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Youth tobacco use rates declined slightly in US, but ‘work is far from over,’ health officials say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:54 GMT

(CNN) — Overall tobacco use among youths dropped slightly, by about 1%, since last year, largely driven by declines in e-cigarette use among high schoolers, according to data released Thursday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Food and Drug Administration from the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey.The new report finds that about 10% of students in those grades — or 2.8 million youth — reported using any type of tobacco product during 2022-2023.Overall current tobacco use dropped among high school students, from 16.5% to 12.6%, and about 580,000 fewer high schoolers reported currently using e-cigarettes.But among middle school students, overall tobacco use increased from 4.5% to 6.6%, and and use of multiple tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, increased from 1.5% to 2.5%. E-cigarette use among middle school students stayed about the same as last year, the report says.“E-cigarettes remained the most commonly ...

Humza Yousaf’s in-laws cleared to escape Gaza via Rafah crossing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:54 GMT

Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf’s parents-in-law have been given permission to use the Rafah crossing out of Gaza today after weeks trapped in the war zone. The Scottish National Party leader’s in laws Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla were in Gaza when Hamas launched its surprise attacks on Israel on October 7, stranding them in the region. Yousaf announced earlier this week that they had run out of clean water. The couple live in Dundee, Scotland, and were staying with relatives including several young grandchildren during the blockade. Elizabeth El-Nakla and her daughter Nadia — Yousaf’s wife — had described the deteriorating conditions in Gaza during their ordeal.The Rafah crossing into Egypt opened for the first time Wednesday, with a list of foreign passport holders permitted to use the route agreed following a deal between Israel, Egypt and Hamas brokered by Qatar. A limited number of wounded Palestinian civilians were also permitted to enter Egypt through the...

Massive Russian drone attack hits Ukraine infrastructure

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:54 GMT

Russian forces launched a barrage of drones at Ukraine overnight, damaging critical infrastructure across the country.In the early hours of Friday, Russia attacked Ukraine with about 40 Shahed drones and one X-59 aviation missile, targeting several regions including Kharkiv, Odesa, Kherson and Lviv, Ukrainian officials said.Ukraine’s air force said they shot down the missile and 24 of the drones, which were launched “in waves and headed in different directions in small groups,” according to a post on Telegram.“We are strengthening air defense and mobile fire groups,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after the attack. “As winter approaches, Russian terrorists will try to cause more harm. We will be fighting back.”Officials said there were no reported casualties in the aftermath of the attack, but several facilities — including critical infrastructure and civilian and commercial buildings — were damaged throughout the country.In the northeastern region of Kh...

Enbridge records Q3 profit as it awaits approvals for U.S. gas utility acquisitions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:54 GMT

CALGARY — Enbridge Inc. says its most recent quarter delivered a profit of $500 million as it announced the acquisition of three U.S. gas utilities.The Calgary-based pipeline giant says its second-quarter profit compared with $1.3 billion a year earlier.Enbridge’s third-quarter profit amounted to 26 cents per share for the quarter ended September 30 compared with 63 cents per share in the same quarter a year earlier.On an adjusted basis, Enbridge said it earned 62 cents per share, up from an adjusted profit of 67 cents per share a year earlier.The results cover the period when Enbridge entered into three agreements with Dominion Energy, Inc. to acquire The East Ohio Gas Company, Questar Gas Company and its related Wexpro companies, and Public Service Company of North Carolina for US$14.0 billion.Enbridge says the acquisitions are still subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals but are expected to close in 2024.This report by The Canadian Press was first published ...

Winds from Storm Ciarán whip up a wildfire in eastern Spain as 850 people are evacuated

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:54 GMT

MADRID (AP) — A wildfire abetted by storm winds in eastern Spain has burned some 2,000 hectares (4,900 acres) of land and forced the evacuation of 850 people from four towns, officials said Friday. Some 200 firefighters and army emergency unit soldiers were deployed to try to extinguish the day-old blaze near the eastern town of Montitxelvo. The regional government of Valencia said it hoped five water-carrying planes and helicopters would be deployed in the operation. Regional president Carlos Mazón called on people to avoid travel in the area or activities in forests that could start fires. State news agency Efe said winds in the zone reached some 120 kph (75 mph) overnight. Mazón describe the winds as the main element fueling the fire in the mountainous and wooded terrain. The fire comes as Spain, like much of Europe, continues to face heavy rains and gales from Storm Ciarán. However, the rain and low temperatures have not helped prevent the wildfire.Spain has been suffering a dro...

AP Election Brief | What to expect in Kentucky’s general election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear seeks a second term in the heavily Republican state on Tuesday in one of the most competitive and closely watched races on the ballot this year. Beshear faces a challenge from GOP nominee Daniel Cameron, a Donald Trump endorsee who succeeded Beshear as state attorney general in 2019. Cameron hopes to reclaim the governorship on behalf of Republicans and hand his party complete control over lawmaking in the state.Beshear, the son of former two-term Gov. Steve Beshear, is one of four Democratic governors leading a state Trump carried twice in his campaigns for president. That number will drop to three when Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards leaves office in January.Kentucky elected Democratic governors for most of the 20th century and has had only two Republican governors in the last 50 years. But the state has nonetheless become increasingly conservative during that time, voting Republican in nine of the last 11 presidential electi...

Texas man convicted of manslaughter in driveway slaying that killed Moroccan immigrant

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:54 GMT

A Texas man has been convicted of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a Moroccan immigrant who had pulled into the driveway.A Caldwell County jury on Thursday rejected a murder charge and convicted 67-year-old Terry Duane Turner of the lesser count in the October 2021 shooting death of 31-year-old Adil Dghoughi outside Turner’s home in Martindale, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of Austin.Family members of Dghoughi, who lived in Austin, have said he was lost and prosecutors said he was trying to leave the driveway when he was shot.Turner said he shot in self-defense and testified that he thought Dghoughi pointed a gun at him, but no weapon was found inside the vehicle. Turner testified that he was concerned someone was trying to rob or harm him when he saw a strange vehicle in his driveway about 3:30 a.m., grabbed a gun and then went outside to confront the driver,Defense attorney Gerry Morris said that that although Turner couldn’t see Dghoughi through the car’s windows, it ...

AP Election Brief | What to expect in Mississippi’s general election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tuesday is Election Day in Mississippi, and Republican Gov. Tate Reeves’ bid for a second term tops the list of statewide and local contests that voters will decide.Reeves, who was first elected in 2019 after serving two terms as lieutenant governor, faces a challenge from Democrat Brandon Presley, a state utility regulator and cousin of rock ’n’ roll legend Elvis Presley. Reeves was elected in 2019 with 52% of the vote, a surprisingly narrow margin in a reliably Republican state.Presley has stayed competitive in the race in terms of campaign cash. With help from a sizable cash infusion from the national party, he brought in more money to his campaign than Reeves and has essentially matched him in spending. However, the incumbent entered the final stretch of the campaign with more money in the bank.Democrats had a stranglehold on the Mississippi governorship for almost all of the 20th century, but Republicans have controlled the office for the last 20 years.Also on...

AP Election Brief | What to expect in New Jersey’s general election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Every seat in New Jersey’s General Assembly is up for grabs in Tuesday’s general election, but with solid Democratic majorities in both chambers, party control of the body is not expected to change hands.Democrats have a 25-15 advantage in the state Senate and a 46-34 lead in the state Assembly.Among the notable contests are the races in Legislative Districts 3 and 4 in southern New Jersey.In District 3, which covers parts of Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties in the southwest, Republicans won the state Senate seat and both state Assembly seats by narrow margins in 2021. This year, state Sen. Edward Durr is running for reelection against Democrat John Burzichelli. For the state Assembly seats, Republican Bethanne McCarthy Patrick is the lone incumbent in the race. The other Republican is Thomas Tedesco. The Democratic challengers are Heather Simmons and Dave Bailey.District 4, which includes parts of Atlantic, Camden and Gloucester counties, features open-se...

Tim Hortons parent company sees $364 million profit in Q3 despite rising costs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:54 GMT

TORONTO — Restaurant Brands International Inc. recorded a US$364 million profit in its most recent quarter as it continued to warn of increases in commodity, labour, and energy costs.The Toronto-based owner of Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Firehouse Subs says its third quarter net income compared with a profit of US$530 million a year earlier.It says the decrease seen over the period ended Sept. 30 was primarily driven by income tax expenses and an increase in share-based compensation, non-cash incentive compensation expense and interest expenses.The fast-food parent company, which reports in U.S. dollars, is also posting a revenue boost to US$1.83 billion from US$1.72 billion a year earlier.The rise in revenue came even as RBI says it has seen the war in Ukraine and COVID-19 trigger increases in inflation, foreign exchange volatility and rising interest rates which may be exacerbated by the conflict in the Middle East.It warns the geopolitical tensions cou...