The short life and tragic death of River Phoenix

The Short Life and Tragic Death of River Phoenix

River Phoenix was one of Hollywood’s brightest young stars of the late 1980s and early 1990s, whose immense talent and promise were cut short when he died tragically at the age of 23 outside the Viper Room nightclub in Los Angeles on October 31, 1993.

River Jude Phoenix was born on August 23, 1970, in Madras, Oregon, into a family that lived an unconventional lifestyle. His parents were members of the Children of God religious cult, and his early years were marked by poverty and instability.

Stalin’s daughter and her escape from the USSR

Stalin’s Daughter and Her Escape from the USSR

Svetlana Alliluyeva, the only daughter of Joseph Stalin, became one of the Cold War’s most famous defectors when she fled the Soviet Union in 1967, seeking freedom from the shadow of her father’s legacy. Her life story is a remarkable blend of personal struggle, political symbolism, and the search for identity beyond the iron grip of the USSR.

Born in Moscow on February 28, 1926, Svetlana Iosifovna Stalina was the youngest child and only daughter of Joseph Stalin. Her childhood was marked by privilege but also tragedy. Her mother, Nadezhda Alliluyeva, died under mysterious circumstances when Svetlana was just six years old, an event that deeply scarred her. Growing up in the Kremlin, she was surrounded by power yet isolated from normal life, constantly overshadowed by her father’s authoritarian rule.

The Political Trajectory of Ademola Adeleke

The Political Trajectory of Ademola Adeleke

Ademola Adeleke’s political journey reflects a dramatic evolution from his early days in the Senate to his current governorship, culminating in his controversial move to the Accord Party in late 2025. His career has been marked by both opportunity and turbulence, with party crises shaping his decisions.

Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, born on May 13, 1960, is a Nigerian politician and businessman from the influential Adeleke family of Ede, Osun State.

He first rose to prominence in 2017 when he was elected as Senator representing Osun West, succeeding his late brother Isiaka Adeleke.

Adeleke’s Entry, Emergence As Candidate Invalid – Accord Faction

Adeleke’s Entry, Emergence As Candidate Invalid - Accord Faction

The political drama surrounding Governor Ademola Adeleke’s alleged defection to the Accord Party has sparked intense debate and controversy within Nigerian political circles.

According to reports, a faction of the Accord Party led by Chris Imumolen has strongly criticized Adeleke’s entry, describing it as a “back-door” maneuver that undermines the party’s internal processes.

Scenarios of President Tinubu’s VIP Police Escort Directive

Scenarios of President Tinubu’s VIP Police Escort Directive

President Bola Tinubu’s order that ministers and VIPs cannot retain police escorts without his clearance can unfold in different ways depending on enforcement, compliance, and public reaction. Here are possible trajectories:

Best-Case Outcomes

In the most optimistic scenario, the directive is strictly enforced, and police officers previously tied up in VIP protection are redeployed to frontline duties. Communities begin to notice a stronger police presence, leading to reduced incidents of kidnapping, banditry, and violent crime. Public trust in government grows as citizens see that leaders are willing to sacrifice personal privileges for national security. The political class adapts to the new reality, relying on civil defence officers or private arrangements where necessary, while respecting the President’s authority. Over time, this cultural shift reduces the perception of government as an elite bubble and strengthens the idea of shared responsibility for security.

Rabies Screening in Organ Donation: Current Practices and Emerging Concerns

Rabies Screening in Organ Donation: Current Practices and Emerging Concerns

Organ donation in the United States follows rigorous medical and infectious disease screening protocols, but rabies presents a unique challenge. Unlike HIV, hepatitis, or other transmissible infections, rabies is not routinely tested for in organ donors.

The reason is twofold: rabies is extremely rare in humans, and the diagnostic process is complex, often requiring specialized laboratory tests that are not part of standard donor evaluation.

Rabies Transmission via Organ Donation in the United States Has Been Documented Only Four Times Since 1978, and Every Case Was Fatal.

Rabies Transmission via Organ Donation in the United States Has Been Documented Only Four Times Since 1978, and Every Case Was Fatal.

The recent Michigan case, where a man died after receiving a rabies-infected kidney from a donor who had contracted the virus while saving a kitten from a skunk, is the fourth such incident in U.S. history. Each of these cases has underscored the extraordinary rarity but devastating consequences of rabies transmission through transplantation.

The first known occurrence was in 1978, when a corneal transplant led to rabies infection in the recipient. At that time, rabies was not considered in donor screening, and the case highlighted the potential for human-to-human transmission via tissue.

Timeline of Events: Burkina Faso’s Detention and Release of 11 Nigerian Military Personnel

Timeline of Events: Burkina Faso’s Detention and Release of 11 Nigerian Military Personnel

Emergency Diversion and Landing A Nigerian Air Force C‑130 aircraft traveling from Lagos to Portugal for a ferry operation experienced a technical issue mid‑flight. Due to this malfunction, the crew diverted and made an emergency landing in Bobo‑Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. The diversion, according to Nigerian authorities, followed standard international aviation safety procedures and was not a planned entry into Burkinabè airspace.

Collapse Of Two Buildings In Morocco’s Fes Kills 22

Collapse Of Two Buildings In Morocco’s Fes Kills 22

The city of Fes was struck by a devastating tragedy when two adjacent buildings collapsed overnight in the Al-Moustakbal neighbourhood of the Al-Massira area.

Authorities confirmed that 22 people lost their lives, making it the deadliest building‑related disaster Morocco has experienced in recent years. Sixteen additional victims were injured, and emergency teams continued searching for others who might still be trapped beneath the rubble.

Impacts of President Tinubu’s Directive on VIP Police Escorts

Impacts of President Tinubu’s Directive on VIP Police Escorts

President Bola Tinubu’s decision to restrict police escorts for ministers and VIPs unless cleared directly by him is more than just a bureaucratic adjustment, it carries significant political, social, and cultural implications for Nigeria.

Political Class

For Nigeria’s political elite, this directive represents a sharp departure from long-standing privileges. Traditionally, ministers, lawmakers, and senior officials have enjoyed automatic access to police escorts, often seen as a symbol of status and power. By centralizing approval under the presidency, Tinubu is signaling that security resources are not entitlements but tools to be deployed strategically. This could create tension among officials who feel exposed or undermined, but it also forces them to align more closely with national priorities rather than personal convenience.

Eko Hotels’ Biggest Holiday Event, Tropical Christmas Wonderland, Returns December 20

Eko Hotels’ Biggest Holiday Event, Tropical Christmas Wonderland, Returns December 20

Eko Hotels & Suites is once again preparing to transform Lagos into a festive paradise with the return of its signature holiday spectacle, Tropical Christmas Wonderland, beginning December 20, 2025, and running through January 2, 2026. This annual celebration has become one of Nigeria’s most anticipated end‑of‑year attractions, drawing families, tourists, and culture lovers into a world of theatre, music, food, and vibrant African creativity.

A Celebration of Joy, Culture, and Togetherness

The 2025 edition promises an even more immersive experience. Dr. Iyadunni Gbadebo, the creative visionary behind the Wonderland, describes it as an environment built to spark happiness, strengthen family bonds, and create lasting memories at a time when togetherness matters most. Her vision blends global festive traditions with distinctly African storytelling, performance, and hospitality.

Collapse Of Two Buildings In Morocco’s Fes Kills 22

Collapse Of Two Buildings In Morocco’s Fes Kills 22

The tragic collapse of two adjacent buildings in the northern Moroccan city of Fes stands as one of the deadliest structural failures the country has experienced in recent years.

According to official reports, the incident occurred overnight in the Al-Moustakbal neighbourhood within the Al-Massira area, leading to the deaths of 22 people and injuring 16 others.

Burkina Faso releases 11 detained Nigerian military personnel

Burkina Faso Releases 11 Detained Nigerian Military Personnel

The recent release of eleven Nigerian military personnel by Burkina Faso has drawn significant regional and international attention.

The incident began when a Nigerian Air Force C-130 cargo aircraft, en route to Portugal for a ferry operation, made an unexpected emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. 

Man dies of rabies after receiving kidney from donor who became infected while saving kitten from skunk

A Rare and Tragic Case of Transplant-Related Rabies

In late 2024, a deeply unusual and heartbreaking medical case unfolded in the United States, culminating in the death of a Michigan man who had received a kidney transplant.

The donor of that kidney, an Idaho resident, had unknowingly contracted rabies weeks earlier after a heroic but fateful encounter with a skunk while rescuing a kitten.

No VIP police escorts without my clearance- President Tinubu tells Ministers

No VIP Police Escorts Without My Clearance – President Tinubu’s Directive to Ministers

President Bola Tinubu has issued a firm directive that no minister or senior government official will be allowed to use police escorts unless they obtain his personal clearance. This move is part of a broader effort to redeploy police officers to frontline duties in combating kidnapping, terrorism, and other security challenges facing Nigeria.

During the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held at the State House in Abuja on December 10, 2025, Tinubu restated his earlier order withdrawing police officers from Very Important Persons (VIPs). He emphasized that ministers and top officials who feel vulnerable due to the nature of their assignments must route their requests for escorts through the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), who will then seek direct presidential approval.

SPECIAL REPORT | Geopolitical implications of Burkina Faso’s accusation against the Nigerian Air Force

Geopolitical implications of Burkina Faso’s accusation against the Nigerian Air Force

The accusation that a Nigerian Air Force C-130 violated Burkina Faso’s airspace is more than an aviation dispute, it is a revealing flashpoint in a region where alliances, legitimacy, and security doctrines are being renegotiated under pressure.

The episode arrives at a delicate moment, with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) consolidating military-led governance and distancing itself from Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) frameworks, while Nigeria projects regional leadership amid cascading threats. What follows is a focused analysis of how this incident could reshape relations between ECOWAS and the AES, and recalibrate West Africa’s security architecture.

Burkina Faso accuses Nigerian Air Force of violating its airspace

Burkina Faso Accuses Nigerian Air Force of Violating Its Airspace

In a dramatic turn of events that underscores the growing tensions in West Africa, Burkina Faso has accused the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) of violating its airspace.

The incident unfolded when a Nigerian military C-130 aircraft, en route to Portugal, made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second-largest city.

Overview of Fubara’s defection and its immediate stakes

Overview of Fubara’s defection and its immediate stakes

Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s defection reverberates beyond Rivers State, touching long-running dynamics: governors navigating party conflicts, institutional fragility, and elite mediation overshadowing party structures.

His move is framed as a survival calculus amid intra-party strife and federal–state power plays, while the PDP’s rebuttal centers on agency and accountability, arguing he chose this path and cannot outsource blame.

The contest is less about ideology than control of political machinery, legislative alignment, and security of tenure within Nigeria’s hybrid presidential system.

Defection: ‘You Willingly Travelled This Path, Don’t Blame Us,’ PDP Tells Fubara

Defection of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and PDP’s Response

The political landscape of Rivers State, Nigeria, witnessed a dramatic shift when Governor Siminalayi Fubara announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The move, made public during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt, has sparked intense reactions and highlighted deeper issues within Nigeria’s democratic framework.

Scenario report: Rivers politics under APC over the next five years

Scenario report: Rivers politics under APC over the next five years

Baseline context and assumptions

Rivers State enters the APC era with executive–legislative alignment, a recalibrated relationship with the federal center, and lingering factional tensions from recent crises. The oil economy, infrastructure gaps, security pressures in the Niger Delta, and federal–state bargaining dynamics will anchor outcomes. These scenarios assume steady national economic conditions, no constitutional disruptions, and typical electoral cycles.

Comparative Analysis: Rivers Politics Under PDP vs. APC

Comparative Analysis: Rivers Politics Under PDP vs. APC

Rivers State Under PDP

For over two decades, Rivers State was firmly under the control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Since 1999, the party dominated gubernatorial elections and maintained a strong grip on the legislature. This dominance was reinforced by the influence of political heavyweights like former governor Nyesom Wike, who consolidated PDP’s power through extensive grassroots mobilization and patronage networks.

UPDATED: Gov Fubara Defects To APC

Photo By Channels Television

Governor Siminalayi Fubara Defects to APC

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The announcement was made during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt on December 9, 2025. Fubara explained that his decision was rooted in loyalty to President Bola Tinubu, whom he credited with sustaining his political survival. He declared that without Tinubu’s support, he would have already been a “former governor.”

Senate Summons Aviation Minister Over 400% Airfare Hike

Senate Summons Aviation Minister Over 400% Airfare Hike

In a dramatic move that underscores growing public frustration, the Nigerian Senate has summoned the Minister of Aviation alongside key stakeholders in the aviation industry to appear before its committee.

This follows what lawmakers described as an astronomical and unacceptable surge in airfares across the country, with ticket prices reportedly rising by over 400 percent in recent months.

Senate Approves Tinubu’s Request to Deploy Troops to Benin Republic for Peace Mission

Senate Approves Tinubu’s Request to Deploy Troops to Benin Republic for Peace Mission

In a decisive move reflecting Nigeria’s commitment to regional stability, the Senate has approved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin.

The mission, described as a peacekeeping effort, is aimed at restoring democratic order and stabilizing the neighboring country following a recent coup attempt.

Adeleke Joins Accord Party

Adeleke Joins Accord Party

In a dramatic political twist less than twenty-four hours before the Accord Party governorship primary election, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has announced his defection to the Accord Party.

The declaration was made at the Government House in Osogbo, where Adeleke addressed members of the State Executive Council, top government officials, and leaders of the Accord Party.