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Scientists release annual endangered North Atlantic right whale population estimate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:43 GMT

After years of continued decline, the North Atlantic right whale population may be beginning to level off, though scientists emphasize that the critically endangered species still faces significant ongoing threats from human activities, a new population estimate shows.Each year, the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium releases the annual population estimate for the species using the most up-to-date data, including calves added to the population since the previous year. In a report being released this week at the Consortium’s annual meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia, scientists used these updated data to recalculate annual estimates of the right whale population since 1990. The 2021 estimate was recalculated as 364 (+5/-4 for range of error)—primarily due to the 18 calves born in 2021, many of which were recently catalogued—and the 2022 estimate is 356 animals (+7/-10), suggesting the downward trajectory for the species could be slowing.These estimates are the result of a collaborati...

Debate on whether to censure NDP MPP to continue at Queen’s Park today

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:43 GMT

The debate on whether to censure an Ontario NDP MPP is expected to continue at Queen’s Park on Monday.Last week, the Ford government introduced a motion could lead to Hamilton Centre MPP Sarah Jama being censured if she does not apologize for a statement she made on the Israel-Hamas war. The motion’s approval would effectively silence Jama in the legislature.The Progressive Conservatives have a majority so the motion will likely pass, but House Speaker Paul Calandra would not necessarily be bound to follow it, and could exercise his discretion to still allow Jama to speakJama came under fire earlier this month for the online post she made in response to the latest Israel-Hamas war where she decried the “occupation” of Palestine without mentioning the Oct. 7 surprise attack by Hamas militants.She later posted an apology but did not retract her original statement. She has since pinned the post on her X account so it stays visible at the top of her profile. ...

Sydney court postpones extradition hearing of former US military pilot until May

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:43 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — A Sydney court on Monday postponed an extradition hearing for a former U.S. military pilot accused of illegally training Chinese aviators until May as his lawyers attempt to further build their case.Boston-born Dan Duggan, 55, was scheduled to fight his extradition to the United States at a Nov. 23 hearing in the downtown Downing Center Local Court.But a magistrate decided to use that date to rule on what additional information that the Australian defense department and security agencies should provide defense lawyers.U.S. lawyer Trent Glover told the court the United States was ready to proceed with the extradition, but had agreed with defense lawyers the hearing should take place after November.Duggan’s lawyer, Dennis Miralis, told reporters outside court that the stakes were high for his client, who faces up to 65 years in prison if convicted.“This is existential, which means that every right that Dan has under the Australian legal system on the basis that he’s pres...

Kosovo’s premier claims a Serbian criminal gang with government links was behind a September flareup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:43 GMT

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo’s prime minister on Monday claimed that a criminal gang from northern Serbia was behind a September attack in Kosovo that killed a police officer and involved a daylong gunbattle with Kosovo police that left three gunmen dead. Prime Minister Albin Kurti also alleged that Serbia’s Defense Minister Milos Vucevic heads the gang known as the “Novi Sad Clan,” named after the Serbian city of Novi Sad, and further claimed that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had links to the gang. Kurti offered no evidence to back his claims and did not elaborate. He described the gang as a “paramilitary terrorist group.” Belgrade swiftly dismissed the claims. Serbia’s Defense Ministry said it “absolutely rejects the heinous and blatant lies told today by Kurti” and appealed to the international community to act to stop the “incendiary and dirty” campaign by Kosovo’s leadership.Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo flared anew on Sept. 24 when some 30 heavily arme...

Insider Q&A: AbleGamers founder Mark Barlet on the importance of making gaming accessible

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:43 GMT

Mark Barlet founded AbleGamers in 2004. It’s a nonprofit that works to combat social isolation among people with disabilities using “the power of video games.” Most recently, his organization worked with Sony to help create its new Access controller for the PlayStation, designed to make it easier for people with disabilities to play. Question: When did you begin consulting for Sony on this controller? Answer: We’ve had a relationship with Sony for other projects for a while. Sony has been on the forefront on the software side of creating accessible experiences. But about five years ago, they reached out to us and said, we have an idea. Can we talk to you about what this idea is?Q: And what was the idea? A: They wanted to create a controller that really supported players with disabilities and wanted to learn from our organization on what the experience was like — what were they solving? When they came to us, they were looking at what do we need to worry about — this disability or thi...

Spanish police say they have confiscated ancient gold jewelry worth millions taken from Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:43 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Spanish police said Monday they have confiscated 11 pieces of ancient gold jewelry that were taken out of Ukraine illegally in 2016.A police statement said five people who were attempting to sell the pieces in Spain have been arrested in recent weeks. Those arrested included two Ukrainians, one of them an Orthodox Church priest, and three Spaniards.The jewelry was said to be worth 60 million euros ($64 million) and dated from between the eighth and fourth centuries B.C.Police said the items were part of Ukraine’s national heritage. They went missing after being put on display between 2009 and 2013 in a museum in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. The pieces included a belt, earrings and necklaces. An ornate gold belt was seized in 2021 and the rest of the pieces were seized in recent weeks. Police said the investigation continued.The pieces are being studied by Spain’s National Archeological Museum and the country’s Cultural Heritage Institute.Interior ministry...

Indonesia top court rejects presidential age limit, clearing legal path for 72-year-old frontrunner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:43 GMT

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia’s top court rejected an effort to block presidential candidates who are over 70 or implicated in human rights abuses, clearing the legal path for a septuagenarian former general’s ultra-nationalist campaign. Lawyers belonging to a human rights advocacy group and other petitioners argued that the constitution required stricter limits than those written in the country’s 2017 General Election Law, which sets no maximum age. If successful, the petition would have blocked frontrunner Prabowo Subianto, 72, a former special forces general and current defense minister, from competing in the election scheduled for next February. While the petitioners said they were not targeting a particular candidate, Subianto’s candidacy is widely feared by human rights activists, who associate him with torture and disappearances during the final years of the Suharto dictatorship.The petitioners asked the court to rule that the candidates cannot be olde...

Kimberly Palmer: Ways to recover from a financial shock and be prepared next time

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:43 GMT

Financial shocks come in many different forms: An unexpected medical bill, house repair or job loss are among the typical ones. The reasons for financial shocks may be common, but recovering from them can be unexpectedly challenging.“These things happen once or twice over a financial lifetime,” says Spencer Betts, a certified financial planner and financial consultant with Bickling Financial Services in Lexington, Massachusetts. “They can be pretty big, even for a relatively well-off person.”To recover from a financial shock and to protect yourself from the impact of one before it happens, consider these guideposts from financial experts:TURN TO YOUR EMERGENCY FUND OR START ONEBetts recommends using an emergency fund as a first line of defense against financial shocks. “The general guideline is to have three to six months of your expenses set aside,” he says, adding that the money can be kept in an interest-bearing account so it continues to grow.If you don’t yet have an emergency f...

12-year-old boy killed in shooting on South Side; $15K reward offered for info leading to arrest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:43 GMT

CHICAGO — Police say a 12-year-old boy has died after a shooting on the city's South Side on Sunday night.Police say officers responded to reports of shots fired around 6:30 p.m. near 600 West Marquette in the Englewood neighborhood and found the injured child. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Chicago police say the boy was critically injured in the shooting and was taken to Comer Children's Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.No one is in custody. Area One Detectives are investigating and offering up to $15,000 for information that may lead to an arrest.Chicago police held a press conference on Sunday night to share details about the deadly shooting. Watch the full news conference in the video player below. Anyone with information on the deadly shooting can leave a tip for police at CPDTip.com. Tips can be left anonymously. 

Monday Forecast: Temps in low 60s with isolated showers possible

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:43 GMT

CHICAGO — Mostly cloudy Monday with isolated showers possible. Wind: S 5-15 G25. High: 63. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Partly cloudy tonight with isolated showers. Winds: SSW 10-15 G25. Low: 56.Tuesday Forecast: Mostly sunny, increasing clouds, 20% shower late day, SSW 15-20 G35. Low: 76.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog