Germany - Joachim Gauck has 'unexpectedly found home' as Germany president

Published on Mar 18, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.com/ East German former Lutheran pastor Joachim Gauck is Germany's new president, after reluctantly being backed by Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Winning with an overwhelming majority, he got 991 votes, to his closest opponent, Beate Klarsfeld's 126.

The 72-year-old is Germany's third president in two years and its first one from the former communist East.

Addressing a gathering at the Bundestag, Gauck said: "I accept this mandate with the infinite gratitude of a person who has finally and unexpectedly found a home country after a long meander through the political deserts of the 20th century."

"It is encouraging and uplifting for me to see how many people in the country have encouraged me to accept this candidacy," Gauck said, speaking of poll results that show 80 percent of Germans trust him.

Known for being a pro-democracy activist allied to no specific party, Merkel only supported Gauck after her coalition partners chose him.

Gauck has been voted in on the same day as the first free election in the former GDR 22 years ago, where the decision was made to reunify Germany

USA - Sgt Robert Bales was a 'happy guy, full of life'

Uploaded by telegraphtv on Mar 18, 2012

Friends of the American soldier accused of the murder of 16 Afghan villagers describe him as, "very outgoing, funny with a big smile."

Today in History March 18 Russian cosmonaut first man to walk in space; Singer John Philips of The Mamas and The Papas died of heart failure at a hospital in Los Angeles ...

Published on Mar 18, 2012 by AssociatedPress

On this day in history: Russian cosmonaut first man to walk in space; Singer John Philips of The Mamas and The Papas died of heart failure at a hospital in Los Angeles. (March 18)

Syria - Finger-pointing after deadly Damascus bombings

Published on Mar 18, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.com/ It remains unclear who carried out the double-bombing in Damascus on Saturday, but accusations continue to be levelled at both sides.

Al-Baath newspaper, mouthpiece of Syria's ruling party of the same name, is blaming the attacks on 'terrorists supported by foreign powers which finance and arm them'.

State television shows a rally in the capital held by President Bashar al-Assad's supporters.

At the same time, the rebels say the government carried the explosions that killed 27 people in a bid to get international support.

The unrest appears to be spreading eastwards, with more reports of protests and violence in the city of Raqqa.

Unverified amateur film on a social media website is said to show security forces brutally cracking down on anti-government protesters in Raqqa.

A group of opposition activists called the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, or LCC, are reporting the death of an 11-year-old boy there.

More protests may happen today as many consider March 18 to be the anniversary of the beginning of the uprising one year ago.

USA - 'Occupy' protesters return to New York's Zuccotti Park

Uploaded by telegraphtv on Mar 18, 2012

Occupy Wall Street protesters clash with police in New York as they mark the movement's six-month anniversary by camping in the city's Zuccotti Park.

Yemen - An American working as a teacher has been shot.

Published on Mar 18, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.com/ An American working as a teacher in Yemen has been shot. He was killed in an attack by two men on a motorcycle in the city of Taiz, 200 kilometres south of the capital Sanaa.

Governor of Taiz province Hamoud al-Sufi says the killers and motive are unknown, but an investigation is being carried out.

There has been an increase in violence, particularly linked to al-Qaeda, since the uprising in Yemen.

Following 33 years in charge, Ali Abdullah Saleh handed power over to new president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who has vowed to be tackle al-Qaeda.

Militant groups took advantage of the leadership problems, seizing control of some of the country's provinces.

Germany - 25,000 people gathered in Bochum to protest against an award to be given to Turkish prime minister Recep Tayipp Erdogan

Published on Mar 18, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.com/ Up to 25,000 people gathered in Bochum in West Germany to protest against an award meant to be given to Turkish prime minister Recep Tayipp Erdogan. 

The demonstration was organised by Germany's Alevi community, who claimed Erdogan's cancelled trip was a victory.

However, Erdogan officially did not visit Germany because of the Turkish helicopter crash in Afghanistan on Saturday.

One demonstrator described her feelings: "Here in Germany we are foreigners, we are foreigners in our own country. We do not know where to go as Kurds and as Alevites," she said.

Gathered at a local football stadium, the minority groups displayed banners showing why they did not think Germany should award Erdogan a prize for tolerance.

Posters accused Erdogan of being anti-democratic and portrayed him with a Hitler moustache.

India - Italian tourists 'abducted by Maoist rebels' in the state of Orissa in the east

Published on Mar 18, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.com/ Two Italian tourists have reportedly been kidnapped by Maoist rebels in India. TV reports say they were taken in the state of Orissa in the east of the country.

The group holding them said their safety would depend on how the state goverment responded to the Maoists' demands submitted last year.

The area around Kandhamal is inhabited by vulnerable tribes. The state government had recently sought to restrict access to tourist groups by making them obtain advance permission.

The men are said to have been taking photos of Indian women bathing in a river.

Maoist rebels have been active in the region for more than 40 years. They claim to defend minority rights.