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International

Companies pushed baby

formula in Peru despite ban

LIMA, Peru (AP) — A new study says multinational companies pushed expensive baby formula to a low-income community near Peru’s capital despite the country’s ban against aggressive marketing of such products.

The report issued Monday by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that women in the community where the promotions took place were 10 times more likely to stop exclusive bread feeding at their doctors’ advice.

Doctors told researchers they had received everything from free training and trips as well as powdered formula samples to promote the products.

The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding up to six months of age for its health benefits to babies. Peru has prohibited marketers from promoting infant formula through health care centers since 1982.

Georgian leader sees NATO future,

seeks tough line on Russia

GENEVA (AP) — Georgia’s president is calling on Western allies to do more to face up to Russia and the “very heavy pressure” she says Moscow has put on her Caucasus nation.

Salome Zurabishvili took office as Georgia’s first woman president in December. A former French diplomat who was born in Paris to Georgian parents, she insists Georgia will one day join the European Union and NATO.

George lost control of the breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia after an August 2008 war with Russia.

Russia has strengthened its military presence in both regions and recognized them as independent states.

Zurabishvili joined about two dozen other heads of state and government — including Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev — for the International Labor Organization’s centennial that opened in Geneva on Monday.

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