Global News

A new poll shows an overwhelming number of Australians favoring legal same-sex marriage.  It adds pressure on the Prime Minister to get off of his duff and allow a conscience vote by members of his party on Marriage Equality.

A record settlement is announced in the 2009 wildfires – Tony Abbott’s “entitled” office renovation – Malala secures an important pledge – And a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

Ukraine says a missile was likely fired from the Russian side of the border, bringing down a military cargo plan bringing food rations and water to troops fighting the pro-Moscow insurgency in the east.  A massive search and rescue operation is underway for the missing crew.

Israel and Hamas are individually considering a cease-fire proposal from Egypt, which defied the expectations of international diplomats who believed that Cairo would be too preoccupied with its own internal security problems.  It could bring to an end a week that has seen almost 200 Palestinians killed in Gaza.

The General Synod of the Church of England voted to allow women to become bishops – effectively accepting the apparently revolutionary notion that that men and women are equally able and eligible to lead and teach Christianity.

Two Australians were badly gored on the last day of this year’s Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain.  A Spanish man was also gored, and yet another Aussie was injured in the longest run on the clock, taking four minutes and 47 seconds from beginning to end.

Thousands of Argentine soccer fans gathered at the Obelisk in downtown Buenos Aires to applaud their team's best World Cup performance in 24 years.  The scene, unfortunately, exploded into a riot that brought on a tough police crackdown.

Germany wins the World Cup – China fights terrorism with force and cash – A jihadist rabble rouser is branded a “fraud” – And a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

The Pakistani schoolgirl and global campaigner for children’s education Malala Yousafzai has traveled to Abuja, Nigeria to meet the families of more than 200 kidnapped schoolgirls.  She’s pledging to use her influence to help free the girls who were abducted from their school by the terrorist group Boko Haram, whose name means, “western education is forbidden”.

The Vatican is doing some serious spin control after an Italian newspaper quoted Pope Francis saying “about two percent” of the clergy are pedophiles –  including clerics who’ve reached the highest levels of responsibility and authority in the Roman Catholic Church.

Russia is vowing a response to the death of a civilian from a shell it says was fired by Ukrainian forces.  Moscow and Berlin are calling for the resumption of talk on the Ukraine crisis as soon as possible.

Israeli commandos were seen on a Gaza beach, after Israel dropped thousands of leaflets in northern Gaza warning residents to clear out of the way of an upcoming a large-scale bombing campaign.  At risk is an area that is home to at least 100,000 people.

Brazil braces for the big finale of the World Cup – The UN wants a cease-fire in Gaza – Putin brings his chequebook to Latin America, forging ties to replace those lost in the EU and US – The driving beat behind a musical legend is gone – Gabba Gabba Hey!  So much more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

No peace for Gaza  – An actor in the Harry Potter films is found dead in the harshest of deserts – Germs, germs, who’s got the germs? – And a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

A FIFA-linked executive is on the lam from Brazilian cops  – Authorities seek the death penalty against the Texan who murdered a family of six, including four children – A German lawmaker admits to ‘Breaking Bundestag’ – And a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

The US and Venezuelan governments have designated charge d’affaires to each other’s capitals.  The move signals a move towards the normalization of relations, after months of unrest in Venezuela that Caracas had repeatedly alleged was sparked, at least in part, by US interference.

Rescuers are racing to find two people believed trapped underneath an inter-island ferry that capsized off Vanuatu.  In all, 41 people were thrown into the water, 37 people have been rescued, but two people died.

A heartbreaking setback for a baby who doctors had said they “cured” of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.  After more than two years off of anti-viral therapy, the virus has not only returned to detectable levels, but showed signs of damaging her immune system.  There is, however, hope for her long-term survival.

The German government has told the top US spy in Berlin to leave the country.  This comes after German officials uncovered two cases of US spying in Germany, worsening the friction between the two allies.  Expelling agents and other officials is usually done between countries with adversarial relationships.

US President Barack Obama is offering to negotiate a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.  Mr. Obama spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, as Israel stepped up its aerial attacks on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip in an attempt to thwart rocket fire targeting Israel.