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 consisting of founder Magnifico, regular editors jlms qkw, Bentliberal, wader, Oke, rfall, and JML9999, alumni editors palantir and ScottyUrb, guest editors maggiejean and annetteboardman, and current editor-in-chief Neon Vincent, along with anyone else who reads and comments, informs and entertains
Editorial Note: There are a number of diaries on this site regarding the tragedy in Colorado. A few of the stories here are a bit stale from a timestamp perspective but may have been lost in the sauce.
BBC:UN votes to extend Syria observer mission
UN votes to extend Syria observer mission
The UN Security Council has unanimously voted to keep its observer mission in Syria for a "final" 30 days.
However, members agreed the mission could be extended further if the use of heavy weapons ends and fighting eases.
The observers - sent to oversee a ceasefire that never took hold - have suspended their work in the face of escalating violence.
With fighting now engulfing areas of Damascus, thousands of Syrians are fleeing into neighbouring countries.
BBC:Vast aquifer found in Namibia could last for centuries
Vast aquifer found in Namibia could last for centuries
A newly discovered water source in Namibia could have a major impact on development in the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa.
Estimates suggest the aquifer could supply the north of the country for 400 years at current rates of consumption.
Scientists say the water is up to 10,000 years old but is cleaner to drink than many modern sources.
However, there are concerns that unauthorised drilling could threaten the new supply.
BBC:Colombian 'Farc rebels' blow up bridge in San Vicente
Colombian 'Farc rebels' blow up bridge in San Vicente
Officials say members of Colombia's largest rebel group, the Farc, have blown up a bridge in San Vicente del Caguan, in Caqueta province.
No-one was injured in the explosion, but the town is now virtually cut off.
San Vicente was at the centre of the demilitarized zone, a Farc safe haven created during peace negotiations with the government more than a decade ago.
After the negotiations failed, government forces retook the area but it remains a rebel stronghold.
BBC:Gene therapy nears approval in Europe
Gene therapy nears approval in Europe
Europe is on the cusp of approving a gene therapy for the first time, in what would be a landmark moment for the field.
Gene therapies alter a patient's DNA to treat inherited diseases passed from parent to child.
The European Medicines Agency has recommended a therapy for a rare genetic disease which leaves people unable to properly digest fats.
The European Commission will now make the final decision.
BBC:China to probe solar panel products from US and S Korea
China to probe solar panel products from US and S Korea
China's trade ministry will launch an investigation into what is says are unfair import prices of US and South Korean polysilicon, used in solar panels.
The probe relates to anti-subsidy and anti-dumping regulations, the ministry said.
China claims local manufacturers of polysilicon are being driven out of business.
This is the latest escalation in a trade dispute between China and the US.
BBC:Egypt's ex-spy chief Omar Suleiman dies in United States
Egypt's ex-spy chief Omar Suleiman dies in United States
Omar Suleiman, who for years headed Egyptian intelligence under ousted President Hosni Mubarak, has died in the USA.
He died in hospital in the early hours of Thursday, the official news agency Mena reported.
Gen Suleiman, who was in his seventies, was appointed vice-president by Mubarak in the last days of his rule.
He made a bid to stand for president in this year's election but was disqualified for technical reasons.
Reuters:Syrian forces attempt fightback after rebel surge
Syrian forces attempt fightback after rebel surge
(Reuters) - Syrian army helicopters pounded Damascus with rockets and heavy machine guns overnight, and tanks bombarded the capital from the ring road, to try to reverse relentless gains by rebels since much of President Bashar al-Assad's entourage was assassinated.
The unprecedented rebel momentum of the past few days has fighters boasting that Assad's grip is being pried from the country his family has ruled since his father seized power in a coup 42 years ago. But he remains a fearsome foe.
"The regime has been rudderless for last three days. But the aerial and ground bombardment on Damascus and its suburbs shows that it has not lost the striking force and that it is re-grouping," opposition activist Moaz al-Jahhar said by telephone from Damascus.
The 16-month conflict has been transformed since Wednesday, when a bomb killed four members of the president's narrow circle of kin and lieutenants, including his powerful brother-in-law, defense minister and intelligence chief.
Reuters:Labor Dept looking into JPMorgan stable value fund
Labor Dept looking into JPMorgan stable value fund
(Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Labor is looking into whether JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) violated its fiduciary duty under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act in connection with one of its stable value funds.
Stable value funds are used in 80 percent of 401(k) self-directed retirement plans and are meant to be the most conservative choice for employees - liquid and backed by insurance.
But, the $1.8 billion JPMorgan Stable Asset Income Fund has had as much as 13 percent of its assets invested in private mortgage debt underwritten and rated by the bank itself. It has reduced that to just under 4 percent, as of June 30, according to a spokesperson.
Many employers with 401(k) plans were unaware of the private mortgage component of the fund until after the 2008 market crash, according to retirement plan consultants who worked with companies that held the portfolios.
Reuters:Nasdaq says filing $62 million Facebook compensation plan
Nasdaq says filing $62 million Facebook compensation plan
(Reuters) - Nasdaq OMX Group Inc (NDAQ.O) said on Friday it will file a $62 million compensation plan for firms that lost money in the bungled Facebook Inc (FB.O) initial public offering in May.
The fund is $22 million larger than the original fund proposed in June, Nasdaq said. All accommodations will be paid in cash, a departure from the prior plan in which Nasdaq would have partially compensated firms through trading credits or rebates.
The compensation plan will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nasdaq said, adding that it expects all payouts to occur within six months.
Nasdaq's original plan drew criticism from market makers who say they lost upwards of $200 million because of technical glitches on the IPO. It also drew criticism from other exchanges, which said the trading credits would force the firms to trade on Nasdaq.
Reuters:Global stocks, euro tumble on Spain bailout fears
Global stocks, euro tumble on Spain bailout fears
(Reuters) - U.S. and European stocks fell on Friday and the euro hit record lows after Spain's heavily indebted Valencia region asked for financial aid, increasing investor fears that the Spanish government will seek a full-blown bailout.
Valencia sought help under an 18 billion euro ($22.1 billion) program passed on Thursday that aims to bolster regional finances.
Spain's IBEX stock index .IBEX fell 5.8 percent, its biggest one-day drop in two years, and the risk premium on government debt hit a euro-era high as its borrowing costs rose to 7.32 percent. That is above the 7 percent threshold considered unsustainable, with little relief in sight.
"There is very little to stop Spanish bond (yields) moving up at the moment, and that is a big concern," said Ed Shing, head of European equity strategy at Barclays.
Reuters:Kim plans economic change in North Korea
Kim plans economic change in North Korea
(Reuters) - Impoverished North Korea is gearing up to experiment with agricultural and economic reforms after young leader Kim Jong-un and his powerful uncle purged the country's top general for opposing change, a source with ties to both Pyongyang and Beijing said.
The source added that the cabinet had created a special bureau to take control of the decaying economy from the military, one of the world's largest, which under Kim's father was given pride of place in running the country.
The downfall of Vice Marshal Ri Yong-ho and his allies gives the untested new leader and his uncle Jang Song-thaek, who married into the Kim family dynasty and is widely seen as the real power behind the throne, the mandate to try to save the battered economy and prevent the secretive regime's collapse.
The source has correctly predicted events in the past, including North Korea's first nuclear test in 2006 days before it was conducted, as well as the ascension of Jang.
Reuters:Bus bomber was not Bulgarian, minister says
Bus bomber was not Bulgarian, minister says
(Reuters) - The man who blew up a bus carrying Israeli tourists at a Bulgarian airport, killing himself and six others, was a foreign national and Sofia is trying to pin down details with the help of foreign spy services, the interior minister said on Friday.
Israel has accused Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants of carrying out Wednesday's attack at Burgas airport, a popular gateway for tourists visiting Bulgaria's Black Sea coast. Iran has denied having any involvement.
Investigators said they managed to obtain DNA samples from the fingers of the bomber and were checking databases in an attempt to identify him. Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov told parliament he hoped that would be done in 3-4 days.
"We are talking about a person that is not a Bulgarian citizen," Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov told a news conference. "We are exchanging information with our Israeli colleagues and the other services."
Wa Po:DirecTV, Viacom resolve fee dispute with brands tattered but intact
DirecTV, Viacom resolve fee dispute with brands tattered but intact
LOS ANGELES — Viacom and DirecTV fought a bruising bout over fees to a draw Friday and agreed to a long-term deal that ended a 10-day channel blackout.
Their new deal restored MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and other channels to 20 million DirecTV customers and ensured those channels will be available to subscribers on computers and mobile devices in the coming months.
Fans on Twitter expressed relief.
According to terms shared by both sides on Friday, DirecTV Group Inc. will pay about 20 percent more to carry Viacom Inc. channels on satellite TV lineups. That works out to about $600 million in the first year of a seven-year deal. The companies agreed to annual single-digit percentage increases in subsequent years.