A second Hollywood movie is cancelled because of North Korea – A Kiwi is on trial for offending the local religion in Myanmar – India’s successful space program soars again – And more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

Myanmar has started the trial of a New Zealander and two local men accused of insulting Buddhism, with a flyer promoting their bar, which sported an image of Buddha wearing headphones, and surrounded by psychedelic colors.  32-year old Kiwi Philip Blackwood faces up to two years in prison if convicted.

The computer hacking and threats against Sony pictures – that US intelligence sources say was done in North Korea – has claimed another project.  “Pyongyang” was to star Steven Carell and be based on a cartoonist’s two-months stay in the hermit kingdom – that’s over now.  Earlier, Sony Pictures said that threats and hacking forced it to cancel the Christmas release of “The Interview”, which was a comedy about two wacky reporters sent to North Korea to assassinate Kim Jong-un. 

Actor Jeremy Kewley is free on bond after being arrested with charged with more than 100 child sex offenses.  Police accuse him of 103 counts of indecent acts with a child under 16 and two counts of possessing child pornography.  He’s best known for the 1990s ABC series “Janus”. 

“Seventh Heaven” star Stephen Collins has publicly admitted that he engaged in sexual misconduct with three young girls decades ago. In a statement, he says the incidents occurred in 1973, 1982, and 1994, and that he addressed his actions through therapy and prayer.  Police are investigating if the statute of limitations has passed.  Earlier this year, Collins’ wife released an audio recording in which he discussed inappropriate conduct with children, apparently as past of the toxic divorce the couple went through.

India successfully launched its largest rocket to date, and it carried a capsule that could send astronauts into space in a later mission.  The 630-ton Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (MK III) is capable of carrying communication satellites weighing up to 4,000 kilos.  That means that India will not have to rely on foreign launchers to do so.

A Nigerian court martial sentenced 54 soldiers to death for refusing to fight Boko Haram militants.  Abuja has had a problem with mutinies lately, as many soldiers are not willing to risk their lives fighting for a government that sends them into battle under-equipped, poorly trained, and infrequently paid.  The 54 will face a firing squad.

Authorities discovered a mass grave with more than 230 bodies in eastern Syria.  It’s believed the bodies are victims of Islamic State (IS) from a massacre in August, when the Islamists were battling for control of an oil field.

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