*Leicester City 1 Manchester City 1 (aet, 3-4 pens): Vardy & Mahrez miss in shoot-out as visitors reach semi-finals 📹* http://v.duta.us/sBjqAgAA

Jamie Vardy equalised from the spot but failed in the shoot-out as Manchester City beat Leicester City 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw to secure a spot in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup.

Leicester were their own worst enemy for much of the first half, inviting pressure with a string of avoidable mistakes and one ultimately led to the opening goal - Bernardo Silva steering home after Ilkay Gundogan had wrestled the ball from Kelechi Iheanacho just before the half-hour.

The hosts improved after the break and gave City more to worry about, though clear-cut chances remained at a premium for them, with Bravo rarely forced into meaningful saves until late in proceedings.

The spotlight was on the Chilean deep into eight minutes of stoppage time at the end of regulation time and he could do little to prevent Vardy from forcing an extra half hour with his penalty, which was controversially awarded after Demarai Gray went down under pressure from substitute Kyle Walker.

Still the two sides could not be separated and it came down to the shoot-out, with City ultimately reigning supreme, scoring all four of their kicks and claiming victory thanks to Vardy missing and Bravo swatting away Mahrez'

*Italian 🇮🇹 king's reburial reopens 😢 old wounds*

The body of King Victor Emmanuel III has returned to Italy from Egypt, 70 years after he died there in exile.

But the royal reburial has brought back difficult memories for many and caused anger, as the BBC's Sofia Bettiza in Rome reports. 
King Victor Emmanuel III was infamously nicknamed Sciaboletta, meaning "little sabre", because of his size: he was 1.53m (5ft) tall. 
A special sword had to be forged for him, so it would not scrape the ground when he carried it. 
His physical stature may have been small, but Victor Emmanuel's impact on Italian affairs certainly was not. 
He is known in Italy as the king whose actions gave rise to the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini and the end of the monarchy. 
Now, seven decades after his death, he is causing fresh controversy. 
Victor Emmanuel died in exile in Egypt in 1947. He had fled Italy four years earlier, fearing arrest by the German army after declaring an armistice with the Allies during World War Two. 
His remains were finally flown back to his homeland on Sunday, amid condemnation and outrage, particularly among Italy's Jewish community. 
"This cannot fail to generate deep concern," said Noemi Di Segni, president of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities. 
"Victor Emmanuel III was an accomplice of the fascist regime, whose rise he never opposed."

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

Hundreds of dead sharks have been found washed up on the shores of Iran's Shif island.

Some fishermen catch the sharks for their fins, which are believed to have medicinal properties, officials say.

After cutting off the fins, they throw the dead sharks in the sea because they fear they will be fined. 
The sharks end up washing up on the beach, an environment official in the southern port city of Bushehr is quoted as saying by IRNA news agency. 
The price for 1kg (2.2lb) of shark fin is about $2 (£1.50), the director-general of the Environmental Protection Organisation, Hoseyn Delshab, said. 
Shark fishing was banned in Iran in 2014 over concerns the population was facing extinction. 
The fine for catching a shark is about $7,000. 
The finding is "an alarm about the extinction of sharks" in the Gulf, Mr Delshab

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.