[World] Pope Francis tells Benedict: 'We are brothers'

Pope Francis tells Benedict: 'We are brothers'
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57575949/pope-francis-to-benedict-we-are-brothers/
Pope Francis and Benedict XVI came face-to-face Saturday for the first time since Francis' election. popes meet. Pope Francis, left, and predecessor Benedict XVI meet Saturday at the helipad of the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo near Rome.

News Analysis: Rapprochement reveals alignment between Turkey, Israel in ...
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/03/22/israel_apologizes_to_turkey_for_deaths_in_2009_flotilla_incident_restores_diplomatic_ties.html
... • The normalization of ties between Turkey, Israel means a greater alignment of their goals in Mideast. • Turkey severed ties with Israel after nine aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla were killed in May 2010.

Raw: Obama tours ancient city of Petra
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/in-jordan-a-king-sits-uncomfortably-on-his-throne/article10255053/
President Barack Obama is heading back to Washington after closing out his Mideast trip with a visit to Petra, an ancient desert city in Jordan.

Clashes in Lebanon as PM Mikati resignation accepted
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/HGG6l21T3WjPqCrUfp0dWM/Lebanons-Prime-Minister-Mikati-resigns.html
By Erika Solomon. BEIRUT | Sat Mar 23, 2013 9:22am EDT. BEIRUT (Reuters) - Clashes were reported in Lebanon on Saturday as outgoing prime minister Najib Mikati called for a "salvation" caretaker government to take over, a day after he resigned due to a ...

Rebels Seize Air Defense Base in Southern Syria
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/syrias-assad-vows-cleanse-nation-extremists-18789951
Syrian rebels on Saturday seized a major air defense base in a strategic region of southern Syria near the Jordanian border in the latest battlefield triumph for fighters seeking to topple President Bashar Assad, activists said.

Myanmar Army Patrols Central City After Violence
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/myanmar-sends-in-military-to-end-unrest-20130323-2gmfq.html
Myanmar's army took control of a ruined central city on Saturday that was placed under martial law after several days of clashes between Buddhists and Muslims killed dozens of people and left scores of buildings in flames in the worst sectarian bloodshed to ...

Egypt Bedouin kidnap Israeli, Norwegian tourists: police
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Egyptian+security+officials+they+talks+with+Bedouin/8143402/story.html
CAIRO - Armed Bedouin tribesmen in Egypt's Sinai peninsula on Friday kidnapped two tourists, an Israeli man and a Norwegian woman, as they travelled between two beach resorts, police said.

Pope Francis and the question of hypocrisy: Burman
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/03/23/pope_francis_and_the_question_of_hypocrisy_burman.html
Are we done yet? Is it safe to go back outside? Now that Pope Francis has finally been “installed” on his throne in Rome, have these recent days of glassy-eyed, unctuous “pope-worship” in our media finally drawn to a close?

Hostage Warren Rodwell freed by militants in Philippines after 15 months in hell
http://www.smh.com.au/world/kidnapped-australian-warren-rodwell-freed-by-philippines-terrorists-after-15-months-hostage-20130323-2gm30.html
Freedom for Aussie hostage. Former soldier and Australian citizen Warren Rodwell has been released by al-Qaida-linked captors who held him hostage in the Philippines for over one year.

Death toll in Thai refugee camp fire rises to 35
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/vYrDA4wn8o9CPr1bbNlPyM/45-dead-in-refugee-camp-fire-Thai-official.html
The number of Myanmar refugees killed in a fire at a camp in Thailand has risen to 35. The public health chief of Mae Hong Son province, Paisarn Thanyavanichkul, says police and rescue workers found 35 bodies after Friday's fire at the Ban Mae Surin ...

Omar Abdullah asks for time bound NIA probe in arrest of Hizb militant
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/j-k-police-in-touch-with-delhi-cops-over-liyaqat-arrest-govt/articleshow/19149080.cms
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today spoke to Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and demanded that the case of arrest of an alleged Hizbul Mujahdeen terrorist by Delhi Police be transferred to NIA for a "time bound speedy probe".

UPDATE 2-France's Sarkozy investigated in party-funding affair
http://www.euronews.com/2013/03/23/france-in-bitter-row-over-claims-against-sarkozy/
Thu Mar 21, 2013 7:38pm EDT. * Investigated for "abuse of weakness" related to heiress. * Formal investigation final step before accusation of crime.

Obama Forced to Drive Past Walls Between Israelis, Palestinians Into Bethlehem
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/03/obama-ends-israel-trip-with-nods-to-christianity-judaism/
U.S. President Barack Obama, right, pauses for after laying a wreath during his visit to the Hall of Remembrance at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, Israel, March 22, 2013.

Georgia Police Hunt Killers of Baby in Stroller
http://abcnews.go.com/US/police-swat-door-door-search-georgia-baby-killers/story?id=18790997
Georgia police are going door-to-door in search of two young suspects who are accused of shooting and killing a 1-year-old boy as his mother pushed him in a stroller.

South Korea defence nominee withdraws
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2013-03/22/content_16336933.htm
South Korean President Park Geun-hye has decided to retain the incumbent defence minister after her preferred nominee for the post withdrew his candidacy over allegations of corruption, adding controversy over her cabinet picks.

Bangladesh tornado toll climbs to 23
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/world/Tornado+rips+through+villages+eastern+Bangladesh+leaving/8143430/story.html
The death toll from a tornado that swept through some 25 villages in eastern Bangladesh, rose to 23 with rescuers finding three more bodies in debris, a day after the deadly storm which also left nearly 500 injured.

Javaid Hashmi says it's time we saved Pakistan
http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-93533-PTI-president-urges-people-to-pledge-support-for-Imran-Khan
LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf leader, Javaid Hashmi Saturday said that it was time the nation saved Pakistan following the lead of Imran Khan, Geo News reported.

Prison guards hurt in Greek jail break
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Police+official+escape+hurt+after+gunmen+attack+Greek/8142449/story.html
Two prison guards were shot and wounded as at least five inmates broke out of a prison in central Greece Friday, police said. They were hit by fire from a Kalashnikov automatic rifle as they tried to tackle the prisoners at the jail in the town of Trikala, the ...