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Newsday: Mexican Drug Lord Joaquin Guzman Escapes Again

Mexican Drug Lord Joaquin Guzman Escapes Again

13/07/2015

BBC World Service - Newsday, Mexican Drug Lord Joaquin Guzman Escapes Again

Mexican drug lord, sugary drinks ban, new development goals

Mexican drug lord, sugary drinks ban, new sustainable development goals

Officials are on a massive manhunt for Joaquin Guzman, one of the world's most powerful drugs traffickers who's escaped from a top security prison through a tunnel more than a kilometre long. He's known as "El Chapo" or "shorty" and it's the second time he's escaped from jail. When he was initially arrested last year, it was arguably the biggest success yet for Mexican authorities in their fight against drugs trafficking.

The British Medical Association is calling for a 20% tax on sugary drinks. The money raised would then subsidise the sale of fruit and vegetables, which lower-income families  do not eat in sufficient quantity. One projection is that a third of the UK population is expected to be obese by 2030. Some governments around the world have already implemented taxes on sugary drinks for example in France, Hungary, some US states and recently Mexico. 

What's the best way of helping countries improve the lives of their poorest citizens?  And how do you fund that development?  Foreign aid?  Taxation?  New financing mechanisms?  Global leaders, United Nations agencies, financial experts and aid organisations are meeting in Ethiopia this week to discuss just that. Our Africa correspondent Andrew Harding has been to Korem, in northern Ethiopia, to see how the host country is managing to lift people out of poverty.

(Photo: file picture taken on 22 February, 2014 showing Joaquin Guzman aka "el Chapo Guzman" being escorted by Mexican marines as he is presented to the press in Mexico City.  Credit: AFP)

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