Good Morning, Australia! – The top American court protects Obama’s legacy – Courtney Love somehow gets in the middle of a violent protest – The ABC’s chief shirtfronts Tony’s call for rolling heads – And more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:
The US Supreme Court upheld America’s Affordable Care Act – more commonly known as Obamacare – from a conservative challenge over a few typos in the legislation. A majority of justices decided that the US Congress did indeed intend for the legislation to make it easier for Americans to purchase health insurance. It preserves the signature achievement of President Barack Obama, even as some critics are trying to write him off as a lame duck. The ruling also rescues Obamacare’s critics: Had it gone the other way, conservatives would have had to come up with a solution for the millions who would have lost their health care coverage. This is the second time the Supreme Court upheld the law against an idiotic conservative challenge.
Thousands of French cab drivers held a nationwide strike aimed at the online ride service Uber – and at times the demonstration delved into violence, such as blocked roads and burning tyres. Rock signer Courtney Love claims that her driver was ambushed in Paris and two men on a motorcycle rescued her. Despite repeated court rulings against Uber for being an unlicensed taxi service with unvetted drivers, the US-based company continues to operate and claims to have 400,000 customers a month. Je Suis Taxi.
This is what happens if you try to park in the disabled spot in Maringa, Brazil. LMFAO!
Burundi’s Vice President Gervais Rufyikiri has fled the country, saying he cannot support President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term in office. Opponents say Nkurunziza is violating a deal limiting presidents to two terms in office, and the decision has set off weeks of violent unrest in the desperately poor, landlocked African nation. An attempting to dislodge Nkurunziza by coup failed, and the government turned around to clamp down on all dissent.
Pakistan’s worst heat wave in 35 years has now killed more than 1,100 people, mostly in the city of Karachi. It coincided with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, in which some observant Muslims don’t eat or drink during the daylight hours. Compounding matters has been a series of power cuts, preventing people from using coolers or fans.
ABC Managing Director Mark Scott is rejecting PM Tony Abbott’s demand that “heads should roll” for a controversial airing of the network’s Q&A program. “The ABC is clearly Australian, it’s on the side of Australia,” said Scott to Abbott’s criticism. But Scott also said that the ABC shouldn’t bend to ruling party political pressure and become an official state broadcaster, as in North Korea, Russia, or Vietnam. Tony and the Liberals are upset over of former terror suspect Zaky Mallah asking a question from Q&A’s studio audience.
Actor Patrick McNee is dead at age 93. He’s best known for playing John Steed in the TV series “The Avengers” in the 1960s, and again in its 1970s revival as a suave, Rolls Royce-driving upper-class secret agent in a three-piece suit with a steel-lined bowler hat and typically British umbrella which actually concealed a sword.
The latest round of high-level meetings between Greece and its European creditors has produced only more deadlock. Greece has to make a 1.5 Billion Euro debt repayment on Tuesday, or face defaulting and leaving the European Union. But the Europeans rejected the government’s plans to raise taxes on the rich and corporations, demanding instead that the Syriza government go back on its campaign promises and slash at pensions.