The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to issue a presidential order mandating security agencies to ensure effective security for pastoralist communities across the country.
National Secretary-General of MACBAN, Alhaji Bello Gotomo, who made the appeal in a statement on Friday in Abuja, also urged the Federal Government to end all forms of alleged discriminatory practices against pastoralists in the country.
Gotomo said the Fulani people have faced persistent discrimination, ethnic profiling, and mistreatment in Nigeria and only an executive order by the president would put a stop to them.
The MACBAN Secretary further reiterated the need for the National Security Adviser to implement concrete measures to address the alleged ethnic profiling, stigmatisation and scapegoating of pastoralists.
Gotomo cited recent incidents of alleged unlawful arrests and inhumane treatment of Fulani herders at Opere Market in Kabba Local Government Area of Kogi State, which he described as part of a growing trend of injustice.
He also appealed to the National Human Rights Commission and international bodies to intervene, highlighting ongoing grievances about ethnic scapegoating of Fulani herders in connection with national security issues.
“Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria calls on the federal government, the National Human Rights Commission and the international community to urgently intervene,’ the statement reads.
“The Nigerian government must ensure accountability, justice, and protection for all citizens regardless of ethnicity,” Gotomo said.
METRO DETROIT (WXYZ) — There isn’t anything much worse than hitting a pothole and having to shell out hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, to fix your car.
By Ali Hoxie
Click here for updates on this story
METRO DETROIT (WXYZ) — There isn’t anything much worse than hitting a pothole and having to shell out hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, to fix your car.
Unfortunately, it’s something all too common for us in Michigan, but now, you could get some of those repairs paid off.
It’s through the Pothole Payback Contest, happening now, through the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA) — paying back drivers for their car repairs. The chosen winners could get some much-needed help.
When I went out, it didn’t take me long to find drivers who have been impacted by potholes.
“Just hit a pothole, bent the rim, control arm, front end work,” Nathan Young said.
“How much did you have to pay to fix it?” I asked.
“I think like $400,” he said.
Now through June, MITA is giving five drivers a month up to $758. Why that amount? It’s the average cost Michigan drivers pay in repairs because of bad roads.
“What’s been the feedback so far on this survey from people?” I asked Rob Coppersmith, the executive vice president of MITA.
“Overwhelming, I think the first night that we put it out, it’s one of those things that gets shared quite a bit, within an hour we had 30 or 40 entries,” he said.
All you have to do is fill out your information, describe what happened, attach a picture of the damage and a receipt or estimate for the car repairs, and you’re entered to win.
“There’s a cost to all of us for inaction,” he said.
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Manchester United, high off their dramatic 5-4 win over Lyon, are now turning to their weekend match-up with Wolverhampton Wanderers and a front row seat to watch target Matheus Cunha.
The Wolves striker has had a fantastic season with 16 goals and four assists in 30 matches.
Not only has Cunha been a regular contributor to goals at The Molineux Stadium, but his versatility has also been shown off, being used as a striker, on both wings, and as an attacking midfielder and second striker.
As such, United have been interested in signing the 25-year-old in a bid to upgrade from Rasmus Hojlund, who has failed to provide consistency in front of goal.
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Manchester United’s interest in Matheus Cunha
Over recent weeks Cunha has joined Liam Delap at the top of United’s attacking shortlist, with the pair having proven themselves as Premier League strikers, despite their teams being close to the bottom of the table.
Now, with Cunha set to take to the pitch at Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim has specifically named him in the pre-match conference.
Speaking to the press, as reported by The Mirror, Amorim commented: “I think he [Vitor Pereira] is doing an amazing job. He has real quality players – [Matheus] Cunha and all these guys, they have real quality.
“They are fresh, so we know it’s going to be a tough match and we are going to need a lot from our supporters. I know it is a bad thing to ask anything this season from our fans but we need them on Sunday.”
With only six games left, a top-half finish is mathematically possible for The Red Devils, however with games against the likes of Chelsea and Aston Villa still to play, United will need to use their momentum and find consistency to fight up the table.
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Mars was once thought to have a thick, carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere and liquid water, which reacted with rocks to form carbonate minerals. However, missions and spectroscopy have found less carbonate than expected.
As the Curiosity rover climbs Mount Sharp in Gale Crater, it examines rocks from different time periods. A new study analyzing drill samples from a sulfate-rich layer found siderite, an iron carbonate mineral, within these rocky layers.
The discovery of abundant siderite in Gale Crater could provide new insights into Mars’ geologic and atmospheric history. Researchers analyzed an 89-meter section of Gale Crater using data from the Curiosity rover, finding siderite in amounts ranging from 4.8 to 10.5 weight percent, alongside highly water-soluble salts.
Scientists believe the siderite formed under water-limited conditions, driven by water-rock interactions and evaporation processes, shedding light on Mars’ past environment.
The carbonates discovered in Gale Crater have partially decomposed, releasing some carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, hinting at an ancient carbon cycle on Mars. This finding suggests that carbonate minerals beneath the surface may be hidden by other minerals, making them difficult to detect through near-infrared satellite analysis.
If similar sulfate-rich layers across Mars also contain carbonates, the total stored carbon dioxide would only account for a fraction of what was needed to create a warm, water-friendly atmosphere in the planet’s past. The remaining carbon dioxide might be concealed in other deposits or have escaped into space over time.
In this episode of True Crime News The Sidebar Podcast: Eric Faddis joins host Joshua Ritter to break down the biggest cases making headlines across the nation. They discuss evidence in Bryan Kohberger’s case that could suggest a second suspect in the University of Idaho slayings, key differences in Karen Read’s retrial after jury selection, and Judge Jeffrey Ferguson facing a second trial for his wife’s fatal shooting.
The conservative legal group Judicial Watch on Thursday said it has received 52 pages of documents that show proposed revisions to former President Joe Biden’s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur, regarding his handling of classified documents.
The documents, which were turned over by the Justice Department, come after the legal group sued the Biden administration through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The group requested records of the communication between the DOJ and the White House regarding altered transcripts.
“These new documents provide an extraordinary insight into a cover-up of the White House of Biden’s cognitive challenges,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said. “The Bondi Justice Department should follow up with the full release of the actual audio of President Biden’s disastrous interview with the special counsel on his document theft and mishandling.”
The Unubiko Foundation has awarded a fresh scholarship to 170 Nigerian students worth over N170m.
The scholarship programme will run concurrently with other existing scholarships that have been awarded by the Foundation across Nigeria.
The beneficiaries were presented with the grant at an event that took place in Umuahia, Abia State.
Unubiko Foundation Grants Over N170m Scholarship to 170 Students
THE WHISTLER can report that the beneficiaries will be given over N200,000 each annually throughout their studies, which amounts to over N170m.
Already, the Foundation has an existing N400m scholarship and over N1bn earmarked for the scheme.
However, the scholarship recognises hard work, academic excellence, and less privileged Nigerians
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Unubiko Scholarship Committee, Dr Agbai Eke Agbai, said the selection process was transparent and rewards hard-working and less privileged students across Nigeria.
A healthy, educated populace is the bedrock of any prosperous society, he said.
He said investment in education and investment in health equals a wealthy and progressive population, which is the goal for the foundation.
“In this spirit of progress, Chief James Umeh, fondly known as Ike Abam, has joined hands with your administration to ensure that no child is left behind.
“Through the Unubiko Scholarship Foundation, Chief Umeh has become a shining beacon of hope for countless young Abians.
“Chief Umeh’s life story is a classic example of triumph over adversity. Rising from modest beginnings to the heights of success, he embodies resilience, perseverance, and compassion.
“His deep passion for education stems not just from a sense of duty but from personal experience — he knows what it means to walk a mile in the shoes of underprivileged students.”
He expressed appreciation to Abia Governor Dr Alex Otti for his exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to building a better Abia State.
“You have set a new standard by prioritising education and health, allocating 15 per cent of the state’s annual budget to education and 20 per cent to health — an unprecedented achievement,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, the Rector of Abia State Polytechnic and the Secretary of the Scholarship Board, Engr. Dr Christopher Kalu Okoro described the scholarship as a vision of the Foundation’s founder, Chief James Ume.
He said Ume is focused on bridging the education gap in society.
He enjoined beneficiaries to work hard and sustain their grades.
He also described the selection process as transparent and devoid of bias.
A recipient, Ndukwe James Udo, said the scholarship is a great opportunity to train himself in school.
He said it was difficult to fund himself through school, adding that the “scholarship by the Unubiko Foundation” has saved him from tears.”
“I have struggled all my days in school to foot my bills, pay my bills and buy textbooks,” he added.
JUST-IN: Unubiko Foundation Grants Over N170m Scholarship To 170 Students is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
BALTIMORE (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday imposed new restrictions on billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, limiting its access to Social Security systems that hold personal data on millions of Americans.
U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander issued a preliminary injunction in the case, which was brought by a group of labor unions and retirees who allege DOGE’s recent actions violate privacy laws and present massive information security risks. Hollander had previously issued a temporary restraining order.
The injunction does allow DOGE staffers to access data that’s been redacted or stripped of anything personally identifiable, if they undergo training and background checks.
Hollander said DOGE and any DOGE-affiliated staffers must purge any of the non-anonymized Social Security data that they have received since Jan. 20. They are also barred from making any changes to the computer code or software used by the Social Security Administration, must remove any software or code they might have already installed, and are forbidden from disclosing any of that code to others.
“The objective to address fraud, waste, mismanagement, and bloat is laudable, and one that the American public presumably applauds and supports,” Hollander wrote in the ruling issued late Thursday night. “Indeed, the taxpayers have every right to expect their government to make sure that their hard earned money is not squandered.”
But that’s not the issue, Hollander said — the issue is with how DOGE wants to do the work.
“For some 90 years, SSA has been guided by the foundational principle of an expectation of privacy with respect to its records. This case exposes a wide fissure in the foundation,” the judge wrote.
During a federal court hearing Tuesday in Baltimore, Hollander repeatedly asked the government’s attorneys why DOGE needs “seemingly unfettered access” to the agency’s troves of sensitive personal information to uncover Social Security fraud.
Union members and retirees gathered outside the courthouse to protest DOGE’s actions, which they consider a threat to the future of Social Security benefits.
“What is it we’re doing that needs all of that information?” Hollander said, questioning whether most of the data could be anonymized, at least in the early stages of analysis.
Attorneys for the Trump administration said changing the process would slow down their efforts.
“While anonymization is possible, it is extremely burdensome,” Justice Department attorney Bradley Humphreys told the court.
He argued the DOGE access doesn’t deviate significantly from normal practices inside the agency, where employees and auditors are routinely allowed to search its databases.
But attorneys for the plaintiffs called it unprecedented and “a sea change” in terms of how the agency handles sensitive information, including medical and mental health records and other data pertaining to children and people with disabilities — “issues that are not only sensitive but might carry a stigma.”
The access alone is a privacy violation that causes harm to Social Security recipients, said Alethea Anne Swift, an attorney with the legal services group Democracy Forward, which is behind the lawsuit.
“That intrusion causes an objectively reasonable unease,” she said.
The Social Security Administration has experienced turmoil since President Donald Trump began his second term. In February, the agency’s acting commissioner Michelle King stepped down from her role after refusing to provide DOGE staffers with the access they wanted.
The White House replaced her with Leland Dudek — who failed to appear at Tuesday’s hearing after Hollander requested his presence to testify about recent efforts involving DOGE. The judge issued a letter last month rebuking Dudek’s threats that he might have to shut down agency operations or suspend payments because of Hollander’s temporary restraining order.
Hollander made clear that her order didn’t apply to SSA workers who aren’t affiliated with or providing information to DOGE, so they can still access any data they use in the course of ordinary work. But DOGE staffers who want access to the anonymized data must first undergo the typical training and background checks required of other Social Security Administration staffers, she said.
In recent weeks, Dudek has faced calls to resign after he issued an order that would have required Maine parents to register their newborns for Social Security numbers at a federal office rather than the hospital. The order was quickly rescinded. But emails showed it was political payback to Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat who has defied the Trump administration’s push to deny federal funding to the state over transgender athletes.
Despite the fraught political context surrounding the DOGE access case, Hollander admonished Humphreys when he suggested during Tuesday’s hearing that her questioning was starting to “feel like a policy disagreement.”
“I do take offense at your comment because I’m just trying to understand the system,” the judge said during Tuesday’s hearing.
Hollander, 75, who was nominated to the federal bench by President Barack Obama, is the latest judge to consider a DOGE-related case.
Many of her inquiries Tuesday focused on whether the Social Security case differs significantly from another Maryland case challenging DOGE’s access to data at three other agencies: the Education Department, the Treasury Department and the Office of Personnel Management. In that case, an appeals court recently blocked a preliminary injunction and cleared the way for DOGE to once again access people’s private data.
Hollander’s injunction could also be appealed to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which sided with the Trump administration in other cases, including allowing DOGE access to the U.S. Agency for International Development and letting executive orders against diversity, equity and inclusion move forward.
Gathering food donations at the ROCOR cathedral in London. Photo: orthodox-europe.org
As we move towards Holy Pascha, Orthodox Churches across Europe are intensifying their philanthropic activities to help the needy during this sacred season. These charitable initiatives reflect the heightened emphasis on almsgiving and compassion that characterizes the Orthodox Lenten journey toward Pascha.
Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archbishopric
The Eleusa Foundation of the Strumica Diocese distributed humanitarian food packages to over 200 families. This extensive campaign, supported by numerous local businesses and prepared in just one day by dedicated volunteers, reached families in need throughout seven municipalities including Strumica, Berovo, and Pehchevo. The Foundation emphasized that its mission depends on community compassion and business social responsibility.
Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Volunteers from the Chernivtsi-Bukovina Diocese delivered 11 tons of humanitarian aid to the Holy Dormition-Svyatogorsk Lavra on April 15. The collection effort included donations from Bukovina residents, other Ukrainian regions, and believers from Belgium, Germany, and Poland. The aid contained 24,000 eggs, baking ingredients, food supplies, cleaning products, hygiene items, rain gear, and special Pascha packages for children, with volunteers also delivering supplies to the Holy Protection Convent in Lyman and the St. John of Shanghai Skete in Adamovka.
Russian Orthodox Church
Volunteers from the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service have repaired 427 homes of elderly and disabled people in war zones including Mariupol, Donetsk, and other cities. The project involved 1,624 volunteers from across Russia, including professionals from various fields, international participants, and volunteers ranging from 10 to 85 years old. Volunteers perform various repairs without requiring special skills, with the Synodal Department providing free meals, accommodation, and transportation from Moscow.
Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
Over the weekend of Palm Sunday, the Diocese of Great Britain and Western Europe’s London Cathedral foodbank carried forward its operations and distributed boxes of food to those in need.
Romanian Orthodox Church
Romanian Orthodox faithful from Spain and Portugal are supporting disadvantaged children in the Alba Iulia Archdiocese through a new collaboration agreement. The first installment of $5,060 (€4,700) has already been transferred to the Filantropia Ortodoxă Alba Iulia association, which will provide school scholarships, supplies, clothing, warm meals, and medical and psychological support to children in need.
The Social Mission Diaconia of the Metropolis of Bessarabia (Moldova) collected 93.7 tons of food for the Table of Joy program on Sunday. This year, a record amount of food products—189,350 pounds—was donated to support elderly people living in solitude and poverty. The collected food will be used to prepare hot meals for beneficiaries of social canteens and parish centers within the Metropolis of Bessarabia, as well as Pascha food packages. The campaign involved 1,200 volunteers.
