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Tensions rise as West African nations prepare to send troops to Niger

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:10 GMT

By Sam Mednick | Associated PressNIAMEY, Niger — Tensions are escalating between Niger’s new military regime and the West African regional bloc that has ordered the deployment of troops to restore Niger’s flailing democracy.The ECOWAS bloc said on Thursday it had decided to deploy a “standby force” aimed at restoring constitutional order in Niger after its Sunday deadline to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum expired.Hours earlier, two Western officials told The Associated Press that Niger’s junta had told a top U.S. diplomat they would kill Bazoum if neighboring countries attempted any military intervention to restore his rule.It’s unclear when or where the ECOWAS force would deploy, and how reports of the threats against Bazoum would affect a decision by the 15-member bloc to intervene. Conflict experts say it the force would likely comprise some 5,000 troops led by Nigeria and could be ready within weeks.After the ECOWAS meeting, neighbo...

49ers-Raiders practice: ‘Bang-bang’ defense takes out Davante Adams

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:10 GMT

HENDERSON, Nev. — Davante Adams burst off the line and within seconds, Jimmy Garoppolo’s well-placed pass came his way, but so did 49ers defenders Oren Burks and Charvarius Ward.The collision result: Adams limped off with a lower leg injury, eventually heading on his own for the locker room.“Unfortunately Adams went down,” 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said. “I thought it was a bang-bang play, definitely not intentional, and I hope he has a speedy recovery, because he’s one of the top players in the league.”Even if it’s “not crazy serious,” as Raiders coach Josh McDaniels said, endangering a top player is always feared in summertime football, and Adams, a Bay Area native, is their offense’s best weapon.But that’s not necessarily why the bulk of the 49ers’ starting players likely will sit out Sunday’s preseason opener against the Raiders. Another driving factor is the starters’ immense workload in...

Sunnyvale-based dentist arrested after hidden camera is found in office bathroom

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:10 GMT

SUNNYVALE — A hidden camera found in the bathroom of a Sunnyvale dentist’s office led to the arrest of the dentist for allegedly capturing video of several victims, including children while using the restroom, according to authorities.Zaid Yousif Sharma, a dentist working out of an office at 877 West Fremont Avenue, was arrested on suspicion of child pornography possession and peeping on Wednesday after a search warrant was executed in his office and his Santa Clara home, a news release from Sunnyvale police announced Friday.The investigation began after a victim discovered the camera in the restroom located in Sharma’s office on July 26. The victim took the camera to Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety, according to the department, and police discovered videos of additional videos of victims — including videos of two minors.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Man killed in single-car crash on Highway 101; driver arrested on suspicion of DUI Crime...

Editorial: Firefighters’ Pink Poodle joy ride accounts simply not credible

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:10 GMT

San Jose firefighters’ explanations for the events the night they took a bikini-clad woman from the Pink Poodle strip club on a joy ride in a city firetruck are simply not credible.Worse, the unsuccessful attempts by city officials and the City Council to hide the investigation of the debacle from the public suggest they are more interested in kowtowing to the politically powerful firefighters’ union than accountability to their constituents.As a result, they have sent a corrosive message to the city workforce and the residents of San Jose that lying is acceptable behavior for some of the most critical public employees in Northern California’s largest city.A Superior Court judge last month ordered city officials to turn over to this news organization a copy of the internal investigation report they had illegally withheld for months.The report, released Monday, shows that only the captain in charge of the firetruck team, William Tognozzi, was investigated for the inappropriate use of...

Police: Sunnyvale dentist hid camera inside bathroom, recorded children

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:10 GMT

(KRON) -- A San Francisco Bay Area dentist was arrested after a victim found a video camera hidden inside a bathroom at the dentist's Sunnyvale clinic, police said Friday. Zaid Yousif Sharma was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of possessing child pornography and peeping. The Sunnyvale Police Department said the victim found the hidden camera on July 26 in a bathroom at Sharma's clinic, located at 877 West Fremont Avenue. The victim took the camera and brought it to the Sunnyvale police station. "Several victims were captured using the restroom located inside the dental office," SPD wrote.Police officers served search warrants at Sharma's house in Santa Clara and the dental clinic in Sunnyvale. At the dentist's home, "investigators located digital media that showed additional victims were captured by the hidden video camera in the bathroom, including two juveniles," SPD wrote.Sharma's biography on his professional website states, "He has worked in mobile dentistry clinics ... as well...

Musk hints 'cage fight' with Zuckerberg could take place at Roman Coliseum

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:10 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Elon Musk dropped a hint Friday about where a proposed "cage fight" with Mark Zuckerberg might be staged, seemingly suggesting the Coliseum in Rome, or another ancient Roman location, could be the backdrop."Everything in camera frame will be ancient Rome, so nothing modern at all," said Musk in a thread on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "I spoke to the PM of Italy and Minister of Culture. They have agreed on an epic location." Pilot error causes SF-bound United flight to nearly plunge into ocean, NTSB says "Everything done will pay respect to the past and present of Italy," Musk added.The proposed fight will be livestreamed on X and Meta, according to Musk, and managed by the two tech mogul's foundations, rather than UFC. All the proceeds will be donated to veterans, according to Musk.Online speculation about the fight has centered around the fact that Meta CEO Zuckerberg is an accomplished amateur MMA fighter, who recently placed in a Bay Area ...

Pittsburg HazMat incident cleared

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:10 GMT

(KRON) -- Fire and HazMat crews are responding to a hazardous materials incident in Pittsburg say the incident has been cleared, according to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. Contra Costa County fire assistant chief deploys to Maui wildfires The incident was reportedly centered around storage unit contents emitting a strange smell. No dangerous or hazardous materials were found, according to CON Fire.No other information is currently available.

Judge revokes bail for FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, says crypto mogul tampered with witnesses in his fraud case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:10 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Judge revokes bail for FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, says crypto mogul tampered with witnesses in his fraud case.Source

Harry Kane arrives for medical at Bayern Munich as transfer from Tottenham nears completion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:10 GMT

MUNICH (AP) — England captain Harry Kane’s transfer from Tottenham to Bayern Munich is “imminent,” Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou said Friday, in a deal that will reportedly be worth more than 100 million pounds ($110 million).Kane arrived at a Munich hospital on Friday evening for medical tests as fans gathered outside the club’s headquarters.After spending 19 years at Tottenham without winning a trophy, a move to Bayern would allow Kane to fight for titles in the German league and in Europe.“My understanding is it has progressed to the point where it looks like it’s going to happen,” Postecoglou said of what would be a record transfer for the Bundesliga and one of the biggest deals of the summer transfer window.The 30-year-old Kane could potentially make his debut Saturday, when Bayern hosts Leipzig in the German Super Cup.“We are working with the highest pressure and highest focus and highest priority to sign Harry Kane,” Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel said ea...

Graham Rahal savors Indianapolis GP celebration after winning 1st IndyCar pole in six years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:10 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Graham Rahal left Indianapolis 500 qualifying in tears.Three months later, he savored every precious moment of an unforgettable celebration.The Ohioan ended a six-year pole drought Friday by outdueling teammate Christian Lundgaard for the No. 1 starting spot in the Indianapolis Grand Prix.Rahal’s completed his final qualifying lap on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course in 1 minute, 10.1102 seconds. Lundgaard was second in 1:10.2208 while 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner Alexander Rossi of Arrow McLaren qualified third in 1:10.2932.Afterward, Rahal pumped his fists and traded fist bumps — a stark contrast to the seemingly inconsolable scene after teammate Jack Harvey knocked him off the 500 starting grid earlier this season. Rahal eventually started the race, replacing the injured Stefan Wilson in a different car. “You move on it from it as best you can,” Rahal said. “There’s a lot of frequent reminders of what happened not only in qualifyng but the car no...