Bayer To Pay $1.6 Billion To Settle Birth Control Device Lawsuits In U.S.

Bayer agreed to pay $1.6 billion to settle most of the U.S. lawsuits alleging that the company’s birth control device “Essure” caused excessive bleeding and pelvic pain or failed to prevent pregnancies.

The settlement will resolve about 90 percent of the nearly 39,000 claims by women. The company is in discussions with counsel for the remaining plaintiffs, Bayer said in a statement.

There is no admission of wrongdoing or liability by Bayer in the settlement agreements.

Bayer said that in 2018, it voluntarily discontinued sales and distribution of Essure in the United States, which followed a similar action in all other markets a year earlier. The decision was taken due to a decline in sales of Essure, and not based on safety concerns.

In June, Bayer had reached an agreement to pay up to $10.9 billion to settle thousands of U.S. lawsuits alleging that the company’s Roundup herbicide causes cancer. Bayer inherited thousands of lawsuits against Roundup inventor Monsanto when it acquired the U.S. agriculture giant for $63 billion in 2018.

Airbnb bans parties amid COVID-19, caps guests at 16

Short-term home rental company Airbnb on Thursday announced a global party ban at its listings amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Gatherings at Airbnb rentals will also be capped at 16 as part of a new policy to promote a safer environment, the company said.

“This party ban applies to all future bookings on Airbnb and it will remain in effect indefinitely until further notice,” Airbnb said in a statement.

The company noted that a majority of its existing worldwide rentals — 73 percent — already prohibit parties with their own rules.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Airbnb had already issued a new policy requiring users to adhere to social-distancing mandates set by local governments.

But, the company said, with the reversal of restrictions in some jurisdictions as virus cases go down, came the return of in-house revelers.

“Some have chosen to take bar and club behavior to homes, sometimes rented through our platform,” the company said.

“We think such conduct is incredibly irresponsible – we do not want that type of business, and anyone engaged in or allowing that behavior does not belong on our platform.”

Airbnb said they would take action against guests who violate the party ban.

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Kader Exports Recalls Frozen Cooked Shrimp For Salmonella Concerns

Kader Exports pvt. Ltd. is recalling certain consignments of various frozen cooked shrimp citing potential contamination with Salmonella, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The affected frozen cooked, peeled and deveined shrimp products were sold in 1lb, 1.5lb., and 2lb. retail bags. They were distributed from late February 2020 to Mid-May 2020 across the nation.

The recall includes 24 products with various brand names, comprising Aqua Star Reserve, Censea, Fresh Market, Kirkland, Tops, Unistar, and Wellsley Farms.

Salmonella are a group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness and fever called salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Most people with salmonellosis develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis, and arthritis.

The cooked shrimp imported by Kader Exports was tested by the FDA and found to contain Salmonella. However, there are no reports of any illnesses to date related to the recalled shrimp products.

In similar recalls over Salmonella concerns, Thomson International Inc. on August 1 called back Red, Yellow, White, and Sweet Yellow Onions. Spokane Produce Inc. this week recalled its salsa products containing onions.

In late July, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA announced their investigation of an outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections in 15 states affecting about 125 people.

U.S. President Trump's re-election campaign spends $64.5 million in July

(Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign spent $64.5 million in July, according to a disclosure filed on Thursday with the Federal Election Commission.

Earthquake of magnitude 6.9 strikes Banda Sea off Indonesia: EMSC

(Reuters) – An earthquake of magnitude 6.9 struck the Banda Sea off Indonesia on Friday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said, as it revised upwards a prior figure of 6.8.

The quake was at a depth of 640 km (398 miles), said the agency, which had earlier estimated a magnitude of 6.6.

But it was not powerful enough to trigger a tsunami in the Indian Ocean region, said a monitor, Tsunami Service Provider Indonesia.

Indonesia, which sits on the Pacific’s seismically active “Ring of Fire”, has suffered deadly earthquakes and tsunamis.

Thai govt should use fiscal policy more to help economy -c.bank

BANGKOK, Aug 21 (Reuters) – Thailand’s fiscal policy should play a greater role to help the economy recover from the impact of the coronavirous pandemic, the central bank governor said on Friday, with the benchmark interest rate at a record low.

The central bank will focus on assisting with debt restructuring, Veerathai Santiprabhob told reporters after the launch of a debt restructuring programme for businesses.

Earlier this month, the central bank left its key rate unchanged at 0.50% after three cuts this year so that policy room could be used at the most effective time.