Global News

The opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup has come and gone and it was pretty much disaster-free.  Despite problems ranging from a barely-ready stadium to an extreme overreaction to street protests, Sao Paulo partied Thursday night into memory with a victory over Croatia.

The White House is making it clear – whatever the US decided to do to help Iraq’s Shi’a government protect itself against the advance of Sunni Islamist militants who’ve taken control of several cities and towns, American ground troops will not be involved. 

Ukraine accuses Russia of sending in the tanks – Jamaica might finally do the obvious – Indiana Jones versus the Garage Door of Doom – And a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

There are some environmentalists disputing the hopeful report card that Australia is giving itself for the health and future of the Great Barrier Reef.  Officials will attend a UNESCO meeting in Doha next week to insist the reef is on the mend.

As many as 40,000 protesters brought Melbourne to a standstill on Thursday to demand that the Abbott government abandon its scheme to slash the budget.  The demonstrators say the cuts would see fewer people employed, and those with jobs would be forced to work harder, for longer, and for less money. 

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has failed to rally more “like minded” nations to his cause of opposing US President Barack Obama and other leaders pushing stronger international carbon regulation.  Only Canada has signed on.

The UN is concerned by fast-moving loses in Iraq – Japan and China bicker of atrocities – Washington is rocked by Cooter? – And a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

Ready or not, the 2014 FIFA World Cup is here.  And there are indications that Brazil is kind of partially ready.  For instance, the Sao Paulo subway strike appears to be off, just in time for thousands of fans to ride the Metro system to the stadium hosting the first game of the tournament, Brazil versus Croatia

France’s Marine Le Pen had spent a lot of time trying to put a happier face on the far-right anti-immigrant politics of the National Front (FN) party.  The results were some major gains in the recent European Parliament elections.  But a blatantly anti-Semitic remark by the party’s founder – Marine’s father, Jean-Marie le Pen – slapped the smile off that facade and replaced it with a toothbrush mustache.

A prominent pro-democracy activists was forced to stand outside a courthouse in Cairo, while he was tried in absentia inside on charges of violating the government’s ban on unsanctioned protests.  Alaa Abd El Fattah later learned he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Iraq has secretly asked for US air assistance to deal with stunning advances by Sunni Islamist militants.  But there’s no indication that the US wants to write a third chapter in Iraq, especially after President Obama withdrew the last of its forces in 2011.

A political earthquake in America – Brazil says it really, really is ready for the World Cup – Cuddly Rhinoceros loves his humans – And a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

There are concerns over whether the crew of the sunken South Korean passenger ferry Sewol can get a fair trial.  The captain and 14 more crewmembers are on trial less than two months after the disaster that left more than 300 people dead or missing, and emotions are still running high.

Environmentalists are celebrating now that the government of Chile has rejected a mammoth hydro-electric development in pristine, barely developed area of Patagonia in the southernmost part of the country.  HidroAysen would have been the biggest energy project in the country’s history, building five dams on two wild rivers.

Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is asking parliament to declare a state of emergency after Sunni militants from al Qaeda and the dreaded Islamic State In Iraq and Syria (ISIS) effectively took control of Mosul and much of the surrounding province.

After yet another school shooting, US President Barack Obama says America has some soul-searching to do on the subject of guns, noting that no other developed nation would tolerate the “off the charts” level of gun violence plaguing the United States.

European football associations are urging FIFA president Sepp Blatter to quit next year because of the damage corruption allegations have inflicted on football's governing body.  Published reports have claimed that the process to give the World Cup to Qatar in 2022 was riddled with bribes and wrongful influence.

Paul McCartney is delaying the start of his US tour for “a few more weeks”, because of a lingering illness that caused him to scrap his Japan and South Korea tour dates and to spend several days in hospital.  The US leg was to have started in Lubbock, Texas this weekend.

Mexico City is now the latest municipality to ban the use of animals in circuses.  The city council approved a law specifying fines of A$48,000 to A$64,000 for circuses that don’t comply.  But what the law doesn’t cover has circuses accusing lawmakers of hypocrisy.

Pakistan strikes back after the terrorist siege at its busiest airport – Boko Haram kidnaps more women – The World Cup subway strike is on hold – Ergogan’s pettiness is on full display – And a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs: