Paphael News

At least three government employees lost their lives and five others were injured early Friday after they leaped from the third floor of the South Sulawesi regional parliament building, which demonstrators had set ablaze amid escalating anti-government protests, officials confirmed. The fire broke out late Thursday night in the regional council building (DPRD) in Makassar as unrest nationwide intensified. The blaze trapped several civil servants inside, forcing some to jump in a desperate attempt to escape. According to Fadli Tahar of the regional disaster management agency, emergency teams recovered three bodies by Saturday morning, and five survivors were hospitalized with burns or injuries sustained during their fall . The deaths come amid broadening protests that began in Jakarta earlier this week in response to public outrage over lawmakers receiving generous housing allowances, some reported as high as 50 million rupiah (approximately $3,000) per month, nearly ten times the Jak...

Israeli airstrikes on the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, claimed the lives of at least two people on Sunday, according to reports from the Houthi movement, an Iran-backed rebel group entrenched in the country’s civil conflict. The attack marks a significant escalation in the ongoing regional tensions tied to the Gaza war. The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, including Sanaa, confirmed that the strikes directly targeted facilities within the capital. Rebel spokespersons stated that two individuals were killed and several others sustained injuries during the bombardment. The casualties, according to eye witness accounts gathered from Sanaa residents, highlight the growing cost of the conflict extending beyond Gaza. The Houthis have long been active players in the regional struggle. Since the eruption of the war in Gaza in October, the group has repeatedly launched missile and drone attacks against Israel and commercial vessels in the Red Sea. According to reports from local media o...

A freed law student has narrated the harrowing experience endured while in the custody of kidnappers, describing conditions of extreme hardship and unexpected revelations about the perpetrators. The victim disclosed that captors forced them to drink dirty water and survive on just one meal a day throughout the period of captivity. According to the student, the ordeal began with what initially seemed like another case of banditry often blamed on Fulani herders. However, evidence emerged during the abduction that challenged that narrative. “The people who claim that the Fulani are killing and kidnapping them were the ones actually responsible,” the survivor explained during a debriefing. The victim’s testimony aligns with growing concerns in the region about the true identity of some attackers. Local officials, including the governor of the affected state, have consistently voiced alarm over persistent cases of abduction and killings, often attributing them to Fulani herders. Yet, the ...

A case of mistaken identity at Maruyama Zoo in Sapporo, Japan, has brought international attention to the complexities of wildlife management after it was revealed that two spotted hyenas, once believed to be a breeding pair, were in fact both male. For four years, zookeepers had been puzzled as to why the animals, acquired in 2010, had not produced any cubs despite being paired together in a carefully managed environment. According to reports from the zoo’s management, staff initially assumed the absence of offspring was due to stress, behavioral issues, or adaptation difficulties common among animals living in captivity. However, after repeated failed breeding attempts, DNA testing was carried out, which confirmed that the supposed male and female hyenas were both male. Experts note that spotted hyenas are among the most difficult mammals to sex due to their unusual anatomy. Female hyenas possess external genitalia that closely resembles that of males, making visual examination unr...

A tragic incident occurred in China on Friday when a railway bridge under construction collapsed, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 people and leaving four others unaccounted for. The disaster has raised fresh concerns about construction safety standards in one of the world’s fastest-developing nations. According to reports from China’s official state news agency, the bridge gave way during ongoing construction work, trapping several workers beneath the rubble. Emergency response teams were quickly dispatched to the scene, where efforts are still underway to locate the missing individuals. Authorities confirmed that dozens of rescuers, supported by heavy machinery and sniffer dogs, are working around the clock in a desperate attempt to save lives. Witnesses at the scene described the collapse as sudden and catastrophic. One worker who managed to escape reportedly told investigators that the structure "shook violently before crashing down," according to state media. The...

Warri, Delta State was thrown into chaos on Saturday afternoon when violence broke out between Itsekiri and Agbarha-Warri (Urhobo) youths, leaving residents in fear and uncertainty. The clash, which eyewitnesses described as sudden and intense, was reportedly fueled by renewed disputes over territorial ownership within the oil-rich city. According to residents, the fight began when youths from both ethnic groups mobilized in large numbers, brandishing weapons and chanting provocative slogans. What started as a heated argument quickly escalated into open violence, forcing shop owners, commuters, and families in affected neighborhoods to flee for safety. Eyewitness reports confirmed that several properties were vandalized, and at least two individuals sustained injuries during the confrontation. The conflict between the Itsekiri and Urhobo communities has a long history rooted in land ownership and control of strategic areas in Warri. Tensions have resurfaced over the years, particular...

Nigerian celebrity chef and Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, has once again captured public attention after a video surfaced showing her preparing a test batch of jollof rice in a massive custom-built pot. The viral clip, which has been making the rounds on social media platforms, highlights her preparations for what many describe as another ambitious culinary milestone. The video, originally shared by social media users on Instagram and X, shows the chef stirring rice in a giant metallic pot designed specifically for the project. According to eye witness reports online, the cooking was part of an experimental phase to test the feasibility of preparing a much larger quantity of jollof rice under record-setting conditions. This preliminary run was not only to perfect the taste but also to evaluate the pot’s durability, temperature control, and overall cooking logistics. Hilda Baci rose to international recognition in 2023 after breaki...