Paphael News

United States President Donald Trump has triggered widespread international reactions following comments suggesting that the US would take control of Venezuela and its oil reserves if a military operation were to successfully remove President Nicolás Maduro from power. Speaking during a recent political appearance, President Trump asserted that the United States possesses the military capability to swiftly topple the Venezuelan government if it chose to do so. He further claimed that such an action would result in Washington assuming administrative control of the country, including oversight of its vast energy resources. According to Trump, Venezuela’s oil wealth, which remains largely untapped due to years of economic decline, would be better managed under US leadership. According to energy analysts, Venezuela holds the largest proven crude oil reserves in the world, yet production has plummeted due to sanctions, mismanagement, and infrastructure decay. Trump argued that US interventi...

An explosion struck a mosque within the Gamboru Main Market area of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Wednesday evening, sending shockwaves through the busy commercial district and causing panic among worshippers and residents. The blast occurred at about 6:10 p.m. while Muslim faithful were observing the Maghrib prayer. According to eyewitness accounts, the explosion originated from within the mosque premises, forcing worshippers to flee in different directions as smoke and debris filled the area. Residents described moments of confusion and fear as people struggled to understand what had happened. Security sources said the incident is suspected to have been caused by an Improvised Explosive Device planted inside the mosque. Police authorities later confirmed the explosion and disclosed that operatives were immediately deployed to the scene to secure the area and prevent further threats. According to the Borno State Police Command, explosive ordnance experts were mobilized to con...

Former two time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua delivered a statement performance as he decisively defeated American YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul by knockout in a highly anticipated boxing contest that drew global attention. The bout, which had been billed as a clash between elite professional pedigree and modern boxing showmanship, ended emphatically in Joshua’s favour, according to ringside reports from the arena. From the opening bell, Joshua’s experience and technical superiority were evident. The British heavyweight controlled the centre of the ring, using his jab to dictate distance and timing. Eye witness accounts noted that Jake Paul struggled to cope with Joshua’s speed and ring awareness, often retreating under sustained pressure. While Paul attempted to counter with wide power shots, Joshua remained composed, relying on sharp footwork and disciplined defense, as reported by boxing analysts present at the fight. The decisive moment came midway through the conte...

South African authorities have launched an investigation following the fatal shooting of a Nigerian national during a routine traffic operation in the North West Province, an incident that has sparked renewed concerns about police conduct and the safety of foreign nationals in the country. The victim, identified as 37-year-old Osinakachukwu Onu, was reportedly shot on the N12 highway near Klerksdorp while police officers were conducting a traffic stop. According to preliminary accounts, the incident occurred when officers pulled over a vehicle as part of a law enforcement operation along the busy route. During the encounter, circumstances escalated, resulting in Onu sustaining gunshot wounds that later proved fatal, according to local community sources. South African police officials have confirmed the death and stated that the officers involved have been identified and are cooperating with investigators. A police spokesperson explained that the matter has been referred to the Indepe...

The Federal Government of Nigeria has confirmed the release of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft and 11 military personnel that were earlier detained in Burkina Faso following a forced landing, marking the resolution of a tense diplomatic episode between the two West African countries. Confirmation of the development came late Wednesday, when the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed that both the aircraft and the detained personnel had been freed. According to Ebienfa, the release followed sustained diplomatic engagements between Nigerian authorities and officials of the Burkinabe government. “Yes, they have been released,” he stated, confirming the successful outcome of negotiations. The breakthrough reportedly came after a high-level meeting held earlier on Wednesday in Ouagadougou between Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Yusuf Tuggar, and Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. According to diplomatic sources familiar ...

 The United States government has announced a significant expansion of its travel restrictions, adding Nigeria and 14 other countries to a list of nations facing tighter entry requirements, a move that has generated diplomatic reactions and concern among travelers and policy analysts. According to US administration officials, the decision follows an extensive interagency review of global travel and immigration systems, with a focus on national security, identity verification, and information sharing standards. US authorities said the newly affected countries were assessed as having gaps in documentation processes, data exchange mechanisms, or vetting procedures that could pose security risks, according to officials familiar with the review process. Nigeria’s inclusion has drawn particular attention due to its close diplomatic, economic, and educational ties with the United States. Officials clarified that the measure does not constitute a total travel ban but introduces additiona...

A light aircraft operated by Skypower Express was involved in an accident on Tuesday evening at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, Imo State, triggering a swift emergency response and renewed attention to aviation safety at regional airports. The aircraft, identified as a Cessna 172, reportedly crashed shortly after arriving at the airport under circumstances that were still being investigated as of Wednesday morning. Airport emergency responders, including fire and rescue teams, were immediately deployed to the scene to secure the area and prevent further hazards, according to airport officials familiar with the incident. Eyewitnesses at the airport described a tense scene as emergency sirens sounded and responders cordoned off part of the runway. One airport worker, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the aircraft appeared to experience difficulty moments before the crash, though officials cautioned that such accounts remain unverified pending a formal inves...

A deadly airstrike carried out by Myanmar’s military junta has struck a civilian hospital in Rakhine State, killing at least 31 people and leaving dozens injured in one of the deadliest single attacks on medical infrastructure since the conflict escalated. According to local humanitarian workers, the strike occurred early Tuesday when the facility was treating a surge of patients fleeing intensified clashes in the region. Eyewitnesses said that the bombs hit the main ward of the hospital without warning, reducing the building to rubble and instantly killing medical staff, patients, women, and children seeking refuge. Community volunteers who arrived shortly after the attack described scenes of chaos, with survivors desperately searching for their loved ones amid debris and rising smoke. The Arakan Army, one of the ethnic armed groups fighting against the junta, condemned the attack, saying it represented a blatant violation of international humanitarian law. According to statements b...

In a seismic shift to long-standing American immigration policy, President Donald Trump has formally ended birthright citizenship — the constitutional guarantee that grants automatic citizenship to nearly all children born on U.S. soil. The announcement has triggered intense national debate, with the President insisting that the original intent of the provision has been “misunderstood for generations.” According to the President, the birthright principle — rooted in the 14th Amendment — was crafted after the Civil War to ensure that the children of formerly enslaved people were recognized as full citizens. “It was for slaves, not for rich foreigners flying in to give birth,” Trump argued during a briefing, a statement reported by senior administration officials. His position marks the clearest attempt yet to reinterpret the amendment’s scope without pursuing a full constitutional rewrite. The move follows years of debate over so-called “birth tourism,” where pregnant women from other...

 A new scientific report has placed humans firmly within the upper ranks of monogamous species, revealing behavioural patterns that align more closely with socially bonded mammals like meerkats and beavers than with the majority of the animal kingdom. According to research conducted by evolutionary anthropologists at the University of Cambridge, humans exhibit a significantly high rate of reproductive monogamy — a finding that challenges long-held assumptions about human mating behaviour. The study examined genetic and ethnographic data from 35 mammal species, comparing the proportion of full siblings to half-siblings to determine levels of reproductive exclusivity. According to the researchers, species with a higher percentage of full siblings tend to form long-term pair bonds or repeatedly mate with the same partner across reproductive cycles. The analysis placed humans at a 66 percent full-sibling rate , a score that experts described as “comfortably within the premier league o...

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has resurfaced publicly for the first time in nearly a year, traveling to Oslo after months of hiding inside Venezuela. Her daughter announced the development during the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, where she accepted the award on Machado’s behalf. The appearance marks a significant moment in Venezuela’s tense political landscape, as Machado had been largely invisible since early January. According to accounts shared during the ceremony, Machado left her safe location in Venezuela and made her way to Norway despite longstanding restrictions placed on her by President Nicolás Maduro’s administration. For nearly a decade, the government has barred her from international travel, repeatedly insisting that she would be treated as a fugitive if she attempted to leave the country. Her reemergence, reported by political observers, demonstrates both her determination to remain a central figure in the nation’s democratic struggle and the growing ...

A newly surfaced video has intensified concerns over security in Nigeria’s northeast after fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were seen shouting “Allahu Akbar” while ambushing a Nigerian Army convoy in Mairari, a settlement in Borno State. The footage, which circulated widely on social media on Wednesday, appears to capture the insurgents overwhelming troops during a coordinated attack that led to the loss of military vehicles and equipment. According to security sources familiar with the incident, the ambush occurred along a known hotspot frequently targeted by insurgents, raising fresh questions about the safety of military movements in the region. The video shows ISWAP fighters advancing on the convoy with heavy gunfire while chanting in celebration, an action security analysts described as a tactic aimed at intimidating both troops and civilians. Preliminary field reports indicated that four military vehicles were seized in the operation, alongside other ...

The leadership crisis at Coupang deepened on Wednesday as Park Dae-jun, head of the South Korean arm of the e-commerce giant, stepped down following revelations of a major data breach that compromised the personal information of nearly 34 million users. His resignation comes at a time when public anger and regulatory scrutiny are intensifying, raising questions about the company’s security standards and crisis response. According to internal company sources familiar with the matter, Park tendered his resignation during an emergency executive meeting held in Seoul, as pressure mounted from shareholders and government agencies demanding accountability for what has become one of the largest data breaches in South Korean e-commerce history. The breach, reported by South Korea’s cybersecurity authority earlier this week, exposed sensitive user data including names, contact details and purchase histories, sparking widespread concerns over digital privacy and online consumer safety. Governm...

  Frank Gehry, the Canadian-American architect celebrated for redefining modern architecture, passed away on December 5, 2025, at his home in Santa Monica, California. His death, confirmed by Meaghan Lloyd, his firm’s chief of staff, came after a brief respiratory illness. Born Frank Owen Goldberg on February 28, 1929, in Toronto, Gehry moved to Los Angeles in the late 1940s and eventually earned his degree from the University of Southern California (USC) School of Architecture. Over the course of more than six decades, he rose from modest beginnings—working on housing projects and shopping malls—to become arguably the most influential architect of his generation. Gehry’s signature style, often described as sculptural, deconstructivist, and boldly experimental, challenged the conventions of modernist architecture. He frequently employed unconventional materials such as titanium and stainless steel, using sweeping, organic forms to create buildings that blur the line between engin...

President Donald Trump has intensified debate over the future of transatlantic relations after describing Europe as “weak” and its nations as “decaying” in a recent interview.  His remarks came just days after his administration released a strategic policy paper indicating that the United States should no longer assume the primary responsibility for guaranteeing Europe’s security. According to officials familiar with the strategy document, the paper suggests a recalibration of U.S. defence priorities to focus more heavily on domestic challenges and emerging global threats. The President’s comments, reported by aides who were present during the interview, highlighted his long-standing frustration with what he views as Europe’s insufficient investment in its own defence. Trump argued that European nations have allowed their institutions and militaries to deteriorate, stating that the continent is “not prepared for the world that is coming,” according to those briefed on his remarks...

A fresh wave of criticism has swept across France after a circulating video appeared to show First Lady Brigitte Macron making dismissive comments about feminist demonstrators during a recent public engagement. The footage, which quickly gained traction on social platforms, prompted strong reactions from activists and political observers who described her remarks as out of touch with the concerns of women’s rights groups. According to individuals who shared the video online, the First Lady was recorded responding curtly when approached by a group of protesters advocating for stronger protections for women. In the clip, she is heard making comments that several activists interpreted as belittling their cause, sparking renewed debate about the government’s approach to gender equality. Eyewitness accounts reported by French media suggest that the exchange occurred during an official visit where demonstrators sought to draw attention to rising cases of gender-based violence and ongoing d...

Fresh diplomatic tension has emerged between Nigeria and a group of Sahel states following conflicting accounts surrounding the detention of a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft and 11 military personnel in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. The incident, which unfolded on Tuesday, has sparked concerns about regional cooperation, military coordination, and the growing mistrust within West Africa’s security landscape. According to senior Nigerian defence sources, the C-130 aircraft was on an officially approved mission to deliver logistics materials to Nigerian troops participating in regional security operations. These sources indicated that the flight plan had been duly communicated to the Burkinabe aviation authorities prior to departure. They further added that the detained personnel were carrying only standard operational equipment necessary for their assignment. However, officials within Burkina Faso’s military-led government have presented a conflicting narrative. A statement from s...

Real Madrid’s superstar Kylian Mbappé is rapidly closing in on one of the club’s most iconic milestones — Cristiano Ronaldo’s single-year goal record — a feat that many within the club now believe is within reach. According to remarks attributed to manager Xabi Alonso, the French forward “is only a few goals away” from matching the benchmark set during Ronaldo’s explosive spell at the Santiago Bernabéu. Alonso, speaking after Madrid’s latest league outing, praised Mbappé’s consistency, determination, and tactical intelligence, noting that the 25-year-old has adapted to life in Spain far quicker than anticipated. According to club insiders , Madrid’s coaching staff has been particularly impressed by Mbappé’s ability to thrive under pressure, with many pointing out that his scoring efficiency mirrors Ronaldo’s early years with the club. Ronaldo’s record, achieved during one of his most prolific calendar years at Real Madrid, has long been considered untouchable. But according to train...

Medical specialists are calling for stronger warnings to be given to people seeking cosmetic facial fillers, following renewed concerns that the increasingly popular beauty procedure can, in rare cases, lead to dangerous arterial blockages. The advisory comes as clinicians continue to record incidents where dermal fillers accidentally enter blood vessels, creating complications that can result in tissue damage, vision loss, or even stroke. According to senior dermatology consultants who spoke during a recent clinical review, the rise in cosmetic filler use has not been matched by adequate public awareness of its potential risks, particularly when injections are performed by untrained or unregulated practitioners. They stressed that while fillers are widely marketed as quick, non surgical beauty enhancements, the procedure requires precise anatomical knowledge to avoid introducing material into arteries that supply vital parts of the face. Some experts reported that blocked arteries o...

A growing body of scientific research is offering fresh insight into the origins of one of the most devastating health crises in human history, the Black Death. Recent studies indicate that a major volcanic eruption around the year 1345 may have initiated a sequence of environmental disruptions that ultimately paved the way for Europe’s deadliest pandemic. According to researchers involved in this multi-disciplinary investigation, geological evidence points to a massive eruption that occurred in the mid-fourteenth century, releasing enormous quantities of ash and sulfur into the atmosphere. Scientists reported that this event likely caused dramatic shifts in global climate patterns, including cooler temperatures and widespread crop failures. These conditions, they say, created an environment in which disease vectors could thrive, setting the stage for the rapid spread of plague across continents. Experts studying ice core samples from Greenland and Antarctica observed unusual spikes ...