tw News Headlines
Guzman escape turns up heat on Mexican president over corruption | Reuters
The dramatic escape on Saturday of the world’s most notorious drug lord has raised pressure on Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to curb corruption and the drug gangs that play an outsized and violent role in his country. Speaking from Paris, where he was beginning a four-day state visit just as Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was breaking out of jail, Pena Nieto called the escape an “affront to Mexico” and promised a full investigation. But scepticism is rife in Mexico.
In February of 2014, when Guzman was re-arrested after a previous jail break, Pena Nieto said another escape by the drug kingpin would be “unforgivable.” Since the latest escape Pena Nieto’s critics have reminded him incessantly of that statement.
Escape of Ebola patients raises alert in Sierra Leone | Vanguard
Sierra Leonine health authorities have launched a nationwide alert to prevent a serious spread of Ebola following the escape of a 32-year-old woman and eight-year-old girl for several hours from a treatment centre on the outskirts of Freetown on Saturday. The pair, who absconded together, were later tracked down at an undisclosed location and returned to the clinic after radio appeals to the public. A spokesperson of the country’s National Ebola Response Centre confirmed the development.
Iran nuclear agreement ‘reached’ – diplomats in Vienna | Reuters
A deal on limiting Iran’s nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief has been reached at talks in Vienna, diplomats say. The Associated Press cited an unnamed Western diplomat as saying final obstacles had been cleared. The EU announced a “final plenary” meeting at 08:30 GMT, followed by a news conference. Six world powers including the US, Russia and the UK have been negotiating with Iran at the talks.
Reuters cited two unnamed Iranian diplomats early on Tuesday as saying a deal had been reached.
India stampede ‘kills 20 pilgrims’ in Andhra Pradesh | BBC
At least 20 pilgrims have died in a stampede on the banks of a holy river in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, local officials say. The Hindu pilgrims had gathered to take a dip in the Godavari river at the start of the Maha Pushkaralu festival. The stampede occurred at 08:00am (02:30 GMT) in the Rajahmundry district.
Buhari okays N160 to $1 for Christian pilgrims | The Nation
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved N160 to $1 exchange rate for the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission’s (NCPC) operations. The commission’s Executive Secretary, John Keneddy-Opara, told State House correspondents after briefing Buhari on the commission’s activities at the State House, Abuja.
He said: “As you are aware, he has approved $1 to N160 for the conventional exchange rate for this pilgrimage operation and he also agreed that he will continue to encourage us, particularly as we drive to ensure self-sustenance, to make sure that the pilgrims are able to pay for the pilgrimages by removing government sponsorship.