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Overnight News Digest [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-03-28
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, JeremyBloom, and doomandgloom. 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 since 2007, 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.
The BBC brings us pictures of the week in Africa.
From the BBC:
A rediscovered painting that just made Indian art history Janhavee Moole A forgotten oil-on-canvas masterpiece by Indian painter MF Husain, rediscovered decades later, has rewritten the record books for Indian art. Husain's Untitled (Gram Yatra), a sprawling 14-foot-wide mural, sold for an unprecedented $13.8m (£10.6m) at a Christie's auction in New York last week. It shattered the previous Indian high of $7.4m (£5.7m) fetched by Amrita Sher-Gil's The Story Teller in 2023.
Another art story from the Beeb:
Tate Britain to return painting looted by Nazis Paul Glynn Tate Britain is set to return a 17th Century painting to the family of a Jewish Belgian art collector, after it was taken from his home by Nazis during World War Two. Painter Henry Gibbs' 1654 work, Aeneas And His Family Fleeing Burning Troy, was taken by the Nazis as "an act of racial persecution", said the Spoliation Advisory Panel, which which looks into cases of looted artworks.
From the New York Times:
Medieval Tales of Merlin and Arthur, Hidden for Centuries, Return to Light Cambridge University researchers found a manuscript with rare Arthurian tales bound into a ledger more than 400 years old and used advanced technology to reveal its contents. By Alan Yuhas Torn, folded and stitched, rare tales of Merlin shapeshifting into King Arthur’s court and Sir Gawain gaining power from the sun were bound into a book of property records from the 1500s. They went unnoticed for centuries, stacked among the records of an English manor and then among the millions of volumes of a university library. At least until an archivist took another look, setting off a yearslong project to identify and then reassemble the medieval manuscript, which someone in Tudor England had taken apart and used to help hold together a ledger.
Also from the NY Times:
Dachshund Lost on Australian Island Is Still Alive, but Elusive A year after getting loose on Kangaroo Island, Valerie is still out there. By Victor Mather A dachshund lost in Australia is still alive after more than a year, and still apparently wearing her pink collar. But she has proved elusive to recapture. The tale begins in November 2023 when a couple took their pet miniature dachshund, Valerie, to Kangaroo Island off the coast of Adelaide. But Valerie escaped from her pen and rushed off into the bush.
There are some stories that are odd, or amusing, in not such a happy way, below the fold and then we get to the more serious and depressing stuff. You could skip the last couple of stories if you like; I will let you know if you want to miss them because it is a Friday night and you might want to sleep more sweetly.
From The Guardian:
Export of endangered eels to Russia ends after UK government ban British eel trader says move will destroy traditional elvering but campaigners welcome decision Patrick Barkham Endangered eels caught in British estuaries will no longer be exported to Russia after the government banned the trade. In a decision that Britain’s last remaining eel trader said would end centuries of traditional elvering, a request to dispatch millions of glass eels – young eels that develop into elvers – to a restocking project in Kaliningrad was refused by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
From the BBC:
'My house used to be a disgusting public toilet block' Chloe Aslett Of all the bizarre items up for sale on Facebook marketplace, a "townhouse" with a price of £70,000 stands out as a particularly unusual listing - not least because the property is an old public toilet. A creative with a vision might see a bright future for the derelict Sheffield loo, similar to others which have become living spaces, galleries and breweries.
Also from the Beeb:
'Sensitive' army papers found scattered in street Calum Grewar Piles of papers containing sensitive military information have been found scattered along a city street. They include soldiers' ranks, emails, shift patterns and weapon issue details, and information which appears to relate to accessing weapons storage and an intruder detection system. The documents were discovered spilling out of a black bin bag in the Scotswood area of Newcastle by a football fan on 16 March and, according to information security consultant Gary Hibberd, posed a "significant" threat to individuals named in them.
From France 24:
Why so many French teachers are calling it quits French teachers are quitting in record numbers, overwhelmed by low pay, crowded classrooms and increasing demands. Despite successive reforms by previous governments, staffing shortages persist. And leaving the profession is often a difficult process. With the announcement of a new education minister just around the corner, will France’s public education crisis finally ease up? Lara BULLENS Rémi Boyer taught history and geography in French public schools for 21 years but decided to retire early because the job “had become too difficult”. Paul* only lasted three years as a design teacher at a vocational high school before he became exhausted and quit. A German-language teacher who has spent the past five years teaching at a school a two-hour drive from her home is still in the trenches, trying to get transferred. Public school teachers in France are reaching a breaking point. Faced with overcrowded classrooms, heavy workloads and low pay, many feel the commitment required by the profession is no longer sustainable.
From the Associated Press:
From the New York Times:
Pope Francis Came Near Death in Hospital, His Doctor Says In an interview, the leader of Pope Francis’s medical team called it “a miracle” that the 88-year-old pontiff left the hospital, but said he needs to change his vigorous habits, at least for a while, to recover. By Jason Horowitz and Patricia Mazzei and “It’s terrible,” Pope Francis gasped during a breathing crisis last month. The pope, his hand bruised with needle pricks and his oxygen saturation dipping to a dangerously low 78 during his long hospitalization, acknowledged in a failing voice that he might die. He held his doctor’s hand. Francis had ruled out intubation, which would mean being kept unconscious, the leader of the medical team, Dr. Sergio Alfieri, said in an interview. So his doctors decided to treat the pneumonia in both his lungs with a last-ditch barrage of drugs that risked damaging his organs.
Also from the Beeb:
Polish presidential candidate ridiculed for donning disguise to promote book Will Vernon They say writers are their own worst critics - but for the man who could become the next President of Poland, nothing could be further from the truth. Karol Nawrocki has been widely ridiculed after it emerged that several years ago, he donned a disguise to praise his own book on TV.
From Deutsche Welle:
Turkey's culture scene fears repression amid protests Stefan Dege 7 hours ago Massive protests continue in Turkey following the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. But amid growing concerns for democracy, the cultural sector has struggled to speak out. More than a week since the arrest of popular Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, and his subsequent suspension from office, hundreds of thousands have taken daily to the streets to demonstrate. Imamoglu, a prominent political rival of autocratic Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, called on supporters of his Republican People's Party (CHP) to protest following his detention on corruption charges. The mayor is among tens of thousands of political prisoners in Turkey.
From France 24:
'The Bibi Files': Documentary reveals the police interrogations behind Netanyahu’s graft trial FRANCE 24 reviews “The Bibi Files”, a new documentary by filmmakers Alexis Bloom and Alex Gibney, which features never-before-seen footage of Israeli police interrogating Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, his family and his inner circle on corruption allegations. The documentary was screened as a work-in-progress at the 2024 Toronto Film Festival on Monday, hours after a Jerusalem court rejected a petition by Netanyahu to block the screening. Leela JACINTO Binyamin Netanyahu reaches for a glass of water on the table. He looks relaxed, slouching slightly in his suit and tie, a large map of the Middle East on the wall behind him enhancing the power and prestige of his position as Israeli prime minister. “Did you ask for it?” questions an unseen police interrogator.
From Variety:
Academy Apologizes for Not Naming ‘No Other Land’ Director Hamdan Ballal Amid Outcry From More Than 700 Voters By Clayton Davis The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has sent out a statement to its 11,000 members following mounting criticism over its lack of public support for Hamdan Ballal, the Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land,” who was recently detained by Israeli forces. On Friday, the Academy issued a follow-up letter explicitly naming Ballal and apologizing for omitting both him and the film from a statement sent earlier in the week.
From the NY Times:
Ramadan TV Series Stokes Tensions Between Sunni and Shiite Muslims The story of a divisive Islamic ruler from ancient times, produced by a broadcaster in the Sunni kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has drawn rebukes from Shiite-majority Iran and Iraq. By Ismaeel Naar A new TV series airing for the holy month of Ramadan is stoking sectarian tensions in the Middle East with the story of a divisive figure in Islamic history who is revered by Sunni Muslims but reviled by many Shiites. The series, “Muawiya,” tells the story of Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan, a major figure in early Islam. He was one of Islam’s early rulers and the founder of the Umayyad dynasty — the first hereditary rulers in Islam where power passed down within the same clan. He was also a reputed companion of the Prophet Muhammad.
From the NY Times:
The Voice of South Africa’s First Post-Apartheid Generation Thandiswa Mazwai has sung of South Africa’s highs and lows since the country became a multiracial democracy 30 years ago. “My calling is to sing the people’s joy, to sing the people’s sadness.” By Lynsey Chutel At a gala dinner held soon after South Africa’s most contested election since the end of apartheid, a singer reminded the gathered politicians how to do their jobs. “I want to implore you to think of the people of this country, and to think about why you have been chosen,” the singer, Thandiswa Mazwai, told the political elite at the June gala, put on by the Independent Electoral Commission in Johannesburg to mark the release of the vote’s final results.
From the BBC:
Expelled South African envoy accuses Trump administration of racism James Menendez & Khanyisile Ngcobo South Africa's former ambassador to the US has told the BBC it is “self-evident” that there is racism within the Trump administration. Ebrahim Rasool, 62, was ordered to leave the US last week after Secretary of State Marco Rubio called him a "race-baiting politician who hates America". This came after Rasool accused President Donald Trump of trying to "project white victimhood as a dog whistle".
From The Guardian (a couple of days old, but still interesting):
Charity faces legal action after relocated elephants in Malawi allegedly kill 10 people People living near Kasungu national park say they are living in fear after translocation of 263 elephants by International Fund for Animal Welfare Patrick Greenfield People living on the edge of a protected area in Malawi are taking legal action against an NGO that moved more than 250 elephants into the area, which they say have killed at least 10 people. Villagers near Kasungu national park, which is Malawi’s second largest and crosses the Zambian border, say they are living in fear for their livelihoods and safety after 263 elephants were introduced in July 2022, causing a sharp spike in human-wildlife conflict. Ten people claiming to be affected by the translocation from Liwonde national park have begun legal action against the International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw), demanding that the conservation NGO construct adequate fencing to protect the 167 villages around the park and compensate local people for the damage caused by the elephants.
From the BBC:
Assassin's Creed maker gets $1.25bn Chinese investment Peter Hoskins Chinese technology giant Tencent has made a €1.2bn ($1.25bn; £1bn) investment in a spin-off from Ubisoft, the maker of the Assassin's Creed video games. Shenzhen-based Tencent will own about a quarter of the new business, with Ubisoft holding the rest of the new subsidiary, which is valued at around €4bn.
From The Guardian:
Flight bookings between Canada and US down 70% amid Trump tariff war Airline capacity between two countries reduced through October 2025 as high-profile incidents of Ice arrests on rise Marina Dunbar Airline travel between Canada and the US is “collapsing” amid Donald Trump’s tariff war, with flight bookings between the two countries down by over 70%, newly released data suggests. According to data from the aviation analytics company OAG, airline capacity between Canada and the US has been reduced through October 2025, with the biggest cuts occurring between the months of July and August, which is considered peak travel season. Passenger bookings on Canada to US routes are currently down by over 70% compared to the same period last year.
Now we move on to the more depressing news, and we begin with the BBC coverage of the earthquake in Myanmar. They have been working very carefully to make sure the videos they show are actually from Myanmar, which is a very closed off society, and are not AI generated. If you are looking for high-quality coverage of the events in SE Asia, I recommend the BBC.
Verified video shows widespread damage following Myanmar earthquake Footage from Myanmar and Thailand has revealed widespread damage following a powerful earthquake. Dozens of videos and images of the aftermath have been posted on social media. BBC Verify's Jake Horton has been assessing the footage to try to build up a picture of what happened.
A longer video, also from the Beeb, of the pagoda collapse, and of a baby being born on the street in Bangkok.
One quick look at a story from the Far East, then we will move to the west. This comes from The Guardian:
South Korea wildfires become biggest on record as disaster chief points to ‘harsh reality’ of climate crisis Officials point to ultra-dry conditions as death toll reaches 27 and fires threaten Unesco heritage sites Justin McCurry Authorities in South Korea are battling wildfires that have doubled in size in a day in the country’s worst ever natural fire disaster. At least 27 people have died and hundreds of buildings destroyed in the south-eastern province of North Gyeongsang, with the country’s disaster chief saying the fires had exposed the “harsh reality” of global heating.
Moving west now.
From The Guardian:
Two killed in Kathmandu rally demanding return of Nepal monarchy Dozens of royalists injured in clashes with police fuelled by political instability and economic discontent Hannah Ellis-Petersen Two people have been killed and dozens injured after protests in Kathmandu calling for the restoration of Nepal’s monarchy ended in clashes with police. Thousands of protesters rallied in Nepal’s capital on Friday to demand a return to the Hindu monarchy, which was abolished in 2008, and the re-establishment of the country as a Hindu rather than secular state. Pro-democracy and republican groups held a counter-protest that passed peacefully.
Also from The Guardian:
Mumbai comedy club ransacked after performer’s joke about local politician Shiv Sena party supporters tore apart the Habitat comedy club after Kunal Kamra’s satirical song about a top minister Hannah Ellis-Petersen A mob violently ransacked a Mumbai comedy club and its building has been partly demolished after one of India’s most prominent comedians performed a satirical song about a local ruling politician during a performance there. Kunal Kamra has a reputation for his acerbic comedy which often pokes fun at political figures. Few comedians in India dare to make political jokes for risk of a backlash.
From NPR:
What Ramadan has been like this year in Gaza, from ceasefire to war GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — It is 2 a.m. and three young men walk through the rubble of a neighborhood destroyed by Israeli airstrikes, beating a drum and singing Muslim chants. They're loud, and that's the point. They are waking people up, reminding them to eat before another day of fasting begins at dawn, during the holy month of Ramadan.
From Futurism.com, via Yahoo! News:
Entire Crew Escaped Submarine During Sinking That Killed Multiple Children Noor Al-Sibai In Egypt's Red Sea, a crew on a sightseeing submarine tour managed to escape when the vessel began sinking — even though some of the tourists on board were not so lucky. As the BBC reports, authorities are questioning the crew of the Sindbad submarine after it foundered during a coral reef tour near the beach town of Hurghada in southeastern Egypt. Of the 45 passengers on board the vessel, six tourists — including two children — died during the sinking, and nine more were injured. When authorities came to rescue the sinking sub, 39 people and five crew members were saved, the report notes. Two of the tourists who died were a married couple of doctors, and their daughters, devastatingly, are in the hospital in critical condition.
From the BBC:
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