(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
Overnight News Digest: News from Somewhere Else [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-02-21
Welcome to the Overnight News Digest with a crew consisting of founder Magnifico, regular editors side pocket, maggiejean, Chitown Kev, eeff, Magnifico, annetteboardman, Besame, jck, and JeremyBloom. Alumni editors include (but not limited to) Interceptor 7, Man Oh Man (RIP), wader, Neon Vincent, palantir, Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse (RIP), ek hornbeck (RIP), rfall, ScottyUrb, Doctor RJ, BentLiberal, Oke (RIP) and jlms qkw. OND is a regular community feature on Daily Kos, consisting of news stories from around the world, sometimes coupled with a daily theme, original research or commentary. Editors of OND impart their own presentation styles and content choices, typically publishing each day near 12:00 AM Eastern Time. Please feel free to share your articles and stories in the comments.
Pictures of the week from The Guardian, and the same paper’s pictures of the week showing wildlife (a green capybara!). Speaking of capybaras, they are apparently settled, uninvited, in suburban areas of Argentina (and you thought worrying about hitting a squirrel when driving was a problem!).
Cheerier/quirkier stories above the fold. We begin with this from Deutsche Welle:
Mother Language Day: What it is, and why it's important Anastassia Boutsko 13 hours ago On February 21, the world observes International Mother Language Day. But what is the significance of the "mother tongue?" And why is it called that and not something else? UNESCO puts that figure at just over 6,000 languages. Just how many languages are there in the world? The figures vary: According to the German Economic Institute, there are currently 7,186 native languages worldwide. The world cultural organizationputs that figure at just over 6,000 languages. What is undisputed is that the diversity of native languages is under threat. Researchers say that every two weeks, another mother tongue falls silent. To counteract this trend, International Mother Language Day was launched more than 25 years ago.
And from Al Jazeera:
What do countries call themselves? The stories behind their original names Around half of the world’s countries have native or local names that differ from their English versions, often reflecting their history, geography or cultural identity. By Alma Milisic and Mohamed A. Hussein languages spoken worldwide across nearly 200 countries. There are more than 7,000spoken worldwide across nearly 200 countries. This vast linguistic diversity influences how nations refer to themselves, with many using names in their native languages that differ from their commonly known English versions.
From Live Science:
Asteroid YR4 impact odds plummet as NASA changes threat level of 'city-killer' By Patrick Pester NASA has been changing the odds of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth in recent days, but the latest shift significantly downgrades the asteroid's threat level and makes a moon strike more likely. The space agency has been tweaking the odds of a potential strike from the 180-foot-wide (55 meters) YR4 all week. Those odds peaked at 1 in 32 , or 3.1%, on Tuesday (Feb. 18), which was the highest impact probability NASA had ever recorded for a space object as big as YR4. However, the likelihood of a strike soon fell.
From the Miami Herald:
Sandy sea creature with ‘transparent’ tentacles found off Spain. It’s a new species By Aspen Pflughoeft Plunging into the water off the coast of Spain, scuba diving scientists ventured into a coastal cave. Along the ground, they noticed a yellow sea creature with dozens of tentacles. It turned out to be a new species.
And a group of stories about wildlife from The Guardian.
Nominate your invertebrate species of the year We’re asking readers from around the world to nominate their favourite spineless species for our second Invertebrate of the Year competition Patrick Barkham and Guardian community team They are the unsung heroes of the planet – the silent majority, the innovators, the grafters, our overlooked friends and protectors. Invertebrates make up the vast majority of animals on Earth – at last 1.3 million species. They are a wondrously diverse bunch, including insects, arachnids, snails, crustaceans, corals, jellyfish, sponges and echinoderms.
and
Dark side of bright nights taking toll on forgotten invertebrates From bats to moths, species working the night shift are suffering as light pollution soars Paul Hetherington When we think about invertebrates, most of us picture bees, butterflies, worms, crabs or perhaps even a jellyfish. But did you know that at least two-thirds of invertebrates are active at night, meaning many are unlikely to be seen? Invertebrates carry out many of the same functions as their daytime counterparts, in some cases doing so with greater efficiency and variety. For centuries, artificial light has been a symbol of progress. From the flickering flames of early fires to the dazzling LED displays of modern cities, light has shaped human civilisation. But while we celebrate its convenience, we often overlook the darker side of our obsession with illumination: light pollution.
From the New Scientist:
The bold plan to bring back Tasmanian devils across mainland Australia Tasmanian devils are already being released inside predator-proof sanctuaries in New South Wales, and rewilding advocates believe they could suppress feral cats and foxes across the continent By James Woodford I’m sharing a ride with two very cranky and confused Tasmanian devils, loaded in the back of our all-terrain vehicle inside large plastic traps. These devils are a long way from their species’ home on the island of Tasmania. Instead, we are bumping along inside a wild but securely fenced 400-hectare sanctuary in Barrington Tops, 4 hours north of Sydney, Australia.
From The Guardian:
On the ground in the Cook Islands, controversial deal with China stirs debate Some residents say the agreement has harmed relations with New Zealand while others welcome the economic benefits it may bring Rashneel Kumar in Avarua Standing under the shade of trees outside the Cook Islands parliament this week, Fe’ena Syme-Buchanan questioned a controversial deal signed with China that has sparked concern across the Pacific country. The photographer from Rarotonga feels mixed emotions about the agreement prime minister Mark Brown struck with Beijing last week, describing it as a “double-edged sword”.
From Time:
Apple Cider Vinegar‘s Belle Gibson Faked Cancer. Years Later, Australia Is Still Chasing Her By CHARLOTTE GRAHAM-McLAY / AP WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A decade after wellness influencer Belle Gibson admitted she didn't have terminal brain cancer, which she claimed was cured by the healthy lifestyle that made her famous, her story has inspired a new Netflix series — and fresh outrage in Australia about the case's lack of resolution. Authorities said this week they're still pursuing the disgraced Instagram star for unpaid fines, fueling ongoing ire among Australians about one of the country's most brazen online scams — an episode that drew attention to the destructive harms of false health claims on social media.
From CNN:
Commercial airlines warned as Chinese navy holds live fire exercise off Australia Airlines have been contacted by Australia’s air traffic control agency warning them of reports of live fire off the country’s east coast where a Chinese navy task group has been operating, the agency and Australian officials said. A People’s Liberation Army Navy frigate, cruiser and replenishment vessel last week entered Australia’s maritime approaches, and travelled down Australia’s east coast this week, monitored by the navies and air forces of Australia and New Zealand.
From Al Jazeera:
China says Philippines ‘illegally’ flew planes over South China Sea islands The incident marks the second confrontation this week between Manila and Beijing over disputed South China Sea islands. China’s military said it drove away three Philippines aircraft “illegally” flying over the disputed Spratly Islands, marking the second aerial incident this week involving Beijing and Manila in the South China Sea. A spokesperson for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Southern Theatre Command, Air Force Colonel Tian Junli, said the military had chased away two small Cessna 208 planes and a light N-22 aircraft on Thursday.
From Asahi Shimbun:
Gymnastics head Watanabe seeks to make history as IOC president By KOSUKE INAGAKI Morinari Watanabe, the Japanese head of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), is vying to be selected as the first president of the International Olympic Committee from Asia in the election in Greece in March. All nine presidents of the more than 130-year-old body have been either from Europe or from the United States.
Also from Asahi Shimbun:
More than 200 death certificates issued by doctor with dementia HACHINOHE, Aomori Prefecture—More than 200 death certificates were issued under the name of a doctor with dementia at a hospital here, where officials are believed to have attempted to conceal the murder of a patient. The death certificates were found during a search of Michinoku Kinen Hospital in April 2023 over suspicions that former hospital director Takashi Ishiyama, 61, and his physician brother, Tetsu Ishiyama, 60, tried to cover up the fatal stabbing of a patient.
From New Lines Magazine:
How Iran Targets Women Dissidents Abroad From deepfake pornography to relentless online harassment, activists are facing a new form of state repression — one that transcends borders Meghan Davidson Ladly Azam thought she was leaving political repression behind when, in 2018, she crossed the border into Turkey with the help of a smuggler. Fleeing Iran and a three-year prison sentence for activism, she and her daughter first settled in Eskisehir before claiming refugee status in Canada. But thousands of miles away, Azam — who asked that her full name not be used to protect her identity — continued criticizing her home country, and the Iranian government continued its targeted intimidation of her. Every day, she confronts online harassment and must choose whether to continue her work in the face of abuse. The Iranian state has long targeted dissidents abroad, but increasingly — empowered through various digital platforms — it is using gendered attacks to intimidate Iranian women who are critical of the government’s actions. It’s a playbook many authoritarian regimes around the globe are now using, as artificial intelligence and other developing technologies provide them with new tools to perpetrate abuse.
From CNN:
Estonia’s Eurovision song entry sparks outrage in Italy, with claims it’s ‘offensive’ By Barbie Latza Nadeau and Lianne Kolirin, CNN Italians are far from convinced. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,are far from convinced. The Mediterranean country is up in arms about Estonia’s submission to this year’s Eurovision song contest. Performing in a mixture of English and Italian, rapper Tommy Cash draws on a series of Italian stereotypes in his song, “Espresso Macchiato.” The song, which lasts for just under three minutes, has sparked some controversy in Italy and now Codacons, a consumer association, has called for organizers of the hugely popular contest to drop it.
From Euractiv:
Bulgarian government worries peacekeeper deployment could spark public panic They fear citizens may panic over potential direct involvement in a war against Russia. Krassen Nikolov SOFIA - Government representatives in Sofia said they were concerned about the possibility of instilling panic in society over the pending US question about the readiness of EU countries to send peacekeepers to Ukraine. All parties represented in parliament rejected earlier this week the possibility of Bulgarian soldiers being sent to provide security guarantee to Kiev if a peace agreement is reached. However, the pro-Russian Vazrazhdane party has for years been instigating fears in society that Bulgaria could be directly involved in a war against Russia.
From CNN:
German police arrest suspect after stabbing at Berlin Holocaust memorial Billy Stockwell , Benjamin Brown and , CNN Byand Chris Lau , CNN Berlin police have arrested a suspect after a man was stabbed and seriously injured near the city’s Holocaust memorial on Friday night. Authorities have yet to give details on the perpetrator or motive involved in the attack in the heart of the German capital, just two days ahead of a consequential national election.
From The Atlantic:
Germany’s Anti-Extremist Firewall Is Collapsing The far-right AfD seems destined for a strong showing in Sunday’s federal parliamentary election. By Graeme Wood ast week in Munich , Vice President J. D. Vance scolded European dignitaries for their failure to address popular discontent. They had ignored what Vance called the most “urgent” issue of our time: the relentless flow of non-Europeans into Europe. Without naming it, Vance was defending a far-right political party called Alternative for Germany (AfD), best-known for its commitment to deporting as many immigrants as the country’s airports can process. Vance said he “happen[s] to agree” with voters worried about “out-of-control migration.” But he was aghast at the idea that governments would try to silence their citizens, whatever their views. “There is no room for firewalls,” he said. “You either uphold the principle of democracy or you do not.” , Vice President J. D. Vance scolded European dignitaries for their failure to address popular discontent. They had ignored what Vancethe most “urgent” issue of our time: the relentless flow of non-Europeans into Europe. Without naming it, Vance was defending a far-right political party called Alternative for Germany (AfD), best-known for its commitment to deporting as many immigrants as the country’s airports can process. Vance said he “happen[s] to agree” with voters worried about “out-of-control migration.” But he was aghast at the idea that governments would try to silence their citizens, whatever their views. “There is no room for firewalls,” he said. “You either uphold the principle of democracy or you do not.”
From DW:
Germany: Teen arrested for plan to attack Israel's embassy Kieran Burke 14 hours ago German authorities have arrested an 18-year-old man suspected of planning an attack on the Israeli Embassy in Berlin. German police said they arrested an 18-year-old man suspected of planning a "politically motivated" attack in Berlin. The target, according to multiple media reports, was the Israeli Embassy. The man, a Russian national, was taken into custody late Thursday in the eastern state of Brandenburg, which surrounds Berlin, a statement from police and prosecutors said, adding that the suspect appeared in court Friday and was remanded in custody.
From Travel and Tour World:
Kirkenes Norway The Mysterious Arctic Border Town Where Endless Polar Nights Intense Cold War History And Powerful Russian Influence Dramatically Collide In 2025 Discover Kirkenes, Norway, where endless polar nights, intense Cold War history, and powerful Russian influence dramatically shape this mysterious Arctic town in 2025. Tucked away in Norway’s far northeast, Kirkenes is a town unlike any other. Positioned in the shadow of the Arctic Circle and just a short distance from Russia, it offers an eerie blend of perpetual winter darkness, wartime scars, and breathtaking Arctic landscapes. With nearly two months of polar night, its unique history, and proximity to one of the world’s most sensitive borders, Kirkenes is an alluring and mysterious destination for intrepid travelers.
From UK Defence Journal:
From The Guardian:
From Iceland Review:
Attached Bottle Caps Causing Stir in Iceland’s Parliament By Andie Sophia Fontaine Last week, a new European Union requirement went into effect for bottle caps on plastic drink bottles to remain attached to the holding ring after opening. This regulation has been met with some irritation across the continent and Iceland is no exception. Already there Iceland is not in the European Union, but is a part of the European Economic Area. As such, while having little voice in the crafting of EU laws and regulations, the country is bound to implement them. This includes the implementation of the new bottle cap regulation.
From the Smithsonian Magazine:
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/2/21/2305414/-Overnight-News-Digest-News-from-Somewhere-Else?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=latest_community&pm_medium=web
Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/
