Bostonians Celebrate Capture of Bombing Suspect

Bostonians took to the streets Friday night to celebrate the capture of the remaining suspect in Monday's bombings. They cheered police as they left the area of Watertown where he was captured.

The suspect was taken to the hospital in serious condition, but is expected to recover. It is believed he was injured in Thursday night's shoot out with police.

Officials are using a rarely used public safety exception that gives them the right to interrogate the suspect, for forty-eight hours, without giving him rights. The exception is allowed when there is a clear and present danger to the public. It also allows for any information gained, during the interrogation, to be used in court.

Several US Congressman have called for the time limit to be waived, in this circumstance. Some have said he should be listed as an enemy combatant, which would give the Justice Department an ever freer hand.

While the man hunt was under way, the city of Boston had been completely shut down, by order of the Governor. During the search police, FBI, and military forces went door to door, searching for the suspect. The lock down was lifted within minutes of the suspect's being located and surrounded.

Once the news came that he had been capture, the city emptied into the streets. US flags were waved, patriotic songs were sung, and every emergency vehicle or personnel was cheered as it went by.

Maduro Sworn in While Recount Continues in Venezuela

Nicolas Maduro was sworn in as Venezuela's president, on Saturday.

Heads of states from Central and South America, as well as some Arab countries, were there for the inauguration.

Thousands celebrated in the streets, but others protested.

In the initial count, Maduro won with only 50.8% of the vote.

Eight people died in clashes between the two political sides.

Henrique Capriles, the opposition's candidate who took forty-nine percent of the vote, initiated the call for the recount.

He also called upon Venezuelans to continue protesting, but do so peacefully.

Napolitano Reelected in Italy

Eighty-seven year old Giorgio Napolitano was reelected, to a second term, on Saturday, to be Italy's president.

Napolitano gained reelection in the sixth round of voting.

In Italy, parliament elects the mostly ceremonial president.

However, he does have the ability to dissolve parliament should the need arise.

Italy's parliament was voted in, nearly two months ago, but has still been unable to form a government.

If they continue to be unable to do so, as seems likely, it will be up to Napolitano to dissolve parliament and call for new elections.

Iraqis Head to Polls Amidst Bombings and Mortars

Al Qaeda bombs and mortars didn't keep some Iraqis from going to vote, for the first time since US troops left.

Polling stations were the target for several bombings and mortar strikes, on Saturday.

Four people were injured in the attacks, which for a day in Iraq is quite light.

Voter turnout was rather low, coming in at about fifty percent, though it is unclear if that was due to worries of safety or just apathy about the election.

Anbar and Nineweh provinces delayed their elections, as they felt they could not provide adequate security.

Three provinces in the autonomous Kurdistan did not hold elections at all.

6.6 Quake Strikes Sichuan China Killing 157

One hundred and fifty-seven people were killed and nearly six thousand injured when an earthquake struck near Ya'an, China.

Saturday morning's quake registered at 6.6, in a part of Sichuan province that saw almost seventy thousand die in a 2008 quake.

The quake was felt throughout Sichuan and the neighboring provinces.

Premier Li Keqiang arrived via helicopter, flying over and then later touring some of the damage.

Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed, with unstable buildings continuing to collapse.

Nearly a thousand after shocks have been reported since the initial quake.

Six thousand troops have been brought in to help with search and rescue, as well as the cleanup.

Manhunt Ongoing for Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev

Law enforcement agencies are on the hunt for nineteen year old Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. He and his brother, Tamerlan, twenty-six, are the FBI's suspects for the Boston Marathon bombings. The two brothers moved to the US from Chechnya, in 2003. Police had been searching for the two, since they were identified on Thursday.

Then late Thursday night, they robbed a 7-Eleven; shot and killed MIT Police Officer Sean Collier, twenty-six; and then carjacked a vehicle. Police chased them from Cambridge to Watertown.

During the chase, the suspects threw explosives out of the car and shots were exchanged wounding Richard H. Donahue Jr., a transit police officer. Donahue is in critical condition. Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed shooting it out with police. In the middle of the confusion, Dzhokhar escaped on foot.

Authorities have been searching the area for him since that time. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has ordered the city of Boston to be placed on lock down. All mass transit has been shut down, businesses have been asked to remain closed, and residents asked to stay inside their homes.

Explosive Substance Mailed to German President

Guack

An explosive substance was mailed to the office of German president Joachim Guack, on Friday.

Police intercepted the letter during routine screening.

A bomb squad was called in and they safely disposed of it.

Federal police are working to determine who sent the letter.

President Guack was not at the office during the time of the incident.

Germany's presidential position is largely ceremonial, but the president is seen to have moral authority.

Serbia Begins Acknowledging Kosvo's Independence

Kosovo and Serbia agreed on details that are the first steps in the recognition of Kosovo's independence.

Under the new agreement Kosovo is recognized as having it's own police force and judicial system.

They had been trying to gain full recognition, but Serbia won't have that.

Serbia still denies that they are independent, but the independence has been enforced by NATO and the UN.

Both countries are trying to gain entry into the EU, and hope that a show of working together will help them in the quest.

Pakistani Police Arrest Former President Musharraf

Pakistani police arrested former president Pervez Musharraf, on Friday.

Thursday saw him flee court after he was charged with treason.

The High Court said he committed treason by violating the Constitution, in 2007.

In 2007, Musharraf suspended the Constitution and put the country under emergency rule.

Musharraf's lawyers are appealing to the Supreme Court, over the matter.

Remarkably, Pakistan's military has remained silent, as they watch their former chief brought up on charges.

In May, Pakistan will have an election that will see the first transition ever between civilian governments.

Texas Explosion Death Toll Rises to 35

Officials in Texas are now saying thirty-five people died from the fertilizer plant explosion, in West.

Ten of the dead were first responders, two more are still missing, and presumed dead.

At least one hundred and sixty people were injured when the blast occurred.

Seventy-five buildings, including homes, businesses, a nursing home, and schools were destroyed by the force of the explosion.

The cause of the fire and explosion are under investigation. At this point it is being treated as a crime scene, as is standard protocol when there is any doubt.

Seismographs registered the explosion as a 2.1 earthquake, residents in Dallas, eighty miles away, felt the shaking.