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offsite link Ukraine Buys Huge Amounts of Russian Fue... Fri Jan 20, 2023 08:34 | Antonia Kotseva

offsite link Turkey Has Sent Ukraine Cluster Munition... Thu Jan 12, 2023 00:26 | Jack Detsch

offsite link New Israeli Government Promises to Talk ... Tue Jan 10, 2023 21:13 | Al Majadeen

offsite link Russia Training Iranian Pilots Ahead of ... Tue Jan 10, 2023 15:19 | The Times of Israel

offsite link Lukashenko Abolishes Copyright Protectio... Tue Jan 10, 2023 15:05 | Nikki Main

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Human Rights in Ireland
A Blog About Human Rights

offsite link UN human rights chief calls for priority action ahead of climate summit Sat Oct 30, 2021 17:18 | Human Rights

offsite link 5 Year Anniversary Of Kem Ley?s Death Sun Jul 11, 2021 12:34 | Human Rights

offsite link Poor Living Conditions for Migrants in Southern Italy Mon Jan 18, 2021 10:14 | Human Rights

offsite link Right to Water Mon Aug 03, 2020 19:13 | Human Rights

offsite link Human Rights Fri Mar 20, 2020 16:33 | Human Rights

Human Rights in Ireland >>

Lockdown Skeptics

The Daily Sceptic

offsite link BBC Admits Concept of ?White Privilege? is Contested Wed Nov 29, 2023 19:00 | Will Jones
The BBC has admitted that the concept of "white privilege" is contested after its youth-focused news service received a complaint over its "controversial" definition of the term.
The post BBC Admits Concept of ‘White Privilege’ is Contested appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Woke Books Bought for Huge Advances by Inexperienced Editors Have Flopped, Insiders Say Wed Nov 29, 2023 17:00 | Will Jones
Woke books that were bought for huge advances by inexperienced editors have flopped commercially, insiders say, including a $500,000 'queer feminist' novel (3,500 copies) and Elliot Page's $3m trans memoir (68,000 copies).
The post Woke Books Bought for Huge Advances by Inexperienced Editors Have Flopped, Insiders Say appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Did Ukraine Win the War in March 2022? Wed Nov 29, 2023 15:02 | Noah Carl
Since mid-March 2022, historian Anatol Lieven has been saying that Ukraine has ?already won?. They successfully defended their capital, thereby forcing the Russians to regroup for a more limited war in the East.
The post Did Ukraine Win the War in March 2022? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Come to the Daily Sceptic?s Christmas Party Wed Nov 29, 2023 13:00 | Toby Young
The Daily Sceptic is having a Christmas party for its contributors, moderators and staff, but we'll be making a few tickets available to our readers. For details of how to come, click on the image.
The post Come to the Daily Sceptic?s Christmas Party appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link No, ?Circuit Breaker? Lockdowns Didn?t Work Wed Nov 29, 2023 11:11 | Dr Carl Heneghan and Dr Tom Jefferson
Angela McLean, the Government's Chief Scientist, told the Covid Inquiry that the U.K.'s 'circuit breaker' lockdowns in 2020 cut Covid infections. That's not what the data show, say Carl Heneghan and Tom Jefferson.
The post No, ‘Circuit Breaker’ Lockdowns Didn’t Work appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Lockdown Skeptics >>

Voltaire Network
Voltaire, international edition

offsite link What lies behind Benjamin Netanyahu's lies and Hamas's evasions, by Thierry Meys... Tue Nov 28, 2023 06:58 | en

offsite link Netanyahu fired defense minister in July because he warned of a Hamas attack, by... Mon Nov 27, 2023 06:56 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N°63 Sun Nov 26, 2023 07:26 | en

offsite link Israel arrests director of Al-Shifa hospital Thu Nov 23, 2023 12:56 | en

offsite link Extraordinary BRICS Summit on Gaza Genocide Wed Nov 22, 2023 09:59 | en

Voltaire Network >>

Pope Visits Iraq Amidst COVID Crisis, Conflict, Soaring Poverty and Struggling Economy

category international | politics / elections | press release author Friday March 05, 2021 21:36author by Zachary Conti - Jubilee USA Report this post to the editors

Shia Muslim Leader and Pope to Meet

Pope Francis kicks off a 3-day Iraq tour and meetings with Muslim leaders, government officials and representatives of the country's dwindling Christian population.

Shia Muslim Leader and Pope to Meet

Pope Francis kicks off a 3-day Iraq tour and meetings with Muslim leaders, government officials and representatives of the country's dwindling Christian population. Since the coronavirus pandemic began, Iraq saw poverty numbers climb to 37% and an estimated 11% contraction in its economy.

"Iraq was already struggling before the pandemic hit and now the suffering is even worse," stated the Executive Director of the religious development group Jubilee USA Network, Eric LeCompte. LeCompte advises the Vatican and Catholic leaders on economic issues. "The coronavirus crisis for Iraq means poverty has doubled and the country can't make debt payments and also pay workers."

In February the International Monetary Fund reported the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant decline in the country's main revenue source, oil. Coupled with challenges of corruption, the Fund estimated the downturn of Iraq's 2020 economy by 11%.

"The Pope's visit brings hope as Iraq's people suffer from the pandemic, conflict, corruption, soaring food prices and increasing poverty," shared LeCompte. "Like too many countries, it will take Iraq's economy years to rebound to pre-pandemic levels. Iraq's pre-pandemic economy wasn't great and already had too much suffering."

The IMF forecasts that Iraq's debt will steadily rise through 2023 and could see pre-pandemic economic outputs in 2024.

On Saturday, Pope Francis travels to Iraq's holiest city, Najaf, to meet with Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani who leads Iraq's Shia Muslims.

"The meeting between Ayatollah Sistani and Pope Francis signifies the Pope's commitment to tackle world problems with people of all faiths," stated LeCompte whose organization is composed of multiple faith groups including Muslims, Jews and Christians. "The Pope took the name Francis after the famed St. Francis who met with the Muslim Sultan Malek al-Kamil in 1219. The meeting between St. Francis and Sultan al-Kamil is a symbol for Pope Francis of the critical importance of interfaith dialogue."

Iraq is the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham, an important figure for Jews, Muslims and Christians.

Read the IMF's recent report on Iraq here.

Related Link: https://www.jubileeusa.org/pr_pope_iraq_covid_poverty
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