Globe Trot: Searching for smoke signals in Vatican City

All eyes are on Vatican City as the papal conclave is underway, with at this moment no pope yet chosen to succeed Benedict XVI. George Weigel writes that the conclave is “a unique microculture, and you can’t predict what will happen within it.”

There are several live cams to watch for white smoke to rise above the Sistine Chapel once a new pope is chosen. And a light-hearted liveblog if all the anticipation is too much.

A Pakistani Christian and his Muslim neighbor were friends who often drank a brew and argued together—until Shahid Imran accused Sewan Masih of blasphemy and an entire neighborhood went up in flames. Here’s a rundown of the weekend violence that destroyed 160 homes, 18 shops, and two churches—and sent Christian residents of Lahore’s Joseph Colony fleeing.

Kenya’s national election last week is by no means over, but residents appear to have avoided the mayhem and violence—and a presidential runoff—that erupted after the last national election.

There’s a lot more to the story of how Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law Suleiman Abu Ghaith left his sanctuary inside Iran and ended up in the hands of the FBI. Ghaith pleaded not guilty in federal court in New York City to conspiring to kill Americans, and will face trial for crimes in connection with 9/11.

Note: There will be no Globe Trot on Friday, March 15, or Monday, March 18, but the column will resume on Wednesday, March 20.