Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist for KISS, is reportedly on life support in hospital following a brain bleed. The 74 year old rock legend, also known as The Spaceman, suffered the injury after a fall in his studio a few weeks ago, leading to the cancellation of his upcoming tour dates.
Despite being on a ventilator for some time, his health has not improved. While there are rumours circulating on social media that he has died, TMZ reports that as of Thursday afternoon, he remains on the ventilator.
After his fall and the subsequent cancellation of his tour, a statement posted on his official Instagram page on 25 September reassured fans: “He is fine, but against his wishes, his doctor insists that he refrain from travel at this time.”
Ace is said to be on a life support machine ( Getty Images North America)
However, a week later, another statement was released: “Due to some ongoing medical issues, Ace has made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of his 2025 dates.”, reports the Mirror US.
Frehley was a founding member of KISS alongside Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Peter Criss. He played guitar for the band from 1973 to 1982 before leaving due to creative differences and struggles with substance abuse.
After departing KISS, Frehley embarked on a solo career, forming the band Frehley’s Comet, which performed together from 1984 to 1988. He rejoined KISS for their 1996 reunion tour, the Alive/Worldwide Tour, and stayed with them until 2002.
Last week, it was revealed Gene was rushed to hospital following a car crash. He was taken to a Malibu hospital after fainting at the wheel and crashing his car into a parked vehicle.
Gene, 76, crashed his Lincoln Navigator into a parked car whilst driving along the Pacific Coast Highway after passing out. He was taken to hospital but has now been released and it recuperating at home, according to his wife, Shannon Tweed.
Shannon, 68, told press that Gene is doing fine as she explained that her husband’s car had careened across a few lanes of traffic during the accident. She added that Gene’s doctor had recently changed his medication and needed to drink more water as a result.
Shannon said the rockstar is not particularly fond of drinking water. Two years ago, Gene suffered dehydration during a KISS concert in Brazil as he became ill on stage, which forced the concert to be paused.
He took to X to assure fans he was okay and in a message he said: “‘Hey everybody, thanks for the good wishes. I’m fine. Yesterday at Manaus Stadium in Brazil, experienced weakness because of dehydration.
“We stopped for about five minutes, I drank some water, and then all was well. Nothing serious. Tomorrow, Bogota Stadium. See you there!”
Gene later said: “Ok, kids. Not a big deal. Thanks for your kind wishes. Last night we played Amazon jungle Stadium/Brazil. Humidity and temperature were sky high. I was dehydrated and was forced to sit for a song. We got back on stage in 5 minutes & finished the show.”
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Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has asked the Federal Government to withdraw and review the list of those granted pardon by President Bola Tinubu.
In a press release made available to journalists on Thursday evening, the senior lawyer said this should be done in the interest of justice and national morality.
While not disputing the powers of the President to grant pardons, reprieves, and commutations of sentences to persons convicted of any offence created by an Act of the National Assembly, Falana noted that those granted pardon include convicted politically exposed persons, drug addicts and barons, armed robbers, and terrorists as well as persons convicted for contravening state offences like culpable homicide, murder and obtaining by false pretences.
The Senior Advocate stated that the Prerogative of Mercy Committee should recommend to state governors to consider granting pardon to the persons who were convicted of state offences in the list of pardonees in accordance with Section 212 of the Nigerian Constitution.
READ ALSO: Presidential Pardon At Review Stage, Not Yet Final – AGF Fagbemi
The statement reads, “Following the recommendation of the Prerogative of Mercy Committee headed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN, President Bola Tinubu recently granted pardon to 175 persons convicted for various offences.
“It is indisputable that the President is empowered by virtue of section 175 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to exercise the grant pardons, reprieves, and commutations of sentences to persons convicted of any offence created by an Act of the National Assembly.
“The list of pardonees include convicted politically exposed persons, drug addicts and barons, armed robbers, and terrorists as well as persons convicted for contravening state offences like culpable homicide, murder, obtaining by false pretences.
“The federal government should withdraw and review the list of pardonees without any delay in the interest of justice and national morality. In particular, the Prerogative of Mercy Committee should recommend to State Governors to consider granting pardon to the persons who were convicted of state offences in the list of pardonees in accordance with Section 212 of the Nigerian Constitution.”
Meanwhile, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has clarified that no inmate approved for clemency under the recent exercise of President Bola Tinubu’s power of prerogative of mercy has been released from custody.
The office of the AGF said the process remains at the final administrative stage, which includes a standard review to ensure that all names and recommendations fully comply with established legal and procedural requirements before any instrument of release is issued.
A statement personally signed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), on Thursday, said, “It is important to note that the last stage of the exercise, after approval by the Council of State, is the issuance of the instrument for the implementation of the decision concerning each beneficiary.
“This stage affords an opportunity for a final look at the list for remedial purposes, if any, before the instrument is forwarded to the Controller-General of Corrections for necessary action.”
Panama President Jose Raul Mulino said that someone at the United States Embassy has been threatening to cancel the visas of Panamanian officials.
His statements come as the administration of US President Donald Trump pressures Panama to limit its ties to China.
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Responding to a reporter’s question at his weekly news conference, Mulino said — without offering evidence — that an official at the US Embassy is “threatening to take visas”, adding that such actions are “not coherent with the good relationship I aspire to maintain with the United States”. He did not name the official.
The US Embassy in Panama did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Trump administration has previously declined to comment on individual visa decisions.
But in September, the US Department of State said in a statement that the country was committed to countering China’s influence in Central America. It added that it would restrict visas for people who maintained relationships with China’s Communist Party or undermined democracy in the region on behalf of China.
Earlier this week, the Trump administration revoked the visas of six foreigners deemed by US officials to have made derisive comments or made light of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last month.
Similar cases have surfaced recently in the region. In April, former Costa Rica President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias said the US had cancelled his visa. In July, Vanessa Castro, vice president of Costa Rica’s Congress, said that the US Embassy told her her visa had been revoked, citing alleged contacts with the Chinese Communist Party.
Panama has become especially sensitive to the US-China tensions because of the strategically important Panama Canal.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Panama in February on his first foreign trip as the top US diplomat and called for Panama to immediately reduce China’s influence over the canal.
Panama has strongly denied Chinese influence over canal operations but has gone along with US pressure to push the Hong Kong-based company that operated ports on both ends of the canal to sell its concession to a consortium.
Mulino has said that Panama will maintain the canal’s neutrality.
“They’re free to give and take a visa to anyone they want, but not threatening that, ‘If you don’t do something, I’ll take the visa,’” Mulino said Thursday.
Liam Payne’s sister has spoken out in a moving tribute on the anniversary of his death. The late One Direction singer tragically died aged 31 a year ago today. He was staying at a hotel in Buenos Aires when he fell to his death from the balcony of his third-floor room.
Since his heartbreaking death, Ruth has shared a string of tributes to her little brother on social media. However, on the anniversary, she shed light on her grief, as well as shared stories about her sibling. A year on, she says she’s been “paralysed” by the grief as she still attempts to navigate her life without Liam.
In a heartbreaking social media post, Ruth said: “1 year, 12months, 52weeks, 365days… whichever way I say it, it still means the most heartbreaking truth that you’re not here any more. When you used to go away on tour, and I’d cry that you’d be gone for a while, I always knew you’d come back, but now I can’t get you home, I can’t meet up with you somewhere in the world, I can’t facetime or text to see how you’re doing, it’s an eternal homesick feeling because we can’t go back.
Ruth shared an adorable throwback snap of her younger brother, Liam
Liam was seen smiling alongside his sisters, Ruth and Nicola, as well as his beloved mother, Karen
“I underestimated grief, woah did I underestimate it. I am paralysed by it daily. I thought I had felt it before but I know the losses before you were just intense sadness, you are the loss of my life, the one person who I will miss at every single occasion in my life. I’d taken for granted that my little brother would be there through life, what a cruel lesson to learn in our 30s, that a sibling is not guaranteed to be a lifer, that I have to face this without you.
“Your death will never make sense, no matter how much I study it, whatever angle I look at it, it never makes sense. You shouldn’t have died. I have a reoccurring nightmare where I am in your hotel room just before it happened and you can’t hear me screaming for you, my brain is locked on your last minutes on this earth, the unaccounted minutes, the minutes I will never have the answers to, the minutes that changed everything.”
Ruth revealed she was ‘paralysed’ by the grief ( roo0990 /Instagram)
She went on to add: “So much has happened in a year, so much to tell you, our kids have changed massively, you would continue to be in awe of your son! I’ve definitely got funnier (I know you’re thinking how is that possible right?!) – some of the jokes I make really make me smile because I know they would have earned me a ‘ruuu’ off you, I’ve visited some beautiful places but each place has confirmed, no matter the view, I will still feel your void from all corners of the earth.
“Theres so many things that have happened where I’ve tried to imagine what would be said if you were in the room, how you would expect me to react or handle things for you, maybe a ‘Liam would love this’, or alot of ‘Liam would be fuming this is happening’ but then the thoughts are followed by the emptiness of your absence.
“I’m sorry I have not been able to keep my promises to you in the event of your death, it will forever haunt me how little I have been able to do as you said. We were so naïve in our conversations about this serious stuff in how much of the law is in death, outdated laws we never knew existed where nothing is simple, why would we know about them in our early 30’s, the devastation just sinks deeper with every bit of you I fail.”
Liam struggled to contain his smile when around his beloved family ( roo0990/Instagram)
Continuing, Ruth said: “I saw a post on TikTok that said something about ‘If you had 5 more minutes with the person you miss the most, what would you do? I’ve thought about this alot, 5minutes to properly say goodbye to you. It’d be at your house. I’d want to be in the room first so that I can hear your feet and ankles clicking as you walk towards it and then get that feeling of joy the moment you walk in, with your shoulders in the unique way they hang. I’d then ask for us to go and walk around your garden, this was always where we would really catch up on plans and things that were bothering us.
“We’d stop to listen to the bird noise, you’d say ‘It’s a woodpecker that is’ and I’d agree knowing nothing about birds. I’d tell a joke and you’d laugh in your kidish way, with that twinkle in your eye. We’d walk round to my car, you’d quip ‘my father drives a jaguar’ (noone has made this joke to me since you’ve been gone). We would hug, a tight bear hug, the only hug that made me feel calm, I’d tell you how proud I am of you, not just proud of your job, proud of the person you are, we’d leave on the love you mate,’ and as I drove away, you would be stood waving in my rearview mirror.
Ruth shared a string of anecdotes about her little brother
“If someone would have asked me on the 17th October 2024, as I sat assessing the giant gaping wreck that had been left, if we’d all get through this, I’d have said not a chance, the life of our family had been completely extinguished, and even then I knew it was impossible to mend. I think of my grief as a clock, I explained to you years ago when I was nagging you to be better at answering your phone, that my head was like the “Weasley’s clock” out of Harry Potter, where it would check everyone in our family in before I could switch off and with you travelling the world, it’d really need your confirmation of being safe and sound before I’d settle. Only now, there is a number missing off the clock, which means nothing in my days makes sense, and it feels like no one is safe and sound.
“You died, which is something that happened, but your absence is something that happens to me every day before I even open my eyes. I am now the girl who looks robins in the eyes just in case it is you, the girl who hopes the butterfly ahead lands on her in case it is you, the girl who says ‘goodnight Liam’ to the stars each night just in case that’s where I will find you.
“Wherever you are, I hope you can hear me, I hope you are guiding me, and I hope you know the love I have for you is infinite. I hope I get the chance to be your sister in every lifetime. For a year, I have watched people speak and draw conclusions on Liam and his death, a spectator of the most triggering interviews and comments, without any warning or heads-up that my persons death is about to once again be discussed publicly, whilst I am desperately trying to resume my normal life that doesn’t fit around my grief or me anymore.
Liam had been holidaying in Argentina when he tragically died ( liampayne/Instagram)
The singer was just 31 at the time of his death ( Getty Images for MTV)
“Whilst I am still on my knees struggling to regain balance since my world burned down and every time I try to take a step, something comes and sets fire to all the progress I thought I had made in my mind, in trying to understand where or why Liam isn’t here helping me through this.
Everyone only seems interested in the public side of this; some sadly seem more interested in the fame they can gain off this, but on the human side, people need to remember when they speak, there is a son without his Dad, parents without their child, and I am lost without my brother. Love always Liam, in every lifetime.”
In the weeks leading up to the anniversary of his death, police are still trawling through 800 hours of CCTV footage, as well as examining Liam’s personal laptop in order to piece together his final days. Two suspects have been charged with supplying drugs, and both deny the allegations.
Currently, no trial date has been set for the two suspects, who have remained behind bars since January. Hotel cleaner Ezequiel David Pereyra is awaiting trial for allegedly selling cocaine to Liam. Meanwhile, Braian Nahuel Paiz, 25, is also accused of supplying cocaine. They both face 15 years in jail if convicted.
Liam’s blood showed traces of alcohol, cocaine and prescription anti-depressants, which would have left him severely impaired. Liam had flown to Argentina for a five-day holiday with Kate to see his ex-bandmate Niall Horan’s show, but this extended to two weeks, with Kate later flying back to Miami days before his death.
If you have been affected by this story, Cruse Bereavement Support offers free help to make sense of how you are feeling. Click here for their website or call 0808 808 1677.
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The Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, has said that the forthcoming Anambra Governorship Election will be the first major test for the newly confirmed Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Joash Amupitan.
Itodo, in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, said that despite Professor Amupitan’s credentials and experience reflecting capacity and intellect, his real test begins once he assumes duty on electoral matters.
“Based on his credentials, he has the capacity. Does he have the mental stamina and ability? It is clear from today that he does.
“But this is a screening; when he gets into office, he is going to face a major test. The first major test is the Anambra election, which is only a few weeks away,” Itodo stated.
Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo
The Anambra Governorship Election will be held on November 8, 2025, and is expected to involve about 2.8 million voters and 16 political parties.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo (APGA) will seek re-election against Nicholas Ukachukwu (APC), George Moghalu (Labour Party) and other contenders.
READ ALSO: I Never Represented Tinubu At 2023 Presidential Election Petitions Court — Amupitan
The YIAGA Africa director said that the senate screening had shown that the law professor possesses the capacity and integrity to lead the electoral body, but must now demonstrate courage and independence in office.
“To the best of our knowledge, there hasn’t been any petition written questioning his integrity. So, to a large extent, you can say that this individual has the moral standing and integrity to hold this office,” he said.
‘Independence To Sanction Bad Eggs’
Itodo urged the new INEC Chairman to assert his independence by ensuring corrupt officials face the full weight of the law, emphasising that integrity must permeate every level of the commission.
“He must assert independence and make bad eggs face the full wrath of the law. INEC is not about Prof. Amupitan alone. There are 12 national commissioners, 37 resident electoral commissioners, and 774 electoral officers.
“If they do not cooperate with the vision set by the chairman, and politicians compromise them, we will be back to ground zero,” he warned.
Amupitan was confirmed by the Senate after over two hours of questioning on October 16, 2025.
The YIAGA Africa director added that Amupitan would need more than personal integrity to manage the commission effectively.
“Having worked on elections for two decades, I can tell you he is going to need more than that in engaging INEC officials. The question is how to hold complicit officials to account, especially when some are bought over by politicians in power,” he said.
Despite commending the Senate for its robust screening, Itodo lamented that Nigerians missed an opportunity to hear the chairman’s vision on electoral reform.
“What the Senate and Nigeria actually lost was the opportunity to hear him speak to the nation about questions related to electoral justice,” he said.
Vow To ‘Review Electoral Act’
Earlier on Thursday, the Senate confirmed Amupitan as the new Chairman of the INEC after an intense two-hour screening session.
At the screening, the chairman vowed to “reform Nigeria’s electoral process to ensure credible polls where losers accept results as fair.”
He promised to “review the Electoral Act to fix timeline inconsistencies” and also denied links to any 2023 election legal teams.
The 58-year-old law professor was nominated by President Bola Tinubu and received formal endorsement from the National Council of State last week. He succeeds Mahmood Yakubu and becomes the sixth substantive INEC chairman.
A file photo of INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu
Other elections on the horizon under the new chairman’s belt include the FCT Area Council Election (February 2026), the Ekiti Governorship Election (June 2026), and the Osun Governorship Election (August 2026).
Footage shows Palestinians in Gaza City clearing debris from their destroyed homes after returning under the ceasefire. Gaza City resident Ahmad Saleh Sbeih said his 250 square metre apartment “could collapse at any moment.” “It’s better than the street,” he said.
