経済産業省は半導体を国内で安定して生産できる体制をつくるため、半導体メーカー大手のキオクシアなどが三重県四日市市に整備する生産施設に対して、最大で929億円を補助することを決めました。 政府は経済安全保障上、重要性が増している半導体について、国内で安定して生産できる体制をつくるため、6000億円余りの基…
政府、「弔問外交」へ準備本格化 トランプ氏の対応注視―故安倍元首相の国葬：時事ドットコム
政府、「弔問外交」へ準備本格化 トランプ氏の対応注視―故安倍元首相の国葬 2022年07月24日07時17分 ユーラシア大陸最西端のロカ岬で大西洋を眺める安倍晋三首相（当時）。在任中は「地球儀を俯瞰（ふかん）する外交」を展開した＝２０１４年５月、ポルトガル ９月２７日に日本武道館で行われる故安倍晋三元首相の国葬…
DHS begins criminal investigation over deleted Secret Service texts from January 6th
The Secret Service may face serious legal repercussions over deleted text messages relating to the January 6th, 2021 Capitol attack. NBC Newssources said the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General has opened a criminal investigation into the deletion of texts from the days surrounding the riot. The Secret Service has been ordered to stop its own internal probes, according to a copy of a letter DHS Deputy Inspector General Gladys Ayala sent to the agency.
In a statement, the Secret Service acknowledged receiving Ayala’s letter. It promised a “thorough legal review” to ensure it was “fully cooperative” with all oversight.
Word of the deleted texts came last week, when the Inspector General’s office said that Secret Service texts from January 5th and 6th had been deleted as part of a “device replacement program.” Agents were supposed to back up their messages before the migration, but it’s not clear that happened. While the Secret Service told the House’s January 6th committee that it was “currently unaware” of any lost messages, CNNreported, it also acknowledged that it was still trying to recover messages. The service hasn’t provided more than a single message thread in response to a House committee subpoena.
It’s not yet clear if the messages are recoverable, and there isn’t any known evidence of malicious intent. Whatever the circumstances, there’s a chance the Secret Service could face significant charges. House committee leaders Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson warned that the service might have violated the Federal Records Act by failing to keep the messages. At the least, the investigation highlights the challenges and importance of preserving data in modern government — a botched migration could impact crucial proceedings.
ロは数週間で「力尽きる」、ウクライナに反撃機会＝英ＭＩ６長官
英国の対外情報機関、秘密情報部（ＭＩ６）のムーア長官は、ウクライナ侵攻を続けるロシア軍は今後数週間のうちに何らかの形で作戦を休止し、ウクライナに重要な反撃機会を与える可能性が高いとの見解を示した。写真は４月、 ウクライナ・マリウポリで撮影（２０２２年 ロイター/Alexander Ermochenko/File Photo） [ア…
安倍元首相の「国葬」 9月27日に実施決定 東京 日本武道館で | NHK
政府は参議院選挙の応援演説中に銃で撃たれて亡くなった安倍元総理大臣の「国葬」を9月27日に東京の日本武道館で行うことを決定しました。
Biden’s latest climate change actions expand offshore wind farms
President Biden is still unveiling measures to combat climate change, and his newest efforts are aimed at preventing environmental crises. The President has outlined a string of executive actions that, notably, include the first "Wind Energy Areas…
Democratic lawmakers want federal regulators to track crypto mining energy use and emissions
Congressional Democrats are calling on the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy to address the recent proliferation of cryptocurrency mining within the US. In a letter sent Friday (via The Guardian), Senator Elizabeth Warren and five other lawmakers said the two agencies should work together to require crypto mining firms to disclose their energy use and emissions.
The request comes after the group recently completed an investigation that began at the start of the year. According to the letter, data collected from seven of the largest mining companies in the US, including Stronghold, Bitfury and Riot, indicates they can collectively use more than 1 gigawatt of electricity. Put another way, that’s almost enough to power all the residential buildings in Houston.
Warren and the other lawmakers say they’re concerned about what all that power use will mean for the environment and consumers. Regarding the former, they state that emissions data from three of the surveyed companies indicate they emit approximately 1.6 million tons of CO2 annually or the equivalent of the tailpipe emissions of almost 360,000 cars. “Bitcoin miners are using huge quantities of electricity that could be used for other priority end uses that contribute to our electrification and climate goals, such as replacing home furnaces with heat pumps,” the letter states.
On the latter point, the lawmakers cite a 2021 study from the University of California, Berkeley that estimated crypto mining in upstate New York raised annual electricity bills by approximately $165 million for small businesses and $79 million for consumers. What’s more, they say their investigation doesn’t even scratch the surface of the full impact of crypto mining on power use and emissions in the US. “None of the companies provided full and complete information in response to our questions,” they note.
“The results of our investigation, which gathered data from just seven companies, are disturbing, with this limited data alone revealing that crypto miners are large energy users that account for a significant – and rapidly growing – amount of carbon emissions,” the letter states. By requiring crypto mining firms to disclose their energy use and emissions, the group says the EPA and Department of Energy could provide lawmakers with better data to inform future policy decisions. The agencies have until August 15th to respond to the request.
FCC needs additional $3 billion to help US carriers replace Huawei and ZTE equipment
Removing Chinese equipment from American wireless networks will cost more than anticipated. On Friday, Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told Congress the agency needs an additional $3 billion to reimburse carriers that “…
FCC chair proposes raising broadband standard to 100Mbps
The FCC’s 25Mbps broadband standard seemed fast in 2015, but that was seven years ago — and the agency’s current leadership believes it’s time to raise that baseline. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has proposed raising the minimum definition of broadband to 100Mbps for downloads and 20Mbps for uploads. The previous 25/3 benchmark is both outdated and hides just how many low-income and rural internet users are being “left behind and left offline,” Rosenworcel said.
The chair said multiple pieces of evidence supported the hike, including requirements for new network construction stemming from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The FCC had already proposed upgrades to rural speeds through a special program, but this would affect the definition of broadband regardless of where users live in the country.
Rosenworcel also wanted the minimum speed to evolve over time. She proposed setting a much higher standard of 1Gbps down and 500Mbps up for some point in the future. The leader further suggested more criteria for determining the “reasonable and timely” rollout of broadband, including adoption rates, affordability, availability and equitable access.
It’s unclear if the standards change will move forward. Ars Technicanotes any proposed upgrade would require a vote, and the current commission is deadlocked with two Democrats and two Republics. As the Senate has done little to advance commissioner nominee Gigi Sohn, there’s no guarantee Rosenworcel (a Democrat) will get her way. Telecoms might not be thrilled, either. Comcast only last year raised the speed of its $10 Essentials tier to 50Mbps downstream — it and other carriers might have to invest in better networks to reach the 100Mbps minimum in some areas, let alone a possible 1Gbps threshold.
55年ぶり国葬、岸田首相の配慮と決断 政府内にも懸念あるなか：朝日新聞デジタル
参院選遊説中に銃撃を受けて亡くなった自民党の安倍晋三元首相の「国葬」が今秋に行われる見通しとなった。吉田茂元首相以来となる形式だが、費用はすべて国費で賄うため、政府は行政訴訟のリスクも懸念した。しかし、国民や海外の首脳らの弔問が相次いでいる現状や、安倍氏に近い自民党議員らからの要望も強く、約55年…