THE WEEK IN REVIEW: JANUARY 15-21, 2012

Based upon the Lunar Calendar, the Chinese New Year begins Monday January 23.
United States President Barack Obama is scheduled to make the annual State of the Union address Tuesday night, January 24.

Amongst events that have happened around the world this past week...

*The American Internet blackout protesting the pending Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect Intellectual Properties Act (PIPA) got it strongest supporter Wednesday when US President Barack Obama said he would not sign them into law in their current versions, citing the protesters fears that the rights of legitimate Internet users would be curbed at the expense of protecting businesses. The measures have since been postponed indefinitely within their respective Congressional chambers.

*Meanwhile, the US Department of Justice has shut down the file storage site Megaupload as it investigates allegations of copyright infringement.

*As the Republican primary continues, there are only four contenders left. Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, and front runner Mick Romney.

*Both Kodak and Hostess have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, although this is the second time for the Twinkees maker.

*Civil unrest continues in Syria and Yemen.

*Captain Fransceco Shenttino has admitted to navigation errors that led to the wreck of the Costa Condordia last weekend. There were 11 known dead and 20 people still unaccounted for at the time this was posted.

*According to a Universal Press International report, Kim Jong-nam predicts the regime of his biological half brother Kim Jong-un will fail unless North Korea's new leader makes some serious reform changes.

* Souvenirs from a 2011 meteor shower in Morocco have since been analyzed as coming from the planet Mars, most likely a result from an asteroid striking the red planet first before the debris drifted to Earth.

IN ENTERTAINMENT NEWS:

*Singer Etta James has past away.

*Poet John Burnside won the annual T. S. Elliot prize this year for his volume, Black Cat Bone.

*Priceline has announced that although William Shatner is still under contract as a company spokesman, they will be doing away with the Priceline Negotiator character in an upcoming commercial.

*Laura Kaeppeler of Wisconsin has won the 2012 Miss America title.

*This year marks the 100th anniversary of Universal Studios.

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