Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981, taking over in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the end of the Vietnam War. After his defeat by Ronald Reagan, he spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His death on Sunday was announced by his family and came more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. He was the longest-lived US president. Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia. pic.twitter.com/aqYmcE9tXi — The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) December 29, 2024 His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. “The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta and Washington DC before being buried in his home town of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and finally the White House, where he took office as the 39th president. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked for more than four decades leading the Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public service.gal sport betting app 。

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December 20, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by Massachusetts Institute of Technology Monitoring electrical signals in biological systems helps scientists understand how cells communicate, which can aid in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions like arrhythmia and Alzheimer's. But devices that record electrical signals in cell cultures and other liquid environments often use wires to connect each electrode on the device to its respective amplifier. Because only so many wires can be connected to the device, this restricts the number of recording sites, limiting the information that can be collected from cells. MIT researchers have now developed a biosensing technique that eliminates the need for wires. Instead, tiny, wireless antennas use light to detect minute electrical signals. Small electrical changes in the surrounding liquid environment alter how the antennas scatter the light. Using an array of tiny antennas, each of which is one-hundredth the width of a human hair, the researchers could measure electrical signals exchanged between cells, with extreme spatial resolution. The devices, which are durable enough to continuously record signals for more than 10 hours, could help biologists understand how cells communicate in response to changes in their environment. In the long run, such scientific insights could pave the way for advancements in diagnosis, spur the development of targeted treatments, and enable more precision in the evaluation of new therapies. "Being able to record the electrical activity of cells with high throughput and high resolution remains a real problem. We need to try some innovative ideas and alternate approaches," says Benoît Desbiolles, a former postdoc in the MIT Media Lab and lead author of a paper on the devices . He is joined on the paper by Jad Hanna, a visiting student in the Media Lab; former visiting student Raphael Ausilio; former postdoc Marta J. I. Airaghi Leccardi; Yang Yu, a scientist at Raith America, Inc.; and senior author Deblina Sarkar, the AT&T Career Development Assistant Professor in the Media Lab and MIT Center for Neurobiological Engineering and head of the Nano-Cybernetic Biotrek Lab. The research appears in Science Advances . "Bioelectricity is fundamental to the functioning of cells and different life processes. However, recording such electrical signals precisely has been challenging," says Sarkar. "The organic electro-scattering antennas (OCEANs) we developed enable recording of electrical signals wirelessly with micrometer spatial resolution from thousands of recording sites simultaneously. This can create unprecedented opportunities for understanding fundamental biology and altered signaling in diseased states as well as for screening the effect of different therapeutics to enable novel treatments." Biosensing with light The researchers set out to design a biosensing device that didn't need wires or amplifiers. Such a device would be easier to use for biologists who may not be familiar with electronic instruments. "We wondered if we could make a device that converts the electrical signals to light and then use an optical microscope, the kind that is available in every biology lab, to probe these signals," Desbiolles says. Initially, they used a special polymer called PEDOT:PSS to design nanoscale transducers that incorporated tiny pieces of gold filament. Gold nanoparticles were supposed to scatter the light—a process that would be induced and modulated by the polymer. But the results weren't matching up with their theoretical model. The researchers tried removing the gold and, surprisingly, the results matched the model much more closely. "It turns out we weren't measuring signals from the gold, but from the polymer itself. This was a very surprising but exciting result. We built on that finding to develop organic electro-scattering antennas," he says. The organic electro-scattering antennas, or OCEANs, are composed of PEDOT:PSS. This polymer attracts or repulses positive ions from the surrounding liquid environment when there is electrical activity nearby. This modifies its chemical configuration and electronic structure, altering an optical property known as its refractive index, which changes how it scatters light. When researchers shine light onto the antenna , the intensity of the light it scatters back changes in proportion to the electrical signal present in the liquid. With thousands or even millions of tiny antennas in an array, each only 1 micrometer wide, the researchers can capture the scattered light with an optical microscope and measure electrical signals from cells with high resolution. Because each antenna is an independent sensor, the researchers do not need to pool the contribution of multiple antennas to monitor electrical signals, which is why OCEANs can detect signals with micrometer resolution. Intended for in vitro studies, OCEAN arrays are designed to have cells cultured directly on top of them and put under an optical microscope for analysis. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matter— daily or weekly . 'Growing' antennas on a chip Key to the devices is the precision with which the researchers can fabricate arrays in the MIT.nano facilities. They start with a glass substrate and deposit layers of conductive, then insulating material on top, each of which is optically transparent. Then they use a focused ion beam to cut hundreds of nanoscale holes into the top layers of the device. This special type of focused ion beam enables high-throughput nanofabrication. "This instrument is basically like a pen where you can etch anything with a 10-nanometer resolution," he says. They submerge the chip in a solution that contains the precursor building blocks for the polymer. By applying an electric current to the solution, that precursor material is attracted into the tiny holes on the chip, and mushroom-shaped antennas "grow" from the bottom up. The entire fabrication process is relatively fast, and the researchers could use this technique to make a chip with millions of antennas. "This technique could be easily adapted so it is fully scalable. The limiting factor is how many antennas we can image at the same time," he says. The researchers optimized the dimensions of the antennas and adjusted parameters, which enabled them to achieve high enough sensitivity to monitor signals with voltages as low as 2.5 millivolts in simulated experiments. Signals sent by neurons for communication are usually around 100 millivolts. "Because we took the time to really dig in and understand the theoretical model behind this process, we can maximize the sensitivity of the antennas," he says. OCEANs also responded to changing signals in only a few milliseconds, enabling them to record electrical signals with fast kinetics. Moving forward, the researchers want to test the devices with real cell cultures. They also want to reshape the antennas so they can penetrate cell membranes, enabling more precise signal detection. In addition, they want to study how OCEANs could be integrated into nanophotonic devices, which manipulate light at the nanoscale for next-generation sensors and optical devices. More information: Benoit Desbiolles et al, Organic electro-scattering antenna: Wireless and multisite probing of electrical potentials with high spatial resolution, Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adr8380 . www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adr8380 Journal information: Science Advances Provided by Massachusetts Institute of Technology This story is republished courtesy of MIT News ( web.mit.edu/newsoffice/ ), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching.

Purpose Investments Inc. Announces 2024 Final Annual Income and Capital Gains Distributions For Purpose Mutual Fund Trusts with December 15, 2024 Tax Year-EndFormer Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro plotted a coup to overturn the 2022 election along with dozens of ex-ministers and senior aides, federal police have said in a formal accusation filed with the country's Supreme Court. or signup to continue reading The final police report caps a nearly two-year investigation into Bolsonaro's role in the election-denying movement that culminated in riots by his supporters that swept the capital Brasilia in January 2023, a week after his rival President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office. Many protesters at the time said they wanted to create chaos to justify a military coup, which they considered imminent. Earlier this week, police arrested five conspirators suspected of planning to assassinate Lula before he took office. Investigators found evidence Bolsonaro knew of that alleged plan, according to a police sources familiar with the probe. Bolsonaro said on social media that investigators and the Supreme Court judge overseeing the case had been "creative" and done "everything the law does not say," adding that he would have to look closer at the formal police accusation. His lawyer told Reuters he would wait to see the report before commenting. The formal police accusations against Bolsonaro are a fresh blow to his plan to run for president in 2026. US President-elect Donald Trump's recent victory had buoyed Bolsonaro allies trying to overturn a court decision that has blocked him from public office for attacking the legitimacy of the 2022 vote. The Supreme Court said it expects to send the police report - the full details of which remain confidential - next week to the country's prosecutor general, who will decide whether to press charges against Bolsonaro and 36 others accused of criminal conspiracy to violently overthrow democracy. Federal police said they had presented evidence based on search warrants, wiretaps, financial records and plea bargain testimony. They said conspirators divided their efforts between spreading disinformation about the election, inciting the armed forces to join a coup, and operational support for "coup-mongering actions," along with legal support and intelligence. Among the accused are two of Bolsonaro's former defence ministers, including his 2022 running mate, retired General Walter Braga Netto; his former national security adviser, retired General Augusto Heleno; former navy commander Almir Garnier Santos; and former Justice Minister Anderson Torres. Police on Tuesday arrested five people suspected of involvement in the assassination plot targeting Lula, then president-elect, and his running mate Geraldo Alckmin, days before they took office. Tuesday's arrests included a deputy minister in Bolsonaro's cabinet who had in his possession a document outlining the plan that had been printed at the presidential palace. A police source said investigators confirmed Bolsonaro was at the presidential palace when the document was printed, and they had found evidence on mobile phones of conversations between aides suggesting the former president was aware of the plot. Bolsonaro never recognised his October 2022 electoral defeat and he left Brazil days before Lula's inauguration for Florida. He eventually returned to Brazil and surrendered his passport to police investigating his role in the January 2023 capital riots, when supporters stormed and vandalised the Supreme Court, Congress and the executive presidential palace. Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . Advertisement

Torrington Community Hospital provides personalized care and faster recoveries with robotics-enabled joint replacementDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — RJ Felton had 21 points in East Carolina's 71-64 victory over Stetson on Friday. Felton also added eight rebounds for the Pirates (5-1). Joran Riley scored 14 points while going 4 of 11 and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line and added five rebounds. Cam Hayes shot 3 for 7 (2 for 4 from 3-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line to finish with 13 points. The Hatters (1-5) were led in scoring by Mehki, who finished with 15 points and two steals. Abramo Canka added 14 points for Stetson. Jordan Wood had 12 points. East Carolina led Stetson at the half, 39-33, with Hayes (10 points) its high scorer before the break. East Carolina took the lead for good with 6:56 left in the second half on a free throw from Felton to make it a 60-59 game. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Former US president Bill Clinton hospitalized with fever

LYNN — The season’s first snowflake has yet to fall, but the City of Lynn is already preparing for the winter weather. In an effort to better clear the streets by employing more snow plow drivers, the city has announced new, competitive rates. Associate Commissioner of the Department of Public Works George Potter said he would like to see about 275 individual contractors. “We’ve increased rates in every vehicle category we hire,” Potter said. “There will also be an attendance bonus for coming in every storm, which is increasing from 5 percent to 10 percent this year. It’s safe to say, we’re the highest paying city around for snow plow contractors.” In the event of a declared snow emergency, everyone is required to remove their vehicles from city streets. The city will indicate a snow emergency by displaying flashing blue lights at major intersections, posting on electronic roadway message boards and on the city’s webpage, as well as social media accounts, and through the use of the Rave Alert system, The City has tripled the number of people it can contact through Rave. New this year, there will also be lime green signs, with information in both English and Spanish, to help draw attention to the flashing lights. Failure to remove vehicles will subject drivers to a tow and citation. “Lynn is an older city, with a lot of narrow, dead-end streets, so anytime cars are parked on the streets, it’s a real problem for plows to get around,” Potter said. “It’s very important we clear them, and we really don’t want to have to tow.” Drivers have the opportunity to park in school lots, as well as in two floors of the MBTA garage, North Shore Community College and the former Eastern Bank building on Market Street. Open lots will be posted by ward on the city’s webpage at www.lynnma.gov. “Preparing for the winter is something that we do throughout the year,” Mayor Jared C. Nicholson said. “We want to make sure that we are ready for any scenario so that we can get the streets cleared as soon as possible.” The city is also piloting snow permits this year, in which drivers can park in a public lot and register for updates, alerting them as to when they have to move their vehicles. Generally, if a parking ban is lifted before 9 p.m., residents have two hours to remove cars from lots. If the parking ban is lifted after 9 p.m., they have until 6 a.m. the next day to remove their cars. “If we don’t get them out of the lots, schools can’t open the next day,” Parking Director Jessica Chiappini said. “The snow permit isn’t a requirement. It’s just something we’re testing so people have more information. We are all responsible in some way for staying informed. As much as we wish we could, we can’t individually call every individual, so this is a way to blast out updates to people we have contact information for. I hope it works, because I think it will be beneficial. Our population is only growing, which means there are more cars out there, so we want to be able to reach as many people as possible.” Chiappini urges residents to start asking questions now, and to go on to the city’s website to make themselves aware of their notification options. “If you were towed or got a ticket last year, be proactive, and give us a call or come down and talk to us,” she said. “Use us as a resource and find out where you can park. It comes down to residents being accountable for getting the information.”Watch in Peace: Best Wireless Headphones for TV Lovers By Having the best wireless headphones for TV by your side is a great way to enjoy all your favorite movies and games wirelessly. It is also a great way to watch in peace without disturbing anyone around you. If you have a show that you want to binge-watch while your spouse reads or kids are in the next room, then wireless headphones are the way to go. Apart from that, it also creates a more immersive experience when compared to a speaker as you’re completely enveloped in audio owing to the noise-cancelation features that some headphones have. And especially with wireless headphones, you don’t have to deal with the cables either. Wireless headphones are also a great option for senior citizens or people who are hard of hearing. Since turning up the volume too much may be uncomfortable for others, so with a headphone, they can enjoy the movie just like the rest of the family does. In this article, we’ve listed some of the best wireless headphones to watch TV without disturbing others or getting disturbed by anyone else around you. Can Noise-canceling Headphones Be Used for TV? Yes, noise-canceling headphones can be used for watching TV as they significantly reduce ambient noise and help you focus on the movie or games you’re playing. Every house gets noisy at some point in the day and when it happens right when you’re watching something on TV, only a noise-canceling headphone can come to your rescue. The only thing that you have to consider is whether the headphones are compatible with your TV or not. Most modern TVs have Bluetooth enabled, which lets you connect the headphones to them seamlessly. If you have headphones and a TV with Bluetooth features, go for it. MORE FROM Best Wireless Headphones for TV 2024 BEST OVERALL Sennheiser RS 175 RF MOST COMFORTABLE Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth Headphones BEST AFFORDABLE Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Headphones BEST WITH BASS JBL Tune 720BT Wireless Headphones BEST WITH CHARGING STAND Avantree Duet – Dual Wireless Headphones BEST LOW LATENCY Swiitech KH136K Wireless Headphones BEST LONG RANGE Shure AONIC 40 Wireless Headphones BEST OVERALL PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON The Sennheiser Consumer Audio RS 175 RF is an incredible wireless pair of headphones that gives you the best immersive experience. It has a high price tag but also includes some premium features like Bass Boost and surround sound capabilities. The headphones have an ergonomic design with comfortable earcups for long hours of use. You will also benefit from its battery life of up to 18 hours on a single charge — you can easily make it through Lord of the Rings Extended Cut. Additionally, it comes with a multi-purpose transmitter that transmits the audio from TV to headphones and also doubles as a charger. This is one of the best headphones for TV wireless or not. BEST COMFORTABLE PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON The Bose QuietComfort is one of the most comfortable headphones you can get. Its plush earcups are made from premium material that sits firmly on your ears without causing much pain. This headphone has an excellent noise-canceling feature that completely blocks the ambient noise to keep you focused. If you don’t like the noise-cancelation on, you can always switch to its Aware mode, which allows you to be aware of your surroundings. You even get the ability to manually adjust audio levels with its high-fidelity audio and EQ control. And with its 24-hour battery life, you can watch movies all day long without charging, literally. BEST AFFORDABLE PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON If you’re on a tight budget for a wireless headphone, then the Soundcore Anker Life Q20 is the best you can get. It features a customized 40mm dynamic driver at its core that delivers high-resolution and crystal-clear audio every single time. The Life Q20 also boasts a potent active noise-canceling (ANC) feature to isolate high-frequency audio to avoid any disturbances. Additionally, the ANC is also built into the microphone which will help you when you’re using it to attend calls on your phone. For music lovers, this headphone uses Soundcore’s BassUp technology to deliver a strong bass output and let you feel every beat of the music. BEST WITH BASS PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON JBL is a brand that is pretty much on everyone’s list in all things audio, and headphones like the JBL Tune 720BT make it clear exactly why. It is not only an affordable price range but also offers impeccable audio quality with long-lasting battery life. This one specifically features the JBL Pure Bass sound technology that engulfs your senses with the best bass effects in this price category. You can enjoy all your shows and movies on TV by effortlessly pairing and connecting the headphones to your TV via Bluetooth 5.3 version. MORE FROM BEST WITH CHARGING STAND PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON The Avantree Duet is the best TV headphones for seniors — it comes in pairs and is easy to use. It includes a transmitter that is paired automatically with the headphones, all you have to do is plug it into the TV and start playing. They have slightly higher volume levels compared to other ones in the range, which helps senior citizens enjoy their favorite movies even better. And that’s not it, even when it’s connected to the TV, it allows for the audio to pass through to the speakers. That way, everyone in the family can enjoy the TV together. What’s even better is that you can connect up to 100 compatible headphones without facing any audio lag. How cool is that? BEST LOW LATENCY PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON Nobody wants to hear delayed audio on their headphones, isn’t it? The Swiitech KH136K has one of the lowest latency headphones out there at $100. With a combination of Bluetooth 5.3 and advanced acoustic algorithms, the headphones can achieve a latency of just 40ms. Thanks to its 40mm large speaker graphene composite membrane, you get to experience crystal-clear audio at all times. Additionally, it comes with a base that can be used to dock the headphones and also as a charger. The base has an LED screen to display the connectivity status and the battery level of the headphones. It supports multiple connectivity methods including 2.4GHz and Bluetooth, allowing you to connect multiple devices at the same time. BEST LONG RANGE PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON The Shure AONIC 40 is a premium over-ear wireless Bluetooth headphone that delivers excellent sound quality and features a 40mm dynamic driver for clear, balanced audio. It offers active noise cancelation, reducing ambient noise for an immersive experience, with adjustable levels based on your environment. Bluetooth 5.0 ensures stable, high-quality wireless connectivity, and multipoint pairing allows connection to two devices at once. The headphones are designed for comfort with memory foam ear cups, making them suitable for long listening sessions. Durable and foldable for travel, the AONIC 40 is a top choice for those seeking premium audio and noise isolation. MORE FROM Using headphones with TV is totally the user’s preference depending on their immersive experience and comfortability. Some headphones are incredibly comfortable which enables you to wear them for a very long time, while others may cause discomfort. Additionally, they aren’t ideal for group viewing, as they prevent sharing the experience. For a more social experience, TV speakers or soundbars may be better, offering richer, room-filling sound without the isolation of headphones. These wireless headphones were chosen by our team of experts who have years of experience in the field. They scanned through the internet to shortlist over a dozen headphones that are compatible with TVs and tested them thoroughly. They tested them for factors like compatibility, ease of connectivity, audio quality, and other additional features. The team also consulted with other industry experts to understand their experience with these headphones. After a thorough research, they ended up with the above wireless headphones for TV. FAQ Using a headphone is definitely the solution to watching TV in isolation. Turning up the speaker’s or headphones’ volume could help you hear better. We recommend using headphones since they will not disturb anyone else around you when you play TV with high volume. Some headphones, like Avantree Duet, allow the audio to pass through to both headphones and speakers, allowing everyone in the room to watch and enjoy movies together. Yes, but ensure they have connectivity options like Bluetooth to connect them to the TV. If your headphones and LG TV have Bluetooth enabled, then yes, you can use them by pairing them. The best way to connect a headphone to a TV is via Bluetooth. You can pair them through the settings section, which will hardly take 2 minutes. Harsha is a gamer, movie buff, anime enthusiast, and creative writer. He spent most of his childhood playing games, and after all these years, he pretty much does the same; nothing’s changed. Being a huge Spider-Man fan as a kid, he spent an unhealthy amount of time trying to get bitten by a spider. As of 2024, he still has had no luck with receiving any superpowers. Now, as a Content Lead and Editor, he focuses his technical skills on writing about games, movies, superheroes, and everything in between. Share article

Hartwater Aesthetics® Expands TeamCerebrum IQ Review: Increasing Interest in Neurological Well-Being and Cognitive HealthNew coach Chris Holtmann has been tasked with rebuilding DePaul to the point where it can return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004. Northern Illinois coach Rashon Burno knows what it takes to steer DePaul to the NCAAs because he was the starting point guard on the 2000 team that made the tournament -- the Blue Demons' only other NCAA appearance since 1992. Perhaps they can compare notes Saturday afternoon when Burno leads the Huskies (2-3) back to his alma mater as DePaul (5-0) hosts its sixth straight home game in Chicago. Last season, Burno's NIU squad helped accelerate DePaul's need for a new coach -- as the Huskies waltzed into Wintrust Arena and owned Tony Stubblefield's Blue Demons by an 89-79 score on Nov. 25. The Huskies built a 24-point second-half lead before coasting to the finish line. Can history repeat for NIU? There's just one problem with using last year's game as a potential barometer for Saturday's rematch: Almost no players on this year's teams were part of last year's squads. At DePaul, only assistant coach Paris Parham remains as Holtmann had the green light to bring in an all-new roster. UIC graduate transfer Isaiah Rivera (16.0 ppg, .485 3-point rate) and Coastal Carolina transfer Jacob Meyer (15.4 ppg, .406 on 3s) lead a balanced attack that focuses on getting half its shots from beyond the arc. At NIU, Burno retained only two players who competed against DePaul last year -- Ethan Butler and Oluwasegun Durosinmi -- and they combined for three points in 26 minutes in that game. The Huskies' main players used the transfer portal to join such programs as Kansas, Wisconsin, Penn State, Colorado State, James Madison, Georgia State and Niagara. With every starting job open, Butler has jumped into the lineup and produced 11.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. Transfers Quentin Jones (Cal Poly) and James Dent (Western Illinois) pace the Huskies with 14.4 and 14.0 points per game. NIU is on a two-game losing streak, most recently a 75-48 home defeat at the hands of Elon on Wednesday. Holtmann hopes to have Arkansas transfer Layden Blocker for Saturday's game. Blocker missed Tuesday's 78-69 win over Eastern Illinois with a quad injury. With the combo guard unavailable, point guard Conor Enright handed out a career-high 11 assists in a season-high 38 minutes. "We need (Blocker)," Holtmann said. "I don't want to play Conor 38 minutes." --Field Level Media

Photo: The Canadian Press Armed and masked individuals in combat gear, as shown in this still image taken from video, part of the neo-Nazi group known as the Atomwaffen Division, appear in a video released as evidence in a Superior Court trial. Prosecutors allege an Ottawa man helped create the group's promotional videos in Canada, used as propaganda and recruitment tools by the listed terror entity. THE CANADIAN PRESS Defence lawyers for an Ottawa graphic designer facing terror charges over his alleged involvement with the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division argued the evidence against their client is flimsy. Closing arguments wrapped up Tuesday in the trial of Patrick Gordon Macdonald, 27, who pleaded not guilty to three terrorism and hate speech charges. Crown prosecutors allege he helped make three recruitment videos for the listed terrorist entity, as well as a slew of other hate propaganda. But his defence team argued the Crown can't prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was involved in the production of the videos, and they suggested the case hinges on that. "This is a house of cards that's built on a very shaky foundation," said defence lawyer Ariya Sheivari. The series of propaganda videos in question espouse violent and antisemitic messages and symbols, and show a small, paramilitary-like force shooting rifles and burning flags and books, including the Pride flag and the Israeli flag. Crown prosecutors have argued throughout the proceedings that camera equipment seized from Macdonald's home in 2022 can tie him to the creation of the videos through metadata analysis, along with other records and objects police obtained. Police had seized multiple cameras and lenses, which prosecutors said contain identifiable traits, such as serial numbers and file naming conventions. One camera had an identifiable offset date of 391 days and 15 hours, meaning the date stamp on files would be more than a year off. The defence argued the metadata evidence the Crown has assembled is circumstantial, and does not link Macdonald to creating the videos. Sheivari told the court the identifying data for one of the cameras is linked to JPEG image files embedded in one of the three video files the RCMP had downloaded from the internet. He said it's not clear what images are contained in those JPEGs and argued they alone are not proof that the videos were recorded with Macdonald's camera. Sheivari called this a key "building block of the Crown's case" linking his client to the videos. Defence lawyer Douglas Baum also challenged previous expert witness testimony that branded Atomwaffen a terrorist group, suggesting the research report compiled on the group for the court was sloppy and limited to secondary sources. He noted the Atomwaffen Division was not designated a terrorist group by Public Safety Canada until 2021, after Macdonald was alleged to have participated in the group's activities. He suggested the Crown needs to independently establish that it is a terror group for the charges to stick. Prosecutors also got some final words in on Tuesday, pointing to some neo-Nazi inspired imagery posted to the Tumblr account of "Dark Foreigner," an active social media poster they identified as Macdonald. That included one image with text that reads, "Accept death, embrace infamy." "The small drizzle becomes a bigger pond, is the danger here," said Crown prosecutor Catherine Legault, warning such graphics were made to recruit more members for the group and its far-right ideology. None of the allegations have been proven in court. A scheduling hearing is set for early February.GOJO President and CEO, Carey Jaros , Corporate Sales Director Moshe Lewis and National Sales VP, Ashley Fubini , received top honors for industry leadership AKRON, Ohio , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- GOJO President and CEO, Carey Jaros received the Jack D. Ramaley Industry Distinguished Service Award from ISSA in recognition of her outstanding service to the cleaning industry. With an audience of more than 500 industry colleagues, Jaros accepted the prestigious award, named after ISSA's executive director from 1960 to 1981. In accepting the award, Jaros praised ISSA, the GOJO team, distributor partners, and customers for their leadership in advancing the global cleaning industry through collaboration, mentorship, and participation in industry initiatives to help the sector grow and thrive. "I firmly believe that any time a leader is recognized that recognition ultimately belongs to their team, as none of us accomplish anything worthy of an award like this on our own," said Jaros. "So, it's my honor to accept the Jack D. Ramaley Award on behalf of all of Team GOJO, who are so passionate, hard-working, and purpose-driven, and our awesome distributor partners, who ultimately enable our PURELL products to get to people out in the world, and who are also dear friends and colleagues who push us to get better and better." In addition to Jaros' award, GOJO Corporate Sales Director, Moshe Lewis was selected as a member of the inaugural class of ISSA Emerging Leaders for 2024, and was the 1 st Runner Up for the Rising Star Award. Lewis is part of a group of 30 industry professionals that represent the next generation of leaders and was selected from a group of more than 100 nominations of industry professionals under the age of 40 for his outstanding contributions, leadership, and commitment to driving the industry forward. In addition to Jaros and Lewis' honors, the ISSA Hygieia Network awarded GOJO's National Sales Vice President Ashley Fubini the Rising Star of the Year Award. The award recognizes the significant achievements of an ISSA Hygieia member who has demonstrated consistent upward mobility in her career within the cleaning industry. Along with GOJO's multiple awards, the company continued to wow the ISSA Trade Show attendees with its newest dispensing system - PURELL ® ES 10. The PURELL ES10 is our simplest, most sustainable touch-free dispensing system. 3 This ground-breaking technology proves that less is more with less maintenance and less waste, all while delivering more ways to impress. Significant features of the new product include: Less Maintenance Less Waste More Ways to Impress GOJO is certified by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) as a Women's Business Enterprise, so purchasing these dispensing systems and PURELL ® refills can help customers achieve their supplier diversity goals and demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and equity. Businesses and government entities can now purchase the PURELL ® ES10 Dispensing Systems across the United States . Interested customers can visit (insert link) to learn more or contact their GOJO distributor. A video of the new dispensing system can be viewed here . About GOJO Industries GOJO is a Purpose-driven, 3rd generation Family Enterprise whose market-leading PURELL® soap, hand sanitizer, surface sprays and wipes are used around the world to help keep people healthy and well. A WBENC-certified women-owned business, for more than 75 years, GOJO has used science-based innovation to set new standards in safety, efficacy, and sustainability for both consumers and in public spaces like hospitals, schools, restaurants. GOJO is headquartered in Akron, Ohio with manufacturing facilities located in Northeast Ohio . For more information on GOJO Industries, please visit GOJO.com . Footnotes: 1 Per standard use under normal usage conditions 2 Compared with ES8 3 Has less 30% less plastic per refill and a 38% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to ES8 system. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gojo-shines-at-issa-trade-show-celebrating-success-with-multiple-industry-awards-302313642.html SOURCE GOJO Industries, Inc.Falcon Gold Corp. ( CVE:FG – Get Free Report ) shares dropped 20% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as C$0.02 and last traded at C$0.02. Approximately 139,000 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 35% from the average daily volume of 213,107 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.03. Falcon Gold Price Performance The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of C$0.03 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$0.04. The stock has a market capitalization of C$3.80 million, a P/E ratio of -2.50 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. About Falcon Gold ( Get Free Report ) Falcon Gold Corp. generates, acquires, and explores mineral properties in the Americas. It explores for gold, silver, copper, and base metal deposits, as well as diamonds. Its flagship project is the Central Canada Gold Mine located approximately 20km southeast of Agnico Eagle’s Hammond Reef Gold Deposit. 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HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company’s collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four , including , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron’s new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand’s tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that “We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company’s website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said.Not so intelligent after all Many people believe that in future, AI will play an even more significant role in their lives If there is one phrase that seems to be dominating discussions worldwide, it has to be ‘Artificial Intelligence.’ AI has already become an essential tool for researchers, freelancers, corporations, businessmen, and countless others, helping them efficiently carry out their day-to-day tasks. Many people believe that in the future, it will play an even more significant role in their lives, providing unparalleled convenience and driving success in almost every kind of work humans engage in. It is generally viewed as a technological advancement with the potential to benefit mankind in countless ways. To a large extent, this perception may hold. AI is still in its formative stages and incapable of generating content that surpasses the quality of, say, an essay written by a grade-school student or slightly above that level. However, its potential for growth is vast, and most experts agree that advancements in AI are inevitable. But is this necessarily a good thing? AI represents the second form of intelligence, distinct from the natural intelligence that humans are born with and rely on throughout their lives. What it means for humanity to coexist with this alternative, rival, or perhaps complementary form of intelligence is a question that demands exploration and understanding. In countries like Pakistan, where there is already a significant surplus of manpower, the use of AI to replace humans in mundane and repetitive jobs – such as manning hotel receptions or operating cash tills in grocery stores – raises serious questions. Will the removal of such jobs from human workers harm society or help it in any way? One possible answer lies in equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills to use AI to their advantage. However, implementing such measures in Pakistan is fraught with challenges. For AI to truly be beneficial, education and training in its use must start at the school level, with lessons introduced as early as the primary grades. Yet, the reality of Pakistan’s education system presents significant hurdles. The country’s official literacy rate hovers just above 60 per cent, and for women, it is much lower. In practical terms, organisations working in the field of education estimate that real literacy rates are even lower, as literacy is often defined as the mere ability to sign a document or perform a basic numerical task. Moving from this point to a level where workers in factories or workshops can competently use AI would require nothing less than a complete overhaul of the existing education system. This grim reality suggests that AI could exacerbate the hardships faced by Pakistan’s impoverished population, widening the gap between the haves and the have-nots. A similar argument can be made for other developing nations with comparable challenges. It is not merely about introducing AI to these societies but ensuring that it does not deepen existing inequities. In a country where unemployment rates are already high, replacing even the most basic jobs with AI could have devastating consequences for millions of families. Even in developed countries, where education levels and technological infrastructure are far superior, there are growing concerns about the potential risks of AI. Interestingly, some of the loudest warnings have come from individuals who were instrumental in developing the first AI tools. These experts argue that AI’s rollout occurred too rapidly, leaving insufficient time for a comprehensive analysis of its pros and cons. This rush was driven by intense competition among corporations and governments – a hallmark of our capitalist world. One of the most pressing concerns raised by experts is what could happen if AI surpasses human intelligence. Such a scenario, they suggest, could lead to disasters even more severe than the ongoing climate crisis. For example, there is the alarming possibility that AI systems, manipulated by malicious actors, could seize control of security systems, misuse sensitive data such as credit card information, or even shut down power grids in entire cities or countries. Such scenarios underscore the urgent need for caution and proactive measures. AI also compels us to reflect on the social and cultural changes it might bring. In today’s world, where social isolation is already a growing issue, will AI make our lives more connected or deepen our loneliness? For instance, AI’s ability to create hyper-realistic images and holograms raises profound questions. Musicians and singers, reproduced as holograms, could perform on stage with the same voice and accuracy as their human counterparts, and at a fraction of the cost. If this becomes the norm, will audiences still value live human performances? Such possibilities challenge our notions of creativity, artistry, and human uniqueness. Ethical concerns are another critical dimension of the AI debate. AI, being devoid of emotions, compassion, or empathy, operates without any moral compass. Intelligence untempered by these qualities can be a deeply unsettling prospect. The entire scenario resembles a science fiction story, eerily echoing the dystopian visions of robots and artificial beings imagined in literature long before today. Another issue to consider is how AI might redefine employment and productivity. For instance, as AI systems become more sophisticated, they could potentially eliminate not only low-skill jobs but also roles requiring mid-level expertise. This raises the question of whether AI will render certain professions obsolete and what society can do to adapt to such changes. Some argue that this will open up opportunities for new kinds of jobs, ones that we cannot yet envision. Others warn that the transition will not be smooth and will disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. As humanity stands at this crossroads, we must carefully consider the path forward. The development of AI is now irreversible, much like the invention of the atom bomb. The warnings sounded at the early stages of AI’s development were largely ignored, and we now face the consequences of that oversight. The future trajectory of AI remains uncertain – it could either prove to be a transformative force for good, bringing unparalleled benefits to people around the globe, or it could pose an existential threat to humanity. The only viable course of action is to approach AI with vigilance and responsibility. Governments, corporations, and civil society must come together to establish guidelines, regulations, and ethical frameworks to ensure that AI is used in ways that enhance, rather than undermine, the well-being of humanity. Additionally, education systems around the world must adapt to prepare the next generation for a world where AI is omnipresent. Ultimately, AI is a tool, and like any tool, its impact will depend on how it is used. It has the potential to revolutionise industries, improve healthcare, and address complex global challenges. At the same time, it carries the risk of misuse and unintended consequences. The stakes could not be higher, and the time to act is now. The writer is a freelance columnist and former newspaper editor. She can be reached at: kamilahyat@hotmail.comPowerful pomegranates, glorious geraniums and more to do in the garden