Every year 4.5 million people die from smoking related to deaths. Of that staggering number nearly half of the deaths are in developing countries where medical care and health education are limited or non-existent. One of the fastest growing smoking populations is among teens in both rich and poor countries across the world. With the above statistics and the growing trend of younger smokers, the overall death toll for smokers could likely reach one billion before the end of the century.

Many governments are flummoxed by how exactly to handle this problem. Singapore, Australia and Thailand have implemented tougher anti-smoking campaigns and have found success in cutting the number of smokers within their borders. Other countries are hoping that drastic measures such as much higher taxes on cigarettes, a ban on public advertising and banning public smoking will help.

The concern for smoking related deaths has prompted representatives from nearly 150 countries to meet and discuss possible solutions to the problem. With so many minds mulling over the issues perhaps some solutions can be found.

Formula One mogul Flavio Briatore is recovering from kidney cancer surgery. Originally announced that he had kidney stones, Briatore revealed in a magazine interview that he had kidney cancer surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his left kidney.

For the ex-boyfriend of Naomi Campbell and Heidi Klum, cancer has made life uncertain as to the direction he will choose to go in next, although Briatore, at 54, has made it clear cancer has transformed his priorities and his life.

Briatore says he must decide if he will continue as Renault's Formula One boss. "I am responsible for 900 people, who count on me. I do not want to let them down. But I also work for my own satisfaction and for results. For me, money will never decide my future."

Briatore is quoted as saying, "Fifteen percent of my existence was superfluous. Now I want to dedicate more time to those who really need it."