The EU’s executive commission is to propose larger health warnings on cigarette packets and a total ban on flavourings such as menthol, a draft revision of EU tobacco rules showed yesterday.

FIDEL Castro’s resignation as president of Cuba could have implications not just for the political world but for the price of America’s forbidden fruit — the Cuban cigar.

British American Tobacco PLC declined to comment on reports it has held talks with Swedish Match AB about bidding jointly for Ente Tabacchi Italiano, the state-owned tobacco group being sold under the Italian government's £12.5bn privatisation programme.