Hello Australia! - US President Barack Obama says terrorism is a "cancer with no immediate cure" - The opposition claims gains in France and Venezuela - Nuclear rivals try to cool down violent tensions - And more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

US President Barack Obama sought to calm a nervous nation after the San Bernardino massacre, making clear that although the husband and wife shooters who killed 14 people might have been inspired by Middle Eastern extremism, investigators have yet to discover any actual ties to terrorist groups.  "I know that after so much war, many Americans are asking whether we are confronted by a cancer that has no immediate cure," he said, speaking from a lectern in the Oval Office.  "The threat from terrorism is real, but we will overcome it," he declared. 

Mr. Obama refuted Republican critics and maintained he is taking terrorism very seriously - listing steps he has taken against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.  These include bombing IS targets in both nations, sending in Special Ops teams to disrupt IS activities, and to attack IS's sources of funding.  He also challenged Republicans in congress to get off their arses and pass a ban on assault weapons to anyone on the no-fly list, and to pass an authorization of military force which would allow more military spending on anti-IS measures.

The American President said the US must be "strong and smart" in dealing with Islamic State.  Without directly referencing it, this is an admonition of the fascist idiocy being bandied about by the Republican presidential candidates - ideas such as mass deportations, registering Muslims, or the carpet bombing of civilian populations in the Middle East.  To that, Mr. Obama said the nation should remember that Muslim Americans are "our friends and our neighbors," coworkers and sports heroes, and that they are men and women in uniform willing to defend the United States.

Moving On!

Authorities in London charged a 29-year old man with attempted murder for stabbing three people in a tube station in the city's east.  Muhaydin Mire reportedly screamed, "This is for Syria!" as he slashed at people.  But what some people yelled back at him is catching fire on social media - the hashtag "#YouAintNoMuslimBruv" has been adopted by people, mainly Muslims, condemning the attack and distancing it from Islam.  Earlier, members of a Mosque located near the Leytonstone Tube station condemned the stabbings, and pointed out that the suspect was unknown to them.

In France, the fear of terrorism has propelled the far-right National Front (FN) party of Marine LePen to big gains in regional elections.  The center-right Republicans party led by former President Nicolas Sarkozy appeared to be in second place, followed by the ruling Socialist party.  The Socialists are withdrawing from the second round of elections on 13 December in at least two regions to avoid splitting the anti-FN vote.

Venezuela's Democratic Unity opposition coalition is claiming victory in legislative elections.  The national electoral board confirmed the opposition won at least 99 seats, possibly more after some late races come in.  If that stays around 100, it won't be enough to undo the Chavismo government's policies of helping the poor with increased spending on education and health care.  But it does pierce President Nicolas Maduro's aura of invincibility and give the opposition a platform to challenge him, after 17 years of being on the outside.

India and Pakistan held talks that are described as "candid, cordial and constructive".  Famously acrimonious relations between the two have been on a low ebb, not least because of cross-border firing along the disputed region of Kashmir that has killed dozens of people from both sides.  The two sides met on neutral ground in Bangkok, and agreed to more talks.  Indian PM Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif also met on the sidelines of the Paris climate talks last week.