How organized crime is profiting from flaws in anti-smoking policies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:52 GMT

The trade in counterfeit and contraband cigarettes is booming in Europe. Criminal gangs are costing governments billions of euro in lost revenue and frustrating efforts to get smokers to switch to much safer smoke-free products. A new survey shows that the problem is worst in France, where an estimated 16.9 billion illicit cigarettes were sold last year, nearly half the EU total, writes Political Editor Nick Powell.After centuries of controlling tobacco, the mighty French state is letting go of the market, forfeiting €7.2 billion in tax revenues lost in a single year. Half of the illicit trade is highly visible, with the gangsters’ wares sold outside nearly every metro station in Paris, the other half is distributed using social networks online, including to children and young people who start smoking as a result.Once consumers are lost to the black market, it is hard to get them back. Switching to safer smoke-free products is less likely if instead of being an alternative to taxed ...

On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the EU ‘cannot just stick to slogans’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:52 GMT

Ehud Yaari speaks during a briefing organized in Brussels by Europe Israel Press Association."What should be done is to save the Palestinian Authority from collapsing,” Israel’s leading Mideast affairs expert Ehud Yaari told European Jewish Press. "Josep Borrell has made in the past several statements that make the Israeli government understands that there is no great use in discussing with him. You have better addresses in Brussels and in the EU to discuss what can really be done," writes Yossi Lempkowicz."I wish Europe should understand that the main Iranian effort is to obtain hegemony all over the Levant. And then they will deal with the Gulf… The European Union cannot just stick to slogans and sometimes slander and seek a quick solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that is not available unfortunately," believes Ehud Yaari, Israeli leading expert on Middle East affairs."Because the Palestinians are not ready. This is the root of the problem. They are not ready for a deal...

Single-family house sells for $2.1 million in San Jose

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:52 GMT

5837 Porto Alegre Drive – Google Street ViewA house located in the 5800 block of Porto Alegre Drive in San Jose has new owners. The 1,870-square-foot property, built in 1971, was sold on June 7, 2023. The $2,100,000 purchase price works out to $1,123 per square foot. The property features four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a garage, and two parking spaces. It sits on an 8,712-square-foot lot.These nearby houses have also recently changed hands:On Antigua Drive, San Jose, in July 2022, a 1,870-square-foot home was sold for $2,100,000, a price per square foot of $1,123. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.A 2,029-square-foot home on the 5800 block of Antigua Drive in San Jose sold in December 2022, for $1,830,000, a price per square foot of $902. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.In April 2023, a 3,697-square-foot home on Ardsley Court in San Jose sold for $2,710,000, a price per square foot of $733. The home has 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.

Word Game: June 29, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:52 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — MEDLAR (MEDLAR: MED-ler: A deciduous European tree.)Average mark 24 wordsTime limit 35 minutesCan you find 29 or more words in MEDLAR? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — FESTAL false fast fate feast feat felt fest feta fetal flat flea east safe sale salt sate seal seat self slat slate stale steal tale teal lase last late leaf least left lestTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at [email protected].

Bridge: June 29, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:52 GMT

When I attended Alabama more than 50 years ago, there were lunchtime bridge games in the student center every day. Due to the proactive efforts of interested students and supporters, and with the help of the American Contract Bridge League, bridge on campus is making a comeback.In February, dozens of students came to Atlanta for the second Georgia Tech Collegiate tournament. Institutions represented included Georgia, the University of Chicago, Washington University and the host Georgia Tech. Students competed, traded insights on how to promote campus bridge and ate plenty of pizza.UPGRADEIn today’s deal from one of the matches, George Sorkin upgraded the South hand and opened 2NT. Against 3NT, West led a diamond, and Sorkin won and resisted the temptation to attack the spades immediately. He tested the clubs by cashing the A-K. Then he could pick up the suit and finish with nine tricks.At the other table, South opened one club, and North, Rohan Shrivastava, became declarer at 3NT. A...

Lindsay: Fiscal Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:52 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Lindsay Corp. (LNN) on Thursday reported fiscal third-quarter net income of $16.9 million.The Omaha, Nebraska-based company said it had profit of $1.53 per share.The results fell short of Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $2.17 per share.The irrigation equipment maker posted revenue of $164.6 million in the period, also missing Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $209.7 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on LNN at https://www.zacks.com/ap/LNNSource

MSC Industrial: Fiscal Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:52 GMT

MELVILLE, N.Y. (AP) — MELVILLE, N.Y. (AP) — MSC Industrial Direct Co. (MSM) on Thursday reported fiscal third-quarter earnings of $95.2 million.On a per-share basis, the Melville, New York-based company said it had net income of $1.69. Earnings, adjusted for restructuring costs and non-recurring costs, came to $1.74 per share.The results fell short of Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.75 per share.The distributor of industrial tools and supplies posted revenue of $1.05 billion in the period, surpassing Street forecasts. Nine analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $1.02 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on MSM at https://www.zacks.com/ap/MSMSource

McCormick: Fiscal Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:52 GMT

HUNT VALLEY, Md. (AP) — HUNT VALLEY, Md. (AP) — McCormick & Co. (MKC) on Thursday reported fiscal second-quarter earnings of $152.1 million.The Hunt Valley, Maryland-based company said it had net income of 56 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were 60 cents per share.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 57 cents per share.The spices and seasonings company posted revenue of $1.66 billion in the period, falling short of Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $1.67 billion.McCormick expects full-year earnings in the range of $2.60 to $2.65 per share._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on MKC at https://www.zacks.com/ap/MKCSource

Los gastos de la Casa Real del Reino Unido superaron los ingresos el año pasado, según muestra un estado financiero anual

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:52 GMT

(CNN) — La Casa Real Británica publicó su estado financiero anual este jueves, revelando que el gasto oficial para el año 2022-2023 superó la Subvención Soberana y otros ingresos reales obtenidos.Atribuye los altos costos al “período excepcional de transición” en la Casa Real, que vio el funeral de la reina Isabel II el año pasado y la coronación del rey Carlos III en mayo, así como un proyecto de remodelación en curso en el Palacio de Buckingham.En total, se informó que el gasto neto de la Casa Real fue de £107,5 millones (US$ 136 millones), en comparación con la Subvención Soberana total de £86,3 millones (US$ 109,1 millones) y el ingreso adicional de £9,8 millones (US$ 12,4 millones).La Subvención Soberana, una suma global anual del gobierno, es esencialmente una cuenta de gastos que cubre los costos de viaje, seguridad, personal y mantenimiento de los palacios reales. Las tres principales fuentes de ingresos de la familia real son la subvención soberana, las propiedades de...