Fast Food workers demand respect around the world – China detains another dissident before the Tiananmen Square anniversary – A Saudi dissident appeals his conviction and gets sentenced to a thousand lashes – Texas police gun down a 93-year old woman – And a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

The fast food strikes that have been taking place in America are about to go global.  And some demonstrations are planned for Australia.  Workers from dozens of countries on six continents gathered outside a New York City McDonald’s to announce the push for higher pay and workers rights will extend around the world.  In America, workers are fighting to get their pay raised to US$15 per hour – still a few cents less than Oz’s minimum wage.

China says it has detained a prominent journalist, clearing up the mystery over why Gao Yu has been missing for weeks.  The 70-year old had failed attend a meeting to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown.  Back then, she was one of the Chinese intellectuals arrested and jailed for her support of the pro-democracy demonstration that was crushed by the People’s Liberation Army in 1989.  This time, authorities say Gao Yu leaked a classified document – which criticized freedom of the press – to foreign news outlets.  She’s one of several prominent figures jailed before the 4 June anniversary.

South Korea is raising the number of people killed in the Sewol Ferry Disaster, blaming a miscount of survivors.  Instead of 174 people surviving, they now say only 172 were rescued.  269 bodies have been recovered, and 35 are still missing.  It’s looking more and more likely that the cargo played a large role in the disaster – South Korea’s Yonhap news agency says the Sewol was carrying 3608 tons of cargo, more than three times over its limit.

The founder of a Liberal website in Saudi Arabia appealed his sentence of 7-years in prison and 600 lashes for somehow “insulting Islam”.  So Jeddah’s Criminal Court adjusted that sentence – to ten years in prison, 1,000 lashes, and a fine of more than A$270,000.  Amnesty International points out that this time of punishment is a flagrant violation of international law.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams says he has filed a complaint with the Northern Ireland police over aspects of his arrest and questioning in a 40-year-old murder case.  Gerry wrote for the UK Guardian newspaper that the  “principal goal” of his police interrogators was to “get to the point where they could charge me with membership of the IRA and thereby link me to the McConville case”.  Adams was released without charges, and Sinn Fein has blamed elements within the North Ireland police who oppose the peace process.

The African National Congress is poised for its fifth post-apartheid victory as South African officials count the ballots cast in this week’s election.  Despite graft scandals in President Jacob Zuma’s government and a lackluster economy, polls said the ANC is headed for victory.  Turnout was reportedly high in urban areas.  The final outcome is to be announced before 10 May.

Cuba says is arrested four exiles from Miami who were allegedly planning “terrorist actions” against military targets on the island.  The men were arrested on 26 April, but the state newspaper Granma is reporting it only now.  Cuba alleges the four men are associates of Luis Posada Carriles, a Cuban exile linked to several deadly terrorist attacks  - including the bombing of a passenger plane in which 78 people died – but who is allowed to live openly in the United States.

A Jamaican report blames crew fatigue for an American Airlines 737 overshooting the runway at Kingston’s Norman Manley Airport five years ago.  The 737 split apart and 91 of its 154 passengers were hurt, some critically.  Jamaica’s Civil Aviation Authority said the flight crew had been on duty for nearly 12 hours, and awake for more than 14 hours.  The report was forwarded to US investigators and American Airlines did not immediately comment.

Police in Hearne, Texas (always Texas) shot and killed a 93-year old woman who was allegedly waving a gun while standing in front of her home.  Did I mention she was 93-years old?  Neighbors describe Pearlie Golden as a “nice elderly lady” who “didn’t bother nobody”.  She also had no criminal record.  But Officer Stephen Stern does have a record.. of killing people.  It’s the second time in two years that Stern shot and killed a subject.

 

Well, that was depressing.  How about some Baby Lions learning to swim?