POPE REALLY CAUGHT IN THE ACT, WORLD COMING TO AN END

At his first meeting on the second day of his visit to Africa, Francis met with leaders of other Christian denominations and other faiths, driving home the fact that the name of God “must never be used to justify hatred and violence”. Interreligious dialogue “is not a luxury” it is “essential”, he explained

Andrea Tornielli In Nairobi “The God whom we seek to serve is a God of peace. His holy Name must never be used to justify hatred and violence.” Pope Francis said this this morning at his meeting with leaders of Christian Churches and of other religions in the Apostolic Nunciature in Nairobi: Evangelical Christians, Methodists, Pentecostals and members of the African Inland Church sat beside leaders of the traditional religion of Animism and the Muslim faith. It was a chance for the Pope to stress his condemnation of God’s name being used as a pretext for terrorist acts.

“I know that the barbarous attacks on Westgate Mall, Garissa University College and Mandera,” Francis said recalling the three horrific attacks that bloodied the country over the past three years,  “are fresh in your minds. All too often, young people are being radicalized in the name of religion to sow discord and fear, and to tear at the very fabric of our societies. How important it is that we be seen as prophets of peace, peacemakers who invite others to live in peace, harmony and mutual respect! May the Almighty touch the hearts of those who engage in this violence, and grant his peace to our families and communities.”

“It is my hope,” the Pope explained, “that our time together may be a sign of the Church’s esteem for the followers of all religions; may it strengthen the bonds of friendship which we already enjoy. “

“To be honest,” he added, “this relationship is challenging; it makes demands of us. Yet ecumenical and interreligious dialogue is not a luxury. It is not something extra or optional, but essential, something which our world, wounded by conflict and division, increasingly needs. Indeed, religious beliefs and practice condition who we are and how we understand the world around us. They are for us a source of enlightenment, wisdom and solidarity, and thus enrich the societies in which we live. By caring for the spiritual growth of our communities, by forming minds and hearts in the truths and values taught by our religious traditions, we become a blessing to the communities in which our people live. In democratic and pluralistic societies like Kenya, cooperation between religious leaders and communities becomes an important service to the common good.”

In this light, he concluded, “we see ever more clearly the need for interreligious understanding, friendship and collaboration in defending the God-given dignity of individuals and peoples, and their right to live in freedom and happiness. By upholding respect for that dignity and those rights, the religions play an essential role in forming consciences, instilling in the young the profound spiritual values of our respective traditions, and training good citizens, capable of infusing civil society with honesty, integrity and a world view which values the human person over power and material gain.”

1-year-old boy bites poisonous snake to death

A mother was shocked to find her 1-year-old son playing in the backyard of their home with a poisonous snake in his mouth in Brazil.

Jaine Ferreira from Mostardas, has said that her 17-month-old son Lorenzo, was playing in the backyard when she stopped hearing his giggles and decided to go check on him.
She stepped outside and was horrified to find a snake wiggling in her son’s mouth so she quickly carried him to the hospital thinking he must have suffered a snake bite.

Doctors who examined the child, could not find any injury or poisoning symptoms and concluded that the boy was in good health.
Doctors determined that baby Lorenzo bit the poisonous snake and refused to let go till it died.
The child had blood in his mouth and hands, and acted as if the snake was a toy so Doctors had to force open the child’s mouth and hands inodded to remove the snake.
The snake has been identified to be an Amazonian viper.

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Nigeria RANKS 3rd World Most Terrorised Country

Nigeria has been ranked third of the 162 countries of the world that have been worst hit by terrorist attacks, according to the 2015 Global Terrorism Index.
The country, Africa’s largest oil producer, was ranked fourth in 2014.
Going by the latest ranking, Nigeria is only better than two Middle Eastern countries – Iraq and Afghanistan – who were ranked first and second respectively.
Another two Middle East countries, Pakistan and Syria are ranked fourth and fifth respectively, after Nigeria.

The only African countries closer in ranking to Nigeria are Somalia and Libya which are in the eighth and ninth positions respectively.
France, which recently experienced deadly terrorist attacks that killed about 160 people in Paris, is ranked 36th, same as the United States of America.

“Terrorist attacks are much more lethal in Nigeria than any other country,” the GTI report said.
The report, released on November 16, 2015 by the Institute for Economics and Peace, said the Islamist terror group in Nigeria, Boko Haram, overtook ISIL in 2014 to become the most deadly terrorist group in the world.
The Institute for Economics and Peace is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank with offices in Sydney, New York and Mexico City.
The 2015 GTI report said Boko Haram, in 2014, was also able to spread outside Nigeria to launch two deadly attacks in neighbouring Cameroon, killing 530 people.
Cameroon, the report said, didn’t record any death from terrorism between 2000 and 2013 until Boko Haram struck in 2014

Man threatens to stab woman because she refused to smell his armpit

A man in Texas has been apprehended for pulling a knife on a woman who refused to sniff his armpit.
The man identified as Robinson Pinilla-Bolivar from midland approached the unidentified woman as she was washing dishes asking her to smell his armpit.

The woman refused so he hit her at the back of her head and then grabbed a knife to point it at her.
The woman fled the compound and alerted the police.
Pinilla-Bolivar told police he did not threaten her, but he had a knife he took from her dishes which he threw it into the sink.
He has since been charged with assault.

Police Arrest 9 Suspects With N11.1m Fake Dettol Soap In Kano

The police in Kano have arrested nine persons for allegedly selling fake and substandard dettol soap and liquid disinfectants.
The Public Relations Officer of the state’s Police Command, Mr Magaji Majiya, told newsmen in Kano on Monday.

He said the suspects were apprehended at the Sabon Gari Market in Kano following a letter of complaint from some concerned citizen in the state.
“After receiving the letter, the ambush squad swung into action and raided the market where six retailers and three dealers were arrested”, he said.
He said that items recovered from the suspects included 1,301 cartons of the product, four cartons of soap valued at N11.1 million.
Majiya said as soon as investigation was completed, the suspects would be charged to court for prosecution.
He appealed to the public to continue to cooperate with security agencies in order to rid the state of criminals.(NAN).

16 strange laws from around the world

You’d be surprised to know what has been and what is currently against the law in some countries around the globe. Have a look at these rather odd laws:
USA
In Connecticut, it’s illegal to let someone copy your homework. The statutes explicitly prohibit selling essays, dissertations, etc. at any education facility supervised by the state. So, I guess it’s okay at private schools then?
In Florida, bar owners (or anyone who owns a commercial establishment where alcohol is sold, for that matter) could be fined $1 000 (over R11 000) if they permit or participate in dwarf-tossing contests. (We don't think that it's crazy that dwarf-tossing is illegal. It's crazy that it was prevalent enough so that a law had to be made against it. Seriously people. Dwarf tossing? No.)
In Minnesota, any game in which participants attempt to capture a greased-up or oiled-up pig is illegal. We’re not sure why this is a thing.
I’m not going to Mississippi any time soon. Apparently, swearing in front of two or more people in public could get you sent to the chookie for up to a month - or you could pay a fine.
Thailand
No one is permitted to step on any form of the national currency as all bills and coins display a picture of the king’s face.
Singapore
Here, it’s illegal to walk around your own home naked, as it’s considered pornographic (yes, porn is also illegal). If you break this law, you could be fined or 3 months in prison. Oh, and if “a person who is clad in such a manner as to offend against public decency or order” is around, they will also be thrown in jail.
The sale of gum is also prohibited in Singapore. While it’s not illegal to chew gum, disposing of it improperly will get you a massive fine.
Cambodia
You can’t use a water gun when celebrating the New Year, as some participants used to fill it with sewage. The funniest part? If you’re found with a water gun, it will be confiscated, but that’s it. No jail time. No fine.
United Kingdom
In England, it’s legal for a male to urinate in public, as long as it’s on the rear wheel of his vehicle and his right hand is placed somewhere on his vehicle.
By law, all cab drivers still need to check with their passengers if they have smallpox or the plague.
A boy under the age of 10 is legally not supposed to ever see a naked mannequin. Oh the horror!
Throughout the whole of England it is illegal to eat mince pies on Christmas Day. At Christmas of all days?!
Canada
In Petrolia, Ontario, "yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing is prohibited at all times." Shame.
All business signs in Quebec must be written in French, according to the law. If you want it in English, that’s cool, as long as the English sign is twice as small as the French one.
In Halifax, taxi drivers “absolutely cannot wear a t-shirt” according to this law.
Philippines
This is my favourite one so far. In the Philippines, an ‘annoying’ person can actually be fined for being annoying. The second paragraph of Article 287 states that “any other coercions or unjust vexations shall be punished by arresto menor (imprisonment for from one day to thirty days) or a fine ranging from 5 pesos to 200 pesos, or both.”