Global National: Jan. 5, 2024 | Florida gets FDA approval to import cheaper drugs from Canada

A ground-breaking decision in the U.S. that could impact Canadians: Florida has become the first state to get Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to import mass volumes of prescription drugs from wholesalers in Canada, where prices are much lower. A recent survey shows Americans who ordered their prescriptions from Canadian pharmacies saved nearly $5,000 last year. U.S. states have long fought to purchase medicines in bulk to rein in some of the highest drug prices in the world. Mackenzie Gray reports on the policy shift and the potential impact in Canada. In an Ontario courtroom, it was a heart-wrenching day as the words of an 11-year-old boy — the sole survivor of an attack that killed three generations of his family — were heard. The boy's comments were one of roughly 70 victim impact statements at the sentencing hearing for Nathaniel Veltman, who targeted the Afzaal family with his truck in June 2021 because they were Muslim. Sean O'Shea has the details. Meanwhile, the latest snapshot of job growth in Canada shows that hiring has stalled across the country, suggesting employers are preparing for an economic downturn. As Anne Gaviola explains, that may help solve a different issue that has long plagued Canada and intensified more recently: declining productivity. Overseas, a Ukrainian parliamentary committee met this week to review proposed changes to military draft rules, as the country looks for more soldiers to fight against Russia's invasion. Since the start of the war almost two years ago, it's thought hundreds of foreign fighters have travelled to Ukraine to join Kyiv's push against Russia. Some of them are from Canada, including a 15-year veteran, who quit his role with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to join what he calls “the righteous side of this war.” Redmond Shannon has more. In Japan, recovery crews began the grim task of removing the wreckage from Tokyo's Haneda airport runway after a deadly crash earlier this week. Five crew members onboard a coast guard plane were killed when it was hit by a commercial jet that was coming in for landing. Aviation experts say the crash could have been much worse, and as Neetu Garcha reports, it's prompting new questions about how many close calls there are on Canadian runways. And finally, in a world where people can connect with one another in so many different ways, loneliness is a growing concern for doctors. Medical professionals say feelings of isolation can be associated with poor health, especially among seniors. Katherine Ward has more on how one hospital is trying to help those in need. For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca Subscribe to Global News Channel HERE: http://bit.ly/20fcXDc Like Global News on Facebook HERE: http://bit.ly/255GMJQ Follow Global News on Twitter HERE: http://bit.ly/1Toz8mt Follow Global News on Instagram HERE: https://bit.ly/2QZaZIB #GlobalNews