The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has issued a caution to Nigerians regarding the acceptance of packages from relatives and friends overseas without fully understanding their contents.  This warning comes in light of a growing trend where illicit drugs are being hidden within consolidated cargo shipments. The alert was communicated by Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, through a post on his official X account on Sunday. Babafemi indicated that some Nigerians residing abroad are reportedly sending consolidated cargoes that contain illicit substances, particularly types of cannabis referred to as Colorado and Loud, to their family and friends in Nigeria. He noted that unsuspecting recipients are often listed as consignees or recipients of these shipments, which could lead to their arrest and prosecution. "Some of our people living abroad are sending home consolidated cargoes tainted with illicit drugs, especially Colorado and Loud, design...

  Celine Dion made a remarkable comeback to the concert stage on Saturday, September 12, 2026, as she performed her first full concert in six years at the Plenitude Arena in Paris, following a prolonged struggle with Stiff Person Syndrome. The 58-year-old icon delivered a heartfelt, sold-out performance to an enthusiastic audience of 30,000 fans, commencing her set with her classic 1990s French-language ballad "On ne change pas" ("One Doesn't Change"). Clearly emotional and shedding tears of joy, Dion expressed to the audience her profound happiness to be back on stage after years of health challenges brought on by her rare neurological disorder, Stiff Person Syndrome, which is an incurable condition characterized by severe muscle stiffness and spasms.  "The path was rockier than expected," she remarked, addressing the crowd in both French and English. "But I held on to a faint ray of light in the distance, deep in the mountains." She perform...

  The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed a fine of N15 million on RwandAir due to a violation of consumer protection regulations related to a passenger's damaged luggage.  Michael Achimugu, the spokesperson for the NCAA, made this announcement via a post on his personal X account on Friday. This compensation aligns with Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023, which outlines consumer protection measures in air travel, including compensation and other remedies for passengers affected by baggage issues. He stated that the penalty was imposed for the airline's failure to address the baggage complaint within the required timeframe. Furthermore, the NCAA has instructed RwandAir to replace the damaged bag of the passenger and to provide $170 as immediate compensation. The NCAA emphasized that this sanction highlights the necessity for airlines to promptly address passenger complaints and adhere to consumer protection regulations. RwandAir, originally known as Rwandair...

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) of Nigeria has approved a significant amendment to the National Mental Health Act, which decriminalizes attempted suicide. This marks a groundbreaking shift from viewing psychological distress as a criminal offense to addressing it as a public health concern. Previously, under colonial-era laws (Section 327 of the Criminal Code Act in the South and Section 231 of the Penal Code in the North), individuals who survived a suicide attempt could face up to one year in prison, a fine, or both. The new amendment replaces these punitive measures with access to compassionate medical care and psychological support. Led by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, this reform aims for a 15% reduction in suicide deaths and attempts by the year 2030. Officials and mental health professionals emphasize that the criminalization of suicide attempts has deterred many from seeking urgent help due to the fear of legal repercussions. Although the executive bran...

An Ecuadorian court has sentenced former President Abdalá Bucaram and his son, Jacobo Bucaram, to nine years and four months in prison due to their involvement in a criminal organization that fraudulently sold medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Attorney General's office has labeled Bucaram and his son as "collaborators" in an organized crime network. This group was engaged in the illegal sale of at least 21,000 COVID-19 test kits and other medical supplies in 2020, all while avoiding traffic controls. Prosecutors disclosed that traffic police officers provided protection for two foreign individuals transporting the supplies to Bucaram’s home. These individuals falsely claimed to be members of the diplomatic corps or DEA agents. Given his age, the 74-year-old former president may be eligible to serve his sentence under house arrest, as allowed by Ecuadorian law. He attended the ruling via video conference from a hospital in Guayaquil, where he is receiving ...

  Bangladesh is currently facing its most severe measles outbreak in decades, with the number of child fatalities officially surpassing 1,002 as of September 9, 2026. Since the outbreak began in March 2026, there have been 187,484 reported infections among children, predominantly affecting those aged between 6 months and 5 years. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has acknowledged that shortcomings in a previous vaccination campaign contributed to the epidemic, leaving around 4 million children unprotected. A UNICEF situation report indicated that 72% of the infected children had not received any doses of the two-dose vaccine, while 16% had only received partial vaccination. Earlier vaccination efforts were severely disrupted by strikes and political instability. The widespread issue of chronic malnutrition among children has significantly compromised their immune systems, leading to more severe complications from measles, such as serious breathing issues and brain s...