Global News

A US cop shoots dead an unarmed black teen and apparently there will be no accountability – China on the other hand acts swiftly to punish officials after the deadly New Year’s stampede in Shanghai – A stabbing spree is partially caught on video – And a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

Diplomats from Russia and Ukraine agreed to a line of demarcation from which both sides should pull back their heavy weapons.  This came just hours after separatist forces deployed a shocking volume of brand-new Russian arms and manpower to an emerging flashpoint in eastern Ukraine.

The Jamaican Cabinet has approved a bill that legalizes the possession of small amounts of marijuana, and has sent it to the Senate for approval as early as this weekend.  It’s great news for the country’s legendary Rastafarian community, which for decades has smoked Ganja for religious purposes despite prohibition.

A day after Shiite rebels in Yemen seized the presidential palace and surrounded the his home, Yemeni President President Abed Mansour Hadi has agreed to major concessions that will likely grant more autonomy to the insurgents.

The leader of Germany’s anti-Muslim, anti-Immigrant movement called “Pegida” has stepped down after an uproar over hate-filled comments, but probably more because of the revelation of a photo showing him dressed up as nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.

Breaking news of an attack in Israel – Obama stuns and silences his critics – Police gun down a champion surfer – Just rewards and sad farewells in France and its territories – And a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

The mayor of Paris is considering suing Rupert Murdoch’s US Fox news network over the ridiculous claims of one of its guests that the City of Lights has no-go zones that are only for Muslim residents.  Of course no such zones exist, and Fox was forced to apologize and retract the errors for the second time in recent weeks.

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kircher (CFK) lashed out at the prosecutor who was found dead on Sunday, shortly after accusing her of stifling the investigating into the country’s most notorious terrorist attack.  CFK wondered if the dead man had allied himself with forces ought to weaken her government.

Shiite rebels in Yemen seized control of a palace used by the president and got into battles with his guards outside his residents.  It’s raising fears of an imminent coup in a notoriously unstable and impoverished country on the Arabian Peninsula.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe cut short his visit to the Middle East to deal with the threat issued by Islamic State (IS) against two Japanese hostages.  He’s rejecting demands for a ransom equal to the money he pledged to nations who are fighting the terrorists.

It was not terrorism. Indonesia’s transport minister told a parliamentary meeting that AirAsia Flight QZ8501 crashed into the Java Sea because it attempted to ascend too quickly and too steeply.  And the cockpit voice recorder didn’t pick up anything that could be interpreted as terrorism or interference.

For the first time, western troops met Islamic State (IS) militants in a ground battle.  Canadian Special Forces came under mortar and machine gun fire while training Iraqi troops near the front lines, and the fired back.

Iran says that it wasn’t just a member of its elite Revolutionary Guard killed by an apparent Israeli air strike in Lebanon on Sunday.  The target who died alongside six members of Hezbollah was a high-ranking general, putting Iran back into the middle of Israel’s conflict with the Lebanese militant group.

Cameroon’s military says it rescued 24 of the hostages kidnapped by the terrorist group Boko Haram in a cross border over the weekend.  The militants abducted some 80 people before making their way back across the border into their stronghold in northern Nigeria.

A new analysis warns that the federal government’s current funding of efforts to protect the Great Barrier Reef is insufficient, and that improving the water quality around the Reef will cost some A$785 Million over five years, with an overall investment of more than A$1.7 Billion past the year 2020. 

The death of a prosecutor in Argentina appears to be a suicide.  But the fact that the man had just made wild accusations of a vast conspiracy involving the nation’s president is feeding opposition suspicion, conspiracy theories, and tabloid journalists.

The trial has opened for a London hospital doctor accused of carrying out female genital mutilation (FGM) on a young woman immediately following the birth of the woman’s first child.  A second man is also charged, accused of encouraging the doctor.

Relief workers fighting Ebola in Africa are killed by another disease – Hezbollah militants are killed by an apparent Israeli airstrike – Shots fired outside the US Vice President’s home – And a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

Russia proposed a peace plan for eastern Ukraine that included a cease-fire by government forces and separatist militiamen, as well as the withdrawal of heavy artillery by both sides.  But the Kremlin claims that Kiev rejected the deal.

Anti-Muslim rallies in the eastern German city of Dresden had been growing in size week after week for the past three months, despite the disapproval of the rest of the country.  But authorities put a halt to this week's planned march, after investigators confirmed a threat to one of the shadowy organizers.