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Friday, January 10, 2025

Biden extends deportation relief for 900,000 from Venezuela, El Salvador, Ukraine and Sudan

 President Joe Biden's administration on Friday renewed deportation relief that currently covers 900,000 immigrants from Venezuela, El Salvador, Ukraine and Sudan, a move that would delay any attempts by President-elect Donald Trump to sunset those protections.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) extended enrollment in the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for those nations, giving those immigrants a deportation reprieve and access to work permits for an additional 18 months.

Biden, a Democrat, greatly increased the number of immigrants eligible for TPS since taking office in 2021. The status, which is available to people whose home country has experienced a natural disaster, armed conflict or other extraordinary event, now covers more than 1 million people from 17 nations.

Trump, a Republican returning to the White House on Jan. 20, sought to end most TPS enrollment during his 2017-2021 term in office but was stymied by U.S. courts. Trump won another term in office promising a vast immigration crackdown and again is expected to try to terminate most TPS protections.

Trump's transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Biden administration's moves on Friday stopped short of more sweeping demands by activists and some Democrats to grant TPS to more recently arrived immigrants and those from other nations.

Todd Schulte, president of advocacy group FWD.us, said the extensions would allow hundreds of thousands of people to continue "contributing to their communities, supporting their families, and strengthening the economy" but also urged Biden to expand TPS to Nicaragua and other nations.

Some 600,000 Venezuelans are eligible for TPS, the biggest population in the program.

The Biden administration, which first granted Venezuelans the status in 2021, cited high levels of crime in Venezuela related to political and economic instability under President Nicolas Maduro, who was sworn in for a third term on Friday.

https://www.aol.com/news/biden-extends-deportation-relief-900-202257326.html

Britain has enough gas, network says amid warnings stores are low

 Britain has enough gas, the network operator has said after warnings that stores are at "concerningly low" levels.

National Gas said on Friday that supplies remain "healthy" and that Britain is "well-placed" to respond to demands this winter.

It added that gas stocks kept at the UK's storage sites are well-above half full.

It comes after energy giant Centrica said UK supplies have fallen to "concerningly low" levels with less than a week's worth of demand for gas in store.

Stocks were 26% lower than the same period last year, leaving them about half full, it claimed.

A National Gas spokesperson said: "The overall picture across Great Britain's eight main gas storage sites remains healthy.

"Britain obtains its gas from a diverse range of sources beyond that already in storage, meaning we are well placed to respond to demand this winter."

Gas inventory levels have come under pressure from the cold weather conditions and the end of Russian gas pipeline supplies through Ukraine at the end of last month.

Natural gas accounted for 53% of power in the UK on Friday, according to National Grid data, with renewables meeting just 16% of the country's needs.

The UK has among the smallest amount of gas storage of any major European countries, with capacity to hold enough gas for 12 average days or 7.5 peak winter days.

Germany has enough for 89 days, France has 103 days and the Netherlands 123 days.

Centrica boss Chris O'Shea said storage levels are "concerningly low".

He said the clean energy transition would mean the UK needs to use more energy storage systems to help meet demand.

"We are an outlier from the rest of Europe when it comes to the role of storage in our energy system and we are now seeing the implications of that.

"Energy storage is what keeps the lights on and homes warm when the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow, so investing in our storage capacity makes perfect economic sense.

"We need to think of storage as a very valuable insurance policy."

Centrica operates the country's largest gas storage site, Rough, a facility under the North Sea off the east coast of England.

Despite being full ahead of winter, current gas inventory at Rough is about 20% lower than at the same time last year, the company said.

Centrica is looking for fresh help from the Government to fund a multibillion-pound investment to increase the site's capacity.

It comes as the UK recorded its coldest night of this winter so far on Thursday, with more freezing temperatures expected in the coming days.

The Met Office has said Friday will see "the start of a change to our weather", but this is expected to make only "limited progress" and patchy rain, sleet and snow is expected across parts of south-west Britain.

A No 10 spokesman said: "We are confident we will have a sufficient gas supply and electricity capacity to meet demand this winter, due to our diverse and resilient energy system.

"We speak regularly with the national energy system operator to monitor our energy security, and ensure they have all tools at their disposal if needed to secure our supply.

"Our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 will replace our dependency on unstable fossil fuel markets with clean, homegrown power controlled in Britain, which is the best way to protect bill payers and boost our energy independence."

Reports the UK has been on the verge of an energy blackout are "not true", the spokesman added.

Jess Ralston, head of energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit thinktank, said the Government should focus on cutting demand for gas amid volatile international prices.

She said: "Unless the UK starts to reduce its demand for gas then we'll just become more dependent on imports from abroad, with prices set by the international markets.

"When gas prices rise in Europe and across the world, they rise in the UK too; more drilling in the North Sea is a red herring solution.

"Energy independence and stabilised bills will come from insulating houses, moving away from gas boilers to electric heat pumps and building out more renewables so that we aren't as reliant on gas for power."

https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/CENTRICA-PLC-9590112/news/Britain-has-enough-gas-network-says-amid-warnings-stores-are-low-48732214/

Biden says still considering pre-emptive pardons for Trump targets Liz Cheney, Fauci, others

 President Biden said he was still considering pre-emptive pardons for President-elect Donald Trump's political foes, such as former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Dr. Anthony Fauci, during his final interview with a print publication before leaving the White House.

The interview, conducted over the weekend in the Oval Office by USA Today's Washington Bureau chief Susan Page, was released Wednesday morning. Biden told Page during the discussion that he was still unsure whether to offer pre-emptive pardons to potential Trump targets, including Cheney, Fauci and others. 

Biden added during the interview that when he met with Trump following his November election victory, he urged the president-elect not to "try to settle scores."

"He didn't say, 'No, I'm going to...' You know. He didn't reinforce it. He just basically listened," Biden told Page.

With wildfire smoke clouding the Washington Monument in the distance, President Biden walks across the South Lawn as he leaves the White House for a day trip to New York City on June 29, 2023 in Washington, D.C.

With wildfire smoke clouding the Washington Monument in the distance, President Biden walks across the South Lawn as he leaves the White House for a day trip to New York City on June 29, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Reports of potential pre-emptive pardons for people who could face Trump's political wrath started to surface after Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, following his conviction on felony gun and tax charges. The pardon came after Biden said he was not considering such a move.

Biden continued handing out pardons and commutations during the waning days of his presidency. Last month, he set a record for the largest single-day act of clemency when he commuted the sentences of roughly 1,500 people in mid-December.

Some Democrats have warned the move to issue additional broad-based pardons for Trump's political targets – on Biden's way out the door – could set a dangerous precedent. Meanwhile, others have publicly advocated for the pardons over fear of what Trump might do.

Joe and Hunter Biden

President Biden and son Hunter Biden step out of a bookstore while shopping in Nantucket, Massachusetts, on Nov. 29, 2024. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

One of the public officials who Biden has reportedly been considering for one of the pre-emptive pardons, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., told CNN Monday that he did not want to see every president going forward handing out broad-based, blanket pardons. However, Schiff stopped short of saying whether he would decline such a pardon if it were offered to him.

Other lawmakers, such as Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., signaled support for Biden issuing pre-emptive pardons. 

Schiff, Fauci, Cheney

From left to right, Sen. Adam Schiff, Dr. Anthony Fauci and former Rep. Liz Cheney are considered by Biden aides for potential pre-emptive pardons, per Politico. (Getty Images)


"I think that without question, Trump is going to try to act in a dictatorial way, in a fascistic way, in a revengeful [way his] first year … towards individuals who he believes harmed him," Markey told Boston Public Radio following Trump's November election victory. "If it’s clear by January 19th that [revenge] is his intention, then I would recommend to President Biden that he provide those preemptive pardons to people, because that’s really what our country is going to need next year."

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-pre-emptive-pardons-trump-targets-liz-cheney-fauci-others

Traws stock rallies on avian flu drug update

 Shares of Traws Pharma (NASDAQ:TRAW) shot up 24% in post-market trading Friday on encouraging results from a Phase 1 study of the company's drug Tivoxavir Marboxil in the treatment of H5N1 avian flu.

The study showed a single dose of the drug maintained plasma drug levels above the effective concentration, EC90, for over 23 days, indicating the potential for sustained efficacy with a one-time administration. No treatment-related adverse events were reported, according to a statement.

The company said plans were underway to initiate a Phase 2 study of the product in the first half of 2025.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/traws-stock-rallies-24-on-avian-flu-drug-update/ar-BB1rfQwW

Court Reopens Challenge to Pfizer Fellowship Program Amid Diversity Debate

According to a Reuters report, a U.S. appeals court has reopened a lawsuit brought by the conservative group in Do No Harm, challenging Pfizer's fellowship program meant to provide Black, Latino, and Native American people leadership chances.Reversing their 2022 decision, which concluded Do No Harm had standing to sue, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York That ruling mandated groups to name particular members injured by claimed discrimination, a criteria critics claimed may deter civil rights complaints by subjecting people to possible harassment.


The court decided the lower court should review the matter since it used an overly rigorous criteria. Pfizer defended the initiative, saying lower court processes would handle the accusations and they lacked validity. Representing medical professionals, Do No Harm contends the fellowship rejects applicants from white and Asian-American backgrounds.Following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 ruling rejecting race-conscious college admissions methods, this complaint fits a larger wave of legal challenges to diversity programs.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/court-reopens-challenge-pfizer-fellowship-184210978.html

'Emotional support robot helps combat isolation and depression'

:: Scott Paik, Mixi Inc.

 “A simple example is for a lot of people who are a bit more socially isolated, they don't have someone to really talk to. So they might go a full day without speaking. But in the morning, you go wake up and Romi will say ‘good morning’ and when you're back from work, Romi will say, ‘welcome home.’ And then you can always ask Romi questions. And unlike something like, well, a normal AI that might just answer a question, Romi will actually converse with you. So something like, Romi, I got some bananas today. ‘Wow, they look great, let's eat them together.’”

:: Brian Allen, CES Attendee

:: “The problem is scaling care, right? And if if society isn't willing to pay for it and if you can't find the people that are willing to do the work, you need an alternative. And it's a funny thing in human psychology that that AI dollar robot might be able to do the trick and fill that hole. And if if that can be done, that's a great thing. That's a win for everybody.”

Romi’s interactions aim to reduce feelings of loneliness, especially for those who might spend long periods without social contact. It greets users in the morning, welcomes them home after work, and engages in casual conversations like asking about the day’s events.

Paik says the robot has been particularly effective in nursing homes across Japan, where it has helped socially isolated seniors feel more connected.

Currently available only in Japan, Romi retails for around $570 (approximately ¥90,000) and will be sold in a new model, Romi Lacatan, starting this spring.

While there are no confirmed plans for international expansion, Mixi Inc. is conducting market research to adapt Romi for different languages and cultures. Romi won a CES 2025 innovation award in the Robotics category.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/emotional-support-robot-helps-combat-114520834.html

Sage Gets Unsolicited Nonbinding Acquisition Proposal from Biogen

 Sage Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SAGE) (“The Company”), today confirmed that Biogen Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB) (“Biogen”) has submitted to the Company an unsolicited, nonbinding proposal to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Sage Therapeutics not already owned by Biogen for $7.22 per share.

Consistent with its fiduciary duties and in consultation with its independent financial and legal advisors, the Sage Board of Directors will carefully review and evaluate the proposal made by Biogen to determine the course of action that it believes is in the best interest of the Company and all Sage shareholders.

There is no guarantee that any transaction will result from Biogen’s proposal. Sage’s shareholders do not need to take any action at this time.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250110340262/en/