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The Blue Mediterranean partnership: Advancing a sustainable future

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:25:28 GMT

At the recent COP28 in Dubai, we made concrete progress in our global efforts to combat climate change and protect our shared environment. For the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), a key moment at COP28 was the signing of the Blue Mediterranean Partnership (BMP) Statement of Intent, which signifies a cooperation agreement, with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Commission (EC), Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) as well as other donors and beneficiary countries. Central to the BMP is its Cooperation Fund, which represents a pivotal step towards a more sustainable future for the southern Mediterranean and Red Sea regions by initially mobilising an estimated €1 billion in investments for Blue Economy projects. Significantly, the UfM, which was one of the first champions of this vital initiative, will serve as a member of its governanc...

Thieves steal thousands of dollars worth of music equipment from L.A. band

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:25:28 GMT

Video shows thieves smashing a vehicle's windows and stealing thousands of dollars worth of professional music equipment in Hollywood.The victim, Louise Van Veenedaal, is the lead singer of a local band called BoomBox Heroes. The 12-piece band performs at weddings, events and sports games. On Dec. 18 at around 2 a.m., surveillance video captured thieves entering a gated parking garage at an apartment complex and peering into people’s vehicles.The two suspects then narrow in on Van Veenedaal’s car, a custom pink Tesla SUV. “They left, apparently they stole a car, broke into the garage through the garage gate, smashed into the back of my Tesla with axes,” Van Veenedaal recalled. “They had masks on and took pretty much everything that I have.” Surveillance footage of two suspects smashing an SUV's windows and stealing thousands of dollars worth of music equipment in a Hollywood parking garage on Dec. 18, 2023. (Louise Van Veenedaal)Surveillance footage of two suspects wanted for a...

Sharks unable to slow down Coyotes, now on longest losing streak since start of season

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:25:28 GMT

SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks thought they had momentum on their side after Anthony Duclair scored on a second-period breakaway to knot up Thursday night’s game with the Arizona Coyotes.Clayton Keller snatched that momentum right back for the Coyotes, scoring on a breakaway slightly more than two minutes after Duclair’s goal at the 6:20 mark.Alex Kerfoot’s goal later in the second period turned out to be the winner as Arizona handed the Sharks a 5-2 loss before an announced sellout crowd of 17,435 at SAP Center.Filip Zadina snapped a 14-game goal drought just 26 seconds into the third period, as his fourth of the season cut Arizona’s lead to 3-2. But with Nikita Okhotiuk serving an interference penalty, Nick Schmaltz, stationed in the slot, took a pass from Kerfoot and beat Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood for his 10th of the season.Blackwood finished with 25 saves as the Sharks lost their fourth straight game, their longest skid since they began the season with 11 consecutive los...

Lindholm scores, DeSimone nets first goal, and Markstrom wins 200th as Flames top Ducks 3-0

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:25:28 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Elias Lindholm had a goal and two assists, Jacob Markstrom made 27 saves for his 200th career win and the Calgary Flames extended their winning streak to a season-best three games with a 3-0 victory Thursday night over the Anaheim Ducks.Nick DeSimone scored his first career goal 2:24 into the opening period and A.J. Greer also scored as the Flames ended a four-game road losing streak.“I thought it was a complete game and our penalty kill, I can’t praise them enough,” said Markstrom after Calgary killed off four Anaheim power plays. “There were how many shot blocks and big-time plays that they do so I think that was a big difference tonight. All four lines were rolling.”Lukas Dostal made 41 saves for Anaheim, which had won two in a row. Ducks goalie John Gibson was available but occupied a backup role after missing a game this week following the birth of his child.Forward Mason McTavish and defenseman Jamie Drysdale both returned to the ice for the Ducks....

Jones scores 21, five in clutch, to lead Washington State past Boise State 66-61

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:25:28 GMT

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Isaac Jones scored 21 points, including five in the final minute and a half, and Washington State outlasted Boise State 66-61 on Thursday night at the Spokane Arena.A three-point play by Jones gave the Cougars a 62-58 lead with 1:27 remaining but Boise State’s Chibuzo Agbo nailed a 3-pointer on the next possession. After a WSU turnover and a Boise State miss from close range, Kymany Houinsou made two free throws for a three-point WSU lead. Boise State’s Max Rice then missed a 3-pointer and Jones finished off the win with a pair of free throws.Boise State scored the first eight points of the second half to erase a six-point deficit and take a 35-33 lead. There would be nine ties and seven more lead changes by game’s end.Myles Rice scored 14 points for the Cougars (9-2). Andrej Jakimovski grabbed 13 rebounds. Washington State had a 15-2 advantage in bench points, thanks mostly to Jabe Mullins with 13 points.O’Mar Stanley had 23 points, Tyson Deg...

Clayton Keller scores in 3rd consecutive game as Coyotes beat Sharks 5-2

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:25:28 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Clayton Keller scored his third goal in three games and the Arizona Coyotes beat the San Jose Sharks 5-2 on Thursday night to extend their win streak to four.Keller, who leads the Coyotes in points, got his 12th goal of the season in the second period as part of a three-point night. He took a lead pass from Alex Kerfoot in the attacking zone and broke in alone on Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, beating him through the legs with a backhand. Keller and Kerfoot both had a goal and two assists, and Michael Kesselring and Lawson Crouse also scored for Arizona. Karel Vejmelka made 29 saves in the win.Anthony Duclair and Filip Zadina scored for the Sharks, who have lost four straight and entered the day tied with Chicago for the fewest points in the NHL.The Coyotes, in the thick of the playoff picture, are on a hot streak after dropping four straight earlier this month. It was Arizona’s second win over San Jose in a week, with the Coyotes blanking the S...

Brown tosses 3 TD passes to lead USF to a 45-0 rout of undermanned Syracuse in Boca Raton Bowl

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:25:28 GMT

BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Byrum Brown threw three touchdown passes and became the second USF quarterback with 4,000 total yards in a season, leading the Bulls to a 45-0 rout of undermanned Syracuse in the Boca Raton Bowl on Thursday night.Brown, a redshirt freshman, closed out his outstanding season with 4,101 total yards. Quinton Flowers had 4,339 for the Bulls in 2016.“I’ve said it before, tough, smart, gritty,” South Florida coach Alex Golesh said.USF (7-6) finished above .500 for the first time since 2018. The shutout was the Bulls’ first since 2009 against Charleston Southern.“Seven wins is not the pinnacle of college football, but it’s certainly the foundation,” Golesh said. “We will win championships in Tampa. We will win championships at South Florida.”Syracuse (6-7) struggled at quarterback. With starter Garrett Shrader missing the game following shoulder surgery, interim coach Nunzio Campanile employed a hodgepodge approach at quarterback. The plan went about as well a...

Saints’ aggressive play-calling ends up coming back to hurt them in loss to Rams

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:25:28 GMT

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — New Orleans coach Dennis Allen knew coming into Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams that the Saints couldn’t be conservative in their decisions. Not when they were facing a resurgent Rams offense and with the Saints’ own playoff hopes on the line.New Orleans’ aggressiveness though turned into one of its biggest shortcomings in its 30-22 loss.The Saints turned it over on downs three times, which the Rams converted into 13 points. Derek Carr’s only interception of the night also resulted in Los Angeles scoring a touchdown on its ensuing possession.“We came into this game wanting to be aggressive. Knowing the type of team and the offense that we were playing, kicking field goals wasn’t going to be the way to go and try to win this game,” Allen said.Allen’s second fourth-down gamble would end up being the most fatal. The Saints trailed 10-3 with a minute remaining in the first half and had fourth-and-5 on the Rams 42. ...

Jorge Glas, exvicepresidente de Ecuador, pide asilo político a México

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:25:28 GMT

(CNN Español) –– El exvicepresidente de Ecuador Jorge Glas, a quien la fiscalía del país acusa de haber usado dinero del narcotráfico, presentó una solicitud de asilo al Gobierno de México, dijo este jueves su abogada internacional, Sonia Vera, en Conclusiones de CNN en Español.Eduardo Franco Loor, otro de los abogados del exfuncionario, había adelantado esta semana en diálogo con el show que Glas pediría asilo.“En las próximas horas, el exvicepresidente Jorge Glas pedirá formalmente, y de conformidad con la Convención de Asilo Diplomático de Caracas del año 1954, el asilo correspondiente”, señaló Franco Loor el martes en Conclusiones, con el periodista Fernando del Rincón.Exvicepresidente de Ecuador Jorge Glas ingresa como huésped a la embajada de MéxicoEl anuncio del abogado ocurrió dos días después de que Glas ingresara este domingo como “huésped” a la embajada de México en Quito. Su representante legal dijo el martes que Glas es víctima de una persecución, que es falso que tenga...

MacKinnon scores 4 goals, Rantanen gets 2, Avalanche rally to beat Senators 6-4

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:25:28 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon scored four goals to extend his career-best points streak to 17 games, Mikko Rantanen scored twice, and the Colorado Avalanche rallied for a 6-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.MacKinnon scored into an empty net in the final moments for the first four-goal game in Avalanche team history. Cale Makar had a pair of assists in his return from a lower-body injury that sidelined him for three games. “He’s playing out of his mind right now, and we’re asking that top line to do a lot right now,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said of MacKinnon. “And they’re following through.” MacKinnon said he approached the game with the same mindset that he has for every game. “I’m just trying to play the best I can,” MacKinnon said. “I thought I’ve had some better games. I just got some goals tonight. They just went in. Hit one off the shin pad, had an empty netter. Sometimes it feels easy. Sometimes it feels really hard...