Good Morning Australia!! - Ecuador is rocked by an Earthquake that killed hundreds - Scientists rule on whether the recent spate of seismic disasters are linked - Boaty McBoatface wins! - Axl/DC or AC/n'Roses?  - And more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

The death toll from Ecuador's most powerful earthquake in decades soared to 235, with at least 1,500 people injured.  Some 10,000 troops and 3,500 police are being deployed in the affected areas, and rescuers are using tractors and bare hands to extricate any survivors in shattered coastal towns.  The magnitude 7.8 quake struck off of the Pacific Coast on Saturday night, and was followed by more than 160 aftershocks.  The village of Pedernales appears to have been largely destroyed; deadly damage also occurred in Ecuador's largest city Guayaquil, where a bridge fell onto a car. 

The quake zone is rife with examples of how poor construction standards and older buildings usually inhabited by the poor were no match for the earthquake, and the impact of the disaster is felt disproportionately on the economic spectrum.  Ecuador is also home to a number of North American ex-pats attracted by the low cost of living; they tend to live in newly, better-constructed housing developments and gated communities.  Canada confirmed two deaths; the US said it was working to confirm any American fatalities.

President Rafael Correa rushed home from an economic ans social justice conference at the Vatican to supervise the emergency: "The immediate priority is to rescue people in the rubble," Said President Correa.  "Everything can be rebuilt, but lives cannot be recovered, and that's what hurts the most," he added.

Although Ecuador is along the rim of the seismically active "Ring of Fire" on which Japan also resides, scientists say the Ecuador quake is probably not related to the two earlier killer quakes in southwestern Japan.  "Even the earth's rocky crust is not rigid enough to transfer stress efficiently over thousands of miles," read a statement from the US Geological Survey.  Quakes can cause other big quakes within a range of hundreds of miles, but can cause only small, brief quakes at a distance of thousands of miles.

Authorities believe eleven people are still missing under crushed buildings or other debris after last week's quakes on Japan's southwestern Kyushu island.  41 people died since the first one on Thursday.  Kumamoto Prefecture is struggling to restore basic services of water and power to thousands of homes.  One bit of good news:  Heavy rain that was feared to cause more landslides in the quake zone failed to materialize.

Why do so many countries have vile and revolting weirdos running for high office this year?  Philippine presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte is not apologizing after video surfaced showing him joking about the rape and murder of an Australian missionary during a prison riot while he was Mayor of Davao City in 1989.  Duterte "joked" that he was angry, but thought that the mayor - himself - should have gone first.  Condemnation came from the President, Vice President, rival candidates, Human Rights Watch, Women's groups; but apparently not from his support base, which might actually carry this scumbag to the presidency in next month's election.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the Golan Heights are Israeli territory and will stay that way.  "It's time, after 50 years, that the international community finally recognizes that the Golan will forever remain under Israeli sovereignty," he said at a cabinet meeting.  Israel occupied the Golan Heights after the Six-Day War in 1967; most of the international community does not recognize Israel's 1981 formal annexation of the territory.  Syria wants it back, but...

Fan reaction to AC/DC's announcement that Guns n'Roses lead singer Axl Rose will take over on lead vocals to finish out the "Rock or Bust" has been lukewarm at best.  Some are choosing "bust", as social media comments include:  "A late April Fool's joke"; "Can't wait to see Axl Rose replacing the lead singer of AC/DC said no one ever"; "Can't wait for Axl Rose to replace posh spice on the Spice Girls reunion tour".  Rose replaces Brian Johnson, who after 35 years of fronting the band on the long way to the top of Rock and Roll was either going deaf or cruelly kicked to the curb.  The newly reformed classic line-up of Gn'R (well.. with Slash and Duff, anyway) performed at the Coachella Festival in California over the weekend, bringing out Angus Young for a couple of AC/DC classics.  

And the winner is:  Boaty McBoatface!  Last month, the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) started a poll to choose the name of its new AU$370 Million polar research ship - but instead of having multiple choice from a shortlist, people were allowed to come up with their own names.  And the Internet took over from there.  NERC reserves he right to choose the adorable red vessel's name, but one can't help but think of the opportunity to use the publicity to market Boaty McBoatface toys and plushies to raise money for scientific research or education or whatever...