Joachim Gauck wins vote by large majority in first round, bagging 991 votes against 126 for his main rival. from (author unknown) via http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/03/201231813451348775.html
Sixty-three-year-old monarch’s death reported by local media but no immediate confirmation yet from Tongan authorities. from (author unknown) via http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2012/03/201231812573157504.html
LAKE TAPPS, Wash. — A diverging portrait of the Army sergeant accused of killing 16 Afghan villagers is emerging as records and interviews show … Read more: Afghanistan War, Robert Bales, Afghan Shooting, Afghanistan, Civilian Casualties, Robert Bales Afghanistan, World News from The Huffington Post News Team via http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/18/robert-bales-afghan-killi_n_1356782.html
Nobel Peace Prize laureate’s bid for re-election appears in doubt as he trails in third place behind his opponents. from (author unknown) via http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2012/03/201231811195921765.html
Thousands queued at cathedral where Shenouda’s body is on display before funeral of 117th pope of Alexandria Egyptian Christians have gathered to pay their final respects to Pope Shenouda III, who sought to soothe sectarian tension in his four decades leading the country’s Orthodox church but saw escalating clashes in…
Several people are reported dead and injured after car bomb in Syria’s second city, Aleppo Syria’s second city, Aleppo, has been hit by a car bomb a day after two blasts rocked the capital, Damascus, according to the Syrian television channel al-Ikhbariya. Opposition sources said the blast had hit an…
The Iraqi government has adopted plans to diversify the country’s oil export routes to reduce the impact of a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Baghdad’s revenues. from (author unknown) via http://www.rferl.org/content/iraq_government_to_diversify_oil_export_routes/24519422.html
Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said 2013 would be a “milestone” as Afghan forces take the lead in security operations before taking full control a year later. from (author unknown) via http://www.rferl.org/content/us_goals_in_afghanistan_remain_despite_setbacks/24519444.html
Reports of casualties in apparent car bombing near residential area a day after deadly bombings in Damascus. from (author unknown) via http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/03/201231811484572169.html
A car bomb has exploded in the Syrian city of Aleppo, with reports of dead and injured, a day after two blasts in the capital Damascus. from (author unknown) via http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-17421355