Good Morning Australia!! - Problems stall Trump's cabinet picks the day before the US inauguration - Hopes fade for dozens missing beneath an Italian avalanche - Live TV captured a high-rise building caving in on helpless firefighters - And more in your CareerSpot Global News Briefs:

The earthquakes in Italy were much worse that first thought:  At least 35 people are missing after an avalanche of rock and snow buried the Hotel Rigopiano in the mountains northeast of Rome.  The hotel's selling point was its remote location in a nature area; that also made it difficult for rescuers to get to the scene.  Mountaineers on snowshoes were the first to arrive, finding only two people outside and an icy wall of debris that made it all the way down into the hotel's lobby.  Finding the victims is proving difficult, as sniffer dogs have been unable to pick up a scent in the snowy mass.

A live television news broadcast caught the moment a high rise building collapsed in Tehran, Iran, killing at least 20 firefighters.  More than 70 more people are injured, 23 of them seriously.  This happened in the 17-storey Plasco Building, a landmark because it was once the tallest building in the Iranian capital.  Built in 1962, it was the site of a popular shopping mall, as well as clothing workshops on the upper floors. 

Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness isn't just quitting the Northern Ireland government, he's stepping out of politics entirely to concentrate on recovering from "a very serious illness".  Martin didn't disclose the name of his malady, but it has been reportedly he is gravely ill as a result of a rare condition that attacks the heart, kidneys and other vital organs.  He resigned as deputy first minister of Northern Ireland in protest of a botched energy scheme hatched by the unionists, but or health reasons will not contest the snap election in March.

Mr. McGuinness was chief of staff of the Provisional IRA back in the days of barricades and battles; in Sinn Fein he played a key role in securing the Good Friday Accord that brought peace to Northern Ireland.  Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams lauded his old friend's commitment to peace and reconciliation in Ireland:  "Martin has said he wants to come back and be part of the process to end partition, build reconciliation, unite our people and achieve Irish unity, so on behalf of Sinn Fein and republicans everywhere I want to send him our best wishes.  Give him the space to get better and increase our efforts so that when he returns the process of change has advanced."

The judge overseeing Brazil's biggest corruption trial has been killed in a plane crash.  Supreme Court Justice Teori Zavascki was on board the small Hawker Beechcraft twin prop that went down in the sea off Rio De Janeiro.  Authorities recovered three bodies from the scene.  The investigation into bribery and pay-to-play at the state-run oil company Petrobras and the construction firm Odebrecht has seen convictions of more than 80 politicians and executives.

Troops from Senegal have crossed into The Gambia to oust long-time strongman President Yahya Jammeh, who refuses to step down despite losing last month's election.  The winner of the election Adama Barrow took the oath of office in Senegal, but is already recognized internationally as the rightful Gambian head of state.  President Barrow ordered Gambian troops to stay in their barracks as teh well-trained Senegal troops hunt for Jammeh.

US pretender-elect Donald Trump has arrived in Washington, DC on the eve of the death of the free world, his inauguration.  This is accompanied by disturbing reports that Trump's transition team hasn't done its job and numerous workers haven't met with their counterparts in the outgoing Obama administration to learn about their actual duties.  "I don't think they are ready for prime-time," said a longtime Obama administration official; while one Republican close to Trump says flatly, "They are not ready."  The worst part is that Trump's incoming Energy Secretary didn't know until very recently that it would be his job to oversee America's nuclear arsenal.  

Partly because of this appearance of incompetence and corruption, opposition Democrats in the US Senate have slowed the cabinet confirmation process.  It's likely that only two of Trump's Cabinet nominees will be confirmed as of the first day of his presidency: Retired Marine Gen. James Mattis to lead the Pentagon, and retired Marine Gen. John Kelly to become secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.  Others have been as troubling as Rick Perry:  For instance, Education Secretary nominee Betsy DeVos told senators that guns should be allowed in schools in case of Grizzly Bear Attacks.  SHE ACTUALLY SAID THIS.  Trump's health Secretary nominee is suspected of insider trading.

Which is not to say that Trump doesn't have plans:  The incoming misadministration and congressional republican allies will reportedly seek deep funding cuts at Public Television and National Public Radio, and the National Endowment for the Arts; conservatives are already planning to sell off public lands at bargain basement prices.  Trump himself is looking to ban reporters he doesn't like from White House press briefings.