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.
The OND concept was borne under the keen keyboard of Magnifico - proper respect is due.
Current Contributers are ScottyUrb, Bentliberal, wader,Oke, rfall, JML9999 and Neon Vincent.
BBC:Libya conflict: Rebels battle for Zawiya and Zlitan
Libya conflict: Rebels battle for Zawiya and Zlitan
Rebels in Libya have been facing fierce resistance as they fight for two cities on the approaches to Tripoli in their drive to unseat Col Muammar Gaddafi.
After heavy losses, rebels said they had control of Zlitan, 160km (100 miles) east of the capital.
To the west, the opposition said they were clearing out the last pro-Gaddafi troops from Zawiya, 30km from Tripoli.
As the rebels advance, plans are being made to evacuate thousands of foreign workers stranded in the city.
BBC:Syria protests: 'Deaths in anti-Assad demonstrations'
Syria protests: 'Deaths in anti-Assad demonstrations'
At least 20 people are reported to have been killed and dozens injured in Syria as army and police opened fire on anti-government protesters.
Activists said most of the deaths were in southern Deraa province, but there were also reports of shootings in Homs.
On Thursday, the US led unprecedented calls for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down.
Earlier, Mr Assad told the United Nations that police and army operations against civilians had halted.
BBC:Norway attacks: Breivik bereaved visit Utoeya island
Norway attacks: Breivik bereaved visit Utoeya island
Family members and friends of Norwegians killed by a gunman last month have been visiting Utoeya island, the scene of the massacre.
The visit came as police were granted a request to keep the man who admitted to the killings, Anders Behring Breivik, in solitary confinement, as they continue their investigation.
Sunday will mark the end of a month of mourning for the 77 people who died.
A national memorial service will be held at an Oslo arena.
BBC:Bomber Megrahi's release 'vindicated' two years on
Bomber Megrahi's release 'vindicated' two years on
On the second anniversary of the release of the Lockerbie bomber, the Scottish government claimed it had been "vindicated" over its controversial decision to free him.
Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was released from Greenock prison in 2009 after being given three months to live.
Two years on, the Scottish government said it stood by its decision.
A spokesman said senior figures in the US, British and Scottish jurisdictions have agreed it was taken in good faith.
BBC:Somalia famine: Turkish PM Erdogan visits Mogadishu
Somalia famine: Turkish PM Erdogan visits Mogadishu
Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his family have arrived in Somalia's capital to highlight the need for greater famine relief.
The visit to war-torn Mogadishu is the first by a leader from outside Africa in almost 20 years.
The Turkish foreign minister, part of a delegation accompanying Mr Erdogan, told the BBC they wanted to break the idea that the city was a no-go area.
East Africa is suffering from its worst drought in 60 years.
BBC:Attack on British Council compound in Kabul kills 12
Attack on British Council compound in Kabul kills 12
Gunmen have stormed the British Council office in the Afghan capital, Kabul, killing at least 12 people and taking over the compound for hours.
A suicide car bomb destroyed the compound wall and a number of heavily armed men forced their way inside.
After several hours of gunfire and blasts, the UK's ambassador in Kabul said all the gunmen had been killed.
The Taliban said the attack marked the anniversary of Afghanistan's independence from the UK in 1919.
Reuters:PIMCO: Treasuries reflect likelihood of recession
PIMCO: Treasuries reflect likelihood of recession
(Reuters) - Bill Gross, manager of the world's largest bond fund, said on Friday the decline in Treasury yields to 60-year lows reflect a high probability of recession in the United States.
Gross, the co-chief investment officer at Pacific Investment Management Co., which oversees $1.2 trillion, also told Reuters Insider television the U.S. is running out of monetary and fiscal policy options.
"It is increasingly apparent to us that policy options are limited and that economic growth is slowing down," said Gross said.
Thursday, Morgan Stanley warned in a research report the United States and euro zone are "dangerously close to recession," joining a number of firms that have slashed forecasts for global growth in the second half of the year. Not only are economists and investors bracing for a slowdown in the U.S., they are concerned about a deceleration in China's growth rate to persistent sovereign-debt turmoil in Europe.
Reuters:Moody's managers pressured analysts: ex-staffer
Moody's managers pressured analysts: ex-staffer
(Reuters) - An ex-Moody's Corp derivatives analyst said the credit-rating agency intimidated and pressured analysts to issue glowing ratings of toxic complex, structured mortgage securities.
In a 78-page letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission, William Harrington outlined how the committees that make the ratings decisions are not independent and how managers often intimidated analysts.
"The management of Moody's, the management of Moody's Corporation and the board of Moody's Corporation are squarely responsible for the poor quality of previous Moody's opinions that ushered in the financial crisis," he wrote.
"The track record of management influence in committees speaks for itself -- it produced hollowed-out (collateralized debt obligation) opinions that were at great odds with the private opinions of committees and which were not durable for even a short period after publication," he added.
Reuters:Japan mulling another FX intervention: report
Japan mulling another FX intervention: report
(Reuters) - Japan is considering intervening in the currency market again to stem further yen gains after the currency's overnight ascent to a fresh record high against the dollar, the Nikkei newspaper said on Saturday.
If the yen continues to rise, Japanese authorities will step into the market to weaken the currency, and will seek understanding for its unilateral action from its Group of Seven counterparts, the paper said without citing sources.
Growing volatility in global markets has raised investors' appetite for safe-haven currencies like the yen, pushing down the dollar to a record low against the Japanese currency on Friday. It bounced back above 76 yen after falling below its previous record low of 76.25 set in March.
If yen rises persist, the Bank of Japan may also ease monetary policy to support government efforts to weaken the yen at its rate review next month or even earlier, sources familiar with the central bank's thinking say.
Reuters:Panetta sees progress on keeping some U.S. troops in Iraq
Panetta sees progress on keeping some U.S. troops in Iraq
(Reuters) - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Friday he thinks progress has been made in talks with Baghdad on maintaining some U.S. military presence in Iraq after the end-of-year deadline for withdrawing American forces.
Panetta told a group of reporters from defense-related publications that in his opinion the Iraqis had finally agreed they wanted U.S. trainers to remain there and were now negotiating the details of the future U.S. presence.
"My view is that they finally did say, 'Yes,'" Panetta said, adding that President Jalal Talibani had a meeting last week in which key Iraqi leaders had decided to request negotiations on "what a training presence would look like."
Ali al-Moussawi, an adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, said there were no talks about extending the date for withdrawing U.S. troops beyond the end of the year, but negotiations were ongoing about whether U.S. military trainers would stay in Iraq. He said no decision had been made yet.
Reuters:Biden seeks to reassure China on U.S. debt
Biden seeks to reassure China on U.S. debt
(Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Friday said China had "nothing to worry about" concerning the safety of its vast holdings of Treasury debt, while China's Premier Wen Jiabao gave a ringing endorsement of the resilience of the debt-ridden U.S. economy.
The exchange came on the second day of Biden's five-day visit to China where he is seeking to reduce distrust between the world's two largest economies and build relations with Chinese leaders.
Wen said he was confident the U.S. economy -- which investors fear could slip into recession following a run of poor data -- would get back on track for healthy growth. That echoed earlier comments from China's vice president and heir apparent, Xi Jinping.
"It's particularly important that you sent a very clear message to the Chinese public that the United States will keep its word and its obligations with regard to its government debt, it will preserve the safety, liquidity and value of U.S. Treasuries," Wen told Biden.
Reuters:BofA cutting 3,500 jobs this quarter: memo
BofA cutting 3,500 jobs this quarter: memo
(Reuters) - Bank of America Corp plans to cut 3,500 jobs in the next few weeks as CEO Brian Moynihan tries to come to grips with the bank's $1 trillion pile of problem home mortgages.
The job cuts, which the Wall Street Journal said could rise to 10,000 in coming months, follows a series of quarterly losses over the past two years by the biggest U.S. bank, including a record loss of $8.8 billion in the latest quarter.
Moynihan announced the 3,500 cuts in a memo to staff on Thursday.
Investors have pummeled the banks' stock in recent weeks on fears it may need to raise outside capital to absorb losses.
Reuters:Atom Egoyan to Direct Movie Based on 'West Memphis Three'
Atom Egoyan to Direct Movie Based on 'West Memphis Three'
Atom Egoyan, the Egyptian-born director, plans to start shooting a movie based on convicted murderers the "West Memphis Three" – the subjects of the 1996 documentary “Paradise Lost” – in early spring 2012, TheWrap has confirmed.
As TheWrap reported Friday morning, The Weinstein Co.’s Dimension Films has been developing the project for years.
But on Friday, the story got an ending when a judge ordered the three men released from prison.
Also read: 'West Memphis Three' Killers Freed After 18 Years