The Minister for Communications recently announced he is to introduce a new ‘household broadcasting charge’ or ‘entertainment charge’ for every home in the country.
Over the last two decades, a number of Irish priests have championed the cause of immigrants in Ireland. One of the very few who achieved success in the area is Fr Brian Moore, the head of the Vincentians in Ireland and Great Britain, who died aged 60 on 19 December last.
Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters in Russia have taken part in a countrywide rally against alleged vote rigging in the country’s parliamentary election.
A number of events will be held across the world to mark World Aids Day today, 1 December. Here in Ireland, two special events are set to take place today and tomorrow in the capital. This evening Dublin Lord Mayor Andrew Montague will oversee the lighting of the Mansion House in red to help promote awareness of the disease and efforts being made to reduce its spread.
‘Realising the promise of a diverse Ireland’ was the aim of a workshop encouraging dialogue on intercultural policing and access to third level education in Dublin last week. The event, a collaborative initiative between Metro Éireann and the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University in the USA featured local and international participants from all walks of life.
Libya’s National Transitional Council announced on Tuesday 25 October that the bodies of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi, his son Mutassim and the Minister for Defence were buried in a secret location in the desert, some five days after they died in the hands of rebels.
Last week the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize was jointly awarded to three women leaders for their work to better women’s rights.
The decision by Saudi Arabian King Abdallah to allow women the right to vote and be voted for in municipal elections starting from 2015 has been hailed as a new beginning for women in the country.
As the effects of the financial meltdown continue to be felt, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warns that we face a full global recession unless world leaders redouble their efforts.IMF chief executive Christine Lagarde said her assessment of the situation is based on the current snail-pace growth of the world’s economy, which has increased the risks to recovery in the short-term.
Since the beginning of the recession in 2008, voices have been clamouring for Ireland to abandon the Euro. Most of these voices argue that doing so would guarantee the fast recovery of our economy.
A new €100 household charge is to be introduced by the Government from 1 January next year. Although at press time the Government had not made an official confirmation, Metro Éireann understands that a decision on the matter had already been made by the cabinet at its weekly meeting last Tuesday,
Last Sunday, The News of the World – one of the widest-read tabloids in the UK and Ireland – ceased publication after a record 168 years and a week embroiled in controversy, following revelations that its journalists ‘hacked’ the mobile phones of almost 4,000 people across the UK.
Ireland’s involvement in Africa has received a boost after separate visits to the continent by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore and Minister of State for Trade and Development Jan O’Sullivan – both of whom were in Africa to assess the impact of Ireland’s aid programme in three of Ireland’s programme countries: Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique.
Last week, two top FIFA executives were suspended for their alleged involvement in the latest bribery scandal to rock the organisation.
President Obama, this special edition of Metro Éireann to commemorate your visit features contributions from people from different nationalities and varied backgrounds. Many of the articles are positive about you and your administration; others are very critical of major decisions you have made.
There has been an increased focus on the revival of our ailing economy in recent weeks, especially as actions already taken by the State seem not to be working. Nearly 18 months after former Taoiseach Brian Cowen hosted the Global Irish Economic Forum in September 2009, Ireland has nothing to show for it.
Last weekend the UN Security Council met in New York to decide on what action it would take against Libya’s regime. Some of the key actions highlighted included a travel ban on Col Gaddafi, his family and close associates, as well as an arms embargo and asset freeze. All of this, the council suggested, might persuade Gaddafi to reconsider the force he is using to end the strongest uprising against his 42-year rule.
Optimal Edge with Eugene Nwosu