💊 $147M opioid settlement with CVS, Walmart

Walmart and CVS Pharmacy have settled with the state of West Virginia for a combined total of $147 million in a lawsuit over the companies’ roles in contributing to the oversupply of prenoscription drugs that fueled the opioid epidemic in the country’s most impacted state, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced Tuesday.

Walmart and CVS were two lawsuits that were part of a larger trial that was pushed back to June of next year along with Kroger and Walgreens. Morrisey recently announced a settlement with Rite Aid for up to $30 million to resolve similar litigation.

In August, West Virginia cities and counties reached a $400 million tentative settlement with three major US drug distributors: AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson. In April, Morrisey announced the state would receive $99 million in a settlement finalized with Johnson & Johnson’s subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc.

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⚖️ Migrants sue Florida governor over Martha’s Vineyard flights

Venezuelan migrants flown to the upscale Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his transportation secretary Tuesday for engaging in a “fraudulent and discriminatory scheme” to relocate them.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Boston, alleges that the migrants were told they were going to Boston or Washington, “which was completely false,” and were induced with perks such as $10 McDonald’s gift certificates.

“No human being should be used as a political pawn,” said Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal, executive director of Lawyers for Civil Rights.

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‼️Kherson region within its administrative borders to become part of Russia, authorities say

The Kherson Region within its administrative borders will become part of Russia, Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the regional administration, told Sputnik.

📺 WATCH | Donetsk residents react to news of upcoming referendum vote

Earlier, the civic chambers of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics appealed to hold referendums to officially become part of Russia. The push has since seen the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions follow suit.

Speaking to Ruptly, Donetsk locals remarked that the referendum was “long overdue,” and that the initiative signaled both stability and safety.

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🗽 NYC ending vaccine mandate for private employers on Nov. 1

New York City will lift its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for private-sector employers on Nov. 1, Mayor Eric Adams said Tuesday in another sign of the city’s gradual return to pre-pandemic norms.

The city began requiring almost all private businesses to ban unvaccinated employees from the workplace in December 2021, when some workers who refused the shots were fired.

Proof of vaccination will for the time still be required for municipal workers, including police officers, firefighters and teachers, the mayor said. Employers will be free to continue requiring workers to get vaccinated as a condition of employment.

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🎹 Elton John to perform at White House

Celebrities are back at the White House following a pop-culture backlash during the Trump years, when just about anyone considered high-wattage refused to show up. Rocker Elton John is bringing his farewell tour to the South Lawn on Friday, the White House announced Tuesday.

Last year, the Democratic president resumed the tradition of hosting an in-person White House reception for the artists receiving honors from the Kennedy Center.

The 75-year-old British singer is among celebrities who avoided the Trump White House. John had declined an invitation to play at Trump’s inaugural festivities, saying he didn’t think it was appropriate for someone with British heritage to play at the swearing-in of an American president.

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📹“Most of [the drafted men] have never held a weapon in their hands:” A Ukrainian officer recalls how he sent completely untrained people to the front line.

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🇯🇵 A man set himself on fire early Wednesday outside the Japanese prime minister’s office in Tokyo in what appears to be a protest against the state funeral planned next week, Japanese media has reported. Believed to be in his 70s, the individual was found conscious and taken to the hospital with burns on his entire body.

▪️ The prime minister’s office, the cabinet, and the police all declined to comment on the reports, but according to Kyodo, a letter was found at the scene that said: “Personally, I am absolutely against” Abe’s funeral.

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🇩🇪 🗣 Germany wants to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

🗯 “I ask you to support our candidacy. The candidacy of a country that respects the principles of the UN and which stands for cooperation and participates in it,” said Chancellor Scholz, speaking at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly.

▪️ He added that Germany has been advocating reforms and expansion of the Security Council for many years.

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⚡️ President Putin starts his address on Donbass

⚡️ Putin says the West’s goal is to destroy Russia, they say openly that they managed to collapse USSR and now its time for Russia

⚡️ The liberation of the entire territory of Donbass remains the unchanging goal of the special military operation, Putin says

⚡️ Kiev openly abandoned conflict resolution plans on Donbass and announced claims to obtain nuclear weapons, an attack on Crimea could happen - Putin

⚡️ Kiev was reacting positively to Russia’s proposals after start of military operation, but West instructed Ukraine to abandon negotiations - Putin

⚡️ ⚡️Putin instructs governmentt, defense ministry to determine legal status of volunteers and Donbass militias as soon as possible

⚡️ The decision on partial mobilization corresponds to the current state of affairs, Putin says

⚡️ A decree on partial mobilization has been signed: Putin

⚡️ Decree on partial mobilization stipulates additional measures for state defense orders - Putin

⚡️ Putin: Western countries are pushing Kiev to transfer hostilities to Russia

⚡️ Putin: If its territorial integrity is threatened, Russia will use all available means; this is not a bluff