“Not only is the material environment becoming a permanent menace – pollution and refuse, new illness and absolute destructive capacity – but the human framework is no longer under man’s control, thus creating an environment for tomorrow which may well be intolerable. This is a wide-ranging social problem which concerns the entire human family.
The Christian must turn to these new perceptions in order to take on responsibility, together with the rest of men, for a destiny which from now on is shared by all.”
(Paul VI – Apostolic Letter Octogesima Adveniens, 1971)
Under the direction of Paolo Ondarza #SeasonOfCreation Instagram: @vaticanmuseums @VaticanNews Facebook: @vaticannews
Nigerian born UK based rising artiste, Cornelius Jideofor, popularly known as Sweetcorn has made a controversial statement on religion, hinting that he does not believe religion is of any good to people now as not only is it harmful, it has outlived its purpose.
In an encounter with razzle dazzle, the Singer who recently released his debut album titled ‘Ikenna’ said, “About 2 months ago I went to church and I regretted it, before then was about 6 months ago. I believe every pastor should preach life and help strengthen your faith in God, not preach like their reading a scripted manual or focus on fund raising for church project.”
“Religion is simply a set of rules and doctrines that are carved out by man and for other men telling them how to worship their god(s)
. And this god supposedly created everyone equal. Then a set of people who think they have power or superior to others make rules telling every other person how to worship their gods. I will reiterate that religion has outlived its purpose. It is now harmful to man. You can’t truly worship your God on someone else’s terms, it’s just wrong,” he said
Also lending his voice to the EndSARS movement which had been trending in the country, Sweetcorn says it was an indeed a legitimate protest with genuine demands. He adds, “It is just unfortunate that we have a government with no human feelings.
Also it’s a shame that the older generation didn’t show any form of support even when they know we were fighting for our right to life and a better Nigeria for all.”
England is in a second lockdown and with days getting shorter and colder we are spending more time than ever inside. A recent survey of how reading habits changed during the first lockdown found that people were reading more – and that trend is sure to continue this time round.
While you hunker down in the seeming safety of your home, how about picking up a book about houses that aren’t quite as safe? We’re talking about places where the floorboards creak, the staff are creepy and there’s something not quite right about the children.
The haunted house has been making a comeback on the screen, as we’ve seen with the recent successes of the BBC comedy series Ghosts and Netflix’s adaptations of The Haunting of Bly Manor and Rebecca. It seems our fascination with unsettling places continues to grow.
Many of these stories started in books so here are five classic examples to keep you company this lockdown:
House of Leaves (2000) by Mark Danielewski
Presented as a found document, this is a unique book featuring copious footnotes on some pages while others contain hardly anything at all. This story follows a family as they move into a new house on Ash Tree Lane. As they enter the property they discover that it is somehow bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.
The children, as they tend to in these stories, begin talking of a creature and soon they all hear a growl coming from deep within the house.
‘Burnt Offerings’… Stephen King is a fan
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Burnt Offerings (1973) by Robert Marasco
Desperate to get away from their apartment in Queens, the cash-strapped Rolfe family rents a summer home in upstate New York.
The place is a secluded haven, with a pool and private beach. This seemingly perfect summer home, however, comes with a curious stipulation in the rental agreement, which insists that the elderly mother of the homeowners stays with them.
Bizarre, catastrophic events ensue. Burnt Offerings is known to have been model for Stephen King’s 1977 bestselling novel The Shining as both narratives deal with abrupt personality changes.
The Haunting of Hill House (1959) by Shirley Jackson
If you’ve watched the Netflix series you should read the book that inspired it – they’re pretty different. The short novel is considered one of the finest examples of horror writing and Jackson a master of the haunted tale.
The story follows Dr Montague who wants to prove the existence of the supernatural. Renting Hill House one summer, he invites various people who have reported paranormal experiences. The house has been the site of many violent deaths and suicides so there’s hope one of those unhappy souls will make themselves known.
Unsurprisingly, when you go looking for ghosts in a novel, you will find them. There are bumps in the night, cryptic writings on the wall and a whole load of unexplained coincidence, what more could you want?
Rebecca (1938) by Daphne du Maurier
The unnamed young woman who narrates the novel falls in love with an older, wealthy man, Maxim de Winter, and moves into his isolated estate in south-west England, Manderley.
Daphne du Maurier’s classic is spookier than the recent Netflix adaptation
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The house is practically a shrine to the memory of his first wife, Rebecca, who died the year before in mysterious circumstances.
Malevolent forces are at work in this house as the young bride’s attempts to start a new life with her husband are foiled at every turn by the housekeeper and Rebecca’s confidante Mrs Danvers.
The book is far more spooky than recent Netflix adaptation, which presents viewers with a thoroughly modern and far more empowered protagonist.
The Yellow Wallpaper (1892) by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
This is an agonising first-person tale of creeping mental and physical decline.
Summering at a colonial mansion, the narrator is confined to an upstairs nursery with ominously barred windows and scratched-up floors. She becomed fixated on the sickly yellow wallpaper covered in ““an interminable string of toadstools, budding and sprouting in endless convolutions”.
The longer she stays in the room the more the walls seems to move and the more it seems like there might be someone moving it from within.
The Fall of the House of Usher (1839) by Edgar Allan Poe
This short story recounts the terrible events that befall the last remaining members of the once-illustrious Usher clan and the house’s last visitors.
Arriving at the home of his reclusive friend Roderick Usher, our narrator is intrigued by the decaying house, particularly a thin crack extending down the front of the building and into the adjacent lake.
Usher’s mind is disintegrating and he is falling deeper into a madness. Things are not as they seem in the suspenseful tale of horror.
Daniel Cook is a Senior Lecturer in English, University of Dundee. This article first appeared on The Conversation.
Bayelsa state: Jealous lover killed pastor, Church member over girlfriend
Mothers took children to loot, Government House almost invaded by hoodlums – Nigerian Army tells Lagos Panel
9 hours 44 minutes ago
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Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II
By Shina Abubakar, Osogbo
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has described religion as a strong tool that could be used to forster peace building and national integration.
This is as he stressed that mentorship is crucial to breeding leaders from the present generation of youths in the country.
The revered monarch disclosed this on Saturday at Ife City Hall, Enuwa, Ile-Ife, during the launching of a book titled, “Religion, Peace Building and National Integration”, written by about 36 scholars within and outside Nigeria in honour of Professor Muibi Opeloye.
Oba Adeyeye said religion, if properly explored, could help endear peace building and national integration, saying the southwestern part of the country, where different religions abound, is a perfect example of cohabiting peacefully.
“Peace is an essential ingredient for nation building, whenever there is peace, we can cohabitate harmoniously. A good example is Southwest region of the country, where there is different religious status living peacefully.
“You will find Muslims, Christians in large number and we are living in peace. We are leading by example, we need to project peace building to other parts and that is the essence of the book launch here. To Foster national integration. Our diversity is our strength, it should not be our weakness.
Our diversity should be what binds us together. If we use religion as a very strong advocacy for peace building, we will get there, it is a very strong advocacy that we should not over emphasises. We should continue to reach out to the high and the low, that is the essence of national integration”, he said.
Ooni Ogunwusi, who described Professor Opeloye as a distinguished son of Ife, stressed the need for mentorship as a way to dictate the right path for the coming generation, calling on clerics in the state to lay emphasise on building a future generation that could take over leadership of the country and led it to promise Land.
In his remark, the Chairman of the event, Mallam Yusuf Alli, SAN said the humility and selflessness of Professor Opeloye prompted scholars to write a book in his honour, calling on those at the corridor of power to always strive to impact positively on masses lives.
While presenting the book, the Registrar, Joint Admission and Unified Matriculation Board, JAMB, Professor Isiak Oloyede while describing Opeloye as a distinguished Professor of inter religious studies, Yoruba land which used to be a model of religion understanding has been impeded by religious bigot, who believed their religion cannot be promoted without infringing on other religions.
“Yorubaland was a model of religious understanding but the culture has been impeded by religious bigot who believed they cannot promote their believe without infringing on other religions. We need to go back to the era where religion does not separate family or friendship bond”, he said.
The book launch was attended by distinguished personalities including, the Editor-in-chief of Vanguard Newspaper, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, Prince Tokunbo Sijuwade, Professor Siyan Oyeweso, Vice Chancellor, Fountain University, Professor Sanni Olalekan, Professor M. O. Abdulrahman of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan among other scholars.
Vanguard News Nigeria
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European Union officials to increase security at the border, reinforce the police agency, and regulate hate speech and online propaganda after an increase in attacks by extremist groups, the Associated Press reported Friday.
Four people were fatally shot by a man who attempted to join ISIS during an attack on Vienna, Austria, on Nov. 2, the AP reported. The man was fatally shot by law enforcement, though the attack spurred calls to suppress Islamic extremism.
Three people were killed by an extremist at a church in Nice, France, last month, the AP reported. Near Paris, a teenager beheaded his teacher over cartoon caricatures of an Islamic prophet.
“The attacks we have seen, not only in recent weeks, have shown the extent of the threat we face from all forms of terrorism. Only together we can put a stop to the terrorists and their backers,” European Ministers said, the AP reported.
Hate, extremism and terrorism are problems that not only France and Austria face. Unfortunately, they are a major issue across the European Union. We all have to fight against organisations and individuals who hate our values: democracy, the rule of law and freedom of expression. pic.twitter.com/vEeoibmlAv
The ministers said they will “strengthen and further develop options for security measures” within the ID-check free travel area within Europe, the AP reported. Denmark, France and Sweden reportedly reinstated security checks over a year ago in response to “terrorist threats” and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The ministers asked the European Commission to come up with a tougher mandate for Europol, and to increase funding and staff, the AP reported. The ministers advocated for a commission proposal to designate hate speech and incitement as criminal offenses.
The ministers reportedly pressed the European Parliament to finalize negotiations around governing online “terrorist content” to be able to remove a post within an hour of publication, according to the AP.
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The European Union is celebrating Boris Johnson’s firing of his chief Brexit architect, Dominic Cummings, as a “make or break moment” in negotiations with the UK on a withdrawal agreement.
Belgian MEP, Guy Verhofstadt, has been leading the EU’s chorus of celebration by lashing out at “unelected bureaucrats” and “unrealistic ideologues,” in a not-so-subtle dig at Mr Cummings.
Mr Verhofstadt Tweeed am image of Mr Cummings leaving No.10 Downing Street with a box of his packed up office items in hand.
“Unrealistic bureaucrats. Unrealistic ideologues… There’s so much irony to the Cummings story. But one thing’s for sure… the legacy called Brexit is damage that unfortunately will not be undone for years,” Mr Verhofstadt opined.
Unelected bureaucrats. Unrealistic ideologues… There’s so much irony to the Cummings story. But one thing’s for sure… the legacy called Brexit is damage that unfortunately will not be undone for years… pic.twitter.com/pIb8fE2Dk3
Yet, Mr Verhofstadt was not the only senior EU official to gloat at Cummings’ shock dismissal by BoJo.
Senior German MEP Manfred Weber, reportedly close to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, claimed to BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme that Mr Cummings’ departure was a sign that the Johnson administration is in a “chaotic situation.”
“There are fair questions we are asking. If you want to change in the future, with your background of sovereignty, your subsidies, regulations, then we must have an option an opportunity to react to stop to limit your access to our market,” Mr Weber said.
“I see what is happening now in Downing Street. We can also see this as a quite chaotic situation where we don’t have an idea what is really the line in Great Britain. So don’t tell us [the EU] we should be ready for compromise. We need a clear idea from Boris Johnson now and I think it’s now time for leadership – having all the developments in America in mind where London understood it will be not so easy with Joe Biden to achieve an easy trade deal now … let’s now come to a compromise,” he added.
Mr Cummings, previously one of Johnson’s closest allies on Brexit, has reportedly had increasingly strained relations with the Prime Minister over the past few months. Former Brexit Secretary, David Davis, is reported to have said that Cummings’ relationship with BoJo “fell off a cliff” in recent weeks.
Reportedly, the straw that broke the camel’s back was the discovery by BoJo that Cummings and his pro-Brexit loyalists had been referring to Carrie Symonds, the Prime Minister’s partner, as “Princess Nut Nuts.” Cummings and his allies were said to be growing frustrated with Ms. Symonds, who has allegedly been giving advice to the Prime Minister on Brexit strategy at odds with the staunchly-pro leave bloc, led by Cummings. Broader power struggles were also said to be taking place between those within the government who want a friendlier Brexit more amenable to better relations with the EU, and those who want a clean break, led by Mr. Cummings.
The BBC has reported that Boris Johnson is now ready to “clear the air and move on.”
Mr Cummings’ dismissal by Johnson follows hot on the heels of a resignation last week by Lee Cain, BoJo’s now former Director of Communications, also an ardent Brexiteer and very much seen as part of a no-holds-barred Brexit duo with Cummings.
Some argue that Johnson’s firing of Cummings signifies his intention to take a softer stance toward the EU during the remaining negotiations over a trade deal. There is widespread speculation in Britain that this is possibly being encouraged by the likelihood that Joe Biden, who is seen as pro-EU, will be inaugurated as US president in January and may not grant a favourable trade deal to the UK if it departs the bloc on bad terms.
Boris Johnson may assume a softer Brexit lest he risk crossing Joe Biden, who looks likely to be inaugurated as US president in January, and who is known as being pro-EU.
Leader of the Brexit Party, Nigel Farage, has said that Cummings’ dismissal is a go that a “Brexit sell-out” is on the horizon.
A lot of people have become instant food entrepreneurs because of the pandemic. Selling their products solely online, they have made our food delivery options more varied, and choosing a lot harder.
To help narrow down your choices, here are some items I found on Instagram and have grown to love.
Flight attendant Melody Sy is revisiting her love for baking. With her mom Marines, who cooks classic Chinese dishes, she opened Rolling Pin last May. Their lineup of cakes includes a berry-filled version of the trendy burnt Basque cheesecake and an old-fashioned chocolate cake. For savory fare, their bestsellers are the pork and shrimp wontons, machang or lotus leaf rice, pork maki, pork kiampong, chami, lomi and five-spice kikiam.
The Hulk from Naked Bakery
The Hulk from Naked Bakery (@nkd.bakery)
Many started selling sourdough during the lockdown, but none were as pretty as the ones from Naked Bakery, so named because the breads have “nothing to hide.” “My time in Europe taught me to love bread the way Europeans do,” says Harvey Hsieh, 29. “I’ve always wanted to learn how to make bread because I knew that one day I’d have to come back home, and the thought of not being able to enjoy them was not acceptable.” So he honed his skills by watching videos online and consulting with friends. He started selling his 100-percent refined wheat sourdough during the initial stages of enhanced community quarantine, then followed it up with schiacciata, a classic Tuscan flatbread, and his bestseller, the Hulk, which is the schiacciata slathered with herbed butter.
Beef Rendang Empanada from Casa Luisa
Beef Rendang Empanada from Casa Luisa (@casa_luisa)
Because of COVID-19, Jen Gerodias Slagle had to lay off most of the staff from her commissary business. On the bright side, this allowed her to start anew and move to Laguna with her two boys. “Living here, surrounded by fruit trees and foliage and embracing slow living, has inspired me to get back in the kitchen and make things with my own two hands.” In June, she launched Casa Luisa, which offers comfort Filipino food using French techniques. She has sisig, tocino and tapa, but it’s her empanada that sell the most. It’s made with an all-butter pastry that’s treated like a croissant dough. For fillings, she has beef brisket kaldereta, French onion soup, and my favorite, beef rendang with pickles and sambal.
Bangus Belly Sardines from CC Table
Gourmet Bangus Belly Sardines from CC Table (@cc_table)
A former magazine fashion editor, Carole Cuasay Tagle decided to offer her entertaining staples to the public last July. “I wanted to share my own take on comfort food using healthy alternatives and thoughtful ingredients that even kids will love,” she says. Her roster includes mostly bottled goods like Three Cheese Pimiento, All Natural Hummus, Tomato Everything Confit, Organic Chicken Paté paired with Pear Jam, and pan de sal from Masa Bakery, which is her sister’s business. The Bangus Belly Sardines comes bathed in flavored oil, and the fatty belly begs for warm rice.
Baby Back Ribs with Corn Muffins by Maisie (@aMAISIEingGoodies)
What began simply as a quarantine activity for Candy Villaroman-Tuliao’s daughter, Maisie, eventually became a profitable hobby. “I wanted the time spent at home to be productive. This was our way of turning our situation into a positive and meaningful experience,” says the dermatologist. Maisie bakes the snickerdoodle cinnamon cookies herself, while Candy does the baby back ribs, which are oven-baked for hours. And since this has been selling really well, they’re now working on a frozen version, which customers can reheat.
Wagyu Steak Bowl from Ginza Gyu
Wagyu Steak Bowl from Ginza Gyu (@ginzagyuph)
Craving for premium beef bowls, friends and business partners Rich Sanz, Maxine Marcelino, Mikael Jiang and Queen Lee started Ginza Gyu last week. Choices include Wagyu gyudon, grilled salmon, yakinikudon, ebi katsu, eight-hour kurobota chashu and brown butter tenderloin.
Angus Roast Beef from The Purple Wok
Angus Roast Beef from The Purple Wok (@thepurplewok)
The Purple Wok was a longtime idea that finally saw its launch due to the pandemic. “We had to look for means to help our laid-off staff from our other food businesses,” says Portia Vicente-Habaluyas. “They’ve been loyal to us for many years, and there was no way we were going to let them down.” Introduced last September, the brand serves recipes from her home: gambas al ajillo, paella negra with clams and mussels in white wine, and baked lobster tails. Their bestseller has been the US Angus Melt-in-Your-Mouth Roast Beef, which can be ordered with herbed veggies, creamy garlic mashed potatoes, mushroom splice and three sauces—basic gravy, au jus and truffle gravy.
Pollo à la Brasa by Viaje by Kev (@viaje.bykev)
Kevin Jonathan Uy, who graduated from Enderun and trained in restaurants Enoteca in Barcelona and Central in Peru, launched Viaje by Kev in August. “Being a Spanish-speaking, Latin American- and European-trained chef, I felt that I could offer something new and delightful in the face of this crisis,” he says. “The concept revolves around closed borders and open minds. It strives to bring adventure on a plate.” The brand has already become known for its pollo á la brasa set, which includes a whole butterflied grilled chicken, two pepper-based sauces called ajies (rojo and verde), boniatos or sweet potato croquettes and chorizo rice. He also offers a delicious barley risotto, and ready-to-heat callos.
Umami truffle rice with ribs and shrimp by Slow Burn Manila
Truffle Umami Rice with Smokin’ Ribs and Garlic Shrimps from Slow Burn (@slowburnmnl)
Food consultant and chef Chryso Morales, 32, lost some projects and his restaurant job because of the pandemic. To earn a living, he, along with partners Dale Morales and Matthew Ignacio, started Slow Burn Manila last September. “The idea is to offer unique and original flavor combinations on a single plate,” he says. “Putting together truffle and barbecue sauce played in my head, so we started testing and cooking in the kitchen until we got the right recipe.” The result—Smokin’ Ribs with Truffle Rice, Garlic Shrimps with French Beans and Cherry Tomatoes—is their first offering, and it has already gathered a loyal following. Next in line are salmon with squid ink rice, and an herbed and spiced chicken dish.
Rockets hit Gondar in Amhara state, but a projectile aimed at the Bahir Dar airport missed its target.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which holds control of Tigray, said the missiles were fired in retaliation for air strikes conducted by forces of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Last week, Abiy deployed the national Army on an offensive against local troops in Tigray after accusing them of attacking federal troops. He confirmed government warplanes were targeting military facilities in Tigray, controlled by the Tigrayan forces.
Ahmed has said the military would bring an end to the fighting in Tigray region and remove its leadership, which his government regards as illegal.
The African Union and the United Nations are concerned that the fighting could spread to other parts of the country.
Pope Francis has appealed for a peaceful solution to the violence, urging authorities “to reject the temptation of armed conflct.
Last week, the Catholic Bishops of Ethiopia appealed for peaceful dialogue, urging parties to resolve their differences amicably, in a spirit of respect and understanding.
The Catholic Church’s social action arm has urged the Duterte government to seek international help as widespread flooding from two recent typhoons inundated several parts of the country. “The nation is in quandary,” is how Father Antonio Labiao, executive director of Caritas Philippines described the situation in the wake of yet another storm.
Typhoon Vamco, called Ulysses locally, made landfall in the Philippines on 11 November, causing massive flooding in various parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila and Cagayan. The 21st storm to hit the Philippines this year has killed at least 53 people, injured 52 and left 22 missing, according to the Philippines police and army.
The storm battered areas still reeling from the Super Typhoon Goni, the world’s strongest typhoon so far this year that claimed 25 lives and destroyed thousands of homes. Goni made landfall on 31 October. The typhoons struck as the Philippines continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic. On Saturday, 1,650 new coronavirus infections and 39 more deaths were reported.
“Every life matters”
Father Labiao said that in Cagayan, people, in particular children, the elderly and the vulnerable are crying out for help – some have died already. “The Catholic Church, especially the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao, is mobilizing all its resources to reach Cagayan Valley the soonest,” he said, adding, “We cannot do this without everyone’s help.” “All stakeholders need to be on board.”
“We urge our government to seek help from the international community now,” Fagther Labiao said. “It is clear that we cannot do this alone. It is imperative that we leave no one behind. Let us all help each other. Let us save everyone. Every second counts. Every life matters.”
Vincentians
Meanwhile, the Vincentian Foundation is reaching out to the victims of Typhoon Ulysses in Manila. Vincentian priest Father Dani Pilario appealed for urgent help for illegal settlers living in shanties under bridges because they could be trapped by flooding caused by heavy rain that saw a river in the Marikina area of the metropolis rise by a meter in less than three hours.
The priest noted that the flooding is made worse with dams releasing water or overflowing. Unaware of this danger, many people, he said, could easily be trapped or washed away altogether.
Resilience of people
However, Father Pilario was amazed at the resilience of these squatters under bridges who were smiling despite their hard conditions. When the Vincentian Foundation team reached the affected people with relief material, the priest said they looked very relaxed. “We already know what to do, Father. We have been here for a long time,” they said.
However, Father Pilario said that although this might be the case, they too had their limits: “When a government does not have a housing program which forces families including children to live in such circumstances, then this society is abusing people’s resilience.”.
The Vincentian priest criticized the government saying it is more worried about its own survival and hold on power than sheltering and caring for people during natural disasters.
The Jesuits of the Philippines have also appealed for help for the affected people.
President Rodrigo Duterte said on 12 November that he had ordered government agencies to mobilize and provide aid to victims. “Rest assured, the government will not leave anybody behind,” Duterte said on national television.
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