President Joe Biden revealed Monday night that former President Jimmy Carter has asked him to deliver his eulogy. Carter, the longest-living president in U.S. history, has been in hospice care since February and his hometown of Plains, Georgia is preparing to say goodbye. The Carter family has asked the public to honor the former president's memory by donating to the Carter Center.
News Mash
Novo Nordisk, a Danish pharmaceutical firm, has announced that it will reduce the U.S. list price of some of its insulin products by up to 75%, effective January 1, 2024. This follows a similar move by Eli Lilly earlier this month, and is part of a larger effort to make insulin more affordable for people with diabetes. The price cuts are expected to provide relief to those who rely on insulin to manage their condition.
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Rite Aid Corp, accusing the pharmacy chain of illegally filling hundreds of thousands of prescriptions for controlled substances, including opioids, without recognizing "red flags". Vanita Gupta, Associate Attorney General, said that Rite Aid's pharmacists filled prescriptions with obvious red flags and intentionally deleted notes about suspicious prescribers. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department is using every tool to confront the opioid epidemic. The lawsuit seeks civil penalties and other relief to ensure Rite Aid complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the future.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, announced Tuesday that it will lay off 10,000 more workers and incur restructuring costs ranging from $3 billion to $5 billion. CEO Mark Zuckerberg warned that economic instability due to the pandemic could continue for “many years.” The job cuts are expected to help the company remain financially stable, and will take place “over the next couple of months.”
Two large banks catering to the tech industry have collapsed after a bank run enabled by digital banking and fueled by panic on social media. In response, the U.S. government has seized the two financial institutions and President Joe Biden has reassured Americans that their money is safe. The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank is the largest bank failure since Washington Mutual in 2008, and the government is taking steps to ensure the financial system remains stable.
Meanwhile, Republicans and conservative influencers have argued that the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank was due to its focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, but the 2018 repeal of stricter regulations on regional banks and the Federal Reserve's decision to hike interest rates are seen as more likely causes.
President Joe Biden and former President Jimmy Carter have a long history of friendship and mutual respect, with Carter endorsing Biden in the 2020 election and presenting him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002. At a fundraiser in Rancho Santa Fe, California, Biden announced that Carter had asked him to deliver his eulogy when he passes away. Carter, 91, is currently the longest-living president in United States history and has been in hospice care since 2015.
The New York Yankees are mourning the loss of former player Joe Pepitone, who passed away at the age of 82. He was a three-time All-Star and Gold Glove first baseman who played for the Yankees from 1962 to 1969 and was beloved by generations of fans for his flamboyant personality and on-field contributions. Pepitone was born in Brooklyn and was part of the Yankees team that won the World Series in 1962, his rookie season. The Yankees organization sends their condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.