Hundreds of dead 🦈 sharks wash up on Iranian island❗*

*ULTIMAS NOTÍCIAS: Accidente de bus turístico en México deja al menos 11 muertos y 20 heridos*

Un bus turístico que transportaba a un grupo de 31 personas, en su mayoría extranjeros, por la carretera Mahahual - Chetumal se accidentó en la mañana de este martes. Hasta el momento el accidente deja un saldo de 11 muertos y 20 heridos.

De acuerdo con la Secretaría de Seguridad Públia de Quintana Roo, el bus transportaba a turistas de distintas nacionalidades, entre esas Italia y Canadá, que venían de un crucero. El bus iba se dirigía a la zona arqueológica Chacchoben en la Zona Maya. Los lesionados han sido trasladados a dos hospitales para recibir tratamiento.

JOY TO THE WORLD!

⏰Third Sunday in Advent (Year B)

📖Isa 61:1-2a, 10-11; Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54 (R. Isa 61:10b); 1 Thess 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

🎤JOY TO THE WORLD!
By Padre JohnBosco Ezeonwumelu
Today is traditionally called the " _Gaudete_ Sunday," a special day in which we are reminded that Christianity brings joy to all things. With less than two weeks to the proper celebration of the Christmas, this reminder is important to keep our minds focused on the real things that matter in this season and the real attitude we ought to embrace.

Both the First Reading and the Gospel announce the presence of the Messiah among the people. In the First Reading, the Israelites who had just come back from exile were downcast at the sight of the destruction that has taken place in their land. So the post-exilic prophet Isaiah came up with the claim that God sent him to usher in a new era for the people. In that new era, different challenges of the people would be taken care of by the anointed one and a new year of God's favour ushered in too. That would be a great cause for joy (Isa 61:10).

Jesus quotes from that passage of the book of Isaiah at the early stages of his ministry (Luke 4:18-19). With that, he also introduces a new era for the people. Those who encountered him rejoiced at getting solutions to their problems. This joy can only come through an encounter with Jesus. Hence, John the Baptist, in the Gospel, came to bear witness to this and make the people to have faith in Jesus.

Having an encounter with Jesus demands faith in him. It is possible for one to be a regular ' _Church-goer'_ __ without having an encounter with Jesus. But it is not possible for one to be a Christian without having an encounter with him. Are you a Christian or just a _church-goer_ ?

An average ' _church-goer'_ is like the Pharisees of Jesus' time. They were with Jesus but were not getting the joy that comes from him. Yet, it is in him that their joy lies.

Christianity is a vocation of joy. Hence, St. Paul, in the Second Reading, encourages the people to rejoice always. But he added other responsibilities which could be summarized as doing good and shunning evil. In doing that, we shall see that we will be spreading the joy of Christ's coming to the ends of the earth.

May the joy of the Lord follow you all the days of your life as you make great effort to follow Jesus faithfully by doing good and shunning evil. Amen.

Have a joyous day in the Lord. Peace be with you.

*249 Nigerians Return From Libya*

Another fresh 249 Nigerian migrants on Thurday evening returned to the country with the aid of the International Organisation for Migration and EU.

They arrived aboard Afriqiyah Airbus A330-300 with Registration number 5A-ONR which landed at the Cargo Wing of MMIA, Ikeja Lagos.

The new arrival consisted of 52 adult female, four female children and 10 female infants, 173 adult male, two male children and 9 male infant making a total of 249 returnees.

Mustapha Maihajja recieved the returnees and implored them to be champions of positive change amongst the youths who are still nursing the idea of seeking greener pastures outside the country.

"You should let them know that you're always second citizens outside your country and your rights can be violated without opportunity for you to seek redress at all," he said.

*300 doctors abandon Nigeria*

Three hundred Nigerian doctors left the country in 2016, the National President, Nigerian Medical Association, Prof. Mike Ogirima has revealed.

He said more doctors have already joined the migration train this year. He did not give any statistics, although_ NAN_ learnt that 500 doctors sat for qualifying foreign medical exams to move out.

Ogirima made this revelation at the association’s National Executive Council meeting held on Thursday in Lagos.

According to some reports, an estimated 35,000 Nigerian doctors are practising abroad, out of the_ _ 72,000 registered with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria_._ The United Kingdom and the United States are the top destinations of the migrant doctors.

In August, an official of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr. Abimbola Olajide, revealed that no fewer than 2,500 doctors would leave the country this year.

*DPR sanctions 10 filling stations over price hike*

The Department of Petroleum Resources on Friday said it had sanctioned 10 petrol filling stations in Zamfara for selling fuel above official pump price.

Audu said DPR had visited 35 filling stations across the state in the past one week and discovered that 10 out of the stations were selling fuel above N145 per litre.

"Members of the public should assist us with information on malpractices by owners of filling stations that sell fuel above official pump price, under dispensation, hoarding, and diversion, among others."

The Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Gusau Depot Branch, Alhaji Sirajo Kamba, however, said that the increase in pump price followed a unilateral decision by private depots to increase the price of the commodity.

"Members of IPMAN are law-abiding, we are ready to cooperate with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that fuel supply has improved."