Global News

The Egyptian government unveiled its harshest measure to date against the Muslim Brotherhood, declaring the organization of the former president a terrorist organization and vowing to treat any member – or even anyone who takes part in its activities – as a terrorist.

Merry Christmas Australia! – Russia begins dropping cases against the Greenpeace Arctic 30 – Fighting spreads in South Sudan – Branson wants a boycott after a country passes ridiculous legislation – Joy to the world, North Korea is at it again.

Practically every country in the world are urging its citizens to flee South Sudan, as the fighting between government troops and a rebel faction worsens.  Australians are reportedly among the 3,000 foreigners still in South Sudan.

More than a dozen people are killed in an explosion in Egypt – Thailand’s opposition protesters fail at a self-appointed task – A dictator goes on trial today.

An historic verdict in Chile as eight former military members were convicted for their parts in the murders of 14 people during the bloody initial days of Augusto Pinochet’s fascist dictatorship.  They’re among the first to be convicted of crimes linked to the “Caravan of Death”.

Five men including an American and two Indians were sentenced to prison time in the United Arab Emirates for making a parody video lampooning Dubai teens and teachers and posting it on YouTube.  They were convicted under a broadly written cyber crime law.

Members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot have been released from prison under that country’s amnesty.  But if authorities were expecting Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova to be apologetic and grateful, they were sorely mistaken. 

If Mikhail Kalashnikov had gotten to follow the path he wanted to, perhaps we’d remember him for simple, efficient farm, inexpensive farm equipment that revolutionized agriculture.  Instead, we remember him as the designer of the AK-47 assault weapon, the world’s most popular instrument of death and destruction.

More trouble for Rolf – South Sudan rebels take more territory in the week-old civil conflict – A French peacekeeper in Africa sports a very war-like motto on his uniform – Sweden beats the nazis.

There are still some reasonably-priced accommodations left in Rio de Janeiro for next year’s World Cup.  That’s as long as you don’t mind bars on the windows, the stench of sewage from the street, and the fading possibility of a gun battle outside your window.

Investigators say the evidence points to the pilot intentionally crashing a passenger plane in Africa last month, killing all 33 people on board.  A preliminary report describes a harrowing scene in which the crew desperately tries to get into the locked cockpit to save the plane.

Anti-Democracy protesters returned in force to Bangkok are now vowing to disrupt the upcoming 2 February national elections, instead of merely boycotting the vote.  The protest leader ordered followers to physically block the ruling party building, as well as any smaller parties that register to take part in the Democratic process.

Bangladesh authorities charged 13 people with Culpable Homicide in the raging fire that killed 112 people in a garment factory in November 2012.  It’s the first time that prosecutors charged factory owners in the world’s second-largest garment industry.

The Canadian billionaire businessman who lobbied the Soviet Union to allow Jews to emigrate and helped spearhead the search for artwork and other hidden treasures stolen by the Nazis has died.  Edgar Bronfman was 84.

US forces come under attack in a war-torn country – Thailand’s opposition just can’t say yes to a deal – North Korea’s Uncle Jang purge sends hundreds to prison camps – Holy cow, I’ve really got to start Christmas Shopping.  Here are your CareerSpot World News Briefs

Spain plans to force women back into the 1980s – Freed from prison, a former billionaire flees Russia as fast as possible – Ban Ki-Moon goes to Tacloban City – All this and Gay Penguins, in your Careerspot World News Briefs.

Uruguay’s decision to legalize and regulate the production, sale, and consumption of Marijuana is winning fans and worrying neighbors.  For example, British magazine The Economist has chosen Uruguay as its “country of the year” not just for marijuana but for marriage equality, too.

The United States is accusing China of being “irresponsible” and “unhelpful” during the near-collision of a US warship and a Chinese naval vessel.  The confrontation in international waters that China claims in the South China Sea was the most serious since 2009.

Two men have been found guilty of murdering British soldier Lee Rigby in London in May.  The case was infamous not just for its gore in broad daylight, but for one the suspects standing at the scene spouting a manifesto while a witness recorded video on a mobile phone camera.

Royalty is coming down under – Kids imitate a violent cartoon, the producer is held responsible – The crimes against humanity case against Kenya’s president falls apart – And a dog comes a long way from marked to death to celebrity guest of honor.