According to research by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Muslim Fulani herder militia have perpetrated at least 106 attacks on communities in central Nigeria in the first quarter of 2018 alone, claiming 1,061 lives.

However, Dr Khataza Gondwe from the charity told Premier the clashes between the two groups in the past doesn’t reflect the recent attacks in the Middle Belt region since Thursday that left 86 people dead.

She explained: “As long as you frame it as a clash, that implies that there’s mutual violence.

“However the violence that happened over the weekend in Plateau state for example… this was attacks on people in their homes or as they were coming back from a funeral. You cannot describe those as clashes.”

Nigeria is set to launch a major security operation to quell the spike of violence in the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari warned against reprisals after the “deeply unfortunate killings across a number of communities” in central Plateau State as the military and police tried to end the bloodshed, saying “no efforts will be spared” to find the attackers.

However, footage from Jos showed angry people waving machetes and sticks shouting at passing security forces as they weaved around overturned and burning vehicles.

Destroyed vehicles and debris is strewn across the road as police attempt to…

The Pope chose the Republic of Ireland as the location for the tri-annual event World Meeting of Families between 21st-26th August.

It’s a gathering for families which aims to celebrate, pray and reflect upon the importance of marriage and the family as the cornerstone of life, society and the Church.

The team running the event say they have had an unprecedented amount of interest. At 5am on Monday morning, they released 500,000 tickets for the closing mass in Phoenix Park in Dublin and by 5pm the same day 285,000 were gone.

Tickets for Pope Francis’ visit to Knock Shrine, a Roman Catholic pilgrimage site, were fully booked in less than five hours.

4,000 people on facebook though have said they are ‘interested’ in an event called ‘Say no to the Pope’, with 1,100 people clicking ‘going’.

The group have said they are peacefully protesting the Pope’s visit and are registering for free tickets but will not turn up.

One user posted: “Keep up the good work everyone! This isn’t about depriving people of faith their right to worship.

“This is a peaceful protest against a truly corrupt organisation which has caused incalculable harm to a great many people and which continues to do so; which has permitted child abuse and which obstructs and perverts the course of justice on a massive scale in order to cover it up.”

The user also cites misogyny, homophobia and hypocrisy as reasons…

The two men spoke for nearly an hour in the pope’s library in the Apostolic Palace.

After they emerged from their closed-door talks, Mr Macronput a hand on Francis’ shoulder, and then kissed him on both cheeks.

Francis reciprocated the warmth, gripping the French leader’s arm and then shaking his hands vigorously and smiling broadly as he said goodbye. He also shook hands with Mr Macron’s wife, Brigitte.

As is his custom with guests, Francis gave Mr Macron a medal depicting St Martin of Tours, who gave his cloak to a poor man.

Francis had ushered the French leader into his studio, where the two men chatted for a few minutes before the media were escorted out of the room.

Last week, the pontiff urged nations to welcome all the refuges they can properly manage. Italy is angry that France sends back migrants who illegally enter France from Italy.

France recently criticised Italy’s new populist government for refusing to allow docking by a private rescue ship with more than 600 migrants aboard. Spain eventually gave the ship safe harbour.

Mr Macron’s visit was strictly Vatican-related, with no meetings scheduled with Italian leaders.

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The individual, who was born male but underwent gender reassignment surgery, had been told to wait until reaching 65.

They were told to wait until the male state pension age on the basis they decided not to annual their marriage.

Known as MB, they had chosen to stay married to their wife on the basis their commitment to wed was made “in the sight of God”.

But, the European Court of Justice has now ruled that a transgender person is not required to annul a marriage they entered into prior to transitioning gender, in order to receive a pension.

Transgender people can have their change formally recognised in the UK by acquiring a full “gender recognition certificate”, according to the Gender Recognition Act 2004.

Under that law, the document was conditional on a married person having their marriage annulled – a move intended to avoid same-sex marriage – which was illegal at the time.

After deciding to live as a woman in 1991 and undergoing gender reassignment surgery in 1995, MB did not apply for the paperwork.

On reaching her 60th birthday in May 2008, MB applied for a state pension but was refused because she was still, legally, male.

Having divided judges at the UK Supreme Court (pictured above), the case was referred to the European Court of Justice for guidance.

According to the ECJ, the UK’s marriage annulment…

Faith groups will join members of the Sink the Arms Fair Coalition to call for an end to such events.

Around 1,100 people from more than 40 countries are expected at the three-day Undersea Defence Techology conference at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) which will discuss new subsea weaponry and technology.

A protest is planned for 10am and a prayer calling for peace is due to take place at noon.

The convention team for Glasgow City Council arm’s length organisation Glasgow Life has provided practical support for the event and campaigners have written an open letter of protest to the council and other politicans.

The venue for the event is run by a company 90 per cent owned by the local authority.

Rev Dr Richard Frazer (pictured above), convener of the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland, said: “We are disappointed that Glasgow City Council has chosen to support an international festival of the arms trade.

Take a look at our #UDT2018 conference agenda & discover this year’s themes: https://t.co/SgnoPacay7 #undersea #defence #military pic.twitter.com/y62kuq56a7

— UDT 2018 (@UDT2018) June 17, 2018

“To facilitate such a gathering is deeply uncomfortable at a time when so many innocent people around the world are suffering from effects of war and the damage and destruction caused by weapons.

“Such a venture may bring income for some Scottish…