As diabetes rates rise worldwide, so does the illegal trade in human kidneys.The World Health Organization estimates that 10,000 black-market operations a year are being performed in places like China, Pakistan, and India, as doctors transplant kidneys purchased from poor donors for as little as $5,000 into richer patients paying up to $200,000.
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Percentage of U.S. women prisoners who are mothers of young children: 61
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$15.6 BILLION – The amount of money Quebec Justice Brian Riordan ruled three tobacco companies must pay to more than 1 million smokers in Quebec who have become ill from tobacco use or say they can’t quit smoking. The companies said they would appeal the ruling.
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The 400 richest Americans have as much wealth as all 41 million African Americans.
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Florida Gov. Rick Scott, thought he was announcing the phone number of a meningitis hotline, but provided the number of a phone sex line. Callers heard a woman say, “Hello, boys….”
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The top 20 percent of taxpayers—those earning $134,300 or more—account for about 84 percent of all federal income tax revenue. When you include all federal taxes, including those on Social Security and Medicare, the top quintile’s share drops to 67 percent. The top 20 percent earn about 51 percent of total U.S. income.
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According to the U.N., India has 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities. Low vehicle-emission standards, booming industrialization, crowded cities and the burning of trash means that the vast majority of Indians breathe unsafe air.
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Fifteen years ago, there was little resource exploitation on the ocean floor. Now 460,000 sq. mi. (1.2 million sq km) of sea bottom is under contract to mining operations.
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Homeowners in Centennial, Colo., woke up to a pleasant surprise last Sunday morning: a group of teens who went around shoveling their neighbors’ sidewalks and driveways free of charge. “They did everything: the whole driveway, the stoop, the whole sidewalk,” said one thankful recipient. “You just don’t see that in this day and age.”The high schoolers refused any money that […]
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Color commentary, after Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price used the F-word 77 times in a five-minute rant berating sportswriters for reporting that a player was injured. “Does every f—ing team that we f—ing play have to know every f—ing guy that’s here?” Price complained. “It’s a f—ing disgrace.”
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