The U.S. Coast Guard has announced that the search for survivors on a commercial fishing vessel that sank off the coast of Massachusetts with seven aboard has been suspended. The Coast Guard launched a search and rescue mission early Friday after receiving an alert from the 72-foot Lily Jean about 25 miles off Cape Ann. Rescuers located a debris field near where the alert was sent along with a body in the water. On Saturday, after consultation between search and rescue mission coordinators and on-scene commanders, the Coast Guard announced that all reasonable search efforts for the missing crew members had been exhausted.

A severe storm has left nearly half a million people without power across the South. Although the storm has moved out to sea, temperatures are forecast to plunge below freezing Tuesday evening. People without power are struggling to stay warm, with Nashville, Tennessee, opening up nearly 50 warming centers, including police and fire stations. Nashville and parts of Mississippi and Louisiana were hit hardest by the power outages. Multiple communities across the south were encased in an inch of ice. Residents described Iuka, Mississippi, as a "war zone" due to falling ice and tree branches. Officials warn it could take more than a week to restore power in some areas.

The world’s first legally binding agreement to protect marine life in international waters takes effect Saturday. The High Seas Treaty governs nearly half the planet’s surface, addressing threats like destructive fishing, pollution, and climate change. The treaty entered into force after 60 countries ratified it, with 83 now on board, including China and Japan. It establishes a framework for Marine Protected Areas and requires environmental impact assessments for harmful activities. Countries must promote conservation goals in international bodies.

Climate change is driving a global boom in desalination as regions turn to the sea for drinking water. Desalination plants, which remove salt from seawater, are rapidly expanding worldwide. However, scientists warn these plants can harm marine ecosystems. They consume massive amounts of energy, often from fossil fuels, and discharge salty brine back into the ocean, which can alter water chemistry and harm marine life. In Southern California, the Carlsbad Desalination Plant faces criticism for its environmental impact. New technologies like deep-sea desalination promise to reduce these harms by using natural ocean pressure and minimizing energy use.

Strong winds have caused at least four deaths in Gaza as walls collapsed onto tents in the coastal territory. Hospital authorities reported the fatalities on Tuesday, highlighting the dangerous living conditions that persist after years of Israeli bombardment and aid shortages. A ceasefire has been in effect since October 10, but aid groups say many Palestinians lack adequate shelter for winter storms. Gaza's Health Ministry also reported a rise in child deaths, with a 1-year-old boy dying of hypothermia. UNICEF says over 100 children have been killed by military means since the ceasefire began.

Sand dredging is reshaping the coastline of Africa’s largest city, Lagos, and driving away fish and livelihoods for some of Nigeria's poorest people. Scientists have warned that the dredging reduces the local lagoon’s ability to absorb floodwaters. That increases long-term risks for the city and its population of over 17 million people. The transformation is most visible near Lagos’ fishing communities. Residents say the encroachment has destroyed fishing grounds and put many out of work. The Lagos State government has repeatedly pledged to crack down on illegal dredging among dozens of operators, but community leaders say enforcement is inconsistent.