Global News

Thousands of Japanese crowded an outdoor music amphitheater near Parliament to protest the Shinzo Abe government’s drive to pass an official state secrets act.  The lower house could get the legislation as early as next week.

In a big victory for Russian president Vladimir Putin, Ukraine suddenly rejected European Union membership and further alliances with the west, choosing instead to revive talks with its old master Moscow.

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai just negotiated a deal with the US on a security deal that commits both countries to a longstanding military alliance.  Then he stood before tribal leaders, denouncing the US, and declaring he won’t even sign the thing until next April if they approve it.

US President Barack Obama is supporting a move by Senate Democrats to limit the minority Republicans ability to block the President’s judicial and staff nominations.  It ends a Republican-caused logjam on Mr. Obama’s second term in office.

Scotland Yard rescued three women who were being held as slaves for 3 decades from a home in London’s southern suburbs – one woman, 30 years old, likely had “no contact with the outside world” and never knew a day of freedom in her life until today.

The captain of the Greenpeace Arctic Sunrise has been granted bail by a court in northern Russia, along with 19 others from the vessel.  But consular officials are trying to find out Tasmania’s Colin Russell isn’t one of those freed.

An infamous African warlord might be on the ropes – Roy G. Biv comes to Middle America – A drone attack interrupts morning classes at an Islamic school.

Rio De Janeiro image of long beaches and blue waters could get a nasty jolt from our old friend “reality” if Brazil doesn’t deal with its epic water pollution problem before the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

They’re burning Aussie flags in Indonesia, a protest is expected at the embassy in Jakarta, and the Australian Federal Police and the Reserve Bank websites have fallen victim to cyber attacks.  It’s part of the widening fallout from the ham-handed response to Indonesia’s anger over being spied on by Australia, as revealed by the Snowden documents. 

An elderly grandfather from California on vacation in North Korea was removed from his seat on what was supposed to have been his return flight and detained by North Korean authorities, who haven’t yet acknowledged let alone explained what they’re up to.

Paris authorities have captured the man suspected of a series of shootings at media outlets and a major bank, and they say they have DNA evidence linking him to the crimes.  It turns out the suspect was once convicted in connection with an earlier, infamous series of shootings in Paris.

Venezuela's National Assembly has granted President Nicolas Maduro wide-ranging special powers to issue economic rules by decree for one year so that he can fix the economy.  Critics fear he may use them against the opposition.

The White House tamps down internal opposition to a nuclear deal with Iran – Ukraine is running out of time to fix its human rights situation – And someone in Canada’s government has FINALLY spoken out against Toronto’s crack-smoking mayor.

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) says it has successfully removed the first set of nuclear fuel rods from the cooling pool in Building Four of the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant.  The early milestone isn’t doing much to ease criticism that the disaster is much worse than TEPCO and Japan have let on.

The Afghan government says it had reached a deal on the framework of a security pact with the United States after receiving assurances that President Barack Obama would issue a letter acknowledging U.S. mistakes made during the 12-year war.

At least 22 people are dead in twin bomb blasts at the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, in an attack linked to the civil war going on across the border in Syria.  The Iranian ambassador escaped harm, but a cultural attache is among the dead.

The roof collapsed at a South African shopping mall under construction, killing at least one and injuring some 30 workers many of whom were rushed to hospital.  Workers are picking through the rubble and sniffer dogs are on the scene.

Chilling video of the Russian Plane Crash shows the 737 had no chance – The typhoon that ravaged the Philippines is being felt at Royal Melbourne – Nuclear talks with Iran will resume – And a puppy upstages the President of Argentina.

A firing squad in Indonesia has executed a convicted drug runner, the fifth execution in that country since March.  It could be a troubling sign for Australians on death row in Bali,  And it comes at a time that Canberra – Jakarta relations have hit a big snag, as evidenced by the Indonesian president’s Twitter account.

Police and Gendarmes in France are conducting a vast manhunt for the gunman who attacked the Liberation newspaper and fired outside the headquarters of the Societe Generale bank.  The gunman then forced a motorist to drive him to the Champs Elysees before running off.