SENATORS ARGUE FIERCELY ABOUT SEATING ARRANGEMENT IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

It is truly disheartening to observe the National Assembly engaging in heated arguments and misplaced priorities, particularly when the nation is grappling with significant challenges such as the escalating electricity tariff, fuel scarcity (now termed #Petrogony), and a prevailing sense of insecurity.

Ex-street kid weeps as she asks Pope why God lets children suffer in Philippines

Muslims' mixed response to new Mohammed cover

(CNN)It is a message of defiance, but also forgiveness -- and many Muslims responded with similarly mixed emotions.

Randy pastor jailed 16 years for defiling, siring baby with minor at his children's home

S/Africa, Nigeria barter dead bodies for arms –Report

TB Joshua

The South African Government may have bartered the bodies of 84 South Africans, who died in a building collapse in Lagos, for arms with Nigeria, a South African newspaper, Mail and Guardian, has reported.

The paper said it saw two letters written by a Minister in the South African Presidency, Jeff Radebe, in which he promised to assist Nigeria ensure that an arms sale worth $9.3m (about R100-million), which had been blocked by South Africa, would proceed.

Austerity measures: Private jet owners who may pay more tax

As the price of crude oil continues to drop globally and Nigeria’s oil-based economy threatened, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Finance and the Co-coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has announced measures to cushion its impact on the economy.

One of the measures will see private jet owners paying more tax on their jets as one of the luxury goods and services affected by the austerity measures.

Synagogue Tragedy: Faulty Recording Equipment Stalls Coroner’s Proceedings

TB Joshua

•Coroner warns TB Joshua, contractor, others to appear or risk arrest

Akinwale Akintunde

The Coroner’s inquest investigating the circumstances that led to the collapse of a six-story guesthouse belonging to Synagogue Church of All Nation (SCOAN) was Thursday stopped abruptly due to  a faulty electronic recorder.

Hundreds pay respects to Gauteng victims of Nigeria church collapse

Nearly 700 people were at the Gauteng memorial service for the victims of the Nigeria church collapse, held at Johannesburg City Hall. Source: Roxanne Joseph

UPDATE: TB Joshua challenges summons for building collapse inquest

Lawyers for Nigerian preacher TB Joshua said Thursday they had mounted a legal challenge against a coroner who has ordered him to testify about a fatal building collapse at his Lagos megachurch.

Joshua has been summonsed twice to give evidence at an inquest examining the circumstances of the September 12 tragedy in which 116 people were killed, but failed to appear on both occasions.

The latest no show by the popular televangelist on Thursday angered coroner Oyetade Komolafe, who said he would order his arrest.

Daily Devotion for November 17, 2014

Two Apostles by Peter Paul Rubens, ca. 1611.

Catholic flock thinning in Latin America

Washington (AFP) - Although Argentine-born Pope Francis is largely popular in Latin America, the number of adults in the region who describe themselves as Catholic is falling, says a study published Thursday.

In a study of 18 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean as well as the US territory of Puerto Rico, the Pew Research Center said the Roman Catholic church is losing adherents to Protestant faiths or seeing them abandon organized religion altogether.

Poll: Latin America Catholics steadily leave faith

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Latin Americans born into Roman Catholic families have increasingly left the faith for Protestant churches, while many others have dropped organized religion altogether in a major shift in the region's religious identity, according to a survey released Thursday.

While 84 percent of Latin American adults report they were raised Catholic, only 69 percent currently identify as such, said the Pew Research Center in Washington.  At the same time, Protestants have gained members. About one in 10 Latin Americans were raised Protestant, but nearly one in five now call themselves Protestant. About 4 percent of Latin Americans report they were raised with no religion, but 8 percent say they have no tie to any faith.

Adeboye prays for police, peace in Nigeria

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Tuesday stormed the Lagos State Police Command, where he prayed for peace and unity in the country.

Adeboye who arrived the command at about 10.15 am, received thunderous welcome from a cross section of junior and senior police officers, who gathered at the place for the event.

Speaking on the theme “The Anointed Police Officer”, the RCCG leader said that in Nigeria with a large population, securing lives and property is complex and cumbersome.