Here are the top stories for this week all summarized so you can stay informed and save time!
All sources are at the end of the post.
Biden suggests support for filibuster change to legalize abortion:
On Friday, President Joe Biden told Democratic voters that electing at least two more senators in November elections would open the possibility of Democrats restoring federally protected abortions. This would be done by removing the filibuster, a roadblock which increases the necessary votes to 60 for issues. By removing it, they can decrease the vote count to 50 and push a vote through with a bare majority. Democrats currently hold the necessary majority in the Senate, but Democratic senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema oppose ending the filibuster.
Iranian state-organized marchers call for execution of protesters:
A police motorcycle burns during a protest over the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died after being arrested by the Islamic republic's "morality police", in Tehran, Iran September 19, 2022. WANA via REUTERS
On Friday, several Iranian cities held state-organized rallies to counter nationwide anti-government unrest. The crowds condemned the anti-government protesters as "Israel's soldiers" and chanted "Offenders of the Koran must be executed." These marches followed a strong warning from authorities with the army saying it would confront "the enemies" behind the unrest, which may signal a crackdown on the protests. The anti-government unrest was caused by Mahsa Amini, a 22 year old woman, dying in police custody after being arrested for wearing clothing deemed “unsuitable.” State TV said 35 people had been killed in the unrest, but analysts find it unlikely to immediately threaten the clerical rulers of Iran. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in New York on Thursday and raised human rights issues, a United Nations spokesperson said.
Boy With Crippling ‘Suicide Disease’ Takes First Steps in a Year After Traveling to US for Pioneering Treatment:
Pictured is Dillon receiving treatment from VECTTOR (left) and after his treatment without pain (right)– SWNS
A young boy with a crippling condition that is so painful it’s dubbed the ‘suicide disease’ has taken his first steps almost a year after traveling across the pond for pioneering treatment in the USA. Dillon first started showing symptoms almost a year ago in November 2021, when he woke up with a limp and by the evening he was left debilitated by pain. Dillon Wilford was in so much pain from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) that he even begged his mother Melanie to let him have his leg amputated. But after their family spent almost $20,000 to travel from the UK for specialized treatment, the 11-year-old became pain-free for the first time in months. Doctors in Houston, Texas, treated Dillon with a VECTTOR machine, which delivers a form of electro-stimulation to nerves to reduce pain. According to the company that created the machine, VECTTOTR stimulates the nerves in the body to produce neuropeptides that promote optimal body functions. This tends to decrease the stress overall on the body and in Dillon’s case made his pain almost nonexistent.
New Scoliosis Brace that Grows With Patients Wins Dyson Award For Grad Student Who Wants to Make a Difference:
Airy – 2022 James Dyson Award
A University of Cincinnati grad student has invented an adjustable brace for young patients who need to reposition their curved spines, winning a prestigious award for her design genius. Impacting 7 million Americans every year, scoliosis is a curvature in the spine that often occurs before puberty. Despite the large number affected, advancements in braces that treat this medical condition have not changed since the late 1950s. Common braces are bulky, inflexible, and most importantly to teenagers, very noticeable which can deter many youths from wearing the device as often as they should. That’s why Sangyu Xi won the American James Dyson Award for creating a novel prototype called Airy, a breathable, comfortable, and adjustable brace that can accommodate a patient’s growth for up to three years. The exterior color of Airy can also be modified or padding can be removed to make it translucent, allowing young patients to wear the brace confidently. There also is an app paired with the brace also lets physicians communicate with patients in real-time on any adjustments to treatment plans. This brace can even be recycled up to ten times due to the absence of glue in its design. Since Airy’s creation, it has been tested on four teen patients at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where feedback was extremely positive.
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