Latest news with #Lindblad
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- RTÉ News
Alex Dunne stays top of F2 standings after fifth place finish in Barcelona
Ireland's Alex Dunne (Rodin Motorsport) continues to lead the FIA Formula 2 championship, the main support class to F1 race weekends, after a fifth-place finish in today's F2 feature race in Barcelona. Dunne started the second race of the weekend in Spain in eighth place on the grid, following a three-place penalty for an incident in the free practice session in which he collided with Victor Martins. The Offlay teenager eventually finished fifth with Britain's Arvid Lindblad converting pole position into his maiden Formula 2 feature race victory, also giving his Spanish team Campos Racing their first win on home soil in the Championship. Dunne, who is part of McLaren's driver development programme, picked up a bonus point on offer for registering the fastest lap of the race. Up ahead Lindblad was never threatened, leading home PREMA Racing's Sebastián Montoya who finished second and MP Motorsport's Richard Verschoor in third, after a late safety car was withdrawn on the final lap. Dunne's fifth place came after his incredible drive in Saturday's sprint race, where he swept aside grid penalties to climb from the back of the grid in 19th place to finish second and take the overall championship lead after six rounds. The Offalyman did had wait to see if the race stewards took any retrospective action for an alleged yellow flag infringement late on in the feature race, but he was exonerated and kept his fifth place finish and with it, the championship lead. The 19-year-old sits atop the F2 series standings ahead of this month's Austrian Grand Prix on 87 points, three clear of Richard Verschoor with Lindblad a further five points back in third. Speaking after his astonishing sprint race second placed finish Dunne said: "I think we've seen over the past couple of weekends that the pace is more than there, but sometimes you just need to accept that you are where you are, instead of trying to go for more. That is something we need to dial in a bit more in the coming weekends"
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
On ‘World No Tobacco Day,' Nicokick and Northerner Call for Enforcing Existing Regulations, Not Prohibition: "Let's Talk About Choice"
WASHINGTON, May 30, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the global health community marks World No Tobacco Day on May 31, and two of the leading online retailers for nicotine pouches in the U.S, are urging public health leaders and policymakers to shift the narrative from prohibition to responsible choice. In response to this year's campaign theme by the World Health Organization (WHO) —"Dark Intentions: Unmasking the Appeal of Nicotine Products"—Markus Lindblad, Head of External Affairs at and offers a bold call to action: Elevate individual responsibility, transparency, and education about the role of alternative nicotine products in reducing smoking-related deaths. Lindblad points to false narratives and inconsistent public health messaging as major roadblocks to reducing smoking-related deaths. More than 480,000 Americans die annually from smoking-related illness. The truth is that flavored alternatives have proven to be a strong contributor to helping millions of smokers ditch deadly combustible tobacco. "Switching to nicotine pouches is not a fringe choice, it's a potentially lifesaving one," said Lindblad. "Consumers deserve access to the truth, not more fear-based messaging." While flavored nicotine products are routinely criticized for appealing to youth, flavored alcoholic beverages are widely promoted and culturally glamorized, even as alcohol-related cancer deaths in the US are on the rise and the U.S. Surgeon General issued a warning on alcohol and cancer earlier this year. "If flavors deserve scrutiny, that logic should apply to all industries, not just nicotine," Lindblad said. "To claim that all flavored products are marketing trickery that entices youth ignores key facts about adult consumer psychology. As responsible retailers, we know that compliant brands follow the very strict guidelines given by regulators, and that the real threats to the industry are illicit vendors and products flooding the market. It begs repeating: Flavors weren't made for kids—they were made for adults seeking an alternative to smoking. The real issue? Youth access. The solution? Enforcement." Global Lessons: Sweden's Success vs. Australia's Prohibition Lindblad, who is based in Sweden where the company is headquartered, highlights the country's historic achievement in reaching "smoke-free" status in 2024—defined as having an under 5% smoking prevalence—as a model of effective harm reduction. By contrast, countries with stricter nicotine bans, such as Australia and Norway, are seeing the rise of illicit markets and youth use of unregulated products. "When regulators rely solely on bans, people adapt in sometimes riskier ways," said Lindblad. "Sweden's success came from consumer empowerment and access to modern oral alternatives, not punishment." A Call for Evidence-Based Communications and Policy Northerner and Nicokick advocate for science-led regulation that protects youth and informs adults. The companies call for increased enforcement of existing regulations and better accountability from social platforms and content creators. "We're not hiding behind marketing," said Lindblad. "Our so-called hidden agenda is compliance and consumer education. Let's stop vilifying alternatives and start enforcing the laws that already work." WHO Has It Wrong: States Must Lead WHO's 2025 campaign is focused on the wrong enemy while their rhetoric continues to drive fear and erode years of research. Instead of condemning flavors, they should be calling for smarter and tighter regulations that keep products out of underage hands, not banning tools that help adults take steps towards a smoke-free lifestyle and improved well-being. Public health isn't advanced by moral panic. It's advanced by policy that works. About Nicokick Nicokick is a leading online retailer in the U.S. specializing in nicotine pouches. With a diverse inventory of over 200 unique products, the platform offers a wide selection of popular and emerging brands that provide consumers with modern oral smoke-free alternatives to cigarettes and other traditional tobacco products. As a responsible and compliant retailer, Nicokick is committed to a strict age verification process, with all products delivered directly to adult consumers' doorsteps or mailboxes. For more information, visit About Northerner Established in 1998, Northerner has grown to become one of the largest global online retailers of nicotine pouches. Northerner's US platform has an inventory of over 200 tobacco leaf-free nicotine products that help adult consumers transition from cigarettes. With a strong commitment to youth access prevention, Northerner's products are securely delivered to adult consumers' doorsteps or mailboxes, ensuring compliance with a rigorous age verification process. For more information, visit View source version on Contacts Media contact:Megan Hanson, Avaans Mediahaypp@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Health
- Business Wire
On ‘World No Tobacco Day,' Nicokick and Northerner Call for Enforcing Existing Regulations, Not Prohibition: 'Let's Talk About Choice'
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the global health community marks World No Tobacco Day on May 31, and two of the leading online retailers for nicotine pouches in the U.S, are urging public health leaders and policymakers to shift the narrative from prohibition to responsible choice. In response to this year's campaign theme by the World Health Organization (WHO) — 'Dark Intentions: Unmasking the Appeal of Nicotine Products' —Markus Lindblad, Head of External Affairs at and offers a bold call to action: Elevate individual responsibility, transparency, and education about the role of alternative nicotine products in reducing smoking-related deaths. Lindblad points to false narratives and inconsistent public health messaging as major roadblocks to reducing smoking-related deaths. More than 480,000 Americans die annually from smoking-related illness. The truth is that flavored alternatives have proven to be a strong contributor to helping millions of smokers ditch deadly combustible tobacco. 'Switching to nicotine pouches is not a fringe choice, it's a potentially lifesaving one,' said Lindblad. 'Consumers deserve access to the truth, not more fear-based messaging.' While flavored nicotine products are routinely criticized for appealing to youth, flavored alcoholic beverages are widely promoted and culturally glamorized, even as alcohol-related cancer deaths in the US are on the rise and the U.S. Surgeon General issued a warning on alcohol and cancer earlier this year. 'If flavors deserve scrutiny, that logic should apply to all industries, not just nicotine,' Lindblad said. 'To claim that all flavored products are marketing trickery that entices youth ignores key facts about adult consumer psychology. As responsible retailers, we know that compliant brands follow the very strict guidelines given by regulators, and that the real threats to the industry are illicit vendors and products flooding the market. It begs repeating: Flavors weren't made for kids—they were made for adults seeking an alternative to smoking. The real issue? Youth access. The solution? Enforcement.' Global Lessons: Sweden's Success vs. Australia's Prohibition Lindblad, who is based in Sweden where the company is headquartered, highlights the country's historic achievement in reaching 'smoke-free' status in 2024—defined as having an under 5% smoking prevalence—as a model of effective harm reduction. By contrast, countries with stricter nicotine bans, such as Australia and Norway, are seeing the rise of illicit markets and youth use of unregulated products. 'When regulators rely solely on bans, people adapt in sometimes riskier ways,' said Lindblad. 'Sweden's success came from consumer empowerment and access to modern oral alternatives, not punishment.' A Call for Evidence-Based Communications and Policy Northerner and Nicokick advocate for science-led regulation that protects youth and informs adults. The companies call for increased enforcement of existing regulations and better accountability from social platforms and content creators. 'We're not hiding behind marketing,' said Lindblad. 'Our so-called hidden agenda is compliance and consumer education. Let's stop vilifying alternatives and start enforcing the laws that already work.' WHO Has It Wrong: States Must Lead WHO's 2025 campaign is focused on the wrong enemy while their rhetoric continues to drive fear and erode years of research. Instead of condemning flavors, they should be calling for smarter and tighter regulations that keep products out of underage hands, not banning tools that help adults take steps towards a smoke-free lifestyle and improved well-being. Public health isn't advanced by moral panic. It's advanced by policy that works. About Nicokick Nicokick is a leading online retailer in the U.S. specializing in nicotine pouches. With a diverse inventory of over 200 unique products, the platform offers a wide selection of popular and emerging brands that provide consumers with modern oral smoke-free alternatives to cigarettes and other traditional tobacco products. As a responsible and compliant retailer, Nicokick is committed to a strict age verification process, with all products delivered directly to adult consumers' doorsteps or mailboxes. For more information, visit About Northerner Established in 1998, Northerner has grown to become one of the largest global online retailers of nicotine pouches. Northerner's US platform has an inventory of over 200 tobacco leaf-free nicotine products that help adult consumers transition from cigarettes. With a strong commitment to youth access prevention, Northerner's products are securely delivered to adult consumers' doorsteps or mailboxes, ensuring compliance with a rigorous age verification process. For more information, visit
NDTV
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
Formula 2: Kush Maini Becomes First Indian To Win In Monaco With Sprint Triumph
Kush Maini secured victory in the Monte Carlo Sprint Race for DAMS Lucas Oil, converting pole position at the Circuit de Monaco. The Indian driver held off fellow Alpine Academy talent Gabriele Minì, who finished second for PREMA Racing, and became the first Indian driver to win a race at the iconic venue. "P1, first Indian to win in Monaco too. It's a great honour and a dream come true. I want to say thank you to DAMS and everyone who has supported me. We keep believing!' said Maini. Maini got the perfect start, but Luke Browning fell down the order to fifth by Turn 1. His poor getaway allowed Gabriele Minì to climb up to P2. Into Mirabeau, Lindblad attempted a pass on Jak Crawford for third but contact between the two allowed Browning back past for fourth and ahead of the American. The Campos driver emerged from the tangle in third but was later handed a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision. With DRS enabled, Minì was on the rear wing of the race leader, the gap hovering at 0.3s in the opening 10 laps while the pair pulled over eight seconds clear of Lindblad in third. The gap was neutralised on Lap 12 when the Safety Car was deployed to recover Joshua Duerksen's AIX Racing car. The Paraguayan driver was left in the barriers ahead of Portier following contact with MP Motorsport's Oliver Goethe out of Mirabeau that left the AIX with race-ending damage. Back to racing conditions entering Lap 15, Maini escaped from DRS range to Minì behind while Lindblad had Browning right on his gearbox in the battle for third on the road. Goethe was on the move again, sneaking his MP car up the inside of Victor Martins at La Rascasse to take P9 on the road. Contact between the pair resulted in a 10-second time penalty for Goethe. With 10 laps to go, Minì was back to within 0.2s of the race leader, while Lindblad had dropped back by over 10 seconds in order to set up a late-race charge to minimise his time penalty. The Red Bull Junior Team driver was told to push on Lap 22, and he immediately upped his pace to put a buffer between himself and Browning. By the final lap, he was on the rear wing of Minì in second with Maini a further couple of seconds up the road. With Lindblad's time penalty applied, it gave Browning P3 and dropped the Campos driver to eighth position. Crawford wound up fourth ahead of Richard Verschoor, Sebastián Montoya, Leonardo Fornaroli, as Lindblad completed the points in P8.
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Travel + Leisure
13-05-2025
- Business
- Travel + Leisure
This Expedition Cruise Line Is Launching European River Trips for the First Time
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions will launch European river cruises in 2026, with two different itineraries on the Rhine River that will visit iconic destinations including Amsterdam; Cologne, Germany; and Strasbourg, France. While Lindblad has offered other river cruises in the past—on the Nile, for example—the new Europe trips will be the first of their kind for the nearly 60-year-old company, CEO Natalya Leahy told Travel + Leisure. 'Our guests want a European river-cruise experience, but they want to do it in our National Geographic, more in-depth, more authentic way,' Leahy said. 'We don't just take people to destinations, we show them how to see it with our team of experts, historians, and photographers.' The company will offer two options, each with a specific focus. The first is a swing through Belgium and the Netherlands, with stops in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Ghent, Antwerp, and Brussels, among other cities. Activities include walking tours, cooking demonstrations, and visits to museums—including some that Lindblad guests will visit after hours and without crowds. 'We have a really intense destination experience,' Leahy explained. 'We are designed for learners, for enrichment seekers, for people who are looking to have a really, truly deep authentic experience.' The second option is an itinerary between Cologne, Germany and Basel, Switzerland, through what's known as the Rhine Gorge, a dramatically scenic stretch of the river that's recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Destinations on these trips include Cologne, Frankfurt, and Strasbourg. Lindblad will be operating these sails aboard the newly built, 60-cabin Connect, in partnership with Transcend Cruises, a charter specialist. The ship will accommodate 120 guests, with 54 staff and crew, with the choice of 210-square-foot cabins or 420-square-foot suites. The ship will have a main restaurant, as well as a top-deck grill, several lounges, a yoga studio, an outdoor cinema, a spa, and a fitness center. Bikes will be available for guests interested in pedaling independently. Leahy told T+L that the smaller size of the ship will make it feel similar to other Lindblad vessels. 'You will never feel like you're with a bunch of tourists on a big bus,' she said. 'You will feel part of a community.' The 2026 European season for Lindblad will begin in April, with eight sailings, as the company ramps up in the years ahead. 'Our ambition is to expand,' Leahy said. 'I really want to do the Christmas markets as well, that would be fantastic.' Eight-day European river cruises with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions from $6,450 per person.
