From NPR news in Washington, I am I'm Korva Coleman.

 

　　The annual flu season started about a month early and health officials say symptoms are wide spread over much of the country. In New York State, the governor has declared a public health emergency because of the severity of the breakout there. From the member station WNYC, Mark Gabbert reports. “The order by Andrew Cuomo comes as New York deal with nearly 20,000 reported cases of influenza, that’s more than 4 times the # for the entire last season. It authorizes pharmacists to immunize a much greater segment of the population than usually allowed by law. Health official say the breakout is sitting every county in the state. The # of patients submitted to hospitals with confirmed influenza spiked 55% in recent days. They say the # of cases is likely to climb higher before [tapering] off because flu is highly contagious in victims and spread it even after feeling better. For NPR news, I am Mark Gabbert in New York.”

 

　　Cold weather is pushing through the western and central parts of US. It’s been so chilly in some regions of California; citrus growers have been out in their orchard with wind machines. They are working to raise temperatures near their fruit trees by a few degrees. As the cold weather pushes to the midwestern and eastern parts of the US, heavy rain could fall on the [plainest] states and possible trigger some flooding.

 

　　Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is getting a re-trial over the killing of protestors in the uprising got ousted of him. A court in Cairo order the re-trail today, NPR’s Leila Fadel reports the move will be likely welcomed by most of the Egyptians. “Mubarak, his administer of interior Habib al-Adly and Habid’s deputies will all be trialed again in an Egyptian court rule today. Mubarak and Habib were previously given life-sentences for failing to stop the killing of some one thousand demonstrators and these deputies were all acquitted. Many Egyptians xxx the trial was filled with problems and the sentences were not strong enough. The defenders’ lawyers appeal sentences and Egypt’s general prosecutor appeal the acquittals. In theory, Mubarak could be released today based on the appeal. But he is now being investigated on separate charges and he has been ordered to detain during the investigation. Leila Fadel NPR news, Cairo.”

 

　　Thousands of people turned out for a protest marching Moscow today. They are angry over a new Russian law that bans Americans from adopting Russian orphans. Demonstrators say there are not enough homes in Russian for orphaned Russian children and legislation hurts them. Russian lawmakers drafted the bill in retaliation after the US passed the law targeting Russian’s accused of human rights abuses.

 

　　Thousands of people marched in Paris today against same-sex marriage. People set off from three different places in the French capital and headed for the Eiffel Tower. French president Fran?ois Hollande has promised to change the law so that gays and lesbians can marry.

 

　　You are listening to NPR news from Washington.

 

　　A US navy sailor has been arrested by Japanese police accused of breaking into a local home and violating its curfew. John Matthews reports from Tokyo on the newest string and relations with Japan. Recent months have been [riddled] allegations of misconduct by deployed soldiers igniting protest and leading to a country-wide curfew for all 50,000 Japan-based personnel. Now local police say they’ve arrested an xxx Petty officer Richard Lawton near Yokoska just south of Tokyo. According to the local media, the police was called after Lawton broke into a residence early Sunday local time. Lawton claims he was staying with friends before flying back to US and he entered the wrong home. Although the incidence was non-violent, it is expected to put a small string on relations as the effectiveness of the three months old curfew was questioned. For NPR news, I am John Matthews in Tokyo.

 

　　This is the first anniversary of the sinking of the cruise ship the “Costa Concordia”. The ship cruised too close to an Italian island and capsized. The accident killed 32 people. Today relatives of the victims are on the island, they unveiled a memorial plaque during a ceremony today.

 

　　The air pollution in the capital of China is very bad. Beijing’s pollution levels are currently in dangerous [zones] and government officials are telling people to stay indoors. Public health specialists say one reason for the murky grey air in the capital is weather. There has been a little wind, so pollutants [collected] and don’t break up in the air. China’s air quality problems are also blamed on thousands of new cars on the road and on the country’s fast industrialization.

 

　　I am Korva Coleman, NPR news from Washington.