Today’s News: January 03, 2024

WORLD NEWS

NATO Rift: Turkey Blocks Two ex-Royal Navy Minehunters Destined for Ukraine

NATO allies Turkey and the UK are at odds after the former denied permission for two ex- Royal Navy minehunters donated to Ukraine to pass through its waters on the way to the Black Sea.

The two ships have been stopped from accessing the Bosphorus and Gallipoli straits to reach their destination as a result of the edict from Ankara.

Last month, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed its intention to send the vessels to the Ukrainian navy to help it conduct sea operations in the war against Russia.

The ships formed part of a broader package of assistance.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said the vessels would help to reopen “vital export routes” – limited since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

The provision of two Royal Navy minehunters to Ukraine has been in the works for some time. They were part of a package of UK maritime support, promised before Russia invaded Ukraine.

The MoD revealed the UK is also launching a “maritime coalition” with Norway, to garner long-term support for Ukraine.

The reason behind Turkey’s refusal is due to the triggering of the 1936 Montreux Convention which came into effect after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the Daily Telegraph reports.

The convention blocks all passage of military ships for either party engaged in conflict. However, exemptions are made for ships returning to their home bases.

Report: Israeli Drone Takes Out Hamas #2 Leader in Beirut Hideout

Israel killed Deputy Hamas chief Saleh al-Arouri in the suburbs of Beirut in a drone attack on Tuesday evening, according to media reports that were not confirmed by the Israeli government.

Arouri was deputy head of Hamas’s politburo and a founder of its military wing, the Qassam Brigades, which carried out a deadly assault in Israeli territory on Oct. 7.

He had spent time recently in both Lebanon and Qatar, which has mediated talks between Hamas and Israel including on hostages Hamas took in its Oct. 7 assault. The U.S., which brands Hamas a terrorist group, had last year offered $5 million for information on Arouri.

Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa radio confirmed Arouri’s killing. Hamas politburo member Izzat al-Sharq called it a “cowardly assassination.”

There were other casualties, apparently, but they were not identified. The drone may have targeted a meeting of terrorist officials.

Iran condemned the attack, as did the Lebanese government and the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Palestinians in the West Bank also protested.

Thousands of Doctors in Britain Walk Off the Job for Longest-Ever Strike

LONDON (AP) – Thousands of doctors walked off the job in Britain on Wednesday, the start of a six-day strike that was set to be the longest in the history of the state-funded National Health Service.

Managers said tens of thousands scheduled appointments and operations will be canceled during the walkout across England and Wales by junior doctors, those in the first years of their careers. The doctors, who form the backbone of hospital and clinic care, plan to stay off the job until 7 a.m. on Tuesday.

Senior doctors and other medics have had to be drafted in to cover for emergency services, critical care and maternity services.

Julian Hartley, chief executive of healthcare managers’ organization NHS Providers, said the strike came at one of the toughest times of the year for the health service, “immediately after the Christmas and New Year period because of the pressures of the demands, and of course we’ve got flu, we’ve got COVID.

“So there’s going to be an impact on patients that will be significant,” he said.

Britain has endured a year of rolling strikes across the health sector as staff sought pay rises to offset the soaring cost of living.

The walkouts have strained the already stretched health service still struggling to recover from backlogs created by the coronavirus pandemic.

Nurses, ambulance crews and senior doctors have reached pay deals with the government, but the union representing junior doctors has held out, and negotiations have stalled. The government says it won’t hold further talks unless doctors call off the strike, while the union says it won’t negotiate unless it receives a “credible” pay offer.

Worldcoin is Now in Singapore as its Iris Biometrics Project Grows Globally

Following the launch of the World ID 2.0 digital identity passport in December 2023, which added face biometrics for verification, Worldcoin has established operations in Singapore, continuing global expansion of its biometric proof-of-personhood project.

A post on the company’s blog says four locations in Singapore are now playing host to the Orb, Worldcoin’s spheroid biometric enrolment device. Those wishing to verify their World ID can have their irises scanned to “verify their unique humanness.”

Worldcoin’s parent firm Tools for Humanity (TFH) has demonstrated further national buy-in by attaining membership in two of Singapore’s most respected startup and tech associations: ACCESS and the Singapore Fintech Association (SFA).

U.S. NEWS, POLITICS & GOVERNMENT

So much for freedom of speech in America, eh? 

Trump to Stay on Maine Ballot as He Challenges Disqualification Ruling in Court

Former President Donald Trump challenged the Maine secretary of state’s decision to disqualify him from the state’s primary ballot, appealing on Jan. 2 to the Maine Superior Court.

He made several arguments, including that Maine Secretary of State Shanna Bellows was biased and should have recused herself, that she had no authority to remove him from the ballot or adjudicate the issue, and that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment doesn’t apply to presidents.

“The Secretary made multiple errors of law and acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner … and President Trump will be illegally excluded from the ballot as a result of the Secretary’s actions,” attorneys for President Trump wrote.

The Kennebec Superior Court has until Jan. 17 to make a ruling.

With the appeal, President Trump will stay on the Maine ballot despite the secretary’s decision until a court rules otherwise.

Any Superior Court ruling is expected to be appealed at the Maine Supreme Court before likely heading to the U.S. Supreme Court for review. A similar disqualification case from Colorado has been appealed to the nation’s high court. If the Supreme Court takes up that case and rules in a way that applies to all states, it will affect Trump’s legal proceedings in Maine.

Challenges to the GOP front runner’s eligibility as a candidate under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment have been litigated across the country for months, though most other jurisdictions have dismissed such challenges on various grounds.

The 14th Amendment, which extended citizenship and equal rights to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, included a third section meant to prevent officers who abandoned their posts to join the Confederacy from returning to office.

It stipulates that those who had taken an oath of office and subsequently joined an “insurrection” or “rebellions” or aided such enemies cannot hold office without two-thirds approval from Congress.

Prosecutors recommend six months in prison for a man at the center of a Jan. 6 conspiracy theory

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors on Tuesday recommended a six-month term of imprisonment for a man at the center of a right-wing conspiracy theory about the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol — an attack that he has admitted to joining.

Ray Epps, who is scheduled to be sentenced next Tuesday, pleaded guilty in September to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct on restricted grounds.

Epps, a one time Donald Trump supporter from Arizona, became the focus of a conspiracy theory that he was an undercover government agent who incited the Capitol attack. Right-wing news outlets amplified the conspiracy theory and drove him into hiding after the Jan. 6 riot.

Epps, who worked as a roofer after serving four years as infantry in the U.S. Marine Corps, has vehemently denied ever working for the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gordon said during Epps’ plea hearing in September that he was not a confidential source for the FBI “or any other law enforcement agency.”

Epps, 62, filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News Channel last year, saying the network was to blame for spreading the baseless claims that led to death threats and bullet casings in his yard.

In videos shared widely on social media and right-wing websites, Epps is seen the day before the riot saying, “Tomorrow, we need to go into the Capitol … peacefully.” On Jan. 6, video shows him saying, “As soon as the president is done speaking, we go to the Capitol.”

Epps has said he left Capitol grounds when he saw people scaling walls and never actually went inside the building.

Prosecutors say Epps participated in “a rugby scrum-like group effort” to push past a line of police officers.

True the Vote Wins Federal Election Lawsuit in Georgia

The conservative vote-monitoring organization True the Vote’s challenges to Georgia voters’ eligibility didn’t amount to voter intimidation in the 2020 election, a federal judge ruled on Jan. 2.

U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones, in a 145-page ruling that was issued a little less than two months after the end of a civil trial, found that the defendants didn’t violate the Voting Rights Act.

Texas-based True the Vote, its founder Catherine Engelbrecht, and several others had raised questions about whether 364,000 Georgia voters were improperly registered because their voter registrations conflicted with their mailing addresses.

Georgia law requires that voter challenges be made by other voters living in the same county. As two Georgia runoff elections, which were believed could determine control of the U.S. Senate, approached on Jan. 5, 2021, the group narrowed its challenge list to about 39,000, eliminating those with a legitimate reason to live elsewhere, such as college students and active-duty military. They then found volunteers to make challenges in about 40 of Georgia’s 159 counties.

The runoff elections contributed to the charged atmosphere leading up to the Electoral College vote in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, when thousands of President Donald Trump supporters marched in protest. The march turned into a breach of the U.S. Capitol, which congressional Democrats have since sought to characterize as an “insurrection.”

Fair Fight Inc., a group formed by former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, sued on behalf of several plaintiffs. The two groups battled it out for seven days, ending in early November 2023 in a nonjury trial in Jones’s courtroom in Gainesville, Georgia.

Aside from Ms. Engelbrecht, the defendants included two data analysts, Mark Davis and Derek Somerville, mailing list printer Mark Williams, and two others, Ron Johnson and James Cooper.

Judge Jones expressed some reservations in his decision.

“Having heard the evidence presented and the arguments made by the Parties, the Court maintains its prior concerns about the manner Defendants utilized (Georgia law) to challenge individual voters. The Court, however, ultimately concludes that, as a legal matter, Plaintiffs have not carried their burden to show a violation of Section 11(b) (of the Voting Rights Act.) Accordingly, the Court enters judgment in favor (of) Defendants.

US Supreme Court Could Dismantle Federal Government’s Powers in 2024

With the U.S. Supreme Court slated to return to session on Jan. 8, the second part of the high court’s term could hand down rulings that either curb or expand the federal government’s powers—sometimes known as the administrative state.

Analysts have said that three cases that the high court is hearing related to the federal bureaucracy this term, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) v. Community Financial Services of America, the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) v. Jarkesy, and Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo.

Hedge fund manager George Jarkesy was penalized by the SEC for violating securities fraud law, which he appealed. The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the plaintiff, arguing in a ruling that the SEC violated the Constitution’s Seventh Amendment, which provides the right to have a jury trial, and it also found that Congress engaged in overreach by delegating its own power when allowing an agency—in this case, the SEC—to hold administrative proceedings rather than file a lawsuit in a civil court against Mr. Jarkesy.

The SEC had held an in-house proceeding and used its own administrative law judges, who work as independent officials within the executive branch who oversee internal hearings and adjudicate disputes between the agency and other parties.

Supreme Court arguments in that case were heard on Nov. 29. According to court reporters, the arguments focused on whether the Constitution’s Seventh Amendment bars the federal securities agency from issuing penalties in internal proceedings without giving a defendant the ability to have a trial by jury.

During the hearing, Chief Justice John Roberts suggested that federal agencies have obtained more power over the public in recent years. “Should that be a concern for us or a consideration?” he asked Department of Justice (DOJ) attorneys representing the SEC in the case.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh suggested to the DOJ lawyer, Brian Fletcher, that the Jarkesy case would impact other federal agencies.

“I don’t want you to think that it’s just about SEC, and it can just go to court,” Mr. Fletcher said, according to reports.

“No, I know, [Federal Trade Commission] and others, I’m aware,” said the justice.

“EPA, Agriculture, I mean, it’s really all over,” replied Mr. Fletcher, referring to the Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In the CFPB case, the agency had asked the Supreme Court to rescind a ruling by a lower court that determined the agency’s funding structure runs afoul of the Constitution. That ruling was also handed down by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this year.Lawyers for the DOJ argued in their petition that the ruling calls into question virtually every CFPB action since the agency’s inception in 2011 under the Obama administration.

The case stems from a challenge by two payday lending groups that sued to overturn a CFPB rule aimed at combating what the agency calls “unfair and abusive” practices in the industry. The 5th Circuit overturned the rule on Oct. 19, holding in the process that the CFPB’s funding through the Federal Reserve, rather than budgets passed by Congress, violated the separation of powers principle in the U.S. Constitution.

The CFPB said in its petition that the 5th Circuit “relied on an unprecedented and erroneous understanding” of the Appropriations Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which requires government spending to be authorized by Congress.

The CFPB said in its petition that the 5th Circuit “relied on an unprecedented and erroneous understanding” of the Appropriations Clause. “Congress enacted a statute explicitly authorizing the CFPB to use a specified amount of funds from a specified source for specified purposes. The appropriations clause requires nothing more,” it added.

Republicans have long opposed the creation of the CFPB. The Supreme Court in 2020 ruled in another case that the protection Congress originally afforded the CFPB director, who could only be fired for cause, was unconstitutional.

Depending on how the Supreme Court rules this term, the CFPB’s “future is on the line before the Court,” Better Markets, a consumer advocacy group, wrote in a recent report.

In May 2023, the high court opted to take the case, Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which will decide on the question whether the court should overrule the Chevron doctrine, which has long been criticized by conservatives who call it unconstitutional.

Critics object to its application without a clear framework to resolve statutory ambiguity, leaving too much discretion with the courts to engage in results-oriented decisioning. The Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council case, issued in 1984, is considered a key facet of administrative law and requires courts to defer the federal agencies’ reasonable interpretations of statutes that are unclear.

The case, according to University of Georgia School of Law professor Adam D. Orford, is significant because the Chevron doctrine “is potentially implicated any time a federal agency makes a rule to implement a federal statute and chooses to fill in gaps or do any other thing not specifically contemplated by Congress,” adding that there are “thousands of rulemakings” by agencies each year.

“As one of the most-used decision rules in the federal courts, any significant change to the way courts review agency rulemaking authority will have wide-ranging impacts on the functioning of the entire federal bureaucracy—particularly in a legislative environment like today’s, where it is probably not possible for Congress to agree on legislation containing extremely detailed instructions on many issues that are currently the subject of regulation,” he wrote.

Ex-CIA Analyst Confident Intel Community Will Try to Interfere Against Trump in 2024 Election

Former CIA intelligence analyst John Gentry is predicting that a politicized intelligence community will attempt to interfere in the 2024 election similar to their efforts in 2020.

Gentry, a Georgetown University professor and author of the new book, “Neutering the CIA: Why US Intelligence Versus Trump Has Long-Term Consequences,” told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. He said:

My guess is that the proverbial deep state within the intelligence community will reemerge because presumably a Republican candidate will again be seen as a threat to the internal policies that many intelligence people like.

Gentry pointed to the infamous letter wherein more than 50 former senior intelligence officials claimed in an open letter that the New York Post‘s Hunter Biden laptop story was Russian disinformation just weeks before the 2020 election.

That letter has now been debunked, and traced back to then-Biden campaign adviser Antony Blinken and former Obama acting CIA Director Mike Morell, according to congressional testimony from the latter. The CIA had approved the letter for publication in Politico.

“I think it is worth closely monitoring these people. Many have compromised their credibility by actions such as the ‘Laptop 51’ letter,” Gentry said.

He said there are already signs in recent weeks that those same former intelligence agency members will be active in 2024.

Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigns amid plagiarism claims

Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigned Tuesday amid new allegations of plagiarism, becoming the second Ivy League leader to step down after controversy over their congressional testimony last month about antisemitism on campus.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS 

Gold Prices Predicted to Hit Record Highs of $2,300 in 2024

After prices jumped in 2023, gold is entering 2024 with many experts suggesting the safe haven asset could hit record highs this year.

In 2023, gold prices jumped from around $1,823 per oz. to $2,062 per oz.—an increase of over 13 percent—making it the best year for the yellow metal since 2020. On Dec. 4, gold hit a record-high price of $2,135.40 per oz. For 2024, experts predict gold prices to move higher.

“Following on from a surprisingly robust performance in 2023, we see further price gains in 2024, driven by a trifecta of momentum chasing hedge funds, central banks continuing to buy physical gold at a firm pace, and not least renewed demand from ETF investors,” said Saxo Bank’s Ole Hansen, according to Reuters.

JP Morgan predicts gold to see a “breakout rally” starting in the middle of this year due to Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts. The bank expects gold to hit a peak of $2,300. Meanwhile, UBS projects gold prices to hit $2,150 by the end of this year if the rate cuts were to take place.

Gold saw major ups and downs in 2023, as one event after another affected investor perception. In May, the U.S. banking crisis pushed gold down to a low of $1,810 per oz. by early October. However, the Hamas attack on Israel that month triggered tensions and gold prices have been rising since then.

In November, the SPDR Gold Shares ETF, a popular exchange-traded fund tracking gold, saw net inflows of more than $1 billion, breaking five consecutive months of outflows. This was also the strongest month of net inflow since March 2022, highlighting growing investor confidence in gold amid uncertain conditions.

Report: Crenshaw, Pelosi, McConnell, Goldman Among Top 2023 Stock Traders

Several establishment members of Congress were among the top lawmakers to successfully trade stocks in 2023, a report by Unusual Whales found Tuesday.

The findings raise concerns that many members of Congress trade stocks based on information unavailable to the public.

Some of the most notable establishment members to beat the market were:

• Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) — up 38.2 percent
• Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) — up 65.5 percent
• Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) — up 18.1 percent
• Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) — up 52.8 percent
• Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) — up 25.3 percent

The top trader in Congress was Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY) from the Buffalo area. Higgins was first elected in 2005 and sits on the House Committees on the Budget and Ways and Means.

• Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY) — up 238.9 percent
• S&P Index was only up about 24 percent

Below are many of the top performers of 2023:

Congressional Democrats’ stock returns beat the S&P 500 by seven points in 2023, the report found:

• Democrats up seven points (31 percent up).
• Republicans did not beat the S&P, falling short by 6 points (18 percent up).

Beating the S&P is very difficult for stock traders due to the challenge of regularly identifying stocks that will gain more than the S&P:

• The S&P 500 is a stock market index tracking the stock performance of the 500 largest companies listed on the U.S. stock exchanges.
• The S&P provides diversified exposure, reducing portfolio risk.
• The S&P 500’s composition incorporates factors of size, value, quality, and volatility.

“Democrats came out on top significantly, due to their heavy tech portfolios. Republicans only returned around 18%, which is still great,” the study reported. “They underperformed as an aggregate because their portfolios are mainly in financials, oil, and commodities, which had a difficult year due to the banking collapses and high rate hikes.”

HEALTH

Please note: The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional.

Doctors Express ‘Huge Shock’ as Manufacturer Pulls Popular Asthma Inhalers From Market

Biopharma corporation GSK (formerly GlaxoSmithKline) will cease the manufacture and sale of two extremely popular branded asthma inhalers beginning next year in favor of producing generic versions, triggering concerns about insurance coverage and product access.

Effective Jan. 1, GSK will discontinue its asthma inhaler Flovent HFA and inhalation powder Flovent Diskus. Instead, the company will be offering generic versions of these products at a lower cost. The generic version of Flovent HFA was launched in May 2022.

Discontinuation of Flovent HFA has raised concerns among medical experts as this is happening amid the respiratory virus season. Many insurers may not provide coverage for the generic version of the product.

Since insurance plans largely do not cover the authorized generic equivalent of Flovent, patients may now have to get a new prescription for a different medication in the middle of the winter respiratory virus season.

As such, the Flovent discontinuation is happening at the “worst possible time of the year,” Dr. Cohen said.

“Flu, Covid, RSV—all these circulating viruses that are going around right now—are one of the biggest, if not the biggest, triggers for asthma attacks in kids. … This is what leads to kids being in the emergency room.”

Dr. Cohen is concerned that many patients, physicians, and pharmacists are not aware of the discontinuation of Flovent and that they will have to work out alternatives for the medication.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reported that various insurance providers are handling the discontinuation of Flovent in different ways. Some companies won’t cover the generic or don’t consider it a preferred alternative to the branded medications.

Beware of Forever Chemicals Causing Cancer to Spread

Widespread per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS) may accelerate the progression of colorectal cancer, adding more reason to reduce your exposure as much as possible.

• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS) may promote cancer metastasis, according to a study by researchers at the Yale School of Public Health
• Researchers immersed two types of colorectal cancer cells in a PFAS solution for up to seven days; metabolic changes signaling cancer metastasis were observed, along with increased cell motility
• Not only was the cells’ migration ability boosted, but they had a tendency to spread and penetrate membranes
• PFAS may lead to altered gene expression and epigenetic changes that in turn cause inflammation, endocrine disruption and changes in metabolism and cell signaling that promote carcinogenesis
• Other research shows exposure to PFAS may worsen the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer

Sauna Therapy May Reduce Risk of Dementia and Boost Brain Health

This stunning 2-decade study showed a dramatic 66% reduction in dementia, even after accounting for other lifestyle factors.

• Sauna therapy has many health benefits, including expelling of toxins, improving blood circulation, killing disease-causing microbes and improving mitochondrial function
• Regular sauna use may also reduce your risk of death from any cause, including lethal cardiovascular events, and may help stave off Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
• Men who used a sauna four to seven times a week had a 66% lower risk of developing dementia and 65% lower risk of Alzheimer’s, compared to men who used the sauna only once a week

If you are interested in a high quality sauna, please consider purchasing from our partner, SaunaSpace

SaunaSpace brings together NEAR & FAR Infrared Saunas for a perfect combination!

By bringing these two therapeutic approaches into our meticulously engineered saunas, 

SaunaSpace helps people enjoy relief, relaxation, and wellness at its best. 

START YOUR100-DAY HOME TRIAL TODAY

VIsit sauna.space/thepowerhour to order -OR- call them @ +1-573-667-2862

Use coupon code: POWERHOUR to get a 5% discount on your order

GARDENING, FARMING & HOMESTEADING

How to Make Natural Repellent Sachets to Control Clothes Moths

The Clothes Moth is a common household pest that eats holes in clothing and other fabrics.

There are two common types of clothes moths found in homes, the webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella), and the case-making clothes moth (Tinea pellionella). These tiny insects consume all types of natural fibres, leading to costly damage if left unchecked. Both of these moths are introduced species in Australia.

In this article we’ll look at how to make herbal moth repellent sachets that are quick and easy to construct, along with other methods, which will effectively keep away clothes moths. We’ll also share some helpful tips to prevent the pest from getting established in your home in the first place.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 

Predictions For 2024 From Patrick Wood vs. AI Chatbots

From ChatGPT taking the world by storm to sparking historic Hollywood strikes. Artificial intelligence had its breakout year in 2023.

So what’s in store for the cutting-edge tech in 2024? DailyMail.com asked the leading AI chatbots to predict their own fate – Google’s Bard and Amazon-backed Claude – and got some very alarming results.

We chose those two language models because they use live information from the internet to make their predictions, unlike ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Bing which rely on older data.

These were the results: 

AI systems might start reasoning by themselves

Claude.ai predicted the first AI models would begin to show signs of AGI – ‘artificial general intelligence’.

AGI is a theoretical intelligent agent able to complete any intellectual task a human can – and the arrival of AGI is forecast to cause huge changes to human society.

Backed by Google and Amazon, Claude’s parent company Anthropic was founded by former members of OpenAI, makers of ChatGPT.

Claude told DailyMail.com: ‘In recent years we’ve seen AI algorithms match or exceed human performance in specialized tasks like object recognition, game playing, and language processing.

‘Techniques like deep learning and neural networks running on powerful computing infrastructure have driven these leaps forward. Major investments from big tech companies and startups suggest the pace of innovation isn’t slowing anytime soon.

‘And some AI researchers anticipate that we’re now closer to “Artificial General Intelligence” (AGI) – algorithms that can match humans’ flexibility and adaptability across different environments and tasks.

‘Groups like DeepMind, OpenAI, Google Brain, and Anthropic are pushing towards this goal of AGI. While we likely won’t fully crack general intelligence by 2024, we might see demos of systems that start displaying more expansive reasoning, creativity, and decision making abilities.’

Claude.ai said that problems around AI could include systems that behave unpredictably, and job automation outpacing workers’ ability to adapt.

Biotechnology will ‘upgrade’ humans

Bard predicted that 2024 could see biotechnology breakthroughs which ‘upgrade’ the human race.

The AI suggested that these could include breakthroughs in ‘Brain Computer Interfaces’, where human brains connect to computers.

Elon Musk’s Neuralink is set to test such technology in volunteers in the coming year.

Analysis by Foresight Factory suggested this year that more than a third of consumers would be happy to have such a chip implanted, in order to connect more easily to computer systems.

Bard said: ‘Advances in biocompatible materials and robotic engineering could lead to bionic limbs that restore near-natural motor function or even surpass human limitations in strength and dexterity. Exoskeletons could augment physical capabilities for heavy lifting, military applications, or assisting the elderly.

‘Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) could allow direct communication between the brain and computer systems, enabling control of prosthetics, external devices, or even virtual environments. Potential applications include communication for individuals with paralysis, enhanced creativity and productivity, or even brain-to-brain communication.’

‘Devices that create realistic touch sensations could revolutionize virtual reality and other immersive experiences, providing enhanced feedback in medical training, gaming, and entertainment.’

Dawn of personalized medicine 

Personalized medicine, where treatments are tailored to the individual based on their DNA, has the potential to change human life on the grand scale.

Bard predicted that AI could power new breakthroughs in personalized medicine in the coming year.

‘Personalized medicine, also known as precision medicine, aims to tailor treatments and preventive strategies to the unique genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors of each individual. In this quest, AI is emerging as a game-changer, powering breakthroughs across various aspects of healthcare:

‘By deciphering vast amounts of genetic data, AI can identify risk factors for specific diseases, allowing for proactive interventions and personalized prevention plans.

‘AI can mine Electronic Health Records (EHRs) to uncover hidden patterns and connections between symptoms, medications, and outcomes, leading to more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatment recommendations.

‘AI can analyze patient data and predict how they might respond to different treatments, helping doctors choose the most effective and least harmful options for each individual.’

Barad said that problems around using AI in medicine include securing personal data, and ensuring AI doesn’t treat patients in a biased way.

With the 2024 elections approaching, concerns around foreign interference and manipulation through cyberattacks and misinformation campaigns are rising. These threats, often intertwined, can significantly impact public opinion, sow discord, and ultimately undermine the integrity of democratic processes.

Election hacking warning

With the Presidential election looming in the U.S., Google’s Bard predicted that malicious actors will try to undermine the election using technology.

Such attacks could include attacks on voting machines in an effort to undermine trust in the result, Bard with Gemini Pro warned.

Bard  said: ‘Malicious actors might target voter registration databases, voting machines, or election results reporting systems to disrupt the voting process, sow doubt in the outcome, or manipulate results.

‘Stealing sensitive voter data or campaign information can be used for blackmail, targeted disinformation campaigns, or voter suppression tactics.

‘Bots and fake accounts can be used to spread propaganda, amplify certain narratives, and silence opposing voices. Deepfakes, manipulated videos or audio recordings, can further blur the lines between truth and fiction.

‘Tailored fake news articles, social media posts, or even personalized emails can exploit existing biases and anxieties to sway voters towards specific candidates or discourage them 

SURVEILLANCE STATE 

Repairman Who Disclosed Hunter Biden’s Laptop Says His House Was ‘Swatted’

The Delaware computer repairman who disclosed the contents of Hunter Biden’s laptop in 2020 said on Dec. 30 that his home was subjected to a “swatting” incident on Friday night.

John Paul Mac Isaac, who owned a computer store in Delaware at which the son of President Joe Biden was said to have dropped off his laptop years ago, said he was not present during the swatting incident.

“My home was swatted tonight, I was not home but the outstanding men and women of the Wilmington PD responded quickly and professionally,” Mr. Mac Isaac said on X.

“All that was achieved was the wasted time of the Wilmington PD. NOTHING, let me repeat that, NOTHING will take me out of this fight! Cheers!” he added.

It remains unclear whether the swatting is connected to his defamation lawsuit against Mr. Biden. The Wilmington Police Department has not disclosed any details regarding the incident.

Mr. Mac Isaac in October 2022 sued Mr. Biden for defamation. He closed his business in 2020 after receiving death threats. Mr. Biden has countersued Mr. Mac Isaac for allegedly invading his privacy.

Mr. Biden’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, reportedly deposed Mr. Mac Isaac in June 2023, a session that lasted about seven hours, according to the New York Post.

The countersuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, asks for a jury trial.

“No matter how they came into his initial possession, Mac Isaac improperly accessed files that he admits were ‘none of [his] business’ even though he was never given permission by Mr. Biden to access or review any data of Mr. Biden’s,” it says.

COVID RELATED NEWS

Gov. DeSantis administration quietly alters Medicaid policies to comply with federal law

Florida is amending its Medicaid plan to extend coverage to low-income children and pay for FDA-approved vaccines for adults.

The Gov. Ron DeSantis administration — which has made national headlines for its opposition to President Joe Biden’s health care proposals — quietly announced last week its plans to comply with new Medicaid policies to extend health care coverage to poor and low-income children and to ensure federally approved vaccines are covered.

The Biden administration advanced the policies. Copies of the state amendments — which were sent to the federal government for approval — are not posted on the state’s Medicaid website. Florida Politics requested copies of the state amendments but the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), which houses the state’s Medicaid program, did not respond to requests by press time.

State Medicaid officials announced on Dec. 26 that they were sending the amendments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for approval. One amendment ensures that effective Jan. 1, children under 19 years old who qualify for Medicaid will have coverage for 12 months without having to take steps to requalify for the safety net program.

Before the change, Florida policy was to provide 12 months of Medicaid eligibility for children under 5 years old. Eligibility for older children (5 through 19) has been limited to six months, which means they must resubmit paperwork to the state to continue to qualify for Medicaid coverage.

Now, children under 19 who are determined eligible for the program will qualify for 12 months without having to resubmit paperwork.

CANCEL CULTURE

Kim Davis must pay $260,000 legal fees over same-sex marriage license refusal

Kim Davis, the former county clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses in Kentucky to same-sex couples, must pay a total of $260,104 in fees and expenses to attorneys who represented one couple, according to a federal judge’s ruling … that is in addition to $100,000 in damages a jury said the former Rowan county clerk should pay the couple who sued.

Attorneys for Davis had argued that the fees and costs sought by the attorneys were excessive, but US district judge David L Bunning disagreed and said Davis must pay since the men prevailed in their lawsuit, the Lexington Herald-Leader of Kentucky reported.

Attorneys for Davis were expected to appeal the ruling.

Davis drew international attention when she was briefly jailed in 2015 over her refusal despite the US supreme court’s legalization of same-sex marriage. She based her refusal on her belief that marriage should only be between a man and a woman.

Davis was released only after her staff issued the licenses on her behalf but removed her name from the form. Kentucky’s state legislature later enacted a law removing the names of all county clerks from state marriage licenses.

Harvard President Claudine Gay Resigns Following Plagiarism Allegations, Antisemitism Testimony

Harvard President Claudine Gay has resigned following allegations of plagiarism and a month after disastrous testimony before Congress where she refused to state that calling for the genocide of Jews constituted harassment.

In a letter, Ms. Gay said that stepping down “is not a decision I came to easily.”

“It has become clear that it is in the best interests of Harvard for me to resign so that our community can navigate this moment of extraordinary challenge with a focus on the institution rather than any individual,” she wrote.

She took no responsibility for the plagiarism allegations nor the state of campus hatred toward Jews and Israel.

The school’s student newspaper, The Harvard Crimson, first reported the resignation. Ms. Gay’s tenure was just over six months and is the shortest in the 387-year history of the school.

Ms. Gay has been accused of plagiarism stemming from her career in academia.

Ms. Gay’s resignation comes a month after controversial testimony before Congress on antisemitism on college campuses amid the latest conflict between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas.