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WASHINGTON >> President Joe Biden today commuted the sentences for 37 out of 40 federal inmates on death row, converting them to life in prison without parole, before he hands power to President-elect Donald Trump on Jan. 20. Biden’s move will frustrate Trump’s plan to expand executions. Unlike executive orders, clemency decisions cannot be reversed by a president’s successor, although the death penalty can be sought more aggressively in future cases. Trump restarted federal executions during his first term in office from 2017 to 2021 after a nearly 20-year pause. Biden, who ran for president opposing the death penalty, put federal executions on hold when he took office in January 2021. In recent weeks, he has faced pressure from congressional Democrats, opponents of capital punishment and religious leaders such as Pope Francis to commute federal death sentences before he leaves. “Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss,” Biden said in a statement. “But guided by my conscience and my experience ... I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level,” he said. “In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.” Earlier this month, Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 people and pardoned 39 more convicted of nonviolent crimes. He also issued a full and unconditional pardon of his son Hunter, after repeatedly insisting he would not do so. Hunter Biden had pleaded guilty to tax violations and was convicted on firearms-related charges. Kelley Henry, a federal defender who represents Rejon Taylor and Ricky Allen Fackrell, two of the men whose sentences were commuted, said Biden has shown “extraordinary courage” with the decision. “At bottom, it is an act of grace and mercy,” she said. She will not be able to speak to Taylor and Fackrell until Friday, but said she knows from preparing their clemency petitions that they will be grateful for the news. Fackrell was convicted of murdering a fellow inmate at a federal prison in 2014. Taylor was convicted of carjacking and kidnapping resulting in death for killing a man in Georgia in 2003. Henry expects that all 37 men will be moved from death row in Terre Haute, Indiana to other Bureau of Prisons facilities in the coming months. EXCEPTIONS The decision today does not apply to cases of terrorism or hate-motivated mass murder. It leaves out three of the most well-known men on federal death row: Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, convicted for his involvement in the bombing at the Boston Marathon finish line in 2013; Dylann Roof, convicted for the shooting spree at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015; and, Robert Bowers, who was convicted for the mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018. All three men have filed appeals and legal challenges to their sentences which must be resolved before execution dates can be set, a process that can take years. Human rights groups praised Biden’s decision. Amnesty International USA called it a big moment for human rights. “The President’s decision is a significant step towards his 2020 promise to end the death penalty at the federal level and incentivize states to follow suit,” Paul O’Brien, executive director of Amnesty International USA said in a statement. Biden’s decision does not affect the nearly 2,200 death-row prisoners convicted in state courts, as he holds no authority over such executions. Republican lawmakers criticized Biden for the move. Republican Representative Chip Roy called it “unconscionable” on social media platform X. “The Presidents pardon power is being abused by @JoeBiden to carry out a miscarriage of justice,” he said. Senator Tom Cotton said “when given the choice between law-abiding Americans or criminals, Joe Biden and the Democrats choose criminals every time.” Presidents typically order a round of pardons toward the end of their time in office. The Office of the Pardon Attorney, part of the Justice Department, has received nearly 12,000 requests for clemency during Biden’s term, according to a tally kept by the pardon attorney. As of Dec. 9, the president had issued 161 clemency grants — 26 pardons and 135 commutations. Additional reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York, David Morgan and Rick Cowan in Washington.

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Unlike scores of people who scrambled for the blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight in recent years, Danielle Griffin had no trouble getting them. The 38-year-old information technology worker from New Mexico had a prescription. Her pharmacy had the drugs in stock. And her health insurance covered all but $25 to $50 of the monthly cost. For Griffin, the hardest part of using the new drugs wasn’t access. It was finding out that the much-hyped medications didn’t really work for her. “I have been on Wegovy for a year and a half and have only lost 13 pounds,” said Griffin, who watches her diet, drinks plenty of water and exercises regularly. “I’ve done everything right with no success. It’s discouraging.” In clinical trials, most participants taking Wegovy or Mounjaro to treat obesity lost an average of 15% to 22% of their body weight — up to 50 pounds or more in many cases. But roughly 10% to 15% of patients in those trials were “nonresponders” who lost less than 5% of their body weight. Now that millions of people have used the drugs, several obesity experts told The Associated Press that perhaps 20% of patients — as many as 1 in 5 — may not respond well to the medications. It's a little-known consequence of the obesity drug boom, according to doctors who caution eager patients not to expect one-size-fits-all results. “It's all about explaining that different people have different responses,” said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity expert at Massachusetts General Hospital The drugs are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists because they mimic a hormone in the body known as glucagon-like peptide 1. Genetics, hormones and variability in how the brain regulates energy can all influence weight — and a person's response to the drugs, Stanford said. Medical conditions such as sleep apnea can prevent weight loss, as can certain common medications, such as antidepressants, steroids and contraceptives. “This is a disease that stems from the brain,” said Stanford. “The dysfunction may not be the same” from patient to patient. Despite such cautions, patients are often upset when they start getting the weekly injections but the numbers on the scale barely budge. “It can be devastating,” said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity expert at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of the obesity treatment company FlyteHealth. “With such high expectations, there’s so much room for disappointment.” That was the case for Griffin, who has battled obesity since childhood and hoped to shed 70 pounds using Wegovy. The drug helped reduce her appetite and lowered her risk of diabetes, but she saw little change in weight. “It’s an emotional roller coaster,” she said. “You want it to work like it does for everybody else.” The medications are typically prescribed along with eating behavior and lifestyle changes. It’s usually clear within weeks whether someone will respond to the drugs, said Dr. Jody Dushay, an endocrine specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Weight loss typically begins right away and continues as the dosage increases. For some patients, that just doesn't happen. For others, side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea force them to halt the medications, Dushay said. In such situations, patients who were counting on the new drugs to pare pounds may think they’re out of options. “I tell them: It's not game over,” Dushay said. Trying a different version of the new class of drugs may help. Griffin, who didn't respond well to Wegovy, has started using Zepbound, which targets an additional hormone pathway in the body. After three months of using the drug, she has lost 7 pounds. “I'm hoping it's slow and steady,” she said. Other people respond well to older drugs, the experts said. Changing diet, exercise, sleep and stress habits can also have profound effects. Figuring out what works typically requires a doctor trained to treat obesity, Saunders noted. “Obesity is such a complex disease that really needs to be treated very comprehensively,” she said. “If what we’re prescribing doesn’t work, we always have a backup plan.” The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Nikki Giovanni, poet and literary celebrity, has died at 81

and shared many similarities, including their playstyle and demeanor. However, if there's one who could tell the minute differences between the two legendary shooting guards, it's Kwame Brown. The 2001 first-overall pick is one of the few who had the privilege of playing with both, so he should know what he's talking about. Kwame on TicketTV's Real Pro Ballerz podcast. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.Matt Gaetz accused of ‘regularly’ paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl

Middle East latest: Israeli strikes kill a hospital director in Lebanon and wound 9 medics in GazaChina has implemented several policy measures to address these challenges, such as deleveraging efforts to reduce debt levels, environmental regulations to tackle pollution, and reforms to its pension system to address the aging population. The success of these measures will have implications not only for China's domestic economy but also for its role in the global economy.

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Youngest person treated by Nanoknife is cancer-freeUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's decision to reject US President Donald Trump's peace talk initiative has sent shockwaves through the international community. The two leaders had previously expressed a willingness to engage in diplomatic negotiations to end the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, but disagreements on key issues, notably ceasefire conditions, have proven to be insurmountable hurdles.

As the camera started rolling, Zuo flashed a series of emoticons, showcasing his signature cheeky grin, raised eyebrows, and thumbs-up gestures. These expressive symbols painted a vivid picture of his emotions, exuding a sense of playfulness and charm that captivated his audience instantly.As Chen Xiao's recent appearance at Hangzhou Airport continues to make headlines, fans and observers are eager to see how the situation will unfold. Will the actor address the rumors of marital troubles, or will he continue to maintain his silence on the matter? Only time will tell what the future holds for Chen Xiao and Michelle Chen, but one thing is certain: their relationship will continue to be a topic of fascination and speculation for years to come.