New York Woman Disappears from Istanbul, Turkey

Sarai Sierra traveled to Turkey on January 7 and documented her trip in photos over the two weeks she was scheduled to stay there. The day before her trip was supposed to end, January 21, was the last time she had spoken with her family. Her father was supposed to pick her up from the airport, but was told she never checked in. Some of Sarai's belongings were found in the hotel room, though her iPhone and iPad were not. Her husband, Steven Sierra, is convinced that this is not like Sarai at all to just disappear. Steven and Sarai's brother, David, are set to arrive in Turkey Monday afternoon, and they are expecting to find her and bring her home to America. This trip was Sarai's first time out of the United States. A friend was supposed to accompany her on the trip, but couldn't make it so she ended up going alone.


http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/27/world/europe/turkey-missing-american/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Coldest Week of the Winter for Northern United States

The coldest weather this winter has hit the northern United States this week, with temperatures plunging below zero. This is the first time Chicago has seen negative temperatures in nearly two years. These frigid temperatures are stretched from the Dakotas to New England. Wind chills have been reported as cold as 51 degrees below zero in North Dakota. Blinding snow has been reported in many areas and there have been a lot of car pileups, which have sent people to the hospital. There were also deaths reported. Frostbite can occur in just 10 minutes at 30 degrees below zero. Newborns and the elderly are in greater danger of hypothermia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, "Cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart." The extreme temperatures are expected to last until Thursday.


http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/22/us/weather/index.html?hpt=us_c2

Beijing in Emergency State Due to Pollution

A dangerous cloud of smog continues to cover Beijing, China and all outdoor sports activities have been postponed until Tuesday of this week. The city's Air Quality index is more than 500 micrograms, which is the highest level without going "beyond index." The sale of face-masks has hit an all-time high, as well as reports of respiratory problems. Streets have been emptier lately and the sun is hardly visible through the thick cloud. On Monday morning, the pollution exceeded the index of Air Quality with as much as 755 micrograms. Despite belief that Beijing's air quality has improved since the 2008 Olympics, city residents say that is not the case. The Hyundai Motor Company has suspended production and almost 30 construction sites have postponed production. Beijing is currently being compared to Los Angeles.


http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/14/world/asia/china-smog-blanket/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Google Chairman Visits North Korea

Google Chairman Eric Schmidt kicked off a controversial private trip to North Korea on Monday with the former Governor of New Mexico Bill Richardson. The trip is taking place despite objections from the U.S. State Department. Very few details of the trip have released, although it has taken over the interest of the media. CNN was told the trip is a "private humanitarian visit," and Bill Richardson went on the trip to attempt to release an American prisoner who was captured last month. An adviser, Tony Namkung, and a former State Department official who now works for Google, Jared Cohen, will be joining Schmidt and Richardson. The visit is set to conclude on Thursday with a news conference in Beijing. "We don't think the timing of this is particularly helpful...they are well aware of our views," spokeswoman of the State Department states.



http://money.cnn.com/2013/01/07/news/schmidt-richardson-north-korea/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

New Year's Stampede Kills 60 in Ivory Coast

A total of 60 people, mostly women and children, were killed around one in the morning, when a stampede occurred on New Year's Day in Ivory Coast. The president, Alassane Ouattara, has declared three days of "national mourning" and promises an investigation on the stampede. Ouattara went to the scene and ordered the government to assist those in need. 26 children, 28 women, and 6 men were among the dead. 49 others were injured. The people who were injured and killed were either trampled or suffocated by the crowd. The stampede happened in an area of mostly narrow streets when hundreds of people tried to make their way to their homes after Plateau's fireworks display.



http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/01/world/africa/ivory-coast-deaths/index.html?hpt=wo_c2