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Public Inquiry
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005

offsite link RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail?supporter? Anthony

offsite link Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony

offsite link Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony

offsite link RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony

offsite link Waiting for SIPO Anthony

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Human Rights in Ireland
Promoting Human Rights in Ireland

Human Rights in Ireland >>

Lockdown Skeptics

The Daily Sceptic

offsite link Might the BBC?s Tim Davie Soon Find Himself Replacing Lucy Connolly in Jail? Tue Jul 01, 2025 09:00 | Nick Rendell
If Lucy Connolly was jailed for stirring up racial hatred, the same must go for BBC Director General Tim Davie, says Nick Rendell. Davie personally took the decision to broadcast Bob Vylan's antisemitic chant to millions.
The post Might the BBC’s Tim Davie Soon Find Himself Replacing Lucy Connolly in Jail? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link London?s Week of ?Climate Action? Was All Talk Tue Jul 01, 2025 07:00 | Ben Pile
Even if you're a Londoner, you probably didn?t notice that June 21st-29th was 'London Climate Action Week'. It was all talk, says Ben Pile ? exceptionally dull talk, bankrolled by the usual Green Blob billionaires.
The post London’s Week of ‘Climate Action’ Was All Talk appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link News Round-Up Tue Jul 01, 2025 01:04 | Richard Eldred
A summary of the most interesting stories in the past 24 hours that challenge the prevailing orthodoxy about the ?climate emergency?, public health ?crises? and the supposed moral defects of Western civilisation.
The post News Round-Up appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Why Do 1,000 Refugees Get Free Wimbledon Tickets While Long Suffering Locals Get None? Mon Jun 30, 2025 19:37 | Jo-Anne Nadler
As Wimbledon gets underway, its SW19 neighbours have to put up with a lot, from encroaching development to security checks to get home. Yet, unlike 1,000 refugees, they're shut out from the tennis, says Jo-Anne Nadler.
The post Why Do 1,000 Refugees Get Free Wimbledon Tickets While Long Suffering Locals Get None? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Criminal Investigation Launched into Bob Vylan and Kneecap?s Glastonbury Performances as US Revokes ... Mon Jun 30, 2025 17:43 | Will Jones
Police have announced a criminal investigation into Bob Vylan and Kneecap's Glastonbury?performances as the Trump administration kills the punk duo's American tour by revoking their visa over antisemitic death chants.
The post Criminal Investigation Launched into Bob Vylan and Kneecap’s Glastonbury Performances as US Revokes Punk Group’s Visa Over Antisemitic Death Chants appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Lockdown Skeptics >>

Voltaire Network
Voltaire, international edition

offsite link Will intergovernmental institutions withstand the end of the "American Empire"?,... Sat Apr 05, 2025 07:15 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N?127 Sat Apr 05, 2025 06:38 | en

offsite link Disintegration of Western democracy begins in France Sat Apr 05, 2025 06:00 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N?126 Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:39 | en

offsite link The International Conference on Combating Anti-Semitism by Amichai Chikli and Na... Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:31 | 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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