Hello, Australia! – Tony changes his tune on Bronwyn – Turkey’ President is accused of collaborating with Islamic State – Japan’s Prime Minister want to build retroactive support for his bills to expand the role of the military – And more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:
Prime Minister Tony Abbott is tightening the screws on Speaker Bronwyn Bishop. Yesterday, he said she was on “probation” but defended her in the same breath, noting that she repaid the $5,227 tab for a helicopter ride from Melbourne to Geelong that she originally tried to stick to taxpayers. Today, Abbott says Bishop cannot make any more errors with his expenses and entitlements. But the PM denies putting pressure on her to resign.
Large-scale protests broke out in Turkey after the suspected Islamic State suicide bombing of a youth camp in the southern border town of Suruc. Demonstrators complained that the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hasn’t done enough to protect the country from the militants to the south, and some accuse him of collaborating with the terrorists to destabilize Syria. Police responded the way they usually do to anyone who questions Erdogan, with water cannons and tear gas.
Later in the evening, mourners carried the caskets of some of the 31 people killed in the Suruc bombing through the streets. It’s believed that an 18-year old female suicide bomber from Islamic State targeted a news conference with activists from the Federation of Socialist Youth, who were planning to cross the border to help rebuild the Kurdish city of Kobani. But a ruling party lawmaker worries that if it was indeed the work of Islamic State, the terrorists will not confine their activities to Suruc.
Burundi’s presidential election is underway. President Pierre Nkurunziza is seeking a third term, which opponents say is unconstitutional. Shots rang out all through the night in the capital Bujumbura, accompanied by sporadic protests.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is trying to convince the public to support his plans to expand the military with an annual defense report that labels China a major, growing threat. It cites oil and gas development in disputed waters in the East China Sea, and Beijing’s island building and nonsensical territory claims in the South China Sea. Abe’s approval rating plummeted after last week, when he pushed legislation through the Diet that would allow Japanese troops to take part in “collective self-defense” with US troops.
Two Spanish superbike riders were killed in a chain reaction crash at a Northern California raceway. Mobile video was rolling as the bikes just started on the first lap of the MotoAmerica Superbike/Superstock 1000 race at Laguna Seca near Monterey. But instantly, something goes wrong, and bikes start crashing into each other. 35-year old Bernat Martinez died after being rushed to a hospital in Monterey, 27-year old Daniel Fernandez was airlifted 30 kilometers away to Salinas, but died in hospital.