InfoAnda - Australia plans world-first plain cigarette packets

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

U2 announces 2009-10 360 world tour | Entertainment | | 10 March 2009
Rapper Drake heading back to studio post-injury | 10 October 2009
Sri Lanka vote to hand president's party easy victory | | 9 April 2010

Hollywood's happy, even without a record year | 29 December 2008

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Australia plans world-first plain cigarette packets

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Photos Sitemap Australia plans world-first plain cigarette packets AFP - Friday, April 30 Send IM Story Print A woman walks over perspex-encased 'cigarettes' in central Sydney. Australia has said it would become the world's first country to ban logos and branding on cigarette packets, sparking a furious response from the tobacco industry. SYDNEY (AFP) - – Australia on Thursday said it would become the world's first country to ban logos and branding on cigarette packets, sparking a furious response from the tobacco industry. Cigarettes will be sold in plain, standardised packages carrying large, graphic warnings against smoking -- and the brand name in small print -- from 2012, under proposed new legislation. The government also sharply raised taxes on cigarettes by 25 percent from midnight on Thursday, adding about two dollars (1.85 US) to a packet of 30, with the proceeds ploughed in to healthcare. "Cigarettes are not cool, cigarettes kill people," said Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. "This will be the most hardline regime for cigarette packaging anywhere in the world," he added. Rudd said Australia also planned new curbs on Internet tobacco advertising and would spend 27.8 million dollars on a "hard-hitting" anti-smoking campaign. "The big tobacco companies will hate what we are doing," he said. "The government however makes no apology what for what we are doing -- it is the right decision." Imperial Tobacco Australia said it planned to challenge the plain packaging on the grounds that it would affect its profits, arguing that branding has commercial value. "Introducing plain packaging just takes away the ability of a consumer to identify our brand from another brand, and that's of value to us," a spokeswoman told ABC radio. "It really affects the value of our business as a commercial enterprise and we will fight to support protecting our international property rights." One intellectual property expert said the move could cost taxpayers more than three billion dollars in compensation. But Health Minister Nicola Roxon said the legislation would be carefully drafted to withstand legal challenges. "There will be very graphic warnings, there will be no colourful branding or logos," she said. "This is the last vestige of advertising that remains in Australia for tobacco companies and we make no apologies about trying to close it down." Tobacco advertising is outlawed in Australia, and smoking is also banned in most enclosed public spaces such as offices and restaurants. However Rudd said some 15,000 Australians die of smoking-related diseases every year, and that tobacco use cost the country 31.5 billion dollars a year in healthcare and lost productivity. Health lobbies welcomed the radical packaging initiative, saying it would help stop children experimenting with cigarettes. "Research evidence confirms retail displays predispose children towards smoking, and make them more likely to experiment with tobacco products," said the Heart Foundation's Cameron Prout. "Banning displays is an excellent public health initiative which will not only save lives, but also reduce the burden on the health system with less smokers presenting with cardiovascular disease and cancer." Meanwhile neighbouring New Zealand also raised the price of cigarettes by 10 percent on Thursday, with further 10 percent rises to follow at the start of 2011 and 2012. "This move will put the price of cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco up enough to save hundreds of lives," said Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia. Turia is also co-leader of the Maori Party, which aims to represent indigenous New Zealanders. About 40 percent of adult Maori smoke, double the rate for all New Zealand adults. Recommend Send IM Story Print News Search Top Stories Clashes erupt as Greek bailout deal nears Australia plans world-first plain cigarette packets Lady Gaga, Bill Clinton, Lula top Time's influence list Russia cuts key interest rate to new low US Senate breaks logjam on Wall Street overhaul More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Oscar winner Bullock divorces husband, adopts a baby: People Clashes erupt as Greek bailout deal nears US oil burn begins as wind turns for the worst Colon exam could slash cancer rates: study Russia unveils Katyn wartime massacre archives More Most Viewed » Aliens may exist but contact would hurt: Hawking Apple engineer loses iPhone prototype French driving veil row escalates Airlines want compensation as Europe's skies reopen More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Friday, 30 April 2010
NATO troops raid Afghan MP's home, kill relative
Palm shares soar on HP acquisition
Iraq vote recount to start Monday; may take 3 weeks
Google wins Rosetta Stone trademark case
Clashes erupt as Greek bailout deal nears
Belgian parliament votes to ban wearing of veil |
Apple chief makes case against Adobe Flash software
Australia plans world-first plain cigarette packets
UN to distribute 200,000 laptops to Gaza refugees
Lady Gaga, Bill Clinton, Lula top Time's influence list
US-TECH Summary
Pakistan agents believe Taliban's Mehsud is alive |
Hugo Chavez hails successful Twitter debut
Kidnap, oil theft plague Nigeria as amnesty falters |
Washington Post revamps online political coverage
Hezbollah leader won't confirm or deny Scud claims |
Man stabs 28 children at kindergarten in China
Motorola smartphone sales rise
Pakistan Taliban chief said to survive US attack
Apple's Jobs criticizes Flash's "closed system"
Myanmar TV says pro-junta group registers for vote
Motorola smartphone sales rise
Panama's ex-dictator Noriega very weak: lawyer |
SKorea ship sinking may be perfect crime for North
Myanmar aid barriers hinder cyclone recovery: HRW
France denies Noriega war prisoner status
Elders' absence hinders army goals in NW Pakistan
Oil slick to hit U.S. coast on Friday
Vietnam seeks funds to clear unexploded wartime bombs
China will undertake greater global role: Wen
Thai protest rivals want military to end 'anarchy'
Rosetta Stone suit vs Google dismissed |
Wireless group pushes hunt for spectrum |
Motorola posts profit, smartphone sales rise |
French-Australian film to close Cannes festival
India's 3G auction to end this week: minister
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Hugo Chavez invites Fidel, Evo to Twitter |
Wen vows fairness for foreign, Chinese companies
Lady Gaga, Bullock named top artists in 2010
China mobile carrier Unicom's profit down 68 pct
Bad boy Colin Farrell questions word of his reform
US Navy officially ends ban on women in submarines
Seized violin to be loaned again to virtuoso: Austrian central bank
Bucharest businessmen combine cycling and chic
Slim down for promotions, Nepalese police told
A Minute With: Michael Caine on being "Harry Brown"
Moscow unveils restored Bolshoi facade
Bad boy Colin Farrell questions word of his reform |
Lady Gaga, Bullock named top artists in 2010 |
Clinton seeks concrete action on peace from Arabs
EU's Barroso says confident Greece will contain crisis
UK's Cameron seeks to build on TV debate boost |
US Boy Scouts issues awards for videogame mastery
Israel's Netanyahu takes on hardliners in party vote
Brown fails to woo voters in crunch British TV debate
Thai hospital near protest evacuates patients |
Hezbollah leader won't confirm or deny Scud claims
Flatulent orange superhero has a blast in British poll
EU, China talk over how, not if, to sanction Iran |
South Korea's Lee meets Hu; sunken ship in backdrop |
Microsoft shelves Courier, but may re-emerge
Car bomb kills 8, wounds 20 in Baghdad
Apple iPhone prototype finder identified
More survivors return after attack on Mexico aid convoy
Shanghai shuts down financial district ahead of Expo |
Rosetta Stone suit vs Google dismissed
Russia's Medvedev pushes high-tech project
Palm shares soar on HP acquisition
Clinton seeks concrete action on peace from Arabs |
As US papers struggle, AP net profit falls 65%
North Korea to expel South Korean workers from resort |
Apple chief makes case against Adobe Flash software
Japan PM renews vow to resolve U.S. base row |
Oil from leaking well 'washes ashore' in Louisiana
Chinese reports say 5 children hurt in new attack
Navy to allow women to serve on submarines
Thai woman, Philippine man convicted in Cambodia
US Democrats unveil immigration overhaul plan
Vietnam celebrates 35th anniversary of war's end
Disaster looms as oil slick closes on US coast
Adviser slams Tonga government over ferry inquiry
U.S. Democrats unveil immigration reform plan
Chinese man burns to death after latest school attack
Trial set for U.S. parents in death of Russian boy
Report: Japan issues warrant for anti-whaling boss
Oil spill pressures White House on drilling, climate
Man burns himself in latest China school attack
Deadly school attacks in China
Japan seeks arrest of anti-whaling ship chief
Thai protesters storm major hospital in Bangkok
Japan data shows mixed signs for recovery
China Construction Bank plans big share issue
Czechs discover a new taste for speciality beers
Cuba's underground rappers test free speech
Microsoft shelves Courier, but may re-emerge |
Samsung Q1 net profit surges to record high
Seoul shares gain on techs, Samsung Elec
"Chuck" fans plan rally support for series
Japan factory output up but jobless rate worsens
"Glee" star Agron cast in sci-fi movie "Four"
Russia's Medvedev pushes high-tech project |
Bank of Japan keeps key rate unchanged
Stephen King's "Dark Tower" in new hands
"Nightmare" redo eyeing No. 1 box-office bow
German, U.S. films win top prizes at Tribeca festival
"Iron Man 2" opens at No. 1 in six overseas markets
Toyota sets up design quality division
Taiwan stocks log worst fall in 2 wks, track China
S.Korea may take steps on Samsung Life IPO's FX impact
Japan's central bank holds interest rates steady
Conan criticizes Leno over Tonight Show fiasco |
German, U.S. films win top prizes at Tribeca festival |
Nightmare a sleep-inducing retread |
Glee star Agron cast in sci-fi movie Four |
Chuck fans plan rally support for series |
Lindsay Lohan defends gun photo as art |
Iron Man 2 opens at No. 1 in six overseas markets |
Vengeance neither sweet or funny in eco-comedy |
Stephen King's Dark Tower in new hands |
Oprah Winfrey network to air Rehab show |
Spain jobless rate tops 20%, adding to debt worries
Wounded Nokia chief to face frustrated investors
Microsoft sidelines "Courier" tablet project
Disaster looms as oil slick reaches US coast
Northern Ireland police on alert ahead of British vote |
Thai man arrested for Facebook post about monarchy
Iraq's Maliki rejects rival's call for intervention |
Police in Azerbaijan detain dozens marking massacre |
US-TECH Summary
Lebanon shocked by lynching of murder suspect |
Wounded Nokia chief to face frustrated investors
Pakistan, India still have much to do on ties |
Mauritius vote seen close, economic reforms to stay |
Intel: Ex-Pakistan spy found dead in N. Waziristan
Outcry at Russian government's media crackdown bid |
Indonesia police say arrested American had hashish
Thai hospital evacuated after protesters storm it
Hawaii lawmakers OK civil unions, send bill to gov
2 Ind. boys accused of killing stepdad to run away
Water dispute fuels India-Pakistan tensions
5 preschoolers hit with hammer in new China attack
Beijing limits home-buyers to one new apartment
Cambodia court rejects bail for K.Rouge leaders
China's Hu meets officials of 2 Koreas amid crisis
Thai protesters on defensive after storming hospital
Wounded Nokia chief to face frustrated investors |
Pakistani rupee edges firmer; stocks end lower
Smartphone shipments surge |
India bans Chinese telecom equipment
China Shenhua profit up on strong coal demand
China Construction Bank to raise up to $11 billion
Japan's recovery accelerating, central bank says
ANA quarterly losses swell amid travel slump
East Timor opposes floating gas plant
Total 's Cambodia deal needs scrutiny: watchdog
Samsung Q1 net profit surges to record high
AIG Taiwan deal could face further delay-regulator
Conan criticizes Leno over Tonight Show fiasco |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01