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This week, we shared a story about the United States boycotting the Winter Olympics in China. Since then, three other countries have announced they'll also be boycotting. We thought we'd ask you to help us conduct a survey! Please tell us if you agree or disagree with the boycott of the Olympics, and we’ll share the results next week.
Extinguishing Smoking
New Zealanders born after 2008 will not be able to buy cigarettes or tobacco products in their lifetime, thanks to a law expected to be enacted next year. The move is part of a sweeping crackdown on smoking announced by New Zealand's health ministry on Thursday.
“We want to make sure young people never start smoking,” the health minister said. Doctors and other health experts in the country have welcomed the “world-leading” reforms, which will reduce access to tobacco and restrict nicotine levels in cigarettes. Currently, 13% of New Zealand's adults smoke.
The rate is much higher among the indigenous Maori population, almost a third of whom smoke. Maori also suffer a higher rate of disease and death. Officials are determined to achieve a national goal of reducing the smoking rate to 5% by 2025, with the aim of eventually eliminating it altogether. The crackdown has been met with mixed reactions, with detractors believing the move will lead to a black market and a crime wave. (BBC)