The British Medical Association called for the extension of the current ban on smoking in public places after reviewing evidence of the dangers.

It highlighted research showing the levels of toxins in a car can be up to 23 times higher than in a smoky bar.

But a report by a cross-party group of MPs and peers said non-legislative options should be considered as well.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health even said calling for an immediate ban could be “counterproductive” as consensus needed to be built across society before taking such as step.

The group said there should be a consultation on tackling smoking in cars which could look at whether it would be better to have an outright ban, or if more could be achieved by raising awareness about the dangers through education campaigns.

It pointed out that policing a ban on smoking in cars could be difficult.

No part of the UK has yet implemented a ban, although ministers in Northern Ireland have said they will launch a consultation on the issue.

Meanwhile, in Wales a public awareness campaign has begun highlighting the dangers of smoking in cars. Officials have said if that does not succeed over the next three years, a ban will be introduced.

Neither England or Scotland are currently considering introducing legislation at the moment.

But the BMA believes tougher action is needed.

The doctors’ union said an outright ban – even if there were no passengers – would be the best way of protecting children as well as non-smoking adults.

It said the young were particularly vulnerable from second-hand smoke as they absorbed more pollutants and their immune systems were less developed.

Research has show that second-hand smoke can increase the risk of a range of conditions, including sudden infant death syndrome and asthma, as well as impairing lung function.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, head of science at the BMA, admitted introducing a ban would be a “bold and courageous” move.

She added: “The evidence for extending smoke-free legislation is compelling.”

International action

While no part of the UK has yet taken such a step, countries elsewhere in the world have.

Some states in Canada, the US and Australia, as well as the whole of South Africa, have introduced legislation, but in each case it has been focused on stopping smoking where children are present.

Instead, the BMA said a complete ban would be better as it would be easier to police. It would also have the added benefit of potentially improving safety as smoking could be a distraction for the driver, the report said.

The BMA, which was produced after doctors’ voted at their annual conference in the summer in favour of their union lobbying for a ban, received some support from other health groups.

However, the likes of Asthma UK and the British Heart Foundation said any ban should only cover children.

But smokers’ lobby group Forest said there was “no justification” for a ban at all.

Director Simon Clark said: “Legislation is a gross overreaction. What next, a ban on smoking in the home?”

A spokesman for the Department of Health in England said: “We do not believe that legislation is the most effective way to encourage people to change their behaviour.”

He said instead a marketing campaign would be launched in the spring which would focus on the dangers of smoking in the home and car.

The cost of borrowing for Italy’s government has reached a new eurozone record of 6.29% in its latest bond auction.

The news came as the yield on traded Spanish government bonds rose above 6% for the first time since August.

And official figures from Eurostat showed eurozone industrial production for September down 2% from August.

European markets reacted with uncertainty to the news, with the FTSE closing nearly 0.5% down on the day.

Frankfurt’s Dax index closed 1.2% lower, while the Cac-40 index in Paris lost 1.3%. In New York, the Dow Jones fell 0.5% in morning trade.

Investors are looking to see if Italy can form a new government under the leadership of economist Mario Monti.

Italy sold 3bn euros ($4.2bn, £2.6bn) of 5-year bonds at a 6.29% yield on Monday.

Spanish debt is trading at its highest level since the European Central Bank intervened to cut the cost of borrowing in August.

A high yield indicates investors may not have confidence in the government to fully repay its debts.

The yield on existing Italian debt, traded in the market, topped 7% last week before falling back, after parliament passed new austerity measures and Prime Minister Berlusconi resigned.

High interest rates – or yields – become a problem for the government if it is forced to pay them when it issues new debt.

Monday’s 6.29% rate on new debt is the highest Italy has had to pay since 1997.

It compares with a rate of 5.32% at a similar auction in October.

Spain did not issue any debt on Monday but its government will be concerned by the rising

Around 200bn euros worth of Italian debt will need to be refinanced by April next year.

Economic slowdown

The September fall in industrial production in the eurozone was not as bad as some investors had feared.

However, production in September increased by 2.2% year-on-year in the eurozone, which was below expectations of a 3.3% rise.

“Eurozone manufacturers are clearly now finding life extremely challenging as domestic demand is hit by tighter fiscal policy across the region,” said Howard Archer from IHS Global Insight.

The eurozone is also being hit by a global downturn.

“Slower global growth has hit foreign demand for eurozone goods hard,” Mr Archer added.

Estonia, Portugal, Italy, the Irish Republic and Germany all saw significant falls in output with German industrial production down 2.9%.

Also, official third-quarter figures for Portugal’s GDP showed a decline of 0.4% for the debt-ridden economy.

Market jitters

The negative economic news dampened the mood on the markets.

By early afternoon on Monday, German, French, British and Italian benchmark indices were all down between 0.5 and 1.5%.

Share values had initially recovered on hopes that changes to the Greek and Italian governments would help resolve the eurozone debt crisis.

However, there are concerns that the eurozone economy could start contracting again by the end of the year.

“The weak end to the quarter suggests that industrial output may contract pretty sharply in Q4,” said Ben May from Capital Economics.

“In all, then, these data appear to support our view that the eurozone will soon fall back into another fairly deep recession.”

       Myanmar has made some progress toward political reforms, democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi said Monday on the one-year anniversary of her release from years of house arrest.

Speaking in Yangon on Monday, she told journalists and diplomats that in addition to her yearnings for political freedom for the country, she “deeply believed that the president also wants a change.”

Suu Kyi has met repeatedly with President Thein Sein and the country’s minister for labor and for social welfare, relief and resettlement, Aung Kyi, since her release from house arrest a year ago.

Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy, plans to meet Friday, she said, to discuss the possibility of registering the party with election officials and standing candidates for election.

Since the release of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner, the country’s military-controlled government has won limited praise from international human rights groups for making some progress toward political freedoms.

Human Rights Watch reported this month that Sein’s administration has loosened restrictions on the media and passed laws protecting basic human rights. Suu Kyi has also been given freedom to travel and access to the international media, the group reported. But the government’s tight grip on the country — particularly at the local level — has not relaxed, Human Rights Watch reported.

The country continues to hold hundreds of political prisoners and has not moved to repeal repressive laws that limit free speech and assembly, the group said.

“With this backdrop, it is too early to know whether the government’s change of tone and talk of reform is cynical window-dressing or evidence that significant change will come to the country,” the group wrote in a briefing paper.

The second session was run in warmer and less windy conditions than the opener, which was marred by five separate accidents involving some of the sports biggest names. Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa, Cal Crutchlow and Toni Elias suffered falls, but all escaped serious injury.

Simoncelli’s second-session benchmark was just 0.095s in front of defending world champion Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha), while Pedrosa, winner at the Sachsenring a year ago, took a strong third in just his second event back since missing three races with a broken collarbone.

The Spaniard finished just ahead of his Repsol Honda team-mates Stoner, the current championship leader, and Andrea Dovizioso, who were fourth and fifth respectively.

Nicky Hayden was the quickest of the Ducati riders in sixth, ahead of fellow American Ben Spies on the second factory Yamaha.

Pramac Racing’s Randy de Puniet, Alvaro Bautista (Rizla Suzuki) and Karel Abraham (Cardion AB Motoracing) completed the top 10.

Rossi, who had to be checked over at the medical centre following his morning shunt, endured another trying session as he could manage only 12th fastest before his involvement was curtailed by a late electrical issue.

The Italian finished just behind the struggling Tech 3 Yamaha of Colin Edwards, whose British team-mate Crutchlow was down in 14th.

“They just came up against a team and it was their turn,” he said. “Dirk played unbelievable. They played together. I just think it was their turn. “Michael Jordan told me a long time ago that before you succeed you must first learn to fail. This was the Big Three’s first time together and they made it very far and they are going to be together for a long time. “I’m guaranteeing they will get back.”

Lest you think O’Neal is going to be a homer for his old club, BusinessInsider.com points outthat he also came to the defense of those who criticized LeBron James this season, painting all the hatred as a rite of passage for top-level stars and saying the criticism James absorbed was understandable.

“I would not characterize it as unfair because, like I said, it happened to everyone,” he said. “It happened to [Michael] Jordan when he went to Atlantic City to get away from the game. It happened to Barkley. It happened to [Dennis] Rodman. It happened to Magic [Johnson]. It happens to everybody. If it just started this year I would call it unfair, but I’ve been in the game for 20 years and I’ve seen similar stories.”

O’Neal will be teaming with former players Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley in his new role. All three have silly sides to their personalities, which could get overwhelming at times. But “Serious Shaq” is not someone we are exposed to all that often, and his experience as a top-flight player, entertainer and celebrity will be invaluable for the casual fan. While Barkley has always kept it completely real, he never won a title and more time has passed since he left the league. In Shaq, the NBA viewer will have a thoroughly modern mega-star who has lived through everything — the good, bad and ugly — that the 21st century athlete/global icons deal with on a daily basis. His treatment of the Heat’s James and Dwyane Wade will be particularly interesting to follow because he will speak from a position of authority and experience that is totally unique in the basketball world. Part Godfather, part older brother, part clown, part mogul, part movie star. Just as Shaq was born to dominate on the basketball court, he was born to commentate off of it.

A third of China’s millionaires are women, and they buy a disproportionately large share of high-performance sports cars in the world’s fastest-growing major economy. Fiat SpA said the percentage of women buying its Maseratis in China is triple that of Europe, while the percentage buying its Ferrari is double the global average, according to Bloomberg.

Sales of ultra-luxury vehicles in the world’s largest auto market likely increased 60 percent last year, according to consultants Bain & Co. Deliveries may increase 35 percent this year, driven by consumers wanting to prove their success or succumbing to peer pressure, said Ray Tsang, a Shanghai-based partner at Bain.

Women buyers generate 30 percent of Maserati’s China sales, compared with less than 10 percent in Europe, Shanghai-based Gobber said. The GranCabrio convertible with 433 horsepower costs $406,656 and the GranTurismo S coupe $391,527, the company said.

Ferrari’s China sales rose almost 50 percent to about 300 last year, the company said. Women account for about 20 percent of mainland sales, more than twice the company’s global average. A Ferrari California sports tourer costs $527,924 in China and about $200,000 in the U.S.

The rise of women entrepreneurs—more than half the world’s richest women are Chinese according to Hurun Report—is propelling their share of luxury spending, said FT.

”In China, women are ambitious…so they will buy more ‘high powered’ products than women in the US or Europe,” says Tom Doctoroff, greater China head of JWT, the advertising agency. “A woman here needs to project her power in ways that a western woman simply does not need to.”

In contrast, as western luxury brands tap the Chinese market, unlearning gender stereotypes along the way, China’s men purchase more face creams and bags. Coach, the US leather brand, says men represent 45 percent of the $1.7 billion Chinese market for luxury bags and accessories, compared with 15 percent globally, said FT. (They buy exotic cars as well, but I liked the stat on “man bags.” You can read more about designer handbags for upwardly mobile men in China here.)

Professors at the Wellesley, Massachusetts-based college analyzed a survey of some 3,755 alumni and found that two (“or better yet three”) entrepreneurship classes strongly affected students’ decisions to pursue start-ups, and that writing a student business plan also had some influence, though not as strong.

“It’s time to cast off the prejudiced question, ‘Why teach entrepreneurship?,’ because we now have excellent empirical evidence that it makes a difference. We think that entrepreneurship should be taught not only for the production and training of entrepreneurs but also to help students decide if they have the right stuff to be entrepreneurs before they embark on careers for which they may be ill-suited,” the professors wrote in the study, called “Does An Entrepreneurship Education Have Lasting Value? A Study of Careers of 3,775 Alumni.”

The study found no effect on students of having parents who were entrepreneurs. It also found that men were more likely to become entrepreneurs than women, and that “there was a hint that the higher their income, the less likely that alumni intend to become entrepreneurs.”

Another finding: The greater their job dissatisfaction, the more likely that alumni have intentions to become entrepreneurs.

“At a more abstract level, we believe that entrepreneurship should be taught to every business student because it is the very origin of all businesses—after all,” the professors wrote, “there would be no business schools if there had never been any entrepreneurs!”

As I said in my Emmy prediction piece, every year there are omissions that rankle me, but this year, I have to say, the number of nice surprises was large. So as I sit here, still not having had coffee yet, I find myself unable to be too mad at the Emmys. I’m actually pretty pleased about a few things. Is it Opposite Day? The Emmys are recognizing ‘Parks and Recreation’ and Louie C.K. in comedy categories and ‘Friday Night Lights’ in the best drama category — things I hadn’t predicted but I’m very happy about — so maybe it is.

Without further ado, here are my Pre-Coffee Emmy Musings (which I may add to later in the day, post-coffee), followed by the Happy Dance List.

• Pinch me. No really, pinch me. ‘Friday Night Lights’ got nominated by the Emmys for best drama series? That’s amazingly terrific! And so very richly deserved.

• Pinch me. No really, pinch me. ‘Parks and Recreation’ got nominated by the Emmys in the best comedy category? How wonderful! I have no words beyond ‘Yay!’ Steaks and mustaches for everyone!

• As the Emmy press release points out, five of the twelve nominees in the best comedy and best drama categories are first-time nominees in those categories. This is the year the Emmys get some fresh blood, apparently. And if that fresh blood consists of programs like ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Parks and Recreation,’ I’m not going to complain too much if they stick around in those categories for a while.

I needn’t have worried about ‘Game of Thrones,’ which I thought might get somewhat ignored by the Emmy voters given that it has genre/fantasy elements. But the HBO brand carried the day, as did, I would think, the show’s genuine quality. Thirteen nominations, including one for Peter Dinklage (which I predicted) is a pretty great showing for a freshman drama, even an HBO production. As you may know, I had issues with Dinklage’s fake English accent all season, but I never disputed how talented and charismatic he was in the role of Tyrion. At this stage, I’m at least used to the accent issue and I think some of Dinklage’s scenes later in the season were outstanding.

• Speaking of somewhat insane HBO worship, fellow freshman drama ‘Boardwalk Empire’ walked off with a total 18 nomination. What, no ‘B.E.’ nomination for best craft services? I am outraged! Kidding.

• I truly wish that more actors in ‘Game of Thrones’ had been recognized, especially Sean Bean and Emilia Clarke. But the truth is, Clarke is a newcomer — her time may yet come. It’s early days yet for the show, and I’m sure more Emmy love is coming if it stays as good as it got in the second half of its first season.

• A show that didn’t lack for Emmy love was ‘The Good Wife,’ which got a total of six acting nominations and which was also nominated in the best drama category. No argument here; it’s most definitely one of the best shows on TV and at this point, with ‘FNL’ ending, it’s the best program on the broadcast networks.

• Finally, the Emmys listen to me! Nice to see that Johnny Galecki got a nomination for his work on ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ as well as Jim Parsons, who’s been recognized by various awards-giving bodies for some time now.

• Speaking of the best actor in a comedy category, Matt LeBlanc was indeed the best thing about ‘Episodes’ but the show itself was a self-aggrandizing, shrill mess. But that’s the Emmy name recognition factor working its magic.

• I can’t believe Louie C.K. got a best actor in a comedy nomination for an Emmy! I’m thrilled Emmy voters recognized C.K.’s excellent work on ‘Louie,’ and also gave him a writing nod for the excellent season 1 episode ‘Poker/Divorce,’ one of the show’s high points. ‘Louie’ is in the midst of airing its second season now on FX. You should be watching it.

But after the contenders were named and co-announcer Joshua Jackson (Fox’s ‘Fringe’) walked away empty-handed, we were finally able to take in what had just happened.

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (i.e. the Emmy nominating committee) likes the familiar, so we weren’t expecting too many shockers — but we were wrong.

Critically acclaimed shows like ‘Terriers’ walked away completely empty handed, while ‘The Cape’ (the frikkin’ CAPE) got one. There were some pleasant surprises, though. ‘Men of a Certain’ age star Andre Brauhger was recognized (though unfortunately not his costar, Ray Romano), and so was ‘Friday Night Lights.’ Finally.

‘Boardwalk Empire,’ seemingly created for the sole purpose of laying the smackdown at awards shows, cleaned up with 18 noms, yet only two were for acting. The same happened with the superb ‘Game of Thrones’ — 13 nods, yet Sean Bean and Emilia Clarke were snubbed.

Some snubs we were totally on board for, though. Showtime’s not-really-comedies ‘Nurse Jackie’ and ‘The Big C’ were shut out of the Best Comedy Series category (which is good since, again, they’re NOT ACTUALLY COMEDIES), and Kyra Sedgwick, lovely as she is, had her first nomination-less year since 2005.

You can read more about the snubs we’re happy about in a separate article, but read on for the rest of the 2011 Emmy snubs and surprises below.

SNUBS
‘The Walking Dead’ (AMC)
One of last year’s most intriguing and addictive new shows got a big ol’ goose egg in the nomination department. ‘The Killing’ got two. This basically proves that there is no justice in the world.

‘Community’/Danny Pudi (NBC)
We’re sorry, but when we think of competent supporting actors who are effortlessly funny, raising their respective comedies to new heights, we think of Danny Pudi. Abed is the heart and soul of ‘Community,’ and to not even acknowledge him (or anyone from the Greendale gang for that matter) at all makes us want to go all ‘Modern Warfare’ on the Emmy committee.

Katey Sagal, ‘Sons of Anarchy’ (FX)
Be thankful that Sagal is nowhere near as vengeful and frightening as she is as the biker gang matriarch Gemma Morrow on ‘Sons of Anarchy’ (we think), otherwise the academy would be in a whole lot of trouble. Her husband Kurt Sutter, on the other hand … well, keep an eye on his blog for an honest reaction.

‘True Blood’ (HBO)
It shouldn’t be a surprise that the academy didn’t recognize what was largely viewed as an off season, but since they like to stick to what they know, it is. Take comfort in knowing that ‘True Blood’ would sweep the Best Supporting Abs category in our imaginary Emmy awards.

Michael Shannon & Michael Pitt, ‘Boardwalk Empire’ (HBO)
The HBO drama grabbed a whopping 18 nominations, but just two were for acting. The superb performances from Shannon and Pitt were both critically acclaimed, but sadly didn’t make the cut in such a crowded year.

‘How I Met Your Mother’/Neil Patrick Harris/Jason Segel (CBS)
This year marked a creative renaissance of sorts for ‘HIMYM,’ which many thought lost its way for a while there. And yet no love? And no love for perennial nominee NPH, who had a really great season? And nothing for Segel, whose heartbreaking performance when Marshall found out his father died brought me to tears, too? Damn.

‘Cougar Town’/Busy Phillips/Courteney Cox (ABC)
We could’ve let the ‘Cougar Town’ snub go if either Phillips or Cox’s superb performances were recognized, but it’s a travesty that the unfortunately named ABC comedy got a grand total of nada in the major categories this year.

‘Shameless’/William H Macy/Emmy Rossum (Showtime)
Showtime was shut out of the Best Drama Series category this year thanks to HBO’s programming renaissance, but it’s a shame the academy didn’t recognize the network’s best new show. Rossum’s performance as the harried daughter holding her dysfunctional family together was particularly noteworthy, and William H. Macy is, well, William H. Macy.

‘Extreme Makeover Home Edition,’ ‘Survivor,’ Heidi Klum, Padma Lakshmi
The reality categories were full of shakeups this year: Longtime nominees like ‘Extreme Makeover Home Edition,’ ‘Survivor,’ Heidi and Padma got the boot in favor of some new blood. Frankly, we’re pretty excited at the idea if it means the superb Cat Deely and ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ finally get their day (see more on that below).

‘Parenthood’/Lauren Graham/Peter Krause/Dax Shepard (NBC)
Well, since it took so long for Jason Katims’ perfect exercise in television otherwise known as ‘Friday Night Lights’ to be recognized, we’re just going to hold out for next year.

SURPRISES
‘Parks and Recreation,’ Best Comedy Series (NBC)
‘Parks and Rec’ definitely gets fan love, but we were starting to think the quirky NBC comedy would never get any awards recognition beyond Amy Poehler’s Emmy nod last year. Color us pleasantly surprised at the noms for Poehler and the show.

Walton Goggins, ‘Justified’ (FX)
Can we get a hell yes? Goggins was our favorite actor on ‘The Shield,’ but never got the awards show love he deserved. Now, he’s killing it on ‘Justified,’ which we guess finally justified his need for a nomination (and win!) from Emmy voters.

Mirielle Enos & Michelle Forbes, ‘The Killing’ (AMC)
With ‘The Killing’ being such a controversial and divisive series, we wouldn’t have been shocked if it had been shut out entirely … but that’s not to say we aren’t thrilled for these two ladies, who deserve the recognition without a doubt.

Louis CK, ‘Louie’ (FX)
Nice one, Emmy voters! Honestly, we didn’t think you had it in you. Hands down the biggest surprise of the day, Louis CK being nominated for Best Actor for FX’s ‘Louie’ totally made our day. He’s raunchy, he’s hysterical and he doesn’t give a damn. Now all we can think about is his acceptance speech …

‘So You Think You Can Dance’ (Fox)
‘So You Think You Can Dance’ always gets nominated in choreography, costuming and make-up categories, but this is the first time ‘SYTYCD’ has ever been nominated in the biggies: Best Reality Competition Program for the show and Outstanding Reality Host for the beyond fabulous host Cat Deeley.

Johnny Galecki, ‘The Big Bang Theory’ (CBS)
Jim Parsons has become ‘Big Bang Theory”s resident golden boy, but his geeky TV counterpart finally gets some respect. Live long, prosper and get some Emmys, ‘BBT.’

Mare Winningham, ‘Mildred Pierce’ (HBO)
With Rob Lowe being generally hilarious (though sadly unrecognized by the academy) on ‘Parks and Rec’ and Winningham turning heads in ‘Mildred Pierce,’ could the rest of the Brat Pack be primed for a comeback?

Martha Plimpton, ‘Raising Hope’ (Fox)
We adore Plimpton, and ‘Raising Hope’ was one of the season’s only breakout new sitcoms, but we did not see Emmy nomination in the cards for her today. That being said, we could not be happier — and we can’t help imagining where the Chance family would display a proper trophy in that house.

Dot-Marie Jones, ‘Glee’ (Fox)
As one of our favorite new additions to McKinely High, we’re thrilled that Jones got some recognition for playing Coach Beiste on ‘Glee.’ She’s got some tough competition here — including two fellow ‘Glee’ gals Gwyneth Paltrow and Kristin Chenoweth — but she’s the kind of lady who’ll really mean it when she says it’s an honor just to be nominated.

Melissa McCarthy, ‘Mike & Molly’ (CBS)
One of the highlights of the very quick Emmy nomination announcement hullabaloo was getting to see ‘Mike & Molly’ star McCarthy react to news of her own announcement on stage. Let’s be real — this is for ‘Bridesmaids’ and pretty much all of her other work, but we’re happy about it (even if we don’t watch the show) anyway.

Which snubs and surprises were you most shocked by? Sound off in the comments.

Executive producer Peter Tolan and actor Lenny Clarke (Teddy Gavin) will join Leary for a donation ceremony at 2PM ET Thursday.

The objects will join the museum’s popular culture history collections. The Smithsonian says today’s ceremony is the first in a series of events to mark the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 and examine how it will be remembered and how life has changed.

‘Rescue Me’ focuses on the professional and personal lives of a group of New York City firefighters in the fictitious Ladder 62/Engine 99 firehouse as they deal with the grief of losing friends and relatives at Ground Zero. It tackles the daily drama of the life-and-death situations associated with being a firefighter while exploring the ways the men use dark humor to protect their true emotions.

The Series Finale of ‘Rescue Me’ is due to air on Wednesday Sept. 7th, a few days ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Leary’s co-star Callie Thorne, who’s played Shelia Keefe since the beginning, has spoken about the sadness of filming the final scenes after seven years of working with the same cast and crew.

She told ‘People’ that “The final days of ‘Rescue Me’ were terrible. There were a lot of tears. Especially when people heard, ‘That’s a series wrap on Denis Leary.’ A lot of the guys got really choked up.”

“Denis didn’t cry,” she added. “But he was very quiet. Which is a big deal for Denis Leary.”