This report addresses: Digital Nomads

But over the past two years, their mental health has been put to the test due to growing workloads associated with the rise of remote working.

With cyber security playing a vital role in today’s highly digitised society and the industry plagued by severe talent shortages, organisations must avoid an exodus of IT security professionals.

We are excited to be able to work with Euphoria on our first NFT as the band being a legend has a history of many firsts, and will keep striving to bring exclusive and rare NFTs to our community.”

Explaining the rationale behind slipping into the NFT trend, Euphoria Founder & Singer Palash Sen says, “We believe that it is important to take our music to all communities.

This will widen the outreach of our work to the global blockchain community and we certainly are looking forward to it.

A new worldwide report found that 70% of the Gen Z respondents have taken up or are planning to freelance with about 40% willing to go full-time with it.

This was supported by another data point that indicated nearly 30% of respondents want to travel for work and work from wherever they want.

This report addresses: Digital Nomads

This report addresses: Digital Nomads

Title:

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How can I avoid an exodus of cyber talent linked to stress and burnout?

Cyber security professionals have played a crucial role during the pandemic, yet many feel like their employers aren’t providing adequate mental health support and have considered quitting their jobs as a result. What can employers do to help them?

IT security teams have seen unprecedented mental health challenges since the Covid-19 outbreak two years ago and the subsequent increase in cyber attacks. In fact, research from VMWare shows that 51% of cyber security professionals have felt extremely stressed and burnt out during these tough times.

Because of increased levels of pressure, stress and other mental health struggles, a staggering 65% of cyber security professionals have thought about quitting their jobs altogether.

With cyber security playing a vital role in today’s highly digitised society and the industry plagued by severe talent shortages, organisations must avoid an exodus of IT security professionals. But experts believe they can only do this by improving mental health in their cyber security teams.

Many cyber security professionals experience burnout as they need to complete high-pressure, timely tasks on a daily basis, explains Therese Schachner, a cyber security consultant and technical writer at VPN Brains.

But over the past two years, their mental health has been put to the test due to growing workloads associated with the rise of remote working. Schachner tells Computer Weekly: “For example, the widespread shift to remote working has resulted in increased stress and higher workloads for cyber security professionals, who have had limited time to implement cyber security protections that accommodate remote workers’ new technology needs.”

“Remote working has resulted in the increased usage of technologies, such as VPNs and remote access, with significant vulnerabilities that attackers have leveraged to initiate cyber attacks, and cyber security teams have been working hard to prevent and mitigate these attacks.”

While the importance of cyber security has increased in the pandemic, there is already a significant lack of talent in the sector. According to Schachner, this means cyber security teams have been understaffed despite organisations increasingly relying on them to thwart serious attacks. “As a result, many cyber security professionals feel overworked and eventually experience burnout,” she says.

Read more about IT and mental health

Schachner believes cyber security leaders can tackle burnout in their teams by creating a working environment where employees feel able to voice their concerns and provide feedback on how the workplace can be improved.

“In a supportive work environment, employees are more willing to voice suggestions for more flexible scheduling, additional guidance and other needs, which can help them better manage their workloads and avoid burnout,” she says.

“Cyber security leaders can also make sure their employees have sufficient breaks during the workday and enough time off from work to allow them to rest and recharge. Workplaces can also offer mental health and well-being resources that help cyber security professionals manage their stressful jobs and maintain a work-life balance.”

Preventing burnout

Due to the critical nature of identifying and mitigating cyber attacks, security professionals are very serious about their roles and often find it difficult to unwind in their free time. Karen Worstell, senior cyber security strategist at VMware, says: “Safeguarding organisations is a mission and a mindset more than it is a job.

“This inevitably leads to a sense of intense responsibility, and when people are extremely passionate about their work, they begin to ignore the signals their bodies are sending when they’re run down. Once you find yourself ‘powering through’, that is when things start to break down, and it can be hard to address without the right support.”

When it comes to supporting cyber security professionals, Worstell urges employers to take steps to identify and prevent burnout among staff always on high alert. A key part of this is fostering a workplace where cyber security professionals feel comfortable asking for support and identifying common warning signs of burnout.

Such signs may include employees taking regular sick days or failing to engage with tasks, and cyber security leaders should respond by asking why these things are happening and how they can better support their employees.

“Businesses need to remember that showing empathy and advising self-care goes a long way, but organisations should also look to invest in building the resilience of their team through dedicated training and coaching initiatives,” she says. “If firms lead by example from the top, teams will appreciate feeling that it’s okay to slow down.”

But responsibility doesn’t just fall on cyber security leaders. Individuals must also understand the physical and mental causes of burnout and how to solve them, says Worstell. “If you find yourself feeling cynical and think other team members are making careless decisions because they don’t care about their job, that’s a big indication that burnout is right at your heels,” she says.

“Don’t let it become too late until you put things into perspective. Instead, take some preventative steps, such as identifying what you really want out of a cyber role, carve out time every week on something you enjoy personally to focus on separate goals, and surround yourself with people who’ve got your back – cyber security can be a rewarding job, albeit a fast-paced and lonely one.”

Senior leaders must act

Although a significant number of cyber security professionals are suffering from burnout and mental health challenges, they often lack appropriate support from their employers. Shamla Naidoo, head of cloud strategy and innovation at Netskope, says: “Unfortunately, most organisations lack the support structure necessary to help their security functions through high-stress situations.”

Her view is that senior leaders need increased awareness of the stresses and pressures their cyber security teams experience daily. “Many security professionals don’t feel comfortable admitting that they are struggling because the personal and career penalties can be high,” says Naidoo. “Surveys tell us that many turn to self-medication or alcohol to cope. It is therefore on those of us who are fortunate enough, or senior enough, not to be afraid to speak out; to take responsibility for educating executive teams.”

If cyber security teams are to function as effectively as possible and contribute to long-term business success, she calls on companies to address the cyber security mental health crisis. “Professionals will not be able to perform at their best if their mental health is suffering, and, in a sector where talent is always in high demand, failure to properly support employees will make it far harder to attract and retain the best people.”

For businesses to improve their mental health in their cyber security teams, the C-suite ultimately needs to take this issue seriously. But, according to Naidoo, security teams can help themselves by working to improve their work-life balance, and shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help if they need it. She also recommends that organisations invest in programmes and tools that can help security professionals handle stress.

“The role of a cyber security professional is both complicated and critical, and so we will always be under pressure,” says Naidoo. “It is an industry-wide issue, and the most important thing we can do is talk openly about it and be there for our colleagues, whether they express the need or not.”

Lack of support

Jinan Budge, principal analyst at Forrester, agrees that cyber security professionals don’t get enough support for their mental health. She says security professionals also exhibit poor mental health due to team toxicity, poor communication skills and stress caused by the pandemic.

Budge tells Computer Weekly: “Business’s lack of support, understanding and commitment for cyber security issues makes it very difficult for cyber security employees to be happy, and part of an organisation where security is perceived as a tax. This culture will always be difficult for team members.”

She believes that security leaders need to be more conscious of their own mental health while encouraging their teams to manage productivity, lead with purpose, focus on the good of the business and maintain out-of-work priorities.

“Communicate at the appropriate frequency, with empathy, clarity and vulnerability,” says Budge. “Consider what it means to work in a new, borderless and stressful, normal.

“Some chief information security officers we spoke to coached their teams to work to their individual productivity rhythms, versus number of hours. The servant-leader model of leadership was widely discussed in our research.”

Other steps organisations can take to boost the mental wellbeing of cyber security teams is running employee surveys, offering professional mental health support, implementing a code of ethics, providing leadership training, asking employees to assess their managers, investing in training about issues such as bullying and sexual harassment, and increasing mental health budgets.

Feeling increasingly isolated

Like many other industries, cyber security teams had to leave physical offices in favour of remote working when lockdown restrictions were introduced in early 2020. Sean Wright, application security lead at Immersive Labs, says this made many cyber security professionals feel isolated and resulted in poor mental health in security teams.

“No longer could people simply reach out to others, in a face-to-face manner, and offload some of their frustrations and emotions with others, and while virtual calls did help, they can never replace the face-to-face interactions,” he says.

But now that lockdown restrictions are easing and offices are reopening globally, cyber security professionals should hopefully feel less isolated and experience better mental health as a result.

“Thankfully, as things start to get back to somewhat of a normal, these face-to-face interactions are becoming a possibility again,” says Wright.

“It should never be underestimated how powerful these interactions can be, which is why I recommend periodic in-person meet-ups and team-building exercises. This will allow people to feel like part of the team and help prevent them from feeling so isolated.”

A lack of clearly defined roles and responsibilities could also be affecting the mental health of cyber security professionals. “Without having these clear expectations set, you will likely face employees placing unnecessary stress and extra burdens upon themselves,” he says.

As cyber security risks continue to increase, businesses can’t afford for cyber security professionals to leave their roles due to increased stress and poor mental health. Consequently, security leaders must take mental health more seriously, create an open workplace and provide their employees with all the support they require.

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Content: Indian rock band Euphoria joins music NFT

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Indian rock band Euphoria joins music NFT

New Delhi: In a new trend that indicates the utilization of blockchain technology in the music industry, Hindi Rock giant Euphoria is set to launch its latest album titled ‘SALE’, in the form of a Non-Fungible Token (NFT).

The band will drop the music album NFT and nine behind-the-scene photographs on the invite-only NFT project Token Runway, after which it will be auctioned before its public release. The auction commenced on September 9 and culminates on September 12, subsequent to which, the album will be released on September 14.

The album ‘SALE’ is the 8th one by Euphoria, composed of 7 songs that will take listeners on a ride across genres, sounds, styles, emotions and life experiences. Written at various points of time in Euphoria Founder Singer-Writer Palash Sen’s career, each song stands for a real-life story witnessed or felt by him and the band. The album essentially is 17 years of hard work and passion condensed into 7 soulful tracks.

Talking about the music NFT drop by Euphoria, Priyank Mahajan, Co-Founder, Token Runway says, “After decades of experience in the field of entertainment and media monetization we are excited to embark on this blockchain powered journey with Token Runway. The system is built in a manner which guarantees trust amongst sellers and buyers, which lets the creators focus on their craft. We are excited to be able to work with Euphoria on our first NFT as the band being a legend has a history of many firsts, and will keep striving to bring exclusive and rare NFTs to our community.”

Explaining the rationale behind slipping into the NFT trend, Euphoria Founder & Singer Palash Sen says, “We believe that it is important to take our music to all communities. This will widen the outreach of our work to the global blockchain community and we certainly are looking forward to it. As seasoned musicians, we think it is essential for us to be a part of this movement. We come from a time when it was impossible to release an album without a label or a rich dad. NFTs offer a whole new distribution mechanism without affecting the artist’s other revenue streams.”

In the music space, an NFT can be stated as a piece of creative work that is stored on a digital ledger. Artists and musicians can create NFTs to auction off various forms of digital media to their fans. This marks the beginning of an era when artists are able to do business directly to fans and sell their NFTs like they used to with self-produced CDs.

NFTs operate on a blockchain, which is a publicly accessible and transparent network — meaning anyone can see the details of any NFT transaction. Computers involved in the transactions become part of the network, which keeps updating and can’t be hacked.

These NFTs or digital tokens have gone mainstream in the last year, as many international musicians sought out additional revenue streams in the digital audio distribution of the pandemic. The release of the album as an NFT by Euphoria will also be the first of many other NFTs by the band with Token Runway over the coming years as they see a massive potential for growth via this new trend. “In the long run, fans will have access to exclusive work from the musicians and will bring back the concept of ownership of music like in the case of CDs, cassettes and records. For the musicians it will provide new reasons and challenges to better their craft,” said Palash.

Speaking to IANSlife about the future plans, Palash says:

“After the release of SALE as an NFT, we are also going to be working on creating a year long calender or a roadmap to release further content, memorabilia, Euphoria demos, and several other special things relating to the band’s journey. It is definitely exciting as it helps us connect with an audience that is interested in and seeks off beat collectibles. Being an independent artist, our options are limited. But then, the sky is the limit.”

“We have been working on this album for over 17 years, it was not till recently we thought of doing an exclusive pre-release SALE as an NFT. It so happened that we were in the process of releasing the album when the NFT trend set in. As we had the album almost ready we decided to take the plunge with it, mainly to test waters and gauge the response from our audience. We are very happy to have collaborated with Token Runway for our very first NFT project. It has been truly euphoric to work with them.”

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Content: 70% Gen Zers Prefer Freelancing For Job Security And Flexibility: Report

Gen Z is redefining career paths by embracing freelancing. A new worldwide report found that 70% of the Gen Z respondents have taken up or are planning to freelance with about 40% willing to go full-time with it. Amid mass layoffs and reducing tech roles, GenZ has moved to a more flexible and autonomous area to create job security for themselves. Fiverr's second annual Gen Z report surveyed over 10,000 people between the ages of 16 and 26 in the U.S., UK, Germany, and France.

Also Read: How Tax Credits Like AOTC and LLC Ease College Expenses; Check if You Qualify

The study also found that nearly 36% of respondents consider freelancing to be an excellent backup plan in case they are laid off or their job is taken away by AI technology advancements.

To most, flexibility was the key to choosing freelancing, especially Americans. About 20% of the US respondents said they “work to live, not live to work”, up from 3% last year. This was supported by another data point that indicated nearly 30% of respondents want to travel for work and work from wherever they want. Thus, freelancing which provides greater freedom and flexibility seems like a clear such workers.

Also Read: Couple Masters Financial Balance with 50/30/20 Rule; Here's How

Furthermore, nearly a quarter of the respondents want to own their own business and 14% want to freelance for their entire careers.

In job security, about 10% of the respondents said they were let go and another 14% said they were afraid they would be. Thus, about 38% of U.S. respondents feel that freelancing full-time puts them in a position where they can’t get laid off and 25% believe that freelancing is more stable. About 18% of the respondents felt being a freelancer makes them less likely to be replaced by AI.

Also Read: DDoS Attack Causes Brief ‘Disruptions’ for Alabama Government Websites; What Was The Motive?

Before jumping into freelance work, people should consider a few things. First of all, is the type of service they would provide and their skillset. Next is their financial situation and the room to account for potential financial instability. Also, freelancers unlike employed workers need to make their tax payments themselves. Thus, figuring out the tax situation beforehand is important.

Find an In-Demand Niche

Freelancers need to make sure that they niche down into specific market segments and conduct extensive research to understand the market appetite for the product or service that they are delivering. At the same time, you want to strike a balance so that you haven't completely limited your opportunities.

Leverage Social Media

With about 4.76 billion social media users worldwide, freelancers need to leverage platforms to grow their reach. Social media can be used to source clients and network with them there. A solid social media strategy with great content should allow businesses to engage clients and potential stakeholders.

Use Freelance Tools

Numerous websites and platforms act as matchmaking and marketing platforms for freelancers to connect with clients. The most popular platforms include Fiverr, Upwork, LinkedIn, People Per Hour, and FlexJobs. Leveraging these tools can help freelancers put their business out there and get quality clients faster by cutting straight through the clutter.

Prioritize SEO-Optimised Content

Starting a blog can help a business grow by boosting the searchability of the business on search engine platforms like Google. Content with the right keywords and on the current topics of the market segment can help businesses display expertise and win clients faster.

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What is driving the digital nomad lifestyle?


This report addresses: China's J-10 fighter jets

British newspaper The Telegraph, claiming to have seen a confidential EU report, says Brussels is considering imposing trade restrictions “on countries helping Russia acquire [microchips] in washing machines and used cars to repair its battle-stricken fleet of tanks.”

Thus the EU is threatening to apply secondary sanctions – that is, penalties on persons and entities outside of the EU’s legal jurisdiction – on countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

For the EU to impose trade restrictions on other countries on the suspicion that they are reselling significant quantities of home appliances to Russia, which then strips them for their microchips, is potentially destructive of the West’s strategic interests across Middle Eurasia.

The initiative is part of the Spanish Screenings XXL plan, promoted by the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, to support the Spanish industry internationally.

Festival director Juan Antonio Vigar talks about the festival’s key role in spotlighting Spanish and Latin American cinema and the role of the festival on the international circuit.

“Talking to the suppliers – that, to us, means that [the programme] is happening.”

Yamasaki stresses that Honda Aircraft has not yet launched the development programme but his stance is notably confident toward a product he says will build on the success of the current HA-420 light jet and carry the company into the future.

Yamasaki, speaking on 23 May, said the meeting is a step toward firming up details of the 2600’s supplier base and production ahead of advancing with a more aggressive marketing campaign for the business jet, which would straddle the light and midsize categories.

This report addresses: China's J-10 fighter jets

Title:

Content: Since the start of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict in February 2022, the European Union has ratified 10 sanctions packages designed to undermine Russia’s capacity to wage war in Ukraine. Now, kitchen appliances are in the EU’s crosshairs.

British newspaper The Telegraph, claiming to have seen a confidential EU report, says Brussels is considering imposing trade restrictions “on countries helping Russia acquire [microchips] in washing machines and used cars to repair its battle-stricken fleet of tanks.”

Thus the EU is threatening to apply secondary sanctions – that is, penalties on persons and entities outside of the EU’s legal jurisdiction – on countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

When weighing the imposition of secondary sanctions, EU policy should be guided by realpolitik and strategic thinking rooted in common sense, rather than by ideology and moral indignation, whether feigned or sincerely meant.

For the EU to impose trade restrictions on other countries on the suspicion that they are reselling significant quantities of home appliances to Russia, which then strips them for their microchips, is potentially destructive of the West’s strategic interests across Middle Eurasia.

The evidence suggests that harvesting microchips contained in home appliances sourced in “secondary” countries, usually for military use, is an exceedingly rare occurrence. It is cost-ineffective and unnecessary to boot, because EU countries have not seriously clamped down on the export of EU-sourced processors used in refrigerators, washing machines and other such appliances.

EU (and G7) leaders should think twice before insisting that other countries – mainly in Central Asia and the Caucasus – expend energy and resources on so dubious an undertaking with potentially negative political consequences for themselves.

To sanction – and possibly punish – consumers and traders of home appliances is unreasonable and impractical in view of the easy accessibility of military-grade microchips on the market already.

Moreover, these chips are nearly impossible to track after delivery to distributors or resellers in third counties around the world. What’s more, by the end 2022, Qingdao Haier Ltd, a Chinese enterprise, had become the largest maker of washing machines and refrigerators in Russia.

(By the way, General Electric sold its 100-year-old appliances business to Haier in 2016.)

Common sense

Then there is this consideration, which should occur to anyone with an ounce of common sense: Why would the Russian military – or any military for that matter – go through all the trouble and expense of finding, importing or buying vast numbers of washers and refrigerators when it is easier and cheaper to order large quantities of microchips from the many companies and resellers hawking them worldwide, including chips compatible with Russia’s own global positioning system, GLONASS

A Forbes magazine article titled “Is Russia really buying home appliances to harvest computer chips for Ukraine-bound weapons systems?” states that “these kinds of chips [for drones] have long been widely available to civilian users on the global market, and Ukrainian authorities say at least six US companies produce GLONASS-compatible chips.”

And these components are “not under embargo,” says Sven Etzold, the senior director of business marketing at U-Blox: “They are usually for civil usage and can be officially bought through a distributor.”

Chris Miller, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and specialist in semiconductors, said recently, “My feeling is that most of the chips that Russia is accessing today for integrating into military systems are not coming via this route [home appliances].

“We should probably assume that Russia is going to find ways to get access to lower-tech chips simply because they’re widely available,” he said.

Chip suppliers

According to an investigative report in January summarized in the Netherlands Times, “Several million microchips produced by Dutch manufacturers, including NXP and Nexperia, wound up in Russia last year in shipments that were handled by resellers after sanctions were in place as a consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

One can only assume that Russia has installed some of these Dutch microchips in military hardware.

“Key technology [used in drones for satellite navigation] is European and American,” reports CBS Evening News, and “the chips are still flowing” into Russia and available in the global market. The Columbia Broadcasting System singled out U-Blox, a Swiss company, and Maxim and Microchip, two US producers of microprocessors, whose chips could well have ended up in Russia.

In view of all this, it doesn’t seem to make sense to threaten Armenia, Kazakhstan or Turkey, for example, with sanctions of one kind or another when the availability of new lower-tech chips is widespread. Secondary sanctions on home appliances seem uncalled for.

EU-Russian trade

Al Jazeera reported last month that “in total, the EU imported €171 billion (US$186 billion) worth of goods from Russia starting from March 2022 until the end of January 2023.”

According to Eurostat, the EU statistics office, the European Union has posted a net trade deficit in the billions of dollars with Russia each month since January 2021. This means that significant business between Russia and the EU continues despite all the chatter to the contrary.

Europe’s double standards are clear for everyone to see. While Brussels wants to call on non-EU countries to cut their trade with Russia, the EU continues to trade with Moscow.

Start with Western firms

Nearly 9% of Western firms have divested from Russia since the onset of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, according to Simon J Evenett, professor of international trade and economic development at the University of St Gallen, and Niccolò Pisani, professor of strategy and international business at IMD Business School in Switzerland: “Of the total of 1,404 EU and G7 companies with commercially active equity investments in Russia before the invasion of Ukraine … by the end of November 2022, a total of 120 (8.5%) [had] actually left.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen should be careful before boasting in public about the devastating efficacy of her sanctions:

“We have sanctions. We have banned all export of semiconductors. The impact of these sanctions is now very real and tangible on the ground in Russia. The Russian military, for example, cannibalizes refrigerators and washing machines to take out the semiconductors, trying to get the semiconductors for their military hardware.”

The EU does not seem to understand that the imposition of secondary sanctions works against its efforts in Central Asia and the Caucasus – as described in a recent official document – to “mitigate socio-economic dislocation, facilitate trade within and beyond the region, diversify transport routes, [and] lift investments.”

Brussels might go after those EU and G7 companies with active businesses in Russia and prevent its own microchip makers from making available thousands of microprocessors in world markets before giving the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus a hard time about refrigerators and washing machines.

It would be more diplomatically productive for EU ambassadors stationed abroad to engage their hosts as partners rather than as pawns on the global chessboard.

Javier M. Piedra

Javier M Piedra is a financial consultant, specialist in international development and former deputy assistant administrator for South and Central Asia at USAID.

Title:

Content: Source: Courtesy of Malaga Film Festival

Juan Antonio Vigar

The Malaga Film Festival includes 19 features — 11 from Spain and eight from Latin America — in competition, while the industry programme, the Mafiz (Malaga Festival Industry Zone), which runs March 4-8, focuses on works-in-progress.

Various events, including the latest edition of Spanish Screenings, will showcase Spanish-language content to international buyers, producers and financiers. The initiative is part of the Spanish Screenings XXL plan, promoted by the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, to support the Spanish industry internationally.

Festival director Juan Antonio Vigar talks about the festival’s key role in spotlighting Spanish and Latin American cinema and the role of the festival on the international circuit.

What stands out for you about this year’s edition?
Our goal has been to consolidate further the two key strategies we have been working on for a few years now. The first is the presence of Latin American cinema at our festival. Malaga is an important meeting point for coproducing, showcasing and networking for the Spanish and the Latin American industries. We share close cultural ties, and it makes sense.

The second key strategy has been the strengthening of our industry area. The Mafiz has grown exponentially, and we are very happy to see how it has evolved with the Spanish Screenings Content event. This has made Malaga one of the most relevant markets for our industry in Europe. In the industry area we have kept the spotlight on remakes, literary adaptations, shorts, and also animation. In terms of professionals attending, they come from 59 countries from all over the world, not just Latin America and Europe.

What themes or genres have emerged from the films you’ve selected for competition this year?
Comedies are back in force. Post-pandemic, Spanish cinema has left behind a more sombre approach to our world. Films like Un Hipster En La España Vacía by Emilio Martínez Lázaro, but also other titles in the official selection and out-of-competition. There are also films with very powerful female characters.

The percentage of films selected directed by women is 37.6%. What’s the festival’s policy regarding parity?
The goal is that the number of films directed by women we select is as close as possible to the percentage of films submitted for consideration. This year, of the total of films submitted, 37.9% were directed by women. So we have kept the balance. I would like to stress that the number of films by women filmmakers has increased 5.2% from last year. We are very glad also to be welcoming in competition filmmakers with their second features, like Andrea Jaurrieta who premiered her first film Ana By Day in Malaga and is now back with Nina; or Celia Rico, who is premiering her second feature Little Loves

Animation as a growing sector in the Mafiz, and this edition of the festival is opening with Dragonkeeper, an animated feature, a first for Malaga.

It is a stunning film, a Spain-China co-production. It is in competition and it’s a perfect way to start the official selection. Animation is a growing sector in our industry and Pablo Berger’s success with Robot Dreams, selected in Cannes and nominated for a best animated feature at the Oscars, is a good example of this. We are also happy to welcome back Salvador Simó, one of the directors of Dragonkeeper who was previously at the festival with Buñuel In The Labyrinth Of The Turtles.

Does the strength of Mafiz rely more on works-in-progress, co-production deals or on sales?
The Malaga Festival Fund & Co-Production (Maff) lab is very active and the Work In Progress event, that helps look for support to complete productions, has given us reason to be proud in recent years with titles like Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia’s The Platform and David Pérez Sañudo’s Ane Is Missing that went on to be very successful.

More recently, Berlinale competition title Pepe, by Nelson Carlo de Los Santos Arias, that won the Silver Bear for best director, was also at the Maff.

Deals are closed for co-production in Malaga too, and for international sales. Last year, about 80 sales deals involving Spanish-language productions were sealed in Malaga.

Title:

Content: Honda Aircraft is finalising the supply chain for its proposed HondaJet 2600 as the airframer seemingly moves closer to an official launch of the new aircraft.

Chief executive Hideto Yamasaki says the manufacturer will in June hold a ”supplier conference” at its site in Greensboro, North Carolina, where it “will be talking about the commercialisation” of the 2600, ahead of announcements at the NBAA show in October.

Yamasaki, speaking on 23 May, said the meeting is a step toward firming up details of the 2600’s supplier base and production ahead of advancing with a more aggressive marketing campaign for the business jet, which would straddle the light and midsize categories.

Source: Honda Aircraft

Honda Aircraft first revealed its 2600 concept in 2021

“We will have all the suppliers confirmed, sitting together,” says Yamasaki. “Talking to the suppliers – that, to us, means that [the programme] is happening.”

Yamasaki stresses that Honda Aircraft has not yet launched the development programme but his stance is notably confident toward a product he says will build on the success of the current HA-420 light jet and carry the company into the future.

“[The 2600] was a concept,” he says. “But now – before this announcement [at] NBAA – we see that confirming with the suppliers means this company is really serious.”

He says details to be disclosed at NBAA could relate to naming, pricing and marketing, but offers no more specifics.

Honda Aircraft first revealed the 2600 in 2021, teasing a concept that would take the company into a significantly larger size category.

It has described the 2600 as the “first-ever transcontinental light jet” and the “longest-range single-pilot business aircraft”.

Honda Aircraft’s provisional specifications tout an aircraft able to carry up to 11 people, including two pilots, cruise at 450kt (834km/h) and have sufficient range for transcontinental North American flights. In comparison, the HA-420 is a six-passenger light jet with range of about 1,550nm.

Yamasaki says the new jet will build on the design and success of the HA-420, sharing a similar fuselage and structural layout, such as its distinctive over-wing engines, for example. “We are going to use the fundamental 420 as a base to make the derivatives,” he says.

But when the 2600 might arrive is not clear. The question of which engine might power the new type also remains unanswered, though Honda Aircraft has a long-standing partnership with GE Aerospace, jointly producing the 2,050lb (9.1kN)-thrust HF-120 engines that equip the HA-420.

The 2600 would seemingly compete with business jets like Embraer’s Phenom 300E (carrying 10 passengers over routes of 2,010nm), the Cessna Citation CJ4 (10 passengers/2,165nm) and Citation Latitude (nine passengers/2,700nm).

Source: Honda Aircraft

Honda Aircraft’s 2600 cabin could accommodate nine passengers

Yamasaki became Honda Aircraft chief in 2022, taking over from long-time leader Michimasa Fujino, an engineer by training who helped the fledgling firm establish itself as a player in the ultra-light-jet niche. The company has faced production and financial issues but still managed to make the HA-420 a commercial success, with some 230 of the type in service.

Yamasaki says he is shaking things up, bringing a business background to the firm.

“I am changing everything,” says Japan-born Yamasaki, who joined Honda in 1985 and worked most of his career in the company’s automotive business. “We have shifted a start-up company to a real commercial business structure.”

He aims to right Honda Aircraft’s finances – the division lost Y25.7 billion ($185 million) in its recent fiscal year – and to better leverage the assets of the broader Honda company, specifically by collaborating more closely with its automotive divisions.

“For the 2600 concept, we haven’t changed that much from the exterior side but we are now changing a little bit more of the interior,” he says.

Honda Aircraft’s latest update of its HA-420 – the Elite II variant – is making its EBACE debut at this year’s show. The company rolled out the enhancement last year, giving the jet slightly more range and introducing modern cockpit features including auto-throttle and auto-land capabilities.

On 23 May, Honda Aircraft revealed that the Elite II had been approved by the European regulator, building on US certification last year.


This report addresses: China's J-10 fighter jets

British newspaper The Telegraph, claiming to have seen a confidential EU report, says Brussels is considering imposing trade restrictions “on countries helping Russia acquire [microchips] in washing machines and used cars to repair its battle-stricken fleet of tanks.”

Thus the EU is threatening to apply secondary sanctions – that is, penalties on persons and entities outside of the EU’s legal jurisdiction – on countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

For the EU to impose trade restrictions on other countries on the suspicion that they are reselling significant quantities of home appliances to Russia, which then strips them for their microchips, is potentially destructive of the West’s strategic interests across Middle Eurasia.

The initiative is part of the Spanish Screenings XXL plan, promoted by the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, to support the Spanish industry internationally.

Festival director Juan Antonio Vigar talks about the festival’s key role in spotlighting Spanish and Latin American cinema and the role of the festival on the international circuit.

“Talking to the suppliers – that, to us, means that [the programme] is happening.”

Yamasaki stresses that Honda Aircraft has not yet launched the development programme but his stance is notably confident toward a product he says will build on the success of the current HA-420 light jet and carry the company into the future.

Yamasaki, speaking on 23 May, said the meeting is a step toward firming up details of the 2600’s supplier base and production ahead of advancing with a more aggressive marketing campaign for the business jet, which would straddle the light and midsize categories.

This report addresses: China's J-10 fighter jets

Title:

Content: Since the start of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict in February 2022, the European Union has ratified 10 sanctions packages designed to undermine Russia’s capacity to wage war in Ukraine. Now, kitchen appliances are in the EU’s crosshairs.

British newspaper The Telegraph, claiming to have seen a confidential EU report, says Brussels is considering imposing trade restrictions “on countries helping Russia acquire [microchips] in washing machines and used cars to repair its battle-stricken fleet of tanks.”

Thus the EU is threatening to apply secondary sanctions – that is, penalties on persons and entities outside of the EU’s legal jurisdiction – on countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

When weighing the imposition of secondary sanctions, EU policy should be guided by realpolitik and strategic thinking rooted in common sense, rather than by ideology and moral indignation, whether feigned or sincerely meant.

For the EU to impose trade restrictions on other countries on the suspicion that they are reselling significant quantities of home appliances to Russia, which then strips them for their microchips, is potentially destructive of the West’s strategic interests across Middle Eurasia.

The evidence suggests that harvesting microchips contained in home appliances sourced in “secondary” countries, usually for military use, is an exceedingly rare occurrence. It is cost-ineffective and unnecessary to boot, because EU countries have not seriously clamped down on the export of EU-sourced processors used in refrigerators, washing machines and other such appliances.

EU (and G7) leaders should think twice before insisting that other countries – mainly in Central Asia and the Caucasus – expend energy and resources on so dubious an undertaking with potentially negative political consequences for themselves.

To sanction – and possibly punish – consumers and traders of home appliances is unreasonable and impractical in view of the easy accessibility of military-grade microchips on the market already.

Moreover, these chips are nearly impossible to track after delivery to distributors or resellers in third counties around the world. What’s more, by the end 2022, Qingdao Haier Ltd, a Chinese enterprise, had become the largest maker of washing machines and refrigerators in Russia.

(By the way, General Electric sold its 100-year-old appliances business to Haier in 2016.)

Common sense

Then there is this consideration, which should occur to anyone with an ounce of common sense: Why would the Russian military – or any military for that matter – go through all the trouble and expense of finding, importing or buying vast numbers of washers and refrigerators when it is easier and cheaper to order large quantities of microchips from the many companies and resellers hawking them worldwide, including chips compatible with Russia’s own global positioning system, GLONASS

A Forbes magazine article titled “Is Russia really buying home appliances to harvest computer chips for Ukraine-bound weapons systems?” states that “these kinds of chips [for drones] have long been widely available to civilian users on the global market, and Ukrainian authorities say at least six US companies produce GLONASS-compatible chips.”

And these components are “not under embargo,” says Sven Etzold, the senior director of business marketing at U-Blox: “They are usually for civil usage and can be officially bought through a distributor.”

Chris Miller, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and specialist in semiconductors, said recently, “My feeling is that most of the chips that Russia is accessing today for integrating into military systems are not coming via this route [home appliances].

“We should probably assume that Russia is going to find ways to get access to lower-tech chips simply because they’re widely available,” he said.

Chip suppliers

According to an investigative report in January summarized in the Netherlands Times, “Several million microchips produced by Dutch manufacturers, including NXP and Nexperia, wound up in Russia last year in shipments that were handled by resellers after sanctions were in place as a consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

One can only assume that Russia has installed some of these Dutch microchips in military hardware.

“Key technology [used in drones for satellite navigation] is European and American,” reports CBS Evening News, and “the chips are still flowing” into Russia and available in the global market. The Columbia Broadcasting System singled out U-Blox, a Swiss company, and Maxim and Microchip, two US producers of microprocessors, whose chips could well have ended up in Russia.

In view of all this, it doesn’t seem to make sense to threaten Armenia, Kazakhstan or Turkey, for example, with sanctions of one kind or another when the availability of new lower-tech chips is widespread. Secondary sanctions on home appliances seem uncalled for.

EU-Russian trade

Al Jazeera reported last month that “in total, the EU imported €171 billion (US$186 billion) worth of goods from Russia starting from March 2022 until the end of January 2023.”

According to Eurostat, the EU statistics office, the European Union has posted a net trade deficit in the billions of dollars with Russia each month since January 2021. This means that significant business between Russia and the EU continues despite all the chatter to the contrary.

Europe’s double standards are clear for everyone to see. While Brussels wants to call on non-EU countries to cut their trade with Russia, the EU continues to trade with Moscow.

Start with Western firms

Nearly 9% of Western firms have divested from Russia since the onset of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, according to Simon J Evenett, professor of international trade and economic development at the University of St Gallen, and Niccolò Pisani, professor of strategy and international business at IMD Business School in Switzerland: “Of the total of 1,404 EU and G7 companies with commercially active equity investments in Russia before the invasion of Ukraine … by the end of November 2022, a total of 120 (8.5%) [had] actually left.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen should be careful before boasting in public about the devastating efficacy of her sanctions:

“We have sanctions. We have banned all export of semiconductors. The impact of these sanctions is now very real and tangible on the ground in Russia. The Russian military, for example, cannibalizes refrigerators and washing machines to take out the semiconductors, trying to get the semiconductors for their military hardware.”

The EU does not seem to understand that the imposition of secondary sanctions works against its efforts in Central Asia and the Caucasus – as described in a recent official document – to “mitigate socio-economic dislocation, facilitate trade within and beyond the region, diversify transport routes, [and] lift investments.”

Brussels might go after those EU and G7 companies with active businesses in Russia and prevent its own microchip makers from making available thousands of microprocessors in world markets before giving the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus a hard time about refrigerators and washing machines.

It would be more diplomatically productive for EU ambassadors stationed abroad to engage their hosts as partners rather than as pawns on the global chessboard.

Javier M. Piedra

Javier M Piedra is a financial consultant, specialist in international development and former deputy assistant administrator for South and Central Asia at USAID.

Title:

Content: Source: Courtesy of Malaga Film Festival

Juan Antonio Vigar

The Malaga Film Festival includes 19 features — 11 from Spain and eight from Latin America — in competition, while the industry programme, the Mafiz (Malaga Festival Industry Zone), which runs March 4-8, focuses on works-in-progress.

Various events, including the latest edition of Spanish Screenings, will showcase Spanish-language content to international buyers, producers and financiers. The initiative is part of the Spanish Screenings XXL plan, promoted by the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, to support the Spanish industry internationally.

Festival director Juan Antonio Vigar talks about the festival’s key role in spotlighting Spanish and Latin American cinema and the role of the festival on the international circuit.

What stands out for you about this year’s edition?
Our goal has been to consolidate further the two key strategies we have been working on for a few years now. The first is the presence of Latin American cinema at our festival. Malaga is an important meeting point for coproducing, showcasing and networking for the Spanish and the Latin American industries. We share close cultural ties, and it makes sense.

The second key strategy has been the strengthening of our industry area. The Mafiz has grown exponentially, and we are very happy to see how it has evolved with the Spanish Screenings Content event. This has made Malaga one of the most relevant markets for our industry in Europe. In the industry area we have kept the spotlight on remakes, literary adaptations, shorts, and also animation. In terms of professionals attending, they come from 59 countries from all over the world, not just Latin America and Europe.

What themes or genres have emerged from the films you’ve selected for competition this year?
Comedies are back in force. Post-pandemic, Spanish cinema has left behind a more sombre approach to our world. Films like Un Hipster En La España Vacía by Emilio Martínez Lázaro, but also other titles in the official selection and out-of-competition. There are also films with very powerful female characters.

The percentage of films selected directed by women is 37.6%. What’s the festival’s policy regarding parity?
The goal is that the number of films directed by women we select is as close as possible to the percentage of films submitted for consideration. This year, of the total of films submitted, 37.9% were directed by women. So we have kept the balance. I would like to stress that the number of films by women filmmakers has increased 5.2% from last year. We are very glad also to be welcoming in competition filmmakers with their second features, like Andrea Jaurrieta who premiered her first film Ana By Day in Malaga and is now back with Nina; or Celia Rico, who is premiering her second feature Little Loves

Animation as a growing sector in the Mafiz, and this edition of the festival is opening with Dragonkeeper, an animated feature, a first for Malaga.

It is a stunning film, a Spain-China co-production. It is in competition and it’s a perfect way to start the official selection. Animation is a growing sector in our industry and Pablo Berger’s success with Robot Dreams, selected in Cannes and nominated for a best animated feature at the Oscars, is a good example of this. We are also happy to welcome back Salvador Simó, one of the directors of Dragonkeeper who was previously at the festival with Buñuel In The Labyrinth Of The Turtles.

Does the strength of Mafiz rely more on works-in-progress, co-production deals or on sales?
The Malaga Festival Fund & Co-Production (Maff) lab is very active and the Work In Progress event, that helps look for support to complete productions, has given us reason to be proud in recent years with titles like Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia’s The Platform and David Pérez Sañudo’s Ane Is Missing that went on to be very successful.

More recently, Berlinale competition title Pepe, by Nelson Carlo de Los Santos Arias, that won the Silver Bear for best director, was also at the Maff.

Deals are closed for co-production in Malaga too, and for international sales. Last year, about 80 sales deals involving Spanish-language productions were sealed in Malaga.

Title:

Content: Honda Aircraft is finalising the supply chain for its proposed HondaJet 2600 as the airframer seemingly moves closer to an official launch of the new aircraft.

Chief executive Hideto Yamasaki says the manufacturer will in June hold a ”supplier conference” at its site in Greensboro, North Carolina, where it “will be talking about the commercialisation” of the 2600, ahead of announcements at the NBAA show in October.

Yamasaki, speaking on 23 May, said the meeting is a step toward firming up details of the 2600’s supplier base and production ahead of advancing with a more aggressive marketing campaign for the business jet, which would straddle the light and midsize categories.

Source: Honda Aircraft

Honda Aircraft first revealed its 2600 concept in 2021

“We will have all the suppliers confirmed, sitting together,” says Yamasaki. “Talking to the suppliers – that, to us, means that [the programme] is happening.”

Yamasaki stresses that Honda Aircraft has not yet launched the development programme but his stance is notably confident toward a product he says will build on the success of the current HA-420 light jet and carry the company into the future.

“[The 2600] was a concept,” he says. “But now – before this announcement [at] NBAA – we see that confirming with the suppliers means this company is really serious.”

He says details to be disclosed at NBAA could relate to naming, pricing and marketing, but offers no more specifics.

Honda Aircraft first revealed the 2600 in 2021, teasing a concept that would take the company into a significantly larger size category.

It has described the 2600 as the “first-ever transcontinental light jet” and the “longest-range single-pilot business aircraft”.

Honda Aircraft’s provisional specifications tout an aircraft able to carry up to 11 people, including two pilots, cruise at 450kt (834km/h) and have sufficient range for transcontinental North American flights. In comparison, the HA-420 is a six-passenger light jet with range of about 1,550nm.

Yamasaki says the new jet will build on the design and success of the HA-420, sharing a similar fuselage and structural layout, such as its distinctive over-wing engines, for example. “We are going to use the fundamental 420 as a base to make the derivatives,” he says.

But when the 2600 might arrive is not clear. The question of which engine might power the new type also remains unanswered, though Honda Aircraft has a long-standing partnership with GE Aerospace, jointly producing the 2,050lb (9.1kN)-thrust HF-120 engines that equip the HA-420.

The 2600 would seemingly compete with business jets like Embraer’s Phenom 300E (carrying 10 passengers over routes of 2,010nm), the Cessna Citation CJ4 (10 passengers/2,165nm) and Citation Latitude (nine passengers/2,700nm).

Source: Honda Aircraft

Honda Aircraft’s 2600 cabin could accommodate nine passengers

Yamasaki became Honda Aircraft chief in 2022, taking over from long-time leader Michimasa Fujino, an engineer by training who helped the fledgling firm establish itself as a player in the ultra-light-jet niche. The company has faced production and financial issues but still managed to make the HA-420 a commercial success, with some 230 of the type in service.

Yamasaki says he is shaking things up, bringing a business background to the firm.

“I am changing everything,” says Japan-born Yamasaki, who joined Honda in 1985 and worked most of his career in the company’s automotive business. “We have shifted a start-up company to a real commercial business structure.”

He aims to right Honda Aircraft’s finances – the division lost Y25.7 billion ($185 million) in its recent fiscal year – and to better leverage the assets of the broader Honda company, specifically by collaborating more closely with its automotive divisions.

“For the 2600 concept, we haven’t changed that much from the exterior side but we are now changing a little bit more of the interior,” he says.

Honda Aircraft’s latest update of its HA-420 – the Elite II variant – is making its EBACE debut at this year’s show. The company rolled out the enhancement last year, giving the jet slightly more range and introducing modern cockpit features including auto-throttle and auto-land capabilities.

On 23 May, Honda Aircraft revealed that the Elite II had been approved by the European regulator, building on US certification last year.


This report addresses: Saharan Dust Storm Impact

"It can clear for a little bit and then pick back up again on the backside of it."

States impacted by air quality from wildfires

The following states saw air quality alerts:

  • Iowa: Monday morning, parts of the state saw air quality drop to the "unhealthy" range, reports WHO 13

  • Minnesota- Saw air quality alerts from Sunday to Monday night, according to a press release.

"Predicting if the air quality will improve or worsen can be difficult because of the unpredictable behavior of wildfires and factors such as wind, weather, and terrain," said the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Media Relations and Risk Communications in a statement sent to USA TODAY.

My team will continue to work to find additional resources, and we’ll continue to work with our congressional delegation to get more federal assistance for Vermonters in need.”

The Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program will be administered by the Department of Economic Development and provide $20 million directly to impacted businesses and not-for-profits who suffered physical damage due to the severe flooding in the form of grants.

Phil Scott, the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and State Treasurer Michael Pieciak announced multiple initiatives today to provide financial support to businesses and municipalities impacted by the severe flooding.

Recommended

Ida death toll nears 50 as flooding pounds Northeast states; 25 dead in New Jersey, 6 missing

Nearly 50 people across multiple states have died due to flooding and extreme weather conditions in the Northeast United States caused by heavy rainfall from the remains of Hurricane Ida.

The Garden State has the most loss of life from the storm that made landfall in Louisiana on Sunday and moved northward over the week.

This report addresses: Saharan Dust Storm Impact

Title:

Content: Air quality in several US states threatened by growing Canada wildfires: See map

Canadian wildfires triggered air quality alerts in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, parts of Wisconsin and Iowa Sunday and Monday, and experts say there won't be much improvement in the coming months as more states could possibly be affected this summer.

"I do expect more air quality issues," said Paul Pastelok, a senior meteorologist and U.S. long-range forecaster at AccuWeather. "There'll be breaks, but the breaks will be few and in between at times in areas that are being affected even now."

According to Pastelok, the fires could keep burning until September or October. However, predicting when it will improve is difficult.

"Predicting if the air quality will improve or worsen can be difficult because of the unpredictable behavior of wildfires and factors such as wind, weather, and terrain," said the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Media Relations and Risk Communications in a statement sent to USA TODAY. "For example, a wind that usually clears out a valley could also blow more smoke in or fan the flames, intensifying the fire and worsening smoke."

According to Pastelok, weather patterns are still "very active" in the regions being affected by the smoke, and that will help improve the quality of air, but it can change.

Like the EPA, Pastelok said the same system that can help improve air quality could also blow smoke back into the U.S.

"So it's good and bad," said Pastelok. "It can clear for a little bit and then pick back up again on the backside of it."

States impacted by air quality from wildfires

The following states saw air quality alerts:

  • Iowa: Monday morning, parts of the state saw air quality drop to the "unhealthy" range, reports WHO 13

  • Minnesota- Saw air quality alerts from Sunday to Monday night, according to a press release.

  • Montana- Air quality dropped on Monday, but saw improvement later in the day as surface winds began to shift, states a different press release from Montana's Department of Environmental Quality.

  • North Dakota- The state was put on alert Monday as smoke from the neighboring country impacted the air.

  • South Dakota-On Monday, South Dakota announced the alert that would stay in effect until Tuesday. It stated that the smoke could cause low visibility and increased fine particulate matter, in a press release.

  • Wisconsin- Parts of Wisconsin were placed on an air quality advisory on Monday, which was set to end at midnight the same day, according to previous reporting from USA TODAY.

Smoke could grow with fires

Pastelok said the smoke could get much worse going into June and July if fires start to grow.

Alberta, British Columbia, and parts of Manitoba, Ontario and Southern Ontario are "pretty dry," he said. So, if fires do grow in those areas, the Great Lakes area and parts of the far northeastern U.S. could be affected.

The wildfire season is more active than usual because of the lack of snow depth and Canada's drought situation. Because of that, "there'll be a lot of smoke in the air across Canada, and it doesn't take much to pull that smoke down. So I think we're still looking at problems here through the summer, in the northern tier in the nation, especially," said Pastelok.

However, the meteorologist doesn't believe things will be as bad as they were last year.

Side-effects of inhaling wildfire smoke

Wildfire smoke can irritate one's eyes, nose, and throat and cause:

  • Coughing

  • Chest tightness,

  • Shortness of breath

  • Dizziness

  • Fatigue

Particulate matter, a type of air pollutant that is made of small particles of solids or liquids that are suspended in the air, is one of the main components of wildfire smoke, as USA TODAY previously reported.

According to Yale Medicine, the particles can be 10 micrometers, PM 10, or as small as 2.5 micrometers, PM 2.5, and the smaller one poses a lot of health risks.

PM2.5 is so tiny it can easily pass people's usual defense mechanisms and dive deep into their lungs. Not only can it damage lung function, but it can also pass into the bloodstream and travel to other organs.

The following is linked to exposure to the PM 2.5:

  • Heart attack

  • Stroke,

  • Lung cancer

  • Decline in cognitive function

Wearing masks can protect one's lungs

"I think you should have masks handy if you have conditions, especially if you're very sensitive to bad air quality," said Pastelok.

The meteorologist says it's better to get masks early so stores won't be out of stock when more people need them.

"Make sure you're buying them ahead of time here because you never know when the stores might run out," he said.

He adds that folks should be paying attention to weather alerts and checking air quality.

"I recommend people look at that closely," advised Pastelok. "Especially in the northern tier, northern plains states, upper midwest, upper Great Lakes and far northern Northeast."

He adds that people should have an air purifier handy if they can afford it and to make sure their AC and ventilation systems are working before the smoke reaches them or their air quality decreases.

"Make sure they're working efficiently because you can't open the windows up because that will bring everything inside," said Pastelok.

Contributing: Karina Zaiets, Ramon Padilla, Cecilia Garzella, Yoonserk Pyun; USA TODAY

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can follow her on X, formerly TwitterInstagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Canadian wildfires 2024: See map of air quality impacting US states

Title:

Content: State offers $20 million in emergency gap funding for businesses An extra $11 million to be accelerated to 40 towns

Gov. Phil Scott, the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and State Treasurer Michael Pieciak announced multiple initiatives today to provide financial support to businesses and municipalities impacted by the severe flooding.

Judy Platt, owner of the Garden Cafe and Market in Londonderry, speaks with state personal on Tuesday, July 11 after the floods.

 “Hundreds of Vermont businesses have been impacted by severe flooding, and for many, loans will not be enough” said Gov. Phil Scott. “That’s why I’ve instructed my team to get creative about how the State can provide direct financial assistance, quickly, to help employers get back on their feet. Although this $20 million commitment is significant, we know it will not meet the need. My team will continue to work to find additional resources, and we’ll continue to work with our congressional delegation to get more federal assistance for Vermonters in need.”

The Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program will be administered by the Department of Economic Development and provide $20 million directly to impacted businesses and not-for-profits who suffered physical damage due to the severe flooding in the form of grants. The program is still under development and program specifics will be released next week. Business owners can expect grants to support demonstrated losses to their physical space and replacements of inventory, machinery, equipment, and supplies.

“This program is intended to provide emergency gap funding to businesses so they can return to being the economic engines of their local communities,” said ACCD Secretary Lindsay Kurrle. “We understand the urgent and pressing need for financial support, and while this funding will not make them whole, we hope it will make a substantial impact in helping them bringing back their employees and opening their doors. The dedicated team tasked with swiftly implementing this program is working tirelessly on the details and we are committed to making this process as efficient and transparent as possible in the days ahead.”

 ACCD will update businesses on program specifics, eligibility, and grant application opening date next week. At this time businesses are encouraged to collect, document, and prepare photographs of damage, insurance adjuster damage assessments, estimates for repairs to physical structures, equipment, inventory, or supplies purchases, and/or actual paid expenses.

For the latest updates on this developing program, as well as federal SBA updates, and other resources for businesses please subscribe to the ACCD Flood Newsletter and visit the ACCD Flood Recovery Resource page.

 In addition, the Treasurer’s Office will be accelerating $11 million in state payments to 40 Vermont towns most impacted by last week’s flooding. Originally scheduled for disbursement later in the fiscal year, these funds will now be fast-tracked to towns to ensure they have a steady cash flow to support ongoing recovery efforts. This will ensure municipalities have access to immediate funds while awaiting FEMA reimbursement. It may also help prevent municipalities from taking on borrowing costs while waiting for FEMA reimbursements.

 The early payment initiative replicates a program implemented in 2011 to assist towns’ recovery from Tropical Storm Irene, and again in 2013 after a period of unprecedented rainfall. “These advanced payments are a quick and easy way to get cash in the hands of hard-hit municipalities so they can continue the cleanup and recovery efforts,” said State Treasurer Mike Pieciak. “I appreciate the leadership of the governor and his team during this challenging time, and we stand ready to assist efforts to recover and build back stronger.”

 The Treasurer’s Office announced a pause on its $85 million local investment program for economic development. The Office will work with the Administration to determine if these funds may be better employed to support flood response. The Treasurer’s Office is also working closely with the Vermont banking sector, the Vermont Economic Development Authority, and the Vermont Municipal Bond Bank. All are ready to fill any gaps that may emerge in the flood recovery effort.

“This recovery process will take time, but right now, we need to help municipalities with access to funding and get our small businesses back open who are the backbone of our communities,” said Scott.

 There are additional federally funded recovery resources available through FEMA for municipalities and individuals in counties that have been approved through President Biden’s Major Disaster Declaration (for more information visit www.vermont.gov/Flood). The Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program  is being designed to provide emergency grants for small businesses because they are not eligible for the FEMA Individual Assistan

Filed Under: Floods of 7-10-23Latest News

About the Author: This item was edited from one or more press releases submitted to The Chester Telegraph.

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Title:

Content: Recommended

Ida death toll nears 50 as flooding pounds Northeast states; 25 dead in New Jersey, 6 missing

Nearly 50 people across multiple states have died due to flooding and extreme weather conditions in the Northeast United States caused by heavy rainfall from the remains of Hurricane Ida.

In New Jersey, at least 25 people have died, most of whom were caught in their vehicles by the flooding, Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday morning. The Garden State has the most loss of life from the storm that made landfall in Louisiana on Sunday and moved northward over the week.

The extreme weather from the storm system has resulted in fatalities in Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Mississippi and Louisiana.

According to The Associated Press, the death toll rose to 49 throughout the Northeast on Friday.

Murphy said on the "TODAY" show Friday morning that at least six people are missing across the state and expects that the death toll in his state will likely increase.

"While the weather may be good and while the floodwaters may have receded, we are still not out of the woods," he said. "We still have a lot of damage that we are dealing with; we still have floodwaters that are significantly higher than normal. ... We are still in this thing. Folks need to take this seriously."

"We mourn the loss of those lives," Murphy added. "We are going to clean up. We are going to stay together. We'll get back on our feet, but it may be a long road."

The storm system caused massive flooding, considered by many to be unprecedented in certain areas. New York City reported flooding in homes, streets and parts of its subway system.

At least 13 people died in New York City because of the storm, according to reports. Most in New York City who died were inside homes in Queens and Brooklyn, the New York Times reports. They ranged in age from 2 to 86.

WABC reports that authorities in New York had to perform 69 water rescues and 166 road rescues. Almost 500 vehicles were abandoned throughout the city.

New York City Council Member Justin Brannan took to Twitter on Wednesday, describing the natural disaster hitting the area as “a biblical amount of rain.”

“There isn't a sewer system on the planet that can handle this much water at this rate – certainly not our ancient sewers here in New York City, some of which are still made of brick,” he tweeted.

President Joe Biden approved the emergency declarations of New York and New Jersey on Thursday in response to the Ida flooding, allowing federal aid for the states.

In Louisiana, where Ida made landfall with winds up to 150 miles per hour, as many as 1 million homes and businesses lost power. At least two people died in Louisiana as a result of the storm and many were displaced.

“We’ve suffered flooding before. We suffered storms before. But I’ve never seen water like this in my life. It just hit us in the worst way possible and it was such a massive storm that it just totally devastated us,” Mayor Tim Kerner of Jean Lafitte stated earlier this week.

In neighboring Mississippi, at least two people were killed and at least 10 people injured when a portion of Highway 26 collapsed Monday night as Ida made its way through the state, according to the Mississippi Clarion-Ledger

In Maryland, reports indicate that a teenager in Rockville died while trying to help save his mother from floodwaters.

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This report addresses: Saharan Dust Storm Impact

"It can clear for a little bit and then pick back up again on the backside of it."

States impacted by air quality from wildfires

The following states saw air quality alerts:

  • Iowa: Monday morning, parts of the state saw air quality drop to the "unhealthy" range, reports WHO 13

  • Minnesota- Saw air quality alerts from Sunday to Monday night, according to a press release.

"Predicting if the air quality will improve or worsen can be difficult because of the unpredictable behavior of wildfires and factors such as wind, weather, and terrain," said the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Media Relations and Risk Communications in a statement sent to USA TODAY.

My team will continue to work to find additional resources, and we’ll continue to work with our congressional delegation to get more federal assistance for Vermonters in need.”

The Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program will be administered by the Department of Economic Development and provide $20 million directly to impacted businesses and not-for-profits who suffered physical damage due to the severe flooding in the form of grants.

Phil Scott, the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and State Treasurer Michael Pieciak announced multiple initiatives today to provide financial support to businesses and municipalities impacted by the severe flooding.

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Ida death toll nears 50 as flooding pounds Northeast states; 25 dead in New Jersey, 6 missing

Nearly 50 people across multiple states have died due to flooding and extreme weather conditions in the Northeast United States caused by heavy rainfall from the remains of Hurricane Ida.

The Garden State has the most loss of life from the storm that made landfall in Louisiana on Sunday and moved northward over the week.

This report addresses: Saharan Dust Storm Impact

Title:

Content: Air quality in several US states threatened by growing Canada wildfires: See map

Canadian wildfires triggered air quality alerts in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, parts of Wisconsin and Iowa Sunday and Monday, and experts say there won't be much improvement in the coming months as more states could possibly be affected this summer.

"I do expect more air quality issues," said Paul Pastelok, a senior meteorologist and U.S. long-range forecaster at AccuWeather. "There'll be breaks, but the breaks will be few and in between at times in areas that are being affected even now."

According to Pastelok, the fires could keep burning until September or October. However, predicting when it will improve is difficult.

"Predicting if the air quality will improve or worsen can be difficult because of the unpredictable behavior of wildfires and factors such as wind, weather, and terrain," said the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Media Relations and Risk Communications in a statement sent to USA TODAY. "For example, a wind that usually clears out a valley could also blow more smoke in or fan the flames, intensifying the fire and worsening smoke."

According to Pastelok, weather patterns are still "very active" in the regions being affected by the smoke, and that will help improve the quality of air, but it can change.

Like the EPA, Pastelok said the same system that can help improve air quality could also blow smoke back into the U.S.

"So it's good and bad," said Pastelok. "It can clear for a little bit and then pick back up again on the backside of it."

States impacted by air quality from wildfires

The following states saw air quality alerts:

  • Iowa: Monday morning, parts of the state saw air quality drop to the "unhealthy" range, reports WHO 13

  • Minnesota- Saw air quality alerts from Sunday to Monday night, according to a press release.

  • Montana- Air quality dropped on Monday, but saw improvement later in the day as surface winds began to shift, states a different press release from Montana's Department of Environmental Quality.

  • North Dakota- The state was put on alert Monday as smoke from the neighboring country impacted the air.

  • South Dakota-On Monday, South Dakota announced the alert that would stay in effect until Tuesday. It stated that the smoke could cause low visibility and increased fine particulate matter, in a press release.

  • Wisconsin- Parts of Wisconsin were placed on an air quality advisory on Monday, which was set to end at midnight the same day, according to previous reporting from USA TODAY.

Smoke could grow with fires

Pastelok said the smoke could get much worse going into June and July if fires start to grow.

Alberta, British Columbia, and parts of Manitoba, Ontario and Southern Ontario are "pretty dry," he said. So, if fires do grow in those areas, the Great Lakes area and parts of the far northeastern U.S. could be affected.

The wildfire season is more active than usual because of the lack of snow depth and Canada's drought situation. Because of that, "there'll be a lot of smoke in the air across Canada, and it doesn't take much to pull that smoke down. So I think we're still looking at problems here through the summer, in the northern tier in the nation, especially," said Pastelok.

However, the meteorologist doesn't believe things will be as bad as they were last year.

Side-effects of inhaling wildfire smoke

Wildfire smoke can irritate one's eyes, nose, and throat and cause:

  • Coughing

  • Chest tightness,

  • Shortness of breath

  • Dizziness

  • Fatigue

Particulate matter, a type of air pollutant that is made of small particles of solids or liquids that are suspended in the air, is one of the main components of wildfire smoke, as USA TODAY previously reported.

According to Yale Medicine, the particles can be 10 micrometers, PM 10, or as small as 2.5 micrometers, PM 2.5, and the smaller one poses a lot of health risks.

PM2.5 is so tiny it can easily pass people's usual defense mechanisms and dive deep into their lungs. Not only can it damage lung function, but it can also pass into the bloodstream and travel to other organs.

The following is linked to exposure to the PM 2.5:

  • Heart attack

  • Stroke,

  • Lung cancer

  • Decline in cognitive function

Wearing masks can protect one's lungs

"I think you should have masks handy if you have conditions, especially if you're very sensitive to bad air quality," said Pastelok.

The meteorologist says it's better to get masks early so stores won't be out of stock when more people need them.

"Make sure you're buying them ahead of time here because you never know when the stores might run out," he said.

He adds that folks should be paying attention to weather alerts and checking air quality.

"I recommend people look at that closely," advised Pastelok. "Especially in the northern tier, northern plains states, upper midwest, upper Great Lakes and far northern Northeast."

He adds that people should have an air purifier handy if they can afford it and to make sure their AC and ventilation systems are working before the smoke reaches them or their air quality decreases.

"Make sure they're working efficiently because you can't open the windows up because that will bring everything inside," said Pastelok.

Contributing: Karina Zaiets, Ramon Padilla, Cecilia Garzella, Yoonserk Pyun; USA TODAY

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can follow her on X, formerly TwitterInstagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Canadian wildfires 2024: See map of air quality impacting US states

Title:

Content: State offers $20 million in emergency gap funding for businesses An extra $11 million to be accelerated to 40 towns

Gov. Phil Scott, the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and State Treasurer Michael Pieciak announced multiple initiatives today to provide financial support to businesses and municipalities impacted by the severe flooding.

Judy Platt, owner of the Garden Cafe and Market in Londonderry, speaks with state personal on Tuesday, July 11 after the floods.

 “Hundreds of Vermont businesses have been impacted by severe flooding, and for many, loans will not be enough” said Gov. Phil Scott. “That’s why I’ve instructed my team to get creative about how the State can provide direct financial assistance, quickly, to help employers get back on their feet. Although this $20 million commitment is significant, we know it will not meet the need. My team will continue to work to find additional resources, and we’ll continue to work with our congressional delegation to get more federal assistance for Vermonters in need.”

The Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program will be administered by the Department of Economic Development and provide $20 million directly to impacted businesses and not-for-profits who suffered physical damage due to the severe flooding in the form of grants. The program is still under development and program specifics will be released next week. Business owners can expect grants to support demonstrated losses to their physical space and replacements of inventory, machinery, equipment, and supplies.

“This program is intended to provide emergency gap funding to businesses so they can return to being the economic engines of their local communities,” said ACCD Secretary Lindsay Kurrle. “We understand the urgent and pressing need for financial support, and while this funding will not make them whole, we hope it will make a substantial impact in helping them bringing back their employees and opening their doors. The dedicated team tasked with swiftly implementing this program is working tirelessly on the details and we are committed to making this process as efficient and transparent as possible in the days ahead.”

 ACCD will update businesses on program specifics, eligibility, and grant application opening date next week. At this time businesses are encouraged to collect, document, and prepare photographs of damage, insurance adjuster damage assessments, estimates for repairs to physical structures, equipment, inventory, or supplies purchases, and/or actual paid expenses.

For the latest updates on this developing program, as well as federal SBA updates, and other resources for businesses please subscribe to the ACCD Flood Newsletter and visit the ACCD Flood Recovery Resource page.

 In addition, the Treasurer’s Office will be accelerating $11 million in state payments to 40 Vermont towns most impacted by last week’s flooding. Originally scheduled for disbursement later in the fiscal year, these funds will now be fast-tracked to towns to ensure they have a steady cash flow to support ongoing recovery efforts. This will ensure municipalities have access to immediate funds while awaiting FEMA reimbursement. It may also help prevent municipalities from taking on borrowing costs while waiting for FEMA reimbursements.

 The early payment initiative replicates a program implemented in 2011 to assist towns’ recovery from Tropical Storm Irene, and again in 2013 after a period of unprecedented rainfall. “These advanced payments are a quick and easy way to get cash in the hands of hard-hit municipalities so they can continue the cleanup and recovery efforts,” said State Treasurer Mike Pieciak. “I appreciate the leadership of the governor and his team during this challenging time, and we stand ready to assist efforts to recover and build back stronger.”

 The Treasurer’s Office announced a pause on its $85 million local investment program for economic development. The Office will work with the Administration to determine if these funds may be better employed to support flood response. The Treasurer’s Office is also working closely with the Vermont banking sector, the Vermont Economic Development Authority, and the Vermont Municipal Bond Bank. All are ready to fill any gaps that may emerge in the flood recovery effort.

“This recovery process will take time, but right now, we need to help municipalities with access to funding and get our small businesses back open who are the backbone of our communities,” said Scott.

 There are additional federally funded recovery resources available through FEMA for municipalities and individuals in counties that have been approved through President Biden’s Major Disaster Declaration (for more information visit www.vermont.gov/Flood). The Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program  is being designed to provide emergency grants for small businesses because they are not eligible for the FEMA Individual Assistan

Filed Under: Floods of 7-10-23Latest News

About the Author: This item was edited from one or more press releases submitted to The Chester Telegraph.

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Content: Recommended

Ida death toll nears 50 as flooding pounds Northeast states; 25 dead in New Jersey, 6 missing

Nearly 50 people across multiple states have died due to flooding and extreme weather conditions in the Northeast United States caused by heavy rainfall from the remains of Hurricane Ida.

In New Jersey, at least 25 people have died, most of whom were caught in their vehicles by the flooding, Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday morning. The Garden State has the most loss of life from the storm that made landfall in Louisiana on Sunday and moved northward over the week.

The extreme weather from the storm system has resulted in fatalities in Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Mississippi and Louisiana.

According to The Associated Press, the death toll rose to 49 throughout the Northeast on Friday.

Murphy said on the "TODAY" show Friday morning that at least six people are missing across the state and expects that the death toll in his state will likely increase.

"While the weather may be good and while the floodwaters may have receded, we are still not out of the woods," he said. "We still have a lot of damage that we are dealing with; we still have floodwaters that are significantly higher than normal. ... We are still in this thing. Folks need to take this seriously."

"We mourn the loss of those lives," Murphy added. "We are going to clean up. We are going to stay together. We'll get back on our feet, but it may be a long road."

The storm system caused massive flooding, considered by many to be unprecedented in certain areas. New York City reported flooding in homes, streets and parts of its subway system.

At least 13 people died in New York City because of the storm, according to reports. Most in New York City who died were inside homes in Queens and Brooklyn, the New York Times reports. They ranged in age from 2 to 86.

WABC reports that authorities in New York had to perform 69 water rescues and 166 road rescues. Almost 500 vehicles were abandoned throughout the city.

New York City Council Member Justin Brannan took to Twitter on Wednesday, describing the natural disaster hitting the area as “a biblical amount of rain.”

“There isn't a sewer system on the planet that can handle this much water at this rate – certainly not our ancient sewers here in New York City, some of which are still made of brick,” he tweeted.

President Joe Biden approved the emergency declarations of New York and New Jersey on Thursday in response to the Ida flooding, allowing federal aid for the states.

In Louisiana, where Ida made landfall with winds up to 150 miles per hour, as many as 1 million homes and businesses lost power. At least two people died in Louisiana as a result of the storm and many were displaced.

“We’ve suffered flooding before. We suffered storms before. But I’ve never seen water like this in my life. It just hit us in the worst way possible and it was such a massive storm that it just totally devastated us,” Mayor Tim Kerner of Jean Lafitte stated earlier this week.

In neighboring Mississippi, at least two people were killed and at least 10 people injured when a portion of Highway 26 collapsed Monday night as Ida made its way through the state, according to the Mississippi Clarion-Ledger

In Maryland, reports indicate that a teenager in Rockville died while trying to help save his mother from floodwaters.

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