Global News

Libyan police and American forces captured a suspected ringleader of the attack on the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya in 2012, which left Ambassador Christopher Stephens and three other men dead.  This marks the first capture of one of the accused perpetrators.

Ebola has killed seven people in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia in West Africa.  These are the first Ebola deaths in Liberia in the West African epidemic, where the vast majority of cases had been reported in Guinea with a few more in Sierra Leone.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is blaming local political leaders and criminal gangs for the terrorist attacks on coastal communities that killed some 60 people.  This is despite the fact that Islamist militant group al Shabab from Somalia claimed responsibility for the carnage.

Vietnam and China will have their first high-level contact this week, since China deployed a giant oilrig to a set of disputed islands off Vietnam last month.  It’s going to take place on the sidelines of an annual bi-lateral event in Hanoi.

Philippine security forces captured the Abu Sayyaf Islamist militant who is suspected in the kidnapping of Australian Warren Richard Rodwell who was held in captivity for 15 months.  Jimmy “Doc” Nurilla is also alleged to be involved in the abduction of an American teenager.

US President Barack Obama notified Congress that he is sending 275 US troops to Iraq to protect the US Embassy in Baghdad and protect civilian personnel as they evacuate the largest such compound in the world.  Australia’s SAS are reportedly ready to go to Baghdad should the need arise to rescue Aussie diplomatic staff.

Indian police arrested six people after a mob of hundreds of angry workers with iron rods and stones attacked and killed the CEO of a jute factory over his plans to slash working hours and close the factory for several days a week.

Police in Spain say they’ve arrested eight people for allegedly recruiting for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) – the hardline Islamist terrorist group that has captured large swaths of territory in those countries and is threatening Baghdad itself.

A court in China sentenced three Uighur Muslim separatists to death for last October’s deadly attack at the gate to Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.  Another defendant was sentenced to life in prison and four more received prison terms of five to 20 years.

Right on schedule, Russia cut off natural gas supplies to Ukraine in a dispute over unpaid bills.  At the same time, Moscow insisted that Kiev allow the gas to flow from east to west through the pipelines that supply Europe, without tapping in.  But Europe is well-positioned to deal with any threat to its gas supplies.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said he will ask the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to call a moratorium on construction in the South China Sea.  It comes just two days after China began building a school on the largest island in the disputed Paracel chain, which Vietnam also claims.

Three teenagers went missing near an Israeli settlement in the West Bank.  It was followed by accusations and denials, and the greatest pressure on Israeli-Palestinian relations since the Palestinians brought Hamas in from the cold to form a unity government.

UNESCO will discuss the Tony Abbott government’s plan to chop down 74,000 hectares of Tasmanian forest at the cultural organization’s meeting in Qatar this week.  The government wants the forest’s World Heritage Site status revoke so that clear-cutting can begin.

The peace process to end a 50-year civil war will continue – Floods threaten a World Cup city – Russia might turn off Europe’s natural gas today – And a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

Pakistan’s military has launched a major and long-delayed offensive against the Pakistani Taliban and allied foreign jihadists who have for years sheltered in the restive North Waziristan region.  The operation was likely planned a while ago, but took on new urgency following the Taliban’s deadly attack on Karachi airport.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is warning Australians to get out of Iraq, now that jihadis from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are threatening the capital Baghdad after taking control of much of Sunni Arab territory in the north.  The US announced it is evacuating some of the 5,500 workers at its heavily fortified embassy compound.

Anger spills over after Ukraine’s deadliest day – Baghdad girds itself against a terrorist army – Ban Ki-moon’s birthday present might make him fail a pee test – And a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

Iraq is careening towards a showdown between regional Sunni and Shi’a Muslims – Obama refuses to be rushed on possible American intervention– An astounding number of poachings are threatening the African Elephant’s very existence – And Canadians say "no" to austerity in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

Rhinoceros populations are under pressure in African and Southeast Asia, but there’s one place in the world that’s turning out to be a stronghold.  Despite the worldwide poaching epidemic the Indian state of Assam is has seen its population leap by 27 percent since 2006.

More than three months after Malaysian Airlines Flight MH380 went missing somewhere in between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing, families of the 227 passengers are beginning to receive the initial compensation payouts.