The world - Jan. 6, 2011

THURSDAY

The Centers for Disease Control is reporting the flu season is in full force now, with five states already reporting evidence of wide-spread flu cases. Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Virginia and New York have all reported the flu. The CDC report said tests of this year’s sample showed the flu strain is reacting to this season’s vaccine.

FRIDAY

A small college in New Jersey published its annual list of “banished words,” terms used so often and so poorly that year they are now uncool. The word “viral”, meaning the rapid spread of viral media on the internet, made the top of the list. The list of 14 also included “epic” and “fail.”

Several tornadoes pounded the south and midwest Friday, killing seven people and injuring others. Six people died in Missouri and Arkansas and a seventh died of injuries the next day. Many residents of both states spent New Year’s Day picking through what was left of their homes and cities.

A study recently released said obesity is setting in at the infant stage for America’s babies. Almost one-third of 9-month-olds are overweight, in addition to 34 percent of two-year-olds. The study drew from a national sampling taken in 2001. The study also showed why starting out heavy put children on the path to obesity.

WEEKEND

A bomb killed at least 21 people outside a Christian church in the city of Alexandria early on New Year’s Day, and Egyptian authorities say they suspect a foreign-backed suicide bomber could be responsible. The blast wounded dozens and destroyed cars and windows in the immediate area. Some Christians and Muslims allegedly threw stones at one another after the bomb. Egypt is now stepping up national security.

MONDAY

Three opponents to the Russian Kremlin were arrested after a rally, receiving short jail terms for “disobedience to police.” One of those arrested was Boris Nemtsov, the Russian deputy prime minister from 1997 to 1998 and was given 15 days in jail.

At least 43 African migrants drowned when their boat sank just off the coast of Yemen and a second boat with 40 Ethiopians is still missing. Five men on the first sunken boat survived to say the boat began to flounder when the engine became caught in the fishing nets of the boat. The boat had left Djbouti three hours earlier.

TUESDAY

Driving rain across southern China forced 58,000 people to evacuate their homes, according to the country’s ministry of civil affairs. The freezing rain collapsed roughly 1,200 homes and wiped out many acres of crops like rice, timber and coal.

The Canadian dollar is the strongest it has been since May 2008. Experts say the spike could indicate a healthier economy is on the way, but also cautioned the rise might just be “the January effect” that occurs with fund managers settle end-of-year balances.

Somali pirate plans were foiled when a team tried to commandeer a British tanker and the crew promptly locked themselves in a safe room that still allowed them to retain control of the vessel. The vessel was off the coast of Oman and rescuers got to the vessel to find the crew safe and all pirates gone.

WEDNESDAY

A massive bluefin tuna landed a record of 32.49 million yen or nearly $396,000 in an auction at the world’s largest wholesale fishmarket in Japan. The 754 pound fish beat a previous record of a 445 pound fish caught in 2001. The record-setting tuna was caught off Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido.

A suspected mass grave of Kurds has been discovered in Turkey. Scientists searching for mass graves of Kurds killed in a genocide in the 1990s found the bones of eight people in a field in southeast Turkey. DNA tests on the bones will be conducted to find the identity of the remains and if they belong to those of recorded missing Kurds.