Chinese Pollution Off The Charts

Before and during

Just how bad is the pollution in China right now? Hundreds have been sent to the hospitals with respiratory distress. Thirty-three cities have hazardous air advisories in place.

According to readings, from the US Embassy in Beijing, air quality particulate pollution readings have reached up into the seven hundreds. The normal scale maxes out at five hundred. Literally meaning that pollution levels are off the chart.

Above, the picture you see shows Beijing on a regular day, sometime in 2012, to the left. On the right you see the same angle taken during this last week.

Below are two photos released by NASA. They show the same region of China, but on two different days. In the top picture we see a view, from space, of January 3, while the bottom shows January 14. According to NASA the particulate pollution readings was three hundred and forty-one, when the second picture was taken.

Jan 3, 2013

Jan 14, 2013

France Increasing Troops Numbers in Mali as Rebels Promise Death to All French Troops

French forces continue to arrive in Mali, as they fight to keep the Malian capital from falling to Al Qaeda supported rebels.

France has announced it will increase it's troop numbers to twenty-five hundred soldiers, by the end of the week.

Rebel forces are promising to make France regret the intervention.

Oumar Ould Hamaha, a commander of the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa released a statement, on Tuesday.

He said that, "every French soldier that comes into our territory should make sure to prepare his will beforehand, because he will not leave alive."

France is not alone in supporting Mali, the UK is providing transport planes and the US is providing intelligence and drones.

Nigeria has promised to send nine hundred soldiers, on Wednesday.

Other African and European Union countries have pledged support and troops, though none have a timetable yet.

Missing Missouri Teen May Be With Sex Offender

Linhardt, left, Kinkade, right

Sixteen year old Molly Linhardt is missing from St. Peters, Missouri.

She was last seen Monday afternoon, when her parents dropped her off at work. According to her work, she was not actually scheduled to work that day.

Authorities believe she may be with twenty-seven year old Benjamin Kinkade, a convicted sex offender.

Molly is described as five foot three, one hundred and ten pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes. When last seen she was wearing her KFC uniform, black pants, black shirt, black shoes, and black hat. 

No description of Kinkade was released, beyond his picture. He drives a silver 2006 Chevy Colorado with Missouri license 7PT914.

Anyone with information should call the St. Peters Police Department at 636-278-2222.


She was reported safe, on January 23.

83 Killed in University of Aleppo Explosions

At least eighty-three people were killed and over one hundred and sixty were injured when two blasts went off at a university in Syria, on Tuesday.

The explosions struck during the first day of exams at the University of Aleppo.

Both the government and rebel forces blamed each other for the attack.

However, the university is well within a loyalist area.

Tuesday has been one of the bloodiest days in the civil war, with two hundred and eighteen confirmed dead, on it alone.

Over sixty thousand people have been killed in the twenty-two month long conflict.

Pakistan Claims Soldier Killed by Indian Gun Fire

Pakistan claims that another of their soldiers was killed, by gunfire from India, Tuesday night.

This incident would mark the fourth time, in just over a week, that the two countries have exchanged deadly gunfire, along the Kashmir line of control.

In each incident, the two have blamed each other, or denied involvement.

Last Sunday, a Pakistani soldier was killed when Pakistan said they repulsed an Indian attack.

Then on last Tuesday, two Indian troops were killed and their bodies mutilated, in what the country claimed was a Pakistani incursion.

Another Pakistani soldier was killed, on Thursday, along the Kashmir border.

The series of events, between the two, have started worries that peace talks will be derailed.

India and Pakistan are at odds over the Kashmir area, which the two have split, and previously fought over.

Missing California Woman and Toddler Found Safe

A missing Marysville, California woman and her toddler were found safe.

Thirty-five year old Heather Till and her twenty-one year old son had been missing, since Wednesday morning.

Friends had become concerned after she hadn't been seen for several days.

Police confirm that they found a missing woman and her toddler safe, on Monday.

No further information was released at this time.

Body of Missing Kansas Teen Found

Monday night the body of a missing Kansas teen was found.

Eighteen year old Adilene Armendariz had been missing from Hays, Kansas, since Friday night.

Her body was found about three hundred yards from where she had last been seen, at a house party.

Authorities listed the cause of death as head trauma and hypothermia.


The Ellis County Sheriff's Office announced that Armendariz fell down a six foot embankment and landed head first on ice in Big Creek.

She then walked about another quarter mile to where her body was found.

Missing from Iowa: Abigail Whitehouse, 14

Fourteen year old Abigail Whitehouse is missing from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

She was last seen, on Monday morning, around 02:00 CST.

Abigail is described as five foot five, with dark brown hair, and brown eyes.

When last seen she was wearing a green sweatshirt with "Never Shout Never" on it.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Cedar Rapids Police Department at 319-286-5491.

Police Find Body of Missing Pennsylvania Teen

A body was found in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, Tuesday morning.

Tuesday afternoon, police confirmed it to the body of a missing Brookville teen.

Nineteen year old Devan Knapp had been missing since Friday night.

According to police, her body was found next to her car, alongside a road.

No further information was released at this time.

Police are investigating and waiting on an autopsy.

Anyone with information should call the Pennsylvania State Police in Punxsutawney at 814-938-0510.