Global News

The French Government and China are throwing a lifeline to the automaker Peugeot – Each is investing 800 Million Euros (A$1.22 Billion) in the French automaker in a deal that will possibly expand the brand’s global presence.

South Africa’s elite police unit, the Hawks, is vowing to hunt down illegal mining kingpins.  This comes after two bodies were discovered inside an abandoned gold mine where dozens of alleged trespassers had been trapped and rescued earlier.

Australia seeks details about the Manus Island riot – The US sends an elderly nun to prison – A military chief is canned for seeking to form his own “mafia” – and a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

Number Three in our trilogy of violence street protests is the anti-government trouble in Bangkok.  At least four people were killed in Tuesday’s battles in the country’s bitter class war, and scores of protesters and cops are recovering from various injuries.

At least 21 people are dead in the Ukrainian capital Kiev as opposition protests that appeared to be calming just 24 hours earlier exploded in violence.  Thousands of cops and protesters faced off with stun grenades versus fireworks, truncheons versus bricks, spilling blood on both sides.

Venezuela opposition Leader Leopoldo Lopez emerged from days of hiding and turned himself over to authorities who had earlier issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with the deaths of four people in violent confrontations last week. 

Regulators in Argentina have approved a plan to break up the country's biggest independent media company, Grupo Clarin, into six parts.  It’s a victory over a media monopoly for which President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner had fought a long battle.

Iran and six world powers are in Vienna for the first round of talks on a long-term agreement to limit Tehran's controversial nuclear program.  Both the United States and Iran are already tamping down expectations of any breakthrough like the temporary deal reached late last year.

One man is dead and scores are hurt in a massive fight in the detention camp on Manus Island – Japan divers are found alive after being lost in stormy seas  – And we’ve found a hotel restaurant that totally is not going to get a good Michelin rating – All that and more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs.

A day before opposing rallies in Caracas, Venezuela gave three US Embassy officials 48 hours to leave the country, charging that the Americans are siding with opposition protesters.  The Obama administration denied the allegations and expressed concern over the government’s response to what it called “peaceful protests”.

Italy's President Giorgio Napolitano has asked the mayor of the city of Florence to form a new government.  At 39-years old, Matteo Renzi will be Italy’s youngest Prime Minister and will represent a marked change from standard Italian politics which normally sees much older men running the show.

A long-awaited UN report on North Korea accuses the hermit kingdom of “unspeakable atrocities” including using food to control the population, causing the deaths of “hundreds of thousands” of people; arbitrary detention and torture qualifying as atrocities; widespread and systematic discrimination based on class, caste, and gender. 

At least eleven miners have been freed after being trapped under a collapse in an abandoned gold mine in South Africa.  But they’re being charged with illegal mining, so 19 more who’ve been trapped since Saturday are refusing to come out for fear that they will also be arrested.

Warmer temperatures expected in Japan later this week will go a long way towards melting the worst snowstorm in 120 years.  At least eleven people were killed in the weekend storms, with more than 1,000 injured from tip to tip of the main islands.

Terrorists target tourists seeing the sites in Egypt – Drug war money is disappearing in the Colombian military – European leaders are working on an alternative to a US-run Internet – And a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs.

More than two months of unrest in Ukraine will be significantly dialed back when the sun rises in Kiev on Monday.  Protesters have largely ended their occupation of several key government buildings, and in return the government is granting amnesty to the protesters.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel might have thought her third term would be smooth sailing with an 80 percent majority in the Bundestag.  Instead she’s heading into a crisis meeting with her coalition partners this week to discuss a child porn investigation in the Bundestag.

The US National Security Agency (NSA) worked with the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) to tap the phones of an American law firm that was representing Indonesia in a trade dispute with Washington.  Prime Minister Tony Abbott didn’t comment on the latest embarrassing revelation from the documents released by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

A weak verdict in a controversial murder trial – Venezuela has dueling street protests – I went to a MMA Fight and a Turkish parliament session broke out – And a Danish Zoo backtracks on plans to kill a perfectly good giraffe – All that and more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs.

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day – was it good for you?  
Hey.. France is sending more troops to try and stop a repeat of that continent’s genocides of the 1900s – Finally, a serious move to hold North Korea accountable for “alleged crimes against humanity” – Things falling from the sky cause trouble in Asia – And a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs.