World
Senior French Intelligence Source Confirms Indian Rafale Fighter Jet Shot Down by Pakistan
A senior French intelligence official has informed CNN that one Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jet was shot down by Pakistan, marking what could be the first-ever combat loss of the highly advanced French-made aircraft.
The incident reportedly occurred amid heightened military tensions between India and Pakistan.
Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan claimed it had shot down a total of five Indian Air Force jets in retaliation for Indian airstrikesโalleging that three of those were Rafales.
As of now, Indian authorities have not issued an official response to Pakistanโs assertions.
The Rafale, manufactured by Dassault Aviation, is a 10-ton twin-engine multirole fighter jet capable of conducting both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
It is equipped with a 30mm cannon, beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, precision-guided munitions, and cruise missiles.
The Indian Air Force had procured 36 Rafales under a high-profile defense agreement with France, aimed at enhancing its combat capabilities.
French authorities are currently investigating the incident to determine whether more than one Rafale may have been downed during the overnight hostilities.
While the French military has not officially commented, the intelligence community in Paris is closely monitoring developments.
Pakistanโs military leadership stated that its forces intercepted and engaged Indian aircraft in what was described as a โdogfight,โ resulting in the downing of multiple jets.
The countryโs defense chief said the militaryโs actions were a โbefitting lessonโ in response to Indian aggression.
The situation remains fluid, with ongoing regional and international monitoring as further details emerge.
SAGAMU, Ogun State, Nigeria โ The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed that Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, the driver of the Lexus SUV involved in the fatal motor vehicle collision that injured British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua and killed two passengers, has been formally charged in court.
Police officials stated that Kayode, 46, was arraigned on Thursday, January 2, 2026, before the Sagamu Magistrate Court, where he faces charges of reckless and dangerous driving.
The case has been adjourned until January 20, 2026, for further proceedings.
According to police, the crash occurred earlier in the week along the LagosโIbadan Expressway, a major highway in southwestern Nigeria.
The Lexus SUV was transporting Anthony Joshua and two of his close associates, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, when it collided with a stationary truck parked along the roadway.
Both Ayodele and Ghami sustained fatal injuries in the crash.
Police spokesperson Oluseyi Babaseyi confirmed that the defendant was granted bail in the sum of โฆ5 million (approximately $3,480 USD), with two sureties, and was remanded in custody pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions.
The Ogun State Police Command reiterated in a public update that the arraignment followed a comprehensive preliminary investigation into the circumstances of the collision.
Authorities emphasized that investigations remain ongoing.
Anthony Joshua, a former world heavyweight boxing champion, survived the crash but reportedly suffered significant emotional trauma as a result of the incident.
Ayodele and Ghami were described as long-time friends, training partners, and key members of Joshuaโs professional support team, regularly accompanying him before, during, and after major fights.
Ayodele was notably present ringside during Joshuaโs recent bout, where he was seen holding the Nigerian flag.
The remains of the two deceased men were transported to a mortuary in Sagamu.
Both were reported to be Muslims, and arrangements for burial in accordance with Islamic rites are pending. Officials have not yet confirmed when their bodies will be repatriated to the United Kingdom.
Authorities have also renewed calls for improved road safety enforcement, particularly concerning the illegal and prolonged parking of heavy-duty trucks along highways, which has been cited as a recurring hazard on Nigerian roads.
The Ogun State Police Command urged motorists to exercise caution, adhere strictly to speed limits, and ensure proper judgment when overtaking or maneuvering on highways.
Further updates are expected as the case proceeds through the court system.