Hello Australia!! - Merkel identifies the biggest threat facing Europe - A human rights watchdog is found to have an inhumane culture - How racism could land a man in jail - And more in your CareerSpot Global News Briefs:

German Chancellor Angela Merkle is warning of "dark forces" creeping into the political mainstream.  Speaking to CNN after the European Elections, Merkel said that because of the emboldened far right, "There is to this day not a single synagogue, not a single daycare center for Jewish children, not a single school for Jewish children that does not need to be guarded by German policemen."  Speaking about the far-right's favorite president, Merkel says she and Donald Trump have "had contentious debates" but that they've managed to find "common ground" where it was needed.

Germany is also finding itself at odds with France, although in a much more civilized context, as the two major powers of the European Union already suggested different figures to take over the key role of EU Commission President once Jean-Claude Juncker steps down later this year.  Ms. Merkel is suggesting Manfred Weber, a Bavarian ally from her Christian Democrat bloc in Germany.  French President Emmanuel Macron says he lacks experience, and suggested three EU veterans:  Margrethe Vestager, the EU's competition commissioner; Michel Barnier, the chief Brexit negotiator, and Frans Timmermans, the lead socialist candidate in the European elections.  This means there is going to be a month of heavy negotiations, as they also have to name a new president of the Central Bank and a new Foreign Policy chief, and get them approved by the European Parliament by the end of June.

UNICEF is warning that "Education is under attack" in Afghanistan.  The United Nations children's' agency says attacks on Afghan schools jumped from 68 in 2017 to 192 last year, the first rise since 2015.  As many as 1,000 are closed because of threats from the Taliban and the so-called Islamic State.  One problem may be that schools are increasingly used as polling places and thus became targets of political violence.  But the Taliban is still known to shut down girls schools when it doesn't approve.  

Amnesty International is culling its top management staff after an internal report found a "toxic" working culture.  Workers are under tremendous stress because "Organisational culture and management failures are the root cause of most staff well-being issues".  Amnesty commissions the report after two workers took their own lives, including a 65-year old senior researcher who left a suicide note that outlined "his previous request for help because of the heavy and additional workload; help which was never forthcoming".

Extremist militants and Egyptian forces are both responsible for mounting human rights abuses in Sinai, alleges Human Rights Watch.  The group accuses accuses the government of carrying out enforced disappearances, killings, torture and other illegal acts; the militants, HRW says, kidnapped, tortured and murdered hundreds of Sinai residents.  Cairo went on the defensive, accusing Human Rights Watch of a "biased" report based on "unverified sources".

Forty to 55 inmates, all belonging to the same drugs gang, were found strangled and/or stabbed to death in their cells in four different prisons in Amazonas state in northern Brazil.  Authorities say the gang is going through a power struggle.

A South African court delayed the trial of a businessman who recorded himself on vacation making awful racist comments.  40-year old Adam Catzavelos has not been able to find a lawyer yet.  He recorded himself on a beach n Greece last year, describing it as "heaven on earth" because there weren't any black people there, using the worst pejorative in South African slang.  The fallout was swift - restaurants cut ties with his family's meat supplying business, which sacked him; his wife's employer distanced itself from him; the school where the couple's children attend won't allow him on campus.  South Africa is getting serious on cracking down on racism:  A court sentenced Vicky Momberg to three years in prison on similar charges last year.

Still no word on the motive of the man who stabbed 19 people in Kawasaki City, just west of Tokyo yesterday.  An 11-year old girl and an adult were killed before the attacker slashed his own neck and eventually bled out.  Neighbors told local media that the suspect was quiet and kept to himself.