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Overnight News Digest: Friday Night Elsewhere [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-04-11
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.
Pictures of the week come from The Guardian, and wildlife pictures of the week are also from The Guardian. As to the arts, there is a series of finalists for the Dobell Prize, Australia’s premier award for drawing — these are really worth seeing.
As always, cheerier news above the fold, more serious issues below.
From The Guardian (link is to a video):
From The Guardian:
‘Space junk’: huge astronaut statue coming to Perth park is one giant leap too far for many Council criticised over plan to replace beloved public artwork with 7-metre tall effigy of spaceman created by a former Wall Street trader Kelly Burke The City of Perth is under increasing pressure to drop its plans to replace one of the city’s most beloved public artworks with a 7-metre tall effigy of an astronaut, which as been derided as a piece of “factory-produced space junk”. Until four years ago, Ore Obelisk, affectionately known as The Kebab by the people of Perth, stood in the heritage-listed Stirling Gardens in the heart of the city. The 15-metre work made from local geological minerals, created by the architect, artist and Perth’s first city planner, Paul Ritter, was erected in 1971 to celebrate Western Australia’s population reaching one million, and was one of the city’s first public artworks.
From ABC News:
Australian woman unknowingly gives birth to a stranger's baby after IVF clinic error A woman in Australia unknowingly gave birth to a stranger's baby after an IVF clinic mistakenly transferred the wrong embryo, the clinic said By CHARLOTTE GRAHAM-MCLAY WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- A woman in Australia unknowingly gave birth to a stranger’s baby after she received another patient's embryo from her in vitro fertilization clinic due to “human error,” the clinic said. The mix-up was discovered in February when the clinic in the city of Brisbane found that the birth parents had one too many embryos in storage, said the provider, Monash IVF, in a statement supplied Friday. Staff discovered an embryo from another patient had been mistakenly thawed and transferred to the birth mother, a spokesperson said.
From the BBC:
Remains of dozens of Indigenous ancestors returned to Australia Kathryn Armstrong The remains of 36 Indigenous ancestors will be returned to Australia, in the latest repatriation of bodies taken from their traditional lands. Six of the ancestors' bodies were formally returned to their Queensland communities - Woppaburra, Warrgamay, Wuthathi and Yadhaighana - at a ceremony at London's Natural History Museum.
From the BBC:
Indian man who fed water to cheetahs in viral video restored in job Vishnukant Tiwari, Neyaz Farooquee An Indian forest worker, who was suspended after he was seen offering water to a cheetah and her cubs in a viral video, has been restored in his job at the sanctuary. Satyanarayan Gurjar, a driver at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh state, violated instructions which said only authorised personnel could go near the big cats.
From The Guardian:
Ink, angels and hard graft: the artists keeping Ethiopia’s ancient illuminated manuscript craft alive In an Addis Ababa workshop, sacred texts are painstakingly crafted on goat skin using methods dating back to early Christianity – plus a bit of inspiration from Google Images Fred Harter By I n a workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, four writers wrapped in traditional white shawls sit in silent concentration, hunched over goat skin parchments, eyes straining in the dim natural light. Homemade bamboo pens in hand, ink pots by their sides, they are painstakingly writing out sacred texts in the religious language of Ge’ez – continuing an ancient manuscript writing tradition that has been practised in the Ethiopian highlands for millennia. Occasionally, an editor comes over to discuss corrections. In an adjoining room, a team of artists paint colourful scenes of angels and saints.
From Africa News (this is about one of my very favourite contemporary artists):
Yinka Shonibare explores identity and hybridity in new Madagascar exhibition A giant in the world of visual art arrives in Madagascar. His name: Yinka Shonibare. The Anglo-Nigerian artist brings his powerful new exhibition “Safiotra [Hybridities]” to Fondation H, opening April 11th. At the heart of the show: identity—an issue deeply rooted in Malagasy society and still widely debated today.
You may have heard this story, but just in case you missed it, here is coverage from CBS News (spoiler: the penguin was okay after the crash):
South Africa helicopter crash blamed on penguin in cardboard box that hit pilot's controls Kerry Breen A pilot and three passengers were not injured after their helicopter crashed from a low altitude in South Africa, according to an incident report. An unsecured cardboard box holding a penguin caused the mishap, the South African Civil Aviation Authority's incident report said.
From the NY Times:
Pope Makes a Surprise Visit — and Style Statement — in St. Peter’s Appearing publicly in street clothes for the first time as pontiff, Pope Francis went into St. Peter’s Basilica to pray and greet the faithful. By Elisabetta Povoledo For a pope known for unexpected gestures, Francis’ brief swing through St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday might be the most audacious yet — at least in his attire. “Pope with a poncho, revolution in a photo,” read the caption of the photograph on the front page of the Rome daily newspaper Il Messaggero, showing Francis dressed in civilian clothes — a long-sleeved white T-shirt and dark slacks with a striped garment draped over his chest.
From The Guardian:
Boarding passes and check-in could be scrapped in air travel shake-up Facial recognition and a ‘journey pass’ stored on passengers’ phones are part of UN-backed plans to digitise air transport Sammy Gecsoyler The days of fumbling around for your boarding pass or frantically checking in for a flight on the way to the airport could soon be over under imminent plans to overhaul the way we travel. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the UN body responsible for crafting airline policy, plans to dramatically shake up existing rules for airports and airlines through the introduction of a “digital travel credential”.
The next several stories come from Al Jazeera (Qatar government-sponsored), which often has good coverage of south Asia).
Taiwan charges captain of China-linked ship with damaging subsea cable The case marks a first for Taiwan in prosecuting what it alleged is deliberate damage to a subsea cable. Taiwanese prosecutors have formally charged the captain of a Chinese-crewed cargo ship that Taipei says severed one of its subsea cables earlier this year. The Togo-flagged Hong Tai 58 was detained by Taiwan’s coastguard in February near the site of a cable breakdown amid allegations that it had deliberately dropped its anchor to cause damage.
And again from Al Jazeera:
Why Indonesia’s sinking rupiah is a flashing alarm for its $1.4tn economy Indonesia’s currency is at a record low against the US dollar amid concerns over President Prabowo Subianto’s policies. By Erin Hale Indonesia’s rupiah is trading at record lows against the US dollar, stirring memories of the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis. While the rupiah has been battered by the market uncertainty stemming from US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, the currency’s slide began weeks before Wednesday’s “Liberation Day” announcement.
Another from Al Jazeera, which often has good coverage of Asia:
UN slams Myanmar’s ruling military for breaching truce amid quake recovery The Myanmar army has carried out over 120 attacks after the deadly March 28 earthquake, with more than half of them after the warring sides declared a temporary ceasefire in the civil war on April 2, the UN rights office says. The United Nations rights office has denounced Myanmar’s governing military for breaching the temporary truce in the civil war that was declared by warring sides last month following a deadly earthquake. Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said on Friday that the military attacks on armed resistance groups come when “the sole focus should be on ensuring humanitarian aid gets to disaster zones.”
And from (where else?) Al Jazeera:
Myanmar’s military drafts thousands in first year of conscription drive Forced conscription has failed to change the course of Myanmar’s grinding civil war, and many are refusing to serve. By Zsombor Peter Bangkok, Thailand – Aung, a high school English teacher, figured it was high time to leave Myanmar the day the military generals who took over the country stepped up enforcement of a long-dormant conscription law they had dredged up. That was at the end of January, a little more than 11 months after the generals announced plans for widespread conscription, in order to cope with their military’s mounting desertions and battlefield losses to armed groups fighting back against their 2021 coup.
From Al Jazeera:
‘Won’t let it happen’: Indian fishers fight $1.8bn offshore minerals hunt The Indian government is investing heavily in the search for critical minerals, including off its coasts. But it faces strong opposition from fisherfolk and their allies. By Nikhil Sreekandan Kollam, India – Sebastian Stephen has spent his adult life chasing ocean winds and catching fish off the coast of Kollam, in India’s southern state of Kerala. A stroke two years ago left the 72-year-old fisherman partially paralysed, forcing him to hire others to operate his motorised fishing boat. In recent years, the catch has dwindled for fisherfolk along India’s southwestern coast due to rising sea surface temperatures and increasing extreme weather events, which affect fish food availability and survival rates. This, in turn, has pushed many fishers into debt.
Al Jazeera, again:
India’s language war: Why is Hindi sparking a north-south divide? A decades-old spat over alleged Hindi imposition in the southern state of Tamil Nadu has erupted again. Here’s why. By Yashraj Sharma New Delhi, India – Addressing a rally in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu last weekend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mocked leaders from the state government of the regional Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party. “These ministers from Tamil Nadu talk about pride in their language but always write letters to me and sign off in English. Why don’t they use the Tamil language?” he said, adding “Where is their Tamil pride?”
From africa news:
Is Ethiopia at war again? A look at the rebellion in one of its most powerful regions Before he was a rebel, Asres Mare Damte was a lawyer. Today he fights for the Fano, a loose collection of groups taking on Ethiophia's military in one of its most populous and powerful regions. The conflict in Amhara has simmered largely out of sight, with access limited by authorities and insecurity. But a rare interview with Asres, deputy of an influential Fano faction, and others on the ground give a sense of its impact. Ethiopia’s federal government has long been challenged to hold together a potent mix of ethnic groups and interests. Sometimes, as recently in the Tigray region, it explodes into war.
From the BBC:
Why fears are growing of a return of civil war to South Sudan Yemisi Adegoke & Nichola Mandil Rising tensions in the east African country of South Sudan, culminating in the 26 March arrest of Vice-President Riek Machar, have sparked concerns that the world's youngest nation is heading for another civil war. His party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement In Opposition (SPLM-IO), has said that his house arrest "effectively brings… to a collapse" the fragile 2018 peace agreement that ended five years of fighting.
From The Guardian:
Children of war: six orphans’ 1,000-mile journey across Sudan in search of safety After dysentery killed their mother and the civil war came to their home in Omdurman, Haroun and his young siblings were forced to set off on an epic quest to reach El Geneina Words and photographs by Karl Schembri They were huddled together on the bare floor of an abandoned house – four orphans who had travelled nearly 1,000 miles after having to flee from their home in the city when Sudan’s brutal civil war erupted. Having escaped ferocious fighting around Omdurman, twin city of the capital, Khartoum, they had arrived in Darfur, the sprawling region in western Sudan that has become synonymous with ethnic cleansing, massacres of civilians and widespread gang-rape and sexual violence during the ongoing conflict between Sudan’s armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
From The Guardian:
‘I’ll tackle Rox if he tries to go to Egypt’: Richard Roxburgh, Peter Greste and 400 days in a Cairo prison Greste’s harrowing experience of the Egyptian legal system is brought to the screen in The Correspondent, which takes its audience far beyond the familiar nightly news bulletins of 2014 Kelly Burke Richard Roxburgh would like to take this opportunity to apologise to audiences about to watch The Correspondent: “There is no escape from my face. For the entire sentence of the movie.” The audience’s “sentence” lasts just under two hours – but for the film’s subject, Australian war correspondent Peter Greste, his sentence was seven years in an Egyptian jail. In some ways, though, it was really a life sentence: despite walking free in 2015, Greste remains, by decree of a kangaroo court in Cairo, a convicted terrorist. On a recent flight from New York back to Australia via Auckland, immigration officials refused to let him progress to the transit lounge.
From Reuters:
Who is Tundu Lissu, Tanzania opposition leader accused of treason? By Ammu Kannampilly and Nuzulack Dausen Summary Party in turmoil over campaign for electoral reform
Assassination attempt made Lissu fearless, researcher says
He has been in and out of exile before returning home in 2023 Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu survived being shot 16 times in 2017 and has been arrested on multiple occasions, but now faces an even more grave challenge after being charged with treason, a capital offence, following his calls for electoral reform. An outspoken critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan's government, Lissu, 57, heads the main opposition party, CHADEMA, which has been campaigning under the slogan "No Reforms, No Election" ahead of national polls due later this year.
From DW:
Nigeria bans song critical of President Bola Tinubu Zac Crellin 8 hours ago Nigerian artist Eedris Abdulkareem has called on fans to stream his song online after authorities banned it from the airwaves. "Tell Your Papa" condemns Tinibu's economic track record after major protests. Authorities in Nigeria have banned a song critical of President Bola Tinubu from being broadcast on radio and TV. "Tell Your Papa" by Eedris Abdulkareem sharply criticizes Tinubu's economic record after two years in office, which has seen major protests over rising inflation and fuel prices.
Another from DW:
How an intercepted drone escalated Mali-Algeria tensions David Ehl12 hours ago Relations between the African neighbors have been deteriorating since 2023. Amid calls to thaw ties, is there enough political will on both sides? Yet another conflict story unravels from Tin Zaouatine, a desert region in Mali's far north-east. The same region that had witnessed an unprecedented defeat of Russian mercenaries who were ambushed by Tuareg rebels in August 2024 is again at the epicenter of an unfolding crisis. On the night between March 31 and April 1, a Turkish-manufactured Akinci surveillance drone operated by the Malian military literally fell from the sky. Video footage circulating on social media depicted burning debris falling and crashing into an uninhabited area.
From The Guardian:
‘Toxic cocktail’: study finds almost 200 pesticides in European homes More than 40% of pesticides discovered in dust linked to toxic effects including cancer and hormone disruption Helena Horton Almost 200 pesticides have been found by a study examining dust in homes around Europe, as scientists say regulators need to take “toxic cocktails” of chemicals into account when banning or restricting the use of pesticides. Scientists say their research supports the idea that regulators should assess the risks posed by pesticides when they react with other chemicals, as well as individually. They say this should apply to substances already in use, as well as those yet to be approved.
From DW:
Explosion at Greek railway offices in Athens Jenipher Camino Gonzalez 6 hours ago The building was evacuated prior to the explosion, after Greek media reportedly received a warning call for a bomb. Police in Greece reported on Friday that an explosion occurred outside the offices of Hellenic Train in Athens. What do we know so far? No injuries were reported, and authorities cordoned off the area. The building had been evacuated prior to the bomb's detonation. The blast took place in front of the Hellenic Train offices, in an area neighboring hotels, restaurants tourist rentals, and near one of Athens' busiest highways.
From The Guardian:
‘A collective sigh of relief’: how Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain went down in Poland Eisenberg’s Holocaust-heritage comedy-drama was a big hit in the country where it is set – though some have questioned its lack of engagement with locals. Historians, critics and heritage tour guides give us their thoughts Ada Petriczko A Real Pain, Jesse Eisenberg’s film about two cousins on a heritage tour of Holocaust-related sites in Poland, has been largely embraced by Polish audiences, who appreciated its understated humour and conspicuous good intentions. Within a month of its release, the film had grossed more than $1m at the Polish box office – no small feat for an indie production in Poland. “There was a collective sigh of relief,” says Vogue Poland film critic Anna Tatarska, “that here was a Hollywood Holocaust narrative that didn’t cast Poles as historical villains.” Poland’s fraught relationship with Holocaust narratives has made films touching on it into political battlegrounds for at least a decade. Since the nationalist backlash against films such as Aftermath (Pokłosie) in 2012, and Ida a year later – each of which confronted Polish complicity in wartime Jewish persecution – cinema has become a flashpoint in Poland’s ongoing struggle with historical memory. Against this backdrop, A Real Pain occupies an unusually diplomatic position, and this political neutrality helped Eisenberg’s film achieve what others couldn’t: acceptance not only from Polish audiences but also officialdom.
Another from DW:
Buchenwald: A warning against the dangers of extremism Christoph Strack18 hours ago Buchenwald, one of the largest Nazi concentration camps on German soil, was liberated 80 years ago on April 11, 1945. What role can remembrance of the Holocaust play amid the current resurgence of far-right extremism? The buildings stand in a place that seems to have been lifted up out of the surrounding landscape. The densely wooded Ettersberg, a hill located not far from the cultural hub of Weimar in the eastern German state of Thuringia, can be seen from far off. It seems like an idyllic area. The Buchenwald concentration camp was one of the largest on German soil. It was liberated on April 11, 1945 by US soldiers.
From DW:
Psychoactive drug pollution makes fish less risk-averse Fred Schwaller April 10, 2025 Clobazam, an anti-anxiety drug, is polluting our waterways. A Swedish study found traces of the drug had altered the way wild Atlantic salmon migrate. A common anti-anxiety drug, which has been found to pollute the world's waterways, seems to be influencing the migration behavior of wild Atlantic Salmon, according to a study out of Sweden. The study, published in the journal Science, found that wild salmon became less risk-averse when they were exposed to the psychoactive drug clobazam. That, in turn, changed the way the fish migrate.
From the BBC:
Smugglers hid £8m of cocaine in foie gras Emily Sinclair Four men who imported a haul of cocaine with a street value of about £8m have been jailed. Jean-Pierre Labelle, 48, Tanvir Hussain, 46, Michael Keating, 56, and his brother Matthew Keating, 49, were all sentenced on Friday at Hove Crown Court.
Also from the BBC:
Government aims to take control of British Steel Paul Seddon, Zoe Conway Parliament will be recalled for a rare Saturday sitting to pass an emergency law aimed at saving British Steel's Scunthorpe plant from imminent closure. Sir Keir Starmer said the legislation would allow ministers to "take control" of the Lincolnshire site and stop its Chinese owner from closing its blast furnaces. The move opens the door to a full nationalisation of the company at a later stage, with the prime minister saying "all options" remained on the table.
And we end as we began, with pictures of the week, from Reuters:
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