By: Regina Wright ~Campus News Editor~
World’s first face transplant recipient dies
The first face transplant recipient, Frenchwoman Isabelle Dinoire, died after a long-term battle with cancer. Although Dinoire passed away on April 22, the hospital only recently announced her death on Tuesday in order to protect the privacy of her family. Dinoire suffered from two types of cancer, which her medication to prevent rejection of the transplant left her more susceptible to.
EpiPen prices soar
EpiPen, a life-saving injection containing epinephrine to help subdue allergic reactions, has risen drastically in price since it was bought by Mylan Enterprises in 2007. In 2007 a two-pack cost $100, but today the same two-pack costs more than $600. The closest substitute for an EpiPen two-pack, Adrenaclick, is also expensive at $400 for a two-pack. The most recent EpiPen increase is not covered by many insurances that have high out-of- pocket copays.
This increase comes a year after Turing Pharmaceuticals increased the price of Daraprim, a drug used to prevent malaria, from $13.50 to $750 a tablet. These drug increases have made healthcare a front-running platform for change in the 2016 presidential campaigns.
Venezuelan government facing backlash
In recent months economic spiraling casued by hyperinflation, unemployment and government upheaval have plagued Venezuela. Thousands of protestors took to the streets in Caracas on Sept. 1 to express their frustrations with the socialist government and to pressure for a referendum against President Nicolás Maduro.
Growing tensions in the country also include a lack of basic necessities like food, electricity and gas. In June, it was reported a dozen eggs cost about $150. The current official exchange rate of $1 is equal to about 10 Bolívars. However, long lines and dwindling supplies have led to a prosperous black market near the Colombian border, with a currency rate of $1 to about 900 Bolívars.
Russia and U.S. talk about Syria at G20 Summit
The latest G-20 meeting was held in Hangzhou, China, over the weekend. Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Barack Obama met on the side, hoping to craft an agreement about Syrian involvement. Tensions regarding Syria have been high between the two countries since Russia backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the U.S. backed rebel opposition groups deemed terrorists by Russia.
The two leaders both spoke together after Secretary of State John Kerry and his counterpart Sergey Lavrov failed to call a ceasefire or make any agreements. Obama and Putin both spoke optimistically after the G-20 summit ended, saying the countries were close to finishing negotiations. Obama hopes to align with Russia to identify who terrorist targets are and to help with the humanitarian crisis throughout Syria.
Mother Teresa made Saint Teresa
Pope Francis officially made Mother Teresa a saint in the cAtholic Church at her canonization ceremony on Sunday morning. The ceremony was held in Vatican City, with many different country flags flown in St. Peter’s Square in support of Saint Teresa. Such flags included Macedonian flags for her birthplace, Albanian flags for her ethnicity, Indian flags representing where she did most of her work and many others.