World
Coup d’état in Gabon: ‘The situation is radically different’ from that in Niger | World | News

The EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell has emphasised the distinction between the coups d’état in Niger and Gabon, stressing that the latter, which resulted in the removal of President Ali Bongo, occurred after elections marred by “irregularities”.
Military plotters deposed incumbent President Ali Bongo Ondimba on Wednesday, shortly after he was hailed as the country’s re-elected leader, sparking euphoric protests. The oil-rich Central African country had been ruled by the Bongo family for more than 55 years.
The crisis in Ukraine and the situation in Niger, where soldiers toppled President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26th, were set to dominate discussions at the Toledo summit in Spain.
According to the head of European diplomacy, the conference would be attended by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who now holds the rotating chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The Niger coup has heightened tensions in the Sahel region, where three previous civilian administrations have been deposed by the military since 2020 and jihadist rebel groups dominate vast territory.
Mr Borrell emphasised that the circumstances between the two coups are vastly different in his view.
He argued: “Naturally, military coups are not the solution, but we must not forget that in Gabon there were elections marred by irregularities.”
Mr Borrell added: “We see no risk of violence.”
He continued: “In Niger, the president was democratically elected (…). In Gabon, a few hours before the military coup, there was an institutional coup because the elections were stolen,”
“I cannot say that Gabon was a true democracy with a family that had ruled the country for 50 years”.
Meanwhile, the African Union Peace and Security Council met Thursday and announced the immediate suspension of Gabon from “all activities of the AU, its organs and institutions” until the country restores constitutional order.
The head of Gabon’s elite republican guard, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, was announced on state TV as the nation’s new leader hours after Bongo was declared the winner of a weekend presidential election that observers said was marred with irregularities and a lack of transparency.
While there were legitimate grievances about the vote and Bongo’s rule, his ousting is just a pretext for the junta to claim power for themselves, Gabon experts say.
Joseph Siegle, director of research at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, told AP: “The timing of the coup, following the announcement of the implausible electoral results, and the speed with which the junta is moving suggests this was planned in advance,
“While there are many legitimate grievances about the vote and Bongo’s rule, that has little to do with the coup attempt in Gabon. Raising those grievances is just a smokescreen.”
In an announcement on state TV Thursday a spokesman for the junta said Oligui would be sworn into office on Monday September 4 before the constitutional court. It encouraged people to go back work and said it would restore domestic flights.
World
Bill Gates says Jeffrey Epstein blackmailed him over unfaithful marriage in huge bombshell | World | News

Bill Gates has claimed Jeffrey Epstein tried to use the fact he’d been unfaithful in his marriage as leverage to pressure him to re-engage with him.
Billionaire Gates told members of the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday that he had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes and that Epstein attempted to use information about his personal life, including that he had been unfaithful in his marriage, to pressure Gates”, US broadcaster CNN reported after obtaining a copy of his opening remarks.
Quoted by the CNN, Gates said: “I never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct. I never went to his island, his ranch, or his Florida home. I have never victimized anyone.
“While he may have sought to foster a personal relationship, I was never interested in that and never reciprocated.
“I learned Epstein had become aware of sensitive information about my personal life, including the fact that I had been unfaithful in my marriage. These affairs had nothing to do with my interactions with Epstein, but they were painful for my family.”
Gates, who characterised his interactions with Epstein as “limited,” said he was introduced to Epstein in 2011 and that the late convicted sex offender promised he could raise billions of dollars for global health.
“I recall being aware that Epstein had faced prior legal issues, but I did not fully understand the extent of the crimes he committed. I accepted the introduction without applying the scrutiny I should have,” he told lawmakers, according to the CNN.
Gates alleged Epstein tried to use what he knew about his infidelities to pressure him to re-engage with him after their contact had ended.
“He was unsuccessful in this effort, but it shows some of the ways he tried to leverage his interactions with me to further his agenda. I should never have met with Epstein in the first place,” the CNN also reported.
World
Man shot dead in broad daylight in Barcelona – police hunt suspect | World | News

A man has been shot dead outside a police building in Barcelona. The incident happened in broad daylight, at around 10am local time in the Spanish city. The victim was gunned down on Carrer de Balmes before the suspect fled, according to local reports.
The man was killed in front of the National Police’s DNI office, responsible for issuing National Police ID cards and passports, according to local news outlet ElCaso.cat. Catalan police are now investigating the incident alongside agents from the Criminal Investigation Division (DIC).
Police reportedly have an image of the suspect, and have recovered a gun and a bicycle helmet.
A law enforcement operation has now been launched to try to hunt the suspect down.
This incident comes ahead of the Pope’s visit this afternoon, which prompted road closures and heightened security.
He will travel in the Popemobile along Rosselló Street from Diagonal Avenue to the Sagrada Família.
The shooting isn’t believed to be in any way linked to Pope Leo’s visit.
It’s also the second shooting in the Spanish city in just three days, after a man was shot multiple times and killed on Sunday night.
The incident unfolded in the streets of Mineria and Mare de Deu del Port. Emergency services rushed to the scene and attempted to resuscitate the man, but he sadly died following the gunshot wounds.
Last month, another man was shot in the head and killed on the same street, which authorities are still investigating and trying to track down the gunman.
World
Greggs opens first branch abroad at holiday hotspot loved by Brits | World | News

Greggs has officially gone international and reportedly opened its very first airport location outside of the UK just in time for the summer season. The British bakery giant has launched a brand new store at Tenerife South Airport in the Canary Islands. Covering 197 square metres the store is expected to attract thousands of travellers passing through the airport every day.
Holidaymakers can choose from a range of Greggs favourites, such as its well-known sausage rolls, while also offering items designed to cater to local tastes and the needs of international travellers passing through with the Spanish Omelette Breakfast Roll, Blueberry Muffin and freshly squeezed bottled orange juice being new additions to the menu. Tenerife South Airport is one of the busiest airports in Spain, welcoming more than 14 million passengers last year. Around 5.5 million of those travellers came from the UK, making British visitors the airport’s largest customer group.
The new branch, which opened on Canary Islands Day on June 1, is located in Terminal A after security and close to a key departure route used by passengers travelling back to Britain, Travel Retail Business reports.
The site has a capacity of up to 92 seats. The new store is being launched with Lagardere Travel Retail, which operates more than 5,000 travel outlets worldwide.
This marks the chain’s first venture outside the UK since closing their Belgium locations in 2008.
Greggs CEO, Roisin Currie, said: “Tenerife South Airport is a hub for millions of UK and international passengers each year, making it the ideal location to test spreading our wings in an overseas setting.
“It’s an exciting milestone for Greggs as we bring a slice of home to the Canaries, and we’re confident our great-value offering will resonate just as well under the Spanish sun as it does on the UK high street.”
CEO of Lagardere Travel Retail Spain and Portugal, Javier Cagigal, said: “As passengers head home, this new opening gives them a familiar, comforting choice in departures, whether that’s a last treat, a relaxed sit-down moment or something to ease the journey home.”
Lagardère Travel Retail VP Dining Christine Bony also said: “We are delighted to begin our partnership with Greggs at Tenerife South Airport. This opening illustrates how we work with High Street brands with strong consumer recognition to support their international development in travel environments.
“By combining passenger insights, location dynamics and our global footprint, we are able to identify the right concepts and create the conditions for them to reach an international audience.”
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