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 airstrikes—alleging that three of those were Rafales.
As of now, Indian authorities have not issued an official response to Pakistan’s 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.
Pakistan’s military leadership stated that its forces intercepted and engaged Indian aircraft in what was described as a “dogfight,” resulting in the downing of multiple jets.
The country’s defense chief said the military’s actions were a “befitting lesson” in response to Indian aggression.
The situation remains fluid, with ongoing regional and international monitoring as further details emerge.
Crime
Tumbler Ridge Secondary School Shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar Created Mall Shooting Simulator in Roblox
Investigators and online researchers have identified a Roblox account allegedly linked to Jesse Van Rootselaar, the 18-year-old suspect in the deadly mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia.
According to platform officials, the account was discovered by users on the internet forum Kiwi Farms, who reported that Van Rootselaar had created a game — referred to on Roblox as an “experience” — that simulated a shooting inside a shopping mall.
The virtual environment appeared to resemble a Canadian retail complex, although it has not been confirmed whether the design was intended to replicate a specific real-world location.
Videos circulating on social media prior to its removal showed a player-controlled character collecting weapons and firing into crowds of animated civilians within the mall setting.
The footage quickly drew widespread concern given the seriousness of the real-world attack.
Roblox confirmed that the account belonged to the suspect and announced swift action in response.
“We have removed the user account connected to this horrifying incident, as well as any content associated with the suspect,” the company said in a statement. “We are committed to fully supporting law enforcement in their investigation.”
Initially, reports suggested the game remained accessible despite the account being deleted. However, Roblox later clarified that the content has now been removed from the platform.
The company also noted that the mall-themed experience was only accessible through Roblox Studio, a development application used by creators to build games, rather than through the main platform available to general users.
As a result, the experience reportedly recorded only seven visits, indicating extremely limited exposure.
Investigators are continuing to examine the suspect’s digital footprint, including online posts and usernames believed to match across multiple platforms such as Reddit, where references to Roblox activity were also reportedly found.
Van Rootselaar is accused of carrying out the February 10 shooting that left eight people dead and at least 25 others injured at the secondary school.
Authorities have not indicated whether the online content forms part of the official investigative findings, but technology platforms are increasingly scrutinized in the aftermath of violent incidents for potential warning signs.
Officials emphasize that the broader investigation remains active as law enforcement works to establish a complete timeline, understand possible motives, and determine whether any additional factors contributed to the tragedy.