Department of Regulatory Agencies implement the new program.According to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Initiatives/titleBoard/filings/2021-2022/58Final.pdf">act’s text</a>,
 the board will include 15 members: At least seven are expected to have 
expertise and experience in topics including but not limited to natural 
medicine therapy and research, emergency medical services, health care 
insurance and policy, or harm reduction. At least eight members are 
expected to have experience with religious and traditional indigenous 
uses of natural medicines, issues impacting veterans, disparities in 
health care access, or criminal justice reform in Colorado.“We will follow the will of the voters and will be appointing a 15 
member advisory board to oversee the regulatory process around this new 
voter-approved measure,” Melissa Dworkin, a spokesperson with the 
governor’s office, said in an email.Josh Kappel, an attorney who chaired Natural Medicine Colorado’s 
campaign committee and helped draft Proposition 122, said he trusts that
 the governor will appoint a board that’s inclusive of all relevant 
stakeholders. He said the board’s initial purpose is to provide DORA 
with recommendations around implementing the program.“We are excited to work with all relevant stakeholders and the state 
government to implement Prop 122 in a safe, responsible and equitable 
manner that provides access to this much needed tool to address our 
state’s mental health crisis,” Kappel said.After working with DORA to develop the program, the board will make 
annual recommendations regarding public health approaches for natural 
medicine, educational campaigns, research on efficacy and regulation, 
training programs, equitable and culturally responsible access, and data
 collection and reporting. Kappel added that the board will likely 
create regular reports analyzing the effectiveness of the program.Advocates of the ballot measure point to research showing that 
psychedelic substances can be effective in treating depression, anxiety,
 post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions. The 
federal Food and Drug Administration has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/921789#:~:text=The%20US%20Food%20and%20Drug,ingredient%20in%20%22magic%20mushrooms.%22">designated psilocybin</a> as a “breakthrough therapy” for the treatment of major depressive disorder.<h2>Coloradans can start applying for center licenses in September 2024</h2>Ben Unger, who works with New Approach, an organization involved in passing both <a target="_blank" href="https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2022/08/08/many-oregon-voters-will-have-to-decide-again-on-a-psilocybin-program/">Oregon’s Measure 109</a>
 and Colorado’s Proposition 122, said in an email his greatest hope for 
the advisory board is that “it’s filled with experts that can guide a 
regulatory process that maximizes safety and promotes equitable access 
for all that can benefit.”For initial appointments that need to be made by Jan. 31, 2023, seven
 members will be appointed to a two-year term while eight will be 
appointed to a four-year term. After that initial board, all members 
will be appointed to four-year terms and can serve two consecutive 
terms.After appointees are named, the board will kick off an 18-month 
rulemaking process to develop regulations around facilitator licensing, 
training and the operation of healing centers, Kappel said. He said 
Natural Medicine Colorado will continue to be a resource for the state 
as it looks to implement Proposition 122 in a “responsible, equitable 
and safe manner.”“We hope to be able to work with everyone — the government 
stakeholders, even those who opposed us — to help create a program that 
is both safe, but also provides the mental health treatment and options 
that Coloradans are expecting after passing Prop 122,” Kappel said.Unger noted that the proposition language says Coloradans can start 
applying for healing center licenses in September 2024, meaning licensed
 therapeutic services would likely start six or seven months after that.
 Over the next year or so, he said interested stakeholders should keep 
their eyes open for development of regulations for facilitators and 
safety rules for clients.“It’s reasonable to expect that services could begin in the summer of
 2025,” Unger said in an email. “It’s important that the state work with
 experts to develop processes that promote safety while protecting 
access for people that can benefit.”

Colorado begins steps to regulate psychedelic mushrooms

By ZHONG-REN PENG <a href="https://theconversation.com/dreaming-of-beachfront-real-estate-much-of-floridas-coast-is-at-risk-of-storm-erosion-that-can-cause-homes-to-collapse-as-daytona-just-saw-194492">The Conversation</a>

Back-to-back hurricanes left an unnerving scene on the Florida coast 
in November 2022: Several houses, and even swimming pools, were left 
dangling over the ocean as waves eroded the land beneath them. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/VolusiaCountyEmergencyManagement/posts/pfbid02EZ9SbTjdQhrkGtFm452UhzhzjprPu6h6WaQbPLuMLsRNpCLAuPoPKTZDUvjygUb7l">Dozens of homes and condo buildings</a> in the Daytona Beach area were deemed unsafe.

The destruction has raised a disturbing question: How much property 
along the rest of the Florida coast is at risk of collapse, and can it 
be saved?

As the director of <a href="https://dcp.ufl.edu/iadapt/">iAdapt</a>, the International Center for Adaptation Planning and Design at the University of Florida, <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ngiXpvgAAAAJ&amp;hl=en">I have been</a> studying climate adaptation issues for the last two decades to help answer these questions.

Living by the sea has a strong appeal in Florida – beautiful beaches,
 ocean views, and often pleasant breezes. However, there are also risks,
 and they are exacerbated by climate change.

Sea level is forecast to rise on average <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/hazards/sealevelrise/sealevelrise-tech-report.html">10 to 14 inches</a> (25-35 cm) on the U.S. East Coast over the next 30 years, and 14 to 18 inches (35-45 cm) on the Gulf Coast, <a href="https://theconversation.com/ipcc-climate-report-profound-changes-are-underway-in-earths-oceans-and-ice-a-lead-author-explains-what-the-warnings-mean-165588">as the planet warms</a>. Rising temperatures are also <a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3184/a-force-of-nature-hurricanes-in-a-changing-climate/">increasing the intensity</a> of hurricanes.

With higher seas and larger storm surges, ocean waves more easily 
erode beaches, weaken sea walls, and submerge cement foundations in 
corrosive salt water. Together with <a href="https://geodata.dep.state.fl.us/datasets/194ac159bd1e4be294b14dd882d42dcf_0/about">subsidence</a>, or sinking land, they make coastal living riskier.

The risk of erosion varies depending on the soil, geology and natural
 shoreline changes. But it is widespread in U.S. coastal areas, <a href="https://geodata.dep.state.fl.us/datasets/FDEP::coastal-critical-erosion-areas/about">particularly Florida</a>. Maps produced by engineers at the <a href="https://geodata.dep.state.fl.us/datasets/FDEP::coastal-critical-erosion-areas/about">Florida Department of Environmental Protection</a> show most of Florida’s coast faces critical erosion risk.

Aging or poorly maintained buildings and sea walls, and older or poor construction methods and materials, can dramatically <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/sinking-land-rising-seas-dual-crises-facing-coastal-communities">aggravate the risk</a>.

So, what can be done to minimize the damage?

The first step is to build sturdier buildings and fortify existing ones according to advanced building codes.

Building codes change over time as risks rise and construction 
techniques and materials improve. For example, design criteria in the <a href="https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/FLBC2020P1">Florida Building Code</a>
 for South Florida changed from requiring some new buildings to be able 
to withstand 146 mph sustained winds in 2002 to 195 mph winds in 2021, 
meaning a powerful Category 5 hurricane.

The town of <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2022/10/01/punta-gorda-hurricane-ian-damage/">Punta Gorda</a>,
 near where Hurricane Ian made landfall in October 2022, showed how 
homes constructed to the latest building codes have a much better chance
 of survival.

Many of Punta Gorda’s buildings had been rebuilt after Hurricane 
Charley in 2004, shortly after the state updated the Florida Building 
Code. When Ian hit, they survived with less damage than those in 
neighboring towns. The updated code required new construction to be able
 to withstand hurricane-force winds, including having shutters or 
impact-resistant window glass.

However, even homes built to the latest codes can be vulnerable, 
because the codes don’t adequately address the environment that 
buildings sit on. A modern building in a low-lying coastal area could 
face damage in the future as sea level rises and the shoreline erodes, 
even if it meets the current flood zone elevation standards.

This is the problem coastal residents faced during Hurricanes Nicole <a href="https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2022-10-06/apocalypse-in-paradise-after-hurricane-ian-a-low-lying-florida-city-contends-with-rising-water">and Ian</a>. Flooding and erosion, exacerbated by sea-level rise, caused the most damage – not wind.

The dozens of beach houses and condo buildings that <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2022-11-14/florida-county-puts-damage-from-nicole-at-481-million">became unstable or collapsed</a>
 in Volusia County during Hurricane Nicole might have seemed fine 
originally. But as the climate changes, the coastal environment changes,
 too, and one hurricane could render the building vulnerable. Hurricane 
Ian damaged sea walls in Volusia County, and some <a href="https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/2022/11/10/tropical-storm-nicoles-fury-washes-away-homes-wilbur-sea/8323351001/">couldn’t be repaired before Nicole</a> struck.

The damage in the Daytona area in 2022 and the <a href="https://miamisao.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GRAND-JURY_202112151434-1.pdf">deadly collapse</a> a year earlier of a condo tower in Surfside should be a wake-up call for all coastal communities.

<a href="https://coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/topics/vulnerability-assessments.html">Data and tools</a> can show where coastal areas are most vulnerable. What is lacking are policies and enforcement.

Florida recently began requiring that state-financed constructors conduct <a href="https://floridadep.gov/rcp/florida-resilient-coastlines-program/content/resilience-and-coastal-protection-rules-development">a sea-level impact study</a>
 before starting construction of a coastal structure. I believe it’s 
time to apply this new rule to any new construction, regardless of the 
funding source.

A comprehensive sea-level impact study requirement should also allow 
for risk-based enforcement, including barring construction in high-risk 
areas.

Similarly, vulnerability audits – particularly for multistory 
buildings built before 2002 – can check the integrity of an existing 
structure and help spot new environmental risks from sea-level rise and 
beach erosion. Before 2002, the building standard was low and 
enforcement was lacking, so many of the materials and the structures 
used in those buildings aren’t up to the standards of today. 

There is a range of <a href="https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_protect-your-home-from-flooding-brochure_2020.pdf">techniques</a> homeowners can use to fortify homes from flood risks.

In some places, that may mean <a href="https://cpo.noaa.gov/News/ArtMID/7875/ArticleID/2059/Elevating-Houses-Can-Protect-Against-Damaging-Floods-But-How-High-is-High-Enough">elevating the house</a>
 or improving the lot grading so surface water runs away from the 
building. Installing a sump pump and remodeling with storm-resistant 
building materials can help.

<a href="https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_protect-your-home-from-flooding-brochure_2020.pdf">FEMA</a>
 suggests other measures to protect against coastal erosion, such as 
replenishing beach sand, strengthening sea walls and anchoring the home.
 Engineering can help communities, temporarily at least, through sea 
walls, ponds and increased drainage. But in the long term, communities 
will have to assess the vulnerability of coastal areas. Sometimes the 
answer is <a href="https://theconversation.com/managed-retreat-done-right-can-reinvent-cities-so-theyre-better-for-everyone-and-avoid-harm-from-flooding-heat-and-fires-163052">to relocate</a>.

However, there’s a disturbing trend after hurricanes, and we’re 
seeing it with Ian: Many damaged areas see lots of money pouring in to 
rebuild in the same vulnerable locations. An important question 
communities should be asking is, if these are already in high-risk 
areas, why rebuild in the same place?

Zhong-Ren Peng is a Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the&nbsp; University of Florida.

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h6Fvx6Cw4tE"></iframe>
 <figcaption>Drone footage shows homes close to collapsing into the ocean. WPLG/YouTube</figcaption>
 </figure>By ZHONG-REN PENG <a href="https://theconversation.com/dreaming-of-beachfront-real-estate-much-of-floridas-coast-is-at-risk-of-storm-erosion-that-can-cause-homes-to-collapse-as-daytona-just-saw-194492">The Conversation</a>Back-to-back hurricanes left an unnerving scene on the Florida coast 
in November 2022: Several houses, and even swimming pools, were left 
dangling over the ocean as waves eroded the land beneath them. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/VolusiaCountyEmergencyManagement/posts/pfbid02EZ9SbTjdQhrkGtFm452UhzhzjprPu6h6WaQbPLuMLsRNpCLAuPoPKTZDUvjygUb7l">Dozens of homes and condo buildings</a> in the Daytona Beach area were deemed unsafe. The destruction has raised a disturbing question: How much property 
along the rest of the Florida coast is at risk of collapse, and can it 
be saved?As the director of <a href="https://dcp.ufl.edu/iadapt/">iAdapt</a>, the International Center for Adaptation Planning and Design at the University of Florida, <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ngiXpvgAAAAJ&amp;hl=en">I have been</a> studying climate adaptation issues for the last two decades to help answer these questions.<h2>Rising seas, aging buildings</h2>Living by the sea has a strong appeal in Florida – beautiful beaches,
 ocean views, and often pleasant breezes. However, there are also risks,
 and they are exacerbated by climate change.Sea level is forecast to rise on average <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/hazards/sealevelrise/sealevelrise-tech-report.html">10 to 14 inches</a> (25-35 cm) on the U.S. East Coast over the next 30 years, and 14 to 18 inches (35-45 cm) on the Gulf Coast, <a href="https://theconversation.com/ipcc-climate-report-profound-changes-are-underway-in-earths-oceans-and-ice-a-lead-author-explains-what-the-warnings-mean-165588">as the planet warms</a>. Rising temperatures are also <a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3184/a-force-of-nature-hurricanes-in-a-changing-climate/">increasing the intensity</a> of hurricanes.With higher seas and larger storm surges, ocean waves more easily 
erode beaches, weaken sea walls, and submerge cement foundations in 
corrosive salt water. Together with <a href="https://geodata.dep.state.fl.us/datasets/194ac159bd1e4be294b14dd882d42dcf_0/about">subsidence</a>, or sinking land, they make coastal living riskier.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669240214504.png" alt=" Florida’s erosion risk map shows most of the state’s coastline at critical risk. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, CC BY-SA " />
 <figcaption> Florida’s erosion risk map shows most of the state’s coastline at critical risk. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, CC BY-SA </figcaption>
 </figure>The risk of erosion varies depending on the soil, geology and natural
 shoreline changes. But it is widespread in U.S. coastal areas, <a href="https://geodata.dep.state.fl.us/datasets/FDEP::coastal-critical-erosion-areas/about">particularly Florida</a>. Maps produced by engineers at the <a href="https://geodata.dep.state.fl.us/datasets/FDEP::coastal-critical-erosion-areas/about">Florida Department of Environmental Protection</a> show most of Florida’s coast faces critical erosion risk.Aging or poorly maintained buildings and sea walls, and older or poor construction methods and materials, can dramatically <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/sinking-land-rising-seas-dual-crises-facing-coastal-communities">aggravate the risk</a>.<h2>Designing better building codes</h2>So, what can be done to minimize the damage?The first step is to build sturdier buildings and fortify existing ones according to advanced building codes.Building codes change over time as risks rise and construction 
techniques and materials improve. For example, design criteria in the <a href="https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/FLBC2020P1">Florida Building Code</a>
 for South Florida changed from requiring some new buildings to be able 
to withstand 146 mph sustained winds in 2002 to 195 mph winds in 2021, 
meaning a powerful Category 5 hurricane.The town of <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2022/10/01/punta-gorda-hurricane-ian-damage/">Punta Gorda</a>,
 near where Hurricane Ian made landfall in October 2022, showed how 
homes constructed to the latest building codes have a much better chance
 of survival.Many of Punta Gorda’s buildings had been rebuilt after Hurricane 
Charley in 2004, shortly after the state updated the Florida Building 
Code. When Ian hit, they survived with less damage than those in 
neighboring towns. The updated code required new construction to be able
 to withstand hurricane-force winds, including having shutters or 
impact-resistant window glass.However, even homes built to the latest codes can be vulnerable, 
because the codes don’t adequately address the environment that 
buildings sit on. A modern building in a low-lying coastal area could 
face damage in the future as sea level rises and the shoreline erodes, 
even if it meets the current flood zone elevation standards.This is the problem coastal residents faced during Hurricanes Nicole <a href="https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2022-10-06/apocalypse-in-paradise-after-hurricane-ian-a-low-lying-florida-city-contends-with-rising-water">and Ian</a>. Flooding and erosion, exacerbated by sea-level rise, caused the most damage – not wind. The dozens of beach houses and condo buildings that <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2022-11-14/florida-county-puts-damage-from-nicole-at-481-million">became unstable or collapsed</a>
 in Volusia County during Hurricane Nicole might have seemed fine 
originally. But as the climate changes, the coastal environment changes,
 too, and one hurricane could render the building vulnerable. Hurricane 
Ian damaged sea walls in Volusia County, and some <a href="https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/2022/11/10/tropical-storm-nicoles-fury-washes-away-homes-wilbur-sea/8323351001/">couldn’t be repaired before Nicole</a> struck. <h2>How to minimize the risk</h2>The damage in the Daytona area in 2022 and the <a href="https://miamisao.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GRAND-JURY_202112151434-1.pdf">deadly collapse</a> a year earlier of a condo tower in Surfside should be a wake-up call for all coastal communities.<a href="https://coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/topics/vulnerability-assessments.html">Data and tools</a> can show where coastal areas are most vulnerable. What is lacking are policies and enforcement.Florida recently began requiring that state-financed constructors conduct <a href="https://floridadep.gov/rcp/florida-resilient-coastlines-program/content/resilience-and-coastal-protection-rules-development">a sea-level impact study</a>
 before starting construction of a coastal structure. I believe it’s 
time to apply this new rule to any new construction, regardless of the 
funding source.A comprehensive sea-level impact study requirement should also allow 
for risk-based enforcement, including barring construction in high-risk 
areas.Similarly, vulnerability audits – particularly for multistory 
buildings built before 2002 – can check the integrity of an existing 
structure and help spot new environmental risks from sea-level rise and 
beach erosion. Before 2002, the building standard was low and 
enforcement was lacking, so many of the materials and the structures 
used in those buildings aren’t up to the standards of today. <h2>What property owners can do</h2>There is a range of <a href="https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_protect-your-home-from-flooding-brochure_2020.pdf">techniques</a> homeowners can use to fortify homes from flood risks.In some places, that may mean <a href="https://cpo.noaa.gov/News/ArtMID/7875/ArticleID/2059/Elevating-Houses-Can-Protect-Against-Damaging-Floods-But-How-High-is-High-Enough">elevating the house</a>
 or improving the lot grading so surface water runs away from the 
building. Installing a sump pump and remodeling with storm-resistant 
building materials can help.<a href="https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_protect-your-home-from-flooding-brochure_2020.pdf">FEMA</a>
 suggests other measures to protect against coastal erosion, such as 
replenishing beach sand, strengthening sea walls and anchoring the home.
 Engineering can help communities, temporarily at least, through sea 
walls, ponds and increased drainage. But in the long term, communities 
will have to assess the vulnerability of coastal areas. Sometimes the 
answer is <a href="https://theconversation.com/managed-retreat-done-right-can-reinvent-cities-so-theyre-better-for-everyone-and-avoid-harm-from-flooding-heat-and-fires-163052">to relocate</a>.However, there’s a disturbing trend after hurricanes, and we’re 
seeing it with Ian: Many damaged areas see lots of money pouring in to 
rebuild in the same vulnerable locations. An important question 
communities should be asking is, if these are already in high-risk 
areas, why rebuild in the same place?Zhong-Ren Peng is a Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the&nbsp; University of Florida.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/194492/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>

🎥 Beachfront real estate? It just might crumble into the ocean

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service has sent letters to more than 9 million individuals and families who 
appear to qualify for a variety of key tax benefits but did not claim 
them by filing a 2021 federal income tax return. Many in this group may 
be eligible to claim some or all of the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit, the
 Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit and other tax credits 
depending on their personal and family situation.

The special reminder letters, which will be arriving in mailboxes 
over the next few weeks, are being sent to people who appear to qualify 
for the Child Tax Credit (CTC), Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC) or Earned 
Income Tax Credit (EITC) but haven't yet filed a 2021 return to claim 
them. The letter, printed in both English and Spanish, provides a brief 
overview of each of these three credits.

"The IRS wants to remind potentially eligible people, especially 
families, that they may qualify for these valuable tax credits," said 
IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "We encourage people who haven't filed a 
tax return yet for 2021 to review these options. Even if they aren't 
required to file a tax return, they may still qualify for several 
important credits. We don't want people to overlook these tax credits, 
and the letters will remind people of their potential eligibility and 
steps they can take."

These and other tax benefits were expanded under last year's American
 Rescue Plan Act and other recent legislation. Even so, the only way to 
get the valuable benefits is to file a 2021 tax return.

Often, individuals and families <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents">can get these expanded tax benefits</a>,
 even if they have little or no income from a job, business or other 
source. This means that many people who don't normally need to file a 
tax return should do so this year, even if they haven't been required to
 file in recent years.

For this mailing, Treasury's Office of Tax Analysis identified 
individuals who don't typically have a tax return filing requirement 
because they appear to have very low incomes, based on Forms W-2, 1099s 
and other third-party statements available to the IRS.

The letters are similar to a special IRS mailing made in September 
2020 encouraging 9 million potential non-filers to submit a tax return 
for the first Economic Impact Payment. This is part of an ongoing effort
 to encourage people who aren't normally required to file to look into 
possible benefits available to them under the tax law. Every year, 
people can overlook filing a tax return when they may be entitled tax 
credits and a refund.

People can file a tax return even if they haven't yet received their 
letter. The IRS reminds people that there's no penalty for a refund 
claimed on a tax return filed after the regular April 2022 tax deadline.
 The fastest and easiest way to get a refund is to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">file an accurate return electronically</a> and choose <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a>.

To help people claim these benefits, without charge, Free File will 
remain open for an extra month this year, until November 17, 2022. 
Available only at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS.gov/freefile</a>,
 Free File enables people whose incomes are $73,000 or less to file a 
return online for free using brand-name software. Free File is sponsored
 by the Free File Alliance, a partnership between the IRS and the 
tax-software industry.

People can also visit <a href="https://www.childtaxcredit.gov/triage/">ChildTaxCredit.gov</a>
 to file a 2021 income tax return. Individuals whose incomes are below 
$12,500 and couples whose incomes are below $25,000 may be able to file a
 simple tax return to claim the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit—which covers
 any stimulus payment amounts from 2021 they may have missed—and the 
Child Tax Credit. Individuals do not need to have children in order to 
use Get Your Child Tax Credit to find the right filing solution for 
them.

Further details on these expanded tax benefits

Besides these three credits, many filers may also qualify for two other benefits with a tax return filed for 2021:

Further details on all these benefits are available in a fact sheet, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-expanded-credits-for-families-highlight-tax-changes-for-2021-many-people-who-dont-normally-file-should-file-this-year">FS-2022-10</a>, posted earlier this year on IRS.gov.

The IRS urges everyone to make sure they have all their year-end 2021
 tax statements in hand before filing their 2021 return. Besides all 
W-2s and 1099s, this includes two statements issued by the IRS -- <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6419">Letter 6419</a>,
 showing their total advance Child Tax Credit payments, and Letter 6475,
 showing their total EIP3 payments. People can also use IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 to see the total amounts of their third round of Economic Impact 
Payments or advance Child Tax Credit payments. For married couples who 
received joint payments, each spouse will need to sign into their own 
account to retrieve their separate amounts.

Whether or not they use Free File, anyone can find answers to their 
tax questions, forms and instructions and easy-to-use tools online at 
IRS.gov. They can use these resources to get help when they need it, at 
home, at work or on the go.

Claiming these credits has no effect on the ability of someone to be 
eligible for federal benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance 
for Needy Families (TANF), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition 
Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Claiming these credits 
also has no effect on an individual's immigration status or their 
ability to get a green card or immigration benefits.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service has sent letters to more than 9 million individuals and families who 
appear to qualify for a variety of key tax benefits but did not claim 
them by filing a 2021 federal income tax return. Many in this group may 
be eligible to claim some or all of the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit, the
 Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit and other tax credits 
depending on their personal and family situation.The special reminder letters, which will be arriving in mailboxes 
over the next few weeks, are being sent to people who appear to qualify 
for the Child Tax Credit (CTC), Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC) or Earned 
Income Tax Credit (EITC) but haven't yet filed a 2021 return to claim 
them. The letter, printed in both English and Spanish, provides a brief 
overview of each of these three credits."The IRS wants to remind potentially eligible people, especially 
families, that they may qualify for these valuable tax credits," said 
IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "We encourage people who haven't filed a 
tax return yet for 2021 to review these options. Even if they aren't 
required to file a tax return, they may still qualify for several 
important credits. We don't want people to overlook these tax credits, 
and the letters will remind people of their potential eligibility and 
steps they can take."<h2>Claiming the credits</h2>These and other tax benefits were expanded under last year's American
 Rescue Plan Act and other recent legislation. Even so, the only way to 
get the valuable benefits is to file a 2021 tax return.Often, individuals and families <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents">can get these expanded tax benefits</a>,
 even if they have little or no income from a job, business or other 
source. This means that many people who don't normally need to file a 
tax return should do so this year, even if they haven't been required to
 file in recent years.For this mailing, Treasury's Office of Tax Analysis identified 
individuals who don't typically have a tax return filing requirement 
because they appear to have very low incomes, based on Forms W-2, 1099s 
and other third-party statements available to the IRS.The letters are similar to a special IRS mailing made in September 
2020 encouraging 9 million potential non-filers to submit a tax return 
for the first Economic Impact Payment. This is part of an ongoing effort
 to encourage people who aren't normally required to file to look into 
possible benefits available to them under the tax law. Every year, 
people can overlook filing a tax return when they may be entitled tax 
credits and a refund.People can file a tax return even if they haven't yet received their 
letter. The IRS reminds people that there's no penalty for a refund 
claimed on a tax return filed after the regular April 2022 tax deadline.
 The fastest and easiest way to get a refund is to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">file an accurate return electronically</a> and choose <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a>.<h2>Free File to stay open until November 17</h2>To help people claim these benefits, without charge, Free File will 
remain open for an extra month this year, until November 17, 2022. 
Available only at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS.gov/freefile</a>,
 Free File enables people whose incomes are $73,000 or less to file a 
return online for free using brand-name software. Free File is sponsored
 by the Free File Alliance, a partnership between the IRS and the 
tax-software industry.People can also visit <a href="https://www.childtaxcredit.gov/triage/">ChildTaxCredit.gov</a>
 to file a 2021 income tax return. Individuals whose incomes are below 
$12,500 and couples whose incomes are below $25,000 may be able to file a
 simple tax return to claim the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit—which covers
 any stimulus payment amounts from 2021 they may have missed—and the 
Child Tax Credit. Individuals do not need to have children in order to 
use Get Your Child Tax Credit to find the right filing solution for 
them.<h2>Further details on these expanded tax benefits</h2>The three credits include:<ul>
 <li>An expanded <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-frequently-asked-questions">Child Tax Credit</a>:
 Families can claim this credit, even if they received monthly advance 
payments during the last half of 2021. The total credit can be as much 
as $3,600 per child.</li><li>A more generous <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">Earned Income Tax Credit</a>:
 The law boosted the EITC for childless workers. There are also changes 
that can help low- and moderate-income families with children. The 
credit can be as much as $1,502 for workers with no qualifying children,
 $3,618 for those with one child, $5,980 for those with two children and
 $6,728 for those with at least three children.</li><li>The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit</a>:
 Those who missed out on last year's third round of Economic Impact 
Payments (EIP3) may be eligible to claim the RRC. Often referred to as 
stimulus payments, this credit can also help eligible people whose EIP3 
was less than the full amount, including those who welcomed a child in 
2021. The maximum credit is $1,400 for each qualifying adult, plus 
$1,400 for each eligible child or adult dependent.</li>
 </ul>Besides these three credits, many filers may also qualify for two other benefits with a tax return filed for 2021:<ul>
 <li>An increased <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/child-and-dependent-care-credit-information">Child and Dependent Care Credit</a>:
 Families who pay for daycare so they can work or look for work can get a
 tax credit worth up to $4,000 for one qualifying person and $8,000 for 
two or more qualifying persons.</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/expanded-tax-benefits-help-individuals-and-businesses-give-to-charity-during-2021-deductions-up-to-600-available-for-cash-donations-by-non-itemizers">A deduction for gifts to charity</a>:
 Most tax-filers who take the standard deduction can deduct eligible 
cash contributions they made during 2021. Married couples filing jointly
 can deduct up to $600 in cash donations and individuals can deduct up 
to $300 in donations. In addition, itemizers who make large cash 
donations often qualify to deduct the full amount in 2021.</li>
 </ul>Further details on all these benefits are available in a fact sheet, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-expanded-credits-for-families-highlight-tax-changes-for-2021-many-people-who-dont-normally-file-should-file-this-year">FS-2022-10</a>, posted earlier this year on IRS.gov.<h2>Helpful reminders</h2>The IRS urges everyone to make sure they have all their year-end 2021
 tax statements in hand before filing their 2021 return. Besides all 
W-2s and 1099s, this includes two statements issued by the IRS -- <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6419">Letter 6419</a>,
 showing their total advance Child Tax Credit payments, and Letter 6475,
 showing their total EIP3 payments. People can also use IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 to see the total amounts of their third round of Economic Impact 
Payments or advance Child Tax Credit payments. For married couples who 
received joint payments, each spouse will need to sign into their own 
account to retrieve their separate amounts.Whether or not they use Free File, anyone can find answers to their 
tax questions, forms and instructions and easy-to-use tools online at 
IRS.gov. They can use these resources to get help when they need it, at 
home, at work or on the go.Claiming these credits has no effect on the ability of someone to be 
eligible for federal benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance 
for Needy Families (TANF), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition 
Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Claiming these credits 
also has no effect on an individual's immigration status or their 
ability to get a green card or immigration benefits.

Didn't claim child tax credit? IRS offers guidance to taxpayers

NEW YORK (AP) — Oscar, Golden Globe and two-time Grammy winning 
singer-actress Irene Cara, who starred and sang the title cut from the 
1980 hit movie “Fame” and then belted out the era-defining hit 
“Flashdance ... What a Feeling” from 1983's “Flashdance,” has died. She 
was 63.

Her publicist, Judith A. Moose, announced the news on 
social media, writing that a cause of death was “currently unknown.” 
Moose also confirmed the death to an Associated Press reporter on 
Saturday. Cara died at her home in Florida. The exact day of her death 
was not disclosed.

“Irene’s family has requested privacy as they 
process their grief,” Moose wrote. “She was a beautifully gifted soul 
whose legacy will live forever through her music and films.”

During
 her career, Cara had three Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, 
including “Breakdance,” “Out Here On My Own,” “Fame” and “Flashdance ...
 What A Feeling,” which spent six weeks at No. 1. She was behind some of
 the most joyful, high-energy pop anthems of the early ’80s.

Tributes
 poured in on Saturday on social media, including from Deborah Cox, who 
called Cara an inspiration, and Holly Robinson Peete, who recalled 
seeing Cara perform: "The insane combination of talent and beauty was 
overwhelming to me. This hurts my heart so much.”

She first came 
to prominence among the young actors playing performing arts high 
schoolers in Alan Parker's “Fame,” with co-stars Debbie Allen, Paul 
McCrane and Anne Mear. Cara played Coco Hernandez, a striving dancer who
 endures all manner of deprivations, including a creepy nude photo 
shoot.

“How bright our spirits go shooting out into space, depends
 on how much we contributed to the earthly brilliance of this world. And
 I mean to be a major contributor!” she says in the movie.

Cara 
sang on the soaring title song with the chorus — “Remember my name/I’m 
gonna live forever/I’m gonna learn how to fly/I feel it coming 
together/People will see me and cry” — which would go on to be nominated
 for an Academy Award for best original song. She also sang on “Out Here
 on My Own,” "Hot Lunch Jam" and “I Sing the Body Electric.”

Three
 years later, she and the songwriting team of “Flashdance” — music by 
Giorgio Moroder, lyrics by Keith Forsey and Cara — was accepting the 
Oscar for best original song for “Flashdance ... What a Feeling.”

The
 movie starred Jennifer Beals as a steel-town girl who dances in a bar 
at night and hopes to attend a prestigious dance conservatory. It 
included the hit song “Maniac,” featuring Beals’ character leaping, 
spinning, stomping her feet and the slow-burning theme song.

“There
 aren’t enough words to express my love and my gratitude,” Cara told the
 Oscar crowd in her thanks. “And last but not least, a very special 
gentlemen who I guess started it all for me many years ago. To Alan 
Parker, wherever you may be tonight, I thank him.”

The New 
York-born Cara began her career on Broadway, with small parts in 
short-lived shows, although a musical called “The Me Nobody Knows” ran 
over 300 performances. She toured in the musical “Jesus Christ 
Superstar" as Mary Magdalene in the mid-1990s and a tour of the musical 
”Flashdance" toured 2012-14 with her songs.

She also created the 
all-female band Irene Cara Presents Hot Caramel and put out a double CD 
with the single “How Can I Make You Luv Me.” Her movie credits include 
”Sparkle" and “D.C. Cab.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Oscar, Golden Globe and two-time Grammy winning 
singer-actress Irene Cara, who starred and sang the title cut from the 
1980 hit movie “Fame” and then belted out the era-defining hit 
“Flashdance ... What a Feeling” from 1983's “Flashdance,” has died. She 
was 63.Her publicist, Judith A. Moose, announced the news on 
social media, writing that a cause of death was “currently unknown.” 
Moose also confirmed the death to an Associated Press reporter on 
Saturday. Cara died at her home in Florida. The exact day of her death 
was not disclosed.“Irene’s family has requested privacy as they 
process their grief,” Moose wrote. “She was a beautifully gifted soul 
whose legacy will live forever through her music and films.”During
 her career, Cara had three Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, 
including “Breakdance,” “Out Here On My Own,” “Fame” and “Flashdance ...
 What A Feeling,” which spent six weeks at No. 1. She was behind some of
 the most joyful, high-energy pop anthems of the early ’80s.Tributes
 poured in on Saturday on social media, including from Deborah Cox, who 
called Cara an inspiration, and Holly Robinson Peete, who recalled 
seeing Cara perform: "The insane combination of talent and beauty was 
overwhelming to me. This hurts my heart so much.”She first came 
to prominence among the young actors playing performing arts high 
schoolers in Alan Parker's “Fame,” with co-stars Debbie Allen, Paul 
McCrane and Anne Mear. Cara played Coco Hernandez, a striving dancer who
 endures all manner of deprivations, including a creepy nude photo 
shoot.“How bright our spirits go shooting out into space, depends
 on how much we contributed to the earthly brilliance of this world. And
 I mean to be a major contributor!” she says in the movie.Cara 
sang on the soaring title song with the chorus — “Remember my name/I’m 
gonna live forever/I’m gonna learn how to fly/I feel it coming 
together/People will see me and cry” — which would go on to be nominated
 for an Academy Award for best original song. She also sang on “Out Here
 on My Own,” "Hot Lunch Jam" and “I Sing the Body Electric.”Three
 years later, she and the songwriting team of “Flashdance” — music by 
Giorgio Moroder, lyrics by Keith Forsey and Cara — was accepting the 
Oscar for best original song for “Flashdance ... What a Feeling.”The
 movie starred Jennifer Beals as a steel-town girl who dances in a bar 
at night and hopes to attend a prestigious dance conservatory. It 
included the hit song “Maniac,” featuring Beals’ character leaping, 
spinning, stomping her feet and the slow-burning theme song.“There
 aren’t enough words to express my love and my gratitude,” Cara told the
 Oscar crowd in her thanks. “And last but not least, a very special 
gentlemen who I guess started it all for me many years ago. To Alan 
Parker, wherever you may be tonight, I thank him.”The New 
York-born Cara began her career on Broadway, with small parts in 
short-lived shows, although a musical called “The Me Nobody Knows” ran 
over 300 performances. She toured in the musical “Jesus Christ 
Superstar" as Mary Magdalene in the mid-1990s and a tour of the musical 
”Flashdance" toured 2012-14 with her songs.She also created the 
all-female band Irene Cara Presents Hot Caramel and put out a double CD 
with the single “How Can I Make You Luv Me.” Her movie credits include 
”Sparkle" and “D.C. Cab.”

'Fame,' 'Flashdance' singer-actor dies at 63

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Thanksgiving afternoon game between the New 
York Giants and Dallas Cowboys set the mark for the most-watched NFL 
regular-season game on record.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-giants-dallas-cowboys-nfl-sports-d54534e3b63f4059cf0a3b9a2a13f273">The Cowboys 28-20 victory</a>
 on Fox averaged 42 million viewers, according to Nielsen, surpassing 
the 41.55 million average for the Dec. 3, 1990, Monday night game 
between the Giants and San Francisco 49ers on ABC. Average viewer record
 numbers date to 1988.

The average viewership for the three 
Thanksgiving Day games on Thursday was 33.5 million, surpassing the 
previous high of 32.9 million in 1993, when two games were aired.

The average was also up 6% over last year's average of 31.6 million.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/detroit-lions-buffalo-bills-nfl-sports-8b5967e2692c2f9689c1eb682fdbc683">The Buffalo Bills 28-25 win over the Detroit Lions</a> on CBS was the most-watched early Thanksgiving Day game on record with a 31.6 million average.

The
 night game between the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings 
averaged 25.9 million, the second-highest audience for a Thanksgiving 
night contest. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-england-patriots-minnesota-vikings-nfl-sports-b4ee4736969d4faea09b0c9871ec3e5a">The Vikings' 33-26 victory</a> was surpassed only by the 2015 game between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers (27.8 million).

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Thanksgiving afternoon game between the New 
York Giants and Dallas Cowboys set the mark for the most-watched NFL 
regular-season game on record.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-giants-dallas-cowboys-nfl-sports-d54534e3b63f4059cf0a3b9a2a13f273">The Cowboys 28-20 victory</a>
 on Fox averaged 42 million viewers, according to Nielsen, surpassing 
the 41.55 million average for the Dec. 3, 1990, Monday night game 
between the Giants and San Francisco 49ers on ABC. Average viewer record
 numbers date to 1988.The average viewership for the three 
Thanksgiving Day games on Thursday was 33.5 million, surpassing the 
previous high of 32.9 million in 1993, when two games were aired.The average was also up 6% over last year's average of 31.6 million.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/detroit-lions-buffalo-bills-nfl-sports-8b5967e2692c2f9689c1eb682fdbc683">The Buffalo Bills 28-25 win over the Detroit Lions</a> on CBS was the most-watched early Thanksgiving Day game on record with a 31.6 million average.The
 night game between the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings 
averaged 25.9 million, the second-highest audience for a Thanksgiving 
night contest. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-england-patriots-minnesota-vikings-nfl-sports-b4ee4736969d4faea09b0c9871ec3e5a">The Vikings' 33-26 victory</a> was surpassed only by the 2015 game between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers (27.8 million).

Giants-Cowboys sets NFL regular-season record for viewers

SPRINGDALE,
 Utah (AP) — A woman died and a man was rescued and treated for 
hypothermia after they were caught in extreme cold weather while hiking 
in Utah's Zion National Park, officials said.

The married couple 
were on a permitted, 16-mile (25-kilometer) hike through the park area 
known as the Narrows, the National Park Service said in a statement 
Thursday.

The woman, 31, and the man, 33, were not identified by the park service.

The
 Zion National Park Search and Rescue Team responded on Wednesday 
morning after shuttle drivers said visitors reported an injured man and a
 non-responsive woman in the Narrows, the park service said.

The 
rescue team found the man on a trail being helped by other hikers and 
transported him to the Zion Emergency Operations Center for treatment. 
Rescuers moved further up the Narrows and found the woman near the 
Virgin River. They administered emergency aid but determined the woman 
had died, the park service said.

The couple started their trip 
through the Narrows on Tuesday. They stopped about 1.5 miles (2.4 
kilometers) from the north end of Riverside Walk, a paved trail. The man
 told rescuers they became “dangerously cold” overnight and experienced 
symptoms consistent with hypothermia, the park service said.

Early
 on Wednesday morning, the man sought help and the woman remained in 
place. Other visitors administered CPR to the woman before the rescue 
team arrived, the park service said.

The Washington County 
Sheriff’s Office, Utah Office of the Medical Examiner and the park 
service are investigating the cause of the woman’s death.

SPRINGDALE,
 Utah (AP) — A woman died and a man was rescued and treated for 
hypothermia after they were caught in extreme cold weather while hiking 
in Utah's Zion National Park, officials said.The married couple 
were on a permitted, 16-mile (25-kilometer) hike through the park area 
known as the Narrows, the National Park Service said in a statement 
Thursday.The woman, 31, and the man, 33, were not identified by the park service.The
 Zion National Park Search and Rescue Team responded on Wednesday 
morning after shuttle drivers said visitors reported an injured man and a
 non-responsive woman in the Narrows, the park service said.The 
rescue team found the man on a trail being helped by other hikers and 
transported him to the Zion Emergency Operations Center for treatment. 
Rescuers moved further up the Narrows and found the woman near the 
Virgin River. They administered emergency aid but determined the woman 
had died, the park service said.The couple started their trip 
through the Narrows on Tuesday. They stopped about 1.5 miles (2.4 
kilometers) from the north end of Riverside Walk, a paved trail. The man
 told rescuers they became “dangerously cold” overnight and experienced 
symptoms consistent with hypothermia, the park service said.Early
 on Wednesday morning, the man sought help and the woman remained in 
place. Other visitors administered CPR to the woman before the rescue 
team arrived, the park service said.The Washington County 
Sheriff’s Office, Utah Office of the Medical Examiner and the park 
service are investigating the cause of the woman’s death.

Woman dies on hike in Utah's Zion Park, husband hospitalized

On
 Nov. 25, 2016, Fidel Castro, who led his rebels to victorious 
revolution in 1959, embraced Soviet-style communism and defied the power
 of 10 U.S. presidents during his half-century of rule in Cuba, died at 
age 90.

In 1783, the British evacuated New York during the Revolutionary War.

In 1914, baseball Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio was born in Martinez, California.

In
 1915, a new version of the Ku Klux Klan, targeting blacks, Jews, 
Catholics and immigrants, was founded by William Joseph Simmons.

In
 1947, movie studio executives meeting in New York agreed to blacklist 
the “Hollywood Ten” who’d been cited for contempt of Congress the day 
before.

In 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower suffered a slight stroke.

In 1961, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise, was commissioned.

In
 1963, the body of President John F. Kennedy was laid to rest at 
Arlington National Cemetery; his widow, Jacqueline, lighted an “eternal 
flame” at the gravesite.

In 1986, the Iran-Contra affair erupted 
as President Ronald Reagan and Attorney General Edwin Meese revealed 
that profits from secret arms sales to Iran had been diverted to 
Nicaraguan rebels.

In 1999, Elian Gonzalez, a 5-year-old Cuban 
boy, was rescued by a pair of sport fishermen off the coast of Florida, 
setting off an international custody battle.

In 2001, as the war 
in Afghanistan entered its eighth week, CIA officer Johnny “Mike” Spann 
was killed during a prison uprising in Mazar-e-Sharif, becoming 
America’s first combat casualty of the conflict.

In 2002, 
President George W. Bush signed legislation creating the Department of 
Homeland Security, and appointed Tom Ridge to be its head.

In 
2009, Toyota said it would replace the gas pedals on 4 million vehicles 
in the United States because the pedals could get stuck in the floor 
mats and cause sudden acceleration.

Ten years ago: Rioters stormed
 a Muslim Brotherhood headquarters building in northern Egypt on the 
third day of street battles following a power grab by President Mohammed
 Morsi. YouTube announced that “Gangnam Style” by South Korean rapper 
PSY had become the site’s most viewed video to that time, with more than
 805 million viewings.

Five years ago: On what was designated as 
the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, 
President Emmanuel Macron launched an initiate to combat violence and 
harassment against women in France and change what he described as 
France’s sexist culture. A volcano on the Indonesian island of Bali 
rumbled to life, temporarily disrupting some international flights to 
the popular tourist destination. Veteran Hollywood actor Rance Howard, 
the father of director Ron Howard, died at the age of 89.

One year
 ago: France launched a plan to give COVID-19 booster shots to all 
adults. A methane explosion in a coal mine in Siberia quickly filled the
 mine with toxic smoke; authorities said 46 miners and five rescuers 
were killed. Giant balloons once again wafted through miles of Manhattan
 as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade returned in full, a year after being 
crimped by the coronavirus pandemic. Italy’s government said National 
Geographic magazine’s famed green-eyed “Afghan Girl,” Sharbat Gulla, had
 arrived in Italy as part of the West’s evacuation of Afghans following 
the Taliban takeover of the country.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor 
Kathryn Crosby is 89. Actor Christopher Riordan is 85. Pro Football Hall
 of Fame coach Joe Gibbs is 82. Singer Bob Lind is 80. Author, actor and
 economist Ben Stein is 78. Actor John Larroquette is 75. Actor Tracey 
Walter is 75. Movie director Jonathan Kaplan is 75. Author Charlaine 
Harris is 71. Retired MLB All-Star Bucky Dent is 71. Dance judge Bruno 
Tonioli (TV: “Dancing with the Stars”) is 67. Singer Amy Grant is 62. 
Former NFL quarterback Bernie Kosar is 59. Rock musician Eric Grossman 
(K’s Choice) is 58. Rock musician Scott Mercado is 58. Rock 
singer-musician Tim Armstrong is 57. Actor Steve Harris is 57. Actor 
Billy Burke is 56. Singer Stacy Lattisaw is 56. Rock musician Rodney 
Sheppard (Sugar Ray) is 56. Rapper-producer Erick Sermon is 54. Actor 
Jill Hennessy is 53. Actor Christina Applegate is 51. Actor Eddie 
Steeples is 49. Actor Kristian Nairn is 47. Former NFL quarterback 
Donovan McNabb is 46. Actor Jill Flint is 45. Actor Jerry Ferrara is 43.
 Actor Joel Kinnaman is 43. Actor Valerie Azlynn is 42. Former first 
daughter Barbara Pierce Bush is 41. Former first daughter Jenna Bush 
Hager is 41. Actor Katie Cassidy is 36. Actor Stephanie Hsu is 32. 
Contemporary Christian singer Jamie Grace is 31.

Associated PressToday’s Highlight in History:On
 Nov. 25, 2016, Fidel Castro, who led his rebels to victorious 
revolution in 1959, embraced Soviet-style communism and defied the power
 of 10 U.S. presidents during his half-century of rule in Cuba, died at 
age 90.On this date:In 1783, the British evacuated New York during the Revolutionary War.In 1914, baseball Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio was born in Martinez, California.In
 1915, a new version of the Ku Klux Klan, targeting blacks, Jews, 
Catholics and immigrants, was founded by William Joseph Simmons.In
 1947, movie studio executives meeting in New York agreed to blacklist 
the “Hollywood Ten” who’d been cited for contempt of Congress the day 
before.In 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower suffered a slight stroke.In 1961, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise, was commissioned.In
 1963, the body of President John F. Kennedy was laid to rest at 
Arlington National Cemetery; his widow, Jacqueline, lighted an “eternal 
flame” at the gravesite.In 1986, the Iran-Contra affair erupted 
as President Ronald Reagan and Attorney General Edwin Meese revealed 
that profits from secret arms sales to Iran had been diverted to 
Nicaraguan rebels.In 1999, Elian Gonzalez, a 5-year-old Cuban 
boy, was rescued by a pair of sport fishermen off the coast of Florida, 
setting off an international custody battle.In 2001, as the war 
in Afghanistan entered its eighth week, CIA officer Johnny “Mike” Spann 
was killed during a prison uprising in Mazar-e-Sharif, becoming 
America’s first combat casualty of the conflict.In 2002, 
President George W. Bush signed legislation creating the Department of 
Homeland Security, and appointed Tom Ridge to be its head.In 
2009, Toyota said it would replace the gas pedals on 4 million vehicles 
in the United States because the pedals could get stuck in the floor 
mats and cause sudden acceleration.Ten years ago: Rioters stormed
 a Muslim Brotherhood headquarters building in northern Egypt on the 
third day of street battles following a power grab by President Mohammed
 Morsi. YouTube announced that “Gangnam Style” by South Korean rapper 
PSY had become the site’s most viewed video to that time, with more than
 805 million viewings.Five years ago: On what was designated as 
the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, 
President Emmanuel Macron launched an initiate to combat violence and 
harassment against women in France and change what he described as 
France’s sexist culture. A volcano on the Indonesian island of Bali 
rumbled to life, temporarily disrupting some international flights to 
the popular tourist destination. Veteran Hollywood actor Rance Howard, 
the father of director Ron Howard, died at the age of 89.One year
 ago: France launched a plan to give COVID-19 booster shots to all 
adults. A methane explosion in a coal mine in Siberia quickly filled the
 mine with toxic smoke; authorities said 46 miners and five rescuers 
were killed. Giant balloons once again wafted through miles of Manhattan
 as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade returned in full, a year after being 
crimped by the coronavirus pandemic. Italy’s government said National 
Geographic magazine’s famed green-eyed “Afghan Girl,” Sharbat Gulla, had
 arrived in Italy as part of the West’s evacuation of Afghans following 
the Taliban takeover of the country.Today’s Birthdays: Actor 
Kathryn Crosby is 89. Actor Christopher Riordan is 85. Pro Football Hall
 of Fame coach Joe Gibbs is 82. Singer Bob Lind is 80. Author, actor and
 economist Ben Stein is 78. Actor John Larroquette is 75. Actor Tracey 
Walter is 75. Movie director Jonathan Kaplan is 75. Author Charlaine 
Harris is 71. Retired MLB All-Star Bucky Dent is 71. Dance judge Bruno 
Tonioli (TV: “Dancing with the Stars”) is 67. Singer Amy Grant is 62. 
Former NFL quarterback Bernie Kosar is 59. Rock musician Eric Grossman 
(K’s Choice) is 58. Rock musician Scott Mercado is 58. Rock 
singer-musician Tim Armstrong is 57. Actor Steve Harris is 57. Actor 
Billy Burke is 56. Singer Stacy Lattisaw is 56. Rock musician Rodney 
Sheppard (Sugar Ray) is 56. Rapper-producer Erick Sermon is 54. Actor 
Jill Hennessy is 53. Actor Christina Applegate is 51. Actor Eddie 
Steeples is 49. Actor Kristian Nairn is 47. Former NFL quarterback 
Donovan McNabb is 46. Actor Jill Flint is 45. Actor Jerry Ferrara is 43.
 Actor Joel Kinnaman is 43. Actor Valerie Azlynn is 42. Former first 
daughter Barbara Pierce Bush is 41. Former first daughter Jenna Bush 
Hager is 41. Actor Katie Cassidy is 36. Actor Stephanie Hsu is 32. 
Contemporary Christian singer Jamie Grace is 31.

Today in History: Castro dies, Joltin' Joe born, JFK laid to rest

By ISABEL DEBRE Associated Press

DOHA, Qatar — Travel at this <a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/Commuting to World Cup stadiums within tiny Qatar should be easy, but sky-high hotel prices and alcohol limits are forcing tens of thousands of fans to take shuttle flights from neighboring Dubai.">World Cup</a>
 was supposed to be easy in the tiny host nation of Qatar, after fans 
had to take long flights between cities at the last three tournaments.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/soccer-sports-health-africa-business-5edd6941bc827426ae0edf16ad7767ba">The eight stadiums in Qatar</a>
 are in or near the capital, so fans don't have to go too far to get to 
matches — in theory. The country billed its World Cup as environmentally
 sustainable in part because of how compact it is, but the reality is 
quite different.

Tens of thousands of foreign fans are turning to 
shuttle flights between Doha and neighboring Dubai for a number of 
reasons — high hotel prices, a scarcity of accommodation and alcohol 
limits.

It might sound extreme, expensive and environmentally 
questionable, but the daily flights have become a popular choice as fans
 opt to sleep somewhere other than Qatar.

Dubai, the freewheeling commercial capital of the United Arab Emirates, is the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-soccer-sports-health-travel-1fadb56a4ffb7b45837f7c26f168a436">region's top destination outside Doha</a>.
 State airlines like FlyDubai, the emirate's budget carrier, are 
marshaling resources, operating 10 times the number of usual flights to 
Doha.

Neighboring Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia also have organized 
air shuttles to cash in on the World Cup tourism boom. Every few 
minutes, a Boeing or Airbus rumbles overhead Doha's old airport.

The
 concept of air shuttles isn't new to the Gulf, where many who live and 
work in ultraconservative Saudi Arabia or dry Kuwait hop over to Dubai 
for the weekend to drink freely and have fun in the glittering 
metropolis.

Unlike fans who had to take long-distance flights at 
the World Cups in South Africa (2010), Brazil (2014) and Russia (2018), 
the Dubai-Doha route is shorter in most cases.

But short flights, 
often defined as trips shorter than 500 kilometers (311 miles), are more
 polluting than long ones per person for every kilometer traveled 
because of how much fuel is used for take off and landing.

More 
than a dozen World Cup fans interviewed Thursday who chose to stay in 
neighboring countries said it came down to cost. Many couldn't find an 
affordable place to sleep in Doha, or any place at all. As hotel prices 
soared in the months leading up to the tournament, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-sports-travel-soccer-qatar-3cfbb0de1758fef1d0a042a02b5624a6">frugal fans scrambled for spots in Qatar's far-flung fan villages filled with canvas tents or shipping containers</a>.

“We
 wanted to stay for five days in Doha. But it was too expensive. We 
didn't want those weird fan zones," said Ana Santos, a Brazilian fan 
arriving at Doha's airport on Thursday with her husband.

“In Dubai, we found a fancy hotel for not too much money. ... The flights are so crowded so we’re not the only ones."

After
 eight years of lying idle, Doha's former airport is back to life as 
thousands of shuttle flight passengers squeeze through its halls. On 
Thursday, Qataris in traditional dress passed out juicy dates and Arabic
 coffee to arriving fans who cheered and snapped photos while draped in 
their national flags.

Other fans on shuttle flights were turned off by <a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-soccer-sports-qatar-middle-east-4da4e52ca6ad0ba8f0970f79fc622742">Qatar's alcohol restrictions</a>. The city's few hotels are almost the only places allowed to serve alcohol, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-soccer-sports-qatar-middle-east-2ecb255aa0100664c250b56d69506b17">after a last-minute ban on beer in stadiums</a>. Doha's sole liquor store is open only to Qatari residents with an official permit.

Meanwhile
 Dubai’s pulsing nightclubs, pubs, bars and other tourist spots are 
awash with spirits — and at lower prices than in Doha, where a single 
beer goes for $14 at the official fan festival. Even in Abu Dhabi, the 
United Arab Emirates' more conservative capital, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-abu-dhabi-ap-travel-united-arab-emirates-business-f6576ea2a64837d307a28861080b6444">tourists can buy alcohol at liquor stores without a license</a>.

“We
 want to have a Dubai experience. That's more interesting for us," said 
Bernard Boatengh Duah, a doctor from western Ghana who bought an 
all-inclusive Dubai hotel package that gives him match-day flights, as 
well as unlimited food and alcohol. “We wanted more freedom.”

Many
 fans described the shuttles as a fairly seamless process — arriving at 
the Dubai airport less than an hour before takeoff, zipping through 
lines without luggage and flying for about 50 minutes before landing in 
Doha just in time for their game.

But others found it stressful and draining.

“These
 are long days. It's exhausting,” said Steven Carroll, a lab technician 
from Wales, whose flight back to Dubai was delayed an hour, returning 
him to his Dubai hotel worn-out at 4.a.m after a 24-hour day.

“The
 problem is you have to arrive in Qatar a good while before the match 
and you have to allow even more time to go through the airport.”

Fernando
 Moya, a 65-year-old Ecuador fan from New York, said he regretted flying
 in from Abu Dhabi. A technical problem with his friends' Hayya cards, 
which act as Qatar entry visas, stranded his companions in the UAE 
capital.

Moya spent his Thursday speaking to customer service in 
the Doha airport and shelled out nearly $2,000 to fly them over on a new
 flight.

“The logistics of this whole system are very complicated for people,” he said.

The
 airport on Thursday was teeming with fans from Saudi Arabia, whose 
citizens have bought more World Cup tickets than any other nationality 
after Qatar and the Untied States. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-soccer-sports-argentina-qatar-5b02884025b8f86d6213999e3af5e879">The Saudi team's shock victory over Argentina this week stoked even more excitement</a>.

Riyadh, an aspiring tourism destination, has sought to benefit from the regional boost, offering those with Hayya cards <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-middle-east-united-arab-emirates-saudi-arabia-5c41a4edd0b29c9a74d056ffff76afe7">two-month visas to the kingdom</a>.
 Saudi student Nawaf Mohammed said World Cup fever in Riyadh is 
palpable, with more Westerners visible in the capital's airport and 
carnivals.

The prospect of shuttle flights from the UAE or Saudi Arabia <a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-world-cup-qatar-politics-8c7b494269449c56b4a4e2daec53fbc0">would have been unthinkable mere years ago.</a>
 In 2017, the two Gulf Arab states, along with Bahrain and Egypt, 
imposed a boycott on energy-rich Qatar, cutting off trade and travel 
links over the emirate's support for political Islam and ties with Iran.
 <a href="https://apnews.com/article/bahrain-turkey-dubai-boycotts-iran-97a7ecfa9643021e990a00e0aa0651c1">Qatar refused to back down</a> and the embargo ended last year.

Even
 so, tensions linger. Bahrain, just a 45-minute flight from Doha, 
continues to squabble over politics and maritime borders with Qatar. 
Fans sleeping in the island kingdom enjoy no such easy flights.

Eyad Mohammed, who chose to stay at a beach in Bahrain, had a layover in eastern Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

“This region is not always convenient," he said.

By ISABEL DEBRE Associated PressDOHA, Qatar — Travel at this <a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/Commuting to World Cup stadiums within tiny Qatar should be easy, but sky-high hotel prices and alcohol limits are forcing tens of thousands of fans to take shuttle flights from neighboring Dubai.">World Cup</a>
 was supposed to be easy in the tiny host nation of Qatar, after fans 
had to take long flights between cities at the last three tournaments.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/soccer-sports-health-africa-business-5edd6941bc827426ae0edf16ad7767ba">The eight stadiums in Qatar</a>
 are in or near the capital, so fans don't have to go too far to get to 
matches — in theory. The country billed its World Cup as environmentally
 sustainable in part because of how compact it is, but the reality is 
quite different.Tens of thousands of foreign fans are turning to 
shuttle flights between Doha and neighboring Dubai for a number of 
reasons — high hotel prices, a scarcity of accommodation and alcohol 
limits.It might sound extreme, expensive and environmentally 
questionable, but the daily flights have become a popular choice as fans
 opt to sleep somewhere other than Qatar.Dubai, the freewheeling commercial capital of the United Arab Emirates, is the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-soccer-sports-health-travel-1fadb56a4ffb7b45837f7c26f168a436">region's top destination outside Doha</a>.
 State airlines like FlyDubai, the emirate's budget carrier, are 
marshaling resources, operating 10 times the number of usual flights to 
Doha.Neighboring Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia also have organized 
air shuttles to cash in on the World Cup tourism boom. Every few 
minutes, a Boeing or Airbus rumbles overhead Doha's old airport.The
 concept of air shuttles isn't new to the Gulf, where many who live and 
work in ultraconservative Saudi Arabia or dry Kuwait hop over to Dubai 
for the weekend to drink freely and have fun in the glittering 
metropolis.Unlike fans who had to take long-distance flights at 
the World Cups in South Africa (2010), Brazil (2014) and Russia (2018), 
the Dubai-Doha route is shorter in most cases.But short flights, 
often defined as trips shorter than 500 kilometers (311 miles), are more
 polluting than long ones per person for every kilometer traveled 
because of how much fuel is used for take off and landing.More 
than a dozen World Cup fans interviewed Thursday who chose to stay in 
neighboring countries said it came down to cost. Many couldn't find an 
affordable place to sleep in Doha, or any place at all. As hotel prices 
soared in the months leading up to the tournament, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-sports-travel-soccer-qatar-3cfbb0de1758fef1d0a042a02b5624a6">frugal fans scrambled for spots in Qatar's far-flung fan villages filled with canvas tents or shipping containers</a>.“We
 wanted to stay for five days in Doha. But it was too expensive. We 
didn't want those weird fan zones," said Ana Santos, a Brazilian fan 
arriving at Doha's airport on Thursday with her husband.“In Dubai, we found a fancy hotel for not too much money. ... The flights are so crowded so we’re not the only ones."After
 eight years of lying idle, Doha's former airport is back to life as 
thousands of shuttle flight passengers squeeze through its halls. On 
Thursday, Qataris in traditional dress passed out juicy dates and Arabic
 coffee to arriving fans who cheered and snapped photos while draped in 
their national flags.Other fans on shuttle flights were turned off by <a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-soccer-sports-qatar-middle-east-4da4e52ca6ad0ba8f0970f79fc622742">Qatar's alcohol restrictions</a>. The city's few hotels are almost the only places allowed to serve alcohol, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-soccer-sports-qatar-middle-east-2ecb255aa0100664c250b56d69506b17">after a last-minute ban on beer in stadiums</a>. Doha's sole liquor store is open only to Qatari residents with an official permit.Meanwhile
 Dubai’s pulsing nightclubs, pubs, bars and other tourist spots are 
awash with spirits — and at lower prices than in Doha, where a single 
beer goes for $14 at the official fan festival. Even in Abu Dhabi, the 
United Arab Emirates' more conservative capital, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-abu-dhabi-ap-travel-united-arab-emirates-business-f6576ea2a64837d307a28861080b6444">tourists can buy alcohol at liquor stores without a license</a>.“We
 want to have a Dubai experience. That's more interesting for us," said 
Bernard Boatengh Duah, a doctor from western Ghana who bought an 
all-inclusive Dubai hotel package that gives him match-day flights, as 
well as unlimited food and alcohol. “We wanted more freedom.”Many
 fans described the shuttles as a fairly seamless process — arriving at 
the Dubai airport less than an hour before takeoff, zipping through 
lines without luggage and flying for about 50 minutes before landing in 
Doha just in time for their game.But others found it stressful and draining.“These
 are long days. It's exhausting,” said Steven Carroll, a lab technician 
from Wales, whose flight back to Dubai was delayed an hour, returning 
him to his Dubai hotel worn-out at 4.a.m after a 24-hour day.“The
 problem is you have to arrive in Qatar a good while before the match 
and you have to allow even more time to go through the airport.”Fernando
 Moya, a 65-year-old Ecuador fan from New York, said he regretted flying
 in from Abu Dhabi. A technical problem with his friends' Hayya cards, 
which act as Qatar entry visas, stranded his companions in the UAE 
capital.Moya spent his Thursday speaking to customer service in 
the Doha airport and shelled out nearly $2,000 to fly them over on a new
 flight.“The logistics of this whole system are very complicated for people,” he said.The
 airport on Thursday was teeming with fans from Saudi Arabia, whose 
citizens have bought more World Cup tickets than any other nationality 
after Qatar and the Untied States. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-soccer-sports-argentina-qatar-5b02884025b8f86d6213999e3af5e879">The Saudi team's shock victory over Argentina this week stoked even more excitement</a>.Riyadh, an aspiring tourism destination, has sought to benefit from the regional boost, offering those with Hayya cards <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-middle-east-united-arab-emirates-saudi-arabia-5c41a4edd0b29c9a74d056ffff76afe7">two-month visas to the kingdom</a>.
 Saudi student Nawaf Mohammed said World Cup fever in Riyadh is 
palpable, with more Westerners visible in the capital's airport and 
carnivals.The prospect of shuttle flights from the UAE or Saudi Arabia <a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-world-cup-qatar-politics-8c7b494269449c56b4a4e2daec53fbc0">would have been unthinkable mere years ago.</a>
 In 2017, the two Gulf Arab states, along with Bahrain and Egypt, 
imposed a boycott on energy-rich Qatar, cutting off trade and travel 
links over the emirate's support for political Islam and ties with Iran.
 <a href="https://apnews.com/article/bahrain-turkey-dubai-boycotts-iran-97a7ecfa9643021e990a00e0aa0651c1">Qatar refused to back down</a> and the embargo ended last year.Even
 so, tensions linger. Bahrain, just a 45-minute flight from Doha, 
continues to squabble over politics and maritime borders with Qatar. 
Fans sleeping in the island kingdom enjoy no such easy flights.Eyad Mohammed, who chose to stay at a beach in Bahrain, had a layover in eastern Saudi Arabia on Thursday.“This region is not always convenient," he said.

World Cup fans put off by prices, beer limits, commute by air

By MARIAM FAM Associated Press

DOHA, Qatar — Aside from the competition for the World Cup 
title, one of the most hotly contested issues in the tournament in Qatar
 is over rainbow colors.

In the first week of the tournament, 
seven European teams lost the battle to wear multi-colored “One Love” 
armbands during World Cup matches and some fans complained they weren't 
allowed to bring items with rainbow colors, a symbol of LGBTQ rights, 
into the stadiums of the conservative Islamic emirate.

Qatar, 
where gay sex is illegal, faced intense international scrutiny and 
criticism in the run-up to the tournament over rights issues, including 
questions on whether LGBTQ visitors would feel safe and welcome. The 
Gulf nation has said all are welcome, including LGBTQ fans, and that it 
would ensure safety for everyone, regardless of background, but that 
visitors should respect the nation’s culture.

Piara Powar, 
executive director of Fare, the anti-discrimination group that is 
reporting incidents in and around stadiums to world soccer body FIFA, 
said he believes the Qatari hosts felt that the debate about LGBTQ 
rights has been given too much space and that they need to clamp down 
internally.

“We have talked to them about rainbow flags and the 
symbolism that it has across the world, not just in western Europe. 
There are Latin Americans who recognize that, there are Asians who 
recognize the Pride flag," Powar said.

Just before the tournament 
started, FIFA stopped plans by seven European teams including England 
and Germany to have their captains play with “One Love” 
anti-discrimination armbands, saying they would receive yellow cards if 
they did. The decision sparked outrage by some in the countries 
involved.

One of the teams, Belgium, tweeted a team photo Friday 
showing captain Eden Hazard wearing the “One Love” armband. The 
country's foreign minister, Hadja Lahbib, wore it as she watched 
Belgium's World Cup opener against Canada on Wednesday.

Former 
Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt turned up at Denmark's 
match against Tunisia wearing an outfit with rainbow-colored sleeves. In
 an Instagram post a day later, she appeared conflicted about the choice
 of clothing.

“I’ve been reflecting on whether showing up in 
rainbow colors is actually helping gay and queer folks in Qatar,” 
Thorning-Schmidt wrote in the post. She wondered whether it could “make 
things worse by hardening the Qatar government against them? I don’t 
know the answer but doesn’t it show us that nothing is binary, only good
 or only bad?”

Some fans have said that they were asked to remove 
and discard their rainbow hats at a World Cup stadium earlier this week 
despite assurances by FIFA before the tournament that such items would 
be allowed in stadiums.

Justin Martin, a U.S. citizen living in 
Qatar, said he was holding a small rainbow flag on the metro on his way 
to the U.S. opener against Wales when two people wearing shirts that 
identified them as volunteers asked him to put the flag away. He didn’t 
want to.

“One of them became agitated and ... referred to me as 
‘disgusting,’” said Martin, an associate professor of journalism at the 
Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.

At the stadium, however, a 
woman in Qatari police uniform who was searching his bag found the 
rainbow flag, looked at it and put it back, he said. “I actually wasn’t 
prohibited from bringing that into the stadium.”

Martin said he had previously worn a pride T-shirt in Qatar to the grocery store or to exercise without any issues.

Some
 Wales fans said they were prevented from taking rainbow bucket hats to 
the game against the U.S., prompting the Wales soccer federation to 
raise the issue with FIFA, which assured them that rainbow symbols would
 be allowed for Friday's game against Iran.

Laura McAllister, a 
former Wales captain who acts as ambassador to the World Cup, said she 
and other fans wore rainbow hats to Friday's game without problems. She 
said she was among those asked to remove their hats before the earlier 
game with the U.S.

The Qatari World Cup organizing committee did 
not provide answers to questions by The Associated Press on the 
instructions to stadium security and volunteers about rainbow symbols.

In April, a Qatari official <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-soccer-sports-lifestyle-middle-east-f03cd08c36dee73b419b2b0e2978fd3f">suggested</a> that fans carrying rainbow flags could have them removed to protect them from possible attacks.

The
 issue has been debated frequently in Qatar and the wider Middle East, 
where many believe it’s only fair for visitors to respect the country’s 
laws, customs and religious beliefs, just like people from the region 
are expected to honor other nations' rules when they travel. Others 
counter that rights’ issues are universal and that sports must be 
inclusive.

Ahead of the tournament, some LGBTQ rights activists sought to raise <a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-soccer-sports-religion-679b18a9480573b7fb72633ace63cc7b">concerns</a>
 about how LGBTQ people in Qatar may be treated after the World Cup 
ends. Some of them have also argued that international attention was 
disproportionately focused on the visitors and not enough on LGBTQ 
people in the country.

Associated Press writers Karl Ritter and Graham Dunbar contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669404941964.jpeg" alt="Germany supporter wearing a rainbow jersey waits for the World Cup group F soccer match between Belgium and Canada, at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)" />
 <figcaption>Germany supporter wearing a rainbow jersey waits for the World Cup group F soccer match between Belgium and Canada, at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARIAM FAM Associated PressDOHA, Qatar — Aside from the competition for the World Cup 
title, one of the most hotly contested issues in the tournament in Qatar
 is over rainbow colors.In the first week of the tournament, 
seven European teams lost the battle to wear multi-colored “One Love” 
armbands during World Cup matches and some fans complained they weren't 
allowed to bring items with rainbow colors, a symbol of LGBTQ rights, 
into the stadiums of the conservative Islamic emirate.Qatar, 
where gay sex is illegal, faced intense international scrutiny and 
criticism in the run-up to the tournament over rights issues, including 
questions on whether LGBTQ visitors would feel safe and welcome. The 
Gulf nation has said all are welcome, including LGBTQ fans, and that it 
would ensure safety for everyone, regardless of background, but that 
visitors should respect the nation’s culture.Piara Powar, 
executive director of Fare, the anti-discrimination group that is 
reporting incidents in and around stadiums to world soccer body FIFA, 
said he believes the Qatari hosts felt that the debate about LGBTQ 
rights has been given too much space and that they need to clamp down 
internally.“We have talked to them about rainbow flags and the 
symbolism that it has across the world, not just in western Europe. 
There are Latin Americans who recognize that, there are Asians who 
recognize the Pride flag," Powar said.Just before the tournament 
started, FIFA stopped plans by seven European teams including England 
and Germany to have their captains play with “One Love” 
anti-discrimination armbands, saying they would receive yellow cards if 
they did. The decision sparked outrage by some in the countries 
involved.One of the teams, Belgium, tweeted a team photo Friday 
showing captain Eden Hazard wearing the “One Love” armband. The 
country's foreign minister, Hadja Lahbib, wore it as she watched 
Belgium's World Cup opener against Canada on Wednesday.Former 
Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt turned up at Denmark's 
match against Tunisia wearing an outfit with rainbow-colored sleeves. In
 an Instagram post a day later, she appeared conflicted about the choice
 of clothing.“I’ve been reflecting on whether showing up in 
rainbow colors is actually helping gay and queer folks in Qatar,” 
Thorning-Schmidt wrote in the post. She wondered whether it could “make 
things worse by hardening the Qatar government against them? I don’t 
know the answer but doesn’t it show us that nothing is binary, only good
 or only bad?”Some fans have said that they were asked to remove 
and discard their rainbow hats at a World Cup stadium earlier this week 
despite assurances by FIFA before the tournament that such items would 
be allowed in stadiums.Justin Martin, a U.S. citizen living in 
Qatar, said he was holding a small rainbow flag on the metro on his way 
to the U.S. opener against Wales when two people wearing shirts that 
identified them as volunteers asked him to put the flag away. He didn’t 
want to.“One of them became agitated and ... referred to me as 
‘disgusting,’” said Martin, an associate professor of journalism at the 
Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.At the stadium, however, a 
woman in Qatari police uniform who was searching his bag found the 
rainbow flag, looked at it and put it back, he said. “I actually wasn’t 
prohibited from bringing that into the stadium.”Martin said he had previously worn a pride T-shirt in Qatar to the grocery store or to exercise without any issues.Some
 Wales fans said they were prevented from taking rainbow bucket hats to 
the game against the U.S., prompting the Wales soccer federation to 
raise the issue with FIFA, which assured them that rainbow symbols would
 be allowed for Friday's game against Iran.Laura McAllister, a 
former Wales captain who acts as ambassador to the World Cup, said she 
and other fans wore rainbow hats to Friday's game without problems. She 
said she was among those asked to remove their hats before the earlier 
game with the U.S.The Qatari World Cup organizing committee did 
not provide answers to questions by The Associated Press on the 
instructions to stadium security and volunteers about rainbow symbols.In April, a Qatari official <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-soccer-sports-lifestyle-middle-east-f03cd08c36dee73b419b2b0e2978fd3f">suggested</a> that fans carrying rainbow flags could have them removed to protect them from possible attacks.The
 issue has been debated frequently in Qatar and the wider Middle East, 
where many believe it’s only fair for visitors to respect the country’s 
laws, customs and religious beliefs, just like people from the region 
are expected to honor other nations' rules when they travel. Others 
counter that rights’ issues are universal and that sports must be 
inclusive.Ahead of the tournament, some LGBTQ rights activists sought to raise <a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-soccer-sports-religion-679b18a9480573b7fb72633ace63cc7b">concerns</a>
 about how LGBTQ people in Qatar may be treated after the World Cup 
ends. Some of them have also argued that international attention was 
disproportionately focused on the visitors and not enough on LGBTQ 
people in the country.Associated Press writers Karl Ritter and Graham Dunbar contributed to this report.

Rainbow struggle plays out on sidelines of World Cup

By DAVID MEDNICOFF <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-world-cup-puts-the-spotlight-on-qatar-but-also-brings-attention-to-its-human-rights-record-and-politics-4-things-to-know-194970">The Conversation</a>

With the start of the World Cup on Nov. 20, 2022, soccer teams <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Qatar">from 32 countries</a> and <a href="https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sport/football/world-cup-2022-fans/">tens of thousands of fans</a>
 have converged on Qatar, a tiny Arab country on a peninsula in the 
Persian Gulf. But search “Qatar 2022” online, and the first nonsport 
results are about <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/11/14/qatar-rights-abuses-stain-fifa-world-cup">the country’s human rights issues</a>.

Like its fellow oil-rich Arab countries, Qatar has enjoyed immense 
wealth that nurtured grand ambitions of economic growth among rulers and
 citizens alike. Qatar and its neighbors, including Bahrain and the 
United Arab Emirates, have brought <a href="https://www.ilo.org/beirut/areasofwork/labour-migration/lang--en/index.htm">in millions</a> of workers from other countries to support their fast-growing cities and businesses over the <a href="https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/QAT/qatar/immigration-statistics">past few decades</a>.

In particular, about <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60867042">30,000 workers</a>
 came from Bangladesh, India and Nepal to construct the World Cup 
stadiums. At least 37 died, according to official Qatari counts, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/sports/soccer/world-cup-migrant-workers.html">while building</a> the US$220 billion infrastructure for the games.

I am <a href="https://www.umass.edu/jne/member/david-mednicoff">a political scientist and legal scholar of the Middle East</a> who has lived and <a href="https://www.newswise.com/articles/middle-east-expert-mednicoff-named-lead-investigator-for-1-million-research-study?channel=">worked</a>
 in Qatar. Given the sudden media focus on the country, I think it 
helpful for both World Cup fans and people who don’t know a soccer ball 
from a hockey puck to understand four aspects of Qatar’s politics that 
relate to its human rights challenges.

A sparsely populated country in a desert, Qatar gained independence from Great Britain in 1971. With its large <a href="https://www.worldometers.info/gas/qatar-natural-gas/">oil and natural gas</a> reserves, Qatar has the <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?locations=QA">highest income per citizen</a> in the world.

Qatar’s ruler is <a href="https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2019/01/tamim-the-glorious-portrait-goes-viral.html">popular</a> among <a href="https://bti-project.org/en/reports/country-report/QAT">citizens</a>. <a href="https://www.diwan.gov.qa/hh-the-amir?sc_lang=en#data---">Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani</a>
 is part a family dynasty that has run the area’s politics since the 
1800s, even under Ottoman and British control. This makes Qatar one of 
eight Arab countries governed by hereditary kings.

Hereditary ruling monarchies <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315203195-10/contemporary-kingship-muslim-arab-societies-comparative-context-david-mednicoff">may seem archaic</a> to people living in societies with elected leaders. Yet these systems <a href="https://theconversation.com/middle-eastern-monarchies-how-do-arab-ruling-families-hold-on-to-power-159952">have held onto power, outlasting the Arab uprisings of 2011</a>. The lack of democracy in Arab countries is also part of a broader trend, as <a href="https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2022/global-expansion-authoritarian-rule">autocratic governments are generally on the rise globally</a>.

2. Yes – workers’ rights have been a problem 

Doha, the capital of Qatar, has become a major <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/">media</a>, <a href="https://www.qf.org.qa/education/education-city">educational</a>, <a href="https://raiagroup.org/qatars-tamim-is-leading-diplomacy-in-the-middle-east">diplomatic</a>
 and recreational hub over the past few decades. Its breakneck 
development also required workers from all over the world. As a result, 
foreign workers make up <a href="https://www.onlineqatar.com/visiting/tourist-information/qatar-population-and-expat-nationalities">about 85% of the country’s total population</a>, but they <a href="https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/qatar">do not have the same rights</a> as Qatari citizens. Qatari natives have been reluctant to share their <a href="https://qatarofw.com/qatar-social-security/">extraordinary social welfare benefits</a>,
 like free medical care, with millions of workers from abroad. This 
makes for a system that gives many more rights to Qatari nationals than 
the millions of others who live there.

Unusual, rapid growth like Qatar’s is a magnet for foreign contract 
workers worldwide. I enjoyed my opportunity to work there myself as a 
visiting professor and Fulbright scholar 15 years ago. Yet less 
privileged foreign workers can fare badly.

In Qatar and its oil-rich peers, control by a minority of citizens over millions of workers with fewer rights leads to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/jul/15/migrant-workers-in-qatar-face-structural-racism-says-un-report">discrimination and abuse</a>. Human rights groups, journalists and <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/migrant-workers-recount-abuse-while-building-stadiums-for-world-cup-in-qatar">migrant workers</a> themselves have <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2019/02/reality-check-migrant-workers-rights-with-two-years-to-qatar-2022-world-cup/">sought to change harmful workplace practices</a>, such as withholding wages and forbidding unions.

Qatar’s summer heat, <a href="https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/qatar/doha-climate">averaging 106 degrees Fahrenheit</a>
 (41 degrees Celsius), can make working conditions especially dangerous 
for outside construction workers. Since it is hard to know whether the 
alleged worker deaths are due specifically to bad working conditions, 
work-related issues, or something else, exact mortality numbers have <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-how-many-people-have-died-for-the-qatar-world-cup/a-63763713">been disputed and may be prone to exaggeration</a>. Yet no one doubts that <a href="https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/thousands-migrant-workers-died-qatars-extreme-heat-world-cup-forced-reckoning">conditions have been terrible</a> for many of Qatar’s most vulnerable workers.

Other rights issues in Qatar have also <a href="https://news.northeastern.edu/2022/11/19/world-cup-lgbtq-fans-athletes-safety/">attracted global attention</a>. The conservative form of Islam that is part of Qatar’s identity allows little tolerance for LGBTQ rights. <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/10/24/qatar-security-forces-arrest-abuse-lgbt-people">Human rights groups have documented</a> detentions and other routine discrimination against LGBTQ people.

While workers’ rights have received appropriate Western media attention, Qatar’s direct efforts to <a href="https://theathletic.com/3836101/2022/11/17/how-ngos-responded-to-world-cup/">respond to local and international activism</a> are less known. Qatar <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/09/24/qatar-significant-labor-and-kafala-reforms">enacted the most significant labor rights reforms in the Arab world</a> in 2021.

<a href="https://www.ilo.org/beirut/countries/qatar/WCMS_859880/lang--en/index.htm">Working with the International Labor Organization</a>,
 a United Nations agency that promotes fair and decent work worldwide, 
Qatar instituted a minimum wage of $275 per month, along with allowances
 for food and lodging. It also prohibited outdoor work during the peak 
of summer heat and eliminated many of the laws that gave employers 
control over their workers’ basic freedoms to leave their job or the 
country.

Because the reforms are recent, it is hard to know whether they represent <a href="https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/qatar">important steps forward</a> or <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/10/qatar-labour-reform-unfinished-and-compensation-still-owed-as-world-cup-looms/">incremental steps that will change little</a>.

In any case, legislation in and of itself cannot remedy a complicated
 challenge involving a wide range of companies and other organizations 
that Qatar’s government does not control. Whether Qatar can and will 
enforce the new regulations consistently is one concern. 

Most foreign migrants arrive in Qatar through foreign-based recruitment companies, which charge them to secure jobs. So even if <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/1/qatar-made-progress-in-labour-reforms-ilo">Qatar tries to curb labor abuses</a>, <a href="https://www.ilo.org/infostories/en-GB/Stories/Country-Focus/world-cup-qatar#domestic">recruitment companies</a>
 based in migrants’ countries of origin would still profit by charging 
workers expensive placement fees, for example. Such recruiters often 
work with <a href="https://www.business-humanrights.org/de/von-uns/briefings/wake-up-call-exploitative-recruitment-risk-to-migrant-workers-in-qatars-world-cup-hotels/">multinational companies within Qatar</a> to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelposner/2022/10/28/world-cup-abuses-led-qatar-to-change-labor-laws-but-more-protection-is-needed/?sh=6cb0b28c2062">blunt the force</a> of the kingdom’s recent reforms.

4. And Western critiques may conceal other agendas 

<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/15/qatari-minister-slams-western-media-coverage-of-world-cup-record">Qatari officials have suggested</a>
 that international attention to foreign workers’ conditions is part of a
 broader pattern of Westerners belittling Arabs and Muslims. <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/qatar-world-cup-team-depicted-terrorists-cartoon-sparks-outrage-1758928">One blatant example</a>
 is an October issue of the French right-wing satirical magazine “Le 
Canard enchaîné,” which depicted Qatari soccer players as terrorists.

Calls in some parts of Europe for <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/17/qatar-world-cup-broadcasting-boycotts-france">a widespread World Cup boycott</a> add fuel to this and <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/11/17/in-defence-of-qatars-hosting-of-the-world-cup">other arguments</a> that the European and American impression of Qatar is <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20221119-fifa-president-blasts-hypocrisy-of-western-critics-of-world-cup-host-qatar">hypocritical</a> and possibly <a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221010-qatar-says-french-objections-to-fifa-world-cup-stem-from-islamophobia/">Islamophobic</a>.
 Though hardly a neutral observer, Gianni Infantino, the president of 
FIFA, which carries out the World Cup, reflected many Gulf Arabs’ views 
when he argued that <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/19/fifa-chief-accuses-critics-of-qatar-of-hypocrisy-ahead-of-world-cup.html">Europe’s history of exploiting Middle Easterners and others</a> gives it little moral high ground on issues of non-Western rights.

Because no Middle Eastern or Muslim-majority country had hosted the World Cup before 2022, Qatar’s achievement is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/18/opinion/qatar-world-cup-arab-football.html">significant</a>. The Economist <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/11/17/in-defence-of-qatars-hosting-of-the-world-cup">argues that</a>
 Qatar’s responsiveness to pressures to improve its human rights climate
 may make it a more appropriate host for a global sporting event than 
other countries with poor human rights records, such as China or Russia.

Yet genuine global concern about rights in countries like Qatar and 
mistrust between the Middle East and the West will persist. Can new 
global awareness of Qatar lead to more nuanced understanding of both 
cross-cultural similarities and differences between Arab Islamic 
countries and the rest of the world? For the moment, this is as hard to 
know as which country will win the World Cup.

David Mednicoff, Chair, Department of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies, and 
Associate Professor of Middle Eastern Studies and Public Policy, UMass 
Amherst

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669227517151.jpeg" alt="Young girls and a woman watch a fireworks display as part of the World Cup soccer tournament FIFA fan festival in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)" />
 <figcaption>Young girls and a woman watch a fireworks display as part of the World Cup soccer tournament FIFA fan festival in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID MEDNICOFF <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-world-cup-puts-the-spotlight-on-qatar-but-also-brings-attention-to-its-human-rights-record-and-politics-4-things-to-know-194970">The Conversation</a>With the start of the World Cup on Nov. 20, 2022, soccer teams <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Qatar">from 32 countries</a> and <a href="https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sport/football/world-cup-2022-fans/">tens of thousands of fans</a>
 have converged on Qatar, a tiny Arab country on a peninsula in the 
Persian Gulf. But search “Qatar 2022” online, and the first nonsport 
results are about <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/11/14/qatar-rights-abuses-stain-fifa-world-cup">the country’s human rights issues</a>.Like its fellow oil-rich Arab countries, Qatar has enjoyed immense 
wealth that nurtured grand ambitions of economic growth among rulers and
 citizens alike. Qatar and its neighbors, including Bahrain and the 
United Arab Emirates, have brought <a href="https://www.ilo.org/beirut/areasofwork/labour-migration/lang--en/index.htm">in millions</a> of workers from other countries to support their fast-growing cities and businesses over the <a href="https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/QAT/qatar/immigration-statistics">past few decades</a>.In particular, about <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60867042">30,000 workers</a>
 came from Bangladesh, India and Nepal to construct the World Cup 
stadiums. At least 37 died, according to official Qatari counts, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/sports/soccer/world-cup-migrant-workers.html">while building</a> the US$220 billion infrastructure for the games. I am <a href="https://www.umass.edu/jne/member/david-mednicoff">a political scientist and legal scholar of the Middle East</a> who has lived and <a href="https://www.newswise.com/articles/middle-east-expert-mednicoff-named-lead-investigator-for-1-million-research-study?channel=">worked</a>
 in Qatar. Given the sudden media focus on the country, I think it 
helpful for both World Cup fans and people who don’t know a soccer ball 
from a hockey puck to understand four aspects of Qatar’s politics that 
relate to its human rights challenges.<h2>1. Qatar is ruled by a popular king</h2>A sparsely populated country in a desert, Qatar gained independence from Great Britain in 1971. With its large <a href="https://www.worldometers.info/gas/qatar-natural-gas/">oil and natural gas</a> reserves, Qatar has the <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?locations=QA">highest income per citizen</a> in the world. Qatar’s ruler is <a href="https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2019/01/tamim-the-glorious-portrait-goes-viral.html">popular</a> among <a href="https://bti-project.org/en/reports/country-report/QAT">citizens</a>. <a href="https://www.diwan.gov.qa/hh-the-amir?sc_lang=en#data---">Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani</a>
 is part a family dynasty that has run the area’s politics since the 
1800s, even under Ottoman and British control. This makes Qatar one of 
eight Arab countries governed by hereditary kings.Hereditary ruling monarchies <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315203195-10/contemporary-kingship-muslim-arab-societies-comparative-context-david-mednicoff">may seem archaic</a> to people living in societies with elected leaders. Yet these systems <a href="https://theconversation.com/middle-eastern-monarchies-how-do-arab-ruling-families-hold-on-to-power-159952">have held onto power, outlasting the Arab uprisings of 2011</a>. The lack of democracy in Arab countries is also part of a broader trend, as <a href="https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2022/global-expansion-authoritarian-rule">autocratic governments are generally on the rise globally</a>. <h2>2. Yes – workers’ rights have been a problem </h2>Doha, the capital of Qatar, has become a major <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/">media</a>, <a href="https://www.qf.org.qa/education/education-city">educational</a>, <a href="https://raiagroup.org/qatars-tamim-is-leading-diplomacy-in-the-middle-east">diplomatic</a>
 and recreational hub over the past few decades. Its breakneck 
development also required workers from all over the world. As a result, 
foreign workers make up <a href="https://www.onlineqatar.com/visiting/tourist-information/qatar-population-and-expat-nationalities">about 85% of the country’s total population</a>, but they <a href="https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/qatar">do not have the same rights</a> as Qatari citizens. Qatari natives have been reluctant to share their <a href="https://qatarofw.com/qatar-social-security/">extraordinary social welfare benefits</a>,
 like free medical care, with millions of workers from abroad. This 
makes for a system that gives many more rights to Qatari nationals than 
the millions of others who live there.Unusual, rapid growth like Qatar’s is a magnet for foreign contract 
workers worldwide. I enjoyed my opportunity to work there myself as a 
visiting professor and Fulbright scholar 15 years ago. Yet less 
privileged foreign workers can fare badly.In Qatar and its oil-rich peers, control by a minority of citizens over millions of workers with fewer rights leads to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/jul/15/migrant-workers-in-qatar-face-structural-racism-says-un-report">discrimination and abuse</a>. Human rights groups, journalists and <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/migrant-workers-recount-abuse-while-building-stadiums-for-world-cup-in-qatar">migrant workers</a> themselves have <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2019/02/reality-check-migrant-workers-rights-with-two-years-to-qatar-2022-world-cup/">sought to change harmful workplace practices</a>, such as withholding wages and forbidding unions. Qatar’s summer heat, <a href="https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/qatar/doha-climate">averaging 106 degrees Fahrenheit</a>
 (41 degrees Celsius), can make working conditions especially dangerous 
for outside construction workers. Since it is hard to know whether the 
alleged worker deaths are due specifically to bad working conditions, 
work-related issues, or something else, exact mortality numbers have <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-how-many-people-have-died-for-the-qatar-world-cup/a-63763713">been disputed and may be prone to exaggeration</a>. Yet no one doubts that <a href="https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/thousands-migrant-workers-died-qatars-extreme-heat-world-cup-forced-reckoning">conditions have been terrible</a> for many of Qatar’s most vulnerable workers.Other rights issues in Qatar have also <a href="https://news.northeastern.edu/2022/11/19/world-cup-lgbtq-fans-athletes-safety/">attracted global attention</a>. The conservative form of Islam that is part of Qatar’s identity allows little tolerance for LGBTQ rights. <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/10/24/qatar-security-forces-arrest-abuse-lgbt-people">Human rights groups have documented</a> detentions and other routine discrimination against LGBTQ people.<h2>3. Yet Qatar has made major reforms</h2>While workers’ rights have received appropriate Western media attention, Qatar’s direct efforts to <a href="https://theathletic.com/3836101/2022/11/17/how-ngos-responded-to-world-cup/">respond to local and international activism</a> are less known. Qatar <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/09/24/qatar-significant-labor-and-kafala-reforms">enacted the most significant labor rights reforms in the Arab world</a> in 2021. <a href="https://www.ilo.org/beirut/countries/qatar/WCMS_859880/lang--en/index.htm">Working with the International Labor Organization</a>,
 a United Nations agency that promotes fair and decent work worldwide, 
Qatar instituted a minimum wage of $275 per month, along with allowances
 for food and lodging. It also prohibited outdoor work during the peak 
of summer heat and eliminated many of the laws that gave employers 
control over their workers’ basic freedoms to leave their job or the 
country.Because the reforms are recent, it is hard to know whether they represent <a href="https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/qatar">important steps forward</a> or <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/10/qatar-labour-reform-unfinished-and-compensation-still-owed-as-world-cup-looms/">incremental steps that will change little</a>. In any case, legislation in and of itself cannot remedy a complicated
 challenge involving a wide range of companies and other organizations 
that Qatar’s government does not control. Whether Qatar can and will 
enforce the new regulations consistently is one concern. Most foreign migrants arrive in Qatar through foreign-based recruitment companies, which charge them to secure jobs. So even if <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/1/qatar-made-progress-in-labour-reforms-ilo">Qatar tries to curb labor abuses</a>, <a href="https://www.ilo.org/infostories/en-GB/Stories/Country-Focus/world-cup-qatar#domestic">recruitment companies</a>
 based in migrants’ countries of origin would still profit by charging 
workers expensive placement fees, for example. Such recruiters often 
work with <a href="https://www.business-humanrights.org/de/von-uns/briefings/wake-up-call-exploitative-recruitment-risk-to-migrant-workers-in-qatars-world-cup-hotels/">multinational companies within Qatar</a> to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelposner/2022/10/28/world-cup-abuses-led-qatar-to-change-labor-laws-but-more-protection-is-needed/?sh=6cb0b28c2062">blunt the force</a> of the kingdom’s recent reforms. <h2>4. And Western critiques may conceal other agendas </h2><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/15/qatari-minister-slams-western-media-coverage-of-world-cup-record">Qatari officials have suggested</a>
 that international attention to foreign workers’ conditions is part of a
 broader pattern of Westerners belittling Arabs and Muslims. <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/qatar-world-cup-team-depicted-terrorists-cartoon-sparks-outrage-1758928">One blatant example</a>
 is an October issue of the French right-wing satirical magazine “Le 
Canard enchaîné,” which depicted Qatari soccer players as terrorists.Calls in some parts of Europe for <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/17/qatar-world-cup-broadcasting-boycotts-france">a widespread World Cup boycott</a> add fuel to this and <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/11/17/in-defence-of-qatars-hosting-of-the-world-cup">other arguments</a> that the European and American impression of Qatar is <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20221119-fifa-president-blasts-hypocrisy-of-western-critics-of-world-cup-host-qatar">hypocritical</a> and possibly <a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221010-qatar-says-french-objections-to-fifa-world-cup-stem-from-islamophobia/">Islamophobic</a>.
 Though hardly a neutral observer, Gianni Infantino, the president of 
FIFA, which carries out the World Cup, reflected many Gulf Arabs’ views 
when he argued that <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/19/fifa-chief-accuses-critics-of-qatar-of-hypocrisy-ahead-of-world-cup.html">Europe’s history of exploiting Middle Easterners and others</a> gives it little moral high ground on issues of non-Western rights. Because no Middle Eastern or Muslim-majority country had hosted the World Cup before 2022, Qatar’s achievement is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/18/opinion/qatar-world-cup-arab-football.html">significant</a>. The Economist <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/11/17/in-defence-of-qatars-hosting-of-the-world-cup">argues that</a>
 Qatar’s responsiveness to pressures to improve its human rights climate
 may make it a more appropriate host for a global sporting event than 
other countries with poor human rights records, such as China or Russia.
 Yet genuine global concern about rights in countries like Qatar and 
mistrust between the Middle East and the West will persist. Can new 
global awareness of Qatar lead to more nuanced understanding of both 
cross-cultural similarities and differences between Arab Islamic 
countries and the rest of the world? For the moment, this is as hard to 
know as which country will win the World Cup.David Mednicoff, Chair, Department of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies, and 
Associate Professor of Middle Eastern Studies and Public Policy, UMass 
Amherst<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/194970/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>

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