Islamic State released almost 50 hostages – Oz steps up to help women in Iraq – Pope Francis’s new appointment signals a Left turn for the Catholic Church – And much more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

Turkey is confirming that Islamic State (IS) released 49 hostages, including diplomats and their families, as well as soldiers.  They’re all back on Turkish soil, apparently under the escort of the Turkish intelligence agency.  IS militants seized the Turks in June during the siege of Mosul.  It’s believed that the hostage issue kept Turkey from joining the US-led coalition being formed to take down Islamic State.

French fighter jets conducted their first raids against Islamic state, the first country to join the US in pounding Islamic State from the air.  Two French Rafale jets Flying fired four laser-guided bombs to destroy a weapons and fuel depot outside the northern city of Mosul.  It comes more than a decade after Paris spurned then-President George W. Bush’s war to overthrow Saddam Hussein.

Australia is pledging another $2 Million in humanitarian aid for Iraq.  This tranche will be dedicated to help displaced women and girls and victims of gender-based violence, and administered through the United Nations Population Fund.  Oz has already sent $5 Million in emergency humanitarian assistance to people fleeing violence in northern Iraq, $130 million for people in need in Syria, and $20 million to support refugees in Lebanon and Jordan.

After Scotland’s Independence referendum went down in defeat, Alex Salmond will step down as First Minister and as leader of the Scottish National Party.  It takes him out of the game just as Westminster and Holyrood will negotiate over the new powers promised to Scotland by the leaders of England’s three main political parties for rejecting the independence bid.

Meanwhile, some people had a hard time accepting the vote and others just wanted to gloat in Glasgow, keeping police quite busy.

China fined big, giant pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline a record US$489 Million, and an executive received a suspended prison sentence for bribing doctors.  The London-based corporation will pay the fine with cash on hand and take a charge against third-quarter earnings. 

A Chicago man has confessed to killing a tourist in Bali.  His girlfriend, the daughter of the victim, admitted she helped him stuff the body into a suitcase where it was found in the boot of a taxi.  The victim was socialite Sheila von Weisse-Mack, widow of the prolific and respected Jazz and Classical musician James Mack.  Charges are still pending against their 19-year old daughter Heather Mack and 21-year old Tommy Schaefer.

US health officials are expected to release a frightening report on Ebola next week, projecting as many as 550,000 or more infections in a worst-case scenario.  Bloomberg news reports the Centers for Disease Control assumes no additional aid or intervention by relief agencies or governments.  Predictions have been all over the place, with the UN World Health Organization foreseeing 20,000, and a noted German virologist fearing millions of victims.  More than 2,630 people have died in the outbreak so far this year.

Argentina’s stalled economy risks quadrupling the poverty level.  The World Bank’s new report on Argentina warns the poverty rate for the country’s 43 million people may increase to more than 40 percent from about 11 percent.  Polls taken earlier this month show that almost half of those Argentineans asked believe the economy will get worse in the coming months, and more than half think employment will be an even bigger concern than it is now.

Pope Francis will reportedly name a progressive bishop to take over the reigns in the Chicago archdiocese (what’s with all this Chicago news?) from its neo-conservative leader.  Picking 65-year old Bishop Blase Cupich of Spokane, Washington to preside over one of the Catholic Church’s most important posts sends a strong signal that Francis is taking the church to the Left.  Cupich will replace cancer-stricken Francis Cardinal George, a conservative culture warrior and strong supporter of now-retired Pope Benedict.  BTW, Cupich is also no stranger to Melbourne, VIC.

This.. is.. AWESOME.

A goose hunter in Northern Territory survived a crocodile attack.. and had a beer.  20-year old Stephen Moreen was fetching a bird’s carcass when the croc launched out of the water and bit his arm.  This happened near Peppimenarti, about 320 kilometers southwest of Darwin.  Moreen wrestled with the beast and poked it in the eyes, convincing it to go pick on someone else.  Moreen’s kin then shot the croc and took him for help.  He says he had a few beers to “numb the pain”, which wasn’t too bad because he already had a couple out on the hunting trip.