Each Cigarette in Canada to Come with Warning Label

In this Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016 photo, an Indian man takes a
cigarette from a pack in New Delhi, India. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)Altaf
Qadri/Associated Press
In this Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016 photo, an Indian man takes a cigarette from a pack in New Delhi, India. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)Altaf Qadri/Associated Press
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Each Cigarette in Canada to Come with Warning Label

In this Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016 photo, an Indian man takes a
cigarette from a pack in New Delhi, India. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)Altaf
Qadri/Associated Press
In this Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016 photo, an Indian man takes a cigarette from a pack in New Delhi, India. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)Altaf Qadri/Associated Press

In a world first in the fight against smoking, each cigarette sold in Canada will have to come with an individual health warning under new rules that came into effect Tuesday.

According to the new regulations, which were first announced in May, each cigarette will have to come with an individual health warning that “cigarettes cause impotence”, “cigarettes cause cancer”, “smoking harms children”, and “poison in every puff”.

King-size cigarettes with the new individual labels are expected to be available in stores within a year, followed by regular size cigarettes in early 2025, reported Agence France Press (AFP).

“With this step, the warning labels will be unavoidable and, together with updated graphic images displayed on the package, will provide a real and startling reminder of the health consequences of smoking,” Canada’s former addictions minister, Carolyn Bennett, has previously said.

The Canadian government noted that some young people, who are particularly susceptible to the risk of tobacco dependence, start smoking after being given a single cigarette rather than a pack labeled with health warnings.

In 2000, Canada became the first country to order graphic warnings on packs of cigarettes -- including grisly pictorials of diseased hearts and lungs -- to raise awareness of the health hazards associated with tobacco use.

Smoking has been trending down since then. Ottawa aims to further reduce the number of smokers in the country to five percent of the population, or about 2 million people, by 2035 -- from about 13 percent currently.

According to government data, almost half of the country’s health care costs are linked to substance use.



Saudi Journalists Association Unveils New Brand Identity

SJA Chairman of the Board of Directors Adhwan Al-Ahmari described the association as a cornerstone of promoting the national media identity and developing journalism in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
SJA Chairman of the Board of Directors Adhwan Al-Ahmari described the association as a cornerstone of promoting the national media identity and developing journalism in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi Journalists Association Unveils New Brand Identity

SJA Chairman of the Board of Directors Adhwan Al-Ahmari described the association as a cornerstone of promoting the national media identity and developing journalism in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
SJA Chairman of the Board of Directors Adhwan Al-Ahmari described the association as a cornerstone of promoting the national media identity and developing journalism in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

The Saudi Journalists Association (SJA) launched on Friday its new brand identity at the Saudi Media Forum, with local and international media professionals and intellectuals in attendance.

SJA Chairman of the Board of Directors Adhwan Al-Ahmari described the association as a cornerstone of promoting the national media identity and developing journalism in Saudi Arabia.

He emphasized its role as a unified voice for journalists, protecting their rights and providing professional support.

Al-Ahmari added that the new identity reflects the evolving media landscape and Saudi Arabia's dynamic progress across various sectors.

The new design, created by a young Saudi talent, retains the essence of the previous logo, which was inspired by the palm tree – a symbol deeply rooted in Saudi Arabia's cultural heritage, he noted.

Several editors-in-chief of local newspapers and media institutions, along with leaders from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Arab media organizations, also addressed the gathering.