Stories for December 5th 2012

Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 18:32 UTC
WHO sponsored research helps identify heavy lead contaminated areas in Peru

Countries – especially those with a long mining history -- can substantially reduce lead poisoning in children by mapping contamination levels in the soil to identify high-risk areas and by taking measures to keep children away from those areas, according to a study published this month in the public health journal, the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.
Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 18:26 UTC
Chevron dispute with Ecuador discussed by Correa with Cristina Fernandez

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa said he discussed with his Argentine counterpart Cristina Fernandez the legal dispute with US oil giant Chevron that has spilled over into her country.
Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 18:17 UTC
Royal Navy has a new Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Philip Jones

Royal Navy has welcomed its newly-appointed Fleet Commander and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff at a handover ceremony in Portsmouth. Vice Admiral Philip Jones takes up the role from outgoing Fleet Commander Admiral Sir George Zambellas who will continue in his NATO role, Commander Maritime Command, at Northwood in North West London.
Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 18:08 UTC
London Mayor presses PM Cameron on the EU calling for a referendum

London Mayor Boris Johnson heaped pressure on Prime Minister David Cameron this week by calling for a referendum on a deeply pared back British membership of the European Union.
Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 17:20 UTC
Argentine Jewish organizations slam President Correa ‘disdainful words’ towards terrorist attacks’ victims

Argentine Jewish organizations strongly criticized Ecuador’s president, Rafael Correa after he defended the Iranian government, comparing the 85 people killed in the 1994 AMIA attacks in Buenos Aires with the victims of “NATO bombings in Libya” in 2011.
Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 17:09 UTC
Mercosur, except for Uruguay quite a “corrupt” neighbourhood, according to TI

Mercosur and Unasur democracies did not rank very encouragingly in the latest Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2012 with all countries, except Chile and Uruguay, ranking below the score of 50, on a scale from 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be very clean).
Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 17:04 UTC
Corruption still ravages around the world, says Transparency International

A growing outcry over corrupt governments forced several leaders from office last year, but as the dust has cleared it has become apparent that the levels of bribery, abuse of power and secret dealings are still very high in many countries.
Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 05:26 UTC
EU and Mercosur to resume free trade talks at two events next January

The European Union and Mercosur will resume talks on a free trade agreement during a coming summit in Brazil and later at a meeting in Santiago de Chile, both in January, according to the EU chief delegate in Brazil, Ana Paula Zacarias.
Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 05:22 UTC
Dealing with Argentina “one of the most painful problems” admits President Mujica

Uruguayan president Jose Mujica confessed that dealing with neighbouring Argentina is “one of the most painful problems” faced by his administration given the weight of the Argentine economy.
Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 05:18 UTC
Cristina Fernandez calls for regional litigation mechanisms and blasts international bodies as ‘predators’

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez criticized international organizations which she described as ‘predators’ and called for the region to create its own mechanisms to settle litigations among South American countries.