Global News

North Korea is downright angry over reports that it had executed several state performers to cover up the lurid, decadent past of its first lady Ri Sol-Ju, wife of youthful despot Kim Jong-Un.

Russia accuses the US of trying to wreck the deal that prevented war in Syria – Kiwis demand Russia release Greenpeace activists – And Typhoon Usagi slams into China.  That and a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs.

US President Barack Obama stepped into is role as mourner-in-chief at the memorial service for the victims of America’s latest mass murder-by-gun, the killings of twelve people at the Navy Shipyard in Washington, DC.

The official results of Germany’s election are in, and Chancellor Angela Merkel's party has won overwhelmingly.  But although she’ll get a third term in office, her conservative Christian Democratic Party and its Bavarian allies just narrowly missed out on an historic absolute majority.

Some hostages are still trapped after an Islamist Massacre at a shopping mall – A former high-ranking Chinese official is jailed for life – Mexico’s President gives up hope for scores of people lost in a gigantic town-killing mudslide.

Israeli troops scuffle with European diplomats on a humanitarian mission – A massive super-typhoon is threatening the Philippines, Taiwan, and China – And a prominent UK politician acts like a loony on camera.

South African Police lied about events surrounding the killings of 34 striking mineworkers last year, according to the commission looking into the massacre at Marikana. 

There’s a reason why Pope Francis has not spoken out on those old chestnuts of Roman Catholic socio-political doctrine, Abortion, Gay Marriage, and Contraception:  He says the church had grown “obsessed” with those topics to the exclusion of more important work.

Iranian President Hassan Rowhani is offering to “help facilitate dialogue” between the Syrian government and the opposition, as Syria’s Assad regime admits the civil war has reached a stalemate.

Armed Russian officers in balaclavas stormed the Greenpeace ship “Arctic Sunrise” in the Barents Sea, seizing the vessel and holding 29 activists at gunpoint.  At least two Kiwis are among the group, as are Canadians and Brits.  Greenpeace says its vessel was in international waters, making the raid a violation of international law.

Manuel returns to Mexico, this time as a full-strength hurricane – Francois Hollande says France beat the terrorists – A baby is killed in an unthinkable accident at an airport – Greece mourns a talented musician, killed by a cowardly racist

An earthquake struck Japan’s Fukushima prefecture this morning, location of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ordered scrapped a day earlier.

A judge in America’s bible belt has overturned a lower court ruling and says that a baby can keep the name his mother chose for him:  Messiah.

Russia is dismissing the UN report on the 21 August chemical weapon attack near Damascus, Syria as “biased and one-sided,” and says the inspectors ignored evidence that shows the rebels were responsible.

Iran’s new leader spells out his country’s nuclear plans – A bus driver ignores all the warnings and drives into the side of a speeding train – And cops want to know why they weren’t allowed to stop a massacre in progress.

France’s parliament is advancing legislation that would ban child beauty pageants to protect girls younger than 16 years old from being “sexualized” too early.  Anyone who enters a child in such a contest would face up to two years in prison and a 30,000 Euro fine.

A Greek neo-Nazi and member of the fascist “Golden Dawn” party has been arrested for the unprovoked murder of a Left-Wing rapper.   News of the cowardly 15-on-1 attack led to an outburst of demonstrations across Greece against the violent and thuggish Golden Dawn.

Iran has reportedly released eleven political prisoners, three men and eight women including a noted human rights attorney and a reformist politician.

When Europe’s most prestigious human rights prize is next awarded, it could be a major rebuke of America’s National Security Agency’s (NSA) practice of spying on its friends.

Philippine troops have freed as many as 150 people who were being held hostages by Islamist guerillas in and around the southern city of Zamboanga.