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.
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BBC:Boko Haram HQ Gwoza in Nigeria 'retaken'
Boko Haram HQ Gwoza in Nigeria 'retaken'
The Nigerian army says it has retaken the north-eastern town of Gwoza, believed to be the headquarters of militant Islamist group Boko Haram.
The insurgents had now been driven from virtually all the territory they had held, it said.
Some militants were now fleeing towards border areas, the military said.
News of Gwoza's recapture comes a day before presidential elections, which were postponed by six weeks because of the offensive against Boko Haram.
BBC:Japan: Work earlier in summer months, says PM
Japan: Work earlier in summer months, says PM
Japanese government employees should get to work earlier in the summer to improve their work-life balance, the country's leader has said.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants civil servants to avoid working overtime and spend more time at home during the longer summer days, the Kyodo news agency reports. His cabinet is launching a campaign to encourage "a change of lifestyle in summer", suggesting people get to the office between 07:30 and 08:30 local time in July and August - an hour or two earlier than normal - and that they clock-out at about 17:00 in the afternoon. Mr Abe says it will improve efficiency and allow people to spend more time with friends and family after work. Officials say it will also help men to get involved with child-rearing - something the government is keen to encourage.
While the campaign is aimed at government staff, Mr Abe wants the private sector to get on board with the idea too. Japan has notoriously long working hours and a culture that values "employee loyalty", meaning many people take nowhere near their full annual leave entitlement. While OECD figures on working hours put the country slightly below average, it's thought that could be due to a high proportion of part-time employees. Working an average of 1,745 hours each year, Japanese workers still clock up far more hours than their British or German counterparts.
BBC:Schiphol airport disruption after Amsterdam power cut
Schiphol airport disruption after Amsterdam power cut
A major power cut hit Amsterdam and surrounding towns, causing all flights to and from the city's Schiphol airport to be temporarily cancelled.
Dutch electricity network administrator TenneT said a significant part of North Holland province, home to some 2.7 million people, was affected.
The operator later said power had been restored.
But incoming flights were still being diverted from Schiphol airport - one of Europe's busiest terminals.
BBC:Ukraine will release Bochkovsky for lack of evidence
Ukraine will release Bochkovsky for lack of evidence
A senior Ukrainian official arrested two days ago as part of an anti-corruption crackdown is to be released for lack of evidence.
The head of Ukraine's state emergencies service, Serhiy Bochkovsky, and his deputy were led away in handcuffs from a televised cabinet meeting.
They were suspected of devising kickback schemes involving procurement contracts.
Local media say that Mr Bochkovsky will be released on Saturday.
BBC:Brazil's economy grew 0.1% in 2014
Brazil's economy grew 0.1% in 2014
Brazil, the world's seventh largest economy, narrowly avoided contracting in 2014 with a growth rate of just 0.1% for the year.
The economy had been growing at a fast pace for the past decade but has slowed considerably in the past four years.
The slowdown is a result of low commodity prices, sluggish global growth and low investor confidence.
Under new Finance Minister Joaquim Levy, the country has moved from stimulus to austerity.
BBC:Yemen crisis: Saudis lead fresh air strikes on Houthis
Yemen crisis: Saudis lead fresh air strikes on Houthis
Warplanes from a Saudi-led coalition are bombing Yemen for a third night, targeting Shia Houthi rebels as they advance in and around the port of Aden.
The rebel advance has sparked street battles with forces loyal to President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, who fled Aden and is now at an Arab League summit.
Former President Ali Abdullah Saleh - whose supporters are fighting alongside the rebels - has called for a truce.
But Saudi Arabia has vowed to defend Mr Hadi's government from the rebels.
Reuters:Latvia says Russia's military rhetoric is 'alarming'
Latvia says Russia's military rhetoric is 'alarming'
(Reuters) - A war of words between Russia and the West could degenerate into something worse, with "devastating" consequences, Latvia's foreign minister said on Friday.
Latvia and its neighbors Estonia and Lithuania were all part of the Soviet Union until 1991 and are now members of the European Union. They are wary about Russia and have watched with alarm as ties have frayed over the Ukraine crisis.
The West says it has evidence that Moscow is supporting pro-Russian rebels with troops and weapons in eastern Ukraine, where more than 6,000 people have been killed since last April.
Moscow's repeated denials have not lessened tensions, with increased Russian military activity and exercises, including in the Baltic, only adding to Western concerns.
Reuters:Mexico unveils national strategy for Paris climate talks
Mexico unveils national strategy for Paris climate talks
(Reuters) - Mexico on Friday said it will cap its greenhouse gas emissions by 2026, becoming one of the first countries to formally submit its national climate plan to the United Nations ahead of a climate summit in Paris in December.
Mexico's Foreign and Environment Ministries presented the national climate submission in Mexico City, unveiling a strategy to begin reducing emissions by 2026, leading to a 22 percent reduction in greenhouse gases below business-as-usual levels by 2030.
After 2026, Mexico greenhouse gas emissions would become decoupled from economic growth, leading to a 40 percent reduction in emissions intensity per unit of GDP between 2013 and 2030, according to its submission.
Mexico also pledged to slash emissions of "short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP)," such as soot and methane, by 25 percent below business as usual by 2030.
Reuters:Brazil police arrest Grupo Galvão CEO in Petrobras probe
Brazil police arrest Grupo Galvão CEO in Petrobras probe
(Reuters) - Brazilian police on Friday arrested the CEO of Grupo Galvão, the latest executive seized in a corruption probe focused on state-run oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro SA.
Dario Galvão, chief executive of the construction group, and Guilherme Esteves, a lobbyist who is being investigated for funneling bribe money, were taken to federal police headquarters in the southern city of Curitiba, a court spokeswoman said.
Trials are underway in Curitiba, in what has become Brazil's biggest-ever corruption probe known as Operation Car Wash.
In December, prosecutors accused the CEO of participating in a cartel of construction executives that fixed prices on contracts at Petrobras, as the oil company is known.
Reuters:Nigeria president warns against bloodshed ahead of Saturday poll
Nigeria president warns against bloodshed ahead of Saturday poll
(Reuters) - Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan warned against violence ahead of Saturday's presidential election as people stockpiled food, cash and fuel for fear of post-election clashes.
Jonathan will face former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari in what is seen as the closest presidential race since the end of military rule in 1999.
In a broadcast to the nation on Friday, Jonathan said no political ambition could justify violence or bloodshed, adding that security measures had been taken to guarantee a free and fair election.
"Let me warn, however, that as President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am under oath to protect the lives of all Nigerians and the security of our country at all times. I will never abdicate my responsibilities in that regard," he said.
Reuters:'Unholy alliance' of Islamists threatens Sweden
'Unholy alliance' of Islamists threatens Sweden
(Reuters) - Sweden, once cited by Osama bin Laden as the kind of country al Qaeda did not attack, is facing a rising threat from Islamist militants because of the crises in Iraq and Syria, its spy chief said in an interview on Friday.
Anders Thornberg told Reuters the number of Swedes traveling to fight in those countries had tripled in the past year, and record immigration to the Nordic country was making it vulnerable to infiltrators from militant groups.
Expanding on comments in the security services' annual report last week, he also said Russian espionage had stepped up since the Ukraine crisis: one in three Russian diplomats in Sweden were operating as spies, and there were signs of "war planning" from Moscow to test the country's defenses.
Sweden's traditional neutrality was long seen as shielding it from militant threats, as acknowledged by al Qaeda leader bin Laden in a speech in 2004. But in recent years it has contributed to military missions in Afghanistan and Mali, both Muslim countries.
Reuters:U.N. concerned by spread of arms in Libya, arms embargo unchanged
U.N. concerned by spread of arms in Libya, arms embargo unchanged
(Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council expressed concern on Friday at the proliferation of arms and ammunition in Libya as it left an arms embargo on the North African state unchanged and urged the recognized government to improve monitoring of its weapons.
Libya and neighboring Egypt asked the 15-member council last month to lift restrictions on government weapons imports so it could better fight extremist groups after Islamic State released a video showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians.
Libya has descended into factional fighting, leaving the country almost lawless nearly four years after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi. Two competing governments backed by militia brigades are scrambling for control of the oil-producing country and the chaos has created havens for Islamist militants.
Libya's internationally recognized government, led by Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni, has operated out of the east since a rival armed faction called Libya Dawn took over Tripoli in fighting last year and set up its own administration.
Mercury News:Google to help make surgical robots, challenging Intuitive Surgical
Google to help make surgical robots, challenging Intuitive Surgical
Today: Google strikes deal with Johnson & Johnson to make robots that can assist surgeons, launching a new challenge to Sunnyvale's Intuitive Surgical. Also: Intel, Altera soar after reports of merger.
The Lead: Google to make surgical robots in deal with J&J
Google's newest push into health care technology involves surgical robots, a partnership with a pharmaceutical giant and competition with one of Silicon Valley's largest medical-device companies.
Google and a Johnson & Johnson unit announced Friday that they will be working together to make robots that can assist in surgeries, a strategic collaboration with no price tag announced. The aim of the project appears to be similar to the da Vinci robots manufactured and sold by Sunnyvale's Intuitive Surgical, the third largest public Silicon Valley company in the biotech/health care sector.