Trouble involving Aussie troops in Afghanistan, a deadly fire-fight on Borneo, and and a highly illogical disturbance in the force wakes the nerds.  Mister Sulu!  Set a course for "International News", Warp Factor 8!

Coalition forces in Afghanistan are investigating an incident involving Australian Troops in which 2 children were killed.  They were from a nomad group from the Char Chineh region in Shahid-E Hasas district of central Oruzgan province.  The details are still sketchy, and the Defence Department says no Australian troops were injured.  Published reports say that Australians didn’t fire the fatal shots.

At least 14 people are killed in a clash between Malaysian forces and a group of “intruders” who arrived at Lahad Datu last month from from the Philippine island of Sulu.  Apparently the intruders were acting on a long-dormant familial claim on Borneo.  Two Malaysian Commandos and a dozen Sulu gunmen are dead.  The intruders are followers of self-proclaimed “Sultan” Jamalul Kiram III.

Roman Catholic Cardinals will meet in the Vatican on Monday morning to set the schedule for picking a new Pope.  The official Conclave will probably begin one week later.  Meanwhile, Benedict XVI reportedly enjoyed his first night of retirement as many other recent retirees would:  He sat around watching television.  Seriously.

Queen Elizabeth has cancelled a scheduled visit to Swansea for St. David’s Day, honoring the patron saint of Wales.  She reportedly is suffering symptoms of gastroenteritis.

After rebuffing overtures from the center left, Italy’s insurgent political party M5S is refusing to play any role in forming the country’s next government.  M5S has the Eurozone all atwitter after coming in third place on an anti-EU, environmentally-friendly message.  But now it is refusing to take an active part in making the changes it supposedly seeks.

Syrian rebels say “keep the food and bandages, we need weapons”.  This follows the Obama Administration’s offer of non-lethal aid to the groups trying to oust Syrian despot Bashar al-Assad.

President Obama signed the order beginning the so-called “Sequester”, starting the process of billions of dollars in automatic, across-the-board government cuts.  Opposition republicans failed to negotiate a solution to America’s latest budget impasse. 

But the thing got the most attention was the President telling reporters that he couldn’t do a “Jedi Mind-Meld” to make republicans agree to a solution.   Yep, he mixed two different Science Fiction metaphors from “Star Trek” and “Star Wars”.  And if you think Democrats and republicans don’t get along, try getting in between an argument of Sci-Fi nerds.  Given what’s at stake and the potential ripples in the world economy, perhaps their priorities are Highly Illogical.  Now, may the force be with you.