Hello, Australia! – Bronwyn is “on probation” – A weird end to an Islamic State terrorist’s career – Phil Rudd is back in trouble – Japan’s Prime Minister is a paying a price for his militarism – And more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

Did we mention how frightening this video is?  It shows a dorsal fin popping out of the water off South Africa before it attacked Aussie champion surfer Mick Fanning – who wasn’t hurt and awesomely punched the fish to chase it away.

A police boat is reportedly en route to intercept an asylum seeker boat spotted off Western Australia near Dampier.  The ABC reports the crew of a gas and oil ship had spotted and reported the boat.  It’s not known how many people are on the boat, although they appear to be from Vietnam.

Speaker Bronwyn Bishop is on “probation” according to PM Tony Abbott, who says she says exhibited a “serious error of judgment” in charging taxpayers A$5,000 for a helicopter ride from Melbourne to Geelong – an hour’s drive for the rest of us.  “I can really understand why people are unhappy about this,” said Abbot, “Frankly, I’m unhappy about it as well.  But I would ask for people to keep a sense of proportion here.  She has repaid the money with a penalty.”  Bishop has yet to apologize to the Australian people.

Former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd is back home, after being arrested for allegedly consuming alcohol in violation of the terms of his home detention.  Phil is supposed to spend eight months behaving himself in his rather spacious home in Tauranga, New Zealand.  He was freed on bail until his next court appearance.  Phil is serving home detention after being convicted of drug possession and making death threats.

Jihadists in Libya apparently watch “Game of Thrones” way too much.  Last month, a rival group captured the local Islamic State commander, and forced him to march naked through Libya’s eastern city of Derna – just like Cersei Lannister in the most recent season of the HBO show – to his own hanging.  The incident has not been widely reported in the media.  But it seems to demonstrate that even though IS expanded its operations into Libya, it has a long way to go before every militant group recognizes it as an authority.

In Gaza, militants allied with Islamic State bombed the cars of officials with rival groups Islamic Jihad and Hamas, the latter of which runs the territory.  Two people were slightly hurt and six vehicles were destroyed – but it adds a new facet to an already malignant problem with extremism in Gaza.

Public support for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has plummeted since the ruling coalition rammed through defense bills that expand the role of the military.  In two polls, support for the Abe government is down in the 35-to-40 percent range, while disapproval has soared above 50 percent.  The overwhelming opinion is that Abe’s military bills violate Japan’s pacifist post-World War II constitution.  Just throwing it out there, but Abe’s grandfather – 1950’s Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi – also pushed ultra-conservative legislation, and was eventually forced to resign as pro-constitution forces assert themselves.

It’s after midnight in Washington, DC and Havana, Cuba – and the two countries have formally reestablished diplomatic ties after more than 50 years.  The State Department added a Cuban flag to its lobby, and after the sun rises on the East Coast, a Cuban flag will fly over its Embassy in the US Capital.  Likewise in Havana, where the former US Interests Section will function as an Embassy until a formal ceremony with Secretary of State John Kerry later this year.

South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu is out of intensive care but remains in hospital, and will likely stay there for a few more days.  The 83-year old anti-apartheid legend and Nobel laureate is battling a persistent infection, on top of prostate cancer.