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☆ Israel-Hamas war: Diplomatic aid efforts ramp up for 'strangled' Gaza as regional conflict fears grow
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Helen Regan Kareem El Damanhoury Eyad Kourdi Abeer Salman Abbaggini | Helen Regan | Kareem El Damanhoury | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“We all know water is life – Gaza is running out of water, and Gaza is running out of life. People walk amid the destruction of houses and streets in Khan Younis, located in the southern Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Hamas is believed to be holding some 150 Israeli and foreign nationals hostage in the warren of tunnels underneath Gaza. It is also unclear if water is now flowing into southern Gaza. Israeli soldiers gather on and around a tank near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel on October 15.

Persons: ”, ’, Joe Biden, Philippe Lazzarini, ” Lazzarini, “, Marwan Jilani, Khan Younis, Mohamed Zaanoun, Dominic Allen, ” UNRWA’s Lazzarini, Isaac Herzog, Antonio Guterres, Pope Francis, Ravina Shamdasani, doesn’t, ” Shamdasani, Herzog, Antony Blinken, Benjamin, Netanyahu, Sunday Blinken, China’s, Wang Yi, Israel, Zhai Jun, Jacquelyn Martin, Jordan, United States Michael Herzog, Stéphane Dujarric, Jonathan Conricus, Emmanuel Macron “, Ebrahim Raisi, Warthogs, Ronen Zvulun, Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, Israel’s, UN, Israel Defense Forces, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, “, CNN, Crescent, Getty, Population Fund, Sunday, Palestinian Health Ministry, UN Human Rights, Reuters, CNN Israel, CNN Sunday, Water Authority, East Sunday, CBS Sunday, US National Locations: Gaza, Jerusalem, Israel, Rafah, Egypt, Khan, Guterres, Cairo, Jordan, nonfunctional, United States, Israeli, Iran, Syria, Israel’s, Lebanon

[1/4] A view shows destroyed buildings in the Gaza Strip as seen from Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 15, 2023. Um Mohammad Al-Laham's 4-year-old granddaughter Fulla Al-Laham lay in a Gaza hospital, which like others is operating on low supplies of medicine and fuel. She said an Israeli air strike hit the family home, killing 14 people including Fulla's parents, siblings and members of her extended family. Israel has unleashed the heaviest air strikes ever on Gaza. It said dozens of people had been killed in strikes on vehicles carrying refugees on Friday, while medics, Hamas media and relatives say whole families have been killed in air strikes.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Israel, Mohammad Al, Fulla Al, Laham, Fulla, Kamal Edwan, Hussam Abu Safiya, Ashraf Al, Khan Younis, Youssef Abu Assi, Abed Saleh, Ismail Khader, Michael Georgy, Hugh Lawson, Janet Lawrence Organizations: REUTERS, Gaza, Hamas, Reuters, United Nations, Kamal Edwan Hospital, UNRWA, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, GAZA, Israeli, kibbutzes, Hamas, Gaza City

Israel said it has already struck dozens of military targets, including command centers and rocket launchers, and also killed Hamas commanders. The Israeli military also reported shooting at one of its border posts. Gaza was already in a humanitarian crisis due to a growing shortage of water and medical supplies caused by the Israeli siege. Israel’s minister of energy and water, Israel Katz, said in a statement that water had been restored at one “specific point” in Gaza. Hamas urged people to stay in their homes, and the Israeli military released photos it said showed a Hamas roadblock preventing traffic from moving south.

Persons: KHAN YOUNIS, Israel, It's, Juliette Touma, ’, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Biden, Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah, David Satterfield, Jake Sullivan, Khan Younis, Mohammed Qandeel, ”, Hussam Abu Safiya, Kamal Adwan, ” Ahmed Al, Philippe Lazzarini, Sullivan, Israel Katz, Daniel Hagari, ___ Kullab, Nessman, Julia Frankel, Amy Teibel, Abby Sewell, Samy Magdy Organizations: Gaza Health Ministry, United Nations, U.S . State Department, Israel, Gaza, National News Agency, Reuters, Nasser Hospital, Kamal, World Health Organization, CNN, Hamas, Associated Press Locations: Gaza, Israel, U.S, Egypt, Syria, United, Lebanon, Israeli, Kfar Kila, Lebanese, Shtula, Turkey, Middle East, Hospitals, Khan, “, Gaza City, Rafah, Baghdad, Jerusalem, Beirut, Cairo

The Gaza Health Ministry said more than 2,300 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting erupted last weekend. Relief groups called for the protection of the over 2 million civilians in Gaza urging an emergency corridor be established for the transfer of humanitarian aid. Other doctors feared for the lives of patients dependent on ventilators and those suffering from complex blast wounds needing around-the-clock care. “Gaza is running dry,” she said, adding that U.N. teams have also begun to ration water. Across Gaza, families rationed dwindling water supplies, with many forced to drink dirty or brackish water.

Persons: KHAN YOUNIS, Israel's, ”, Mohammed Qandeel, Hussam Abu Safiya, Kamal Adwan, Abu Safiya, Mohammed Abu Selmia, Juliette Touma, Touma, Inas Hamdan, Shaima, Khan Younis Organizations: Gaza Health Ministry, Nasser Hospital, Kamal, United Nations, Shifa Locations: Gaza, U.N, territory's, Israel, Khan, Beit Lahia, Gaza City, Farra

☆ Netanyahu Vows to Demolish Hamas, as Israel Urges Gazans South
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

Israel has urged Gazans to evacuate south, which hundreds of thousands have already done in their Hamas-controlled enclave that is home to 2.2 million people, about half in Gaza City. Renewed clashes on Israel's border with Lebanon on Sunday morning with Hezbollah militants, backed by Israel's regional foe Iran, underscored the dangers of regional spillover. Israel's military said 279 of its soldiers had died. On Sunday, Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters launched a missile at an Israeli border village, killing one person and wounding three others. The Israeli military said it was striking in Lebanon in retaliation.

Persons: Nidal, Emily Rose, –, Benjamin Netanyahu, Gazans, Antony Blinken, Israel, Abdel Fattah al, Ebrahim Raisi, Netanyahu, Israel's, Um Muhammed Al, Laham, Daniel Hagari, Abu Dawoud, Hussam Abu Safiya, Kamal, Blinken, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Iran's Raisi, France's Emmanuel Macron Organizations: Gaza, Hamas, Authorities, Palestinian Health Ministry, World Health Organization, Reuters, Saudi Crown, Zionist Locations: Emily Rose GAZA, JERUSALEM, Gaza, Israel, Gaza City, East, Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Israel's

☆ Moving severely ill people in Gaza amounts to 'death sentence' - WHO
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Mourners attend the funeral of Palestinians in the aftermath of Israeli strikes amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 13, 2023. "There are severely ill people whose injuries mean their only chances of survival is being on life support, such as mechanical ventilators," said WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic. "So moving those people is a death sentence. Asking health workers to do so is beyond cruel." Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber; Editing by Rachel MoreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Tarik Jasarevic, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Rachel More Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, World Health Organization, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza

☆ Philips shares fall 8% after U.S. drug regulator deals fresh blow to sleep device recall
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Shares of Dutch health tech company Philips tumbled to the bottom of the European benchmark on Friday, after the U.S. drug regulator deemed its handling of a major product recall inadequate. The Amsterdam-listed stock was trading more than 8% lower at 1:15 p.m. London time, paring some losses after falling by as much as 10% earlier in the session. The announcement reflects yet another blow to Philips over the recall of millions of ventilators used to treat sleep apnea, which CEO Roy Jakobs earlier this year said would be the the firm's "highest priority." The FDA said it finds additional testing is necessary and noted Philips agreed to carry out this request. The company added that it shares the same objective as the FDA and other regulators "to ensure the highest standards of patient safety and quality in the delivery of healthcare."

Persons: Roy Jakobs, Philips Organizations: Philips, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, FDA Locations: U.S, Amsterdam, London

☆ What the plastic surgery industry can tell us about the path of the economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Plastic surgery demand may be one signal. Anyone looking for more under-the-radar economic signals can add plastic surgery to the list. The plastic bubble popBut within the plastic surgery industry, the pullback in demand is undeniable, particularly considering how hot business was through 2021. "It's something that really took most of us by surprise," he said of the pandemic's plastic surgery boom. And media attention … that influences discretionary purchases and plastic surgery.

Persons: —, Dr, Steven Williams, tucks, Williams, Yaniv, Konchitchki, COVID hospitalizations, There's, it's Organizations: Service, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, UC Berkeley, Federal Reserve, Aesthetic Society, San Francisco Fed Locations: rhinoplasties, Europe, United States

☆ Philips settles one category of U.S. claims over respirator recall
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Koninklijke Philips NV FollowAMSTERDAM, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Philips (PHG.AS) said on Thursday it has reached a settlement to resolve one category of legal claims against it following a major recall of the Dutch medical equipment maker's sleep apnea and respiratory devices. The company had taken a 575 million euro ($615.48 million) provision in the first quarter of 2023 against estimated costs for economic loss claims. The company still faces other legal actions over the recall, including personal injury claims, as well as an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. However, the lawyers said in a joint statement they would continue to pursue personal injury and other claims against the company. "We are confident in these claims and we look forward to holding Philips accountable for the physical harm they caused patients," they said.

Persons: Philips, Steve Klink, Toby Sterling, Tassilo Hummel, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Susan Fenton, David Evans Organizations: Koninklijke Philips NV, Philips, U.S . Department of Justice, U.S . Food, Drugs Administration, Thomson Locations: AMSTERDAM

☆ Amphenol sees better-than-expected revenue on demand from defense, aviation
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 26 (Reuters) - Electronic components maker Amphenol (APH.N) forecast third-quarter revenue above market estimates on Wednesday on optimism over demand from commercial air, military and automotive markets, sending its shares up more than 3% in early trading. The company expects third-quarter sales to be between $3.04 billion and $3.10 billion, while analysts estimated $3.09 billion, according to Refinitiv. Its profit forecast of 72 cents to 74 cents per share was in line with analysts' estimates. Amphenol, which manufactures products including sensors, antennas, cables and connectors, posted revenue of $3.05 billion for the second quarter ended June 30, compared with estimates of $2.95 billion. Its profit came in at 72 cents per share, higher than expectations of 68 cents.

Persons: Jaspreet Singh, Shinjini Organizations: Companies, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Philips slightly raises 2023 outlook after second-quarter core profit beat
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

(Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Dutch health technology company Philips on Monday slightly raised its full-year targets after posting a bigger-than-expected jump in second-quarter core earnings thanks to better supply chains, a strong order book and efficiency measures. For the full year, it now expects a mid-single-digit comparable sales growth versus its previous guidance of a low-single-digit growth. Its adjusted EBITA margin is now seen at the upper end of its previously forecasted high-single-digit range. Philips, which is facing lawsuits over its recall of respiratory devices, said it had produced approximately 99% of the new replacement respiratory devices and repair kits required for the remediation of the registered affected devices. "Completing the Philips Respironics field action remains our highest priority.

Persons: Beata Zawrzel, Roy Jakobs Organizations: Philips, Getty Images, U.S . Department of Justice Locations: Warsaw, Poland, Amsterdam

☆ Violent Druggings in Lower Manhattan Left a Trail of Bodies, Police Say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Maria Cramer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Allen was indicted in December in the overdose deaths of Nurbo Shera and Ardijan Berisha. Mr. Allen has been charged with 10 counts of second-degree murder — two for each of the five deaths. Mr. Shirley is charged in the overdose deaths of Mr. Ahmed and Mr. Rudnitsky. He was arraigned on Thursday afternoon, pleading not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, robbery, and grand larceny. The indictment described a series of texts about money between him and Mr. Allen.

Persons: Allen, Nurbo, Ardijan Berisha, Ms, Gallagher, Alexander Rudnitsky, Sadath Ahmed, Shirley, Mr, Ahmed, Rudnitsky, Brian Rodkey, “, ” Mr Organizations: Rutgers University Locations: Yonkers, N.Y, Queens, Manhattan, Bronx

☆ Special Report: Dozens of babies die in orphanage as Sudan war takes grim toll on Khartoum
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Maggie Michael | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +13 min

[1/7] A view from inside an orphanage in Khartoum, Sudan, in this handout image released April 20, 2023. There was no one there,” said Abdullah, speaking by phone from the orphanage, the cries of wailing babies audible in the background. Frini and the director of the orphanage, Zeinab Jouda, referred questions about the total death toll to Abdullah, Mygoma’s medical chief. ABANDONED CHILDRENOfficially called The Orphan's Care Centre, Mygoma, the orphanage is housed in a three-storey building in central Khartoum. She said that a day earlier, two babies who died were instead buried in a city square close to the orphanage.

☆ Philips’ convalescence has way longer to run
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes and amortisation of 359 million euros beat analysts’ average estimate of 226 million euros, per Visible Alpha data. The recall of faulty breathing devices and ventilators means Philips needs to set aside another 575 million euros for lawsuits on top of over 1 billion euros last year, but that’s less than Bernstein analysts’ expectation of 2.4 billion euros. Still, probes by the U.S. Department of Justice and further claims from injured patients mean Philips may need to cough up more money. Jakobs still faces some fundamental questions: Philips’ 7% EBITA margin last year was way off rival Siemens Healthineers’ (SHLG.DE) 18%. That explains why the latter trades on 28 times its 2023 earnings, versus Philips’ 19 times.

"The hospitals now serving the wounded are so few, with limited number of doctors, so there's overcrowding of wounded," said Esraa Abou Shama, a doctor at Sudan's health ministry. Over four days of fighting nine hospitals in Sudan have been hit by artillery and 16 forcibly evacuated, the Sudanese Doctors' Union said, with none still providing a full service inside the capital. His hospital's water and cooking gas tanks have been hit, many staff fled, and diesel fuel for the power generator is almost exhausted, he said. Staff cannot access the morgue because of the fighting, so dead bodies are stored in rooms with air conditioning turned up. "We all have the same problems - electricity, water, staff.

☆ Puerto Rico solar switch a life and death matter -US energy chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Timothy Gardner | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/4] Cars drive under a downed power pole in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona in Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico September 21, 2022. Puerto Rico has not typically been a large focus of U.S. energy chiefs. Colon covets the solar power Granholm offered, as it could also lower electricity bills, typically twice those on the mainland. Granholm said some 400,000 homes need rooftop solar but the $1 billion is only enough for up to 50,000 homes. Puerto Rico only generates about 3% of its electricity from renewables and the rest from fossil fuels.

☆ Philips expects to reach recall settlements this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies Koninklijke Philips NV FollowAMSTERDAM, March 30 (Reuters) - Dutch health technology company Philips (PHG.AS) expects to reach settlements this year relating to its global recall of respiratory devices, CEO Roy Jakobs said in an interview with Dutch financial daily FD published on Thursday. "I think we can at least reach a settlement on economic damages this year," Jakobs said without giving details on the expected costs. Jakobs added he "hopes and expects" to also reach a settlement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration this year. A settlement with patients who claim the use of the recalled machines made them sick probably will take longer, he said. The economic damages claim was made by people, hospitals and health plans who say they suffered economic losses when the millions of machines were recalled.

☆ Exclusive: ICU Medical to compete against GE Healthcare for Medtronic units -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( David Carnevali | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

GE Healthcare and private equity firms Carlyle Group Inc (CG.O) and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), which have been pursuing rival offers separately, are also through to the second round, the sources added. Carlyle is bidding through its newly formed healthcare investment platform Atmas Health, according to one of the sources. Medtronic has been taking offers for its patient monitoring and respiratory interventions businesses even as it presses on with preparations to spin them off to its shareholders. ICU Medical, GE Healthcare, Carlyle and CD&R declined to comment. The patient monitoring technology portfolio includes Nellcor pulse oximetry and BIS brain monitoring, while the respiratory interventions business comprises ventilators and breathing systems.

☆ Pessimism persists at big Japanese manufacturers amid global slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Tetsushi Kajimoto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Reuters Tankan, designed to closely track the Bank of Japan's key quarterly tankan survey, suggested the central bank's survey due next April 3 will likely show deterioration in business confidence at big manufacturers. The sentiment index for big manufacturers stood at minus 3, slightly up from minus 5 seen in the previous month, according to the survey conducted March 8-17. Compared with three months ago, the manufacturers' index was down 11 points, suggesting worsening of sentiment in the BOJ tankan's headline big manufacturers index. The Reuters Tankan index is expected to rebound to plus 10 over the next three months. The large service-sector firms' index rebounded to plus 21 in March from plus 17 seen in the previous month.

☆ Candida auris fungus spreading in U.S. hospitals - CDC
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FollowMarch 21 (Reuters) - Potentially deadly fungal infections with Candida auris are spreading rapidly in U.S. healthcare facilities, with cases nearly doubling between 2020 and 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. A high fever with chills that does not get better after taking antibiotics may be a sign of Candida auris infection. The CDC noted that spread of the infections in 2021 may have been exacerbated as the healthcare system was hit by pandemic-related stressors, such as staff and equipment shortages. Other countries have also reported increased spread of the fungus, the researchers said. Reporting by Leroy Leo in Bengaluru; editing by Caroline Humer, Nancy Lapid and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Venture Capital Investors Are Trying to Take Over Pandemic Response
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

Private capital has been eyeing public health for years. Several founders and investors told me that the failure of Kleiner's fund made Silicon Valley wary of investing in pandemic preparedness. Venture investors love that kind of thing. Public health and private industryWhen COVID hit, Charity Dean was the assistant director of the California Department of Public Health. In the end, almost every pandemic-related product created by Silicon Valley will ultimately require the government as a primary customer.

☆ U.S. FDA classifies recall of Philips' respiratory devices as most serious
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday classified the recall of Dutch medical devices maker Philips' (PHG.AS) respiratory machines as most serious, saying their use could lead to injuries or death. The company's ventilators provide breathing assistance to both pediatric and adult patients. The recall follows Philips' move to call back millions of breathing devices and ventilators in June 2021 due to the potential of a foam part degrading and becoming toxic, possibly causing cancer. Its subsidiary, Philips Respironics, had in December also recalled about 13,811 ventilators which were distributed between March 1, 2022 and Sept. 6, 2022. Philips did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the impact from the recall.

Lawrence Elbaum, co-head of law firm Vinson & Elkins' shareholder activism practice, said investors were looking for value-boosting strategies that do not require much funding in a difficult market. Deka Investment, which has around 367 billion euros ($392 billion) in assets under management and holds stakes in most major German corporations, has repeatedly called out German companies for structural weaknesses. Germany's blue-chip DAX 30 index (.GDAXI) put in the worst performance of any major European stock market in the past year, rising just 2%. Joe Kaeser, supervisory board chairman of Siemens Energy (ENR1n.DE), said the United States was much more advanced, and also more successful, in the field of shareholder activism. As CEO of conglomerate Siemens AG from 2013 until 2021, he engineered one of Germany's most successful corporate break-ups, separately listing Siemens Energy and Siemens Healthineers (SHLG.DE) and merging Siemens's wind unit with Spain's Gamesa.

☆ Philips to cut 13% of jobs in safety and profitability drive
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Bart H. Meijer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The new reorganisation brings the total amount of job cuts announced by new Chief Executive Roy Jakobs in recent months to 10,000, or around 13% of Philips' current workforce. Philips shares traded up 5.5% at 0855 GMT, helped by fourth-quarter earnings which were much better than expected. "What we present today I think is a very strong plan to secure the future of Philips. Jakobs said patient safety would be put "squarely at the center" of the new organization. To improve profitability while investing in safety, innovations will be targeted at "fewer, better resourced, and more impactful projects", Jakobs said.

☆ Philips scraps 6,000 jobs in drive to improve profitability
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Dutch health technology company Philips said on Monday it would scrap 6,000 jobs to restore its profitability following a recall of respiratory devices that knocked off 70% of its market value. Half of the job cuts will be made this year, the company said, adding that the other half will be realized by 2025. "We have been working very hard to refocus on health technology, and we have now built a very strong portfolio there where we have 70% of number one or two positions," he also told CNBC. "But we have not been extracting the value out of those segments because we did not execute well. So the strategy I present today is very much focused on organic growth, focusing on the portfolio that we have and getting the most out of them."

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