Top headlines:
Great Barrier Reef's coral growth is slowing: The growth of coral in the Great Barrier Reef has slowed to the most sluggish rate in at least 400 years and signs point to manmade greenhouse gas emissions as the culprit, according to a new study. ›19:00 1 Jan, Thu
The fall of green travel: Environmentally-conscious vacations are out of fashion. Travelers expect their next getaway to be green and theyre not willing to pay more for it. ›22:56 5 Jan, Mon
Sail to Asia in luxury for a discount: Although exotic cruises to Asia can indeed cost a pretty penny, weve found a spring voyage on VacationsToGo.com priced at 33 percent off rack rates at $3,995. ›14:42 6 Jan, Tue
L.A. water cops get muscle to fight drought: The green thumbs who keep lawns lush and flora flourishing in Los Angeles have found a new foe among the aphids, white flies and other yard pests the water police. ›22:47 6 Jan, Tue
The FBI launches hiring blitz: The FBI said has launched one of the largest hiring blitzes in its 100-year history involving 2,100 professional staff vacancies and 850 special agents aimed at filling its most critical vacancies. ›17:14 6 Jan, Tue
Which came first, black holes or galaxies?: Astronomers may have solved a cosmic chicken-and-the-egg problem: Which came first galaxies or the supermassive black holes in their cores? ›01:08
Feds approve gas drilling plan for Montana: The Bush administration has approved a plan that could allow more than 18,000 natural gas wells to be drilled in southeastern Montana over the next two decades. ›14:20 31 Dec, Wed
Social Security unveils new online application: The Social Security Administration, envisaging the near-future prospect of 10,000 baby boomers applying for benefits every day, has put together a new online service. ›23:38 6 Jan, Tue
Lawyer gets 5-cent IRS bill, 4-cent refund: James Howarth is a little confused by two letters he has received from the Internal Revenue Service. ›17:31 3 Jan, Sat
Ex-astronaut emerges as NASA prospect: Former astronaut Charles F. Bolden Jr. is emerging as a lead candidate to head NASA in the Obama administration. ›21:15 6 Jan, Tue
Video: Obama's CIA pick signals dramatic shift: Jan. 6: Monday's surprise announcement that President-elect Barack Obama has chosen former Clinton White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta to lead the CIA points to a major change in direction for U.S. intelligence policy. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.(Nightly News) ›23:59 6 Jan, Tue
Policeman feared missing arrested in Vegas: An Alabama police organized crime specialist who vanished last week was arrested in Las Vegas and accused of staging his disappearance to cover up a theft, police said Tuesday. ›16:05 6 Jan, Tue
Destinations vie to be named a natural Wonder: The Grand Canyon, Mt. Everest and Loch Ness will vie with more than 200 other spectacular places in the next phase of the global competition for the New 7 Wonders of Nature. ›02:07
Lead for car batteries poisonstown: The dirtin this town on the fringes of Dakar, Senegal's capital, is laced with lead left over from years of extracting it from old car batteries. And it is poisoning children. ›08:47 4 Jan, Sun
Services sector contraction slows in Dec.: An index of activity in the U.S. services sector contracted at a slower pace in December as new orders and employment improved. ›15:31 6 Jan, Tue
Rare pink iguana evaded Darwin: When English naturalist Charles Darwin explored the Galapagos Islands in the early 1800s, he, and countless scientists since, overlooked a hefty pink iguana. ›00:31 6 Jan, Tue
Nicaragua turns to wind power: Energy-starved Nicaragua is turning to wind as it tries to reduce its dependence on oil-based power. ›22:15 1 Jan, Thu
Police: Woman in wheelchair flees on foot: Police say a woman who begged from a wheelchair was caught running from a crime scene on foot in Monterrey, Mexico. ›23:22 5 Jan, Mon
Newsweek: No economic panacea: Commentary: We should resist the temptation to see Obamas forthcoming economic stimulus package as a panacea. ›16:29 6 Jan, Tue
Season of savings brings rewards: When it comes to holiday shopping, Americans have been great at saying they were going to cut back but not so good at actually doing it. This year appears to be an exception. ›05:28
Gates pegs '09 war costs at $136 billion: Defense Secretary Robert Gates says military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan would cost almost $136 billion for the 2009 budget year that began Oct. 1 if they continue at their current pace. ›01:42
Social Security unveils new online application: The Social Security Administration, envisaging the near-future prospect of 10,000 baby boomers applying for benefits every day, has put together a new online service. ›23:38 6 Jan, Tue
Boy, 6, misses bus, tries to drive to school: Having missed his bus, a 6-year-old Virginia boy tried to drive to school in his family's sedan and crashed. ›18:27 6 Jan, Tue
Onboard innovators: In pursuit of pain-free flying: While most of us tend to sigh and suffer our frustrating flying moments silently, a few intrepid travelers have managed to turn those moments into marketable products. ›16:29 6 Jan, Tue
