More than two-dozen people are murdered by terrorist a bus attack – A strong earthquake jolt Japan’s winter resort area – China appears to be building a landing strip in territory claimed by other countries – And more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

Suspected al-Shabaab guerillas attacked a bus in northeastern Kenya and killed 28 passengers.  Police say the victims were sorted out from the others when they could not recite a Muslim declaration of faith.  A statement on al-Shabaab’s radio station said the attack was in retaliation for Kenyan government raids on four mosques.

Several homes and buildings were damaged when a magnitude-6.7 earthquake struck near Hakuba town in the mountainous area of central Japan that hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics.  More than 40 people were hurt, seven seriously.  Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority said the quake and its numerous aftershocks didn’t cause trouble at any nuclear power plants.  But residents of Hakuba it felt stronger and sharper than previous temblors.

There’s growing concern over newly released satellite imagery that shows China building an island large enough to hold a runway.  This is on a reef in the Spratly Island chain in the South China Sea near the Philippines – and way south of China’s territorial waters.  It shows that China may be converting disputed territory in the mineral-rich archipelago into a military installation.  Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Brunei also claim parts of the area.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is accusing the US and Europe of trying to force regime change in Moscow.  Lavrov decried economic sanctions – leveled over Russia’s involvement in Ukraine – that he says “will destroy the economy and cause public protests”.  Last week, President Vladimir Putin said Moscow must guard against a “color revolution” planned from abroad – which is what Moscow has said happened in Ukraine. 

Colombian President Juan Manual Santos says the Marxist FARC rebels will release a kidnapped general and four other captives next week, the handover delayed because of bad weather.  The abductions a week ago put the brakes on peace talks that had been going on in Havana, Cuba aimed at ending the five-decade insurgency in which more than 220,000 people have died.

The deadline for reaching a nuclear deal with Iran is Monday, and Western negotiators say major sticking points remain unresolved.  Tehran insists its nuclear program is for energy and medical research only, while the US, the UK, France, Germany, Russia, and China – known as the P5+1 group – are seeking reassurance that Iran is not trying to build nuclear weapons.  Specifically, Iran has failed to explain explosives tests and other activity that could be linked to a nuclear weapons program.  The Western powers also want Iran to scale back its nuclear enrichment activities, while Iran wants to increase it.

Portuguese police detained former Prime Minister Jose Socrates for alleged tax fraud and money laundering.  He was picked up at the airport after returning to Lisbon from Paris.  It the second scandal to hit Portugal in a week, following the resignation of the interior minister last Sunday.