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/ 1 December 2006

Nigerians find violence in Italy sex trade

The prostitutes lining the roads around Turin, a hub for the Nigerian sex trade, have names that evoke dreams of a bright future — Joy, Blessing, Hope. Hope that they could escape poverty at home in Africa’s most populous nation drew these women to Italy. But when they arrived, they were saddled with crushing debts. They were spat at, insulted, robbed and even raped.

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/ 1 December 2006

Take back the nightmare

We’re confused as we arrive. Our little team of protesters, totalling three, wanders around Constitution Hill trying to locate the start of the Take Back the Night march. The plan is to fearlessly walk through one of Jo’burg’s toughest neighbourhoods, to kick off the 16 Days of Activism campaign, reclaiming our right to move freely through any part of our country without fear of violence or abuse.

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/ 1 December 2006

United against France

Relations between Rwanda and France have hit rock bottom in the past few days. This was not unexpected. One of the immediate causes for relations turning frosty is French Judge Jean-Louis Bruguiere’s recent issuing of arrest warrants for nine senior Rwandan military officers and his calls for Rwandan President Paul Kagame to face trial for the downing of President Juvenal Habyarimana’s plane on April 6 1994.

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/ 1 December 2006

A change of seasons for the DA

One of the most extraordinary and amusing people I have ever encountered is the British journalist-turned-politician Boris Johnson, whose razor-sharp wit conceals a steely purpose, writes Tony Leon. An article he wrote about the far more famous Tony (Blair) said: ”No day is more postponed against by a politician than the day of his own retirement.”

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/ 1 December 2006

Madagascar polls to test democracy

Under the eyes of the world this time, Madagascar goes to the polls on Sunday in presidential elections that will test its democratic credibility. The last presidential contest, in 2001, from which then-president Didier Ratsiraka banned observers, split the country for six months and drove it to the point of civil war.