Global News

Hundreds of thousands of people took over the streets of the Ukrainian capital Kiev to demand the resignation of the government for turning its back on closer ties with the European Union in favor of Russia.  The crowd turned their anger onto a symbol of the oppressive Soviet past.

Lethal levels of radiation are confirmed outside the Fukushima reactor buildings – South Africa prepares for Mandela’s funeral – China breaks thirty years of international precedent to solve border crises – A grandfather’s North Korean nightmare is over.

South Africa announces its plans to honor Nelson Mandela – North Korea frees an elderly American prisoner – People are choking as China’s air pollution problem goes off the charts – And the thieves who allegedly stole a deadly cargo learn their fate.

The bond ratings agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) has downgraded Qantas’ credit rating to below-investment level – otherwise known as “junk”.  It will probably increase the airline's borrowing costs and send a scare up the spines of investors.

Mexican truck thieves might have given themselves a death sentence – Russian diplomats are charged with stealing public aid meant for the poor – more than a dozen young girls are freed from an alleged “baby factory” – And Northern Europe braces for more trouble from a powerful storm.

North Korea’s population of political prisoners is expanding, according to a new report from Amnesty which details brutality such as rape, torture, and forcing people to dig their own graves.

Nelson Mandela, the former political prisoner who became one of history’s most influential statesmen, the heroic freedom fighter who became the first president of a democratic post-apartheid South Africa died on 5 December 2013 at age 95.

France is “immediately” doubling its troop numbers in Central African Republic as some 100 people are confirmed dead in fierce fighting on Thursday in the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), Bangui.

Pope Francis is to set up a Vatican committee to advise him on sex abuse of children by clergy in the Catholic Church and to offer help to victims.  It comes days after the Vatican refused a United Nations request for information on alleged abuse by priests, nuns or monks.

People in Paraguay who speak the indigenous language Guarani can finally enjoy at least part of the Internet.  The government opened a Facebook page in Guarani, allowing folks to post, poke, and comment on each other’s statuses.  But beyond that, it’s just another world language in danger of getting steamrolled by our connected world.

Governments around the world are unprepared for an upcoming epidemic of dementia, as the number of patients is expected to triple from 44 million sufferers today to more than 135 million by the year 2050.  Health experts and campaigners are calling for an international awakening on the inevitable future.

The African Elephant Summit in Botswana has produced a major agreement to protect Elephant populations across the continent and to try to halt the illegal ivory trade in nations where it currently flourishes.  Signatory nations include the African sources, the transit points, and the Asian destinations for illegal ivory.

China’s industrial northeast is literally choking its neighbors – Ukraine’s opposition protesters get two major boosts – The LA Coroner releases preliminary details of actor Paul Walker’s tragic death.

Mexican police have recovered a stolen truck that was hauling radioactive medical waste, and a piece of equipment containing radioactive material that was missing has been recovered.  Even though the material was once used to try to save lives under controlled circumstances, a nuclear official says direct contact with the raw stuff will kill a human within minutes.

Argentinean officials gave in to demands of police for higher pay in the country’s second-largest city, after cops stopped working and the city erupted in a wave of looting and violence.  At least one person was killed and more than 100 people were injured.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro showed what he said was proof of “sabotage” that caused the power outage that plunged most of his country into darkness on Monday night, accusing them of trying to create chaos before the municipal elections this weekend.

Protesters in Kiev, Ukraine are threatening a tighter blockade around government buildings – And Ukraine’s prime minister is making it clear that the government would not shy away from preventing the rising demonstrations by force.

Video captures an amazing undersea rescue – New allegations are made about the shocking murders of two cops more than 20 years ago – Hawaii is suffering an increase of deadly shark attacks – And a newly revealed tale of generosity shows how Hollywood just lost one of the good ones.

Australia ranked in the top ten cleanest countries in the annual rankings of the perception of corruption by the group Transparency International.  But Oz has dropped slightly in the rankings, possibly because of scandals such as those surrounding Leighton Holdings and the Reserve Bank subsidiary Securency.

US Vice President Joe Biden is making it clear that America will defend the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands from Chinese provocations and territorial claims.  Biden is visiting the three nations most directly involved with China’s newly claimed Air Defense Zone in the East China Sea.