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Political and civil society leaders joining forces to counter Big Tobacco lobbying

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:25 GMT

Against a backdrop of increasing scrutiny of influence in the European institutions post-Qatargate and Europe’s enduring struggle to clamp down on the booming illicit tobacco trade, a European Parliament working group on the revision of the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive is holding a round table on 19 April to address the Brussels-based lobbying efforts of Big Tobacco – an industry that has long fuelled the black market and undermined attempts to rein it in.Hosted by French MEPs Michèle Rivasi and Anne-Sophie Pelletier, the event, entitled “Tobacco lobby influence strategies within European institutions,” is expected to feature representatives from leading tobacco control NGO coalitions as well as researchers from the University of Bath’s renowned Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG). Participants will discuss the various lobbying and “soft power” tools in the industry’s arsenal of influence that it has aggressively wielded in recent years.EU lobbying offensives exposedIn 2020, th...

Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine: Wagner Group and RIA FAN added to the EU's sanctions list

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:25 GMT

The Council on 13 April decided to add the Wagner Group and RIA FAN to the list of those subject to EU restrictive measures for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. The decision completes the ‘Wagner package’ adopted on 25 February and underscores the international dimension and gravity of the group’s activities, as well as its destabilising impact on the countries where it is active.The Wagner Group - already subject to EU sanctions under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime - is a Russia-based unincorporated private military entity established in 2014, which is led by Dimitriy Utkin and financed by Yevgeniy Prigozhin. The Wagner Group is actively participating in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and spearheaded the attacks against the Ukrainian towns of Soledar and Bakhmut.RIA FAN is part of the Patriot Media Group, a Russian media organisation whose Board of Trustees is headed by Yevgeniy Prigozhin...

Dear Abby: My fiance doesn’t know I can see his worrisome Facebook activity

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:25 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I’m engaged to marry the love of my life. We’ve known each other since we were school-age (we are now 50). It will be a second marriage for both of us.He is unaware that I have access to his Facebook account and can see that he looks up his ex about once a week. They have been divorced for three years.It bothers me, but I’m hesitant to say anything because I would have to reveal how I know.I absolutely know he loves me and is in love with me. What do I do?PERTURBED IN TEXASDEAR PERTURBED: I can understand why you are bothered.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: My son says Dear Abby will confirm what I did was outrageous Advice | Dear Abby: It feels so right but the timing is wrong. Should I walk away? Advice | Dear Abby: I can’t help being rattled by my nitpicking boss Advice | Dear Abby: My dad says he had no choice but to cheat. I’m not buying it. Advice | Dear Abby...

Red Cross says an exchange of over 800 Yemen war prisoners held by Houthi rebels and the Saudi-led coalition is underway

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:25 GMT

SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Red Cross says an exchange of over 800 Yemen war prisoners held by Houthi rebels and the Saudi-led coalition is underway.Source

Phillies head into matchup against the Reds on losing streak

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:25 GMT

Philadelphia Phillies (4-9, fourth in the NL East) vs. Cincinnati Reds (5-7, fourth in the NL Central)Cincinnati; Friday, 6:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Phillies: Taijuan Walker (0-0); Reds: Connor Overton (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Phillies -149, Reds +127; over/under is 9 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Phillies aim to stop a three-game slide with a win against the Cincinnati Reds.Cincinnati has a 4-2 record in home games and a 5-7 record overall. The Reds are 2-1 in games when they hit two or more home runs.Philadelphia has a 4-9 record overall and a 1-6 record in road games. The Phillies are 2-1 in games when they scored at least five runs.Friday’s game is the fifth meeting between these teams this season. The season series is tied 2-2.TOP PERFORMERS:LAST 10 GAMES: Reds: 4-6, .000 batting average, 4.91 ERA, outscored by five runsPhillies: 4-6, .000 batting average, 4.30 ERA, outscored by one runINJURIES: Reds: Joey Votto: 10-Day IL (bicep/shoulder), Tony San...

Marlins host the Diamondbacks in first of 3-game series

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:25 GMT

Arizona Diamondbacks (8-5, first in the NL West) vs. Miami Marlins (6-7, third in the NL East)Miami; Friday, 6:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Madison Bumgarner (0-0); Marlins: Trevor Rogers (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Marlins -155, Diamondbacks +133; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Miami Marlins host the Arizona Diamondbacks to begin a three-game series.Miami is 6-7 overall and 3-4 at home. The Marlins have a 2-6 record in games when they have allowed a home run.Arizona has an 8-5 record overall and a 3-3 record in road games. Diamondbacks hitters are batting a collective .265, the eighth-best team batting average in MLB play.The matchup Friday is the first meeting this season between the two clubs.TOP PERFORMERS:LAST 10 GAMES: Marlins: 5-5, .000 batting average, 5.42 ERA, outscored by 21 runsDiamondbacks: 7-3, .000 batting average, 4.25 ERA, outscored opponents by 12 runsINJURIES: Marlins: Garrett Cooper: day-to-day (leg), Avisail Garcia: day-to-day (hamstr...

Dodgers host the Cubs to begin 3-game series

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:25 GMT

Chicago Cubs (6-5, third in the NL Central) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (7-6, second in the NL West)Los Angeles; Friday, 10:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Justin Steele (0-0); Dodgers: Noah Syndergaard (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Dodgers -169, Cubs +144; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Chicago Cubs to open a three-game series.Los Angeles has a 4-2 record at home and a 7-6 record overall. Dodgers hitters are batting a collective .248, which ranks 10th in the NL.Chicago is 1-1 in road games and 6-5 overall. Cubs hitters are batting a collective .280, the third-best team batting average in MLB play.The teams meet Friday for the first time this season.TOP PERFORMERS:LAST 10 GAMES: Dodgers: 5-5, .000 batting average, 5.13 ERA, outscored opponents by 10 runsCubs: 5-5, .000 batting average, 4.30 ERA, outscored opponents by six runsINJURIES: Dodgers: Miguel Rojas: day-to-day (hamstring), Alex Reyes: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Ryan Pepiot: 15-Day IL (...

Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres meet in game 2 of series

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:25 GMT

Milwaukee Brewers (9-4, first in the NL Central) vs. San Diego Padres (7-7, third in the NL West)San Diego; Friday, 9:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Brewers: Eric Lauer (0-0); Padres: Michael Wacha (0-0)BOTTOM LINE: The Milwaukee Brewers lead 1-0 in a four-game series against the San Diego Padres.San Diego has gone 3-4 at home and 7-7 overall. The Padres have gone 4-2 in games when they scored five or more runs.Milwaukee has a 4-3 record in road games and a 9-4 record overall. Brewers hitters are batting a collective .256, which ranks seventh in the NL.The teams play Friday for the second time this season.TOP PERFORMERS:LAST 10 GAMES: Padres: 5-5, .000 batting average, 4.18 ERA, outscored opponents by three runsBrewers: 7-3, .000 batting average, 2.63 ERA, outscored opponents by 23 runsINJURIES: Padres: David Dahl: 10-Day IL (quadricep), Joe Musgrove: 15-Day IL (toe), Robert Suarez: 15-Day IL (elbow), Adam Engel: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Adrian Morejon: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jose Castill...

Pirates take 4-game road win streak into matchup with the Cardinals

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:25 GMT

Pittsburgh Pirates (8-5, second in the NL Central) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (5-8, fifth in the NL Central)St. Louis; Friday, 8:15 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Johan Oviedo (0-0); Cardinals: Jake Woodford (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cardinals -245, Pirates +205; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Pirates will try to keep a four-game road win streak going when they visit the St. Louis Cardinals.St. Louis is 2-5 in home games and 5-8 overall. The Cardinals have the fifth-best team batting average in MLB play at .276.Pittsburgh has a 5-2 record in road games and an 8-5 record overall. The Pirates have a 4-2 record in games when they did not give up a home run.The teams meet Friday for the second time this season.TOP PERFORMERS:LAST 10 GAMES: Cardinals: 3-7, .000 batting average, 4.86 ERA, outscored by 15 runsPirates: 7-3, .000 batting average, 4.50 ERA, outscored opponents by one runINJURIES: Cardinals: Packy Naughton: 15-Day IL (left forearm), Lars Nootbaa...

Los expertos afirman que no hay suficientes personas que utilicen prótesis auditivas. Hacerlo podría reducir la demencia

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:25 GMT

(CNN) — Tratar la pérdida de audición podría significar reducir el riesgo de demencia, según un nuevo estudio.La pérdida de audición puede aumentar el riesgo de padecer demencia, pero el uso de prótesis auditivas reduce el riesgo de forma similar al de las personas sin pérdida de audición, según el estudio publicado este jueves en The Lancet.Los investigadores realizaron un seguimiento a más de 437.000 personas de una cohorte del Biobanco del Reino Unido, una gran base de datos biomédica y de investigación que realiza un seguimiento a largo plazo de los residentes. Analizaron el riesgo de demencia de cada persona, el uso autodeclarado de prótesis auditivas y los historiales médicos para ver si la persona desarrollaba demencia, según el estudio.“Cada vez hay más pruebas de que la pérdida de audición puede ser el factor de riesgo modificable más importante de demencia en la mediana edad”, afirma en un comunicado Dongshan Zhu, autor del estudio y profesor de la Univer...