New York mayor will use cash injection to target countries with highest rates of smoking including Bangladesh, India and Russia The mayor of New York has bolstered a global crusade against tobacco with a donation of a quarter of a billion dollars to curb the growth of the industry in low- and middle-income countries. Michael Bloomberg, who introduced a ban on smoking in public places in New York despite warnings that it would destroy tourism and alienate voters, is putting unprecedented sums of money into anti-smoking efforts in poorer parts of the world where the industry is increasingly looking for expansion. About 80% of deaths from smoking-related diseases last year were in low- and middle-income countries, according to the World Lung Foundation’s Tobacco Atlas published on Wednesday. Smoking is the biggest killer in China, causing 1.2 million deaths a year and is the leading cause of male deaths in Turkey (38%) and Kazakhstan (35%)

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