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[ad_1] People are seen waiting at the arrivals area of terminal 5 at Heathrow International airport. Carlos Barria | Reuters LONDON — The U.K. and France said Thursday morning they currently had no plans to reintroduce mandatory Covid-19 tests or additional requirements for travelers arriving into the country. It comes as several nations announced new measures in response to China's relaxation of Covid restrictions amid a suspected surge of infections but reduced domestic testing. Beijing on Monday dropped its quarantine on arrival policy , leading many to book their first overseas trips in years. Italy, the center of Europe's initial outbreak in early 2020, on Wednesday became the first country in the region to announce that mandatory antigen swabs would be required of all travelers coming from China. On one Dec. 26 flight from China into Milan's Malpensa Airport, 52% of passengers tested positive for Covid, la Repubblica reported. European Union health officials wer

[ad_1] Juul Labs signage is seen in the window of a store in San Francisco, June 25, 2019. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Juul Labs said Wednesday it's planning to cut about 30% of its workforce as it looks to cut costs and boost profits. The layoffs will affect about 250 people, reducing the company's headcount to about 650, a company spokesperson said. This will reduce operating expenses by $225 million, the Juul spokesperson added. Juul, which is seeking federal authorization to keep its e-cigarette products on the market, said the cuts will improve its margins and free up cash for litigation settlements. "Today, Juul Labs is announcing a company restructuring aimed at reducing our operating costs and positioning us to continue to advance our mission during a period of regulatory and marketplace uncertainty," the company said in a news release . Last year, the vaping giant had its products ordered off the market by the Food and Drug Administrati

[ad_1] Sdi Productions | E+ | Getty Images Many people will soon be picking their health insurance plans for 2024: November is a common month for workplace open enrollment, and the public marketplace opens Nov. 1. But choosing a health plan can be tricky. In fact, a 2017 study found many people lose money due to suboptimal choices: Sixty-one percent chose the wrong plan, costing them an average $372 a year. The paper, authored by economists at Carnegie Mellon University and the Wisconsin School of Business, examined choices made by almost 24,000 workers at a U.S. firm. More from Personal Finance: 'Cash stuffing' may forgo 'easiest money' you can make These credit cards have had 'increasingly notable' high rates Home 'affordability is incredibly difficult,' economist says Health plans have many moving parts, such as premiums and deductibles. Each has financial implications for buyers. "It is confusing, and people have no idea how much they

[ad_1] Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. ET. Here's a recap of Thursday's key moments. Don't sell Meta Look past Eli Lilly's tough quarter Chance to buy Estee Lauder 1. Don't sell Meta Shares of Meta Platforms (META) soared more than 25% Thursday morning, to $192.50 apiece, after the tech giant reported a fourth-quarter earnings beat Wednesday evening and announced a $40 billion stock buyback plan. The quarter was exactly what we had been waiting for, as the company demonstrated it's serious about controlling costs. CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday called 2023 "the year of efficiency," while lowering Meta's 2023 expenses outlook by $5 billion. We're holding onto our shares of Meta and expect the stock to move even higher, if Zuckerberg follows through on his promise to rein in spending. 2. Look past Eli Lilly's tough quarter Eli Lilly (LLY) stock was down

[ad_1] A customs officer takes a sample from part of the cocaine seized for the largest single seizure of cocaine in Bavaria to date, which is examined using a test tube. Picture Alliance | Getty Images Cocaine production is at its highest level on record, with demand rebounding post-pandemic and new trafficking hubs emerging, a report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime found. The U.N.'s Global Report on Cocaine 2023 says new hubs for trafficking in the multibillion dollar industry have emerged in West and Central Africa in the last two years. New improvements and innovations in cultivation of the coca bush and conversion from coca plant to cocaine have also helped production boom — rising by 35% between 2021 and 2022 to record levels. related investing news "The Covid-19 pandemic had a disruptive effect on drug markets. With international travel severely curtailed, producers struggled to get their product to market. Night clubs and bars were shut as offici

[ad_1] Blood sample for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) test Jarun011 | Istock | Getty Images U.S. Food and Drug Administration staff on Tuesday said Pfizer's vaccine that protects infants from respiratory syncytial virus has "generally favorable" safety data. The FDA staff made the conclusion in briefing documents ahead of a meeting on Thursday when a panel of external advisors to the agency will discuss whether to recommend full approval of the RSV shot . The advisors will vote on whether Pfizer's late-stage clinical trial data on the vaccine supports its safety and efficacy. The FDA typically follows the advice of its advisory committees, but is not required to do so. The agency is slated to make a decision on whether to clear the shot in August before RSV season in the fall. If approved, Pfizer's jab would become the world's first vaccine that protects infants against RSV.  RSV usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. But infants and older ad

[ad_1] A nurse prepares doses of the Pfizer vaccine during a COVID-19 vaccination event at Josephine's Southern Cooking in Chatham, Illinois, Dec. 30, 2021. Brian Cassella | Tribune News Service | Getty Images A new round of Covid vaccines is finally here in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cleared single-strain shots from Pfizer and Moderna for all Americans six months and up on Tuesday, following approvals from the Food and Drug Administration on Monday. Those mRNA vaccines are designed to target a relatively new omicron subvariant called XBB.1.5 .  The first doses of the new shots will be available at some pharmacies and other vaccine distribution locations within 48 hours of the CDC's recommendation, agency staff said Tuesday during a meeting of independent advisors to the CDC. That means jabs could reach Americans as soon as Thursday. Meanwhile, the FDA is still reviewing a third updated vaccine from Novavax for people ages 12 and up.  Th

[ad_1] Respiratory syncytial virus vial. Manjurul | Istock | Getty Images Vaccinating one million adults ages 65 and above with a single RSV shot from Pfizer or GSK may prevent thousands of hospitalizations over two seasons of the virus, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis .  A CDC medical officer presented the analysis, conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan, at an advisory committee meeting on Wednesday. The committee recommended that adults ages 60 and older may receive one dose of Pfizer's or GSK's respiratory syncytial virus shot after consulting their doctor.  The analysis found that vaccinating one million adults 65 and older with a single dose of Pfizer's shot may prevent 2,500 hospitalizations and 25,000 outpatient visits over two seasons of the virus. RSV season typically lasts from October to March in the Northern Hemisphere.   The analysis also found that vaccinating one million adults in the same age gr

[ad_1] A sign for the Food and Drug Administration is seen outside of the headquarters on July 20, 2020 in White Oak, Maryland. Sarah Silbiger | Getty Images Frank Yiannas, a top official at the Food and Drug Administration in charge of the agency's food policy and response office, announced Wednesday that he is stepping down from his role as deputy commissioner. Yiannas was among the FDA officials leading the agency as it navigated its way through last year's  infant formula shortage  after Abbott Laboratories voluntarily shut down production at the country's  largest formula factory  following reports that infants who consumed formula from the plant got sick. His resignation comes days after Abbott Laboratories confirmed that the Justice Department was  investigating the company  over its Michigan baby formula plant. "Today, I informed Commissioner [Robert] Califf that I will be resigning my position as Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Food Policy and Respo

[ad_1] A combination package of Procter & Gamble Co. DayQuil Severe and NyQuil Severe brand cold and flu medicine is arranged for a photograph in Tiskilwa, Illinois. Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images The main ingredient used in many popular over-the-counter cold and allergy medications doesn't actually work to get rid of nasal congestion, an advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration declared Tuesday.  In a unanimous vote, 16 advisors said oral versions of phenylephrine – a nasal decongestant found in versions of drugs like Nyquil,  Benadryl, Sudafed and Mucinex – aren't effective at relieving a stuffy nose.  The FDA typically follows the advice of its advisory committees but it is not required to do so. The agency could potentially move to begin a process that removes phenylephrine from the market, which would force manufacturers to pull widely used cough and cold medications from store shelves and reformulate those products.  That could affect Procter

[ad_1] Danaher (DHR) is a day away from shedding its environmental-and-applied solutions segment, and the Club holding's ability to deliver returns for shareholders appears stronger than ever. Those potential returns can come from two places: Danaher stock and shares of Veralto (VLTO), the soon-to-be-standalone company that's in the business of water quality. We see underappreciated value in Danaher, and a favorable setup for Veralto after it's spun off into a separate, publicly traded entity on Saturday. When we receive Veralto shares on Monday, as all Danaher shareholders will, we intend to keep them, based on their current expected value. Danaher has looked attractive in recent weeks – Jim Cramer called its stock a buy during the Club's September Monthly Meeting – and that appeal increased this week following a key step in the spin-off process. A "when-issued" market was established Wednesday for both Danaher and Veralto stock, providing a first look a

[ad_1] The rise of new anti-obesity medications could result in less alcohol consumption, impacting Club name Constellation Brands (STZ). The risk already seems to be playing out in food stocks with exposure to snacks and junk food. However, if necessary, the Mexican beer powerhouse behind Corona, Modelo and Pacifico could take action to mitigate any demand pressures. The weight-loss benefits of diabetes drugs such Novo Nordisk 's (NOVO) Ozempic and Club holding Eli Lilly 's (LLY) Mounjaro may turn out to be a headwind to not only alcohol makers — but also soda, snack food and fast-food companies. Novo Nordisk has already gotten U.S. regulatory approval for the active ingredient in Ozempic, semaglutide, to be prescribed to combat obesity. For weight loss, it's marketed under the name Wegovy. The active ingredient in Mounjaro, tirzepatide, is expected to get anti-obesity approval as soon as later this year. STZ YTD mountain STZ year-to-date performance. We don't thi