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Exclusive: Commission to face European court over tobacco law overreach

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:59 GMT

The European Commission faces a major challenge over allegations that it has exceeded its powers by issuing a directive that attempts to make a law, rather than implement one passed by the EU’s co-legislators, the Council and the Parliament. The Irish High Court will refer to the European Court of Justice the Commission’s attempt to restrict the sale of heated tobacco products that offer cigarette smokers the chance to switch to a safer alternative, writes Political Editor Nick Powell.The court case was brought by two companies involved in the sale and marketing of heated tobacco products in Ireland, PJ Carroll & Company and Nicoventures Trading. They challenged the Irish State for transposing into law a directive from the European Commission, on the grounds that the Commission had exceeded the powers delegated to it under Tobacco Products legislation approved by the EU’s law-making bodies, the Council and the Parliament.It is now certain that the Dublin court will refer the cas...

Average delay per flight in the EU soars by over 400% as Europe’s airspace capacity struggles to keep up with demand

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:59 GMT

Brussels, 11 October - The gap between airline demand and the capacity of Europe’s airspace is in danger of never closing as EU member states again failed to provide adequate airspace capacity in 2022. The latest annual report of the Single European Sky’s Performance Review Body (PRB) shows that delays “significantly exceeded the target” and there was a 400% increase in the average delay per flight.The report documents a continued failure of member states to meet agreed performance plans for European airspace. The situation is unlikely to get better any time soon as the PRB repeats a recommendation from last year that member states need to step up and take action now to avoid future capacity gaps. Combined with strong traffic numbers and robust passenger demand, there is a perfect storm that will continue to impact airline operations and needlessly inconvenience millions of passengers. This could easily be avoided if member states used all means available to them to improve systems ...

Man charged after climbing Ferris wheel at Santa Monica Pier

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:59 GMT

A man who scaled the famous Ferris wheel at the Santa Monica Pier last week has been charged, officials said Wednesday.Juan Gonzalez, 37, of Garden Grove, faces charges of making criminal threats, resisting arrest, making a false bomb threat and misdemeanor resisting arrest, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.The incident unfolded around 2:35 p.m. Oct. 9 at Pacific Park. Santa Monica Pier evacuated after man scales Ferris wheel Witnesses told police Gonzalez claimed to have a bomb in his backpack.Responding officers found Gonzalez around two-thirds of the way up the Ferris wheel in the steel supports.Police evacuated the Santa Monica Pier after a man scaled the Ferris wheel at Pacific Park on Oct. 9, 2023. (KTLA)The wheel had to be stopped while 10 people were still on the ride, police said. The pier was evacuated during the incident.About an hour later, Gonzalez climbed down and was tackled by officers on the ground and he was taken into custody.Gonzalez was not in p...

Price increases force design changes for LACMA, architect tells NYT

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:59 GMT

The divisive new building under construction for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art might be a bit different from what was publicized when it was approved a few years ago.Earlier this month, architect Peter Zumthor told the New York Times that construction issues with the project in Mid-Wilshire forced some alterations to his design.One of the larger issues mentioned in the piece relates to the challenges of building on a site adjacent to the La Brea Tar Pits. “They had to double [the foundation] in some areas, because this was so soft, the tar in the earth," Zumthor said.LACMA Director Michael Govan told the Times the foundation and other issues have increased the price of the project from about $650 million to $715 million, a 10% increase.With more money going toward the foundation, cuts had to be made, meaning the Wilshire Boulevard-spanning David Geffen Galleries structure "has been simplified and stripped down," as story author and architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne de...

Gas prices keep falling and California now stands alone

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:59 GMT

Californians are enjoying a little more relief at the gas pump these days.Statewide, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded fell 3 cents on Wednesday to $5.73, according to the American Automobile Association. That's 24 cents lower than one week ago when California drivers were paying nearly $6 per gallon on average.In the Los Angeles area, regular unleaded fell from $5.95 per gallon to $5.92 per gallon Wednesday, down 28 cents from last week. Why do Californians pay so much for gas? AAA says prices are falling nationwide due to “slack demand” and the falling cost of crude oil, which is now hovering near $82 per barrel.“Drivers are finally seeing some relief at the pump as the seasonal swoon picks up momentum,” said AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross.California Gas Prices (10/11/23)RegularMid-GradePremiumDieselCurrent Average$5.735$5.987$6.130$6.386Yesterday Avg.$5.765$6.018$6.158$6.401Week Ago Avg.$5.975$6.229$6.370$6.454Month Ago Avg.$5.439$5.635$5.798$6.097Year Ago Avg.$...

Huge rocket motors arrive at L.A. museum for space shuttle Endeavour display

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:59 GMT

Two giant rocket motors required to display the retired NASA space shuttle Endeavour as if it's about to blast off arrived Wednesday at a Los Angeles museum, completing their long journey from the Mojave Desert.The 116-foot-long (35.3-meter) motors, which look like giant white cylinders, were trucked over two days from the Mojave Air and Space Port to L.A.'s Exposition Park, where the California Science Center's Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center is being built to display Endeavour.Donated by Northrop Grumman, the motors are the largest components of the two solid rocket boosters that would be attached to a space shuttle's external tank to help the main engines lift the orbiter off the launch pad.Schoolchildren were among several hundred people who watched the move — the latest spectacle in the yearslong process of preparing to put Endeavour on permanent display vertically as if it was about to blast off.The massive shuttle was flown to Los Angeles International Airport atop a NASA ...

California tries to eliminate 'junk fees'

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:59 GMT

Hidden fees, which sellers use to mislead customers with an artificially low headline price before imposing additional unavoidable charges later in the buying process, will no longer be allowed in California.Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 478 (SB 478) that will ban hidden fees, or "junk fees," in the state starting on July 1, 2024, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a news release Saturday.“These deceptive fees prevent us from knowing how much we will be charged at the outset. They are bad for consumers and bad for competition. They cost Americans tens of billions of dollars each year," Bonta said. Biden says the FTC’s proposed ban on junk fees will help families and ‘honest’ businesses Bonta added that these fees "hit families who are just trying to make ends meet the hardest.""And, because a growing list of websites, apps, and brick-and-mortar businesses are using them, they penalize companies that are upfront and transparent with their prices...

This is how much money is needed to 'retire comfortably' in California, study says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:59 GMT

With high inflation and cost of living expenses, it can be hard to feel financially secure, especially for Golden State residents planning to retire soon.A new study from Go Banking Rates breaks down how much money a retiree in California would need to live comfortably. This is how much people need to earn to ‘live comfortably’ in California Researchers used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to estimate food, shelter, transportation, health care and utility costs. A 20% “buffer” was also added to ensure the retirees had enough money to be comfortable.  Social Security payouts, potential pension income or interest earned on savings were not included in the study since that can differ for everyone.A retiree in California would need $90,399 annually to live comfortably during retirement. The annual retirement expenses would be $72,320, while the 20% comfort buffer adds an extra $18,080.While it costs nearly six figures to have a comfortable retirement in California, it costs even ...

Initial US intel indicates Iran was surprised by Hamas attack

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:59 GMT

By Zachary Cohen, Katie Bo Lillis, Natasha Bertrand and Jeremy Herb | CNNThe United States has collected specific intelligence that suggests senior Iranian government officials were caught by surprise by Saturday’s bloody attack on Israel by Hamas, according to multiple sources familiar with the intelligence.The existence of the intelligence has cast doubt on the idea that Iran was directly involved in the planning, resourcing or approving of the operation, sources said.The sources stressed that the US intelligence community is not ready to reach a full conclusion about whether Tehran was directly involved in the run-up to the attack. They continue to look for evidence of Iranian involvement, which caught both Israel and the United States by surprise.And since the attack, government officials have noted that Iran has provided longstanding and significant support for Hamas, including weapons and financing, that unquestionably contributed to Hamas’s ability to pull off such a massive ...

Tasting House in Los Gatos reboots with new chef, menu

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:59 GMT

The owners of the Tasting House, a Wine Spectator award-winning Los Gatos bistro, have refreshed the restaurant and are reopening Friday with a new chef, a new menu, live music nightly and sommeliers to suggest food-and-wine pairings to diners.Chef Julian Silvera brings an impressive resume to the venture, having cooked at the Michelin-starred Knife and Spoon in Orlando, Florida, and with chefs Wylie Dufresne and Nahid Ahmed in his native New York City. He’s a self-described “fermentation enthusiast” with a focus on seasonal, local and sustainable ingredients.Among the dishes on his inaugural menu are an anise-glazed Roast Duck with wild plums, blackberries and baby turnips that was inspired by Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and a Fort Bragg Sea Urchin with popcorn grits and toasted yeast.Sommelier Enrique Leon is leading the service team.The evocative look remains. Founder and proprietor Denise Thornberry had originally remodeled the longtime restaurant and wine bar space w...