Russia launches smoking crackdown

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said in a video blog that 44 million Russians, nearly one in three, were hooked on smoking, and almost 400,000 die every year of smoking-related causes.

Under Health Ministry proposals, tobacco advertising – now only allowed in some print media – would be outlawed, taxes increased on cigarette sales and smoking in cafés and other public spaces eventually banned.

The bill is expected to be submitted to parliament for approval in the coming days.