Hello Australia!! - A horror fire kills dozens of zoo animals, authorities suspect a cause - Netanyahu tries to maneuver his way out of prosecution - What makes a Pope slap someone? - And more in your CareerSpot Global News Briefs:

The Bushfire Emergency continues.. at least 17 people are dead and tourists are being told to get out of the NSW South Coast, while authorities are helping to evacuate those people who were backed up to the beach at Mallacoota, VIC.  For more information about bushfires in your state, please click through to these sites:  For Victoria - VicEmergency; South Australia - SA CFS; New South Wales - NSW RFS; Western Australia - EmergencyWA; and Tasmania - TasFire.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is asking parliament to grant him immunity from prosecution on bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate cases.  It would take more than half of lawmakers to agree in order to make it happen.  Such a move would likely delay a trial until after elections next March, Israel's third election in a year.

Protesters have withdrawn from the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, after a second day of violence.  US troops used tear gas at the thousands of pro-Iranian demonstrators, who set tyres aflame and lobbed rocks and concrete chunks at the compound in the Green Zone.  Donald Trump blamed Iran and vowed to hold Tehran responsible - the Ayatollah tweeted right back, taunting by saying the US "can't do a damn thing".   

Investigators suspect a floating lantern sparked the horror fire at Germany's Krefeld Zoo that killed practically every animal in the Monkey and Ape exhibit.  Only two Chimpanzees "Bally" and "Limbo" survived the blaze that killed the zoo's oldest breeding Gorilla, Rare Bornean orangutans, chimpanzees and marmosets - more than 30 animals.  "People reported seeing those sky lanterns flying at low altitude near the zoo and then it started burning," said police chief Gerd Hoppmann.  Authorities banned Chinese floating lanterns in 2009 after a rash of deadly fires.

At least 16 people are died in a prison riot in Mexico, near the town of Cieneguillas in Zacatecas state.  The battle raged for two and a half hours as prisoners brandished smuggled guns and knives.  No cops are guards were hurt, and authorities have launched an investigation into how those guns got in to prison.

Palau's new ban on certain types of sunscreen has come into force.  Sunscreen cream that includes common ingredients - including oxybenzone - is not allowed to be worn or sold in the country because it can harm corals and sea life.  Palau's President Tommy Remengesau said, "We have to live and respect the environment because the environment is the nest of life."

Pope Francis is apologizing for slapping away a woman's hand after she grabbed onto him and yanked his arm.  This happened as the Pontiff was greeting pilgrims in Saint Peter's Square on New Year's Eve.  Francis later admitted he had "lost patience", and added:  "We lose patience many times.  It happens to me too.  I apologize for the bad example given yesterday."