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Overnight News Digest: September 17, 2025 [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-09-17
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, doomandgloom and FarWestGirl. 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, JeremyBloom, 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.
Don't miss the beautiful summer Milky Way next week as the new moon goes dark on Sept. 21.
Space.com
The moon is at new phase on Sept. 21 and during this upcoming week will appear first as a gradually diminishing crescent of light in the predawn hours, and during next week as a slender sliver of light in the early evening skies, and won't be much of a hindrance at all to stargazing. This combined with the fact that at this particular time of the year the hazy skies of summer are giving way to clearer skies and cooler overnight temperatures. This means that this is an optimum week to check out the beautiful summer Milky Way . As soon as darkness falls, it becomes evident as a wide glowing arch of variety and beauty, stretching across the sky from the northeast to southwest. Sweep with binoculars from the Scorpion's tail in the Scorpius constellation , through the Summer Triangle, and then down to Cassiopeia and Perseus. You'll find concentrations of stars, clusters, large apparent gaps (such as the "Great Rift" in Cygnus), and more stars than you probably thought existed.
Surprise solar storm sparks stunning auroras across the US (photos).
Space.com
Aurora chasers around the world were treated to dazzling shows after a "secret" island within a coronal hole triggered an unexpected strong (G3) level geomagnetic storm overnight on Sunday (Sept. 14-15). The outburst sent auroras spilling far beyond their usual range, thrilling aurora chasers across the U.S. Space weather physicist Tamitha Skov explained in her latest aurora forecast on YouTube that the true culprit wasn't the big eruptions everyone was watching, but something hidden in plain sight. "The source of the big solar storm is due to this coronal hole right here, which is a really noteworthy coronal hole for a number of reasons," Skov said. What made this coronal hole so unusual was a subtle, but influential magnetic twist. The coronal hole had a negative polarity that wasn't supposed to give us big geomagnetic storms or subsequent auroras, Skov explained. But as it moved across the sun's disk, something changed. An "island" of positive polarity appeared in the middle of the coronal hole. "That positive polarity is what ended up giving us about 6 hours worth of really intense storming," Skov explained.
'The sun is slowly waking up': Scientists say a rise in solar storms awaits us.
Space.com
The sun has grown increasingly active over the past 17 years, bucking a downward trend that had solar physicists wondering whether our star was heading towards a new "grand minimum" of the kind last seen in 1830. Beginning in the 1980s, solar activity started decreasing overall, with each subsequent 11-year sunspot cycle seeing fewer sunspots, fewer flares and fewer coronal mass ejections. Solar activity reached a nadir in 2008, which was the lull at the beginning of solar cycle 24. That year had the weakest solar activity on record. "All signs were pointing to the sun going into a prolonged phase of low activity," said Jamies Jasinski of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in a statement. "So it was a surprise to see that trend reversed. The Sun is slowly waking up."
'We have to fully fund NASA': Lawmaker joins space agency employees in protest outside DC headquarters.
Space.com
Chants of "Save NASA!" echoed through downtown Washington, D.C., Monday(Sept. 15) as agency workers and supporters rallied outside NASA headquarters. Carrying signs and repeating calls, protestors urged lawmakers to protect the space agency's future. It was the third such demonstration this summer, and part of a campaign organized by NASA Needs Help that the group says is growing as the budget fight intensifies. Demonstrators warned that layoffs, mission shutdowns and the loss of union rights are already sinking morale and threatening safety across NASA centers. Protestors argued that the agency is being hollowed out before Congress finalizes NASA's next budget, and that the damage to science and the U.S. space program could be irreparable. "Like other federal employees, the people of NASA have suffered months of attacks on their work," one protest organizer, Helen, who did not provide a last name, told the gathered crowd through a microphone. "They've endured shortsighted decisions, paralyzing uncertainty, and a steady erosion of the very expertise that makes these missions possible." At the center of their concerns is President Donald Trump's proposed fiscal year 2026 (FY 26) budget. The White House's plan would reduce NASA's overall funding by nearly a quarter, slash science programs almost in half, and cancel 41 active or planned science missions, including spacecraft already operating in Earth orbit and beyond.
'I'll be damned if that's the story we write': Acting NASA Administrator Duffy vows not to lose moon race to China.
Space.com
NASA's acting administrator is pushing back against recent claims that the agency is losing ground to China in the race back to the moon. Sean Duffy addressed employees in an internal NASA town hall last week, just one day after Senate testimony suggested that China may land astronauts at the lunar south pole before the U.S. does so. "I'll be damned if that is the story that we write," Duffy said. "We are going to beat the Chinese to the moon. We are going to do it safely. We're going to do it fast. We're going to do it right." Duffy's remarks were a direct response to testimony delivered at a Sept. 3 Senate Commerce Committee hearing titled "There's a Bad Moon on the Rise." During the hearing, several witnesses, including former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and Mike Gold, the former acting associate administrator for NASA's Office of International and Interagency Relations, warned that China's lunar exploits could soon surpass America's.
A Girl Scout was injured in a remote California canyon. Here's how satellites got help to her in minutes.
Space.com
A Girl Scout who fell into a canyon during a hike in a remote, mountainous part of Southern California earlier this year was rescued within hours after suffering a potentially dangerous concussion thanks to a direct-to-cell satellite service that enables users to get in touch with 911 using a regular smartphone in the absence of terrestrial cell phone coverage. Owners of the newest iPhones have been able to text 911 in emergency situations via satellites circling the planet in low Earth orbit since late 2022. Those phones, however, needed specialized antennas to connect to dedicated satellite communications frequencies. The life-saving service, which automatically shares the caller's precise location, became more widely available earlier this year after mobile operator T-Mobile turned on its text-to-911 service in cooperation with SpaceX's Starlink satellites for all existing cell phones less than four years old. The service has been available in beta testing since February and came fully online this summer.
Ukraine war briefing: Russian oil system struggling under Ukrainian attacks – report.
The Guardian.com
Russia’s oil pipeline monopoly Transneft has warned producers they may have to cut output following Ukraine’s drone attacks on critical export ports and refineries, Reuters has reported, citing industry sources. Ukrainian drones have frequently hit Russia’s oil plants, cutting refining capacity by up to a fifth, and damaged ports including Ust-Luga and Primorsk, Ukrainian military officials and Russian industry sources have said. Ukraine’s military said on Tuesday it had struck the Saratov oil refinery in Russia during an overnight attack .
Transneft, which handles more than 80% of all the oil extracted in Russia, has in recent days restricted oil firms’ ability to store oil in its pipeline system , two industry sources close to Russian oil firms told Reuters. Transneft has also warned producers it may have to accept less oil if its infrastructure sustains further damage, the two sources said. Transneft dismissed Reuters’ reporting as “fake news”. The Russian government relies heavily on oil and gas revenue. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, has said attacks on Russian oil infrastructure are “the sanctions that work the fastest” .
The European Commission will propose speeding up the phase-out of Russian fossil fuel imports, the EU executive’s head, Ursula von der Leyen, said on Tuesday after a call with the US president, Donald Trump. “Russia’s war economy, sustained by revenues from fossil fuels, is financing the bloodshed in Ukraine,” she said. Von der Leyen announced the commission would soon present its 19th package of sanctions aimed at Russia’s war effort – targeting crypto, banks, and energy.
Starmer to recognise Palestinian state ‘after Trump state visit’.
The Guardian.com
Keir Starmer will reportedly recognise a Palestinian state over the weekend after Donald Trump concludes his state visit to the UK. The prime minister has previously said he plans to recognise Palestinian statehood before the UN general assembly in New York this month if Israel does not meet a series of conditions to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. High-level meetings at the UN summit involving world leaders begin on 23 September. According to the Times, Starmer has held off on formally announcing the UK will recognise a Palestinian state until after Trump leaves for fear it could dominate a Thursday news conference the two men plan to hold at Chequers.
European Commission calls for freezing of free trade with Israel over Gaza.
The Guardian.com
The EU executive has called for a suspension of free trade with Israel and sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Ursula von der Leyen had already floated the proposal to suspend the trade parts of the EU-Israel association agreement last week as the European Commission faced intense pressure for greater action amid criticism that it was not using its economic leverage to influence the Israeli government. There is, however, no certain majority from EU member states for the proposals outlined on Wednesday, because Germany, one of Israel’s key allies, has long been reluctant to take such steps. The proposals include suspending Israel’s preferential access to the European market by reimposing tariffs on some goods, and freezing mutual benefits related to bidding for public contracts and the protection of intellectual property rights. The commission also called for sanctions on Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank and 10 Hamas leaders.
She’s been said to have powerful ‘granny energy’. Here’s hoping it’s what’s necessary.
Nepal appoints its first female PM after historic week of deadly protests.
The Guardian.com
Nepal has sworn in its first female prime minister after a historic week in which widespread youth protests forced the resignation of her predecessor and the dissolving of parliament. Sushila Karki, the former chief justice of Nepal, took the oath of office late on Friday, after several tense days of negotiation. Karki will lead an interim government until fresh elections take place in March next year. Karki, a widely respected figure known for her hardline stand against corruption, had been nominated by a group who said they represented the self-described gen Z protesters who brought down the government earlier this week. Tens of thousands of protesters, the majority of them below the age of 30, took to the streets on Monday to voice their opposition to a clumsily enforced ban on social media sites as well as bigger issues of corruption and nepotism among Nepal’s political elite. Police responded with deadly force, including documented use of live ammunition. Twenty-one civilians taking part in the demonstrations were killed on what became the bloodiest day of protest in Nepal’s history.
‘Censoring you in real time’: suspension of Jimmy Kimmel show sparks shock and fears for free speech.
The Guardian.com
Politicians, media figures and free speech organisations expressed anger and alarm at the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show, warning that critics of Donald Trump were being systematically silenced. ABC announced it was suspending the programmed indefinitely after comments Kimmel made about Charlie Kirk’s killing led a group of ABC-affiliated stations to say it would not air the show. On Wednesday evening, California governor Gavin Newsom called the firing of commentators and cancelling of shows “coordinated” and “dangerous.” He went on to say that the Republican party “does not believe in free speech. They are censoring you in real time.” Democratic senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said “everybody across the political spectrum should be speaking out to stop what’s happening to Jimmy Kimmel.” His colleague Chris Murphy said it was likely the start of a campaign to “use the murder of Charlie Kirk as a pretext to use the power of the White House to wipe out Trump’s critics and his political opponents.”
Venezuela starts days of military and ‘electronic warfare’ drills after US strikes on alleged drug boats.
The Guardian.com
Venezuela says it has begun three days of military exercises on its Caribbean island of La Orchila as tensions soar amid US military activity in the region. Forces deployed for what Washington called an anti-drug operation have blown up at least two Venezuelan boats and a combined 14 people allegedly transporting drugs across the Caribbean this month – a move slammed by UN experts as “extrajudicial execution”. The strikes and a deployment of US warships in the region have raised fears of an invasion in Venezuela, whose president, Nicolás Maduro, has been accused by Washington of being a cartel leader.
Poverty in California remains highest in US, tied with Louisiana, report says
The Guardian.com
A new report shows California has the highest poverty rate in the US, alongside Louisiana, and rates have shown little improvement. Despite the abundant wealth in the state – more billionaires live in California than anywhere else in the US – in 2024 about 7 million people, or 17.7% of residents, could not afford to cover their basic needs. In 2021, California’s poverty rate reached a historic low of 11%, but as pandemic-era policies came to an end, rates surged in the state and across the US, according to the report from the California Budget and Policy Center released last week. The research and analysis non-profit found that poverty rates in California remained “statistically unchanged” from 2023 levels, and that people of color, renters and children were among the most affected. Child poverty in the state has more than doubled since 2021. “These figures reflect a troubling trend that began with the rollback of historic anti-poverty investments that were created to mitigate the harm of the Covid-19 pandemic – underscoring that poverty is a policy choice,” the report states, adding that policies such as the federal child tax credit were associated with a historic decline in poverty. “When Congress allowed these effective policies to expire, they immediately reversed progress, causing the largest increase in the national poverty rate in 50 years, and a significant spike in California’s poverty rate.”
US President in UK: Trump, Epstein images flashed on Windsor castle walls by protesters - Watch.
Times of India
Britain rolls out the red carpet for US President Donald Trump, only to troll and mock him. As the Republican leader is all set for his UK visit, protestors on Tuesday projected images of him with his alleged friend and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein onto Windsor Castle in England, where he is expected to stay. Donkey group, which is famous for its viral stunts mocking and targeting politicians, broadcast a video montage on Trump and Epstein for a few minutes on one of the towers of the castle. The video montage included shots of Trump - his mugshot, portraits of Epstein, newspaper headlines and footage of the two men dancing together.According to news agency AFP, four people were arrested "on suspicion of malicious communications" following the stunt.
‘Historic evacuation in Pakistan’: Punjab floods leave 2.5 million displaced, 101 dead as relief operations intensify.
Times of India
Even as floodwaters began to recede in parts of south Punjab, the scale of destruction remains staggering, nearly 2.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes and at least 101 lives have been lost, the Dawn reported. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has called the ongoing evacuation and relief drive one of the largest in recent memory. More than 1,500 boats were deployed to rescue stranded families, with 12,427 people evacuated from villages along the Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers.
'I don't regret': Kash Patel opens up on row over leadership, why he announced wrong arrest after Charlie Kirk's assassination.
Times of India
FBI director Kash Patel Monday addressed the controversy surrounding his leadership as Patel has been under fire for several 'missteps' in connection with the Charlie Kirk assassination case. Hours after Charlie Kirk was shot, Patel announced on social media that a suspect was in custody, only to announce later that the subject was released after investigation. This triggered a major row as to why the FBI director needed to announce the arrest of the suspect in the first place if the investigation was still going on. Patel was called an 'amateur' for jumping the gun. Amid calls for his resignation, President Donald Trump praised FBI and Kash Patel's leadership, though the inside chatter is that Trump is not very enthusiastic about Patel and the Charlie Kirk issue is not the only issue -- Patel's disagreement with Attorney General Pam Bondi on the Epstein issue was the starting point, they said.
Trump says US, China reach deal on TikTok; to speak with Xi on Friday.
Times of India
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that the United States and China have reached a deal over TikTok, potentially averting a looming ban on the popular video-sharing app. "We have a deal on TikTok, I've reached a deal with China, I'm going to speak to President Xi (Jinping) on Friday to confirm everything up," Trump told reporters before departing the White House for a state visit to Britain. The agreement follows two days of negotiations in Madrid between US treasury secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese vice premier He Lifeng, officials said. TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, has nearly two billion global users.
'SpaceX' cocaine: Australian pilot dies in plane crash; cops find 200kg of drugs.
Times of India
Approximately 200 kg of cocaine was found wrapped in fake SpaceX packaging after a plane crashed in remote Brazil. The pilot, an Australian, was discovered dead outside the aircraft after it went down in Coruripe, a coastal area along Brazil’s tropical shoreline. The pilot, identified as Timothy J. Clark, was the sole occupant of the aircraft. He was found dead outside the wreckage, according to local outlet G1 Globo. …. Local law enforcement valued the haul at around nine million Brazilian reais (approximately $16 million), and the drugs were transferred to the Integrated Public Security Centre in Coruripe, according to local media. The aircraft is suspected to have used Alagoas as a stopover along an international drug trafficking route, as cited by Em Tempo Noticias. Investigators are also examining whether the pilot had prior knowledge of Brazil’s air routes.While Brazil produces little cocaine itself, Colombia accounts for about 70 percent of the global supply, with the country playing a pivotal role in international distribution.
‘Ball still in Iran’s court,’ European powers say after nuclear issues call.
Al Jazeera.com
Germany says the “ball is still in Iran’s court” after the French, British and German foreign ministers held talks by phone with their Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, regarding Tehran’s nuclear programme. Wednesday’s phone call came after the European powers last month triggered a 30-day deadline for “snapback” sanctions to come into force in the absence of a negotiated deal on the Iranian nuclear programme. A German Federal Foreign Office spokesman told the AFP news agency on Wednesday that the offer from the so-called E3 powers “to discuss a temporary extension of the snapback if Iran fulfils certain conditions remains on the table” but added: “At this point, the steps taken by Iran have not been sufficient.” On the Iranian side, Araghchi said after that call that his country was willing to reach a “fair and balanced solution” on sanctions and nuclear issues. Before the call, Tehran called for a “positive approach and goodwill” from the E3.
China bans tech firms from Nvidia chip purchases: Report.
Al Jazeera.com
China has banned its leading tech firms from buying chips from Nvidia as the country ramps up domestic manufacturing. The Financial Times reported that the country’s internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), told tech giants, including ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, and the e-commerce giant Alibaba, to end testing for an AI chip that the Santa Clara, California-based chip giant made explicitly for the Chinese market. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said he was “disappointed” by the report. “We will continue to be supportive of the Chinese government and Chinese companies as they wish,” he said at a news conference in London. Several companies had indicated they would order tens of thousands of the RTX Pro 6000D chips and had started testing and verification work with Nvidia’s server suppliers.
Saudi Arabia signs mutual defence pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan.
Al Jazeera.com
Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan have signed a formal mutual defence pact, state media from both countries said, in a move that significantly strengthens a decades-long security partnership. “This agreement, which reflects the shared commitment of both nations to enhance their security and to achieving security and peace in the region and the world, aims to develop aspects of defense cooperation between the two countries and strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression. The agreement states that any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both,” a joint statement published on Wednesday said, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The defence pact was based on the “historic partnership” between the two countries, the statement said, and “shared strategic interests and close defence cooperation”. During their meeting in Riyadh on Wednesday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif “discussed ways to enhance the strategic partnership between the two brotherly countries across various fields”, SPA said.
Mass displacement in Gaza as Israeli ground invasion intensifies.
Al Jazeera.com
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been forcibly displaced from Gaza City as Israel’s deadly ground invasion in its genocidal war continues. An Israeli army spokesperson announced on Tuesday a “temporary” evacuation route for Palestinians via Salah al-Din Street, available for just 48 hours. Avichay Adraee stated on X that residents could move along Salah al-Din Street southwards from Wadi Gaza. “Transit through this route will be available for 48 hours starting today … and until Friday,” he said. Israel has repeatedly struck residential areas, schools and hospitals throughout the Gaza Strip during the 23-month conflict. Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Nuseirat in central Gaza, said: “More and more Palestinian families are fleeing Gaza City under the threat of Israeli attacks with no guarantees of safety at all.” “While we’re here, we met friends, relatives and neighbours, and they told us they spent more than thirteen hours to make this difficult journey to the south of the Strip because of the vast overcrowding of roads. People say they’re totally exhausted,” he said.
Has Elon Musk really been awarded a $1 trillion pay deal?.
Al Jazeera.com
Tesla shares jumped 6 percent on Monday after CEO Elon Musk disclosed that he had bought $1bn worth of the company’s stock. The move reinforces Musk’s push for greater control over Tesla and comes a week after the company’s board offered him a $1 trillion pay package over the next decade. Musk’s stock purchase – his first open-market buy-up of shares since 2020 – comes at a critical time for Tesla, as it races to transform into an artificial intelligence and robotics firm whilst also grappling with falling sales of electric vehicles (EVs). But Musk’s pay packet has come in for intense criticism. Last weekend, Pope Leo decried the widening pay gap between corporate bosses such as Elon Musk – whose estimated wealth now stands at $367bn – and ordinary working people, which he said was a major factor in growing global unrest.
Will a boycott over Israel divide the Eurovision Song Contest?.
Al Jazeera.com
Several European countries have announced that they will not participate in the next Eurovision Song Contest if Israel, which has taken part in the annual competition for half a century, is allowed to continue. On Tuesday, Spain joined the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia in denouncing Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed nearly 65,000 people since October 2023, with many thousands more lost under the rubble and presumed dead, and announced that they will not take part if Israel continues to do so. Eurovision is an international song competition which takes place every year, primarily in European countries, and is televised. It has been running since 1956 and is one of the world’s longest-running and most-watched non-sporting TV events. Each country performs an original song and the winner is determined by voting. The contest is organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), a collective of public broadcasters in more than 35 countries.
Kenya: Fraud scandal robs millions of health care, pensions.
Deutsche Welle
For decades, Kenya's public pension and health insurance systems have promised workers security in retirement and protection during illness. But for many citizens, these promises have now turned into frustration and betrayal as the money they faithfully contributed has ended up in the pockets of fraudsters within the system. In 2024, a report by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu revealed more than 260,000 cases of fraudulent activities targeting pension schemes in Kenya. Between 2013 and 2020, over 67 billion Kenyan shillings ($515 million, €442 million) were lost through fake pension scheme payments. Meanwhile, legitimate retirees have been left empty-handed, and older people are passing away while still waiting to receive the pensions they worked so hard for.
EU's new approach to lure India away from Russia's orbit.
DW.com
The European Union (EU) proposed a new strategic agenda with India that raises bilateral relations to a higher level amid calls from the United States to hit India with massive tariffs. In July, the EU sanctioned an Indian refinery that refined Russian crude, ensuring it can't sell to Europe. Since then, US President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on India, half of it as punishment for buying Russian fuel. But as the EU and the US align their policies against Russia on secondary sanctions for its war in Ukraine, the Trump reportedly called on the bloc to impose up to 100% tariffs on India. However, the EU seems to have adopted a different approach in its new strategic agenda: lure India away from Russia's orbit of influence through a trade deal and enhanced strategic ties.
Ukraine updates: Merz warns Putin is 'testing the limits'.
DW.com
Germany's Merz warns Russia's Putin has been 'testing the limits' by violating NATO and EU airspace
First US military aid purchased by Ukraine's allies begins arriving
European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen wants the EU to quicken the halt of Russian gas, oil imports
UN chief Antonio Guterres does not foresee peace in the near future in Ukraine
Demonstrations in Slovakia have occurred over the government's pro-Russian stance
Russia-linked group planned parcel bomb attacks in Europe.
DW.com
Prosecutors in Lithuania said on Wednesday that it disrupted a Russian-led plot to use mail parcels for bomb attacks across Europe. Several suspects with ties to Russian military intelligence were involved in the plot, a Lithuanian general prosecutor and criminal police said. According to Lithuanian National Television (LNT), among the suspects charged are nationals of Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Ukraine. Homemade incendiary devices were to be concealed in massage cushions and cosmetic tubes. The suspects packed the parcels with thermite, a highly flammable substance used for industrial and military purposes. Several of the suspects were reportedly tied to a foiled May 9, 2024, arson attempt at an IKEA store in Vilnius, LNT said. The parcels involved shipments through European carriers DHL and DPD.
Microsoft seizes websites linked to Nigeria-based phishing.
DW.com
Microsoft said on Tuesday that it seized 338 websites linked to a Nigerian-based service that allowed users to carry out phishing campaigns The service, called "Raccoon0365," allowed users to engage in phishing campaigns that involved thousands of emails at a time, according to Steven Masada, assistant general counsel for Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit. The phishing operation ended up stealing at least 5,000 Microsoft user credentials. Phishing is a cybercrime in which criminals impersonate trustworthy domains to deceive users into revealing sensitive information like passwords or banking details.
How Chinese rare-earth mining threatens the Mekong River.
DW.com
Ecologists are warning that mainland Southeast Asia faces a looming ecological disaster unless urgent steps are taken to address the rare-earth mining boom in war-torn Myanmar. According to Global Witness, a London-based watchdog, Myanmar has become the world's largest source of heavy rare-earth elements. These minerals are essential for manufacturing high-tech products like wind turbines, electric vehicles and medical devices. Most of these mines are located in Shan state, where civil war has raged since the 2021 military coup. Earlier this year, Thailand's Department of Pollution Control found arsenic levels nearly four times higher than World Health Organization (WHO) limits in parts of the Kok River, a Mekong tributary flowing into Thailand from Myanmar. Other toxic metals were also detected at dangerous levels.
Science Chaser
'Teen' pachycephalosaur fossil is oldest and most complete skeleton found to date.
Phys.org
A "teenaged" pachycephalosaur from Mongolia's Gobi Desert may provide answers to lingering questions around the dinosaur group, according to new research published today in the journal Nature. The fossil represents a new species of pachycephalosaur and is both the oldest and most complete skeleton of this dinosaur group found to date. "Pachycephalosaurs are iconic dinosaurs, but they're also rare and mysterious," says Lindsay Zanno, associate research professor at North Carolina State University, head of paleontology at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and corresponding author of the work. The specimen was discovered in the Khuren Dukh locality of the Eastern Gobi Basin by Tsogtbaatar Chinzorig from the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, who is the lead author of the paper and currently a research assistant at NC State.
How the death of the dinosaurs reengineered Earth.
Phys.org
Dinosaurs had such an immense impact on Earth that their sudden extinction led to wide-scale changes in landscapes—including the shape of rivers—and these changes are reflected in the geologic record, according to a University of Michigan study. Scientists have long recognized the stark difference in rock formations from just before dinosaurs went extinct to just after, but chalked it up to sea level rise, coincidence, or other abiotic reasons. But U-M paleontologist Luke Weaver shows that once dinosaurs were extinguished, forests were allowed to flourish, which had a strong impact on rivers. Weaver and colleagues examined locations throughout the western United States that depicted sudden geologic changes that occurred at the boundary between the age of dinosaurs and the age of mammals.
An incredible comeback: Chicago River fish populations show signs of recovery as 24 species spawn.
Phys.org
A research paper authored by a researcher at Shedd Aquarium and published in Journal of Great Lakes Research assesses the fish species that spawn in the Chicago River to sustain and support resilient, biodiverse fish populations. Utilizing light traps at 10 locations in the Chicago River between the years 2020 and 2022, over 2,000 larval fish were collected, and their DNA revealed 24 different fish species present. "This research represents the first documentation of larvae from fish species occurring within the Chicago River, indicating that recovery and restoration efforts allow at least 24 species to successfully spawn and reach the larval stage," said Dr. Austin Happel, author of the study and research biologist at Shedd Aquarium. "Our previous studies showed that improvements to water quality in the river increased biodiversity, and now we have more positive news as populations are proliferating locally within the river."
Mapping songbird migration patterns may help offshore energy be more bird-friendly.
Phys.org
A study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology revealed when, where and how most songbirds migrate offshore over North American coastal waters. This data offers a baseline to help wind energy managers reduce fatal bird-wind turbine collisions while generating sustainable energy. The researchers analyzed 10 years of weather radar data from 16 sites, from Maine to Florida and around the Gulf of Mexico to Texas. They found that offshore migration over the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico occurs in more concentrated pulses for a shorter time, compared to migration over land. The study also found more birds migrate in the fall than in the spring, including young birds making their first journey south. "Offshore migration takes place in fewer nights than terrestrial migration because birds may be more selective about when to migrate over water," said Shannon Curley, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "Large bodies of water lack places to rest and refuel, so birds may wait for ideal weather conditions, such as favorable winds, before making an offshore crossing."
Seeds of change: Can Europe's organic farming shape the future of food?.
Phys.org
EU researchers are working across countries and sectors to boost organic farming, support farmers and shape policy to help meet the target of 25% organic farmland in Europe and a significant increase in organic aquaculture by 2030. From fancy oat milk lattes to organically grown produce at the local market, organic food has moved from niche to mainstream. But Europe's farmers, weighing the complex rules and costs of green farming, are struggling to keep pace with demand. In 2020, the European Commission set a bold goal: 25% of EU farmland under organic management by 2030. Yet by 2023, only 11% of farmland had been converted to organic. To close that gap, EU researchers, farmers and policy experts from 10 EU countries and Switzerland are working to identify barriers, test solutions and shape policy for a more resilient organic sector. Their research collaboration, OrganicTargets4EU, is running from 2022 to February 2026.
Bending salty ice could be a power source of the future.
Phys.org
For most of us, ice is a hazard. Whether it's making roads dangerously slippery or covering our sidewalks, this frozen form of water is something we often try to avoid. Yet, a discovery suggests that bending ice and adding salt to it could transform this winter nuisance into a new source of sustainable power. Xin Wen and his team at Xi'an Jiatong University in China found that ice is flexoelectric, a phenomenon where a material generates electricity when it is bent. Although it was previously known that glaciers colliding or stressed ice sheets could create electricity, no one had figured out how to make the effect powerful enough for practical use. In a study published in Nature Materials, the scientists describe how they created different batches of ice by freezing water with various amounts of ordinary salt (NaCl), from no salt to a very high concentration. They made samples in specific shapes, including cones, beams and flat slabs.
Hope everyone has a great evening. :-)
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