News headlines in November 2012, page 5

HAVANA, Nov 27 (IPS) - Oasis Nelva is a refreshing green space in the midst of the grey asphalt landscape of Old Havana. The ornamental plant shop is also one of only a handful of eco-friendly initiatives among the upsurge of private small businesses in Cuba.

GENEVA, Nov 27 (IPS) - Innovation in the pharmaceutical industry has declined drastically in the last ten years despite the high profitability of the so-called "research-based" industry, and the availability of better and more powerful science and technological tools. Not only has productivity in terms of research fallen, but the vast majority of new molecules introduced to the market do not provide new therapeutic solutions since other treatments already exist, normally at a lower cost.

CAIRO, Nov 27 (IPS) - Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi issued a controversial decree last week that temporarily puts his decisions beyond judicial challenge. While critics decry the move as a blatant power grab, the presidency says it was necessary to safeguard Egypt's post-revolution democratic transition.

GAZA CITY, Nov 27 (IPS) - As Israel and Hamas separately celebrate the ceasefire and their "victory" over the other following Israel's blistering eight-day military assault on the Gaza strip, civilians continue to pay the price.

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, Nov 27 (IPS) - There is no political will among rich nations to find funding for developing countries experiencing the brunt of changes in global weather patterns, and the current climate change conference will fail to do so, according to Professor Patrick Bond, a leading thinker and analyst on climate change issues.

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 27 (IPS) - For the former industrial engineer Yastel Yamada, retirement has not meant he can finally stop working. Instead, the 73-year-old and about 700 other skilled seniors across Japan have volunteered to tackle the most dangerous part of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant cleanup and spare a younger generation from the effects of extreme radiation.

WASHINGTON, Nov 27 (IPS) - Amidst reports that stalled negotiations with Iran over its controversial nuclear programme may soon be jump-started, many here are arguing that a mutually negotiated settlement remains the most effective option for resolving the dispute and averting the threat of war.

WASHINGTON, Nov 27 (IPS) - The U.S. government is suggesting that pending aid worth billions of dollars for Egypt may be withheld unless President Mohamed Morsi dials back on recent moves, announced Thursday, that would consolidate his power and put his legislative decisions above judicial review.

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 26 (IPS) - When the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) concluded last week, some of the overwhelming success stories highlighted at a two-day interactive session came both from developing and developed countries, including India, Brazil, China, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Italy, France and the United States.

BRUSSELS, Nov 26 (IPS) - One hundred and ninety million – that's more than the populations of Germany, France and Poland combined. It is also the number of children affected by vitamin A deficiency around the world.