Hello Australia!! - Dire news about the Great Barrier Reef's chances for recovery - Joe Biden talks about his wandering hands - A historic change in one of the world's great cities - And more in your CareerSpot Global News Briefs:

The number of baby corals born on the Great Barrier Reef decreased by 89 percent last year, following the back-to-back bleaching events in 2016 and 2017 that wiped out the mature breeding adults.  A new report in the journal Nature says the fastest-breeding coral species might need a full decade to recover and slower species might need another decade after that.  The problem is that bleaching events are occurring much more often in the modern age of global warming - every 5.9 years years versus every 25 years prior to 1980.  "We've always anticipated that global warming would change the mix of species on the Barrier Reef, but we're surprised by how quickly that's now unfolding," said Professor Terry Hughes from James Cook University, "We're not saying there won't be a reef in ten years' time, but we are saying it's becoming a very different system."  Likely, with less ocean life hanging around including a major reduction of commercial seafood species.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn held their first talks on coming up with some sort of compromise on the Brexit, which is threatening to happen a week from Friday whether or not the UK is prepared.  Number Ten said both sides were "showing flexibility"; although, Mr. Corbyn said he did not see "as much change as (he) had expected" in the PM's position and the meeting was "useful, but inconclusive".  The talks would continue.  Those left out - the SNP, Liberal Democrats, Green Party, Plaid Cymru, and independents - called for any decision made by the leaders to be put to a public vote.

The UK military is investigating a vile and disgusting video showing soldiers in Afghanistan using a picture of Jeremy Corbyn for target practice.  A British Army spokesman said, "We are aware of a video circulating on social media," calling it "unacceptable" and "below the high standards the Army expects", adding that "a full investigation has been launched". 

US Vice President Mike Pence was once again met with disapproving silence when he tried to praise the "leadership of Donald Trump" at an international event.  This time, it was at a conference in Washington marking NATO's 70th anniversary - Pence invoked Trump's name and held for applause which did nt and could not come.  In February, Pence used the same line at the Munich Security Conference and got the same cold reaction.  At the NATO shindig, Pence renewed the administration's grudges with Germany for supposedly not spending enough of its GNP on defense, and with Turkey for purchasing a Russian-made missile defense system.

Lori Lightfoot is the mayor-elect of Chicago, marking two firsts:  She's the first black woman to earn the role of leader of America's third-largest city, and the first openly LGBTQ person to do so.  Tuesday's run-off election would have been historic in either outcome, as her opponent Toni Preckwinkle is also a black woman with a history of knocking down doors in the city's old "machine" style politics, which is now breaking down as more and more politically-progressive outsiders get elected.  Ms. Lightfoot will be sworn in as Chicago's 56th mayor on 20 May.  

Former US vice president and likely 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden is promising to be "more mindful" about women's personal space after four women went public with complaints he hugged and/or kissed them without permission.  "Social norms are changing, I understand that, and I've heard what these women are saying," said Mr. Biden said in what looks like a hastily-arranged video meant to address a controversy that threatened to derail his expected campaign launch.  Biden's overly-familiar ways have been a source of humor in the US for many years, and few believe he had any malcious intent.  But the complaints of the four set off bitter debating within the Democratic party and social media over whether Biden goes too far.  He seems to admit it, or at least that times have changed.