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The United States Postal Service (USPS) is considering a rule change that would allow Americans to mail handguns through the

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Zamfara State has introduced uterine prolapse surgeries into its Special Modified Medical Outreach Programme, marking a significant step in expanding specialised gynaecological care to women across the state.

The new procedure is being performed by Prof. Isma’il Mungadi, chairman of the outreach committee, who is personally leading the current phase of the programme targeting 350 additional patients.

Uterine prolapse, a condition in which the uterus descends into or protrudes out of the vaginal canal due to weakened pelvic muscles and ligaments, disproportionately affects women who have experienced multiple childbirths, a common circumstance in many rural communities across Zamfara.

Officials described the introduction of the surgery as a major expansion of healthcare services for women with complex medical conditions who would otherwise have little or no access to such specialised treatment.

The outreach, which has operated across the state’s 14 local government areas since August 2023, has carried out 4,795 surgical procedures for 4,185 patients and provided free treatment for hypertension and diabetes to more than 1,200 residents.

It also addressed conditions including vesicovaginal fistula, cataracts, groin swellings and rare cases such as intersex anomalies and undescended testes, recording a surgical success rate of 99.98 per cent.

The government said the new phase would further close healthcare gaps and extend specialised care to vulnerable residents across the state.

Zamfara Introduces Uterine Prolapse Surgeries In Expanded Medical Outreach is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

A French woman evacuated from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius has tested positive for the virus, France’s health ministry has confirmed, marking the first confirmed case in the country.

The woman, who developed symptoms after returning to France, tested positive by PCR and is being treated in a hospital specialising in infectious diseases. The country’s Health Minister, Stéphanie Rist, told France Inter on Monday that “her condition deteriorated overnight.”

The French case follows the confirmation on Sunday of a mildly positive U.S. passenger who showed no symptoms. That American was transferred to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit for monitoring.

The MV Hondius docked at Granadilla de Abona in Tenerife on Sunday after departing South America on April 1. Three people have died in the outbreak.

Five French nationals were among those evacuated and flown out of Tenerife on Sunday. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said one of the five developed symptoms during the repatriation flight and that all were placed in strict isolation pending tests.

The total number of confirmed and probable cases linked to the ship now stands at nine, including two people confirmed to have died from the virus and one person whose death is suspected to be linked to it.

The strain involved is the Andes virus, the only hantavirus species known to be capable of limited human-to-human transmission, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

WHO has urged the public not to panic, stating that it does not expect a large-scale outbreak and that there is no evidence of a widespread risk to the general public.

France Confirms First Case Of Hantavirus is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

A legal practitioner, Frank Tietie, has said that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, is ceding a lot of influence and control of its primary elections to the various state governors.

Tietie made this statement in an interview on Arise Television on Sunday while reacting to the current political activities in the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the act might install the position of the president, stressing that it is his political decision to make.

The lawyer added that where there is a problem is the protection of the individual rights of the aspirant, who has indeed submitted a voluntary withdrawal form that he agrees to a consensus candidate.

He further said that full disclosure of the process should be available upon obtaining the form, warning that if the process is breached, the individual can approach the courts.

“The APC and the president are ceding a lot of influence and control of the primary election process to the governors. It might tend to ensconce his own position. It’s a decision that is political. That’s left for him.

“The protection of the individual’s right, who has indeed submitted a voluntary withdrawal that he will agree to a consensus candidate.

“I think he might ultimately be aggrieved if he does approach the court to say the processes of achieving the consensus were actually breached. 

“So those processes ought to be disclosed to him at the time he was collecting the form and submitting the form.

“Process could be that there would be a ballot or it could just be by way of throwing dice, whatever it is,” he said.

2027: APC giving lot of influence, control of primary process to governors — Frank Tietie

Fresh controversy has emerged in Taraba state following the arrest and continued detention of frontline Taraba Central Senatorial aspirant, Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, with allegations that pressure is being mounted on him to withdraw from the 2027 senatorial contest.

He also urged Bodejo’s supporters to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding while the matter is being resolved.

Bodejo was reportedly arrested in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital, on May 7, 2026, by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, before being flown to Abuja overnight. 

Sources disclosed that he was subsequently transferred to the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where he has remained in detention till now.

Sources close to the matter alleged that barely 48 hours after his detention, authorities approached the senatorial hopeful with a request to withdraw from the 2027 race as part of conditions for his release.

The sources further claimed that Bodejo, who also serves as National President of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Socio-Cultural Association, was advised to shelve his ambition until 2031.

Reacting to the development, Bodejo’s Campaign Director, Adamu Isa, condemned the manner of the arrest and subsequent transfer of the aspirant to Abuja.

Describing  the incident as humiliating, Isa  alleged that Bodejo was treated “like a common criminal” in the presence of his supporters.

“Bodejo, a member of the All Progressives Congress, had made significant contributions to the party, including supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election through personal resources and political networks.

Those opposed to Bodejo’s senatorial ambition should have pursued dialogue rather than allegedly resorting to intimidation through security agencies,” Isa stated.

According to him, Bodejo remains a law-abiding citizen with the constitutional right to contest or withdraw from the race at his discretion, stressing that any resolution must come through peaceful dialogue among stakeholders.

He further alleged that the consensus committee reportedly set up by the Taraba chapter of the APC never invited Bodejo for discussions before his arrest.

The campaign director appealed to the national leadership of the APC and other key stakeholders to intervene and ensure justice, including the immediate release of the aspirant.

Controversy deepens over detention of Taraba senatorial hopeful, Bodejo

The Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has advised all political actors and citizens to ensure that Nigeria remains a thriving multi-party constitutional democracy in line with the nation’s inalienable history and political development.

The leaders of SMBLF made the observation at the end of an emergency meeting held in Abuja, saying: “That the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall remain in the southern region thereof in the next four years, consequent upon the 2027 general elections, in the interest of national political stability, particularly as such zoning arrangement, having been established even by political parties, has been the trend and is emerging as part of the national democratic culture since 1999.”

The communiqué was signed by Oba Oladipo Olaitan, Leader of Afenifere and Chairman of SMBLF; Dr. Bitrus Pogu, President of the Middle Belt Forum; Senator John Azuta-Mbata, Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide; and Amb. Godknows Igali (CON), Chairman of PANDEF. The group advised all political parties to zone and elect their presidential candidates from Southern Nigeria.

SMBLF also stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be, and be seen by Nigerians to be, truly independent in handling the affairs of political parties and the conduct of all elections.

The group expressed concern over the unabated controversy surrounding certain sections of the Electoral Act, which it said could significantly affect the integrity of elections and cause avoidable tension in the polity, and urged the National Assembly to review them.

SMBLF stated: “That in view of the importance of the Electoral Act to free and fair elections and credible democratic processes, a special committee of the SMBLF was inaugurated for a holistic review of the concerned sections of the Act.

“That the judiciary should remain truly independent and ever alert to its constitutional role of interpreting the Constitution and the laws in the interest of peace, stability and progress of the nation and its democracy.”

The forum advised the Nigerian press to remain vigilant as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, in line with its acknowledged historic role in the struggle for Nigerian independence and as a veritable defender of democracy.

SMBLF passed a vote of confidence in the capacity and patriotism of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies to protect lives and property, as well as the nation’s territorial integrity, but lamented inadequate personnel commensurate with the size and population of the country.

The group also observed with dismay the “red-carpet treatment and incentives given to purportedly repentant terrorists” by the Nigerian state and some sub-national governments under the guise of amnesty, while victims of their genocidal crimes remain involuntary guests in IDP camps, wallowing in squalor, with their homes still occupied by terrorists and no hope of return.

On state and community policing, SMBLF noted the efforts and steps taken by the Federal Government and the Inspector General of Police on the convocation of state and community policing, following the memorandum presented to the National Assembly by the Inspector General of Police.

On xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa, SMBLF expressed concern over what it described as misguided xenophobic aggression by some South Africans against Nigerians and other Africans on the spurious grounds that immigrants were taking their jobs, alongside sweeping allegations of criminal activities.

On restructuring and the economy, SMBLF insisted on the restructuring of the federation to give federating ethnic nationalities and constituent states the required autonomy in line with true federalism, upon which Nigeria was built by its founding fathers. The group also called on the Federal Government to redouble efforts to address the suffering of Nigerians amid the prevailing global economic situation.

2027: Southern, Middle-Belt leaders insist on zoning presidency to South, cautions INEC, others 

Troops of the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army have neutralised a suspected terrorist during a coordinated ambush operation along bandit crossing routes within the Adankolo Forest Reserve in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State. The operation, carried out under Operation TIGER PAW II, also led to the recovery of arms, ammunition and other items believed […]

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The campaign council of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on Sunday affirmed that the governor’s growing popularity across the state is strong enough to secure his re-election in 2026, even without the use of campaign billboards and posters. Speaking during a press briefing held to announce the opening of the Imole Campaign Media Centre in […]

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Barcelona’s manager, Hansi Flick has dismissed claims that Real Madrid performs better without Kylian Mbappe, asserting that the French forward is the finest striker globally.

Mbappe, aged 27, is in the process of recovering from a hamstring injury, while Los Blancos secured a 2-0 victory against Espanyol during his absence. 

He resumed first-team training last week but was not fit enough to play against Flick’s squad in a La Liga match at Camp Nou.

Flick was questioned about whether Los Merengues exhibit greater cohesion in the absence of the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner. 

He responded via Goal, “Real Madrid plays better without Mbappe? He is one of the best players in the world, please. He is incredibly gifted on the pitch. 

“He is dangerous in every situation. In front of goal, he is the best in the world. He is dangerous both inside and outside the penalty area.”

Mbappe has been exceptional this season, despite 45 million fans reportedly signing a petition to see him leave the club. 

He has netted 41 goals in 41 appearances across all competitions for Alvaro Arbeloa’s team, contributing six assists as well.

In total, Mbappe has made a remarkable contribution of 85 goals and 11 assists in just 100 appearances for the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu side thus far.

LaLiga: ‘He’s dangerous, best’ – Hansi Flick hails Real Madrid star

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has warned state governors that unpredictable fiscal policies at the sub-national level could frustrate efforts to achieve price stability under the country’s inflation-targeting framework.

The warning was delivered during a recent engagement between the apex bank and the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, as both institutions intensified collaboration aimed at strengthening inflation control measures nationwide.

According to a statement issued by the CBN, the Deputy Governor in charge of the Economic Policy Directorate, Muhammad Abdullahi, said Nigeria’s transition to an inflation-targeting regime represents a move toward a more transparent, rule-based, and forward-looking monetary policy system that requires strong coordination with state governments.

He explained that although the CBN remains responsible for deploying monetary policy tools to manage inflation, fiscal decisions taken by state governments significantly influence inflation outcomes.

Abdullahi noted that inflation targeting largely depends on managing public expectations, stressing that expansionary or poorly coordinated fiscal activities by states could weaken the impact of monetary policy measures.

He identified several channels through which states affect inflation, including borrowing patterns, rising domestic debt, spending behavior, wage obligations, execution of capital projects, salary arrears, contractor financing, overdrafts, and weak coordination on Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, receipts, debt servicing, and cash management.

“In an inflation-targeting regime, persistent, unpredictable, or expansionary fiscal behavior at the sub-national level can significantly undermine price stability,” Abdullahi said.

Also speaking, the director general of the NGF, Abdullateef Shittu, hailed the apex bank and its leadership for what he described as the strategic foresight behind the engagement.

Nigeria’s headline inflation rate stood at 15.38 per cent in March 2026, while food inflation was recorded at 14.31 per cent.

Inflation: Unpredictable fiscal behaviour undermine price stability – CBN to Nigerian Governors