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Gunfire erupted as throngs were celebrating a mild St. Patrick's Day along a popular downtown canal in Indianapolis and at least five teenagers were wounded by shots, two critically, police said. (March 18)

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.