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On August 14th, Li Lecheng, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, recently visited Qinghai, Gansu, and Ningxia to investigate the development of the salt lake industry and the green and low-carbon development of industry. In Golmud City, Qinghai Province, Li Lecheng visited Qinghai Salt Lake Magnesium Industry, Potash Fertilizer, and Lithium Battery Company to investigate the production of integrated salt lake magnesium, potash fertilizer, and lithium salt projects. He emphasized the need for a scientifically planned development strategy for the salt lake industry, strengthened policy support and resource guarantees, optimization and strengthening of enterprises, promotion of resource integration and industrial synergy, tackling key core technologies in salt lake resource development, improving the efficiency of potassium, lithium, and magnesium resource development and utilization, and the level of deep processing, and creating a distinctive and advantageous industrial chain.On August 14th, Oxford Economics stated that Japans plan to cut the food consumption tax will widen the fiscal deficit and push up Japanese government bond yields. Economist Norihiro Yamaguchi wrote in a report that model calculations show the tax cuts will reduce Japans annual tax revenue by approximately 5 trillion yen, a loss that will be difficult to offset through other means. The institution expects some of the tax revenue loss to be offset by non-tax revenue and spending cuts, but assumes half of that will be financed through debt. The institution predicts Japans primary fiscal deficit will worsen to 3% of GDP, subsequently improving gradually from 2029 onwards as the debt-to-GDP ratio rises and fiscal consolidation intensifies. Oxford Economics projects that by the end of 2026, the yield on long-term Japanese government bonds will rise to approximately 3%, rather than remaining around 2.8%. Although the current reaction in the bond market is relatively limited, Oxford Economics believes that as more policy details emerge, the market will begin to gradually factor in the impact of the tax cuts on the fiscal situation.August 14th - According to foreign media reports, economists are now worried that the persistent high temperatures and lack of rainfall will increasingly drag down British economic activity. Currently, about two-thirds of England has officially entered a drought state, and newly appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham convened an emergency meeting this week to discuss government measures to deal with the drought and wildfires. Increasing signs indicate that extreme heat is driving consumers away from high streets, impacting agricultural production, hindering construction, and dragging down labor productivity. An analysis by an agency on Friday showed that, so far, the heatwave has caused approximately £6 billion in losses to the British economy, equivalent to 0.2% of economic output. An economist stated, "The hot summer has brought yet another negative supply shock to the British economy. While the impact of the heatwave on GDP levels may only be temporary, the risk is that this heatwave could again push up prices in some sectors, thus creating new challenges for the Bank of England, which is already dealing with high inflation."A NATO military spokesperson stated that, following confirmation, an Italian Typhoon fighter jet eliminated the potential threat over an uninhabited area (regarding the earlier drone incident in Latvia).A NATO military spokesperson confirmed that NATO allied warplanes were scrambled due to a drone entering Latvian airspace.

Attorney General Martin O'Malley Announces $276 Million Opioid Settlement With J&J, McKesson, And Endo

Charlie Brooks

Apr 20, 2022 10:04

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McKesson will provide $141 million to the state's efforts to tackle the opioid problem, while Johnson & Johnson and Endo will contribute $70.3 million and $25 million, respectively, according to Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. Additionally, the three corporations will pay $40 million in legal expenses.


The state had charged McKesson with failing to prevent opioid diversion for criminal reasons and the drugmakers with false marketing techniques that minimized the addiction dangers associated with their medications. Both businesses have denied any wrongdoing.


J&J, the maker of Duragesic and Nucynta, claimed it no longer offers prescription opioids in the United States and that its previous marketing activities were "appropriate and acceptable."


McKesson and Endo did not reply to calls for comment immediately.


Alabama was one of four states that rejected to join a $26 billion national settlement of opioid lawsuits reached in February by McKesson, two other major U.S. distributors, and J&J. [L1N2V01ZA]


"These three settlement agreements reaffirm my decision to withdraw from the national opioid settlements, which failed to sufficiently recognize the specific suffering suffered by Alabama residents," Marshall said in a statement.


Alabama would get a larger payment from McKesson and a speedier payment from J&J, Marshall said, compared to what the state would have gotten under the national settlement.


Alabama would have earned $115 million over 18 years from McKesson and $70.3 million over nine years from J&J under the national settlement structure. According to Marshall, the revised deal requires J&J to make full payment within a year, while McKesson will do so within nine years.


The state was on the point of bringing McKesson to trial, with opening arguments slated on Monday until the two parties agreed to a postponement.


Alabama's agreement comes amid a flood of state government lawsuits and settlements over the United States' opioid problem, which has resulted in more than 500,000 overdose fatalities over the last two decades, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


West Virginia announced a $99 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson on Monday and is currently prosecuting drugmakers Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NYSE:TEVA) and AbbVie's Allergan (NYSE:AGN) subsidiary.


In March, Florida achieved opioid settlements totaling more than $878 million with CVS Health Corp (NYSE:CVS) and three pharmaceutical firms, and on April 11, the state opened a trial against drugstore chain Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:WBA).