There’s a hold-up to a deal to stop global warming – Pope Francis snubs the Dalai Lama – A new law threatens free speech and assembly in Spain – And more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

A dispute between wealthy and developing countries is delaying a deal at the global climate talks in Lima, Peru, keeping delegates on the job long past the scheduled close of business.  Developing nations insist the West must bear a bigger burden for the carbon cuts, since it was the developed world’s prosperity that pretty much caused the climate crisis.  But the rich countries say developing giants like China and India are furiously burning filthy coal to power their rapid growth.

More than 100 people are missing in a massive mudslide on Indonesia’s main island of Java.  So far, seven people are dead and 40 are injured.  Heavy rain loosened a hillside causing it to come crashing down near Jemblung village in central Java.

Pope Francis is declining to meet with the Dalai Lama, for fear of enflaming the “delicate situation” with China – which occupies the Dalai Lama’s native Tibet.  China considers the Dalai Lama a separatist, and frequently tries to bully nations or diplomats that meet with him.  For the record, the Dalai Lama no longer calls for a free Tibet, but rather for more autonomy like Hong Kong.  It’s kind of a perplexing move from Pope Francis, who just yesterday called on consumers to avoid buying cheap goods made under slave labor and sweat shop conditions – the sort of thing China specializes in.

The UK’s airports are recovering after Friday’s massive failure of the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) flight data system.  Dozens of cancelled flights brought Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, and Gatwick to a standstill.  When the big hub airports have problems, the delays cascade through the system, affecting airports as far north as Aberdeen and Edinburgh.  Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said, “Disruption on this scale is simply unacceptable,” and is demanding NATS explain what went wrong.

Sierra Leone is canceling public Christmas and New Year celebrations because of the Ebola crisis.  “Military personnel will be on the streets at Christmas and the New Year to stop any street celebrations,” said security officials Palo Conteh.  Sierra Leone overtook Liberia as the country worst affected by Ebola, with 1,319 new infections in the last three weeks.  Overall, the West African Ebola Epidemic has killed more than 6,500 people, predominantly in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea.

Mexico’s Finance Minister says there’s nothing wrong with him buying a luxury home from a construction firm that has landed several major government contracts.  Luis Videgaray says the home purchase was carried out with “honesty and legality”.  Last month, the wife of President Enrique Pena Nieto was forced to sell a US$7 Million home purchased from the same hooked-in construction company.

US President Barack Obama apparently will sign legislation imposing sanctions on Venezuelan officials for alleged human rights abuses related to right-wing, anti-government protests earlier this year.  After being unable to win elections for 15-years, conservative protesters tried to force the democratically elected government of President Nicolas Maduro to step down.  The protests fizzled out after a few months, but resulted in 43 deaths from both sides and caused economic harm.  The US meanwhile is reeling after a report detailed the CIA’s use of torture – banned by US and international law – on terror suspects; protests have broken out across America after a series of killings of unarmed black men by white cops.  But, apparently Washington thinks that Venezuela is a problem.

Spain’s conservative government has passed an anti-protest law in the name of public security.  Opponents say it is a “gag law” designed to restrict civil liberties and return Spain to the oppressive days of the Franco dictatorship.  Amnesty International is blasting the law, because it bans – among other things – recording or taking photos of police.  People who organize protests outside government buildings could find themselves fined hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Thousands of striking workers on Friday marched through 50 Italian cities to protest President Matteo Renzi’s labor reforms which they say erodes their labor rights.  Renzi’s Jobs Act makes it easier for employers to hire and – more ominously – fire workers.  In a sign of discord at the top, some members of Renzi’s own party joined the marchers.

A Palestinian attacker splashed acid on members of a Jewish family in the West Bank.  The victims – two men and three girls aged 11- to 18-years old – are said to be lightly injured.  An Israeli civilian struck the attacker with his car and then shot him.  The attacker – now recovering in an Israeli prison hospital – is said to be a 45-year old man with a rap sheet including involvement with the terrorist group Islamic Jihad.

Clouds filled the Grand Canyon.  Neato video.