Shares in British American Tobacco (BATS.L) gained on Wednesday after reporting a 25% drop in profits in the first half of the year following its exit from Russia.

The FTSE 100 (^FTSE) Lucky Strike cigarette maker reported a £957m ($1.2bn) impairment charge related to the transfer of its Russian business.

The tobacco giant which also owns the Camel, Dunhill and Vuse vape brands, controlled nearly a quarter of the Russian market.

In June it announced it was in advanced talks with its distributor in the country to sell the business after the invasion of Ukraine. It said that no agreement to transfer the shares has been entered into.

Profits from operations declined by a quarter to £3.7bn in the six months to 30 June, largely as a result of the charge.

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On the full-year guidance, it said it expects worldwide sales of tobacco by volume to be down about 3%, partly due to the Ukraine crisis and decline in the US market amid a vaping boom.

Company shares dipped 0.3% following the announcement before ticking up 0.3% in mid-morning trade in London.

Its half-year results on Wednesday showed revenues jumped 5.7% to £12.9bn, pushed higher by price increases and a steady demand for its vaping and oral nicotine products.

The group stuck by its full-year guidance for revenues to grow by between 2% and 4%.

"Tobacco will always be a controversial industry, but BAT is making tangible progress toward a future where its products are less harmful," said Steve Clayton, fund manager at Hargreaves Lansdown Select. "In the meantime, the group’s ability to churn out reliable cash flows and dividends remains unimpeded and with debts falling away the financial appeal of the group is improving."

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Chief executive Jack Bowles said: "I am very proud that our continued New Categories growth momentum is driving Faster Transformation, with revenue growth of 45% in the first half of 2022, on top of 51% growth in FY2021. We are delivering both strong operational performance and transforming the business,"

Bowel added BAT was not immune to increasing macro-economic pressures, which had been exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine, saying it was "well positioned to navigate the current turbulent environment due to our powerful brands, operational agility and continued strong cash generation".

A 28-YEAR-OLD man believed to be toughie of Abella Gang that operates in Cebu City was arrested by virtue of a warrant in Sitio Tarcom, Barangay Busay, Cebu City on Thursday, September 15, 2022.William "Junjun" Banono, 28, a resident of Sitio Tarcom, yielded a sling bag containing a .45 pistol with eight bullets and 135 medium packs of substance believed to be shabu during the operation.The operation was headed by Police Lieutenant Colonel Hector Amancia of Criminal Investigation and Detection G

As a testament to their global reach, "WYAT" trended worldwide on charts and social media. These is where the song reached #1.

CEBU City’s dream of having a dam in the upland Barangay Lusaran, where the headwater is located, could soon be realized after a tycoon said he could complete building such a dam in less than three years, auguring well for the city’s water supply.This was what lawyer Jerone Castillo, special assistant to Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, said in a press conference at Waterfront Hotel & Casino Mactan Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, shortly after they arrived from their second “investment begging” trip in the

AN 11-YEAR-OLD boy who was seen sitting outside the house of an alleged gang toughie in Sitio Tarcom, Barangay Busay, Cebu City on Thursday, September 15, admitted to using illegal drugs.Calvin (not his real name) said that he and his two other companions had just consumed two sachets of shabu Thursday dawn.Calvin admitted that he also acted as drug runner in the evening to earn money.The minor was previously rescued by police four times but allegedly returned to his illegal drug activity after

CEBU City’s historic Colon Street will soon bustle with more food, people and merchandise with the return of the night market on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, as part of the City Government’s celebration of Tourism month.Organizers of the night market said 370 stalls will offer dry goods and food products every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday on Sept. 16-19, Sept. 23-25, and Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.During a press conference Thursday, Sept. 15, Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, chairperson of the Cebu City Tourism C

GLOBE congratulates its ambassador Alex Eala for winning the 2022 grand slam singles championship at the US Open Juniors, beating Czechoslovakia’s Lucie Havlickova on Saturday in New York City.Eala is the first Filipino to win a junior grand slam. This is also her first singles grand slam win after earlier scoring two doubles grand slam titles.Eala’s historic win is a victory for the Philippines, as she mightily represents the grit, determination and indomitable spirit of the Filipino in the wor

The new normal is starting to feel like a second skin. Two years of anxiety has led us to another point in life; living with the virus and acknowledging the restrictions that come along with it.Molave Kaffee House and Bistro is quiet and simple by day but once the night settles in, this is where the place comes alive. With its intimate ambiance that gives off a very homey feel, this coffee house is the perfect stop where you can enjoy delicious meals and unwind with a drink with your friends.Thi

THE Philippines lost its opening match of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers against host Oman, 3-0 on Sept. 15 at the Al Saada Sports Complex in Salalah, Oman.The Philippines was down early in the match after conceding a goal from Nasser Ali Al Saqri in the eighth minute. Oman doubled the lead three minutes later with a goal by Khalid Ibrahim Al Sulaimi.Ali Hassan Al Bulushi made it 3-0 with a goal in the 30th minute.On the other hand, Thailand was also off to a ho

A VILLAGE chief in Talisay City, Cebu said they would respect the decision of the committee to drop the barangay’s Under-16 Division basketball team from the ongoing Mayor’s Cup due to irregularities.“For me, sir, we will respect whatever the decision of the Sports Commission is,” Candulawan Barangay Captain Josefina Concial said in her response to the controversy.The team was disbanded when officials from the Talisay City Sports Commission (TCSC) office discovered that they hired a player who w

A survey conducted during the same period found that more Filipinos consider themselves poor. Read for more details.

A Facebook post claimed pictures it shared showed the aftermath of a gun attack on the convoy of Peter Obi, a Nigerian opposition leader who is contesting next year’s presidential election. This is false; all the images depict various incidents from previous years and were not taken in Abuja, as the post claimed. Obi also denied being in a convoy that came under attack. “Peter Obi convoy sprayed with gunshots in Abuja a few hours after he returned to Nigeria (sic),” reads the Facebook post, addi

Annually, citizens in Manila lose 98 hours to traffic. Read the article for more details.

A HABAL-HABAL driver was shot dead by an unidentified gunman on the national highway in Purok 1, Barangay Salvador, Cortes town in Bohol on Wednesday afternoon, September 14, 2022.The victim was identified as 35-year-old Edgar Acub, a resident of the neighboring town of Antequera.Corporal Rodel Dulay, investigator of the Cortes Police Station, told Superbalita Cebu that the victim was ferrying a female passenger from Tagbilaran City to Antequera. The passenger reportedly asked Acub to stop in Co

LOCAL police in Cebu City suspect that youth gangs in public schools are making a comeback after they received reports that another student was mauled by teens inside the Regino Mercado Memorial National High School (RMMNHS) in Barangay Pahina-Central on Thursday night, Sept. 15, 2022.Fearing that gang violence is on the rise in some public schools in the city, officials of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) are urging their personnel to coordinate with public schools under their jurisdiction in

A VILLAGE chief in Talisay City, Cebu said they would respect the decision of the committee to drop the barangay's Under-16 Division basketball team from the ongoing Mayor's Cup due to irregularities."For me, sir, we will respect whatever the decision of the Sports Commission is," Candulawan Barangay Captain Josefina Concial said in her response to the controversy.The team was disbanded when the officials of the Talisay City Sports Commission Office discovered that they hired a player who was no

CEBU FC looks to close out the first round of the 2022 Philippines Football League (PFL) strong as it takes on Mendiola FC 1991 today at the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.Cebu FC is currently on top form after winning two of its last three matches. The Gentle Giants are coming off an impressive 5-1 beating of Maharlika Manila FC on Sept. 10.Mendiola FC, in the meantime, is coming off its first win of the tournament, beating Maharlika FC, 1-0.The

MEMBERS of the Police Regional Office Central Visayas (PRO 7) hauled tons of garbage during a river cleanup in Barangays Day-as, Parian and T. Padilla in Cebu City on Thursday, September 15, 2022.They were assisted by officials of the three barangays and members of the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Department of Public Works and Highways.The activity was part of the PRO 7’s launching of Project Haw-as, or Hiposon, Alsahon, Wagtangon ang Sagbot, from esteros and canals.The waterway has been b

Beauty Gonzalez recently made headlines when she announced she plans to quit acting and starbiz while she’s at the peak of her acting career.

Social media posts circulating after the death of Queen Elizabeth II claim she was found guilty of killing indigenous children in Western Canada in 1964. This is false; the late monarch's official schedule did not place her in British Columbia when the alleged crime took place, and the institution said to have convicted her has no legitimate judicial authority."Just a reminder that the queen was found guilty of the murder of 10 canadian Indigenous children she and prince Philip took on a 'picnic

THE most relaxing place to hang out is here in Cebu! Precious Brew Café, the newest hang out place in Mandaue, now serves hot brewed and delectable dishes. Very relaxing place and has a good ambiance for study and work.And more! On their launching day on September 21, from 3 p.m. to 12 a.m. it is offering 50 percent discount!Yes, that's right! Customers pay only half the price on all food and drinks.Unsa pa inyong gihulat?Visit Precious Brew Cafe at A.S Fortuna St., Banilad, Mandaue City. (SPONS