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 consisting of founder Magnifico, regular editors maggiejean, wader, Man Oh Man, side pocket, rfall, and JML9999, alumni editors palantir, Bentliberal, Oke, jlms qkw, Interceptor7, and ScottyUrb, guest editor annetteboardman, and current editor-in-chief Neon Vincent, along with anyone else who reads and comments, informs and entertains you.
BBC:CAR interim President Michel Djotodia resigns
CAR interim President Michel Djotodia resigns
Central African Republic's interim President Michel Djotodia has resigned at a regional summit aimed at ending violence that has engulfed the country.
PM Nicolas Tiengaye also resigned at the meeting in Chad.
Thousands of people took to the streets in CAR's capital, Bangui, most of them celebrating the news.
Mr Djotodia, CAR's first Muslim leader, seized power last year. Since then 20% of the population have fled fighting between Christian and Muslim militias.
BBC:South Sudan troops 'recapture key oil city of Bentiu'
South Sudan troops 'recapture key oil city of Bentiu'
South Sudan's military says it has recaptured the oil hub of Bentiu - one of just two rebel-held cities.
Army spokesman Philip Aguer said the final resistance - a tank protecting a bridge to the city - had been overcome at 14:30 local time (11:30 GMT).
Rebel leader Riek Machar told AFP his forces had withdrawn to save civilians but vowed to fight on.
The UN peacekeeping chief says the conflict has killed "very substantially in excess" of 1,000 people.
BBC:US diplomat to leave Delhi embassy amid Khobragade row
US diplomat to leave Delhi embassy amid Khobragade row
The US has confirmed that an American official will leave its embassy in Delhi at India's request, amid a diplomatic row.
The US state department said it deeply regretted the move and hoped that it would bring closure to the case.
The row erupted after Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade was arrested in New York on charges of visa fraud and underpaying her housekeeper.
She was asked to leave and arrived back in Delhi on Friday evening.
BBC:Half of US Congressional politicians are millionaires
Half of US Congressional politicians are millionaires
For the first time, half of the members of the US Congress are millionaires, according to a wealth analysis.
At least 268 of the 534 politicians in the Senate and House of Representatives had a net worth of $1m (£606,821) or more in 2012.
Democrats were slightly wealthier than Republicans, found the data from the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) at OpenSecrets.org.
It comes as politicians debate national jobless benefits and the minimum wage.
BBC:Aitzaz Hasan: Pakistan 'hero' recommended for award
Aitzaz Hasan: Pakistan 'hero' recommended for award
Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has recommended a bravery award for a teenager killed when tackling a suicide bomber who targeted his school.
Aitzaz Hasan, 15, is being hailed as a hero for confronting the attacker, who then detonated his vest.
The Sitara-e-Shujjat award can only be awarded once Pakistan's president has approved it.
The incident on Monday prompted an outpouring of praise and gratitude across Pakistan.
BBC:Ukraine ex-minister Lutsenko hurt in clashes in Kiev
Ukraine ex-minister Lutsenko hurt in clashes in Kiev
Several people have been injured in clashes between protesters and riot police in the Ukrainian capital Kiev.
Former Interior Minister and leading opposition figure Yuriy Lutsenko was among those wounded.
The violence broke out after three activists were earlier jailed over an alleged terror plot.
The unrest took place amid ongoing anti-government rallies against the government's decision to pull out of a landmark deal with the European Union.
Reuters:U.S. weighs targeted sanctions against South Sudan - sources
U.S. weighs targeted sanctions against South Sudan - sources
(Reuters) - The United States is weighing targeted sanctions against South Sudan due to the failure of leaders in the world's youngest nation to take steps to end a crisis that has brought the country to the brink of civil war, sources briefed on U.S. discussions told Reuters.
"It's a tool that has been discussed," a source told Reuters on condition of anonymity about the possibility of U.S. sanctions against those blocking peace efforts or fueling violence in South Sudan. Another source confirmed the remarks, though both declined to provide details on the precise measures under consideration.
No decisions have been made yet, the sources added. Targeted sanctions focus on specific individuals, entities or sectors of country.
The U.S. government was unlikely to consider steps intended to economically harm impoverished South Sudan but would likely focus on any measures on those individuals or groups it sees as blocking efforts at brokering peace or committing atrocities.
Reuters:Nine dead after attackers dressed as police enter Mexican prison
Nine dead after attackers dressed as police enter Mexican prison
(Reuters) - Nine people were killed during a gunfight at a prison in Mexico's violent Guerrero state, after a gang dressed as police officers gained entry on Friday, authorities said.
Six gunmen wearing police uniforms were allowed to enter the prison by unsuspecting guards who believed the men were delivering another prisoner, state prosecutors said.
"Once inside the prison, the armed group began an attack on inmates and then on guards in a security tower, where four prisoners and five attackers were killed," the attorney general's office of Guerrero said in a statement.
A prison guard and one of the alleged gunmen remained hospitalized with gunshot wounds.
Reuters:
Iran, EU make progress in nuclear implementation talks
Iran, EU make progress in nuclear implementation talks
(Reuters) - Iran and the European Union appeared to make progress in resolving outstanding differences on how to implement a landmark nuclear deal in talks in Geneva on Friday but the United States said discussions were not yet finalized.
Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met a senior EU official in Geneva to iron out remaining practical details of the November 24 accord under which Iran agreed to curb its most sensitive nuclear work in return for some sanctions relief.
After the meeting, he told Reuters that the sides had found "solutions for every difference" but more consultations were needed before an agreement could be announced.
"Now we are taking the solutions ... home, all of us. Hopefully tomorrow we can either confirm or not, but hopefully confirm," he said.
Reuters:Iran, Russia negotiating big oil-for-goods deal
Iran, Russia negotiating big oil-for-goods deal
(Reuters) - Iran and Russia are negotiating an oil-for-goods swap worth $1.5 billion a month that would enable Iran to lift oil exports substantially, undermining Western sanctions that helped persuade Tehran in November to agree to a preliminary deal to curb its nuclear program.
Russian and Iranian sources close to the barter negotiations said final details were in discussion for a deal under which Russia would buy up to 500,000 barrels a day of Iranian oil in exchange for Russian equipment and goods.
"Good progress is being made at the moment with strong chances of success," said a Russian source. "We are discussing the details, and the date of signing a deal depends on those details." The Kremlin declined comment.
"Our desire is to sign the deal as soon as possible," said a senior Iranian official, who declined to be named. "Our officials are discussing the matter with the Russians and hopefully it will be inked soon, regardless of whether we can reach a (nuclear) agreement in Geneva."
Reuters:U.S. judge opens way for China's Wanxiang bid for Fisker
U.S. judge opens way for China's Wanxiang bid for Fisker
(Reuters) - A U.S. judge rejected a planned sale of Fisker Automotive to Hong Kong businessman Richard Li in favor of competitive bidding, opening the way for China's largest auto parts company to bid for the maker of the Karma plug-in hybrid sports car.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Gross said on Friday competitive bidding between a company affiliated with Li and a unit of auto parts maker Wanxiang Group of China was the best way forward.
"I think that, for me, at the end of the case, whether or not the price paid was fair or reasonable, I think an auction will provide that mechanism. That is the most favored method," Gross said. He scheduled a hearing for 2 p.m. EST (1900 GMT) on Monday to decide how to proceed with an auction.
Gross made the ruling at a hearing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware, that was held to determine how to proceed in Fisker's bankruptcy.
Reuters:Air Force drug probe targets 10 officers in U.S., Britain
Air Force drug probe targets 10 officers in U.S., Britain
(Reuters) - Ten U.S. Air Force officers are being investigated for alleged illegal drug possession, the Air Force said on Friday, a day after the probe surfaced as Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel was visiting a base to rally airmen in the U.S. nuclear force.
Lieutenant Colonel Brett Ashworth, an Air Force spokesman, said nine lieutenants and a captain at six bases in the United States and Britain were implicated in the investigation.
Ashworth said the investigation began with two officers at Edwards Air Force Base in California and "expanded, based on contact with the officers in question regarding recreational drug possession." Edwards is the second-largest U.S. Air Force Base and is central to new aircraft and weapons testing.
The probe has expanded to include officers at Malmstrom, Vandenberg, F.E. Warren and Schreiver Air Force bases as well as Royal Air Force Lakenheath in England, home to a U.S. fighter wing, Ashworth said.
LA Times:Target says data breach is far larger than first estimated
Target says data breach is far larger than first estimated
The data breach at Target Corp. is dramatically larger than first estimated, affecting as many as 110 million consumers and deepening a public relations nightmare for the beleaguered retailer.
The Minneapolis company said Friday that the personal information of as many as 70 million people — including names, addresses, emails and phone numbers — was stolen during the year-end holiday shopping season.
That is in addition to the 40 million customers that Target originally said were hit by the cyberattack.
Though there is likely to be overlap between the two groups, the Target attack now appears to rank as the nation's biggest cybercrime against a single retailer. The 110 million potential victims represent about 45% of the U.S. adult population.