Hello Australia!! - Thailand avoids an embarrassment for the royals, but is it also avoiding democracy? - A man loses his hand to a police weapon in the Yellow Vest protests - Emergency surgery for a Rock legend - And more in your CareerSpot Global News Briefs:

Thailand's opposition party is backing down and pledging loyalty to the King, who condemned the party's provocative attempt to name his sister as its candidate to take on the leader of the military government in the next election.  It removes from Thai politics the possible clash of a former royal going up against a pro-royal party.  The former princess Ubolratana Mahidol, who renounced her royal title decades ago but is still treated with royal respect, tweeted her thanks to her supporters and said she wanted to "see all Thais have rights, a chance, good living, happiness to all".  Next month's vote was being closely watched as the first chance for Thailand to return to democracy after five years under PM Prayuth Chan-Ocha, who led the coup against the last legally and democratically elected government.

A photographer lost his fingers when he attempted to swat away a French Police rubber pellet grenade during the 13th week of Yellow Vest protests in Paris.  "We put him to one side and called the street medics," said Cyprien Royer who witnessed the incident, "It wasn't pretty.  He was screaming with pain, he had no fingers - he didn't have much above the wrist."  The Yellow Vest Protests began in November as a reaction to rising fuel prices, and broadened out to opposition to President Emmanuel Macron and his neoliberal policies and the view that the political class is out of touch with the people.

A court in Tunisia sentenced seven jihadists to life in prison for the terrorist attacks at the Bardo Museum and on a beachfront resort, both happening in 2015.  The so-called Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, in which 22 died at the Museum in March 2015 and 38 died at Port El Kantaoui near Sousse three months later.  Other defendants received lesser sentenced; prosecutors plan to appeal 27 acquittals.

Buckingham Palace says Prince Philip "voluntarily" gave up his drivers license.  And anyone who's ever had to get the car keys away from an octo- or nonagenarian know exactly how much fun that can be, so good on them.  Philip crashed his Land Rover into a sedan carrying three people last month, breaking the wrist of one of the occupants.  Philip's Land Rover rolled over, but he was unhurt; a new vehicle had been delivered to him that night, and he was seen driving without his seatbelt the next day.

39 people died in northern India from drinking bootleg liquor mixed with methanol.

Former Fleetwood Mac singer and guitar player Lindsey Buckingham has undergone open heart surgery, but his wife says his vocal chords were damaged in the process.  It's not clear if the damage is permanent.  "This past year has been a very stressful and difficult year for our family to say the least," wrote his wife Kristen on social media, "We feel so fortunate he's alive.  As does he.  He looks forward to recovery and putting this behind him."  Mr. Buckingham fronted the group with Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie during its most successful iteration in the 1970s and '80s.  The 69-year old was fired from the band last year over a disagreement over touring - they wanted to, he didn't.  He sued them for US$14 Million and they settled out of court.  Buckingham was replaced by Crowded House's Neil Finn and Heartbreakers' guitarist Mike Campbell.