The world - Sept. 17, 2009

THURSDAY

Two German cargo ships passed through the fabled Northeast Passage along Russia’s Arctic-facing north shore without the help of icebreakers. The trip was possible because of the reduction in the polar ice cap, said shipping company Beluga Shipping Gmbh.

Chuck and Polly Berendes of LaCrosse, Wis., celebrated the one-day birthday of son Henry Michael. Henry was born Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 9:09 a.m. and weighed 9 pounds, 9 ounces.

Leonard Rhomberg, 68, was given a cake, gifts and a St. Louis Cardinals jersey in recognition for his 50 years of service at the first McDonald’s restaurant in suburban St. Louis, which opened in 1958.

FRIDAY

Federal regulators shut down Lacey-based Venture Bank with $970 million in assets and about $903 million in deposits. The 18-branch bank’s deposits will be assumed by First-Citizens Bank & Trust Co., based in Raleigh, N.C. The FDIC estimates that the cost to the deposit insurance fund from Venture’s failure will be $298 million.

Spokane native John Stockton joined Michael Jordan, Jerry Sloan, David Robinson and Vivian Stringer as inductees to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Oxford Book of Quotations immortalized quotes from two famous American women; Sarah Palin’s Republican Convention quip “What’s the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull? Lipstick,” and Paris Hilton’s advice “Dress cute wherever you go - life is too short to blend in.”

WEEKEND

Nobel Prize winning agricultural scientist Norman Borlaug died at the age of 95. Borlaug won the peace prize in 1970 for developing high-yielding crops to prevent famine.

Vandals painted red swastikas on two synagogues in Seattle’s Seward Park neighborhood.

Mariner right-fielder Ichiro collects his 200th hit of the season against the Texas Rangers, making him the first player in major league history with at least 200 hits in nine straight seasons.

Belgian Kim Clijsters wins the U.S. Open tennis tournament 7-5 6-3 over Dane Caroline Wozniacki in New York on Sunday.

MONDAY

Kent teachers approve a new contract and end their 18-day strike. The Kent Education Association says the district’s 1,7000 teachers gave the contract a 94 percent “yes” vote.

New York City police and the FBI raided homes in New York as part of an investigation into suspected terrorism, focusing on one man who has been under surveillance. Five Afghan men were taken for questioning and released without charges.

A high-speed French train roared over a drunken teen without injuring the man, who had fallen asleep on the railway track.

Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina beat five-time champion Roger Federer 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 to win the U.S. Open.

TUESDAY

The Obama administration asked Congress to extend three surveillance techniques for intelligence agencies tracking suspected militants that expire this year.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Tuesday the worst recession since the 1930s is probably over, although he cautioned the unemployment rate should continue to rise.

President Barack Obama called hip-hop musician Kanye West a “jackass.” Obama was weighing in on an interruption at the MTV Video Music Awards where West grabbed the microphone from teen country singer Taylor Swift during her award acceptance speech to announce his belief that Beyonce had a better music video.

Big news out of New York Fashion Week: a new variety of animal-print Snuggies. The monk-style sweater company, famed for its infomercials, festooned supermodels in its new line for a runway show.

WEDNESDAY

Swiss astronomers locate a rocky “super-Earth” world orbiting another star in the Milkey Way galaxy. The planet, called CoRoT-7b is the only one of the 330 exoplanets spotted by astronomers suspected to have a solid surface.

Top U.S. movie rental chain Blockbuster Inc., facing tough competition from internet rental companies, announces plans to close up to 960 stores by the end of next year.

The final letter penned by Mary Queen of Scots is put on display at the National Library of Scotland. The letter was written to her brother-in-law, the king of France, on the eve of her execution. The letter has been stored in an air-conditioned vault in the museum and will be on display until Sept.21.