/2021

Long #covid is destroying careers, leaving economic distress in its wake - The Washington Post

▻https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/12/09/long-covid-work-unemployed

Before the coronavirus ruined her plans, Tiffany Patino expected to be back at work by now. She and her boyfriend intended to move out of a basement in suburban Maryland, where his grandmother lets them stay for free, so they could raise their infant son in a place of their own. Maybe get a new car.

But Patino got sick with #covid-19 more than a year ago. Instead of getting better, chronic exhaustion and other symptoms persisted, delaying her return to a restaurant job and swamping her goal of financial independence. After reaching what she calls her “hell-iversary” last month, Patino remains unable to rejoin the workforce. With no income of her own, she’s exhausted, racked with pain, short of breath, forgetful, bloated, swollen, depressed.

Big Tobacco Meets Big Pharma. What Could Go Wrong?

Tobacco giant Philip Morris International is in the mood to diversify.

Not into new e-cigarette brands but into the acquisition of drug delivery companies—including some that treat smoking-related illnesses.

With falling smoking rates, the world’s largest listed tobacco company is looking, for example, to buy British drug firm Vectura, developer treatments for COPD (which is usually caused by smoking, per the CDC).

Advocacy organizations are protesting the sale.

Marlboro maker Philip Morris wants to buy COPD drug company Vectura as it looks to find new revenue - The Washington Post
▻https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/09/02/marlboro-maker-buys-vectura

The tobacco company’s bid to hire Tal-Singer is a piece of a much larger plan by the New York-based company to pivot away from cigarettes and develop new lines of business that go beyond just smoke-free products. Philip Morris International calls it a “Beyond Nicotine” strategy and says it wants to earn $1 billion from these new ventures by 2025.

All cigarette companies know the industry that established their fortunes is fading, as smoking rates decline worldwide. Most are invested in vaping and e-cigarettes. But no Big Tobacco firm has been as aggressive as Philip Morris International in seeking out entirely new ways of making money.

The tobacco giant’s new goal has led to a buying spree of drug-delivery firms in recent weeks — stirring up sharp criticism and skepticism from doctors, scientists and health officials who distrust the tobacco industry, which for decades denied smoking was dangerous.

The acquisitions are especially galling, scientists and doctors say, because some of the target companies make treatments for smoking-related ailments.

“It’s like someone breaking your knees and then selling you the crutches,” said Tal-Singer, who declined the offer to work with the company.

Jack Ma reportedly spotted golfing after hiding out for weeks
▻https://nypost.com/2021/02/10/jack-ma-spotted-golfing-after-hiding-out-for-weeks-report

10. 2.2021 by Noah Manskar - Jack Ma’s battle with Chinese regulators hasn’t stopped him from hitting the links.

The Alibaba founder — whose net worth is estimated by Forbes at $61.4 billion — was spotted golfing recently after an unusually long absence from the public spotlight, according to Bloomberg News.

Ma’s course of choice was the Sun Valley Golf Resort, a scenic 27-hole complex on the southern tip of the Chinese island of Hainan, the outlet reported Wednesday, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter.

The school teacher turned e-commerce tycoon’s reported appearance was another sign that Ma hadn’t been locked up or disappeared since he slammed China’s regulatory system in an October speech that apparently ruffled Beijing’s feathers.

Ma — whom one observer described as a “golfing novice” — may just be lying low while Alibaba and his digital payments firm, Ant Group, work through their problems with Chinese regulators, according to Bloomberg.

Officials halted Ant Group’s initial public offering in the wake of Ma’s speech, but the two sides have reached a restructuring deal that could be announced this week, Bloomberg reports.

Ma is one of China’s best-known business moguls, but he went nearly three months without appearing in public before he resurfaced at a Jan. 20 online ceremony that his charity organized for rural teachers.

His absence stirred speculation last month that he had gone missing — especially after he reportedly failed to appear on the final episode of an “Apprentice”-style TV show he created.

But Japanese billionaire Masayoshi Son said this week that he had been in touch with Ma, who has been drawing pictures and sending them to the SoftBank CEO.

Where is Jack Ma? Social media buzz about the famous billionaire puts spotlight on Chinese tech.
▻https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/01/06/where-is-jack-ma

#Chine #politique #affaires #Alibaba