The investigation into a dissident’s murder shows the audacity of the Kremlin – Modi plays to India’s populists in a landmark budget plan – Turkey threatens Tuna’s recovery – And a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

Russian officials investigating the murder of prominent Putin critic Boris Nemtsov are coming up with all sorts of theories about the case.  The two most ridiculous have Nemtsov’s fellow dissidents killing him in order to create a martyr, or have Nemtsov killed as a blatant “provocation” in order to “destabilize” the country, a la Ukraine.  Nemtsov was shot to death on a bridge near the Kremlin shortly after calling on people to attend a rally in Moscow against Russian involvement in Ukraine’s unrest.  He had frequently expressed fear that Russia President Vladimir Putin would have him killed. 

Moscow authorities are preparing for that rally Nemtsov championed later on Sunday.  Officials granted a permit for up to 50,000 participants.  Tens of thousands of people were expected to voice their opposition to Putin and the war in Ukraine – now, they’ll memorialize Boris Nemtsov as well.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled his first budget plan, which proposes a universal social security scheme.  The budget seems to have programs aimed at pleasing all Indians, rich, middle-class and poor – perhaps to answer criticism that his government is pro-big business.  Another populist facet is a proposal for a multi-billion dollar rural jobs program. 

Sierra Leone registered 18 new cases of Ebola last week, breaking the trend of declining infections.  Many of the new cases are people in or with ties to fishing.  So the government is reinstating a nighttime ban on all boat launches, off-loading catches in crowded markets, and health checkpoints.

At least 14 people are dead and thousands are displaced in flooding on Madagascar.

All nine of Colombia’s Supreme Court justices voted to convict the former head of the secret police of spying charges.  Maria del Pilar Hurtado directed illegal surveillance on the foes of conservative President Alvaro Uribe in 2007 and 2008.  This included spying on politicians, journalists, and judges – none of whom are on the Supreme Court today.  Hurtado turned herself in to Colombian authorities last month after five years on the lam.  She faces ten years in prison.

Egypt’s “Court of Urgent Matters” has declared Gaza’s ruling Hamas faction a terrorist group.  A similar ruling was passed against Hamas’ military wing last month.  “It has been proven without any doubt,” said presiding Judge Mohamed el Sayed, “that the movement has committed acts of sabotage, assassinations, and the killings of innocent civilians and members of the armed forces and police in Egypt.”  Relations between Hamas and Cairo deteriorated rapidly under Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who ordered border crossings into Gaza closed.

Car bombs killed at least 27 people in and around Baghdad.  These targeted public places and Shiite militia checkpoints bordering on areas that are controlled or Islamic State (IS).

Scientists spot a baby Orca in the Pacific Ocean off Washington State.

The European Union, Japan, and other nations are angry over Turkey’s unilateral decision to up its catch of Eastern Atlantic Tuna.  This came out in the minutes of a meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas last week (ICCAT) – delegates blasted Turkey for announcing it would catch up to 73 percent more Bluefin than under the plan that signatory nations agreed to last year.  Overfishing by industrial ships has decimated world Tuna stocks in recent years, and the species is in trouble.  “One government going beyond international agreements could be catastrophic for the recovery of this iconic species, and in fact catastrophic for ICCAT as a relevant management organization,” said Amanda Nickson, director of global tuna conservation with The Pew Charitable Trusts.