Latest News

The investigating federal police in the United States have found no irregularities, said the head of state’s attorney, Bob Bauer.

Kevin Dietsch/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP
The FBI searches for classified documents in Biden’s house

THE FBIinvestigating Federal Police UScarried out searches at the North American President’s beach house this Wednesday the 1st Joe Biden, in the resort town of Rehoboth, Delaware, in search of classified documents. However, according to the President’s lawyer, no irregularities were found. “No documents were found that mentioned classified ads,” Bob Bauer said in a statement. Biden’s defense also claimed that the president operated in “full cooperation” with law enforcement. According to Bauer, “Today’s searches are another step in a thorough and timely Justice Department process that we will continue to support and fully facilitate. We will have more information after today’s search is complete.” Since November, a number of classified documents, the exact number and contents of which are unknown, have been found in an office occupied by Biden at a Washington think tank, as well as at his home in Wilmington. Those documents go Going back to when Biden was vice president under Barack Obama (20092017) and his three decades in the Senate devoted to foreign policy, the Justice Department has a special prosecutor investigating these embarrassing issues for the Democratic president Findings commissioned because, despite many differences, they are reminiscent of a case in which official files were brought to Florida by his last predecessor, Republican Donald Trump.

Québec solidaire fears that the child labor law, which Minister Boulet is about to introduce, will include exceptions that would strip it of substance to accommodate employers’ groups.

• Also read: No more “dangerous jobs” for underage people in British Columbia

• Also read: Child Labor: The CSQ fears “occult forces” are influencing the bill

• Also read: Quebec wants better regulation of child labor

• Also read: The work of 11-year-old children is important to Quebec

“If we really want to tighten child labor with an effective law, we will not start making huge holes in the law so that we can repeat exactly what is already being done,” Solidarity Officer Alexandre Leduc explained in an interview.

According to Mr Leduc, business groups are currently pressuring the government to include exceptions in the underage employment bill.

In fact, one of the objectives of the Association Restoration Québec (ARQ) in the register of lobbyists is “to prevent the addition of a minimum age for access to the labor market”, which is however one of the main recommendations of the Consultative Committee on Labor and Manpower (CCTM), which sets the should inspire draft legislation that will be presented shortly.

The CCTM opinion recommends setting the minimum working age at 14 and limiting the number of hours a young person can work to 17 hours per week.

While this opinion is the result of a consensus between unions and employers’ federations, Alexandre Leduc fears that bosses will “take cover from their side” by speaking directly to the Labor Minister behind the scenes.

In particular, he fears they will be able to persuade Mr Boulet to add a ‘light duties’ clause that would allow young people under 14 to enter the labor market.

“They’ll say yes, but it’s just the easy tasks. The hostess who only puts the water glasses on the tables is not dangerous.

But if someone is sick or having trouble recruiting staff, what happens then? These kids will do more dangerous jobs,” lamented the supporting MP.

Mr Leduc also recalls that according to a CNESST report, from 2012 to 2021 there was a significant increase in workplace accidents among young people.

The increase is 392% for 14 year olds and under and 221% for 16 year olds.

Minister Boulet reiterated in the Hemicycle on Wednesday that he intends to draw inspiration from the CCTM’s opinion when preparing his draft law.

However, he also acknowledged that “exceptions can be made” and that he listens to what Mr Leduc calls “the restaurant and merchant lobby”.

“It’s a consultation. And when we look for a solution, we end up with a consensus,” said the minister.

A young woman records a performance with a Galaxy S23 Ultra.Samsung

The mobile market is facing a long-term storm. Since 2016, sales have fallen due to the impact of various crises (Covid, restrictions on China or the war in Ukraine) and inflation. Additionally, companies’ ability to present differentiated products is becoming increasingly scarce. Samsung, the Korean multinational that competes with Apple for the throne of mobile telephony, is trying to conjure up this scenario and presented this Wednesday in San Francisco at an event repeated worldwide, to which EL PAÍS was invited, the Galaxy S23 Ultra and other two models in the route (S23+ and S23). The first, the most advanced, strives to lead the way to the competition based on three aspects: a camera with a 200 megapixel sensor, latest generation processors that allow any interaction in microseconds, including the most demanding games, and the maximum use of the possibilities of artificial intelligence. These are its main characteristics.

Key features of the Galaxy S23

Screen. The flagship model, the S23 Ultra, has a 6.8-inch screen that measures about 17.2 centimeters diagonally. Nothing significant has changed here, as the market currently assumes that this is the optimal size for high-end phones that aren’t foldable. The bottom models are 6.1 inches tall. The phone has specific color and contrast adjustment features, as well as four backlight levels instead of two to correct for the effects of brightness or daylight.

View of both sides of the Galaxy S23 Ultra.Samsung

battery. Even with the nominal capacity of the batteries (depending on the range between 3,900 and 5,000 milliamps per hour (mAh)), nothing has changed, which corresponds to video use of 22 to 26 hours. The main difference in this aspect, in the images and in the processing, is the integration of the latest Snapdragon chips (semiconductors): the 8 Gen 2. The addition of these to the new Samsung models allows a 20% longer battery life from the same battery other terminals. With these next-generation processors, you can take advantage of artificial intelligence to optimize graphics performance by 40%.

memory. The smallest versions of the S23 series have 8 GB of memory and are marketed with storage capacities between 128 and 512 GB. The Ultra have between 8 and 12 GB of storage and between 256 GB and up to a terabit for storing files.

Recording a concert with a phone from the Galaxy S23.Samsung range

camera. Along with the new Snapdragon processors, the cameras are the big bet of the S23 generation. Both aspects belong together. The nightography functions have been improved to optimize photos and videos in different environmental conditions, even at night, and artificial intelligence corrects visual noise and increases sharpness. The Galaxy S23 Ultra has an adaptive pixel sensor (200 megapixels) and high-resolution processing (pixel binning). The lower models offer 50 megapixels, but also include the optical image stabilizer (OIS).

For self-portraits and videos (selfies), the Galaxy S23 series has fast autofocus and a Super HDR camera that goes from 30 to 60 frames per second. In addition, the mobile phones have an exclusive application (Expert RAW5) for taking and editing images, including those of the night sky, as well as zoom functions for taking photos remotely with Galaxy Watch smartwatches.

A young man is playing with one of the latest Samsung models.

Game. In this respect, the combination of Snapdragon with Samsung represents a significant step forward for using mobile phones as a gaming platform. The new chips enable faster execution (25%), more realism and lower consumption (40%). A new rendering platform enables realistic characters and ray tracing for mobile games without sacrificing battery performance.

recycling. “The most impactful technology is measured not only by what it enables people today, but also by how it contributes to a better future. We are redefining ultimate performance by merging performance and enduring innovation into devices that have less environmental impact,” said Tae Moon Roh (TM Roh), President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. In this way, the Galaxy S23 series is partially made from recycled materials: aluminium, glass and recycled plastics from discarded fishing nets and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.

Security. The offering includes Samsung Knox, a security platform that lets users know who has access to their data and how it’s being used. Knox Vault, first introduced in the Galaxy S21 series, isolates critical information from the rest of the device, including the operating system.

availability and price. The new mobile models will be available from February 17th. The Galaxy S23 5G with 28 GB costs 959 euros; the 256GB 1,209; the 512GB, 1,329. The Ultra 5G version goes from 1,409 euros with 256 GB to 1,589 with 512 GB and 1,829 euros if the terabit of internal storage is reached.

The new devices can already be pre-ordered at the usual points of sale and on Samsung.com with an offer of twice the storage space at a lower price, up to 150 euros extra discount when delivering the old device and depending on the additional accessories product.

A user uses three devices at the same time. In the middle the new Galaxy Book3 Ultra.Samsung

laptops

The mobile market is not the only device market with strong competition. Samsung recently resumed the lineup of laptops and also presented its latest models this Wednesday: Galaxy Book3 Ultra, Book3 Pro 360 and Book3 Pro. The second is a two-in-one (computer and tablet) with S Pen functionality. They are all mobile friendly. “Today we see more and more people using different devices to work efficiently and collaboratively,” explains TM Roth. In this way, the devices allow web sessions started on the computer to continue on the mobile phone. Users can switch between multiple screens on different devices and copy, paste or drag and drop files between devices or convert them to additional monitors

The Galaxy Book3 Ultra features the latest 13th Gen Intel Core i9 processor and an NVIDIA RTX Geforce 4070 GPU for laptops. The screens, ranging from 14 to 16 inches, use Dynamic AMOLED 2X, which is used in the line of premium Galaxy phones and is integrated in laptops to provide 3K (2880 x 1800) resolution.

In the case of the Galaxy Book3, they will be available from February 17th or March 17th in certain markets that have not yet been determined. The prices of the six models range from 2,999 euros for the most advanced version, the 16-inch Galaxy Book3 Ultra to 1,499 euros for the 13-inch notebook. Also for these units, the offer of twice the capacity is repeated at a lower price and in case of equipment renewal.

Price table of new models of Samsung phones and laptops.

You can write to us at [email protected], follow THE AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY on Facebook and Twitter and sign up here to receive our weekly newsletter

The largest glacier in Washington’s Mount Rainier and Glacier Peak mountain ranges has all but disappeared as glaciologists warn half of the planet’s ice caps are next.

Hinman Glacier, which sits atop the Cascade Mountains, has shrunk to 0.01 square miles, just 4 percent of what it was in 1958, reported Nichols College glaciologist Mauri Pelto.

“It’s completely gone,” Pelto told CNN of the melting glacier. “It was the largest glacier in this part of the mountain range – it was extraordinary.”

He noted that while it could reform a bit, “if we warm further into the future, it will be even less hospitable to the Hinman and glaciers around the world.”

Hinman Glacier has shrunk to 0.01 square miles, just 4 percent of what it was in 1958 when scientists began tracking its retreat. Pictured: The glacier area as it is (left) and the glacier area as it was in 1985 (right)

Nichols College glaciologist Mauri Pelto (pictured) said “it’s completely gone” while leading an expedition to the glacier last year

The melting glacier has also led to the formation of the unofficial Hinman Lake (above)

In his report released late last year, Pelto said scientists have been tracking the sinking of Hinman Glacier for decades, as evidenced by the unofficial Hinman Lake, which forms where the glacier melts.

The disappearing Hinman Glacier and accumulation in the lake pose problems for the local environment as the glacier normally feeds nearby rivers.

Along with Hinman, which lost nearly 95 percent of its size, Pelto said nearby Columbia Glacier receded 25 percent, Foss Glacier 70 percent, and Lynch Glacier 40 percent.

Overall, this has led to a sharp decline in freshwater in the Skykomish River drainage basin, a critical part of the Pacific Northwest’s salmon population, reports CNN.

Pelto said the Skykomish River drainage basin has lost 55 percent of its surface area since the 1950s.

Imaged in 1988, the glacier is unlikely to regress to its original size over the winter, as experts doubt it can actually be called a glacier in its current state

The retreating glaciers in the Pacific Northwest will likely impact local rivers and wildlife. Pictured is the Skykomish River drainage basin, which has lost 55 percent of its surface area

David Shean, a professor of civil and environmental engineering and a glacier expert at the University of Washington, noted that Hinman Glacier may no longer be classified as a true glacier in its current state.

He told CNN that even if the glacier gains mass over the winter, it’s likely to lose more than it’s gaining and will “disappear completely in the coming decade or more.”

The bleak outlook has also been predicted for up to half of the world’s glaciers, which experts said could be lost by the end of the century due to climate change, even if humanity makes traumatic changes to stem the outcome.

A UNESCO report last year said the Dolomites in Italy, Yosemite and Yellowstone parks in the United States, and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania will disappear as early as 2050.

UNESCO monitors around 18,600 glaciers in 50 of its world heritage sites and said a third of them will disappear by 2050

Which glaciers are at risk?

Africa

• Glaciers in all World Heritage Sites including Kilimanjaro National Park and Mount Kenya

Asia

• Glaciers in three parallel rivers of the Yunnan Protected Areas (China)
• Glaciers in western Tien-Shan (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan)

Europe

• Glacier in the Pyrenees Mont Perdu (France, Spain)
• Glaciers in the Dolomites (Italy)

Latin America

• Glaciers in Los Alerces National Park (Argentina)
• Glaciers in Huascaran National Park (Peru)

North America

• Glaciers in Yellowstone National Park (USA)
• Glaciers in Yosemite National Park (USA)
• Glaciers in Waterton Glacier International Peace Park (Canada, USA)

Oceania

• Glacier in Te Wahipounamu (New Zealand)

UNESCO monitors around 18,600 glaciers in 50 of its world heritage sites and said a third of them will disappear by 2050.

While the rest can be saved by keeping global temperature rise below 2.7°F compared to pre-industrial levels, in a business-as-usual emissions scenario, about 50 percent of these World Heritage glaciers could almost entirely disappear by 2100.

The 50 World Heritage sites in the report are home to about 10 percent of the world’s glaciers.

However, the report warns that these glaciers have been retreating at an accelerated rate since 2000 due to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that are warming temperatures.

Together, glaciers lose 58 billion tons of ice every year — equivalent to the combined annual water use of France and Spain.

In addition, they are responsible for almost 5 percent of observed global sea level rise.

Disturbingly, the report concludes that glaciers will disappear at a third of the 50 sites by 2050, despite efforts to limit temperature rise.

In Africa, this includes all glaciers in World Heritage sites, including Kilimanjaro National Park and Mount Kenya.

In Asia, glaciers in the Yunnan Three Parallel Rivers Protected Areas and western Tian-Shan are at risk.

And in Europe, the glaciers in the Mont Perdu Pyrenees and the Dolomites will very likely disappear by 2050.

But there is hope.

UNESCO says it’s still possible to save the glaciers in the remaining two-thirds of the sites if global temperature rise is kept below 2.7°F.

Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, said: “This report is a call to action.

“Only a rapid reduction in our CO2 emissions can save glaciers and the extraordinary biodiversity that depends on them.

“COP27 will play a crucial role in finding solutions to this problem. UNESCO is committed to assisting States in pursuing this goal.”

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) – Australia is removing the British monarchy from its banknotes.

The country’s central bank said Thursday that its new $5 bill would feature an indigenous design rather than an image of King Charles III. But the king is still expected to appear on coins.

The $5 bill was Australia’s only remaining banknote that still featured an image of the monarch.

The bank said the decision followed consultation with the government, which supported the change. Opponents say the move was politically motivated.

The British monarch remains Australia’s head of state, although this role is largely symbolic these days. Like many former British colonies, Australia is debating the extent to which it should maintain its constitutional ties with Britain.

Australia’s Reserve Bank said the new $5 bill would feature a design that would replace a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, who died last year. The bank said the move would honor “the culture and history of the first Australians”.

“The other side of the $5 bill will continue to feature the Australian Parliament,” the bank said in a statement.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the move is an opportunity to strike a good balance.

“The monarch will still be on the coins, but the $5 bill will say more about our history and heritage and our country and I see that as a good thing,” he told reporters in Melbourne.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton likened the move to changing the date of the national holiday, Australia Day.

“I know the silent majority disagrees with a lot of the nonsense raised, but we need to hear more from these people online,” he told 2GB radio.

Dutton said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was central to the King’s decision not to appear on the note and urged him to “commit to doing so”.

The bank plans to consult with indigenous groups on the design of the $5 bill, a process it expects will take several years before the new note is released.

The current $5 will continue to be issued until the new design is launched and will remain legal tender after the new bill is released.

King Charles III’s face is expected to appear on Australian coins later this year.

One Australian dollar is worth around 71 cents in US currency.

In recent years, the security architecture inherited from the Cold War has been turned on its head with the end of several high-profile agreements, such as the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty [FCE]the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty [FNI] or the Open Skies Treaty [que les États-Unis et la Russie ont dénoncé, ndlr]. And the last valid disarmament agreement, affecting only Washington and Moscow, is New START [Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty]which will soon expire.

As a reminder, this text, which came into force in February 2011 for a period of at least ten years, limits the size of the US and Russian nuclear arsenals to 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 strategic launch vehicles.

If President Trump’s administration was unwilling to renew that treaty in its current form to include China, Mr. Biden’s administration finally agreed with Moscow to extend it for another five years by deleting a clause of its Article XIV activated. Clearly, 2026 marks the end of the new beginning… And unless renewed or replaced by another text, the arms race that the world experienced during the Cold War could begin with renewed vigour.

In any event, and at the moment, certain New START commitments are struggling to be met. And it has nothing to do with the war in Ukraine…

So, on January 31, in response to a question from the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, the State Department [diplomatie américaine] claimed that “Russia has failed in its new START obligation to facilitate inspection activities on its territory” and canceled talks provided for in the treaty. However, there is no indication that Moscow has increased its nuclear arsenal beyond the agreed limits.

However, these allegations are not surprising… given the current context. In August, Russia decided to “temporarily” suspend inspections of its nuclear bases due to difficulties in obtaining visas for its inspectors to travel to the United States. And to “report realities that give Washington unilateral advantages” and that “deprive Moscow of its right to conduct inspections on American territory.”

Moreover, emphasizing New START’s “unique role” in its relations with the United States, Russia had promised that inspections would resume “immediately” once the visa issue was resolved. At the time, however, American diplomacy maintained that “the principles of reciprocity, mutual predictability, and stability will continue to guide the United States’ approach.”

What was it really? Did this visa story really justify Moscow’s decision? Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, responded to the State Department’s rebukes by accusing Washington of “refusing to see the root causes of the problem” and “blaming others.” He also continued, “We kept emphasizing [aux autorités américaines] that the treaty situation is a direct result of the hybrid war unleashed against our country by the West.”

And to add: Russia “has warned about arms control [nucléaires] cannot be isolated from geopolitical realities. [Aussi]We believe that, under the current circumstances, it is unwarranted, untimely and inappropriate to invite the US military to our strategic installations.”

For his part, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not provide the same reasoning. “We see that the United States has indeed destroyed the legal framework for arms control and nuclear safety,” he told reporters on February 1.

China also threatens Europe. He doesn’t do things by halves Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO, in view of the threat posed by the Beijing-Moscow alliance. For this reason, the leader of the Atlantic Alliance calls on the other Western countries to face the war and financial crisis we are facing with more strength and unity. Because China’s growing assertiveness and its cooperation with Russia threaten not only Asia, but also Europe. This was stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who asked for closer cooperation and more “friends” for NATO in the Indo-Pacific region. “The fact that Russia and China are growing closer, and China’s significant investments and new advanced military capabilities underscore that China poses a threat, a challenge even to NATO allies,” Stoltenberg said in a speech at Tokyo’s Keio University adding that “security is not regional but global”. “NATO needs to make sure it has friends” and “it’s important to work more closely with our partners in the Indo-Pacific,” he said again. Stoltenberg said China is investing more in nuclear weapons and long-range missiles without offering transparency or meaningful dialogue on nuclear arms control, while increasing coercion from its neighbors and threats against Taiwan, an island it claims as its own territory.

Stoltenberg said China is increasingly cooperating with Russia and leading an “authoritarian push” against the rules-based, open and democratic international order. NATO does not view China as an adversary or seek a confrontation, but he clarified, guaranteeing that the alliance will continue to engage with China on areas of common interest, such as climate change. Stoltenberg and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held talks on Tuesday and agreed to deepen their partnership in cybersecurity, space, defense and other fields. In addition to Japan, NATO is increasing “practical cooperation” with Australia, New Zealand and South Korea in maritime cybersecurity and other areas, and increasing the participation of their leaders and ministers in NATO meetings. On Tuesday, Kishida announced Japan’s intention to open a representative office with NATO.

Japan, already a close ally of the United States, has increased military ties with other Indo-Pacific nations as well as Britain, Europe and NATO in recent years after facing mounting security threats from China and North Korea. Tokyo quickly joined US-led economic sanctions against Russia’s war in Ukraine, providing Ukrainians with humanitarian aid and non-war defense equipment. Japan fears Russian aggression in Europe could be mirrored in Asia, where concerns are growing over Chinese assertiveness and escalating tensions over Taiwan’s claim. Stoltenberg arrived in Japan from South Korea late Monday, where he asked Seoul to provide direct military support to Ukraine to help it counter a protracted Russian invasion. North Korea has condemned Stoltenberg’s visits to South Korea and Japan, saying NATO is trying to put its “military boots in the region” to pressure America’s Asian allies to supply Ukraine with arms Nato and US allies in Asia as a process to create an “Asian version of NATO” and said this would increase tensions in the region.

Miami corporations and owners plead guilty Per Tampering with air quality monitoring devices in diesel trucks, official sources said.

Vivian Machado62 years old; Eric Flaquer, from 39; as well as companies Fast Tricks Automotive Performance Inc. Y Kloud9Nine LLCbased in Miamipleaded guilty to conspiring to tamper with diesel vehicle control units in violation of the Clean Air Act (CAA), which constitutes a felony, according to a statement by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.

According to official figures, defendants Machado, Flaquer and Quick Tricks received rounds between January 2018 and December 2020 $230,830.61 in 1,100 transactions for the sale of “Erase Tune Files” that alter or disable the on-board diagnostics (OBD) of diesel engine heavy-duty vehicles that would be required by the CAA to have OBD systems to monitor emissions control.

Additionally, between October 2019 and March 2021, Machado, Flaquer, and Kloud9Nine received $141,162.70 for another 657 transactions.

The defendants customized the Wischtune files based on the vehicle identification number and desired parameters and provided active customer service for automobile companies.

Aware of the illegality being committed, they emailed customers urging customers not to tell anyone about their purchases and to take steps to avoid detection and “going unnoticed” by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The vehicles at issue in this case were operating on public roads and highways in the Southern District of Florida and throughout the United States.

The CAA’s purpose is, among other things, to “protect and enhance the quality of the country’s atmospheric resources to promote the public health and well-being and productive capacity of its people,” the statement said.

Motor vehicles, including those with powerful diesel engines, contribute to air pollution that can endanger public health or welfare and are therefore subject to regulations, including requiring manufacturers to design and install exhaust systems to control acid gases and noxious hydrocarbons.

The verdict in this case fraud it is scheduled for April 7 in Miami Federal District Court.

Owners Machado and Flaquer face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or double the gross profit or loss arising from the crime.

Companies, for their part, face up to five years probation and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the gross profits or losses resulting from the crime.