Hello Australia!! - A deadly fire at Trump Tower - Dozens are killed in a chemical attack in Syria - Germany thwarts two terrorist plots - And more in your CareerSpot Global News Briefs:

A chemical attack killed dozens of people in a rebel-held town in Syria's East Ghouta area.  Getting information out of the town of Douma is difficult because it is totally locked down with Syrian troops in control of the area.  Video purportedly uploaded from Douma shows the tell-tale signs of a chemical weapon attack - lifeless bodies with foam coming from their mouth, adults and children desperately gagging and gasping for air in make-shift medical units.  Reports of the death toll range from 49 to 70 victims.

Reaction has been swift:  Pope Francis says nothing could justify a chemical weapon attack.  The UK is calling for an urgent inquiry; and from the White House, Donald Trump referred to Syrian President Bashir al-Assad as "Animal Assad" and - in an uncharacteristic rebuke of his best buddy - said Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian government, and Iran "are responsible".  Trump also called on Syria to open Douma "immediately for medical help and verification".  Syria and Russia deny a chemical attack has taken place.

Police in Germany say they foiled a plot to attack the Berlin Half Marathon.  With six alleged co-conspirators detained, Die Welt newspaper reports that the plot involved knife attacks on runners and spectators.  The six are suspected to have links to Anis Amri, the Tunisian Islamist who killed twelve people in the city in a December 2016 truck attack.  Outside the capital, elite police from the GSG9 unit and federal commandos raided suspected nazi scum hideouts.  They arrested three members of a far-right movement called "Reichsburger" which authorities say plans on "deliberately killing people" and to have "already obtained weapons for this purpose."

Meanwhile, police in the western German city of Munster confirmed the driver in yesterday's van attack on tourists at an outdoor cafe was a local middle aged man with a history of mental health issues.  They don't know his motive for killing two people and himself, but Islamic State wasn't it.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte put the livelihoods of 30,000 hospitality workers in danger by ordering the holiday island of Boracay shut down for six months from 26 April for a massive clean-up.  Duterte claims tourists have turned the country's top destination into a "cesspool", but it was nearly 200 local businesses that were found to be discharging untreated waste water into the sea.  Companies that can withstand the shut down say it will be good in the long term, but those who live from payday to payday - including hotel workers, restaurant staff, masseuses, tattoo artists, sand sculptors, and boat rental owners - are looking for help from Manila to get them through because traditional ways of self reliance have been destroyed by capitalism.  "I hope there is at least some help to keep us fed daily because we have nowhere to go," said hairstylist Joralyn delos Reyes, "We can no longer farm or fish because of the hotels and foreigners living in our land."

Nigerian forces say they liberated 54 women and 95 children from the terrorist group Boko Haram in a raid in the country's northeast.  It is not clear when these people were abducted, but mass abductions as well as individual kidnappings are well known to be part of Boko Haram's portfolio.  Soldiers killed three fighters during the operation and captured five others suspects:  "The rescued hostages are currently receiving medical attention," said army spokesman Onyema Nwachuku.

A fire at Trump Tower in New York City killed a 67-year old resident and injured six firies.  The orange clown Donald Trump thanked the FDNY and bragged that his namesake tower was "well built".  But it doesn't have fire sprinklers, having been constructed before such requirements.  Attempts were made to order building owners to retrofit high rises, but then-mayor Rudy Giuliani - a major Trump ally - struck that down.