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1. EU Expected To Require Testing for Travelers from China
European Union officials are expected to require travelers from China to take pre-departure COVID-19 tests to enter an EU nation, the Guardian reports. France, Italy and Spain already require such tests.
New COVID-19 cases have surged in China since the end of domestic travel restrictions meant to curb the spread of the virus, but the government has warned about countermeasures in response to countries implementing entry restrictions.
2. Alpine Ski Slopes Cope With Lack of Snow
Unseasonably warm temperatures around the Alps in Europe means ski slope operators and resorts in the mountain range have little snow to work with, the Associated Press reports. A weather system that brought warmer air from the west and southwest has stayed over the region, holding temperatures well above freezing.
Along with causing headaches during what should be ski season, it’s also trouble for World Cup skiing scheduled to take place in Adelboden, Switzerland, this weekend. The event, which typically attracts about 25,000 fans for a single day of racing, will run on 100% artificial snow this year.
3. UK Hotel Transactions Rise
Though it started from a lower base, hotel transaction volume in the United Kingdom rebounded in the first half of 2022, reports HNN's Terence Baker. Deals volume was up 32% compared to the first half of 2021 while also down 32% compared to the first half of 2019.
Business advisory Christie & Co.'s U.K. Hotel Market Snapshot 2022 found U.K. hotel deals in the first half of 2022 totaled 1.9 billion pounds sterling ($2.3 billion). Individual deals represented more than half of the total volume during that period.
4. Salesforce To Lay Off 10% of Employees
Business software provider Salesforce will lay off 10% of its workforce and reduce office space in some markets, the Wall Street Journal reports. The company’s CEO said in a letter to employees that too many people were hired during the pandemic and that customers are taking a more cautious approach to spending. The company had nearly 80,000 employees as of Oct. 31 compared to more than 49,000 as of Jan. 31, 2020.
In its filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company reported its restructuring plan would incur about $1.4 billion to $2.1 billion in charges. It expects to be mostly complete with its restructuring by the end of fiscal year 2024.
5. US Job Openings Increase Slightly
The number of job openings in November 2022 grew by 6.4% to 10.5 million by the last business day of the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. The number of job openings increased in the professional and business services sector by more than 212,000 and in nondurable goods manufacturing by 39,000.
Over the month, the total number of hires and separations remained relatively steady as well. The number of hires grew by 3.9% to 6.1 million. Separations, which includes quits, layoffs and discharges, held a rate of 3.8% at 5.9 million.