Paris Bans Smoking in 52 Public Parks and Gardens
A ban on smoking in 52 public parks and gardens, which is about 10% of green areas in the French capital, has been enforced in Paris, BTA reported.
In Russia, a ban against smoking cigarettes in bars and restaurants officially comes into force on June 1.
According to the second part of a law adopted last year, the ban applies to smoking in cafes, restaurants, hotels and dormitories, long-haul trains and on the platforms of local railway stations.
The new rules ban retail sales of tobacco products at railway stations, airports and sea ports, according to ITAR-TASS.
The new provisions also ban putting cigarettes on display in shops or selling them in kiosks.
The new regulations expand a ban imposed in the summer of 2013 against smoking in government buildings and against advertising by tobacco companies.
A violation of the ban will result in serious fines of RUB 500 – 1500 for the smoker and of 30 000 – 40 000 for the owner of a site. A chain-run corporate business will be fined RUB 60 000 – 90 000 for the same breach.
According to statistics, 44 million Russians are smokers, or about a third of the population.
The law aims to reduce the number of smokers and the rate of smoking-related deaths.
The European Commission has confirmed that Bulgaria meets the inflation criterion necessary for joining the eurozone
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has stated that Serbia has been secretly rearming its military in recent years
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation on the evening of June 20, focusing on the ongoing Russian offensive in Sumy Oblast and the broader implications of recent statements by Russian officials
At a meeting in Luxembourg on June 19, the finance ministers of EU member states unanimously endorsed the Eurogroup’s recommendation for Bulgaria to adopt the euro starting January 1, 2026
Russia may be heading into a recession, Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov admitted during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
As hostilities between Israel and Iran stretch into their second week, European powers are intensifying diplomatic efforts to prevent a broader regional war
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