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NGOs call for urgent action: Conservation measures vital for protection of Mediterranean fisheries and ecosystems

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:04 GMT

New Measures Would Allow Authorities to tackle non-compliance and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing - As officials from Mediterranean countries gather this week for the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) annual session in Croatia, NGOs are urging the adoption of a system of corrective measures that would allow the GFCM to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and cases of non-compliance within its region - a call backed by a legal analysis published this week that shows that GFCM has the competency to impose such measures.The proposed system under discussion this week - which already exists in other regional fisheries management organisations - would allow the GFCM to take action against countries that consistently disregard fishing regulations. Several organizations of the Med Sea Alliance (MSA) argue that creating a compliance mechanism is crucial for the Mediterranean's biodiversity, fish stock recovery, and the communitie...

'Shockwaves of emotions' after 4 L.A. Sheriff's Department employees die of suicide in 24-hour span

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:04 GMT

Warning: This article discusses suicide.After the suicide deaths of one retired and three current members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in a 24-hour period, officials released a statement Tuesday saying the department “is beyond saddened to learn of the deaths.”  While the sheriff’s department did not identify the employees or say the deaths were self-inflicted, the Los Angeles Times cites numerous sources who agreed to talk about the suicides on the condition of anonymity. The first victim was discovered Monday at around 10:30 a.m. in Valencia. A little more than two hours later, at 12:53 p.m., LASD detectives responded to another death in Lancaster and a third at 5:40 p.m. in Stevenson Ranch. The fourth victim was discovered Tuesday at around 7:30 a.m. in the city of Pomona.  “We are stunned to learn of these deaths, and it has sent shockwaves of emotions throughout the department as we try and cope with the loss of not just one, but four beloved ac...

Hamas victim shares terrifying survival story in Los Angeles event

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:04 GMT

A survivor of a Hamas terrorist attack, along with loved ones of current hostages are speaking out and calling for freedom amid the Israel-Hamas War.The Israeli-American Council of Los Angeles held a special event Tuesday night at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills where those affected by the war gathered.The event’s organizers said the goal is to show the world the horror inflicted on Israel by the Palestinian terrorist group, Hamas, on Oct. 7th in what they are calling, “Black Sabbath” or “Black Saturday.”The terrorist group has killed at least 1,400 people and captured hundreds of hostages. More than 250,000 Israelis have evacuated homes near the borders of Gaza and Lebanon as rockets were continuously fired into Israel, the Associated Press reports.“I really believed this was the way I’m going to die,” said Ariel Ein-Gal, a 26-year-old Hamas victim. “Like, I really accepted it.”Ein-Gal is an Israeli citizen visiting Los Angeles to share the terrifying story of how he and 19 frie...

Democrats fend off challenges to retain control of majorities in New Jersey’s Legislature

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:04 GMT

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Democrats kept control of their legislative majorities on Tuesday, holding the line against Republican challenges as well as flipping seats in pivotal Senate races and Assembly contests. The results buoyed the party’s prospects after a bleak showing in the last election. Democrat John Burzichelli defeated Republican Ed Durr, who stunned Senate President Steve Sweeney two years ago by beating him in a race that few expected would be competitive that year.Burzichelli, a longtime lawmaker and former appropriations committee chairman, was ousted alongside Sweeney in 2021 by Durr, a truck driver who hadn’t been elected before, and his running mates.He attributed the win on Tuesday to a focus on abortion and reproductive health throughout a campaign that featured relentless attacks against Durr. Burzichelli used comments attributed to Durr from before his election, suggesting women could avoid abortions by not having sex. “I think women’s issues playe...

Republican leads over Democrat whose House of Delegates race became embroiled in sex scandal

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:04 GMT

In this image taken from a video, Virginia legislative candidate Susanna Gibson addresses the Women's Summit in Virginia Beach, Va., in September of 2022. Gibson has denounced the disclosure of live videos on a pornographic website in which she and her husband engaged in sex acts. (Neil Smith via AP)(AP/Neil Smith) In this image taken from a video, Virginia legislative candidate Susanna Gibson addresses the Women's Summit in Virginia Beach, Va., in September of 2022. Gibson has denounced the disclosure of live videos on a pornographic website in which she and her husband engaged in sex acts. (Neil Smith via AP)(AP/Neil Smith) RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Republican David Owen held a narrow lead over Democrat Susanna Gibso...

Tristan Jarry injured, Magnus Hellberg finishes shutout in Penguins’ 2-0 win over Ducks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:04 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Tristan Jarry and Magnus Hellberg combined on a 32-save shutout after Jarry left with an injury late in the second period, and the Pittsburgh Penguins snapped the Anaheim Ducks’ six-game winning streak with a 2-0 victory Tuesday night.Radim Zohorna scored in the first period and Sidney Crosby added an empty-net goal for the Penguins, who avenged Anaheim’s spectacular 4-3 comeback victory in Pittsburgh eight days ago.“What I loved about our third period is that we competed hard, that we defended well,” Pens coach Mike Sullivan said. “It’s a good win for our team, especially to close it out in a low-scoring game against a team that’s beaten a lot of good teams lately.”Jarry made 21 saves for Pittsburgh before leaving the game with a cut near his right eye. Jarry’s head hit Ducks forward Adam Henrique, who had his back turned to the goalie outside the crease, yet Jarry still inadvertently stopped the puck when Henrique attempted to fire a reboun...

A broken Netanyahu is miscalculating over Gaza, former Israeli PM says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:04 GMT

TEL AVIV — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been “destroyed emotionally” by his massive failure on national security and is now miscalculating by preparing to take overall control of Gaza’s security for an “indefinite period” after Hamas has been crushed, according to former leader Ehud Olmert. In an interview with POLITICO, Olmert argued Netanyahu was in a state of “nervous breakdown,” as he sought to avoid being thrown out of office for failing to safeguard national security in the murderous Hamas attacks of October 7. This meant Israel was now steering off course strategically, Olmert went on, insisting the priority should be to negotiate an endgame with the international community — involving a return to talks on the formation of a Palestinian state, rather than turning back the clock to full military oversight over Gaza. “[Netanyahu] has shrunk. He’s destroyed emotionally, that’s for sure. I mean, some...

Australian court considers overturning mother’s convictions for killing 4 children

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:04 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — An Australian court will consider overturning a woman’s convictions for killing her four children, a government inquiry reported on Wednesday months after she was pardoned for the crimes due to new evidence that the siblings had died of natural causes.Overturning Kathleen Folbigg’s convictions would end a legal battle that has reached the highest level of Australia’s court system to clear her of responsibility for her children’s deaths, which happened over a decade between 1989 and 1999.Folbigg, 56, was freed in June after spending 20 years in prison when the New South Wales state government pardoned her on three counts of murder and one of manslaughter.The pardon was based on the interim recommendations of a state inquiry into new scientific evidence that created reasonable doubt that Folbigg had smothered her children, as prosecutors had alleged at her trial.The inquiry’s final report recommended on Wednesday that the state Court of Criminal Appeal consider clearing ...

More Canadians could soon be leaving Gaza after names appear in latest document

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:04 GMT

More Canadians could soon be leaving Gaza after their names appeared in the latest published document by Gaza’s General Authority of Crossings and Borders.Wednesday’s document contains 40 names under the “Canada” heading, with many listed as having “Dual” citizenship.Other countries listed include Germany, the Philippines, Ukraine, Romania, and the United States.The Canadian government confirmed that 75 people connected to Canada left the Palestinian territory via its border with Egypt on Tuesday.Global Affairs Canada said that Canada is unable to determine when or how many people can cross each day, and the situation is fluid and unpredictable. It said Canadian officials were on the Egyptian side of the border to welcome those who are leaving and facilitate their transportation to Cairo. The department had said in a statement on Monday that the Israeli military has assured Canada more than 400 of its citizens would be able to cross “in the ...

UAlbany men's basketball falls to UMass in season opener

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:04 GMT

AMHERST, MA (NEWS10) -- The University at Albany men's basketball team fell in its season opener to UMass, 92-71. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Coach Dwayne Killings"They broke the game open, I thought it broke our spirit. We couldn't really get back into it. We were really good against two good programs in our scrimmages, we clawed through yhe games, but we couldn't do that today." Key Stat LinesSebastian Thomas led all UAlbany players with 19 points, going 5-10 from the field and 3-4 from deep.Aaron Reddish led the team in with six rebounds, followed by Tyler Bertram with five. Reddish totaled eight points in the game, Bertram was the team's second leading scorer with 11.Freshman Jack Margoupis totaled eight second half points in his first collegiate game.The Great Danes shot 35.7% (20-56) from the field, going 9-26 from beyond the arc. UMass shot 43.4% (33-76) from the field and 45.5% (10-22) ...