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August 28, 2012

Peter Singhatey Articles on Africa Africa, Gambia, People & Society, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey Leave a comment

ANTANANARIVO, 28 August 2012 (IRIN) – About one in seven residents of Madagascar’s main port city of Toamasina are sex workers.

In less than 20 years, the number of registered sex workers in the city of about 200,000 residents has climbed from 17,000 in 1993 to 29,000 in 2012. The increase has been driven by rising poverty levels as well as the city’s proximity to the recently opened Ambatovy nickel mine.

Construction of the mine, coupled with recent improvements to the port, saw an influx of thousands of foreign workers. The billion-dollar investments also resulted in an escalation in living costs and the collapse of traditional commercial activities like the collection and sale of cloves and coffee, pushing more young women into sex work.

“Girls come from the countryside to work as maids. Then, when they have a problem with their employer, other girls from their region introduce them to prostitution,” Germaine Razafindravao, the president of the local sex worker collective FIVEMITO (‘Fikambanaina Vehivavy Miavotena Toamasina’ or Women’s Future), told IRIN…

UK fury as Ecuador grants asylum to Julian Assange via @independent_ie

August 16, 2012

Peter Singhatey Politics People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

UK fury as Ecuador grants asylum to Julian Assange via @independent_ie.

WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange has been granted political asylum by Ecuador after taking refuge in the country’s embassy in London.

The announcement will increase tensions between the UK and the South American country, which has been warned that the situation could have “serious implications” for diplomatic relations.

Assange sought sanctuary in the embassy in London’s Knightsbridge in an effort to avoid deportation to Sweden, where he faces sexual assault charges.

Taylor to decide within weeks on professional boxing career

August 16, 2012

Peter Singhatey Irish News Ireland, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Taylor to decide within weeks on professional boxing career.

OLYMPIC GOLD medallist Katie Taylor has said she will decide within weeks whether to turn professional or remain an amateur boxer.

Her father Peter confirmed he is meeting US and UK promoters today to discuss his daughter’s future.

Speaking after a civic reception in Dublin city centre yesterday, Taylor confirmed she will continue boxing until at least 2016, when the next Olympics are staged, but said she was still undecided about a move into the professional game…

UK ‘threatens to arrest’ Assange

August 16, 2012

Peter Singhatey Politics People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

UK ‘threatens to arrest’ Assange.

The diplomatic standoff over Julian Assange has escalated after Ecuador claimed Britain threatened to raid its embassy in London if Quito did not hand over the WikiLeaks founder, who has been taking refuge there for two months.

The Ecuadorean government said such an action would be considered a “hostile and intolerable act” as well as a violation of its sovereignty.

“Under British law we can give them a week’s notice before entering the premises and the embassy will no longer have diplomatic protection,” a Foreign Office spokesman said. “But that decision has not yet been taken. We are not going to do this overnight. We want to stress that we want a diplomatically agreeable solution.”…

Plaudits pour in for McIlroy after win

August 13, 2012

Peter Singhatey Irish News People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Plaudits pour in for McIlroy after win.

Rory McIlroy’s second golf major success in winning the US PGA tournament in South Carolina at the weekend has earned plaudits from senior politicians on both sides of the Border.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the 23-year-old’s victory was confirmation of the golfer’s enormous golfing talent and a signal that he has the “potential to become one of the greats of the game”. ..

Male genital mutilation a gross breach of baby’s bodily integrity

August 1, 2012

Peter Singhatey World News People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Male genital mutilation a gross breach of baby’s bodily integrity.

RITE & REASON: THE MUSLIM-JEWISH alliance of religious ‘leaders’ who condemned the recent German court ruling in Cologne on male circumcision stands as a testament to the need for secularism. The court had decided that the right of individuals to freely express their religious beliefs did not extend to the ‘right’ of parents to mutilate their children’s genitals.

It was an entirely sensible and long-overdue assertion of individual liberty by a European court in favour of society’s most vulnerable and voiceless members: its children…

I’ll have 1,500 calories with that burger, please

July 18, 2012

Peter Singhatey Irish News People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

I’ll have 1,500 calories with that burger, please.

One burger meal can contain up to a day’s worth of calories, writes AINE McMAHON

A NEW REPORT reveals that the average burger meal contains almost the recommended daily amount of calories, salt and fat for adults. Safefood yesterday published research that found a burger with toppings, a large portion of fries and a large soft drink in a typical burger meal contained almost all of the recommended daily allowance of calories for adults.

The study, What’s in That Bun?, examined 240 burgers in three categories (kids, regular and quarter pounder) from 47 takeaways in Ireland…

Ireland’s poorest get 20% poorer as richest get 4% richer | Irish Examiner

July 17, 2012

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Ireland’s poorest get 20% poorer as richest get 4% richer | Irish Examiner.

Ireland’s poorest get 20% poorer as richest get 4% richer

By Evelyn Ring

Monday, July 16, 2012

Ireland’s poorest families experienced an income drop of almost 20% in one year while income of the richest increased by 4%.

The figures released today by Social Justice Ireland are calculated from the latest CSO data and relate to 2010.

There was a drop of more than 18% in the disposable income bracket (after taxes are paid and social welfare received) for the poorest households during the year. ..