Global News

The detention of an 85-year old American man in North Korean is playing out as that country’s leader Kim Jong-Un is brutally moving to consolidate power.  Kim’s once-powerful uncle Jang Song-Taek has been ousted from power in a late night purge, his aides put to death.

After a failed “Victory Day” over the weekend, Thai opposition protesters took to the streets on Monday to renew their fight to topple Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.  Riot police used teargas and stun grenades for a second day outside her fortified office compound to keep them at bay.

A factory fire reveals a shocking secret – The EU’s newest member bucks the trend towards marriage equality – Japan and the US don’t seem to be on the same page when it comes to dealing with China’s new Air Defense Zone.

Yeah, you.  Australia's surveillance agency offered to share information about ordinary Australian citizens with the other intelligence partners in the “Five Eyes”; The US, UK, Canada, and New Zealand.  This is according to a 2008 document found among the thousands of spy secrets smuggled out of the US by fugitive Edward Snowden. 

Federal investigators could be on the scene of a deadly train wreck in New York City for up to ten days as they try to determine what caused the crashed the killed four people and injured 63 more passengers.

Chaos spread in the streets as protests in Ukraine grew despite the government’s orders to send cops to disperse the demonstrators.  Around 350,000 filled the streets of Kiev as thousands more rallied in other cities, demanding the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovich for refusing to sign a political and trade deal with the European Union.

Police say speed was a factor in the fiery car crash that killed Hollywood star Paul Walker and his friend Roger Rodas, who was believed to have been behind the wheel.  The death throws into doubt the future of the highly popular “Fast & Furious” film franchise in which Walker features.

Oz has its second deadly shark attack in a week – Officials fear the death toll might go up in the Glasgow helicopter crash – An elderly man detained in North Korea reads an oddly worded “confession” – And a lot more awaits you in today’s CareerSpot World News Briefs:

Scotland braces for bad news after a helicopter crashes into a popular Glasgow pub – A passenger plane goes missing in Africa – Fire guts an architectural landmark in South America – Americans go nuts on Black Friday – Germany arrests an alleged cannibal cop.

Anti-government protesters in Thailand are planning to focus on the ruling party’s headquarter, as massive street protests enter their sixth day.  The protesters have been surrounding and occupying official buildings, trying to shut down the government.

The United Nations nuclear agency says its monitors have seen releases of steam and water from North Korea’s Yongbyon Nuclear Reactor, indicating that Pyongyang is trying to restart the facility that could be used for making plutonium for atomic bombs.

Dozens are hurt in an accident on a crowded, high-speed ferry – Remember that scene in the movie “Snatch” when they feed that guy to the pigs?  Yeah, it happened – Poorly chosen words following a national tragedy cost a Chairman his job.

UN aid agencies are spearheading a series of “cash for work” programs that are providing a desperately needed economic lifeline to survivors of the killer typhoon in the central Philippines.  They’re paying thousands of survivors to clear mountains of waste from ruined cities and farms.

Bulgarian authorities say they are constructing a fence on a 30-kilometer stretch of the country's border with Turkey in an effort to stop illegal immigration.

Beijing sent warplanes into the newly and unilaterally declared Air Defense Zone in the East China Sea, and territory grab that covers areas already claimed by Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.  It comes after the latter two nations plus the US defied China’s new demands over the region.

The difficult work of rebuilding Australia’s relations with Indonesia lie ahead – The US internet spies are getting really personal – And a roof cave in brings down a government.

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has survived a no-confidence vote in parliament, as the opposition stages major street protests in the capital Bangkok aimed at forcing her to step down.

Two people are dead in a major construction accident at Sao Paulo’s Arena Corinthians stadium, where the World Cup opening ceremony is supposed to take place next year.  It’s adding to worries that the stadium and perhaps Brazil in general will not be ready to host the contest.

A Tokyo court awarded just over A$400,000 to a man for the pain and hardship he suffered from being switched at birth because of a mistake at a social welfare hospital 60 years ago.

US Vice President Joe Biden was already scheduled to visit Japan, China, and South Korea to discuss economic issues.  But China’s recent grab of a vast swath of the East China Sea as its Air Defense Zone – and the US Military’s defiance – has taken over the top of the agenda.