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Military officers in Gabon claim they have taken power

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:24 GMT

Military officers in Gabon have appeared on television in the country to say they have seized power in an attempted coup. Earlier, official results showed President Ali Bongo won a third term in office following the country’s election on Saturday. But on Wednesday, soldiers announced a cancellation of the result, and the dissolution of the country’s institutions, amid reports of gunfire in the capital Libreville. “We are putting an end to the current regime,” the soldiers said, according to AFP.Earlier, the country’s electoral commission said that Bongo won Saturday’s election with over 64 percent of the vote. Bongo’s family have held power in Gabon for 56 years. Concerns had been raised about the fairness of the election, after the government cut internet access and imposed a nighttime curfew after the vote.On Wednesday, 12 soldiers appeared on TV channel Gabon 24 and said the election result had been annulled, and the country’s institutions w...

Brother of Encanto shooting suspect talks to FOX 5

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:24 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A 78-year-old woman, dog and gunman are all dead after an Encanto shootout that forced a neighborhood evacuation.Police responded to the 515 block of Iona Drive after neighbors say a 43-year-old son killed his mom on Monday evening. The brother of the shooting suspect has now identified the man as Jesse Nelson. Police say the shooter has had a long history with violent crime, but it’s the motive in this mayhem that is puzzling family members and investigators. The brother of the shooter told FOX 5 he and Jesse spent Monday night playing pool and drinking beers at Gilly’s, a bar in North Park. The brothers had a wonderful time and Jesse even told his brother he loved him. As the two drove home separately Jesse's brother says he pulled up to the house to see his mother shot by his brother, a dead dog and then Jesse shot at his brother. Neighbors say they were running for cover from the bullets. Suspect shot, killed mom and 2 dogs before standoff in Encanto house: SDPD ...

Gabon military officers say they’re seizing power just days after the presidential election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:24 GMT

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Mutinous soldiers in Gabon said Wednesday they were overturning the results of a presidential election that was to extend the Bongo family’s 55-year hold on power.The central African country’s election committee announced that President Ali Bongo Ondimba, 64, had won the election with 64% of the vote early Wednesday morning. Within minutes, gunfire was heard in the center of the capital, Libreville.A dozen uniformed soldiers appeared on state television later the same morning and announced that they had seized power.The soldiers intended to “dissolve all institutions of the republic,” said a spokesman for the group, whose members were drawn from the gendarme, the republican guard and other elements of the security forces.The coup attempt came about one month after mutinous soldiers in Niger seized power from the democratically elected government, and is the latest in a series of coups that have challenged governments with ties to France, the region&...

Britain’s top diplomat visits China for the first time in 5 years, hoping to stabilize ties

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:24 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Britain’s top diplomat, James Cleverly, began a long-awaited visit to China on Wednesday as the two countries attempt to stabilize bilateral ties that have frayed badly in recent years. The trip is the first by a United Kingdom foreign secretary to China in more than five years, underscoring the downturn in relations over Beijing’s curbing of civil liberties in Hong Kong, a former British colony, abuses against Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang region, China’s support for Russia and Britain’s close security ties with the United States. Cleverly met first with Vice President Han Zheng, who said the visit will “further promote the sound and stable development of bilateral relations.” Cleverly will meet later in the day with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, who is both the ruling Communist Party’s top official for foreign affairs and recently resumed his former post as foreign minister after the still-unexplained disappearance of his predecessor, Qin Gang. On Tues...

Colorado’s first Psychedelic Cup celebrates mushroom home growers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:24 GMT

Colorado’s mushroom season will extend into the fall this year with an event geared toward celebrating home growers who specialize in cultivating the psychedelic variety.Denver’s inaugural Psychedelic Cup, coming to Mile Station, at 2027 W. Colfax Ave,) on Nov. 2, aims not only to bring local growers together but also to collect data to learn more about what’s in the fungi.Competition coordinator Jonathan Cherkoss said the idea for the Psychedelic Cup came from seeing similar ones happen around the country. Colorado is uniquely suited for such an event, he said, since voters opted to decriminalize several psychedelic substances last November. That includes psilocybin and psilocin, two compounds found in “magic mushrooms.”Psilocybin and psilocin, two psychoactive compounds found in “magic mushrooms,” were decriminalized in Colorado last November by voters, meaning it is no longer illegal to grow, consume, possess or share a personal amount of the substances. (Photo ...

Romanian explosions: Burn victims arriving in European hospitals for emergency treatment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:24 GMT

In the aftermath of Saturday's (26 August) deadly explosions at a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) station in Crevedia near Bucharest, Romania has requested EU assistance for the treatment of severe burn victims. In total nine countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, and Sweden) have offered to receive patients via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Patients have already arrived in Belgium, Italy, Austria, Germany, and Norway.“The tragic explosions in Romania have left dozens of people, including first responders, in need of urgent medical care. My thoughts remain with the victims, their families and colleagues at this time. European countries reacted immediately with offers to treat the victims at their hospitals. Already 12 patients transferred via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism are receiving emergency care in Belgium, Italy, Austria, Germany, and Norway. I thank all countries for extending their solidarity to Romania at this dark hour when i...

Police in hours-long standoff with armed man in Orange County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:24 GMT

Authorities in Orange County were involved in an hours-long standoff with an armed man in the parking lot of a strip mall on Tuesday night.Calls about the incident, located in the 1900 block of 17th Street, came into the Santa Ana Police Department just after 4 p.m.  Aerial footage from Sky5 showed the suspect, armed with a handgun in the parking lot, pacing back and forth, shouting at authorities who were barricaded behind their vehicles with guns drawn. The handgun appeared to be wrapped around the man's hand with a green cloth.A white pickup truck with an open driver's side door could be seen just behind police lines. It is unclear if the vehicle belongs to the suspect, but police were seen searching the vehicle at one point. An armed suspect, seen here, who has refused to surrender himself to police for more than six hours on Aug. 29, 2023. (KTLA)An armed suspect seen pacing in the parking lot outside a Hobby Lobby who has refused to surrender to police on Aug. 29, 202...

A’s finally beat Mariners, drop Seattle into tie for AL West lead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:24 GMT

By Cameron Van TilThe Associated PressSEATTLE — The A’s built an early lead on home runs by Seth Brown and Shea Langeliers Tuesday night, then hung on to defeat the Seattle Mariners for the first time this season when closer Trevor May struck out Eugenio Suarez with the tying runners in scoring position to preserve a 3-1 victory.The major league-worst A’s ended the Mariners’ two-day stay alone atop the AL West by hanging on for their first win in nine games this season against Seattle.“We’re definitely in the seat of spoiler and we want to ruin as many dreams as possible,” said May, who was born in Longview, Wash., two hours away from Seattle.Seattle had won 12 of its previous 13 games, turning a 7 1/2-game deficit into a one-game lead over Texas. The Rangers won 2-1 at the New York Mets, matching the Mariners at 75-57. Houston is a percentage point back at 76-58.Star Seattle outfielder Julio Rodríguez was scratched of a pinched nerve in his left foot that left him day t...

Red Flag warnings in effect for parts of North Bay as fire danger rises

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:24 GMT

(KRON) -- Red Flag warnings have been issued for parts of eastern Napa County beginning Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service Bay Area. The warnings, which go into effect in North Bay interior mountain areas, take effect at 11 p.m. Tuesday and last through 8 p.m. Wednesday.The NWS warns of gusty north winds of 35-40 mph and afternoon relative humidity of 13 to 20%. Burglars targeting boats on Oakland estuary Red Flag warnings are issued amid dry and windy conditions that potentially lead to critical fire weather danger. During such warnings, the NWS advises people not to burn outdoors as weather conditions will be conducive to rapid fire spread, and to keep in touch with local officials for up-to-date information regarding the need for evacuations.Today's Red Flag Warning was the first one issued by the NWS Bay Area since October 2021.Areas around Santa Rosa and Cloverdale are also under the warning. Conditions for rapid fire spread are most prominent along the ...

Hurricane Idalia strengthens to a dangerous Category 3 storm as it steams toward Florida’s Big Bend region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:24 GMT

CEDAR KEY, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Idalia strengthens to a dangerous Category 3 storm as it steams toward Florida’s Big Bend region.Source