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The challenge of welcoming migrants and asylum seekers

By Fr. Shay Cullen, Founder since 1974 The Republic of Ireland is known as the "land of a thousand welcomes." It has welcomed 19,846 Filipinos who are now permanent residents or Irish citizens, data from the country's Census 2022 showed. Ireland's population is small: 5.127 million. The nation has never completely recovered from the devastating famine of 1845, caused by the greed and inequality under British colonial rule that left millions of Irish in dire poverty and surviving on the potato, its staple crop. The infection of potatoes by blight led to that famine and the country's population starving. As many as a million Irish died of hunger and disease from 1845 to 1851. The British government ruled Ireland with an iron fist and without concern or compassion. It failed to provide sufficient food for thousands of starving people. The wealthy English landlords in Ireland continued to export grain and cattle to their country during the famine. There was no ch

Kuwait continues to seek stronger relations with world ---KUNA

Guided by HH the Amir, Kuwait leads ambitious strategy to solidify global status KUWAIT: Since the beginning of 2024, Kuwait has continued its efforts to enhance its international relations on both bilateral and multilateral levels, guided by Amiri directives and an ambitious strategic vision aimed at solidifying its status on the global stage and achieving tangible accomplishments across various fields, particularly in diplomacy and politics. On December 16, 2023, following the announcement of His Highness Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as the new Amir, Kuwait adopted an ambitious approach to strengthen its cooperation with international partners and global organizations while also developing its relationships with friendly and brotherly nations. The visits made by His Highness the Amir to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries at the end of January 2024 were a cornerstone in this diplomatic endeavor, especially as they marked his first official trips since assuming pow

Russia captures town after 2 years of Ukrainian resistance --- Reuters

Russian forces now control 98.5% of Luhansk, 60% of Donetsk MOSCOW: Russian troops on Wednesday took charge of the eastern Ukrainian town of Vuhledar, a bastion that had resisted intense attacks since Russia launched its full-scale assault in 2022. The advance of Moscow's forces, which control just under a fifth of Ukraine, has underlined Russia's vast superiority in men and materiel as Ukraine pleads for more weapons from the Western allies that have been supporting it. Ukraine's eastern military command said it had ordered a pullback from the hilltop coal mining town to avoid encirclement by Russian troops and "preserve personnel and military equipment". The Russian defense ministry did not mention Vuhledar in its daily battlefield report. Russian Telegram channels, however, published video of troops waving the Russian tricolor flag over shattered buildings. The town, which had a population of over 14,000 before the war, has been devastated, with Soviet-era

Africa roads are world’s deadliest despite few cars ---- AFP

ADDIS ABABA: Africa has the fewest roads and cars of any region, and yet the largest ratio of vehicle deaths, caused by the usual suspects — unsafe habits, speeding and drinking — but also poor infrastructure, scant rescuers and old cars. As everywhere, speed, alcohol and not wearing a seat belt or helmet are among the main causes of death and injury, say experts. But in Africa, where there are 620 traffic deaths every day, these problems are compounded by bad roads, outdated vehicles, minimal prosecutions and a shortage of emergency services. A recent World Health Organization report found that Africa surpassed the rest of the world, including Southeast Asia — which recorded the most road deaths — with a record ratio of 19.5 people killed per 100,000 inhabitants in 2021. Home to only around four percent of the world’s automobiles, Africa accounted for 19 percent of road deaths last year. “What is worrying is the upward trend in Africa,” said Jean Todt, a former head of the Internati

Gazan buried as only known victim of Iran’s strikes on Zionist entity --- Agencies

JERICHO, West Bank: A 38-year-old Gazan, the only known fatality in Iran’s missile attack against the Zionist entity, was buried on Wednesday. Sameh Khadr Hassan Al-Asali had been staying in a Palestinian security forces compound in the occupied West Bank when he was killed by falling missile debris during Tuesday’s attack, which the entity said was largely thwarted by its air defense systems. Security forces personnel carried the body draped in the red, green, white and black Palestinian flag. The crowd of about 200 mourners was made up of fellow Gazans staying in Jericho and local people. A large section of the rocket lay on the ground where it fell outside the compound. Around 700 workers from Gaza have been staying in Jericho, in the Jordan Valley, since the start of the war in Gaza almost a year ago. Unlike citizens of the Zionist entity, who went into bomb shelters after warning sirens sounded across the country, many Palestinians in the West Bank went out to watch the missiles

IRAN ATTACKS ZIONIST ENTITY ---- AGENCIES

Zionist forces enter Lebanon • Hezb targets Mossad HQ • 4 killed in Tel Aviv • 37 martyred in Gaza JERUSALEM/BEIRUT: Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at the Zionist entity on Tuesday in retaliation for the Zionist entity’s campaign against Tehran’s Hezbollah allies in Lebanon. Alarms sounded across the Zionist entity and explosions could be heard in Jerusalem and the Jordan River valley after Zionists piled into bomb shelters. Reporters on state television lay flat on the ground during live broadcasts. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Iran had launched tens of missiles at the Zionist entity, and that if the Zionist entity retaliated Tehran’s response would be “more crushing and ruinous”. A senior Iranian official later told Reuters that the order to launch missiles at the Zionist entity was made by the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei remains in a secure location, the senior official added. The Zionist army said the Zionist entity’s airspace was

Kuwait officially launches Sahel app in English ---- KUNA

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Minister of State for Communication Affairs Omar Al-Omar announced on Tuesday the launch of the English version of “Sahel” app, as part of government’s efforts to digitalize and facilitate services. The announcement was made during the Cabinet’s weekly meeting held at Bayan Palace, under the chairmanship of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Providing the app in English will allow non-Arabic speakers to utilize services in an easy and efficient way, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Shareeda Al-Maousherji said in a statement after the meeting. Crown Prince UNGA speech Cabinet commended the speech delivered by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York late last month. During the speech, His Highness the Crown Prince reaffirmed Kuwait’s principle of good neighborliness, and its commitment to backing Iraq’s recovery and