Brexit election: The first official day of the campaign

On today’s Daily podcast we take a look at how the political parties marked the first official day of the general election campaign.

Plus, we discuss a legal victory for climate change campaigners and the retirement of one of Team GB’s Olympic stars.

:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

America’s Unsafe Drugs and Medical Products

Whether taking an over-the-counter (OTC) drug or one prescribed by a doctor, patients generally assume that medications are safe.  But mistakes happen. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued six new safety alerts at the end of last month alone, one safety communication and five product recalls.

The FDA issues safety alerts to provide timely new safety information on human drugs, medical devices, vaccines and other products including biologics, dietary supplements and cosmetics. The alerts are publicly available at the agency’s MedWatch website and contain “actionable information that may impact both treatment and diagnostic choices for healthcare professional and patient.” The following list includes all Medwatch alerts for from July 1, 2019 through October 30, 2019. There are several types of alerts, including letters to health care providers, warnings to users, drug safety notices and recalls. The most serious alert is a Class I recall, indicating that continued use of these devices may cause serious injury or death.

The agency, which effectively oversees $2.4 trillion of the U.S. economy, issues warning letters about the safety of drugs that are already on the market. Dangerous drugs can slip past the FDA and find their way to consumers and, in some cases, cause serious problems — these are the worst drug recalls in history.

Click here to see America’s unsafe medical products. 

Poppy donation box among items stolen from Peterborough business: police

A poppy donation box was among the items reported stolen following a weekend break-in at a Peterborough business, according to police.

The Peterborough Police Service alleges an unknown person broke into a Lansdowne Street West business sometime between 9:30 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday.

Stock market hits Wednesday slides lower amid report that U.S.-China trade-deal signing may be delayed

U.S. stocks on Wednesday registered modest losses, hitting the lows of the session after Reuters reported that a meeting between President Donald Trump and his counterpart in China to ink a preliminary trade pact with President Xi Jinping could be delayed until December, citing a senior official of the Trump administration. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, -0.12% was down 0.1% at 27,465, the S&P 500 index SPX, -0.13% declined 0.1% at 3,070, while the Nasdaq Composite Index COMP, -0.50% retreated 0.5% to 8,394. Reuters reported that it was still possible a phase one agreement aimed at ending a damaging trade war would not be reached, "but a deal was more likely than not."

HP’s stock pares gains, after WSJ reports buyout bid from Xerox would be less than $23 a share

Shares of HP Inc. HPQ, +10.05% rallied 9.5% in midday trading, but pared earlier gains of as much as 18%, after The Wall Street Journal reported that the potential buyout bid from Xerox Holdings Corp. XRX, +2.20% would be below $23 a share. The stock’s intraday was $21.67. The WSJ had reported late Tuesday that Xerox was mulling a move to buy HP. Xerox’s shares gained 2.9%, to lift the printing and digital document company’s market capitalization to $8.20 billion, compared with HP’s market cap of $29.87 billion. HP shares have lost 19% over the past 12 months, while Xerox’s stock has run up 29% and the S&P 500 SPX, -0.13% has gained 11%.

Ten killed in attack on Semafo convoy in Burkina Faso: sources

NAIROBI (Reuters) – Ten people were killed and dozens more are wounded and missing after an attack on a convoy transporting workers of Canadian gold miner Semafo in eastern Burkina Faso, three sources said on Wednesday.

The attack took place between Semafo’s Fada and Boungou mine sites, about 40 kilometers from Boungou, the company said earlier.

Crews beat back blaze at vacant seniors’ home in Cap-Pelé, N.B.

Fire crews remain on scene after battling a blaze at a vacant seniors’ home in Cap-Pelé, N.B., on Wednesday.

Fire crews from four different New Brunswick municipalities worked to douse the blaze, which ignited early in the morning.

The seniors’ home has been vacant since it closed in July, Cap-Pelé fire chief Ronald Cormier told Global News.

Cormier said the fire caused extensive damage to the kitchen and living areas in the facility, as well as several rooms.

Xerox considers making $27B offer to buy HP: reports

Xerox Holdings Corp is considering making a cash-and-stock offer for personal computer maker HP Inc at a premium to its market value of $27 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

Xerox’s board discussed the possibility on Tuesday, the newspaper said here, citing people familiar with the matter.

There is no guarantee that Xerox will follow through with an offer or that one would succeed, it added.

Xerox and HP did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

Which markets are closed on Veterans day?

In observance of Veterans day, which intends to honor the service of former U.S. military personnel, some U.S. markets will be open and some closed next Monday.

The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (Sifma), has recommended the bond-market’s closure on Monday in line with the U.S. Treasury Department’s holiday schedule.

However, the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will be open for companies in the Dow Jones Industrial AverageDJIA, -0.05% , S&P 500 indexSPX, -0.01%  and the Nasdaq Composite IndexCOMP, -0.35% . Other markets for currencies and commodities, like those for gold and crude-oil, however, will also be open.

Both equity and bond markets used to be shuttered as far back as 1938, when it was a declared a national holiday under the name “Armistice Day” to honor veterans of World War One.

Later in 1954, Congress swapped out the term “Armistice” in favor of “Veterans” to recognize the service of veterans from World War II and the Korean War as well.

Veterans Day is different from U.S. Memorial Day, a public holiday in May. Veterans Day honors all military veterans, while Memorial Day honors those who have died in military service.