OND Editors OND is a 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 12:00AM Eastern Time.
OND Editors Welcome to the Overnight News Digest with a crew consisting of founder Magnifico, current leader Neon Vincent, regular editors side pocket, maggiejean, wader, Man Oh Man, rfall, Doctor RJ and JML9999. Alumni editors include (but not limited to) palantir, Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse, ek hornbeck, ScottyUrb, Interceptor7, BentLiberal, Oke and jlms qkw. The guest editor is annetteboardman.
Please feel free to share your articles and stories in the comments.
BBC
Peter Greste: Al-Jazeera journalist freed by Egypt
Al-Jazeera journalist Peter Greste has been freed and deported from Egypt and flown to Cyprus, bringing an end to 400 days behind bars.
The Australian ex-BBC correspondent was arrested in December 2013 and tried on charges that included spreading false news and aiding the Muslim Brotherhood.
Two al-Jazeera colleagues, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, remain jailed.
Reports said Mr Fahmy would be deported to Canada, but concern remains about Mr Mohamed, who holds no dual nationality.
Mr Fahmy, who holds dual Egyptian and Canadian citizenship, may be freed after having his Egyptian nationality revoked, presidential sources said.
All the defendants denied the charges against them and said their trial was a sham.
They were accused of collaborating with the banned Muslim Brotherhood after the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi by the military in 2013.
BBC
South Sudan foes agree to end conflict
South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and rebel commander Riek Machar have signed a deal, committing to end the conflict that has devastated the country.
The ceasefire agreement was signed at talks in Ethiopia.
But consultations will continue on the contentious issue of a future government and power-sharing.
The conflict - which erupted in December 2013 - has displaced about 1.5 million people and earlier ceasefire deals have not been lasted.
"Complete cessation of hostilities in South Sudan is expected as of this morning (Monday)," said Seyoum Mesfin, a negotiator from the regional Igad bloc.
It is proposed that Mr Kiir would remain president in a new administration, while Mr Machar would be appointed vice-president, two African diplomats attending the talks told Reuters.
But the talks have now been adjourned until mid-February to allow the parties involved to consider the power-sharing arrangements, the BBC's Emmanuel Igunza in Addis Ababa reports.
BBC
Obama plans tax on US firms overseas to fix roads at home
US President Barack Obama plans to close a tax loophole that allows US firms to avoid paying taxes on overseas profits, the White House says.
His 2016 budget will impose a one-off 14% tax on US profits stashed overseas, as well as a 19% tax on any future profits as they are earned.
The $238bn (£158bn) raised will be used to fund road projects in the US.
The proposal is one of the main components of Mr Obama's latest budget, due to be presented on Monday.
The spending plan, including the proposal on overseas profits, would require approval from the Republican-controlled Congress to be made law, something seen as unlikely.
Research firm Audit Analytics calculated last April that US firms in total have $2.1 trillion-worth of profits stashed abroad.
It found US conglomerate General Electric had the most profit stored overseas at $110bn. Tech giants Microsoft and Apple and drugs companies Pfizer and Merck all featured in the top five.
No tax is currently due on foreign profits as long as they are not brought into the United States.
Congress Corporations won't like this too much.
BBC
Magna Cartas united at British Library to celebrate 800th anniversary
The four surviving copies of the 1215 Magna Carta have been brought together for the first time in London.
Magna Carta is one of the most important, well-known documents in history and this year marks its 800th anniversary.
More than 40,000 people entered a public ballot to see them, with 1,125 getting the chance to see all four at the British Library over three days.
The Magna Carta was signed on 15 June 1215 at Runnymede.
The document was agreed by King John to appease rebel barons in the heart of battle.
It is considered one of the first steps towards parliamentary democracy and includes the principle that no one was above the law, including the king,
After three days, the documents will be taken to the House of Lords for one day before two are returned to the British Library and the others are taken back to Lincoln and Salisbury Cathedrals, where they are kept.
Al Jazeera America
'Breaking' news: January sees five major pipeline leaks
On Thursday, the Senate voted 62 to 36 to approve the Keystone XL tar-sands pipeline, which would move heavy crude oil across the Canada-U.S. border and down to Texas refineries and ports. Nine Democrats joined 53 Republicans in voting for the bill, which now must be reconciled with a House version before heading to President Barack Obama’s desk ... and a promised veto.
The pipeline needs White House approval because it crosses an international border, but perhaps odder than the futile effort of crafting legislation that is assured a veto is that the latest public push for the massive pipeline comes at the end of a month that has seen more than its share of serious pipeline accidents.
“Maybe this is just how pipelines celebrate January, but all over the country, pipelines new and old are popping off like roman candles,” said MSNBC host Rachel Maddow. Maddow noticed, as did the residents of several states, that there have been five major pipeline ruptures this month.
That we know of.
So far.
The Guardian
US considers providing arms to Ukraine as rebels step up attacks, says report
President Barack Obama’s administration is considering providing Ukrainian forces with defensive weapons and equipment in the face of a rebel offensive that has shattered a five-month truce, according to the New York Times.
The newspaper quoted US officials as saying secretary of state John Kerry and US joint chiefs chairman Martin Dempsey were open to discussions of the idea and that Nato military commander General Philip Breedlove supported providing such lethal aid.
One official was quoted as saying that US national security adviser Susan Rice was also prepared to reconsider her previous resistance to providing such assistance.
Kerry will visit Kiev on Thursday for talks with president Petro Poroshenko and other Ukrainian officials. Obama voiced concern last week about renewed fighting between Russian-backed separatist and government forces in eastern Ukraine and said the United States was considering all options short of military action to isolate Russia.
Raw Story
Researchers uncover what might be last existing Michelangelo bronze statues
Two sculptures that languished in obscurity for more than a century may be the only surviving bronze works by Michelangelo, researchers announced in Britain on Monday.
The international research team led by Britain’s University of Cambridge and the Fitzwilliam Museum uncovered new evidence linking the two nude works to Michelangelo, whose famed works include the painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Standing at a metre tall, the sculptures are of a young man and an older man riding panthers, and if confirmed the discovery would make them only surviving Michelangelo bronzes in the world.
“It has been fantastically exciting to have been able to participate in this ground-breaking project,” said Victoria Avery, Keeper of the Applied Arts Department of the Fitzwilliam Museum.
“The bronzes are exceptionally powerful and compelling works of art that deserve close-up study ? we hope the public will come and examine them for themselves, and engage with this ongoing debate.”
The pieces were attributed to Michelangelo in their first recording in the 19th century, but this was dismissed over the last 120 years as they were undocumented and unsigned.
Raw Story
Texas school suspends 9-year-old for making ‘terroristic threats’ with magic ‘Hobbit’ ring
A fourth grader in Kermit, Texas was suspended for making “terroristic threats” after allegedly telling a classmate that he had a “magic ring” that could make the boy disappear, the Odessa American reports.
According to Kermit Elementary School officials, 9-year-old Aiden Steward told a classmate that he possessed a magic ring forged in Mount Doom — a fictional location from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Hobbit and Lord of the Rings series.
Aiden’s father, Jason, told The Daily News that his family had just watched The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies earlier that week, and that his son “didn’t mean anything” when he told his classmate he was in possession of the “one ring to rule them all.”
“Kids act out movies that they see. When I watched Superman as a kid, I went outside and tried to fly,” he said.
“I assure you my son lacks the magical powers necessary to threaten his friend’s existence,” he added. “If he did, I’m sure he’d bring him right back.”
At least the father is cool.
L A Times
San Francisco gets no rain in January for first time in 165 years
In another sign California's persistent drought, downtown San Francisco recorded no measurable rain in January for the first time in 165 years.
The National Weather Service also said Santa Cruz recorded no rain in January for the first time since 1893. Normal rainfall for that city in January is more than 6 inches.
For the Bay Area as a whole, last month was the driest January on record, the weather service said.
December brought decent rain to Southern and Northern California, raising hopes for a wet winter. But January turned out to be dry and unusually warm.
Parts of Southern California, however, did see some showers in January.
And you've probably heard…..
L A Times
New England Patriots beat Seattle Seahawks, 28-24, in Super Bowl XLIX
The Seattle Seahawks were one yard away from their second consecutive Super Bowl victory.
One yard away from talks of dynasties and answering questions about whether they could do it a third time, but the only "one" that matters is the number of passes quarterback Russell Wilson has intercepted.
The New England Patriots beat the Seahawks, 28-24, in a back-and-fourth game that ended with Wilson having a pass intercepted at the goal line on what would have been the go-ahead score with seconds remaining in the game.
It was Wilson and the Seahawks' only turnover of the game.
Wilson completed 12 of 21 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns as Seattle rushed the ball 29 times, but not that last one.
Raw Story
Marijuana and the Super Bowl: Seattle pot company whips up 12,000 joints for gameday
Couldn't copy story but the title is enough.